Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
LSU Digital Commons LSU Digital Commons A high fat diet attenuates the fermentation effects of resistant A high fat diet attenuates the fermentation effects of resistant starches and fructans starches and fructans

In our previous studies, ingestion of prebiotics in low fat diets resulted in decreased cecal pH from 8 to about 6 and increases in short chain fatty acids indicating robust fermentation. However, in some preliminary studies this effect on fermentation was not seen when rodents were obese and/or fed a high-fat diet. This comprehensive high-fat diet study was conducted to determine which sources and combinations of prebiotics would enhance fermentation despite a high dietary fat content. The effects of prebiotics in a high-fat diet (44% energy) on pH, cecal weights, abdominal fat, and body weight were studied in mature male C57Bl/6 mice fed one of 9 diets of similar energy (4.0 ± 0.2 kcal/g) for 12 weeks. A control (C) diet was compared to 4 prebiotics: Hi-Maize® RS2 (R), Novelose® RS3 (N), Nutraflora® fructooligosaccharide (F), BENEO-Orafti HP gel® inulin (I), which were fed individually and combined (F+I, R+F, R+I, and R+N). Results were significant at p <0.05. Fermentation, indicated by lower pH values, occurred with all F and I diets and combination diets. However, none of the groups had reduced abdominal fat compared to control as has been observed in previous studies with consumption of RS in low fat diets. All prebiotic diets had larger empty ceca, but only F and I had greater full ceca than the RS groups. It is proposed that diets with high concentrations of fat affect monogastric fermentation and microbial populations in a manner similar to ruminants. It is possible that the beneficial health effects of prebiotic ingestion may be most effective if consumed with a low-fat diet.
UNIVERSIDADE ESTADUAL PAULISTA "JÚLIO DE MESQUITA FILHO" INSTITUTO DE BIOCIÊNCIAS - RIO CLARO

This dissertation aim to understand the relationship between public sector, educational process and local population with regard to Conservation Units. For that purpose, Angatuba Ecological Station, located in Angatuba, SP was studied. That Conservation Unit was created through changing the management category of part of the Angatuba State Forest area, which had several legal implications. In that sense, through a qualitative approach, the study aimed to identify the local public knowledge about Angatuba Ecological Station, as well as to characterize the type of relationship stablished between public sector and local population regarding the Conservation Units and discuss how the educational process and Environmental Education as part of that process, may contribute to mediate the controversies generated by the presence of a Conservation Unit in the Angatuba Municipality. For that purpose focused interviews were carried out, data related to the area was collected, and meetings of the Angatuba Ecological Station Advisory Board, a participative management organ, present in the Conservation Units. The data analysis indicated that there is little knowledge of such Conservation Units by the Angatuba population, since some of the interviewees do not know the area and most of them do not know about the presence of the two management categories of the Conservation Units in the county. There was also verified a lack of clarity concerning the attributions of the Advisory Board of that Conservation Unit, since although the Board is represented by members of several segments of society, there was no effective participation of those members during the observed meetings. That justifies the pertinence of the educational process, and particularly, Environmental Education could be a possible transformation agent of the reality, in search for more political participation in the society. Key-words: Conservation Units, Environmental Education, Educational Process.
Airborne observations of the impact of a convective system on the planetary boundary layer thermodynamics and aerosol distribution in the inter‐tropical discontinuity region of the West African Monsoon

