Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ground penetrating radar as a subsurface environmental sensing tool

Ground penetrating radar (GPR) is considered as an environmental tool. The basic concepts involved in GPR are introduced briefly including the antennas, propagation, target scattering, and mapping. Target identification is important when using GPR since the scatterer can only be observed by evacuation. This is discussed in terms of mapping and complex natural resonances. GPR has been used and is being considered as a tool for the detection of a wide variety of subterranean features. A very brief description of the various applications of GPR is presented. In terms of environmental sensing, it has been applied to detect buried tanks, landfill debris, water levels, and contaminated fluids. The detection of various military devices also represent a serious environmental concern including landmines and unexploded ordnance. There are also possible applications involving the detection of buried utilities highway voids, grave sites. It has been used for examining archeological sites. The above list is far from complete because of the ever-expanding use of GPR. >
Strategies for increasing fertility in high productivity dairy herds

Over the years, the dairy cow has been selected and managed for high performance and efficiency in milk production. Thus, different factors influence the fertility of dairy cows of high productivity. It has been observed that genetic selection for large productions and metabolic adaptations may explain the greater requirement to maintain reproduction at satisfactory levels. Also, these animals are more susceptible to environmental factors such as increased temperature and humidity. Studies have shown that heat stress results in reduced estrous expression and impairs ovarian function, interfering with folliculogenesis and steroidogenesis. Likewise, under heat stress conditions, dry matter intake is reduced, prolonging the after calving negative energy balance and calving-conception interval. Thus, suboptimal reproductive performance is one of the main factors responsible for the economic losses in large dairy farms. In this context, numerous management practices have been introduced to improve reproduction in high productivity animals, making reproductive management increasingly complex in dairy farms. Among them, we can mention the implementation of management and nutrition conditions adapted to the periods of heat stress, as well as protocols and biotechniques that improve the quality of the follicles and oocytes. Thus, because genetic selection for better fertility animals is a characteristic of low heritability, the success of reproductive programs in highly productive herds depends on the association of the control of genetic and physiological factors with those of environmental, nutritional and management. This paper aims to discuss reproductive aspects of dairy cows of high productivity, the role of heat stress in this context, and the implementation of management, nutrition and biotechnology conditions, to minimize the adverse effects on the reproduction of these animals.
Combined application of Pseudomonas fluorescens and Purpureocillium lilacinum liquid formulations to manage Globodera spp on potato

Potato cyst nematodes (PCN), Globodera rostochiensis and Globodera pallida are major limiting factors to potato cultivation globally. Effective use of nematode antagonistic bio-agents is a potentially important component of the eco-friendly agro-farming. Pseudomonas fluorescens and Purpureocillium lilacinum are known for their nematode antagonistic potential and plant growth promotion ability. The effect of seed treatment with liquid suspension of P. fluorescens at 1 l/ton seeds and soil drenching with suspension of P. lilacinum at 5 l/ha, singly and jointly, was studied to minimize the damage caused by PCN in potato plants under field conditions in two regions in India. Both applications showed significantly greater PCN suppression and better plant growth promotion in comparison to solo application. The both application showed the highest reduction of cyst population (75.7%) in soil, female population (79.9%) in root and egg numbers per soil of each location (84%). The potato plants from P. fluorescens-seed treatment and P. lilacinum-soil drenching both applied plots were 33.5% taller with 45.6% more number of tubers than untreated plants. The tuber yield was also significantly higher (35.9%) in both application than untreated control. There was no significant difference on the root colonization of P. fluorescens and P. lilacinum in solo and both treatments.
ACTIVITY CONCENTRATIONS OF NATURAL RADIONUCLIDES IN HAY AND GRASS FROM CERTAIN AREAS OF BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

