Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Gaia DR2 proper motions of dwarf galaxies within 420 kpc

A proper understanding of the Milky Way (MW) dwarf galaxies in a cosmological context requires knowledge of their 3D velocities and orbits. However, proper motion (PM) measurements have generally been of limited accuracy and are available only for more massive dwarfs. We therefore present a new study of the kinematics of the MW dwarf galaxies. We use the Gaia DR2 for those dwarfs that have been spectroscopically observed in the literature. We derive systemic PMs for 39 galaxies and galaxy candidates out to 420 kpc, and generally find good consistency for the subset with measurements available from other studies. We derive the implied Galactocentric velocities, and calculate orbits in canonical MW halo potentials of low (0.8 × 1012 M⊙) and high mass (1.6 × 1012 M⊙). Comparison of the distributions of orbital apocenters and 3D velocities to the halo virial radius and escape velocity, respectively, suggests that the satellite kinematics are best explained in the high-mass halo. Tuc III, Crater II, and additional candidates have orbital pericenters small enough to imply significant tidal influences. Relevant to the missing satellite problem, the fact that fewer galaxies are observed to be near apocenter than near pericenter implies that there must be a population of distant dwarf galaxies yet to be discovered. Of the 39 dwarfs: 12 have orbital poles that do not align with the MW plane of satellites (given reasonable assumptions about its intrinsic thickness); 10 have insufficient PM accuracy to establish whether they align; and 17 satellites align, of which 11 are co-orbiting and (somewhat surprisingly, in view of prior knowledge) 6 are counter-orbiting. Group infall might have contributed to this, but no definitive association is found for the members of the Crater-Leo group.
Screening natural oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) populations using SSR markers

The assessment of genetic diversity and genetic structure of natural oil palm populations is carried out mostly for crop improvement purpose. A set of 16 microsatellite markers was used to genotype 494 palms from 49 populations belonging to ten African countries, three breeding and one semi-wild materials. The number of alleles per locus varied from 8 to 22, making a total of 209 alleles over the 16 microsatellite markers. The effective number varied from 1.1 in all populations from Madagascar to 4.7 in population 40 from Nigeria (mean = 3.30. Mean expected heterozygosity was high (0.644) ranging from 0.033 in population 3 from Madagascar to 0.803 in population 40 from Nigeria. The average genetic distance among oil palm populations was 0.684. An UPGMA cluster analysis showed three main clusters. One cluster grouped accessions from Madagascar while populations from Senegal, Guinea and Sierra Leone formed the second cluster. Populations from Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon, Zaire, Angola, Tanzania and the breeding materials formed the third cluster. The grouping of Deli MPOB and Deli Dabou breeding materials into the same sub-cluster confirmed their common origin. The results acquired lead to redefining new strategies to make the most of the new genetic resources in oil palm improvement. (Resume d'auteur)
Comparison between Static and Dynamic Forecast in Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average for Seasonally Adjusted Headline Consumer Price Index

This empirical study has provided interpretive outcome from a univariate forecast using Box-Jenkins ARIMA methodology. The HCPI_SA seasonally adjusted data for Sierra Leone shows a robust model outcome with three months ahead prediction based on the STATIC method result. Test results like Autocorrelation and also comparative values for MAPE and the Inverted Root values have indicated that the model is a good fit. Despite better choice of outcome from the STATIC result in comparison to DYNAMIC forecast, the conclusion a cautious means of advice when using results for policy outcomes and with comparative forecasts highly recommended a way forward in guiding policy makers’ decision.
Spatio-temporal variability of soil respiration in a spruce-dominated headwater catchment in western Germany

