Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Facebook as a space for agency: negotiations by users and non-users

The Web’s architecture sets conditions for how people communicate, interact and act online in general and on social network sites (SNSs) in particular. Users and non-users of Facebook were invited to focus groups in order to create an understanding of Facebook as a technology-afforded space for agency and to illuminate the variety of meanings given to it. The aim of this study is to identify user and non-user stances to the possibilities of action and actor roles – understood in terms of mediated agency – enabled by SNSs, particularly Facebook. The negotiation of Facebook’s nature as a space is scrutinised using concepts of connectedness and connectivity as analytical lenses.
Isozyme diversity in RB (Republic of Brazil) sugarcane (Saccharum spp) varieties

Isozyme electrophoresis was used as a method in the identification of biochemical markers for genotype discrimination and for genetic diversity determination in five varieties of sugarcane, Saccharum spp. (Poaceae) cultivated in the northern Parana, Southern Brazil. The five RB (Republic of Brazil) varieties represent improved genetic material, useful for sugar and alcohol production. SOD isozyme pattern can be used as biochemical markers to discriminate the sugarcane RB (72454, 835089, 845257, 855156 and 855536) varieties. The proportion of polymorphic loci was 25% for the RB835089, RB855156, RB855536, and RB72454 varieties and 18.8% for the RB845257 variety. Genetic diversity showed high I values; however, the levels of intervariety genetic divergence demonstrated by the F-statistic values indicated a deficit of heterozygotes for the cPer-2 locus (F(IS) = 0.743). The standardized variance in allele frequency among the five RB varieties was F(ST) = 0.434 for the cPer-2 locus, and the value calculated for the mean standardized variance in allele frequency among the five RB varieties for the 4 loci was F(ST) = 0.182. Thus, the directional selection process for the development of the sugarcane RB varieties seems to have played a major role in determining selection of homozygous plants.
Amphibians of an open cerrado fragment in southeastern Brazil

The Cerrado encompasses ca. 2 million km 2 in Brazil. Most Cerrado areas have been greatly disturbed in the past decades. Only 20% of this biome remain undisturbed, and only 1.2% is protected. Knowledge on the biology and diversity of Cerrado amphibian assemblages is still incipient. Here we present natural history information (habitat use and reproductive activity) of 28 species of frogs from the Estacao Ecologica de Itirapina (EEI), and compare the composition of this assemblage with those of other Cerrado areas, other open areas, and a few forest areas throughout Brazil. We demonstrate that the Itirapina assemblage is more similar to those of other open areas than to those of forests, even when the latter are geographically closer. Six species occurred in the gallery forest at varying levels of dependence (three independent, two semidependent, and one totally dependent) while all other species occurred exclusively in open areas. For most species at EEI, reproduction was strongly synchronized with the onset of the rainy season, with the exception of Hypsiboas lundii, which called throughout the year, and Proceratophrys sp. which started calling prior to the beginning of the rainy season. The spatial and temporal patterns observed in this assemblage seem to reflect both ecological (e. g. hydroperiod of water bodies) and historical factors (e. g. early breeding in leptodactylids, late breeding in hylids, both phylogenetically constrained).
SURFACE MODIFICATION OF PLGA BIOMATERIALS FOR SITE-DIRECTED IMMOBILIZATION OF GROWTH FACTORS

