Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Prevalence and phylogenetic analysis of Fig mosaic virus and Fig badnavirus-1 in Iran

: Fig mosaic virus (FMV) and Fig badnavirus-1 (FBV-1) are two of the most important fig infecting viruses. The incidence and distribution of FBV-1 and FMV were determined by testing in PCR 138 asymptomatic and symptomatic samples. These samples were collected from 60 fig gardens and agricultural fields in three provinces of Iran. The fig infecting viruses FBV-1 and FMV, respectively, were detected in 92 (66.6%) and 34 (24.6%) samples collected from all the surveyed fields. Overall, 24 out of 138 (17.3%) samples showed mixed infections. The sequence analysis of a genomic fragment of 922 nt, comprising the entire ORF-2 and part of the 5’ termini of the ORF-3 of 10 selected FBV-1 Iranian isolates from different provinces, and of the type member from GenBank (Acc. No: JF411989), showed a variation ranging from 1 to 3% at nucleotide level and 1% at the amino acid level. The phylogenetic analysis grouped the FBV-1 isolates into two groups, with the Iranian isolates clustered in two distinct subgroups of group I, according to their geographical origin. In our research, the prevalence and sequence analysis of FBV-1 as the only identified DNA virus infecting fig trees, was studied for the first time in Iran.
Developing Who I Am: A Self-Determination Theory Approach to the Establishment of Healthy Identities

According to traditional theories of identity development, exploration of one's potentials and commitment to a coherent set of values, goals, and behaviors are important to healthy identity development. In this article, I examine how the Self-determination Theory framework provides an understanding of motivational processes that influence these identity concepts of exploration and commitment. Specifically, I review evidence that suggests that the concept of basic psychological needs frames the development of identity through processes of intrinsic motivation and internalization and that need support for these processes by important relationship partners may facilitate outcomes, including academic interest, engagement, and achievement, as well as overall well-being. Finally, I provide a glimpse of potential future directions of research, particularly emphasizing the role of need support when identity is in flux (e.g., reactivated exploration either by self-directed or environmentally prompted events) or wh.
End-of-Life Decision Making in Pediatric Oncology and Intensive Care inGermany Results of a Multi-professional Questionnaire Study

Objective: In modern medicine, not all possible treatments are in the best interest of a patient. Decisions to withhold or withdraw therapies should be based on the patient’s or guardian's wishes and on the medical indication. To define the latter medical teams have to find decisions themselves, which involves not only physicians, but in particular nurses and psychologists – and in case of disagreements emotional conflicts may result. Methods: We asked how end-of-life decisions are made in German pediatric oncology and intensive care units, and what problems were observed. An online questionnaire was sent to team members of 42 hospitals, covering 32 items, including personal data, the process of decision-making talks itself, and finally, whether they were a burden for teams or led to conflicts within them. Data were studied by a descriptive analysis. Results: From 282 questionnaires, we received 77 answers (27.30%; i.e. 59 physicians, 6 nurses, 10 psychologists/others). In most cases, 4-5 participants were involved in end-of-life decision talks, always including physicians, often nurses or other professional groups. A standard procedure was used only by a minority, in particular in intensive care units, as were cooperation with a clinical ethics committee or with a neutral observer. Many respondents reported moderately burdening talks, and conflicts in decision making were a burden to the teams. These conflicts took place on all levels. The feeling of being ignored or neglected in an end-of-life decision talk was described by some respondents. Conclusion: We conclude that standard operation procedures may be of some help; particularly regarding the participation of nurses, there still is some room for improvement. Whether ethical committees or external experts are helpful remains open. However, as conclusion, our impression is that the status quo is not too bad.
RoboCup 2016 Rescue Simulation League Team Description GUC ArtSapience ( Egypt )