CO2 production and transport from forest floors is an important component of the carbon cycle and is closely related to the global atmosphere CO2 concentration. If we are to understand the feedback between soil processes and atmospheric CO2, we need to know more about the spatio- temporal variability of this soil respiration under different environmental conditions. In this study, long-term measure- ments were conducted in a spruce-dominated forest ecosys- tem in western Germany. Multivariate analysis-based simi- larities between different measurement sites led to the detec- tion of site clusters along two CO2 emission axes: (1) mainly controlled by soil temperature and moisture condition, and (2) mainly controlled by root biomass and the forest floor lit- ter. The combined effects of soil temperature and soil mois- ture were used as a time-dependent rating factor affecting the optimal CO2 production and transport at cluster level. High/moderate/weak time-dependent rating factors were as- sociated with the different clusters. The process-based, most distant clusters were identified using specified pattern char- acteristics: the reaction rates in the soil layers, the activation energy for bio-chemical reactions, the soil moisture depen- dency parameter, the root biomass factor, the litter layer fac- tor and the organic matter factor. A HYDRUS-1D model sys- tem was inversely used to compute soil hydraulic parame- ters from soil moisture measurements. Heat transport param- eters were calibrated based on observed soil temperatures. The results were used to adjust CO2 productions by soil mi- croorganisms and plant roots under optimal conditions for each cluster. Although the uncertainty associated with the HYDRUS-1D simulations is higher, the results were con- sistent with both the multivariate clustering and the time- dependent rating of site production. Finally, four clusters with significantly different environ- mental conditions (i.e. permanent high soil moisture condi- tion, accumulated litter amount, high variability in soil mois- ture content, and dominant temperature dependence) were found to be relevant in explaining the spatio-temporal vari- ability of CO2 efflux and providing reference-specific char- acteristic values for the investigated area.
Biocompatibility of titanium surface nanostructures following chemical processing and heat treatment

The aims of the present study were to investigate alkali and heat treatment of titanium surfaces, and to evaluate the ability of such modified surfaces to improve osteogenic differentiation of rat bone marrow (RBM) cells to increase the success rate of titanium implants. To improve bone differentiation on titanium alloy implants, titania nanosheet (TNS) structures were fabricated on titanium surfaces by NaOH and heat treatment at 200, 400, 600, and 800°C. Cell behavior on heattreated TNS-modified titanium was investigated, and the ability of the modified surfaces to affect osteogenic differentiation of RBM cells and to increase the success rate of titanium implants was evaluated. The nanoscale network structures formed by alkali etching markedly enhanced the cell adhesion and osteogenesis-related gene expression of RBM cells. Other cell behaviors, such as proliferation, alkaline phosphatase activity, osteocalcin deposition, and mineralization, were also markedly increased on heat-treated TNS-modified titanium. Our results suggest that nanostructure-modified titanium implants promote osteogenic differentiation, which may improve biointegration of these implants into alveolar bone.
MULTI OBJECT DETECTION AND TRACKING USING OPTICAL FLOW DENSITY – HUNGARIAN KALMAN FILTER (OFD - HKF) ALGORITHM FOR VEHICLE COUNTING

Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) is one of the most developing research topic along with growing advance technology and digital information. The benefits of research topic on ITS are to address some problems related to traffic conditions. Vehicle detection and tracking is one of the main step to realize the benefits of ITS. There are several problems related to vehicles detection and tracking. The appearance of shadow, illumination change, challenging weather, motion blur and dynamic background such a big challenges issue in vehicles detection and tracking. Vehicles detection in this paper using the Optical Flow Density algorithm by utilizing the gradient of object displacement on video frames. Gradient image feature and HSV color space on Optical flow density guarantee the object detection in illumination change and challenging weather for more robust accuracy. Hungarian Kalman filter algorithm used for vehicle tracking. Vehicle tracking used to solve miss detection problems caused by motion blur and dynamic background. Hungarian kalman filter combine the recursive state estimation and optimal solution assignment. The future positon estimation makes the vehicles detected although miss detection occurance on vehicles. Vehicles counting used single line counting after the vehicles pass that line. The average accuracy for each process of vehicles detection, tracking, and counting were 93.6%, 88.2% and 88.2% respectively.
Rapid enumeration of viable Mycobacterium avium subsp paratuberculosis in milk

Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (Map) is suspected of playing a role in human Crohn's disease and of surviving industrial pasteurisation of milk. Although PCR and culture methods are able to detect Map in milk, no method for the rapid detection of viable whole cells in milk has been established thus far. We have developed a method based on solid phase cytometry (SPC) to enumerate Map in 50 ml of spiked pasteurised milk within a single working day. SPC is an innovative technique which allows the enumeration of fluorescently labelled bacteria as single cells on a membrane filter. The SPC procedure consists of a membrane filtration, the labelling of bacteria on the membrane filter with an Ar laser excitable fluorescent dye, the automated counting in 3 min by the ChemScan apparatus (Chemunex, Ivry-sur-Seine, France) and a visual confirmation by means of an epifluorescence microscope. An extensive sample clean-up was developed in order to render the milk filterable and to eliminate the predominant background flora. This pretreatment consisted of a chemical milk destruction, several centrifugation steps, decontamination with 0.75 % cetyl pyridinium chloride, an enzymatic treatment, a prefiltration step and a purification by means of hydrophobic C8 polymeric beads. In the actual SPC procedure, the Map retained on the membrane filter were fluorescently labelled using the non-specific viability substrate ChemChrome V6 which stains all living microorganisms. Therefore, the selectivity of the method depends on sample pretreatment only, i.e. milk destruction, decontamination and isolation on C8 beads. For spiked pasteurised milk inoculated with 10-10 mycobacterial cells recoveries between 10-50 % were obtained. On-going research focuses on a selective labelling procedure and the detection of Map in naturally contaminated milk.
Semen hiv-1 concentration is strongly associated with altered levels of semen interferon-gamma, interleukin-17, and interleukin-5

Author(s): Hoffman, Jennifer Claire | Advisor(s): Elashoff, Robert M. | Abstract: Semen HIV-1 level is an important determinant of the risk of HIV-1 sexual transmission. In this prospective observational study, we investigated potential associations between seminal cytokine levels and HIV-1 concentration in the seminal plasma of HIV-infected men, using paired blood and semen samples from 18 HIV-1 chronically-infected men off antiretroviral therapy. HIV-1 RNA levels and cytokine levels in seminal plasma and blood were measured and analyzed using simple linear regressions to screen for an effect of cytokines on seminal plasma HIV-1. Forwards stepwise regression was performed to construct the final multivariate model. The median HIV-1 concentration was 4.42 log10 RNA copies/ml (IQR 2.98, 4.70) and 2.96 log10 RNA copies/ml (IQR 2, 4.18) in blood and semen plasma, respectively. In stepwise multivariate linear regression analysis, blood HIV-1 level (pl0.00005), seminal plasma IFN-gamma level (p=0.03), and seminal plasma IL-17 level (p=0.03) were positively associated with seminal plasma HIV-1 level; seminal plasma IL-5 was negatively associated with seminal HIV-1 level (p=0.0007). These data indicate that, in addition to plasma levels of HIV-1, cytokine profiles in the male genital tract are an important determinant of HIV-1 levels in semen. Th1 and Th17 cell profiles are associated with increased levels of virus while the Th2 cellular profile is associated with decreased levels of virus. These results support the importance of genital tract immunomodulation in HIV-1 transmission.
DEVELOPMENTAL TRAJECTORIES OF SELF-MANAGEMENT SKILLS AND ADOLESCENT SUBSTANCE USE

This study examined whether transitions in self-management skills were associated with change in gateway substance use (alcohol, cigarettes, and marijuana) from early to mid-adolescence, using a latent growth framework for data analysis. The sample consisted of predominantly white, suburban, and middle-class students (N=2,277) attending 22 middle schools who were followed-up annually from the 7th through 10th grades. Findings indicated that substance use increased in a steady fashion, whereas change in self-management skills (represented by a latent construct with indicators of decision-making, problem solving, self-reinforcement, and self control skills) was relatively flat with a gradual decline over time. A conditioned growth model indicated that early levels of substance use increased the decline in self-management skills over time. Early self-management skills, on the other hand, were protective and slowed growth in substance use. Relations between the two slope growth factors indicated that increases in substance use over time were associated with parallel decreases in self-management skills. Receiving higher grades in
Entanglement and violation of classical inequalities in the Hawking radiation of flowing atom condensates