OF THESIS SURFACE MODIFICATION OF PLGA BIOMATERIALS FOR SITE-DIRECTED IMMOBILIZATION OF GROWTH FACTORS Biodegradable polymer materials, specifically poly(lactic-co-glycolide) (PLGA) can be used as bone replacements for bone regeneration. Scaffolds can be prepared to be porous to induce bone growth into a scaffold so that it is replaced with natural tissue as the polymer degrades. However, simply using PLGA will result in formation of scar tissue rather than regeneration of natural bone. Therefore focus has turned to attaching growth factors to the PLGA molecules to elicit a specific cellular response when the implant is placed in the body. Site-directed immobilization utilizes specific groups on both the biomaterial and biomolecule so that growth factors can be oriented in a specific manner for increased cellular response. In this research, exposed carboxyl groups on a non endcapped PLGA were modified with bishydrazide spacer molecules of varying length for the eventual attachment of a biomolecule via carbodiimide chemistry. The number of hydrazide groups attached to the surface could be controlled to investigate the effects of the spacer length on protein immobilization. Both vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and parathyroid hormone (PTH) were used in these studies. These two molecules have different target cells and actions, although both can play a role in bone formation. Both molecules have carbohydrate residues that were oxidized with periodate to form aldehyde moieties that were able to react with the hydrazide spacers to form a stable bond between the spacer and protein. The use of a spacer enhanced the binding accessibility of the protein as compared to randomly adsorbed protein. The shortest and longest of the spacers resulted in the highest amount of protein, with corresponding results for antibody binding. The modification of PLGA functional groups with a spacer molecule indicates that this material could be used for site-directed immobilization for any application, simply by tailoring the reaction between the biomaterial and biomolecule.
Issues of Under-Representation: Mapping Women in Indian Politics

Women’s under-representation in politics continues to be a matter of debate across the globe. Although some countries have measures to increase the level of representation but many still do not have. India, despite six decades of independence could not provide any legal support to increase the share of women’s representation in the lower house of parliament. This article explores the perpetual under-representation of women in Indian parliament. As the recently held 14th General elections in India situated a stable government at the centre, however, it still has lesser women representatives. The election commission reports from 1957 to the recently held general elections in 2014 highlights emancipation of women from mere absent electorate to active voters. Further, the data also underlines a shift from mere active voters to vibrant candidates, as the number of women candidates is increased manifold. Despite these positive shift from becoming ‘active voters’ and ‘vibrant candidates’, women are unable to capitalize the increase in number of candidates to members of parliament. Undoubtedly, the traditionally placed patriarchical society in India is still unwelcoming when it comes to elect women as the political representatives. Apart from patriarchy as the important reason other various political and non-political reasons are also responsible for this democratic deficit. The substantial representation of women is missing in proportion to their population. While we celebrate the vibrancy of Indian democracy, the issue of under-representation of women continues to be a major challenge for Indian democracy.
Running head: COMPREHENSION AIDS IN HYPERMEDIA The Use of Comprehension Aids in a Hypermedia Environment: Investigating the Impact of Metacognitive Awareness and Epistemic Beliefs

A descriptive study analyzed learners' use of comprehensive aids such as objectives and the glossary in a hypermedia tutorial. College students (n=101) read a short hypermedia tutorial on the topic of E. coli. Relationships between the use of the comprehension aids and individual characteristics such as metacognitive awareness and epistemic beliefs were evaluated. It was hypothesized that the more metacognitively skilled learners and those with more sophisticated beliefs about learning would use the aids more frequently. The findings indicate that the uses of some comprehension aids are significantly related to certain epistemic beliefs, although the relationships were not in the expected direction. The majority of the factors analyzed did not indicate a significant relationship between beliefs and the use of comprehension aids. (Author/SLD) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. Running head: COMPREHENSION AIDS IN HYPERMEDIA The Use of Comprehension Aids in a Hypermedia Environment: Investigating the Impact of Metacognitive Awareness and Epistemic Beliefs Kendall Hartley and Lisa D. Bendixen University of Nevada, Las Vegas 1 PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE AND DISSEMINATE THIS MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Office of Educational Research and Improvement EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) 1 21This document has been reproduced as received from the person or organization originating it. Minor changes have been made to improve reproduction quality. Points of view or opinions stated in this document do not necessarily represent official OERI position or policy.
Human Pentraxins Bind to Misfolded Proteins and Inhibit Production of Type I Interferon Induced by Nucleic Acid-Containing Amyloid.