The amounts of natural radionuclides in the hay and grass from the city areas of Livno, Kakanj and Hadžici and the mountain Vlasic, were investigated in the research paper. Activity concentration of natural radionuclides 238U, 232Th, 226Ra and 40K were calculated by gamma spectrometry with high resolution HPGe detector and additional equipment. Amounts of natural radionuclides (Bq kg−1 fresh weight) in the hay samples were ranging from 0.1–2.6 for 238U, 0.01–0.6 for 232Th, 0.2–3.8 for 226Ra, and 275–817 for 40K. The following ranges of activity levels (Bq kg−1 fresh weight) of 238U, 232Th 226Ra and 40K were recorded in the grass samples: 0.06–0.70, 0.01–0.1, 0.11–1.1, 101–170, respectively. Obtained results did not point out at significantly elevated amounts of natural radionuclides in the samples of roughage feed. Recorded activity concentration of natural radionuclides in the samples of roughage feed indicated the acceptable amounts of natural radioactivity in the diet of ruminants in the observed areas. Key words: natural radioactivity, roughage feed, ruminants
Identification of the knockdown resistance (Kdr) mutations in Anopheles gambiae s.l. in the Mouila area, Southwest Gabon

In Gabon, members of the Anopheles gambiae complex are the reference vectors of Plasmodium falciparum. In Libreville and Port-Gentil, anopheles found resistant to organochlorines and pyrethroids. This resistance was related to the presence of the Kdr-east and Kdr-west genes. Otherwise, mechanisms of resistance in mosquitoes are still poorly known in Gabon. This study reports the situation of insecticide resistance and underlying mechanisms in An. gambiae s.l. populations from palm oil plantations from Mouila. All the anopheline populations tested showed resistance to almost all insecticides except organophosphates and carbamates families, which remain the only lethal molecules. Molecular identification of specimens revealed the presence of An. gambiae s.s. An. gambiae s.s. (93.14%) and An. coluzzii (6.86%). Kdr genotyping showed the presence of the L1014F mutation (kdrWest) as well as L1014S (kdr-East). This L1014F mutation was found at very high frequencies (0.99) in almost all sites surveyed, and in association with the L1014S (0.20). Results showed the mechanisms, which confer pyrethroids and organochlorines resistance to An. gambiae s.l. from Mouila area. These data, although preliminary, stress the need for monitoring of An. gambiae s.l. populations of these agricultural zones for a suitable insecticide resistance management system and vector control.
Market integration between wild and farmed seabream and seabass in Spain

ABSTRACT Gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) and European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) production from aquaculture has been increasing since the 1990s. Nowadays, about 95% of their production comes from aquaculture. In this study, we analyse if the rapid growth in the aquaculture production of both species has affected the capture fisheries prices of both species. In other words, we investigate if there is market integration between wild and farmed gilthead seabream and European seabass. In order to do this analysis, we use data from the main gilthead seabream and European seabass markets in Spain. The results show that there is no market integration between wild and farmed gilthead seabream and European seabass. This implies that capture fisheries are not affected by increases in the aquaculture production of both species. But gilthead seabream and European seabass aquaculture producers face a smaller demand that explains the difficulties this aquaculture segment is facing.
Usability of Academic Management System

The usability of system lies on the effectiveness and ease-of-use of a system. The main function of Academic Management System (AMS) is to assist university staff to manage students' records. A student record embodies in various and numerous courses management, finance, examination, accommodation and other essential information. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the concept of system usability. It subsequently observes and analyzes the usability of AMS at a university by applying Nielsen's heuristic evaluation method. As a preliminary study, the usability of AMS at one of the Institute of Higher Learning (IHL) in Malaysia has been chosen and assessed. The results obtained can be served as comparative guides for future betterments and references to the IHL. The study shows that the usability constructs selected are not being fulfilled in AMS. Recommendations to improve the usability of AMS are also discussed.
Hepatitis C virus infection of primary tupaia hepatocytes leads to selection of quasispecies variants, induction of interferon-stimulated genes and NF-κB nuclear translocation