We consider a sonic black-hole scenario where an atom condensate flows through a subsonic–supersonic interface. We discuss several criteria that reveal the existence of non-classical correlations resulting from the quantum character of the spontaneous Hawking radiation (HR). We unify previous general work as applied to HR analogs. We investigate the measurability of the various indicators and conclude that, within a class of detection schemes, only the violation of quadratic Cauchy–Schwarz inequalities can be discerned. We show numerical results that further support the viability of measuring deep quantum correlations in concrete scenarios.
Comparitivee Analysis of Cognition and Language in Autism, Mental Retardation and Co-Morbid Autism with Mental Retardation

Aims: The aim of this study was to correlate the IQ of the language impaired children in autism and mental retardation with their level of development and to understand its effect on the potential to learn language in high functioning autistic, low functioning autistic and mentally retarded children. Method: The study sample was divided into three groups, notably mental retardation without autism, autism without mental retardation and autism with mental retardation. A total number of 15 subjects were recruited from each group. To maintain the consistency of the IQ mild to moderate range of MR was selected. The tools used for assessment were the Communication DEALL (Development Eclectic Approach to Language Learning), 3D LAT (Language Acquisition Test), and CARS (The Childhood Autism Ratting Scale). CARS was used to determine the diagnosis and severity of autism. The expressive and receptive language including the cognition of the children, assessed by 3D LAT was compared with the scores given by the Communication DEALL in the same areas. Result: The high functioning autistic showed a more significant improvement in all the parameters than the low functioning autistic and the mentally retarded children Conclusion: I.Q. may act as a limiting factor for low functioning autistic but high functioning autistic have problems due to specific deficits like language and perceptions. Emphasis should be placed on training of Activities of Daily Living (ADL).
Analysis of Vascular Trauma in Terror-Related Civilian Attacks Within South-Eastern Turkey

ABS TRACT Objective: To evaluate the results of terror related vascular injuries and predictors of mortality caused by these injuries in South-Eastern Turkey. Material and Methods: Eighty-eight patients (82 men, 24.4 ± 8.1 years) who had vasculary trauma in terrorist attacks between January 2012-August 2015 in South-Eastern Turkey included in this retrospective study. Patients with traumatic amputations, extensive tissue losses, amputations after severe nerve damage and head injuries were excluded. Study patients were analyzed according to the mechanism and severity of injury, location of trauma, and surgical treatment options. Results: Forty-six (52.3%) patients had lower limb, 19 (21.6%) patients had upper limb, 13 (14.8%) patients had both upper and lower limb vascular injuries. Other vascular injuries involved neck (n=3; 3.4%), thorax (n=2; 2.3%), abdomino-pelvic (n=5; 5.7%) locations. Twenty-three (26.1%) of them were caused by bullets, 54 (61.4%) by shrapnel and 11 (12.5%) by bombs and explosions. Thirty-eight (43.2%) of these patients were in hypovolemic shock at admittance. Forty patients (45.5%) had isolated arterial, 42 (47.7%) patients had both artery and vein, 6 (6.8%) patients had isolated vein injuries. Autogenous grafts were used in 28 (31.8%) patients, and synthetic grafts were used in 10 (11.4%) patients. Vascular ligations were performed in 18 (20.5%) patients. Seven (8%) patients had acute renal injury and 28 (31.8%) patients had wound infections postoperatively. Overall in-hospital mortality rate was 18.2% (16 patients). Hypovolemic shock (p<0.0001), acute renal failure (p=0.002) and massive blood transfusion (p=0.007) were the main predictors of mortality. Conclusion: Vascular injuries in terror-related trauma victims require multidisiplinary urgent treatment of hypovolemic shock, preventive measures to avoid acute renal failure and immediate complex vascular surgery.
Do Means-Tested School Lunch Subsidies Change Children's Weekly Consumption Patterns?

