Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Hamburg Quasar Survey - III. Further new bright quasars

We present a further list of 274 bright QSOs, 106 (195) of which have (17.5), selected semiautomatically from objective prism plates taken with the Calar Alto 80 cm Schmidt telescope. All QSOs have been confirmed by follow-up spectroscopy and we display their flux-calibrated spectra. We also discuss the completeness of our search technique and demonstrate that for and we have been able to recover roughly 85% of known QSOs; 10% were lost due to overlaps while 5% were lost during the selection process. In particular the bright QSOs (17 with ) are potential targets for follow-up spectroscopy both at high-resolution from the ground and in the ultraviolet from space.
Three Social Classroom Applications to Improve Student Attitudes

The paper presents results of a quasiexperiment where the three social classroom applications Post-It, WordCloud, and Categorizer were used in software architecture lectures. Post-It and WordCloud are applications that allow students to brainstorm or give comments related to a given topic. Categorizer is a puzzle game where the students are asked to place a number of terms in one of two correct categories. The three applications are multimodal HTML5 applications that enable students to interact in a classroom using their own digital devices, and the teacher’s laptop is used to display progress and results on the large screen. The focus of this study was to evaluate how the difference of these applications and how their integration into the lecture affected the students’ motivation, engagement, thinking, activity level, social interaction, creativity, enjoyment, attention, and learning. In addition, the study evaluated the usability and the technical quality of the applications. The results of the experiment show that the way such applications are integrated into a lecture highly affects the students’ attitude. The experiment also showed that the game-based application was on average better received among the students and that the students’ attitude was highly sensitive to the difficulty level of the game.
The role of guanxi networks in the performance of women-led firms in China

Purpose – This exploratory study aims to examine how knowledge acquired via guanxi (networks and connections) is enabling women in China to overcome a number of significant barriers and challenges in order to start and grow successful businesses. Design/methodology/approach – The authors undertook two in-depth interviews to qualitatively investigate the use of guanxi as a means of overcoming various barriers faced by Chinese women in establishing and growing their businesses. Findings – The findings suggest that family background (and, in particular, support from parents and spouses), experience, training, education and finance are key success factors influencing the performance of women-led firms in China. The experiences of the two entrepreneurs in the study demonstrate the importance of mentors in helping to develop a woman's business acumen and providing the right contacts to help overcome potential barriers to developing a successful business. Research limitations/implications – While this study prov.
A Study of Preferred Conflict-Management Behaviors among Small-School Principals: Effects of Gender and Experience.

It cannot be overstated the broad skill set managers must have to manage conflict in modern organizations (Lang, 2009; Ramani & Zhimin, 2010;). Few studies have explored this topic in smaller organizational settings where leaders often assume a greater number of roles and responsibilities. For this reason, this study analyzed preferred conflict management behaviors for small-school principals. A sample of head school principals answered a series of questions on a modified Thomas-Kilmann Instrument (TKI) – an instrument widely used in conflictmanagement studies. Behavioral preferences for male and female respondents were compared as in addition to exploring the effect of leadership experience. Although the gender of the principal had no statistical effect, leadership experience significantly explained preference for competing and compromising behaviors. Implications for conflict resolution skill development and research are discussed.
Flocking of Intelligent Swarm in Arbitrarily Finite Dimensional Spaces

This study studies a model of an n-dimensional intelligent swarm that consists of a group of mobile autonomous agents with an attraction-repulsion function governing the interaction of the agents. A distributed flocking motion control for the n-dimensional (n$2) intelligent swarm based on local information is proposed. The stability of intelligent swarm is studied with Lyapunov stability theory. Simulations showed that the swarm system can converge to goal regions while maintaining cohesiveness.
In Silico Structure Modeling and Characterization of Hypothetical Protein YP_004590319.1 Present in Enterobacter aerogens