Systems for in vitro culture of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) are essential tools to analyse virus–cell interactions and to investigate relevant pathophysiological aspects of HCV infection. Although the HCV replicon methodology has increased our understanding of HCV biology, this system does not reproduce the natural infection. Recently, tupaia (Tupaia belangeri chinensis) hepatocytes have been utilized for in vitro culture of HCV. In the present work, primary tupaia hepatocytes infected in vitro with HCV were used to analyse the evolution of HCV quasispecies in infected cells and the ability of the virus to influence antiviral and proinflammatory responses in cells sustaining virus replication. The results confirmed the potential of tupaia hepatocytes as a model for HCV infection, although this system is limited by rapid loss of differentiated cell phenotype in culture. These findings revealed an extraordinary plasticity of HCV quasispecies, which underwent rapid evolution to tupaia-tropic variants as early as 24 h after infection. It was also shown that HCV could activate interferon-sensitive genes, albeit modestly in comparison with other viruses such as Semliki Forest virus. Importantly, HCV activated NF-κB in primary hepatocytes and upregulated NF-κB-responsive genes including the chemokines MCP-1 and CXCL2 (MIP-2). This effect may play a role in induction of the hepatic inflammatory reaction in vivo. In summary, HCV quasispecies adapt rapidly to the specific biology of the host and HCV stimulates a blunted interferon response while inducing a proinflammatory phenotype in the infected cell.
About White Privilege Analysis

The turn toward “whiteness” in various disciplines, including philosophy of education, has proven a fruitful direction and framework. From a moral point of view, a focus on whiteness can be a powerful force for encouraging white students to recognize their complicity in racial injustice. Yet here I want to express some reservations about a key component of whiteness: “white privilege. ” White privilege analysis (WPA) rests on a presumption that white privilege is a structural feature of the Western sociopolitical order, particularly in the United States, and that there is something morally and politically wrong with its being so. Without challenging this core insight, with which I completely agree, I think that the way that WPA has proceeded involves some important limitations.
Preparation of Cuprous Oxide to Degrade 4,4-Isopropylidenediphenol by Photo Fenton-Like Process

Degradation of aqueous 4,4-isopropylidenediphenol by a photo Fenton-like process was investigated in this study using granular cuprous oxide (Cu 2O) as the photocatalyst. The granular Cu 2O, coated on glass beads, was prepared by a microwave-assisted thermoethanol method. Results from XRD analysis show the thermoethanol method successfully synthesized cuprous oxide. The UV-vis results demonstrate that the band gap energy of granular Cu 2O photocatalyst was narrower and imply the granular Cu 2O can be easily excited comparing to standard powder cuprous oxide. After considering operation cost, the optimal 4,4-isopropylidenediphenol degradation condition in this study was achieved when the system was exposed to 365 nm irradiation with light intensity of 2.79 mW/cm 2 and the presence of 30 mM hydrogen peroxide. The reaction rate constant reached 1.61x10 -2 min -1 and a degradation efficiency of 82% was achieved after 90 minutes of reaction. The results demonstrate that the system can effectively degrade aqueous 4,4-isopropylidenediphenol.
THE IMPACT OF ECONOMIC INFRASTRUCTURE ON LONG TERM ECONOMIC GROWTH IN BOTSWANA

The growth rate for the Botswana economy has slowed down in recent years. This has been explained by weak global demand in minerals, subdued commodity prices and persistent electricity supply problems. The government is making efforts to diversify the economy to tap from other sources of growth. The government has come with two initiatives to boast growth: increasing expenditure on roads and improved generation of electricity. Literature has failed to agree on the causal linkage between growth and infrastructure development. Previous studies employed different measures of infrastructure development and models resulting in conflicting findings. As a point of departure this study uses a log linear model and different measures of growth and infrastructure to examine the link between the two variables in the context of Botswana. Using vector error correction model and Ordinary Least Squares the study finds that long term economic growth is explained by both measures of infrastructure (electricity distribution and maintenance of roads). The impact of the former was more pronounced than the impact of the later. Evidence supports the infrastructure led growth hypothesis.
CD40 rs4810485 T>G polymorphism and susceptibility to ankylosing spondylitis in the Latvian population

