Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Radial Basis Functions Methods for Solving Radionuclide Migration, Phase Change and Wood Charring Problems

Modelling the flow through porous media has a great importance for solving the problems of disposal of radioactive waste. When modelling the flow of contaminated material through the geosphere, it is important to consider all internal processes (e.g. advection, dispersion, retardation) within the geosphere, and external processes associated with the near-field and the biosphere. The general reliability and accuracy of transport modelling depend predominantly on input data such as hydraulic conductivity, water velocity on the boundary, radioactive inventory, hydrodynamic dispersion. The output data are concentration, pressure, etc. The most important input data are obtained from field measurement, which are not available for all regions of interest. In such cases, geostatistical science offers a variety of spatial estimation procedures. A vast variety of important physical processes involving heat conduction and materials undergoing a change of phase may be approached as Stefan problems. One of these processes is the heat transfer involving phase changes caused by solidification or melting, which are important in many industrial applications such as the drilling of high ice-content soil, the storage of thermal energy and the safety studies of nuclear reactors. Due to their wide range of applications, the phase change problems have drawn considerable attention of specialists in different fields of science and engineering. Another problem which seems to be completely different but is in mathematical terms very similar to solidification or melting is charring of wood. After wood is exposed to fire it undergoes thermal degradation. The pyrolysis gases undergo flaming combustion as they leave the charred wood surface. The pyrolysis, charring, and combustion of wood have been presented by (Fredlund, 1993) who performed experiments and numerical analyses. For all physical processesmentioned above, themotion of fluids, phase changes, and pyrolysis processes are governed by a set of partial differential equations (PDES). These governing equations are based upon the fundamental conservation laws. The mass, momentum and energy are conserved in any fluid motions. In most cases, the governing equations are too Radial Basis Functions Methods for Solving Radionuclide Migration, Phase Change and Wood Charring Problems
Perfil nutricional e estados de humor de velejadores de alto nível em competição

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between nutrition profile and mood states of athletes in sailing competition. Participated in the study 31 sailors of high-level sports that competed in the Pre-Olympic Sailing, selected on a non-probabilistic intentional. The athletes responded to the Brazilian Mood Scale and the recall of 24 hours before or after the races. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics (Pearson’s correlation and Spearman, U test of Mann-Whitney). The results showed a food consumption in a match low on calories and carbohydrates but adequate in protein and lipids. The profile of mood sailors showed good levels of tension, depression, anger, confusion and vigor associated with high fatigue.The consumption was correlated to lipid levels of anger (r = 0.560, p < 0.05) before the race, and fatigue (r = 0.643, p < 0.01) after the races, sailors in the class with two crew members. It also noted positive correlation between the consumption of carbohydrate and level of fatigue (r = 0.490, p < 0.05), and reverse the intake of protein and tension (r = 0.497, p < 0.05), depression (r = 0.564, p < 0.05) and anger (r = 484, p < 0.05) after the races. These results suggest that improvements in the nutritional profile of sailors can bring benefits to the emotional state of athletes, hence the sporting performance.
Characterisation based bottleneck analysis of parallel systems

Bottleneck analysis plays an important role in the early design of parallel computers and programs. In this paper a methodology for bottleneck analysis based on an instruction level characterisation technique is presented. The methodology is based on the assumption that a bottleneck is cauused by the slowest component of a computing system. These components are: memory (internal, external), processor (ALU, FPU), communication and I/O. Three metrics were used to identify bottlenecks in the system components. These are the B-ration, the communications-computation ratio and the memory-processing ratio. These ratios are dimensionless with values greater than unity indicates the presence of a bottleneck. The methodology is illustrated and validated using a communication intensive linear solver algorithm (Gauss-Jordan elimination) which was implemented on a mesh connected distributed memory parallel computer (128 T800 Parystec SuperCluster).
Guidelines for assessing the knowledge management maturity of organizations

In a recent article Kruger and Snyman hypothesized that progressions in knowledge management maturity (from a strategic perspective) are directly related to an increased ability to speed up the strategic cycle of imitation, consolidation and innovation. The arguments proposed, however, neglected to supply the reader with a practical toolkit or even a roadmap (a time-related matrix, or questionnaire) to successfully measure succession in knowledge management maturity. This article builds on the previous one and proposes a questionnaire consisting of six sections, containing 101 descriptive questions, to enable organizations to test and assess their knowledge management maturity empirically. The development of an instrument to measure knowledge management maturity required adhering to a research design that combined theoretical propositions with practical experimentation. As a point of departure, a knowledge management maturity matrix consisting of seven maturity levels was formulated. All questions contained within the matrix were benchmarked against a survey questionnaire developed by the public management service of the OECD (PUMA) and were also pre-tested and validated. This process of refinement led to the formulation of the Knowledge Management Maturity Questionnaire. To avoid any taint of this research being based only on theoretical propositions, the questionnaire was tested by 178 master students of the University of Pretoria, South Africa, in nine different industries. The proposed questionnaire provides a bridge between theoretical propositions and practical usability, not only enabling knowledge management practitioners to assess the level of knowledge management maturity reached successfully but, more importantly, also serving as a guideline to institutionalize further and future knowledge management endeavours.
First fungal genome sequence from Africa: A preliminary analysis

