Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Semisupervised Clustering for Networks Based on Fast Affinity Propagation

Most of the existing clustering algorithms for networks are unsupervised, which cannot help improve the clustering quality by utilizing a small number of prior knowledge. We propose a semisupervised clustering algorithm for networks based on fast affinity propagation (SCAN-FAP), which is essentially a kind of similarity metric learning method. Firstly, we define a new constraint similarity measure integrating the structural information and the pairwise constraints, which reflects the effective similarities between nodes in networks. Then, taking the constraint similarities as input, we propose a fast affinity propagation algorithm which keeps the advantages of the original affinity propagation algorithm while increasing the time efficiency by passing only the messages between certain nodes. Finally, by extensive experimental studies, we demonstrate that the proposed algorithm can take fully advantage of the prior knowledge and improve the clustering quality significantly. Furthermore, our algorithm has a superior performance to some of the state-of-art approaches.
Survey of obesity among various age group girls of Punjab

Prevalence of obesity has increased substantially in the last two or three decades worldwide. The prevalence statistics shows that obesity pandemic is penetrating even in the developing nations like India. In the present study an attempt has been made to report the prevalence of obesity on the basis of body mass index among school girls of Punjab, total 6000 students were randomly selected (750 in each age group) ranging in age from 10-17 years. Height and weight were measured in all participants and the body mass index (BMI) of each individual was calculated. Body mass index classes were calculated according to the API Growth chart 2015.The observations revealed that the overall prevalence of underweight, healthy weight, overweight and obesity was 6.45%, 64.94%, 14.8% and 13.81% respectively. Overweight and obesity was more prevalent among school girl students.
Bioactivity of Eucalyptus camaldulensis essential oil against Microcerotermes diversus (Isoptera: Termitidae)

Microcerotermes diversus Silvestri (Isoptera: Termitidae) is the most economically destructive wood pest in structures in Khuzestan province (Iran). Chemicals such as essential oils and plant extracts that are compatible with the environment and have high potential to be used in integrated pest management programs are extremely important resources. This study evaluated contact and digestive toxicity of Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehneh. (Myrtaceae) essential oil in no-choice and choice bioassays and feeding inhibition trials on M. diversus. Concentrations of the essential oil ranged from 0.3 to 1.6%. The results of the choice tests and feeding inhibition trial showed that the essential oil could act as a repellent at 0.7% concentration. Concentrations used in these tests resulted in mortality of termites, and a direct relationship between concentration and mortality was observed. The essential oil also increased the mortality of termites at concentrations higher than 0.7%. Termite feeding decreased with increase in concentration. Due to the ability of termites to choose the untreated filter- paper in the choice trial, values of LT and LC, were higher than in no-choice trials. The highest effects of Eucalyptus essential oil (≈100% mortality) was obtained by the concentration 1.6%. Overall, this study reveals that Eucalyptus essential oil may be suggested as an effective toxicant with suitable contact and digestive toxicity on M. diversus.
Isolation, Identification and Antifungal Activities of Streptomyces aureoverticillatus HN6

Banana Fusarium wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense race 4 (FOC4) is destroying numerous banana plantations in southern China. In order to select an effective biocontrol agent for this devastating disease, eighty nine actinomycete isolates were collected from soil samples in the Botanical Garden of Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences in the tropical Hainan Province, China. These isolates were evaluated for their antagonistic activity against FOC4. Our results showed that eight isolates exhibited strong anti-FOC4 activity. One of the isolates, HN6, resulted in an inhibition zone of 35 mm in diameter in the antagonistic test. The mycelia of HN6 were extracted with methanol, and the extract was tested against eight indicator pathogens by the mycelium growth rate method. The HN6 extract demonstrated broad-spectrum antifungal activity, with an EC50 less than 0.08 mg/ml. Based on the morphological, biochemical, physiological and cultural characteristics and the 16S rRNA gene sequence, the HN6 isolate was identified as Streptomyces aureoverticillatus. HN6 isolate can be potentially developed into a biocontrol agent for banana Fusarium wilt and other plant diseases.
An efficient method to compute the dynamic response of a fluid‐filled crack