The impact of a convective system downdraught and associated gravity current on the monsoon and harmattan flow structure as well as on aerosol vertical distribution over the Sahel and the Sahara is investigated using dropsondes and an airborne lidar. Complementary ground‐based and satellite observations, as well as European Centre for Medium‐range Weather Forecasts analyses are also used. The mission was conducted on 5 June 2006, in the framework of the African Monsoon Multidisciplinary Analysis Special Observing Period. The targeted area was the Saharan heat low region, and Mali in particular, over which the inter‐tropical discontinuity was strongly perturbed by the convective system. To the north, away from the influence of the gravity current, the atmosphere exhibited a two‐layer structure, with a well mixed 3 km deep internal boundary layer capped by a stable layer 2–2.5 km deep layer referred to as the Saharan aerosol layer (SAL). The aerosol loading in the internal boundary layer (as determined by lidar) was observed to be much less than in the SAL above. Plumes of dust generated by strong low‐level winds west of the Hoggar as observed in Spinning Enhanced Visible and Infra‐Red Imager (SEVIRI) images, and possibly injected in the upper SAL through orographic lifting, contributed to the dust loading of the elevated SAL over much of the domain observed by the lidar. In the northernmost part of the domain investigated, the depth of the SAL top was decreased as the result of subsidence enhanced by the presence of an elevated jet associated with the monsoon trough and/or related to the return circulation of plain‐mountain wind system involving the Atlas range. Associated with the gravity current passing over dust sources, a large aerosol plume was observed by means of lidar measurements and SEVIRI imagery. The plume was seen to reach heights of approximately 3 km above ground level a few tens of kilometres behind the leading edge. Lidar measurements suggest that a fraction of the dust lifted by the gravity current is mixed into the SAL, and in some instances injected above the SAL. Copyright © 2007 Royal Meteorological Society
Baseline Acoustic Models for Brazilian Portuguese Using Kaldi Tools

Kaldi has become a very popular toolkit for automatic speech recognition, showing considerable improvements through the combination of hidden Markov models (HMM) and deep neural networks (DNN). However, in spite of its great performance for some languages (e.g. English, Italian, Serbian, etc.), the resources for Brazilian Portuguese (BP) are still quite limited. This work describes what appears to be the ﬁrst attempt to create Kaldi-based scripts and baseline acoustic models for BP us-ing Kaldi tools. Experiments were carried out for dictation tasks and a comparison to CMU Sphinx toolkit in terms of word error rate (WER) was performed. Results seem promising, since Kaldi achieved the absolute lowest WER of 4.75% with HMM-DNN and outperformed CMU Sphinx even when using Gaussian mixture models only.
The Path To Exascale Computing

Exascale supercomputers are the future of Cluster computing. In this paper we discuss the challenges of developing exascale supercomputers and provide suggestions on how to deliver the required performance from these new machines. The major point is that the current programming systems over valued the flops and ignore the data locality and data movement which becomes increasingly important. A cheaper innovative technologies are needed to improve the memory bandwidth and density for a better data man-
A Novel Risk Factor of Aggravating Atherosclerosis in Hemodialysis Patients; the Decreased Platelet Counts

Introduction: Hemodialysis patients cause coronary artery diseases to a higher rate and have a poor survival prognosis. Brachial ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) is a reliable measurement of arterial stiffness, and could predict mortality in patients with end-stage renal diseases. It is generally thought that atherosclerosis is not improved by hemodialysis treatments. We retrospectively examined whether hemodialysis treatments improved atherosclerosis or not, using the value of baPWV/systolic blood pressure (SBP) as an arteriosclerotic index. Methods: We examined the relationship between the value of baPWV, SBP and platelet counts of 14 hemodialysis patients and assessed the change of baPWV for 13 patients who were measured baPWV more than twice. Results: The value of baPWV and SBP showed the significant positive correlation (r=0.62, p<0.001), so the value of baPWV/SBP was used as an arteriosclerotic index. Value of 10 hemodialysis patients showed the improvement of the value of baPWV/SBP, and three patients showed the exacerbation of the value of baPWV/SBP. Three patients whose baPWV/SBP were not improved had the significant lower platelet counts (<90,000/μl) than the improved group (n=10; p<0.001). Conclusion: This is the first reported case to demonstrate that hemodialysis treatments improved baPWV/ SBP of some hemodialysis patients, which might represent hemodialysis treatments alleviated atherosclerosis, and decreased platelet counts (<90,000/μl) was associated with the exacerbation of the value of baPWV/SBP. The mechanisms of this relationship were elusive.
The Relationship among E-service Quality , Perceived Value on Customer Satisfaction and Customer Loyalty of Online Tourism in China