This paper describes the contribution of the GUC ArtSapience team in the Rescue Agent Simulation League in RoboCup 2016 competition. Each section describes the current approach and the changes that the team applied since last year [6]. The changes this year include enhancing the searching algorithm using Dijkstra as well as classifying the map into prioritized clusters. In addition, introducing a new supervised learning technique for predicting the civilian estimated time of death (ETD). Moreover, optimizing the agents task assignment problem using the Hungarian algorithm. Finally, using the centers for communication protocols.
Mechanism of Alcohol Related Disruption of the Error Monitoring and Processing System

The error monitoring and processing system, EMPS is the system located in the substantia nigra of the midbrain, basal ganglia and cortex of the forebrain, and plays a leading role in error detection and correction. The main components of EMPS are the dopaminergic system and anterior cingulate cortex. Although, recent studies show that alcohol disrupts the EMPS, the ways in which alcohol affects this system are poorly understood. Based on current literature data, here we suggest a hypothesis of alcohol-related glucose-dependent system of error monitoring and processing, which holds that the disruption of the EMPS is related to the competency of glucose homeostasis regulation, which in turn may determine the dopamine level as a major component of EMPS. Alcohol may indirectly disrupt the EMPS by affecting dopamine level through disorders in blood glucose homeostasis regulation. Keywords—Alcohol related disruption, Error monitoring and processing system, Mechanism.
Terahertz pulse propagation through small apertures

Transmission of single-cycle terahertz pulses through subwavelength apertures is experimentally studied in the near-field zone. Measurements of throughput for aperture sizes d as small as λ/300 show that the theoretical d3 law requires a correction term which takes into account the physical thickness of the aperture screen. Frequency dependent transmission of the broad band pulses explains changes in their spectral and temporal characteristics. Practical application of small apertures in near-field microscope probes allows achievement of spatial resolution of 7 μm for pulses with a broad spectral content of λ=120–1500 μm.
Nonverbal cues in the employment interview: Links between applicant qualities and interviewer judgments.

The role of nonverbal behavior in the employment interview inference process was investigated using a modified Brunswik lens model. Thirty-four job interviews for a n actual research assistant position were conducted and videotaped. Job applicants' self-appraised motivation to work and social skill were assessed, and their nonverbal behaviors during the interview were scored. Eighteen judges with training and several years' experience in employment interviewing watched the videotaped interviews and rated the applicants on their motivation, social skill, and "hireability. " Social skill was found to be more accurately inferred by the judges a s a group than was motivation t o work. Applicants' social skill was apparently transmitted t o the judges via three nonverbal cues. In contrast, there was a lack o f correspondence between cues correlated with applicants' selfappraised motivation to work and those used by judges in making their attributions. Implications for employment interview training are discussed. Not much empirical evidence supports the validity o f the employment interview as a means o f personnel selection (Ulrich & Trumbo, 1965). However, as the interview is considered by most employers to be an important part of the hiring process, investigators have examined various components o f the interview process t o discover what distinguishes a n unsuccessful interview from a successful interview. The applicant's nonverbal behaviors are often assumed by interviewers to provide useful information that is not likely t o b e expressed verbally (Schlenker, 1980). Recent research has demonstrated the importance of nonverbal behaviors in the interview situation (Edinger & Patterson, 1983). Unfortunately, most previous research focuses on only half the role of nonverbal behaviors— connections between the job applicant's behavior and the interviewer's attributions. The present study investigates the full role o f nonverbal behaviors in job interviews, that is, the connections between the applicant's job-related qualities and nonverbal behaviors,
Frequency-domain high frame-rate 2D vector flow imaging