SUMMARY The vibration of a fluid-filled crack is considered to be one of the most plausible source mechanisms for the long-period events and volcanic tremors occurring around volcanoes. As a tool for the quantitative interpretation of source process of such volcanic seismic signals, we propose a method to numerically simulate the dynamic response of a fluid-filled crack. In this method, we formulate the motions of the fluid inside and the elastic solid outside of the crack, using boundary integrals in the frequency domain and solve the dynamic interactions between the fluid and the elastic solid using the point collocation method. The present method is more efficient compared with the time-domain finite difference method, which has been used in simulations of a fluid-filled crack and enables us to study the dynamics of a fluid-filled crack over a wide range of physical parameters. The method also allows us direct calculation of the attenuation quality factor of the crack resonance, which is an indispensable parameter for estimating the properties of the fluid inside the crack. The method is also designed to be flexible to many applications, which may be encountered in volcano seismology, and thus, extensions of the method to more complicated problems are promising.
Meta-analysis of variant rs 7903146 of TCF7L2 gene with secondary complications of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Persistent hyperglycemia in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus is driving force for developing secondary complications like neuropathy, retinopathy, nephropathy, cardiomyopathy and wound healing impairment in them. Other genetic risk factor includes variants of transcription factor 7-like 2 (TCF7L2) gene, which have been shown to be associated with these several secondary complications individually. The present study represents a systematic review and Meta analysis using electronic databases like PubMed, OMIM, ISI web of science and Embase to see the role of rs7903146 C>T variant of the TCF7L2 gene with secondary complications of T2DM. Data was collected using literature-based searching to perform a Meta analysis to pool the odds ratio (OR). This Meta analysis comprised of a total of 2060 cases with secondary complication of T2DM and 3049 age matched controls. Publication bias and study-between heterogeneity were also evaluated. The present Meta analysis of included studies showed a highly significant association of risk genotype TT with development of secondary complications in T2DM.
12 Genetic Association and Linkage Studies in Osteoarthritis

Annu Näkki1,2,3, Minna Männikkö4 and Janna Saarela1 1Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM), University of Helsinki, Helsinki, 2Unit of Public Health Genomics, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, 3Departments of Medical Genetics and Public Health, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, 4Oulu Center for cell-Matrix Research, Biocenter and Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
Statistical analysis of tourism destination competitiveness

The growing relevance of tourism industry for modern advanced economies has increased the interest among researchers and policy makers in the statistical analysis of destination competitiveness. In this paper we outline a new model of destination competitiveness based on sound theoretical grounds and we develop a statistical test of the model on sample data based on Italian tourist destination decisions and choices. Our model focuses on the tourism decision process which starts from the demand schedule for holidays and ends with the choice of a specific holiday destination. The demand schedule is a function of individual preferences and of destination positioning, while the final decision is a function of the initial demand schedule and the information concerning services for accommodation and recreation in the selected destinations. Moreover, we extend previous studies that focused on image or attributes (such as climate and scenery) by paying more attention to the services for accommodation and recreation in the holiday destinations. We test the proposed model using empirical data collected from a sample of 1.200 Italian tourists interviewed in 2007 (October - December). Data analysis shows that the selection probability for the destination included in the consideration set is not proportional to the share of inclusion because the share of inclusion is determined by the brand image, while the selection of the effective holiday destination is influenced by the real supply conditions. The analysis of Italian tourists preferences underline the existence of a latent demand for foreign holidays which points out a risk of market share reduction for Italian tourism system in the global market. We also find a snow ball effect which helps the most popular destinations, mainly in the northern Italian regions.
Large Scale Simulations of Astrophysical Jets

We present recent results of our three-dimensional (3-D) simulations of astrophysical jets. These efforts use a highly parallelized version of the VH-1 Hydrodynamics Code in the hydrodynamics (HD) regime (Colella and Woodward \textit{1984}, Mignone \textit{et al. 2007}, and Saxton et al. \textit{2005} in the hydrodynamic regime; and the PLUTO code (Mignone \textit{et al. 2007} for the hydrodynamic, magneto-hydrodynamic (MHD), relativistic hydrodynamic (RHD), and relativistic, magnetohydrodynamic (RMHD). We also continue our investigation using particle-in-cell simulations to benchmark a wave-population model of the two-stream instability and associated plasma instabilities in order to determine the energy deposition and momentum transfer rates for these modes of the jet-ambient medium interactions. In this regard, we believe that it is important to note that ``simple" HD, RHD, and RMHD simulations are unable to show the real effects of these essentially microscopic (at least in terms of the scales of the simulations) processes. Thus, these effects are being considered for use in a multi-scale code that incorporates energy deposition rate and momentum transfer from strong plasma turbulence generated by the interaction of the astrophysical jet with the ambient medium through which it propagates. In this work, we show some some results from the modeling of these jets for a fully 3-D simulation of relativistic jets using the PLUTO code in the RHD regime. The jets in question have a relativistic velocity $\beta = 0.988c$. We whow a specific example where the disk gravitational potential affects the jet propagation.
Canadian pressure observations and circulation variability: links to air temperature