Transfer RNAs anticodon post-transcriptional modifications are responsible to the high fidelity of protein synthesis. In eubacteria, two genome-encoded transfer RNA (tRNA) species bear the same CAU sequence as the anticodons, which are differentiated by modified cytidines at the wobble positions. We have determined the structure model of the hypothetical protein. The structure unexpectedly reveals an idiosyncratic RNA helicase module fused with a GCN5-related N-acetyltransferase (GNAT) fold, which intimately cross interact. The stereo chemical quality of the protein model was checked by using in silico analysis with SWISS- MODEL, PyMol, PROCHECK, ProSA and QMEAN servers. These results may be helpful for further investigations for determining crystal structure of the hypotheitical protein and developing target molecules to inhibit Enterobacter aerogenes.
An analysis of the types and pattern of uses and control rights over multiple uses of tank irrigation system in South India

The study examines the property rights related to conservation and sustainable management of tank irrigation systems in South India. Tanks are a symbol of social and cultural entity closely woven in to the livelihood of the common man as it serves a multitude of functions such as irrigation, livestock, fisheries, duck rearing and domestic water supply as well. A study of the types, pattern of uses and control rights over Tank irrigation system is important for the sustainable management and conservation of tank irrigation systems. The research was carried out during 2007-09 by selecting one system tank and 31 non-system tanks drawn from eight tank-chains present in two tank intensive districts (Villupuram and Kancheepuram) of Tamil Nadu state, India. Case study was conducted in the system tank to collect data using Participatory Rural Appraisal PRA method. From each of the 31 non-system tanks, a random sample of key informants ranging 12 to 15 users (totalling 400) who depended on various tank resources was drawn from the 31 non-system tanks for data collection through PRA. The results on the performance of tanks in the light of its multiple uses (or physical resource use efficiency) indicated that agricultural use dominated in terms of its use share performance in absolute terms. Uses such as domestic, Live Stock Drinking (LSD) and fishery performed better next to agriculture. The intensity of property rights in terms of access, withdrawal, management, exclusion and alienation, for the five uses of tank namely irrigation, social forestry, silt, fishing and bund trees were found to be exercised by various groups of users at lower level in most of the tanks. The uses namely domestic, duck rearing, hard grass collection, LSD and brick making were found to be enjoyed by the users at higher level of intensity of PR by the respective user group. The intensity of property rights seems to be high for those uses with less number of users than for the uses like agriculture, fishery, Social Forestry, silt and bund trees wherein there were too many users with competition among them to enjoy the benefits of the resource. Hence existence of a strong users’ institution would facilitate the users to enjoy the property rights over the tank resources at a higher level in an appropriate manner.
Broken Scale Invariance Ward Identities for Plasmon Correlators of the Homogeneous Electron Gas

We derive exact equations for a broken scale invariance of the homogeneous electron gas HEG, and show that they lead to a closed non-linear integral equation for the density-density correlation function when evaluated to leading order in the 1/N expansion. More generally, the identity leads to a sequence of more reﬁned systems of equations, which close on a ﬁnite number of one plasmon irreducible (1PLI) correlation functions
Curcumin encapsulated in poly-L-lactic acid improves its anti-inflammatory efficacy in vivo

Curcuma longa L. , commonly known as turmeric, has been used to treat some diseases such as gastric ulcers and rheumatoid arthritis. Studies showed that curcumin (Cur) has low water solubility and impaired bioavailability as a consequence of poor absorption, rapid hepatic and intestinal metabolism and also systemic elimination, justifying the development of new formulations to improve its bioavailability. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of Cur and nanoencapsulated curcumin (CurNano) on acute inflammatory response in rats. For this, we used the miniemulsification/evaporation technique to obtain nanoparticles of poly(L-lactic acid) containing curcumin at different concentrations (1, 3, 9, and 15%). The results of the encapsulation efficiency, scanning electron microscopy, calorimetry, and infrared showed that curcumin was efficiently encapsulated, but there was an upper limit of the concentration of curcumin that can be entrapped in the nanoparticles (around 2.6%). The biological efficacy was evaluated by experimental model of carrageenan-induced paw edema. The data showed an improvement in the anti-inflammatory activity of curcumin because CurNano at dose 50 mg/kg produced an inhibitory effect similar to that of Cur 400 mg/kg. This probably occurred because of an increase in the bioavailability of curcumin after its encapsulation.
A Complementary Review of Data-based Clustering Model and Data Analysis for Gene Expressions