Conventional ultrasound flow imaging systems are limited to estimate only the axial component of blood velocity. In this work, a method to produce 2D vector Doppler maps is proposed and experimentally tested. The local displacements between consecutive high frame-rate (HFR) radio-frequency (RF) images are estimated in the frequency domain. Each image is subdivided in partially overlapped matching blocks, and the average local displacements in a block are calculated from the difference of spectral phases in consecutive frames. The method has been tested by simulations and experiments by using the ULA-OP research scanner. Preliminary in-vivo tests have been conducted and an example of the femoral vessels of a healthy volunteer is presented. The performance of the method are evaluated through the relative error bias and standard deviation, presenting values lower than 10% in standard conditions.
Protective effects of in vitro supplementation of ascorbic acid on plasma membrane, acrosomal membrane and mitochondrial activity index of human spermatozoa

Spermatozoa were the first type of cells reported to produce free radicals. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) mediated damage to sperm is a significant contributing factor to male infertility. Impaired motility, impaired fertilization and oxidative DNA damage are three inter-related mechanisms that account for oxidative stress mediated male infertility. Spermatozoa lack cytoplasmic antioxidant defense due to exclusion of cytoplasm and therefore rely upon antioxidants present in the seminal plasma. Centrifugation of a semen sample prior to its use for intra-uterine insemination (ICI) and in vitro Fertilization (IVF) induce oxidative stress. Therefore there is need to supplement the semen with antioxidants. In the present investigation attempts were made to study the effects of in vitro supplementation of non-enzymatic antioxidant ascorbic acid on sperm plasma membrane integrity, acrosome intactness and mitochondrial activity index. There was highly significant (p<0.001) improvement in these parameters that relate to healthy state of the spermatozoa.
Glutathione as a possible replacement of sulfur dioxide in winemaking technologies: a review.

The paper presents a literature review regarding the role of glutathione as a natural antioxidant and its usage in various fields, with a special emphasis on aspects relevant to winemaking. Recent studies demonstrated the beneficial influence of the addition of glutathione in the white wine production technology, especially for the preservation of the varietal character of the wines obtained from aromatic grapes. Considering that in all living cells it has a similar role of antioxidant protection, it is a logical assumption that glutathione can contribute to the reduction of the dosage of sulfur dioxide used for wine protection and, in the future, it might be a good candidate for the replacement of sulphur dioxide.
Time- and space-resolved dynamics of ablation and optical breakdown induced by femtosecond laser pulses in indium phosphide

Femtosecond time-resolved microscopy has been used to analyze the structural transformation dynamics (melting, ablation, and solidification phenomena) induced by single intense 130 fs laser pulses in single-crystalline (100)-indium phosphide wafers in air on a time scale from ∼100 fs up to 8 ns. In the ablative regime close to the ablation threshold, transient surface reflectivity patterns are observed by fs microscopy on a ps to ns time scale as a consequence of the complex spatial density structure of the ablating material (dynamic Newton fringes). At higher fluences, exceeding six times the ablation threshold, optical breakdown causes another, more violent ablation regime, which reduces the energy deposition depth along with the time of significant material removal. As a consequence, ablation lasts longer in a ring-shaped region around the region of optical breakdown. This leads to the formation of a crater profile with a central protrusion. In the melting regime below the ablation threshold, the melti.
Efficiency evaluation of MMSPC/CHB topologies for automotive applications

As an increasing amount of research is investigating the replacement of conventional combustion engines in automo-biles with an electric power train, there has been significant interest in novel inverter topologies to replace two-level inverters. This paper compares two multilevel topology systems with integrated batteries, and evaluates their application in an electric vehicle. A state-of-the-art two-level inverter is considered for reference. Comprehensive simulations of both the converter power electronics and the battery are performed, in order to compare each topology over a wide power and switching frequency range. We have shown that battery-integrated multilevel converter systems can achieve higher efficiencies than two-level inverters, especially at low output power. This makes them very well suited for Electric Vehicle (EV) use, as most of the driving cycle occurs at low loads.
Analysis of lightning detection network data for selected areas in Canada