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a potentially disabling form of a systemic chronic inflammatory arthritis affecting mainly the axial skeleton, with or without extraspinal manifestations. The genetic basis of AS is partly known. Moreover, many autoimmunityrelated genes have pleiotropic effects. Multiple functional polymorphisms in the genes encoding the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) superfamily of cytokines, their receptors, and signaling proteins, are associated with susceptibility to autoimmune diseases. These arguments prompted us to conduct a study evaluating a possible association of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs4810485 of the CD40 gene, found previously to be involved in other inflammatory diseases, with susceptibility to AS in the Latvian population; 98 AS patients from the Center of Rheumatology of Pauls Stradins Clinical University Hospital were selected as the case group and 154 ethnically related healthy subjects from the Genome Database of the Latvian Population were included as a control group. CD40 gene rs4810485 polymorphism was tested by a TaqMan Pre- Designed SNP Genotyping Assay. In the case of CD40 gene rs4810485 polymorphism, the minor allele is T. Compared to the control subjects, the case group had a higher frequency of the minor allele T (28.6% vs. 17.5%; p=0.00345). The T allele was the risk allele for disease onset (OR 1.88 (95% CI 1.23-2.88)). The relationship between the disease and genotypes was of moderate significance (V=0.20). As for genotypes, GT and TT were the susceptibility genotypes for AS (respectively OR 2.42 (95% CI 1.38 – 4.25) and 1.94 (95% CI 0.71-5.32)). The GG genotype had a protective feature (OR 0.43 (95% CI 0.25 – 0.73)). A significant difference was not found in the analysis of the SNP alleles and genotype distribution in the peripheral arthritis (p=0.85 and p=0.86, respectively) and uveitis (p=0.47 and p=0.3, respectively) subgroups of AS patients. The study data showed that CD40 gene rs4810485 polymorphism is associated with risk of AS.
Extracellular lipid particles in atherosclerosis and aortic stenosis

11 Tiivistelmä . 12 Introduction . 13 Review of the literature . 14 Normal aortic valve and arterial wall . 14 Aortic valve . 14 Valvular spongiosa, ventricularis, and fibrosa . 14 Arteries . 15 Aorta . 15 Coronary arteries . 16 Carotid arteries . 16 Structure of the arteries. 16 Lipoproteins . 17 Proteins in chylomicrons, VLDL, IDL, LDL, and HDL . 18 Chylomicrons, VLDL, IDL, LDL, HDL . 18 Chylomicrons . 19 VLDL, IDL, and LDL . 20 The physical and chemical characterist of VLDL and LDL . 20 HDL . 20 Main lipids in the lipoproteins . 22 Cholesterol and cholesteryl ester . 22 Triacylglycerols . 23 Phospholipids . 23 Fatty acids . 24 Aortic stenosis and atherosclerosis . 24 Proteoglycans in the valve leaflets and in arterial intima . 25 Matrix remodeling of aortic valve leaflets and intimal thickening in arteries . 26 Lipoproteins in aortic valve and arterial wall . 26 Modifications of apoB-100-containing lipoproteins in atherosclerosis . 28 Lipolysis and lipolytic enzymes . 28 Sphingomyelinase . 28
Multifactor asset pricing with a large number of observable risk factors and unobservable common and group-specific factors

This paper analyzes multifactor models in the presence of a large number of potential observable risk factors and unobservable common and group-specific pervasive factors. We show how relevant observable factors can be found from a large given set and how to determine the number of common and group-specific unobservable factors. The method allows consistent estimation of the beta coefficients in the presence of correlations between the observable and unobservable factors. The theory and method are applied to the study of asset returns for A-shares/B-shares traded on the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges, and to the study of risk prices in the cross section of returns.
A Control Strategy of a Single-phase H6-type Grid-connected Inverter with Low Harmonic Current