Objective Amyloid deposition is linked to multiple human ailments, including neurodegenerative diseases, type 2 diabetes, and systemic amyloidosis. The assembly of misfolded proteins into amyloid fibrils involves an intermediate form, i.e., soluble amyloid precursor (AP), which exerts cytotoxic function. Insoluble amyloid also stimulates innate immune cells to elicit cytokine response and inflammation. How any of these misfolded proteins are controlled by the host remains obscure. Serum amyloid-P component (SAP) is a universal constituent of amyloid deposits. Short-chain pentraxins, which include both SAP and C-reactive protein (CRP), are pattern recognition molecules that bind to diverse ligands and promote the clearance of microbes and cell debris. Whether these pentraxins interact with AP and cofactor-containing amyloid and subsequently impact their function is not known. Methods and Results To detect the interaction between SAP and different types of amyloids, we performed dot blot analysis. The results showed that SAP invariably bound to protein-only, nucleic acid-containing and glycosaminoglycan-containing amyloid fibrils. This interaction required the presence of calcium. By ELISA, both SAP and CRP bound to soluble AP in the absence of divalent cations. Further characterization, by gel filtration, implied that SAP decamer may recognize AP whereas aggregated SAP preferentially associates with amyloid fibril. Although SAP binding did not affect cytotoxic function of AP, SAP potently inhibited the production of interferon-α from human plasmacytoid dendritic cells triggered by DNA-containing amyloid. Conclusions Our data suggest that short pentraxins differentially interact with various forms of misfolded proteins and, in particular, modulate the ability of nucleic acid-containing amyloid to stimulate aberrant type I interferon response. Hence, pentraxins may function as key players in modulating the pathogenesis of protein misfolding diseases as well as interferon-mediated autoimmune manifestation.
Evaluation of Novel Wing design for UAV

Viable design alternative for the existing and fast growing UAVs, which are optimized for unmanned flight, is of great demand. Designing of a small scale UAV alternative to the AAI Aerosonde UAV Figure 1 has been considered changing the wing tail configuration of the vehicle analyzing both structural and aerodynamic performance improvements using COMSOL Multiphysics. Various Non-Planar design alternatives have been considered and box wing configuration has been proven to be the best suited for the application. Variations in the design with box wing configuration Figure 2 have been analyzed by using Tornado scrip in Matlab and the important configurations have been analyzed Figure 3 using the CFD module for aerodynamics and Multiphysics for structural performance. The NACA 0012, Ahmed body models have been very much helpful in learning COMSOL and applying it to the present situation for reducing the solving time and increasing the accuracy of solving the problem
A Review on Audio Sampling Rates Mismatch and Its Effect on the Acoustic Echo Cancellation of Persenol Computers

Acoustic echo cancellation (AEC) is a very important technique for hands-free telephone systems and is considered a complicated process in real-time implementation. Previously, it has only been possible through custom very-large-scale integration (VLSI) processors or digital signal processors (DSP). These processors are specially designed for AEC. However, the computation power of personal computers (PC) has become more powerful; real-time signal processing and AEC in the PC environment has now become possible. Sampling rate offset often occurs between the loudspeaker output (D/A converter) and the microphone input (A/D converter) on PCs using commercial audio hardware. The acoustic echo cancellation algorithm may fail because of sampling rate offset. Sampling rate conversion (SRC) corrects the occurrence of offset.
Ergodic properties of compositions of interval exchange maps and rotations

We study the ergodic properties of compositions of interval exchange transformations (IETs) and rotations. We show that for any IET T, there is a full measure set of α ∈ [0, 1) so that T ∘ Rα is uniquely ergodic, where Rα is rotation by α.
Resistance development in bollworms against Bt proteins deployed in genetically modified cotton

In this review, illustrated by examples, there were rare instances where dominant resistant alleles were found. Reason of resistance in fields may include different concentration of Bt protein used in different regions, this low concentration causes less binding of toxins to insect midgut. Mostly resistance development was observed under laboratory conditions against Cry proteins which are inserted in transgenic cotton. Under laboratory conditions, cadherin was found to be responsible for development of resistance in bollworm. Resistance developed in the boll worms was related to recessive alleles. Different strategies are used to delay the resistance. Development of pyramided cotton, stacking genes, refuge strategies can be helpful to show enhanced effects against resistance developed target pests. Such strategies can only delay resistance development for short time but cannot completely eliminate the resistance development. Further research is needed to know the reason for development of resistance in insects against expressed Bt proteins in transgenic cotton.
Bone Mineral Density in Iranian Kidney Graft Recipients and Its Relation to Biochemical and PTH Serum Levels