Current microarray technology provides ways in which to get time-series expression knowledge for learning a large vary of biological systems. However, the expression knowledge tends to contain respectable noise that as a result might deteriorate the clustering quality. We tend to propose a knowledge-based clustering technique to include the information of gene-gene relations into the clustering procedure. Our technique first obtains the biological roles of every gene through a web mining process, next to teams genes supported their biological roles and also the gene ontology, and last applies a semi-supervised clustering model wherever the oversight is provided by the detected gene groups. Under the steerage of the information, the clustering procedure is able to address knowledge noise. We tend to evaluate our technique on an in public offered data set of human fibroblast response to serum. The experimental results demonstrate improved quality of clustering compared to the clustering strategies without any previous knowledge.
Rapid Homogenization of Multiple Sources: Genetic Structure of a Recolonizing Population of Fishers

Abstract Fishers (Martes pennanti) were extirpated from much of southern Ontario, Canada, prior to the 1950s. We hypothesised that the recent recolonization of this area originated from an expansion of the population in Algonquin Provincial Park, which historically served as a refuge for fishers. To test this hypothesis, we created a sampling lattice to encompass Algonquin and the surrounding area, and we collected contemporaneous DNA samples. We sampled fishers from each of 35 sites and genotyped them at 16 microsatellite loci. Using a Bayesian assignment approach, with no a priori geographic information, we inferred 5 discrete genetic populations and used genetic population assignment as a means to cluster sites together. We concluded that the Algonquin Park fisher population has not been a substantial source for recolonization and expansion, which has instead occurred from a number of remnant populations within Ontario, Quebec, and most recently from the Adirondacks in New York, USA. The genetic structure among sampling sites across the entire area revealed a pattern of isolation-by-distance (IBD). However, an examination of the distribution of genetic structure (FST/1−FST) at different distances showed higher rates of gene flow than predicted under a strict IBD model at small distances (40 km) within clusters and at larger distances up to 100 km among clusters. This pattern of genetic structure suggests increased migration and gene flow among expanding reproductive fronts.
Dispersibility, Shape and Magnetic Properties of Nano-Fe 3 O 4 Particles

Nano-Fe3O4 particles were prepared by a two-step microemulsion method, the influence of molar ratio of water to NP-5 (R), alkali concentration and temperature on dispersibility and shape of the nanoparticles were discussed. Magnetic studies were also carried out using VSM in this paper. It was found that the optimum preparation parameters are R = 6.0, alkali concentration = 2.5 mol.L–1, initial total iron concentration as 0.88 mol.L–1, and the temperature being 30°C, the prepared nano magnetite particles have uniform size and good dispersibility with a crystal structure belonging to cubicFe3O4 and lattice parameters of a = 8.273 A. The results of magnetic studies show, magnetic properties of particles are influenced by dispersibility of nanoparticles which depends on size of clusters. The better dispersibility of nanoparticles leads to more ordered inner magnetic vector, and so the stronger magnetic behavior of nano-Fe3O4 particles.
Category : Animal genomics A study on climatic adaptation of dipteran mitochondrial protein coding genes