Purpose: The objective of this study is to investigate the relationship among e-service quality, perceived value on customer satisfaction, and customer loyalty of online tourism in China. Methodology: Survey mainly used questionnaire to investigate the relationship among e-service, customer relationship, and customer loyalty. There are 482 questionnaires were collected from 7 websites between 20 to 26 May 2017 in China. The data was analysed by correlation analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, and structural equation modelling analysis. Finding: E-service quality has a positive relationship to Perceived value; E-service quality has a positive relationship to customer loyalty; perceived value has a positive relationship to customer loyalty; perceived value is not positively related to customer satisfaction. Practical implications: To complete online travel service quality theory, find a standard for judging online travel websites, to improve the design and service of online travel companies. To help travel agencies build processional online travel service websites through investigating tourists’ perceived E-service quality and effective evaluation.
On cumulativity in the context of defeasible argumentation

Logics for nonmonotonic reasoning have often been described by the property they lack—that is, monotonicity—instead of by those they do enjoy. Gabbay, Makinson and Kraus proposed a set of core properties for inference relations that every nonmonotonic theory ought to have. Yet, there are some apparently well-behaved formalisms that fail to comply with some of these principles, such as most defeasible argumentation formalisms. In this article we determine the status of these core properties in the context of two well-known argumentation frameworks.
The Influence of Pre-treatment Time and Sulfuric Acid on Cellulose Nanocrystals

Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) were produced with different pre-mixing times between the cotton fiber and the sulfuric acid at room temperature, prior to the reaction at 45 °C. The CNC0 and CNC60 films were prepared using vacuum filtration methods. Based on transmission electron microscopy observations, the dimension and yield of CNCs gradually decreased with increasing pre-mixing time. Considering the balance of yield and quality of CNCs, CNC0 was chosen as the optimal product. The synthetic process played an important role in the production of CNCs. Various CNCs had similar crystallinity index values with the increased pre-mixing time. The decreased contact angle was the result of decreased dimensions of CNCs or the additional sulfate group at the surface of the CNCs. Both thermogravimetric and contact angle analysis are sensitive for the constituents of CNCs.
Outdoor 3D Illumination in Real Time Environments: A Novel Approach

Comprehensive enlightenment is one of the fundamental components that virtualize the real environment. Accordingly, sky shading is one of the important components considered in the virtualization process. This research introduces the Dobashi method of sky luminance; additionally, Radiosity Caster Culling is applied to the virtual objects as the second thought for outside illumination. Pre-Computed Radiance Transfer is connected to ascertain the division of patches. Moreover, for real sky shading, the Perez model is utilized. By pre-ascertaining sky shading vitality and outside light, the vitality of the entire open air is figured ahead of time. The open air vitality is shared on virtual articles to make the situations more practical. Commercial videos and cartoon creators could utilize the strategy to produce real outside situations. © 2017.
Integrated Management Systems and Sustainable Development

Management system standards, optional for organizations, have started to be considered as a strategic tool for organizations seeking institutional success and adopting innovative approaches. Establishing and managing these standards independently for the same organization yield some difficulties for organizations. It would rather be a more rational solution to provide a holistic view to all standards, which is to integrate them all. As inte - grated management systems can be shaped according to the needs of the organization, they involve different management system standards. Therefore, there is no common model defined for said integrated standards. These systems offer organizations a man agement philosophy for the processes to be successfully managed and to achieve desired results. When the emerging management philosophy is internalized by management and employees, a corporate culture is formed. The effects of integrated management systems on the sustainable development of the organization can be categorized as management, people, market, production, environmental and occupational health and safety totaling in six categories. Integrated management systems provide organizations with a man agement philosophy that enables processes to be successfully managed and to achieve desired results. Despite the advantages of integrated management systems for organizations, they may also have some drawbacks.
Asynchronous Data Processing Platforms for Energy Efficiency, Performance, and Scalability