In order to reduce the total harmonic distortion (THD) of the grid-connected current caused by the high-frequency switching of the inverter, this paper combines the high efficiency single-phase H6-type inverter with LCL filter. The double closed-loop control method that consists of grid-connected current outer loop and capacitor current inner loop is put forward, by which a resonance peak of a low damping LCL filter is eliminated. In the grid-connected current outer loop, quasi proportion resonant (QPR) controller is adopted to overcome the steady-state error and weak anti-jamming capability in traditional PI controller. Finally, a simulation model is built in SIMULINK to verify the research. The simulation results show that, based on the single-phase H6-type inverter and LCL filter, the double closed-loop QPR control strategy can achieve the static error free tracking control of grid-connected current, which makes the system more stable and reduces the THD of grid-connected current effectively.
A gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar, Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae) multinucleocapsid nuclear polyhedrosis virus from France: comparison with a North American and a Korean strain

As part of a search for natural enemies of the gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar), virus-infected samples were collected near Toulouse, France. Light and electron microscope studies confirmed that the French strain is a multinucleocapsid nuclear polyhedrosis virus (MNPV). In vivo bioassays using the New Jersey strain of L. dispar, and comparing L. dispar MNPV (LdMNPV) strains from France, North America and Korea, showed that the French strain was the least active, whereas the North American strain had the highest activity. The viral efficacy of all strains was enhanced 200 to 1300-fold in the presence of 1% fluorescent brightener. The enhancement was highest in the American strain and lowest in the French strain. French LdMNPV (LdMNPVF) DNA cut with four restriction enzymes (BamHI, EcoRI, HindIII, and NotI) revealed minor fragment size differences, but many similarities when compared to the North American and the Korean strain. PCR amplification of a LdMNPV early gene (G22) was detected in the North American and the Korean strain, but not in the French strain.
Wages, Hours of Work and Job Satisfaction of the Elderly

This paper analyzes the effects of pension benefits, family conditions, and personal characteristics of the elderly on their labor supply, wages, hours of work and job satisfaction in the framework of the Nash bargaining that an old worker and a firm bargain over employment conditions such as wages, hours of work and job investment. It will be stressed that as workers become aged, they come to put more priority on hours of work, work circumstances, the contents of a job rather than wages, and make them improved by job investment in the form of lower wages. This paper also shows empirically, controlling the income effect of pensions, that the effects of the reduction scheme of the Employees' Pension Plan on hours worked and labor participation of the elderly had disappeared by 2000.
REVIEW Development of conservation strategies to mitigate the bycatch of harbor porpoises in the Gulf of Maine

In this paper I review the development of conservation strategies to address the bycatch of harbor porpoises Phocoena phocoena in Gulf of Maine gillnet fisheries from 1982, when bycatches were first detected, until a Take Reduction Plan was implemented in 1999. After consideration of several mitigation options, the plan included a combination of time-area closures and the use of acoustic alarms. Implementation of these measures reduced the annual bycatch of porpoises from a high of 2900 in 1990 to 323 in 1999, the first year in which bycatches fell below the potential biological removal (PBR) level. The success of these measures can be attributed to several factors, including a clear conservation goal, the PBR level, mandated by the US Marine Mammal Protection Act. The importance of PBR is underscored by contrasting experiences in the USA, where the goal was achieved, and those in Canada, where no comparable goal existed and no conservation measures were implemented. The availability of detailed scientific information on bycatch levels and abundance was critical to persuading all stakeholders of the need to act. Successful negotiation within the Take Reduction Team was facilitated by a long prior history of informal collaboration and dialogue. Finally, the monitoring program provided important feedback on the efficacy of measures in reducing bycatch, effectively closing the loop on the management process. This case study is instructive in several regards with respect to the elements necessary to address bycatch issues involving small cetaceans and gillnet fisheries.