Diptera, the true flies are frequently found in nature and their habitat is found all over the world including Antarctica and Polar Regions. The number of documented species for order diptera is quite high and thought to be 14% of the total animal present in the earth [1]. Most of the study in diptera has focused on the taxa of economic and medical importance, such as the fruit flies Ceratitis capitata and Bactrocera spp. (Tephritidae), which are serious agricultural pests; the blowflies (Calliphoridae) and oestrid flies (Oestridae), which can cause myiasis; the anopheles mosquitoes (Culicidae), are the vectors of malaria; and leafminers (Agromyzidae), vegetable and horticultural pests [2]. Insect mitochondrion consists of 13 protein coding genes, 22 tRNAs and 2 rRNAs, are the remnant portion of alpha-proteobacteria is responsible for simultaneous function of energy production and thermoregulation of the cell through the bi-genomic system thus different adaptability in different climatic condition might have compensated by complementary changes is the both genomes [3,4]. In this study we have collected complete mitochondrial genome and occurrence data of one hundred thirteen such dipteran insects from different databases and literature survey. Our understanding of the genetic basis of climatic adaptation in diptera is limited to the basic information on the occurrence location of those species and mito genetic factors underlying changes in conspicuous phenotypes. To examine this hypothesis, we have taken an approach of Nucleotide substitution analysis for 13 protein coding genes of mitochondrial DNA individually and combined by different software for monophyletic group as well as paraphyletic group of dipteran species. Moreover, we have also calculated codon adaptation index for all dipteran mitochondrial protein coding genes. Following this work, we have classified our sample organisms according to their location data from GBIF (https://www.gbif.org). Finally, result suggests that dipteran insects from different regions are gone through distinct selection process and even our outcome also indicate that dipteran mitochondrial genes from different climatic condition shows differential efficacy in their translation process.
Emerging nonvolatile memories to go beyond scaling limits of conventional CMOS nanodevices

Continuous dimensional scaling of the CMOS technology, along with its cost reduction, has rendered Flash memory as one of the most promising nonvolatile memory candidates during the last decade. With the Flash memory technology inevitably approaching its fundamental limits, more advanced storage nanodevices, which can probably overcome the scaling limits of Flash memory, are being explored, bringing about a series of new paradigms such as FeRAM, MRAM, PCRAM, and ReRAM. These devices have indeed exhibited better scaling capability than Flash memory while also facing their respective physical drawbacks. The consequent tradeoffs therefore drive the information storage device technology towards further advancement; as a result, new types of nonvolatile memories, including carbon memory, Mott memory, macromolecular memory, and molecular memory have been proposed. In this paper, the nanomaterials used for these four emerging types of memories and the physical principles behind the writing and reading methods in each case are discussed, along with their respective merits and drawbacks when compared with conventional nonvolatile memories. The potential applications of each technology are also briefly assessed.
Observations on the Fungi Associated with Esca and on Spatial Distribution of Esca-Symptomatic Plants in Apulian (Italy) Vineyards.

The paper reports the results of observations on the fungi associated with deteriorated wood of esca affected vines and the spatial distribution of diseased plants in 21 vineyards located in Apulia (Southern Italy). Examination of over 43,000 plants revealed that the incidence of plants showing symptoms of esca was 12% (5-18%) in vineyards younger than 10 years and 22% (4-54%) in older ones. The most common deteriorations of the wood were a white rot of soft consistency and a dark brown discoloration of a hard consistency including longitudinal black streaks. Mycological analysis was carried out on 554 diseased vines from 5 vineyards. Phellinus sp. was frequently isolated from white rot, whereas Phaeoacremonium spp. , Botryosphaeria spp. and Eutypa lata were more often isolated from dark brown tissues. Preliminary observations of maps of plants with symptoms of esca seem to indicate a tendency to aggregation, especially in young vineyards.
Cone morphology in Juniperus in the light of cone evolution in Cupressaceae s.l.