Some of the most significant breakthroughs in the biological sciences this century will emerge from the development of next generation sequencing technologies. The ease of availability of DNA sequence made possible through these new technologies has given researchers opportunities to study organisms in a manner that was not possible with Sanger sequencing. Scientists will, therefore, need to embrace genomics, as well as develop and nurture the human capacity to sequence genomes and utilise the ’tsunami‘ of data that emerge from genome sequencing. In response to these challenges, we sequenced the genome of Fusarium circinatum, a fungal pathogen of pine that causes pitch canker, a disease of great concern to the South African forestry industry. The sequencing work was conducted in South Africa, making F. circinatum the first eukaryotic organism for which the complete genome has been sequenced locally. Here we report on the process that was followed to sequence, assemble and perform a preliminary characterisation of the genome. Furthermore, details of the computer annotation and manual curation of this genome are presented. The F. circinatum genome was found to be nearly 44 million bases in size, which is similar to that of four other Fusarium genomes that have been sequenced elsewhere. The genome contains just over 15 000 open reading frames, which is less than that of the related species, Fusarium oxysporum, but more than that for Fusarium verticillioides. Amongst the various putative gene clusters identified in F. circinatum, those encoding the secondary metabolites fumosin and fusarin appeared to harbour evidence of gene translocation. It is anticipated that similar comparisons of other loci will provide insights into the genetic basis for pathogenicity of the pitch canker pathogen. Perhaps more importantly, this project has engaged a relatively large group of scientists including students in a significant genome project that is certain to provide a platform for growth in this important area of research in the future.
Analysis of Grades for University Students Using Administrative Data and the IRT Procedure

This study is the first to implement item response theory on an entire educational program rather than on a single test. I use the new IRT procedure, introduced in SAS/STAT® 13.1, to compare the difficulty and use of grading scale across compulsory courses at the bachelor’s program in economics at the University of Copenhagen. Further, the latent ability traits estimated for all students in the sample by PROC IRT are used as predictors in a logistic regression model. The hypothesis is that students who have a lower ability trait will have a greater probability of dropping out than students with a higher ability. In the paper, three unidimensional item response models, two dichotomous and one polytomous, are applied on data from one cohort of students (n=236). The results suggest that in order to receive the highest possible grade, the highest level of student ability is needed for the course exam in the first-year course Descriptive Economics A. In contrast, the third-year course Econometrics C is the easiest course in which to receive a top grade. Additionally, I find that as student ability decreases, the probability of a student dropping out of the bachelor's program increases drastically. However, contrary to expectations, some students with high ability levels also end up dropping out.
A New Skull of Gobipteryx minuta (Aves: Enantiornithes) from the Cretaceous of the Gobi Desert

Abstract We describe an exquisitely preserved new skull of a bird from the Late Cretaceous sandstones of Ukhaa Tolgod, southern Mongolia. Derived similarities shared between this skull and the holotype of Gobipteryx minuta also from the Late Cretaceous of the Gobi Desert, support the assignment of the new cranial material to this avian taxon. The new skull also proves indistinguishable from that of the enantiornithine Nanantius valifanovi from the Late Cretaceous of Mongolia. The identification of the new skull as that of Gobipteryx minuta and its correspondence to that of Nanantius valifanovi indicate that the latter taxon is a junior synonym of Gobipteryx minuta This taxonomic conclusion is crucial for understanding the phylogenetic relationships of Gobipteryx minuta because the undoubtedly enantiornithine postcranial morphology of Nanantius valifanovi provides the first uncontroversial evidence of the enantiornithine relationship of Gobipteryx minuta The new skull from Ukhaa Tolgod and our reinterpretation of cranial aspects of the previously published material of Gobipteryx minuta and Nanantius valifanovi permit an accurate reconstruction of the palate of this enantiornithine bird, thus adding significant data for understanding the poorly known palatal structure of Mesozoic birds.
Determination of polyphenolic constituents and biological activities of bark extracts from different Pinus species

