Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Development of the solitary larval endoparasitoid Glyptapanteles porthetriae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) in its host Lymantria dispar (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae)

The development of the solitary endoparasitic braconid Glyptapanteles porthetriae in gypsy moth larvae of different ages was studied. Host larvae were parasitized during the premolt to the 2nd instar (A-larvae), to the 3rd instar (B-larvae) or to the 4th instar (C-larvae), respectively. The percentage of successfully parasitized larvae decreased markedly with the age of the host at the time of parasitization. When parasitization occurred at the premolt to the second or third instar, parasitoid larvae successfully emerged at rates of 68% and 57%, respectively, in contrast to the 17% from larvae parasitized in the premolt to the fourth instar. In all three groups of parasitized larvae the final host instar was significantly longer than the corresponding instar of unparasitized control larvae of the same age. However, the growth and growth rate of parasitized larvae were reduced compared to control larvae. Due to the extremely low rate of successful development of G. porthetriae in C-larvae, parameters of parasitoid development were only recorded in A and B-host larvae. In both the parasitoid growth was slow during the first instar but rapidly increased during the second instar. Total developmental time of the parasitoid was significantly longer in B-host larvae, and the resultant cocoons were heavier than those that developed in A-host larvae, but proportionally fewer of the offspring were females. Within both groups the female wasps took significantly longer to develop than the males.
Psychological Counseling for Alcohol Misuse in University Students

The aim of this paper is to solve or alleviate the binge drinking problem of university students from a psychological point of view. Traditionally, people were used to accepting medical interventions to alleviate their problems. But in this paper, the author considered the effects alcohol misuse makes on the university students, examined how psychological counseling helps with alcohol misused adolescents, explained the best approach, and evaluated how effective psychological counseling is for such young drinkers. The results demonstrate that the alcohol-misuse problem of university students can make a series of negative effects on individuals, groups and the society, and it can be alleviated through counseling approaches effectively. Generally, the client-centered approach is the most effective method for counseling young drinkers, while the solution-focus approach and cognitive-behavior therapy are also helpful. It is recommended that further research could focus on the application of a combination of different counseling approaches for university students.
Optimizing the Prediction Accuracy of Friction Capacity of Driven Piles in Cohesive Soil Using a Novel Self-Tuning Least Squares Support Vector Machine

This research presents a novel hybrid prediction technique, namely, self-tuning least squares support vector machine (ST-LSSVM), to accurately model the friction capacity of driven piles in cohesive soil. The hybrid approach uses LS-SVM as a supervised-learning-based predictor to build an accurate input-output relationship of the dataset and SOS method to optimize the σ and γ parameters of the LS-SVM. Evaluation and investigation of the ST-LSSVM were conducted on 45 training data and 20 testing data of driven pile load tests that were compiled from previous studies. The prediction accuracy of the ST-LSSVM was then compared to other machine learning methods, namely, LS-SVM and BPNN, and was benchmarked with the previous results by neural network (NN) from Goh using coefficient of correlation (R), mean absolute error (MAE), and root mean square error (RMSE). The comparison showed that the ST-LSSVM performed better than LS-SVM, BPNN, and NN in terms of R, RMSE, and MAE. This comprehensive evaluation confirmed the capability of hybrid approach SOS and LS-SVM to modeling the accurate friction capacity of driven piles in clay. It makes for a reliable and robust assistance tool in helping all geotechnical engineers estimate friction pile capacity.
On the use of simulation methods to compute probabilities: application to the first division Spanish soccer league

We consider the problem of using the points a given team has in the First Division Spanish Soccer League to estimate its probabilities of achieving a specific objective, such as, for example, staying in the first division or playing the European Champions League. We started thinking about this specific problem and how to approach it after reading that some soccer coaches indicate that a team in the first division guarantees its staying in that division if it has a total of 42 points at the end of the regular season. This problem differs from the typical probability estimation problem because we only know the actual cumulative score a given team has at some point during the regular season. Under this setting a series of different assumptions can be made to predict the probability of interest at the end of the season. We describe the specific theoretical probability model using the multinomial distribution and, then, introduce two approximations to compute the probability of interest, as well as the exact method. The different proposed methods are then evaluated and also applied to the example that motivated them. One interesting result is that the predicted probabilities can then be dynamically evaluated by using data from the current soccer competition.
A Demand-Side Viewpoint to Software Vulnerabilities in WordPress Plugins