Summary The interpretation of the berry-like, fleshy cones of Juniperus was up to now based on concepts about the conifer cone which are dismissed since Florin (1951). Comparative morphological and developmental studies showed that ovules alternating with the last whorl of cone scales cannot be regarded as part of a sporophyll (cone scale; pre-Florin interpretation). These alternating ovules are inserted directly on the cone axis and continue the phyllotactic pattern of the cone scales. If the usual seed scale is regarded as an axillary brachyblast (short-shoot) bearing ovules, the ovules alternating with ultimate whorls of cone scales in Juniperus sect. Juniperus can be regarded as a brachyblast terminating the cone axis. This interpretation allows to establish a standard bauplan for Cupressaceae in which species of Cupressus and Juniperus form a transition series towards more and more reduced cones. This series coincides with phylogenetic trees based on molecular studies.
Evaluation of soybean meal replacement with sesame seed meal using activated charcoal as an additive in the diet of African catfish juveniles, Clarias gariepinus

This study evaluated the effects of 0.25% activated charcoal added to sesame seed meal (SSM) in partial replacement of soybean meal (SBM) of juvenile Clarias gariepinus diet on growth and haematological parameters for 70 day experimental period. Six experimental diets were formulated as: control diet 1 (100% SSM without activated charcoal), control diet 2 (100% SSM plus 0.25% activated charcoal), diet 3 (50% SMB+50% SSM), diet 4 (50% SBM+50% SSM+0.25% AC), diet 5 (30% SBM+70% SSM) and diet 6 (30% SBM+70% SSM+0.25AC). The inclusion of activated charcoal recorded significant improvement in mean weight gain, mean feed intake, specific growth rate (SGR), protein intake (PI) and protein efficiency ratio (PER). The control diet 2 recorded the highest values for growth and nutrient utilization parameters while diet 5 recorded the least values for these parameters. The best values for mean weight gain (65.33±5.57 g), specific growth rate (2.56±0.12% / day) and feed conversion ratio (0.71±0.05) were recorded in fish fed control diet 2 while the worst values (41.30±3.82 g, 1.92±0.11% / day, and 1.07±0.07, respectively) for these parameters were observed with diet 5. However, haematological parameters did not differ significantly across the diets. Thus, from this study 0.25% activated charcoal could favorably be added to the feed of C. gariepinus for optimum performance without any adverse effect on the health status of the fish.
Effects of vegetation control on ecosystem water use efficiency within and among four grassland ecosystems in China

Through 2–3‐year (2003–2005) continuous eddy covariance measurements of carbon dioxide and water vapor fluxes, we examined the seasonal, inter‐annual, and inter‐ecosystem variations in the ecosystem‐level water use efficiency (WUE, defined as the ratio of gross primary production, GPP, to evapotranspiration, ET) at four Chinese grassland ecosystems in the Qinghai‐Tibet Plateau and North China. Representing the most prevalent grassland types in China, the four ecosystems are an alpine swamp meadow ecosystem, an alpine shrub‐meadow ecosystem, an alpine meadow‐steppe ecosystem, and a temperate steppe ecosystem, which illustrate a water availability gradient and thus provide us an opportunity to quantify environmental and biological controls on ecosystem WUE at different spatiotemporal scales. Seasonally, WUE tracked closely with GPP at the four ecosystems, being low at the beginning and the end of the growing seasons and high during the active periods of plant growth. Such consistent correspondence between WUE and GPP suggested that photosynthetic processes were the dominant regulator of the seasonal variations in WUE. Further investigation indicated that the regulations were mainly due to the effect of leaf area index (LAI) on carbon assimilation and on the ratio of transpiration to ET (T/ET). Besides, except for the swamp meadow, LAI also controlled the year‐to‐year and site‐to‐site variations in WUE in the same way, resulting in the years or sites with high productivity being accompanied by high WUE. The general good correlation between LAI and ecosystem WUE indicates that it may be possible to predict grassland ecosystem WUE simply with LAI. Our results also imply that climate change‐induced shifts in vegetation structure, and consequently LAI may have a significant impact on the relationship between ecosystem carbon and water cycles in grasslands.