BACKGROUND: The most common commercially available pine bark extract is Pycnogenol  , a standardised extract of Pinus maritima, which has been reported to have cardiovascular benefits and enhance microcirculation. The present study was conducted to determine the chemical composition of four pine bark extracts, assess their biological activities and to compare the results with Pycnogenol  . RESULTS: The Pinus species were analysed by LC and LC-MS; extracts of P. brutia and P. nigra showed higher levels of phenolic constituents compared to P.sylvestrisand P.pinea . I n particular,P.brutia contained extremely high concentrations of taxifolin (18.5%). ThehighestradicalscavengingactivitieswereattainedwithP.pinea(88.6%),P.nigra(87.2%)andP.brutia(86.4%)bark extracts. Additionally, anticarcinogenic effects of the extracts and their kinetics were determined in four cell lines including human prostate (PC-3, DU 145, LNCaP) and breast adenocarcinoma (MCF7) by the MTT assay. Cell viability was reduced to 40% by extracts of P.pinea,andP.sylvestrisin PC-3 cells showing a similar effect like the positive control, CPT-11. CONCLUSION: Pinusspecies other than P.maritimadefinitively possess high biological activities, and therefore present a huge potential to be utilised in the food and the pharmaceutical industries. c � 2009 Society of Chemical Industry
Using Simple Body-Size Metrics to Estimate Fossil Body Volume: Empirical Validation Using Diverse Paleozoic Invertebrates

Abstract Body size is one of the most significant organismal characteristics because of its strong association with nearly all important ecological and physiological characteristics. While direct body mass measurement (or estimation from other size metrics) is not feasible with most extinct taxa, body volume is a measurable and general proxy for fossil size. This study explores the reliability of several metrics that can be used to estimate the body volume of Paleozoic invertebrates of various sizes, shapes, taxonomic affinities, and ecological habits. The ATD model, based on the product of lengths of the three major body axes (anteroposterior, transverse, and dorsoventral), is simple and widely applicable. Models specific to particular morphological and taxonomic groups are slightly more accurate than this ATD model, but the advantages are minor. The ATD model is consistent with previous studies demonstrating widespread shape allometry—that is, small taxa tend to have globose geometries while large ones tend to be conical, even within the same taxonomic group. The ATD model successfully predicts the volume of 10 validation samples that were excluded from development of the original model. Because the linear measurements used to estimate volume are easy to obtain from specimens in the field or from published work, estimates of body volume can be incorporated into paleontological analyses, even those spanning multiple phyla.
COHORT VARIATION IN HORN GROWTH OF DALL SHEEP RAMS IN THE SOUTHWEST YUKON , 1969-1999

Horn growth of 2481 Dall sheep (Ovis dalli) rams was measured as part of harvest assessment in the southwest Yukon for cohorts born between 1969 and 1992. Estimated volumes for annual horn growth increments were based on measurements of annual horn segment lengths and their annual base circumferences. Poor horn growth was observed in 1972, 1982, and 1992 in rams of all age classes, except lambs. In general, lambs showed little variability between years, because growth during the first summer is negligible compared to subsequent years and horn tips of older rams are worn. Above-average horn growth was observed in 1977, 1978, 1989, 1994, 1995, and 1996 for rams from all cohorts. At 8 years there were significant betweencohort differences in total horn volume depending on year of birth. Good or poor years have dramatic cumulative effects on horn growth, depending on the age and growth stage of the cohorts when good or poor growth years occur. Over 31-years (1969-1999) there was a significant ‘10-year’ periodicity in horn growth, which was consistent across all age classes and all cohorts during this period. Annual horn growth increments appear to provide an integrated climate signal that is related to precipitation and temperature cycles which likely influence plant productivity. This predictable pattern provides a context for the Yukon’s sheep management program.
Complement activation and vascular complications in type 2 diabetic South Asians

Levels of complement C3, SC5b-9 -the soluble end-product of complement activation, and Mannose- Binding Lectin (the recognition molecule of the lectin pathway of complement activation) were measured in 268 South Asians (168 type 2 diabetic and 100 non-diabetic subjects) and compared to an age- and sex matched control-group of native Caucasians. In a cross-sectional study, the association between complement levels, diabetes and albuminuria was assessed. In a longitudinal study, the 168 type 2 diabetic South Asians were followed prospectively for a median duration of 7.66 years. The association of complement levels with future cardiovascular events and progressive renal failure was assessed. Compared to native Caucasians, South Asians had significantly higher levels of both serum C3 and plasma SC5b-9 and higher levels of MBL. A SC5b-9 level above the median was associated with albuminuria at baseline (univariate OR 2.3, 95%CI 1.18-4.55, P = 0.015 ) and with progressive renal failure (univariate HR 5.45, 95%CI 1.52-19.5, P = 0.009 ) Neither C3 nor SC5b-9 predicted cardiovascular events. Baseline MBL levels were associated with progressive renal failure (multivariate HR 3.59, 95%CI 1.30-9.93, P = 0.014) These results suggest that complement activation is involved in the pathogenesis of microvascular complications in South Asians with type 2 diabetes.
Prevention of allergies in children Author affiliation: Vishneva Elena Aleksandrovna, allergist-immunologist at the department of medical rehabilitation of children with allergic diseases and diseases of respiratory organs of the research institute of preventive pediatrics and medical rehabilitation