A set of 71 station series of surface pressure from Canada and Greenland have been examined for quality control and homogeneity. These records range in length from 50 to 130 years. The object of this exercise was to investigate station‐based surface pressure series and atmospheric circulation on a decadal time scale, and to examine the effects of the atmospheric circulation on climate. The data considered here are monthly means.
Perspectives on water bodies : Dynamics and adaptation as a requisite for dealing with the complexity of multiple perspectives in water management

markdownabstractIn the quest for sustainable water management, it is often difficult to balance economical, social and ecological demands. This paper addresses this issue by discussing the difficulties that arise in attempting to identify competing claims at the actor level, and by asking how these competing claims affect the process of incorporating long-term perspectives into actual policy processes. The authors have used the concept of perspectives or frames to address the above questions, within the context of two Dutch water management projects : the first in the Western Scheldt Estuary and the second in Rijnland, a polder network in the west of the Netherlands. Actor level perspectives were sought and an analysis was carried out to find out what this would mean for the water management approaches adopted in each of these regions. From the results of this study, the authors come to the following three conclusions. First, actors involved in water management projects should be aware that while the goal of their project might seem very legitimate from one perspective, it can go against the priorities of actors holding another perspective and this clash can have significant impact on the processes and outcomes of the project. Secondly, the fact that the perspectives and visions of the stakeholders can not be known beforehand means that the process manager should show a high level of flexibility and adapt to the dynamic process. Thirdly, the way that plans to meet project goals are designed have important impact on the outcome of efforts to reach a mutual decision and stakeholders should have ample opportunity to give their input during this process.
First Impressions Count: Serious detections arising from Criminal Justice Samples

DNA samples on the England and Wales national database matching those found at scenes of serious violent or sexual crimes were identified. The earlier offence leading the sample to appear on the database was noted. The bulk (60-84% according to inclusion criteria) involved theft, drug or other offending. The result, indicating offender versatility, is consistent with most research on criminal careers. Its importance for operational police lies in identifying the contribution made by DNA samples taken after less serious offences in clearing subsequent serious crime, and the importance of taking such samples from as wide a list of apparently ‘trivial’ crime types as possible. Examining specific relationships between early and later offences revealed a significant link between providing a DNA sample following a drug offence and subsequently committing murder. Background
Impact of wine tapping on the population structure and regeneration of Hyphaene petersiana Klotzsch ex Mart. in northern Botswana.

Palms are tapped around the world as sources of sugars for fermentation. A comparison of tapped and untapped populations of Hyphaene petersiana Klotsch ex Mart. palm trees was conducted in northern Botswana. The objectives of the study were to: determine the densities, dominances, population structures and regeneration of natural palm stands. Social objectives of the study included assessment of preferred tree sizes for wine tapping, investigation of methods, frequency and processes involved in the wine tapping, and marketing of the tapped palm wine. The results revealed a significant difference in the mean total density of the species at the two study sites (Shorobe with 2,275 individuals/ha and Tubu with 1,402 individuals/ha). Total seed densities at Tubu (6,822/ha) and Shorobe (62/ha) were dramatically different. Mean total dominance (basal area) was significantly higher at Tubu than Shorobe where wine tapping is common. The species exhibited a pattern indicative of hampered population structures/regeneration at both sites. In Shorobe, the hampered regeneration can be attributed mainly to wine tapping associated with cutting down the trees. Palm wine tappers used destructive methods such as burning, felling, pruning and trimming the stem. The results revealed that the methods of wine tapping employed negatively impacted the population structure.
Antioxidant Capacity and Phenolic Contents of Three Quercus Species

The antioxidant capability and phenolic contents of ethanol extracts (free phenolics) and ethyl acetate extracts (bound phenolics) of three Quercus species were estimated in this work. The antioxidant activities were examined by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2′-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS) free radical, reducing power and b-carotene bleaching methods. HPLC was employed to detect major phenolic acids. The leaf extract of Q. salicina contained maximum total phenolics while the highest total flavonoid content was found in the leaf extract of Q. serrata. The antioxidant activities varied among three species. Bark extract of Q. salicina was the most potential and it was closed to levels of the standard antioxidative dibutyl hydroxytoluene (BHT). The bark extract of Q. serrata also showed promising antioxidant activities despite their eminence was negligibly lower than Q. salicina. Stronger antioxidant activities of free phenolics than those of the bound phenolics may be attributed to higher quantities of free phenolics in the barks of Quercus species, however total flavonoids may not contribute a critical role. By HPLC analysis, thirteen phenolic acids were detected in the leaf and bark extracts. Of them, Q. salicina showed maximum in number (ten compounds) and quantities of detected phenolic acids. Ellagic, chlorogenic and benzoic acids were dominant in Quercus species. Findings of this study revealed that leaves and barks of three Quercus species are rich source of antioxidants, and Q.salicina is the most promising and should be elaborated to exploit its pharmaceutical properties.
Rational Expectations, Information Acquisition, and Competitive Bidding