WordPress has long been the most popular content management system (CMS). This CMS powers millions and millions of websites. Although WordPress has had a particularly bad track record in terms of security, in recent years many of the well-known security risks have transmuted from the core WordPress to the numerous plugins and themes written for the CMS. Given this background, the paper analyzes known software vulnerabilities discovered from WordPress plugins. A demand-side viewpoint was used to motivate the analysis; the basic hypothesis is that plugins with large installation bases have been affected by multiple vulnerabilities. As the hypothesis also holds according to the empirical results, the paper contributes to the recent discussion about common security folklore. A few general insights are also provided about the relation between software vulnerabilities and software maintenance.
Stimulation of calcium signal transduction results in enhancement of production of scopadulcic acid B by methyl jasmonate in the cultured tissues of Scoparia dulcis

Signal transduction events which are involved in methyl jasmonate (MeJA)-enhanced production of the tetracyclic diterpene, scopadulcic acid B (SDB), were investigated in leaf organ cultures of Scoparia dulcis. Pretreatment of leaf organ cultures with Ca 2� -channel blocker, verapamil, resulted in a dose-dependent inhibition of MeJA enhanced SDB production. Treatments with Ca 2� ionophore, A23187, stimulated SDB production in the absence of MeJA. In addition, preincubation of the leaf organ cultures with calmodulin (CaM) antagonist, trifluoperazine (TFP), diminished MeJA enhanced SDB production. MeJA-enhanced production of SDB was suppressed by addition of protein kinase inhibitors such as staurosporine and 2,6-diamino-N-((1-(1-oxotridecyl)-2-piperdinyl)methyl)hexanamide (NPC-15437). An activator of protein kinase C, 1-oleoyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycerol (OAG), stimulated this production in the absence of MeJA. These results indicate that Ca 2� and CaM mediates signaling events leading to enhancement of SDB production upon MeJA treatment. It was also suggested that phosphorylation of protein by protein kinases might be involved in this signal pathway.
Ages, metallicities and (α/Fe) ratios of globular clusters in NGC 147, 185 and 205

We present measurements of ages, metallicities and [α/Fe] ratios for 16 globular clusters (GCs) in NGC 147, 185 and 205 and of the central regions of the diffuse galaxy light in NGC 185 and 205. Our results are based on spectra obtained with the SCORPIO multislit spectrograph at the 6-m telescope of the Russian Academy of Sciences. We include in our analysis highquality Hubble Space Telescope/WFPC2 photometry of individual stars in the studied GCs to investigate the influence of their horizontal branch (HB) morphology on the spectroscopic analysis. All our sample GCs appear to be old (T > 8 Gyr) and metal-poor ([Z/H] −1.1), except for the GCs Hubble V in NGC 205 (T = 1.2 ± 0.6 Gyr, [Z/H] =− 0.6 ± 0.2), Hubble VI in NGC 205 (T = 4 ± 2 Gyr, [Z/H] =− 0.8 ± 0.2) and FJJVII in NGC 185 (T = 7 ± 3 Gyr, [Z/H] =− 0.8 ± 0.2). The majority of our GCs sample has solar [α/Fe] enhancement in contrast to the halo population of GCs in M31 and the Milky Way. The HB morphologies for our sample GCs follow the same behaviour with metallicity as younger halo Galactic GCs. We show that it is unlikely that they bias our spectroscopic age estimates based on Balmer absorption-line indices. Spectroscopic ages and metallicities of the central regions in NGC 205 and 185 coincide with those obtained from colour‐magnitude diagrams. The central field stellar populations in these galaxies have approximately the same age as their most central GCs (Hubble V in NGC 205 and FJJIII in NGC 185), but are more metal-rich than the central
A Binary Weighted 7-steps Automatic Voltage Regulator

