Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ethnobotany of Devil's Claw (Proboscidea parviflora ssp. parviflora: Martyniaceae) in the Greater Southwest

During our ongoing research (Nabhan et al. 1981; Bretting 1982; Nabhan and Rea n.d.) we found that devil's claw has a much wider ecogeographical distribution and is (or was) important to many more native groups throughout the Greater Southwest than is commonly known (Fig. 1). This report summarizes the native names, uses, and cultivation practices for devil's claw for that region. Herbarium specimens, ethnohistorical, archaeological, and ethnological literature were first surveyed; these references were complemented and updated by recent extensive fieldwork (by Nabhan) at more than 30 different Indian reservations. With this information it is possible to detail the widespread use of devil's claw in basketry and its enigmatic role in the rituals of Pueblo cultures. Hypotheses regarding the chronology and locality for the domestication of this plant are also suggested. Processes and routes of diffusion for the cultural trail of devil's claw cultivation and use are hypothesized; these may be valuable to ethnologists and others perhaps not interested in devil's claw per se.
Roles of PI3-kinase and ARAP2 in regulating glucose metabolism

Insulin signaling is mediated by a complex, highly integrated network which functions to control multiple metabolic and growth processes throughout the organism. A key enzyme in the insulin signaling network is phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-kinase). PI3-kinase catalyzes the production of the lipid second messenger, phosphatidylinositol 3, 4, 5triphosphate (PIP3), which is involved in various cellular functions such as cell growth, survival and apoptosis. In this thesis, we have investigated the impact of oncogenic mutations of PI3-kinase, as well as deletion of its key subunit isoforms on glucose metabolism. We also identified a PH-domain containing protein ARAP2, and investigated its role in lipid droplet formation. In Paper I, we investigated the effect of combined hepatic deletion of the PI3-kinase subunits p110α and p85α (L-DKO) on insulin signaling and glucose homeostasis. L-DKO mice developed impaired glucose-tolerance, but surprisingly displayed intact IRS1-associated lipid kinase activity. The mice exhibited decreased body weight, but similar adipose tissue weight, hepatic glucose production as well as normal insulin tolerance, demonstrating a paradoxical milder phenotype compared to mice having only p110α deleted in the liver. In Paper II, we investigated the effects of the hot spot mutations E545K and H1047R of p110α on hepatic and whole body glucose homeostasis. The expression of these mutations resulted in a reprogrammed cellular metabolism with marked accumulation of lipids and glycogen in the liver. Wild-type (wt) p110α expression did not result in hepatic lipid or glycogen accumulation despite having similarly increased expression of glycolytic and lipogenic genes. Furthermore, there was no difference in the kinase activity between the wtand mutant-expressing mice, which suggest that the metabolic effects exhibited by the p110α mutants are linked to kinase-independent function(s) of the oncogenic p110α. In Paper III, we identified ARAP2 as a PH-domain containing protein in the lipid droplet proteome. We show that knockdown of ARAP2 leads to diminished lipid droplet formation by decreasing the rate of triglyceride synthesis. The lower triglyceride synthesis rate resulted from decreased basal glucose uptake through lower expression of GLUT1, as well as reduced GLUT1 levels in the plasma membrane and lipid micro-domains. The effect on GLUT1 was mediated by increased glucosylceramide synthesis.
THE EFFECTS OF UNSERVICEABLE ASSET DISPOSAL ON PERFORMANCE OF GOVERNMENT MINISTRIES IN KENYA; A CASE OF THE NATIONAL TREASURY

There is a major problem with government ministries in Kenya in managing unserviceable assets. A preliminary visit to the office complexes, compounds, stock yards, parking lots and main stores of most government ministries reveals unserviceable stores strewn all over the yard, unserviceable motor vehicles lining up the parking lots, and unserviceable office equipment and furniture piling in the main stores. This problem has been so severe in government ministries that government has incorporated asset management in Cabinet Secretaries performance contracts as a key performance indicator. When any equipment is unserviceable its keeping through maintenance costs, storage, parking insurance, etc., may well exceed the returns that can be derived from that piece of equipment and the investment of additional monies. Disposal is thus one of the prudent elements of managing procurement, supply and distribution in any sector, private or public in enhancing its performance. It is estimated that inefficiencies in the processes of public procurement and disposal cost Kenya about Kshs. 30 Billion annually. This is due to poor procurement and disposal planning. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of unserviceable asset disposal on the performance of government ministries in Kenya, a case of the National Treasury. The target population was the three hundred and forty members of staff at the ministry of The National Treasury in top, middle and lower management. A sample size of 51 was picked through stratified simple random sampling. The instrument of data collection was a questionnaire with open ended and closed questions. Primary data was collected through questionnaires from respondents while secondary data was collected from books, journals, reports, conference papers and other academic literature through literature review. The data collected was analyzed and presented in frequency tables. The findings from the study running the linear regression analysis indicated that if adequate control in inventory was used then the performance of government ministries would improve. The study recommended that frequent disposal of unserviceable assets would help reduce unnecessary costs whereas at the same time generate some additional revenue that could be used for alternative development agendas thereby improving the performance of government ministries. Key Words: Unserviceable Assets, Performance
On the origin of orthogonal polarization modes in pulsar radio emission