Most rational expectations market equilibrium models are not models of price formation, and naive mechanisms leading to such equilibria can be severely manipulable. In this paper, a bidding model is developed which has the market-like features that bidders act as price takers and that prices convey information. Higher equilibrium prices convey more favorable information about the quality of the objects being sold than do lower prices. Bidders can benefit from trading only if they have a transactions motive or if they have access to inside information. Apart from exceptional cases, prices are not fully revealing. A two stage model is developed in which bidders may acquire information at a cost before bidding and for which the equilibrium price is fully revealing, resolving a well-known paradox.
Overcoming Photo Degredation in Dye Sensitized Solar Cell

Dye sensitized solar cell (DSSC) is a thin film solar cell which has prospect for solving the fast growing global energy demand. It uses basically titanium dioxide TiO2, organic dye and electrolyte. The availability of these materials and their low cost makes DSSC the cheapest solar cell in the world. Although efforts are being made to improve efficiency but the short life span remain a major challenge. Improving this short life span is what this study is responding to. A known method of preparation was examined and modified for better DSSC performance. Two new approaches were introduced to the process of DSSC fabrication: the introduction of a mordant and sealing the edges. The organic pigment used for light harvesting was Teak dye. The results of the conventional method and the modified method were obtained and compared. The results of the newly developed method show a very wide improvement in the DSSC life span, and even some improvement in the efficiency. The active period of the cell increase to 60 days while the one made with the conventional approach degraded after four hours. Through these modifications, a new procedure for producing DSSC has been developed which will solve the problem of short active period in dye sensitized solar cell.
The presence of Polypedates cruciger tadpoles reduces the growth of Duttaphrynus melanostictus tadpoles under laboratory conditions

Competition is one of the main types of interactions in ecological communities. Interspecific competition of many organisms including anuran tadpoles has been demonstrated in numerous previous studies. However, a few studies have also shown that interspecific competition is absent or insignificant in certain tadpole communities. In this study, we conducted experiments to assess whether the presence of one species of tadpole affects the growth of another species. We selected tadpoles of two commonly co-occurring species of anurans in Sri Lanka: Duttaphrynus melanostictus and Polypedates cruciger. The length and width of tadpoles were used as a measure of growth. The laboratory experiments revealed that the presence of P. cruciger tadpoles negatively impacted the growth of D. melanostictus tadpoles. Tadpoles of D. melanostictus that were raised with P. cruciger tadpoles (treatment) were significantly smaller than those raised with conspecifics (control). P. cruciger tadpoles that were raised with D. melanostictus tadpoles were significantly bigger than those raised with conspecifics. We believe that these effects are due to the superiority of P. cruciger tadpoles to D. melanostictus tadpoles in terms of competition.
CONCEPTUAL FOUNDATIONS OF OPERATIONAL SET THEORY

I formulate the Zermelo-Russell paradox for naive set theory. A sketch is given of Zermelo’s solution to the paradox: the cumulative type structure. A careful analysis of the set formation process shows a missing component in this solution: the necessity of an assumed imaginary jump out of an infinite universe. Thus a set is formed by a suitable combination of concrete and imaginary operations all of which can be made or assumed by a Turing machine. Some consequences are drawn from this improved analysis of the concept of set, for the theory of sets and for the philosophy and foundations of mathematics.
DICE: A NONDETERMINISTIC MEMORY ALIGNMENT DEFENSE AGAINST HEAP TAICHI

Heap spraying is a security attack that mostly accounts for the popularity of exploits targeting web browsers and Adobe family products over the last few years. Such an attack, when combined with memory corruption techniques, can lead to arbitrary code execution on victim’s host. A typical heap spraying attack populates application’s heap by allocating large number of heap objects, each composed of NOP sled and malicious code, and then relies on a corrupted pointer to transfer control flow to a location within NOP sled, eventually causing the malicious code to be executed. A recent enhanced heap spraying attack that exploits the allocation granularity of system has a more precise control of the location of malicious code, thus effectively removes the requirement of using NOP sled and renders existing defenses powerless. In this paper, we present Dice, a runtime guard that prevents enhanced heap spraying attack and detects any attempt that targets bypassing our countermeasure. Dice works by randomizing the location of heap object to be allocated and examines the content of heap object for a particular long NOP sled. Our prototype is implemented in SpiderMonkey and integrated into Firefox. We measure the effectiveness of Dice by performing a wide variety of benchmarks and compare the results with genuine Firefox. With sampling employed, the performance slowdown is less than 5% on average, and the memory overhead in the worst case is roughly 2%.