In domestic and industrial applications, the automatic AC voltage regulator is an important device especially during AC voltage fluctuations. Multi tap transformer based solutions are presented in many studies, however the smoothness and performance quality are depends on the number of taps of transformer in this solution the steps of voltage controlling equal to the number of taps of transformer, that means, the AC voltage connection is for 220 volt levels through controlling function as well as only one tap used in one time while other taps did not use. The AC load which connected to the regulator output terminals suffer and effect negatively from this spikes during steps of controlling jumps among high voltage levels. This study presents a novel design and simulation results of an automatic 7-steps AC voltage regulator that to avoid the problem of voltage surge at relay contacts. On the other hand, the proposed design offers removing the necessity of increasing taps number as what happened in the multi tap transformer that for smooth voltage for. This study proposes a novel design based on two binary weighted step down transformers that to delivers 7- steps AC voltage controlling function through jumping among low voltage levels. Multisim software for electronic design and PSIM software for power circuit design are used to do the proposed design and simulation results.
A collocation method based on the bernoulli operational matrix for solving nonlinear BVPs which arise from the problems in calculus of variation

A new collocation method is developed for solving BVPs which arise from the problems in calculus of variation. These BVPs result from the Euler-Lagrange equations, which are the necessary conditions of the extremums of problems in calculus of variation. The proposed method is based upon the Bernoulli polynomials approximation together with their operational matrix of differentiation. After imposing the collocation nodes to the main BVPs, we reduce the variational problems to the solution of algebraic equations. It should be noted that the robustness of operational matrices of differentiation with respect to the integration ones is shown through illustrative examples. Complete comparisons with other methods and superior results confirm the validity and applicability of the presented method.
Effect of variable traction on the teatcup during machine milking of ewes with or without hand stripping

Nous avons concu un appareillage qui exerce une traction variable sur les gobelets (avec accroissement de la traction 35-40 s apres le debut de la traite) et qui permet de diminuer la torsion des trayons. Ce systeme (traction) a ete compare au systeme de traite traditionnel (temoin) sur un troupeau de 62 brebis Manchegas. Apres le sevrage (5 sem) toutes les brebis sont traites avec le materiel temoin pendant 5 j (pre-experimental) puis affectees au hasard pendant 10 sem soit au systeme temoin soit au systeme «traction. La traite a lieu 2 fois par jour avec egouttage machine et manuelle jusqu'a la 4 e semaine (periode 1) puis sans repasse manuelle entre la 5 e et la 10 e semaine (periode 2) de traite. Si nous considerons l'ensemble de la periode experimentale, la production et la composition (taux butyreux et proteique) du lait total ne varient pas de facon significatives. Le systeme de traction a tendance a diminuer le lait residuel et a augmenter son taux butyreux; les differences sont seulement significatives pour le taux butyreux (15, 7vs 14,8% ; p 0,05). L'interaction «Systeme de traite-Periode» n'est significative pour aucune des variables etudiees. Le systeme de traction augmente les chutes des gobelets (13,6 vs 7,7% ; p < 0,001). Il pourrait aussi avoir un effet negatif sur l'etat sanitaire de la mamelle car le nombre des cellules somatiques s'eleve meme si cette augmentation n'est pas significative (p = 0, 09). En outre, dans ce groupe nous fumes dans l'obligation d'eliminer 2 brebis affectees de mammites cliniques alors que ce ne fut pas le cas dans le groupe temoin. En conclusion, ce systeme de traction variable, ou un systeme plus simple qui exerce une traction plus constante sur les gobelets, pourraient etre seulement interessants dans le cas de routines de traite sans egouttage (par exemple maneges de traite avec depose de gobelets automatique). De nouvelles experiences devront confirmer si ces systemes ont reellement une incidence sur les mammites et s'ils induisent une augmentation de la chute des gobelets.
Dependence of waveform of near-field co s ei s mic iono s pheric di s turbance s on focal mechani s m s