An investigation was carried out in Ahar district, (a new focus of visceral leishmaniasis), Eastern Azerbaijan, North-West of Iran in order to determine the vector(s) of the disease, during the summer of 2003 sand-flies were collected using sticky papers, CDC light traps and aspirators. All of the collected sand-flies were dissected in a drop of normal saline for surveying of promastigotes. Head and two last abdomen segments of-sandflies were mounted in a drop of Puri’s Medium for species identification. Totally 215 sandflies were collected including: Phlebotomus kandelakii (57.2%), P.perfiliewi (18.1%), P.caucasicus (11.2%), P. sergenti (7.9%), P. papatasi (3.3%) and P.(adlerius) sp. (2.3%). Only 1 of 24 P. caucasicus species (4.2%) was found naturally infected with parasite. This is the first infection report of P. caucasicus in this region. Some behavioral aspects of the mentioned sandfly have been discussed in details.
Structure of bacterial communities in aquatic systems as revealed by filter PCR

Collection of microbial biomass and extraction of DNA are the first steps of many mole- cular approaches for examining uncultured microbes in aquatic ecosystems. Because of the difficul- ties of using large samples (up to 20 l) and the occasional ineffectiveness of DNA isolation proce- dures, we examined an alternative approach, 'filter PCR', which consists of filtering small volumes through polycarbonate filters and using sections of a filter directly in PCR. Positive amplification was achieved with as little as 25 µl of coastal seawater, corresponding to about 10 000 bacterial cells, although larger volumes (1 to 10 ml, depending on bacterial abundance) gave more consistent results. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) revealed few differences in the 16S rRNA amplicons from filter PCR and from the standard approach using DNA isolated from several liters of coastal seawater. A clone library of 16S rRNA amplicons from filter PCR was slightly more diverse than a clone library constructed by the standard approach. These results allow us to explore variation in microbial community structure over a range of spatial scales and to examine the relative evenness of microbial communities in aquatic habitats. Our results indicate that filter PCR is as effective as the standard approach in retrieving bacterial genes from uncultured microbes in aquatic environments.
Floating Numeral Quantifier Constructions in Japanese and Combinatory Categorial Grammar

The paper investigates the information structure that licenses the Japanese floating numeral quantifier (FNQ) in terms of prosody and context from the point of view that the pitch reset on the FNQ affects the information structure and plays a crucial role in determining the interpretation of the FNQ. First, I argue that FNQ sentences are potentially ambiguous between an event-quantifier reading (i.e., a VP-related FNQ reading), and an object-quantifier reading (i.e., an NP-related FNQ reading) where such a reading is possible. The syntactic and semantic difference yields distinct prosodic phrasings (in accordance with information-structure) which contribute to the disambiguation of the two readings and the grammaticality. Second, I show how the prosody-syntax view can be integrated into the framework of Combinatory Categorial Grammar.
The outcomes of three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy for early-stage non-small-cell lung cancer patients eligible and ineligible for stereotactic body radiotherapy

Wstep : Radioterapia stereotaktyczna (SBRT) daje obiecujące, porownywalne z leczeniem chirurgicznym, wyniki u chorych na niedrobnokomorkowego raka pluca (NDRP) we wczesnych stopniach zaawansowania. Jednak nie wszyscy chorzy z tej grupy kwalifikują sie do tej metody leczenia. Dokonano retrospektywnej oceny wynikow radioterapii konformalnej (3D-CRT) u chorych na NDRP w I i II stopniu zaawansowania, ze szczegolnym uwzglednieniem wynikow chorych, ktorzy byliby kandydatami do SBRT, lecz u ktorych z braku dostepu do tej techniki zastosowano 3D-CRT. Material i metody : Oceniono kolejnych 132 chorych na NDRP (I–II stopien) napromienianych radykalnie techniką 3D-CRT w latach 1998–2009. Stosowano rozne schematy napromieniania. W związku z tym dokonano przeliczenia dawek na dawki biologicznie rownowazne (BED). W grupie tej 68 chorych spelnialo kryteria napromieniania techniką SBRT (obwodowy guz T1–3N0, średnica £ 5 cm). Przezycie calkowite i wolne od progresji miejscowej oszacowano metodą Kaplana-Meiera dla calej grupy oraz grupy spelniającej kryteria i niespelniającej kryteriow SBRT. Dokonano oceny czynnikow rokowniczych w analizie jedno- i wielowariantowej. Wyniki : Mediana BED w calej grupie wyniosla 74 Gy (58–82 Gy). Chorzy spelniający kryteria SBRT mieli mniejszą objetośc guza niz pozostali (p Wnioski : Wykazano poprawe wyleczalności miejscowej po zastosowaniu techniki 3D-CRT w przypadku guzow spelniających kryteria kwalifikacji do SBRT w stosunku do pozostalych. Jednak rowniez w tych przypadkach miejscowa wyleczalnośc byla gorsza od podawanych w piśmiennictwie wynikow SBRT. Pneumonol. Alergol. Pol. 2011; 79, 5: 326–336
Coordination in Protected Forest Management in Indonesia: An Application of Soft Systems Methodology