An analysis of Canadian Lightning Detection Network (CLDN) data recorded during years 2004 - 2006 is performed for two selected areas in Canada within a 20-km radius around two tall structures: the CN Tower (CNT, 553 m) in Toronto and the Superstack (SS, 380 m) in Sudbury. The explored lightning characteristics include stroke polarity, lake water or land termination (WT or LT), ground stroke densities Ngs, stroke peak currents (including values of I50%, I95%, I5%), distributions of parameters. The results show noticeable differences between characteristics of lightning terminated to lake water and land. In Toronto area (Ngs ≈ 3.24 strokes/(km2·year)), a commonly accepted feature, according to which positive strokes exhibit dominating peak currents in comparison to negative ones, is confirmed only for WT lightning (not close to the CNT), especially in the range of high currents. For LT lightning in the range of current amplitudes close to 50% values, the negative strokes are characterized by larger peaks (by more than 30%) with respect to positive ones. No positive strokes to water were recorded within 5 km near the CNT during the period of analysis. While WT events exhibit a lower Ngs than LT ones, they show larger peak currents. The Sudbury area, characterized by a lower lightning activity (Ngs ≈ 0.91 strokes/(km2·year)), shows the common relation between peak currents of positive and negative polarities (first are dominating). For the SS, the estimated number of upward lightning looks rather low: 0.47 strokes or 0.37 flashes per year. For the CNT, it is about 32 strokes or 14 upward flashes per year. Distributions of Ngs along the distance from the tall objects, beside the increased levels near object, contain dips next to object (up to 3 - 7 km).
Frauen in IT- und ausgewählten technischen Ausbildungen und Berufen in Baden-Württemberg

Der aktuelle Bedarf an Arbeitskraften im IT-Bereich in Deutschland hat in den letzten Jahren in der Offentlichkeit zunehmend Aufmerksamkeit gefunden und politische Interesse geweckt. Derzeit sind ca. 14.500 offene Stellen fur "IT-SpezialistInnen" bei den deutschen Arbeitsamter registriert. AbsolventInnen, die nicht Informatik studiert haben, vor allem aus benachbarter Studienfachern wie Natur- und Ingenieurwissenschaften oder Betriebswirtschaft passen sich an die Anforderungen des IT-Arbeitsmarktes an und decken zum grosen Teil den Fachkraftemangel in der Branche. Besonders in diesen Studienfachern ist der Anteil von Frauen sehr gering, und dieser Mangel an den nachgefragten Qualifikationen fur die Beschaftigung im IT-Bereich stellt eine formelle Barriere fur die Beteiligung von Frauen im IT-Arbeitsmarkt dar: zur Zeit sind nur 18% der Computerfachkrafte weiblich. Die Bedeutung der IT-Branche in Baden-Wurttemberg, die als "die Zukunftsbranche fur die Wirtschaft des Landes" im politischen Bereich angesehen wird, spricht dafur, auch Frauen als potenzielle Arbeitskraft und Mitgestalterinnen der wirtschaftlichen Entwicklung in dieser Branche mit einzubeziehen. Um die Partizipation von Frauen im IT-Bereich effektiv zu unterstutzen, ist es notwendig, ein genaues Bild der Situation von Frauen in diesem Bereich zu haben bzw. zu erkennen, welche strukturellen sowie symbolischen Faktoren auf die Beteiligung von Frauen in diesem Bereich wirken. Die vorliegende Studie will mit Hilfe von sozialwissenschaftlichen Methoden die Situation von Frauen in der IT-Branche in Baden-Wurttemberg sowie ihre Beteiligung in Informatikstudiengangen und in solchen Hochschulausbildungen analysieren, die derzeit im IT-Bereich nachgefragt werden.
Joint determination of the choice of growing season and economic efficiency of maize in Bangladesh