The global technology revolution is changing the integrated circuit industry from the one driven by performance to the one driven by energy, scalability and more-balanced design goals. Without clock-related issues, asynchronous circuits enable further design tradeoffs and inoperation adaptive adjustments for energy efficiency. This dissertation work presents the design methodology of the asynchronous circuit using NULL Convention Logic (NCL) and multithreshold CMOS techniques for energy efficiency and throughput optimization in digital signal processing circuits. Parallel homogeneous and heterogeneous platforms implementing adaptive dynamic voltage scaling (DVS) based on the observation of system fullness and workload prediction are developed for balanced control of the performance and energy efficiency. Datapath control logic with NULL Cycle Reduction (NCR) and arbitration network are incorporated in the heterogeneous platform for large scale cascading. The platforms have been integrated with the data processing units using the IBM 130 nm 8RF process and fabricated using the MITLL 90 nm FDSOI process. Simulation and physical testing results show the energy efficiency advantage of asynchronous designs and the effective of the adaptive DVS mechanism in balancing the energy and performance in both platforms. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to express my deep gratitude to my advisor, Dr. Jia Di, for his guidance, encouragement, and support throughout my Ph.D. studies. His profound knowledge and rigorous attitude toward research have been inspiring me throughout my four years of research at the University of Arkansas and will benefit my professional career as well. I am grateful to my committee members: Dr. Dale Thomas, Dr. J. Patrick Parkerson, and Dr. Jingxian Wu for their suggestions and kind supports for my research work. It has been a great pleasure to work with my colleagues at the Cato Springs Research Center (CSRC), not only because of the talent but also the friendship. I cherish the wonderful time that we worked together. I would like to thank Dr. Brent Hollosi, Mr. Justin Roark, Dr. Landon Caley, Mr. Michael Hinds, Mr. Nathan Kuhns, Mr. Chien-Wei Lo, Mr. Francis Sabado, Ms. Thao Le, Mr. Jean Habimana, Mr. Andrew Suchanek, Mr. Brett Sparkman, Mr. John Brady, Mr. Brent Bell, Mr. William Bouillon, Mr. Lucas Weaver, Dr. Fahard Parsan, Dr. Ashfaqur Rahman, Dr. Matt Barlow, Mr. Guangyuan Cai, for their helpful discussion, great support and precious friendship. My gratitude also goes out to Dr. Chuanzhao Yu, for his tremendous help with the analog circuitry design. The love and support of a family is irreplaceable in both life and education. I offer my deepest gratitude to my wife, Jing Li, my son, Andrew Z. Men, my father, Huijun Men, my mother, Zhiqin Zhang, my sister, Liangkun Men, and my nephew Yunyi Cao, for their everlasting love, support and encouragement for all my endeavors. DEDICATION In memory of my grandma, Shenggu Zhang (1935-2015), whose courage and diligence continue to inspire.
KNOWLEDGE AND THE CONTEXT OF INTERACTION

Representing knowledge as information content alone is insufficient in providing us with an understanding of the world around us. A combination of context as well as reasoning of the information content is fundamental to representing knowledge, within information –based systems. The field of knowledge representation and knowledge management has thus far been concerned with providing structures and theories that can lead to some form of qualified intelligent reasoning, and contextualised information. By drawing upon previous research and applying and extending concepts of Semiotics and Symbiosis from the interaction design school of thought, this paper presents a conceptual framework for establishing the interplay between knowledge and users of knowledge via information systems constructs. Subsequently, by drawing upon notions of interfaces to knowledge, a conceptual framework which describes the relationship between the semiotic, symbiotic and interface to knowledge presented, along with a discussion of contemporary issues common to the field of knowledge management is developed.
Climate Change Impacts, Local Knowledge and Coping Strategies in the Great Ruaha River Catchment Area, Tanzania