Coordination is a very complex problem that has occurred in the management of protected forest in Indonesia. The purpose of this study is to elucidate how the Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) is used as a basis for rearranging coordination in the management of protected forest. SSM demonstrates various aspects of coordination to be addressed and concrete steps that decision makers in the management of protected forest should make. Using the case example of protected forest management in Wonosobo Regency, Central Java, Indonesia, this study suggests that there are 9 steps to be considered in coordinating the management of protected forest. The findings of this study are relevant to decision makers in which the stages in SSM can assist decision makers to address problems in the coordination of protected forest management.
Absorption of macronutrients by cassava in different harvest dates and dosages of nitrogen

A field experiment was carried out in 2010-2011 crop years in the experimental area of the Centro de Ciencias Agrarias of the Universidade Federal de Roraima, in Boa Vista, Roraima, Brazil. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of nitrogen availability on the concentrations of N, P, K, Ca, Mg and S in cassava, cultivar Aciolina, in different harvest times. A randomized block design was used in split-plot, with four replications. Dosages of N in cover were applied randomly on the plots (0, 30, 60, 150 and 330 kg ha-1), and in the subplot the harvest dates 120, 150, 180, 210, 240, 270 and 300 days after emergence (DAE). The vegetal material was collected, ground and then underwent an analysis for determination of nutrients concentrations in the leaves (N, P, K, Ca Mg and S). The harvest dates and dosages of N affect the nutrient concentrations in the cassava leaves, cv. Aciolina. The macronutrients dosage in the leaves, 120 DAE, is a good indicator of the nutritional status of the cassava plant. The dosage of 150 kg ha-1 of N raises the tubers roots per plant. The sequence of the macronutrients concentration in the leaves of the cassava, cv. Aciolina is N>Ca>K>Mg>P>S.
Design and Realization of a Compact High-Frequency Band-Pass Filter with Low Insertion Loss Based on a Combination of a Circular-Shaped Spiral Inductor, Spiral Capacitor and Interdigital Capacitor

In this study, the proposed bandpass filter (BPF) connects an interdigital and a spiral capacitor in series between the two symmetrical halves of a circular intertwined spiral inductor. For the mass production of devices and to achieve a higher accuracy and a better performance compared with other passive technologies, we used integrated passive device (IPD) technology. IPD has been widely used to realize compact BPFs and achieve the abovementioned. The center frequency of the proposed BPF is 1.96 GHz, and the return loss, insertion loss and transmission zero are 26.77 dB, 0.27 dB and 38.12 dB, respectively. The overall dimensions of BPFs manufactured using IPD technology are 984 × 800 μ m 2 , which is advantageous for miniaturization and integration.
News consumption and political and civic engagement among young people

This study examined whether the use of various types of media for news consumption would influence young people's political and civic engagement through a survey of university students in Singapore. The findings showed that news consumption through different platforms related to the respondents' political and civic participation in different ways. Consumption of news through the traditional media was not significantly associated with either offline or online political participation. Instead, news consumption through the Internet and social network sites was significantly associated with both offline and online political and civic engagement and political knowledge. In addition, print and Internet news consumption was found to be significantly associated with political knowledge. Implications of the findings were also discussed.