The article is dedicated to the issue of preventing allergies in children. Increase in the spread of allergic diseases among children and adolescents remains one of the most significant medical and social issues and constitutes a heavy burden for healthcare budgets of many countries around the world. The Federal clinical recommendations must become modern guidelines for practicing clinicians everywhere; these are modern regulatory documents – protocols of medical care rendering to children with various allergic manifestations. The authors substantiate complex approach to the therapy of allergic diseases and determine the role of preventive measures and elimination of trigger effects. The authors traditionally distinguish between primary, secondary and tertiary measures and demonstrate their orientation. They consider the issue of preventing respiratory infections, which often constitute a factor of exacerbation of chronic allergic processes and are one of the frequent causative agents of allergic inflammation. The optimal preventive effect and maximum reduction in the incidence rate of respiratory infections may be achieved by combining vaccination and immune pharmacotherapy.
Expression of Circulating Plasma Long Non-Coding RNA uc063iod.1 and Its Relationship with Coronary Artery Disease

Objective: To investigate the expression of LncRNA uc063iod.1 in patients with different diseases and to explore the correlation between expression level of LncRNA uc063iod.1 and Coronary Artery Disease (CAD). Method: Plasma samples were prepared using the blood extracted from total 101 patients undergoing coronary artery angiogram (63 CAD patients and 38 non CAD patients). The expression level of LncRNA uc063iod.1 was detected using quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and the relationship between expression level of LncRNA uc063iod.1 and CAD was explored. The clinicopathological features of patients with CAD were also discussed in our study. Results: The expression of LncRNA uc063iod.1 was significantly increased in the plasma of patients with CAD (p < 0.05). AUC was 0.701 (95%CI: 0.598 - 0.804), and the sensitivity and specificity were 77.8% and 57.9% respectively. Conclusion: Upregulation of LncRNA uc063iod.1 in plasma can be used as a biomarker for the diagnosis of CAD.
Endometrial Cancer: Forecast

Abnormal uterine periand postmenopausal bleeding represent more than two thirds of the Gynecological consultations and the primary exclusion target off such presentations would be endometrial cancer. (1)Endometrial cancer is the most common malignancy of the female genital tract in the world and the seventh most common cause of death from cancer in women in western Europe. (2)The disease thus motivates the development of adequate prognostic determinants for more accurate triage of patients through various treatment modalities and to provide better insight into the cell biology of the disease.In recent years, certain factors have led to an increasing awareness of and emphasis on diagnosis and treatment of endometrial cancer. These factors include the declining incidence of cervical cancer and related deaths in the United States, prolonged life expectancy, postmenopausal use of hormone replacement therapy, and earlier diagnosis. Moreover, the availability of easily applied diagnostic tools and a clearer understanding of premalignant lesions of the endometrium have led to an increase in the number of women diagnosed with endometrial cancer. (3)Screening for the disease and thus its prediction is highly recommended, however , there is overlap between the terms prediction and forecast, as prediction implies that some outcome is expected, while a forecast may cover a range of possible outcomes. (4)
GEOMETRIC ENTROPY AND PATTERSON-SULLIVAN CURRENTS

We introduce and study the notion of geometric entropy hT (μ) for a geodesic current μ on a free group F with respect to a point T in the non-projectivized Outer Space cv(F ). Thus T is an R-tree equipped with a minimal free and discrete isometric action of F . The geometric entropy hT (μ) measures the slowest exponential decay rate of the “weights” of μ on cylinder sets in T , with respect to the T -length of the segment defining such a cylinder. We obtain an explicit formula for hT ′ (μT ), where T, T ′ ∈ cv(F ) are arbitrary points and where μT is a Patterson-Sullivan current corresonding to T , in terms of the volume entropy of T and the extremal distortion of distances in T with respect to distances in T ′. We conclude that for T ∈ CV (F ) (where CV (F ) ⊆ cv(F ) is the projectivized Outer space consisting of all elements of cv(F ) with co-volume 1) and for a Patterson-Sullivan current μT corresponding to T the function CV (F )→ R, T ′ 7→ hT ′ (μT ), achieves a strict global maximum at T ′ = T . We also show that for any T ∈ cv(F ) and any geodesic current μ on F , we have hT (μ) ≤ h(T ), where h(T ) is the volume entropy of T , and the equality is realized when μ = μT .
On symmetries of crystals with defects related to a class of solvable groups (S1)

We consider distributions of dislocations in continuum models of crystals which are such that the corresponding dislocation density tensor relates to a particular class of solvable Lie group, and discrete structures which are embedded in these crystals. We provide a canonical form of these structures and, by finding the set of all generators of a corresponding discrete subgroup, we determine the ‘material’ symmetries that constrain appropriate strain energy functions.