Climate change has profound implications for managing freshwater resources and species dependent on those resources. Water is an essential component of the life support system of the earth, and a basic resource for socio-economic development. The Great Ruaha River Catchment Area is a dynamic and complex ecosystem requiring inclusion climate change adaptation in the management of the freshwater and natural resources available to reduce the severity of climate change impacts. Rainfall has decreased considerably during the last 10 - 30 years, and characterised by high interannual variability, seasonal shifts and variable seasonal distribution with unpredictable onset and ending of rains and shortened growing seasons. Temperature has increased considerably during this period causing increased evapotranspiration losses and incidences of pest and diseases. The freshwater of Ruaha River and it tributaries are vulnerable to changing climate, such as drought, which can negatively impact on the livelihoods of the people through decreased crop and livestock production, and on local biodiversity. The changing climate has had negative impacts on, among other aspects, land use and water shortages for irrigation, livestock and domestic uses. This has compelled riparian communities in the catchment to devises coping strategies including practicing irrigation to provide supplementary water to crops, using drought tolerant crop varieties, rationing of irrigation water in farmlands, wetland cultivation, and diversification to non-agricultural activities. Despite the existence of many indicators used for local climate forecasting, there are limitations to local adaptation, including among others, poverty, institutional aspects and limited integration of climate adaptation in various sectors. The bulk of indigenous knowledge could be integrated into formal adaptation planning, and may be important components of environmental conservation at the local level.
Your New Product Development (NPD) is Only as Good as Your Process: An Exploratory Analysis of New NPD Process Design and Implementation

Given industry competitiveness, how do firms' new product development (NPD) process designs differ when responding to an innovation mandate? How do NPD design elements differ across firms when implementing NPD processes? These design elements are strategic business unit (SBU) senior management involvement, business case content, customer interactions, and cross-functional integration. What are the consequences of different combinations of NPD process design elements for innovation productivity? We explore these questions via a collective case study of newly implemented NPD process designs at three different SBUs of a major US-based international conglomerate, 1 year after receiving the mandate to grow through innovation. Our analysis suggests that industry competitiveness and firm characteristics influence the NPD process design as SBUs employ distinct combinations of NPD design elements. The differential emphasis on design elements leads to variation in process design and divergence in innovation productivity.
The Welfare Effects of Inflation: A Cost-Benefit Perspective

This paper reviews theory and evidence of the welfare effects of inflation from a costbenefit perspective. Basic models and selected empirical results are discussed. Historically, in assessing the welfare effects of inflation, the distortion of money demand played a prominent role. More recently, interactions of inflation and taxation came into focus. Growth effects of inflation as well as welfare effects of unanticipated inflation and of inflation uncertainty are also addressed. To assess the policy question whether inflation should be reduced or eliminated, the costs of disinflation play a role. Finally, the trade-off between the benefits of reducing inflation and the costs of disinflation is discussed and an overall assessment of the net welfare effects of achieving price stability is provided.
ON THE ECONOMICS OF BIOLOGICAL INVASION: AN APPLICATION TO RECREATIONAL FISHING

Abstract The paper demonstrates four general mechanisms that may affect economically valuable species when exposed to biological invasion. We distinguish between an ecological level effect and an ecological growth effect. In addition, we present an economic quantity effect working through demand. Finally, we suggest that there is an economic quality effect that reflects the possibility that invasions affect the harvesting agents directly through demand‐side forces. For example, this may occur because the state of the original species or the ecosystem is altered. We depart from the existing literature by revealing ecological and economic forces that explain why different agents may lack incentives to control invasions. The theoretical model is illustrated by the case where escaped farmed salmon (EFS) influence wild Atlantic salmon fisheries.