Using Total Electron Content (TEC) measurements with Global Positioning System we studied ionospheric responses to three large earthquakes that occurred in the Kuril Arc on 04 October 1994, 15 November 2006, and 13 January 2007. These earthquakes have different focal mechanisms, i.e. high-angle reverse, low-angle reverse, and normal faulting, respectively. TEC responses to the 2006 and 2007 events initiated with positive and negative changes, respectively. On the other hand, the initial TEC changes in the 1994 earthquake showed both positive and negative polarities depending on the azimuth around the focal area. Such a variety may reflect differences in coseismic vertical crustal displacements, which are dominated by uplift and subsidence in the 2006 and 2007 events, respectively, but included both in the 1994 event.
Challenging Conceptual and Empirical Definition of e-Government toward Effective e-Governance

The impact of ICT on public service delivery has been debated in the form of e-government, e-democracy e-participation and e-governance. The article examines the way e-government is defined operationally in the international statistics such as the e-Government benchmark (European Commission) and the e-government survey (United Nations) in order to understand the concept measured. E-government, as defined empirically, seems not to consider government responsiveness to bottom-up forms of e-participation. Thus, judgments based on these statistics may be biased. Indeed, the analysis and evaluation of a citizen-driven system for local public service improvement – DecoroUrbano.org – which uses the internet to voice public services concerns or reporting issues, suggests that the unbalance highlighted in international statistics between a high level of supply (from governments) and a low level of demand (from citizens) may be inverted when considering these forms of distributed democracy.
Complex dynamics of hydrogen bonded self-assembling polymers

Supramolecular polymers, which are non-covalently bonded and formed by self association of di or trifunctional monomers exhibit, by virtue of quadruple hydrogen bonds, many of the properties of normal high molecular weight polymers, e.g. a dynamic rubber plateau. We focus on the molecular and cooperative dynamics of self-assembled linear polymers and networks, studied by broadband dielectric relaxation spectroscopy (DRS) in the frequency range from 10/sup -2/ to 10/sup 6/ Hz. The DRS analysis was backed up by dynamic mechanical and rheological experiments. In the high temperature region two loss processes (/spl alpha/ and /spl alpha/*) show up, the relaxation times of which obey the Vogel-Fulcher-Tammann (VFT) law. The dielectric /spl alpha/ process is related to the dynamic glass-rubber transition and is slightly faster than the corresponding mechanical /spl alpha/ process. A slower (high-temperature) /spl alpha/* relaxation is identified as chemical, corresponding to the mean lifetime of the hydrogen bonded linkages in the supramolecular chains. Its relaxation time /spl tau//sub /spl alpha/*/ was found to be 1 to 2 decades larger than the terminal flow relaxation time, indicating that the relaxation of an entire chain is dominated by the joint dynamics of many hydrogen bonds. The /spl beta/ relaxation, observed in both DRS and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) at temperatures below T/sub g/, arises from the local junction dynamics of hydrogen bonded units in the glassy state. Details of the temperature dependence and the shape of the loss peaks of the /spl alpha/ and /spl alpha/* relaxations will be discussed in terms of temporary physical networks and cooperativity.
The Removal of p-cloro-phenol from Synthetic Waste Water on Fe 2 O 3 -Clays Nanocomposites Systems

2 Politehnica University of Timisora, 2 P-ta Victoriei, 300006, Timisoara, Romania In the preliminary results obtained in the wet oxidation processes of p-chloro-phenol from wastewater in the presence of hydrogen peroxide, mixed Fe pillared clays were used. Catalytic wet oxidation of p-chloro- phenol was studied in a batch reactor. The experimental results indicate that the removal of p-chloro-phenol percentage has been achieved successfully. Using native clays as host, at the preparation of Fe 2 O 3 -clay nanocomposite systems, we succeeded in removing of hazardous p-chloro-phenol from simulated wastewaters, by means of advanced oxidation processes.
Synthesis Approaches of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles: The Dilemma of Ecotoxicity