This article examines whether the means-tested component of the National School Lunch Program changes beneficiaries' dietary patterns by taking advantage of variation across public school districts in the financing of and demand for lunch and nutrition programs. Using data on fifth grade public elementary school children in the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-Kindergarten (2003-2004), we find significant increases in weekly rates of consumption amongst fully and partially subsidized children. Our estimates also suggest that the increase was for items known to be a rich source of vitamins and minerals that are essential for children's health and development. The effects are larger for fully subsidized children relative to partially subsidized children, which suggests the nominal price of school lunch is a binding constraint for certain children on the margin of eligibility for the subsidies. To the extent that children from low-income households experience undernourishment with greater frequency, policy discussion focusing exclusively on the link between obesity and program participation is overlooking positive effects on those who are directly subsidized.
Cyanoalkyl amines: an efficient reagent to stabilize palladium nano/microparticles for Suzuki and basic media for palladium(II) catalyzed Heck cross coupling reaction

Tris-(β-cyanoethyl) amine (TCA) and bis-(β-cyanoethyl) amine (DCA) were prepared by silica- mediated aza-Michael reaction of ammonium hydroxide and acrylonitrile in gram scale. First time TCA was used as a stabilizer of Pd(0) nano/microparticles (TCA-Pd) and efficient reagent in water mediated Suzuki cross coupling reaction. Further DCA and TCA were applied as efficient base, ligand (N,N-ligand) and reaction medium in palla- dium-catalyzed Heck cross coupling reaction. © Global Scientific Publishers 2013.
Facile hydrothermal synthesis of monodispersed MoS 2 ultrathin nanosheets assisted by ionic liquid Brij56

Monodispersed MoS2 ultrathin nanosheets have been successfully fabricated by a facile hydrothermal process assisted by ionic liquid Brij56. The effect of Brij56 on the morphology and structure of MoS2 has been obviously observed. XRD shows that the as-prepared MoS2 assisted by Brij56 has the weak and broad peak of (002) planes, which implies the small size and well dispersed structure of MoS2 nanosheets. TEM and SEM images reveal that MoS2 ultrathin nanosheets have small size and few stacking layers with the adding of Brij56. HRTEM images prove that MoS2 appears to have a highly monodispersed morphology and to be monolayer ultrathin nanosheets with the length about 5-8 nm, which can provide more exposed rims and edges as active sites for hydrogen evolution reaction. Brij56 has played a crucial role in preparing monodispersed MoS2 ultrathin nanosheets as excellent electrocatalysts. The growth mechanism of monodispersed MoS2 has been discussed in detail.
Image Case : Hydatid Disease of the Liver

Hydatid Disease which is also referred to Echinococcosis or echinococcal disease, is a parasitic disease that affects both humans and other mammals, such as sheep, dogs, rodents and horses [1]. Hydatid disease remains a clinical problem worldwide, especially in areas where animal husbandry and subsistence farming form an integral part of community life [2]. The liver is the most commonly involved organ (52-77%) [3], but hydatid disease may affect any part of the body either as a primary or secondary event [2]. There are four forms of hydatid disease. Echinococcus granulosus (EG) is the most common and gives rise to cystic hydatid disease (CHD). Echinococcus multilocularis is uncommon and causes alveolar hydatid disease (AHD), which is far more aggressive and frequently mimics malignancy [4]. The rarest clinical form is Echinococcus vogeli or polycystic hydatid disease (PHD), with characteristics between CHD and AHD [5]. Echinococcus shiquicus, has been identified on the Tibetan plateau but to date no human infection has been described. CHD is a zoonosis infecting a variety of domestic and wild animals. There is no host specificity for the larval stage of EG, but the commonest intermediate hosts are sheep, cattle, buffalo, camels and pigs [6]. The developing hydatid cyst has three layers. The outer pericyst is composed of host fibroblasts, eosinophils, giant cells and modified hepatocytes. The middle laminated membrane is a cellular and impermeable to bacteria, and the innermost layer, the germinal layer or brood capsule, is translucent and is the origin of scolices and daughter cysts within the primary cyst [4]. The cyst usually contains crystalclear fluid which is strongly antigenic and may cause anaphylaxis if released into the circulation of the host. Most cysts remain silent when small and present only when complications such as rupture into the biliary tree, bacterial superinfection or free intra-abdominal rupture occur. Owing to the lack of symptoms in the early stages, the actual accurate assessment of the growth rate of these cysts is difficult [2].