The paper jointly evaluates the determinants of the choice of maize growing season (winter vs. summer maize) and economic efficiency of individual producers in Bangladesh using a sample selection framework applied to stochastic frontier models. Model diagnostics reveal that sample selection bias is significant, thereby justifying the use of this approach. Probit results reveal that the probability to choose winter maize are influenced positively by gross return, subsistence pressure and soil suitability, whereas extension contact influences choice negatively. Stochastic cost frontier results reveal that a rise in input prices and output level increases production cost as expected. Among the variables representing the production environment, soil suitability and stability of mean temperature reduce cost, whereas precipitation increases cost. The mean level of economic efficiency is estimated at 0.91, implying that scope still exists to reduce cost further by jointly eliminating technical and allocative inefficiency. Policy implications include measures to improve soil suitability, development of temperature-resistant varieties and price policies to check input price rise while boosting maize price, which will synergistically increase adoption rate as well as profitability of winter maize cultivation in Bangladesh.
Analysis of image segmentation methods on Amrita's Indian side face profile database

Amongst an array of research topics, image segmentation is the most challenging one. This along with image thresholding are the fundamental problems that arise in image processing. There are 2 main methods in image segmentation. They are automatic and manual. In the automatic method, we do not require any person to operate on the segmentation, whereas in the manual very minimal user interaction is required. It is proven that the interactive or the manual approach gives a better result than the automatic approach. This paper focuses on the comparisons and the implementations of the segmentation methods and their analysis. It also gives insights whether automatic or manual methods are better. The algorithms that we used here are modified Level Set algorithm, Gaussian Mixture model, Support Vector Machine. Finally, all the results are obtained and are compared and contrasted.
An approach for clustering test data

The existing test techniques and criteria are considered complementary because they can reveal different kinds of faults and test specific aspects of the program. The functional criteria, such as Category Partition, are difficult to be automated, and are usually manually applied. Structural and fault-based testing criteria generally provide measures to evaluate the test data being used. The existing supporting tools produce a lot of information including: input and produced output, structural coverage, mutation score, faults revealed, etc. However, such information is not linked to functional aspects of the software. In this work, we present an approach based on machine learning clustering techniques that uses the test results for clustering test data. It allows the automation of functional test, since the obtained clusters can be considered equivalence classes. In addition to this, they relate test results from the application of different test techniques. A study case is described, and the use of the clusters is illustrated during regression test for ordering and reduction of test sets.
Frequency response assessment of Eastern and Western Interconnections

With higher penetrations of renewable energy resources, assessing frequency response trends becomes extremely important. It is a critical component to the reliable operation of the bulk power system, particularly during disturbances and restoration. This paper presents a new and comprehensive statistical method to evaluate the trends for the Eastern and Western Interconnections of the North American electric grid. The statistical analysis tests whether observable decreases or increases between four annual data points constitute a statistically significant trend. The probability distribution of frequency response and contributing factors to it changes over the years are also examined. The statistical significance tests and studies have indicated a stable general trend for the Eastern and Western Interconnections over time.
A soft-switching PWM DC-DC converter with modified flying capacitor

This paper proposes a new technique for the soft switching isolated flying capacitor in dc to dc converter. The main features of the proposed converter are: constant frequency operation, wide range of output voltage and output voltage control by pulse width modulation (PWM). The operating principle, theoretical analysis and design example of the proposed converter are provided in this paper. The experimental result is also presented and discussed in this paper. The prototype unit which was developed shows that the switching losses are eliminated as all the switches are operating in soft switching conditions.
Improvement of IPMSM performance through a mixed radial-tangential rotor structure

In this paper an IPMSM (Interior Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor) rotor configuration optimization is proposed in order to increase the performances in terms of torque, limiting at the same time the rotor leakage flux. The final mixed radial and tangential rotor configuration here proposed and described determines a reduction in PM material quantity of about 25% compared to a tangential IPMSM one with the same dimension and weight, together with an increase of the motoring torque of about 50%. Some simulation carried out by using a FEM software and a comparative analysis with two traditional IPMSMs rotor configurations show that a significant improvement can be achieved with limited changes in the rotor geometry, without varying the stator iron core structure and windings.