Human’s quest for innovation, finding solutions of problems, and upgrading the industrial yield with energy efficient and cost-effective materials has opened the avenues of nanotechnology. Among a variety of nanoparticles, zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO) have advantages because of the extraordinary physical and chemical properties. It is one of the cheap materials in cosmetic industry, nanofertilizers, and electrical devices and also a suitable agent for bioimaging and targeted drug and gene delivery and an excellent sensor for detecting ecological pollutants and environmental remediation. Despite inherent toxicity of nanoparticles, synthetic routes are making use of large amount of chemical and stringent reactions conditions that are contributing as environmental contaminants in the form of high energy consumption, heat generation, water consumption, and chemical waste. Further, it is also adding to the innate toxicity of nanoparticles (NPs) that is either entirely ignored or poorly investigated. The current review illustrates a comparison between pollutants and hazards spawned from chemical, physical, and biological methods used for the synthesis of ZnO. Further, the emphasis is on devising eco-friendly techniques for the synthesis of ZnO especially biological methods which are comparatively less hazardous and need to be optimized by controlling the reaction conditions in order to get desired yield and characteristics.
Asymptotic Behavior of an Artificial Neural Network Defined on Multipartite Directed Graph

Problem statement: Artificial Neural Network (ANN) are simple models to mimic some essential features of the complex central nervous s ystem. ANN models are realistic due to their inherent stochastic nature of neural computation an d strong synchronicity. Different ANN models are associated with directed and signed graphs. The pre sent study proceeded by relaxing certain simplifying assumptions in the ANN model. Approach: It was assumed that the connected graph associated with the ANN is a multipartite directed graph whose connection comprising of four blocks and two blocks are either both symmetric or both an ti symmetric. The convergence of such network was studied in the present research with the help o f Lyapunov functional. Results: Attractors (fixed points) of such ANN and also limit cycles of differ ent orders are investigated. Bounds of transient length of the neural network were also calculated. Numerical simulation in support of the results was also depicted. Conclusion: It was shown that under synchronous updating rule s uch networks converge to a fixed point or to a limit cycle of pe riod 2 or 4. The bound of transient length was discussed. Conclusions were drawn from the simulation studies carried out in support of the results.
Physical and mechanical properties of particleboards manufactured using charcoal as additives

Abstract: The objective of this work was to evaluate selected physical and mechanical properties of experimental particleboards manufactured from pine and spruce with charcoal particles in their core layer. For all the manufactured boards the average density was 750 kg m-3, while the mass share of charcoal in the core layer was changed (0%, 10% and 50%). The manufactured panels were tested with respect to their mechanical and physical properties, including formaldehyde emission. The results indicated that the share of charcoal significantly influenced mechanical properties, swelling, and water relations of the boards. In addition, a test on formaldehyde emission from panels were carried out, which revealed that the charcoal share has a considerable impact on the amount of formaldehyde released by the manufactured boards. The 50% content of charcoal caused about 80% reduction of formaldehyde emission.
On Dwork cohomology for singular hypersurfaces

Let Z be a projective hypersurface over a finite field. With no smoothness assumption, we relate the p-adic cohomology spaces constructed by Dwork in his study of the zeta function of Z (cf. [29], [30], [31]), to the rigid homology spaces of Z. The key result is a general theorem based on the Fourier transform for D X , Q-modules [40], which extends to the rigid context results proved in the algebraic one by Adolphson and Sperber [3], and Dimca, Maaref, Sabbah and Saito [27]. If V, V ′ are dual vector bundles over a smooth p-adic formal scheme X , u : X → V ′ a section, Z the zero locus of its reduction mod p, this theorem gives an identification between the overconvergent local cohomology of OX , Q with supports in Z and the relative rigid cohomology of V with coefficients in the Dwork isocrystal associated to u. Thanks to this result, we also give an interpretation of a canonical filtration on the Dwork complexes in terms of the rigid homology spaces of the intersections of Z with intersections of coordinate hyperplanes. 2000 Mathematics Subject Classification: 13N10, 14F30, 14F40, 14G10, 14J70, 16S32, 32C38.