This paper is devoted to studying the conversion of ordinary superluminous waves into extraordinary waves in an ultrarelativistic highly magnetized plasma of pulsars. The conversion appears to take place in the region of quasi-longitudinal propagation with respect to the magnetic field. Although the propagation of waves in pulsar magnetospheres is generally quasi-transverse, due to refraction the wave vector can for a short while become nearly aligned with the ambient magnetic field. As a result of the conversion, the originally ordinary wave turns into two waves, the ordinary and extraordinary. It is found that at pulsar conditions the conversion of the ordinary waves can be significant, i.e. a considerable part of the energy can be transmitted to the extraordinary waves. The process is suggested to underlie the observed transitions between the orthogonal polarization states in pulsar radiation. The connection of conversion with magnetospheric refraction implies a number of observational consequences which agree well with the observed features of the orthogonally polarized modes. In particular, it becomes possible to explain both the longitudinal location of the prominent orthogonal transitions and the high-frequency depolarization of pulsar radiation. Further polarization evolution of the natural waves resulting from the conversion is investigated as well. It is found that the polarization-limiting effect can account for both the change in the sense of circular polarization during the orthogonal transitions and the non-orthogonality of the observed modes. It is shown that any technique of mode separation should allow for the consequences of the polarization-limiting effect.
Development of a Recommender System based on Extending Contexts of Content and Personal History

The flood of information on the Internet makes a person who approaches it without some strong intention feel overwhelmed. One way to redress the balance between a person and the flood is a computer-based recommender system, and many Web sites use such systems. These systems on a Web site work for similar items. However, the field of personal activity is not limited to handling one kind of knowledge or one Web site, but also involves off-line activities in the real world. To handle personal off-line activity, LifeLog was proposed as a method to record it, but the main purpose of LifeLog is to record a personal history. The uses of such a history are still being studied. We have developed a recommender system that captures personal context from a history of personal online and off- line activities, treats information on Web sites as a large set of context, and discovers and extends the overlaps of personal activities and Web sites, then recommends information located in the Web sites. The aim of the system is to allow a person to enjoy waves of information again. The system was implemented as part of the My Life Assist Service for mobile phones provided by NTT DOCOMO, Inc. as a field experiment from December 2007 to February 2008.
CFD High L/D Riser Modeling Study

Fully three dimensional fluid flow simulations are used with a simple structural model to simulate very long risers. This method overcomes many shortcomings of methodologies based on two dimensional flow simulations and can correctly include the effects of three dimensional structures such as strakes, buoyancy modules and catenary riser shapes. The method is benchmarked against laboratory and offshore experiments with model risers of length to diameter ratios up to 4,000. RMS values of vortex induced vibration motions are shown to be in good agreement with measurements. The resources needed to model ultra deep water drilling and production risers are estimated based on current computer technology.
Finite Element Modeling of Drilling Using DEFORM

DEFORM-3D is a robust simulation tool that uses the finite element method (FEM) to model complex machining processes in three dimensions. One of the most recent processes that has been modeled in DEFORM is drilling. The program has many features that can be daunting and difficult to adjust for a new user. These features combine machining and the FE model to simulate drilling operations. Although this program can generate useful results, it can be very difficult to obtain these results consistently. This is because the code is often subject to crashing when the simulation parameters are not set properly. By recognizing the common errors and idiosyncrasies of DEFORM, a user can generate useful simulations quickly and efficiently. The background, application, troubleshooting, and analysis of DEFORM-3D are presented to showcase its capabilities while discussing its limitations in drilling.
Beneficial effects of Bacillus licheniformis and Bacillus niabensis on growth and economic characteristics of silkworm, Bombyx mori L.

Nutrition of silkworm is a sole factor which almost individually augments quality and quantity of silk. Mulberry leaf is the main source of nutrition for the silkworm. The study was aimed at investigating rearing and economic parameters of the silkworm (CSR6 x CSR26) x (CSR2 x CSR27) fed on mulberry leaves fortified with Bacillus licheniformis strain BMGB42 and Bacillus niabensis strain BMGB17 individually and in combination at different cell concentrations. Among different treatments Bacillus licheniformis followed by Bacillus licheniformis + Bacillus niabensis (10cfu/ml) recorded maximum larval weight, effective rate rearing, cocoon weight, shell weight, pupal weight, shell ratio, silk productivity and filament length besides reduced larval mortality due to disease incidence and finer denier compared to control. The results showed that the Bacillus licheniformis can be used as probiotics in commercial silkworm rearing.
Reply to the discussion by Wanatowski and Chu on On equivalent granular void ratio and steady state behaviour of loose sand with fines

represented by a single equivalent granular SSL. The root-mean-square deviation (RMSD) value, which measures thescatter of the data points about the trend line, is 0.028, andthis is a very small value.The reliability of the improved eqs. [R2] and [R3] wasfurther examined by repeating the above synthesis for allother data sets. Thus, a new set of (
The PASS model for the assessment of cognitive functioning in South African schools : a first probe

Diversity is an acknowledged characteristic of the South African society. Traditional standardised methods of assessment for cognitive functioning have been discouraged or abandoned, as they have been found to be discriminatory. Arguing for a systematic assessment process, a previous researcher has stated that standardised methods are the best ways of achieving understanding of the reasons for the breakdown in learning and ensuring effective intervention. An alternative mod el of intelligence and cognitive functioning developed in previous work is explored for possible application within the South African context. This model, referred to as the PASS model, refers to the cognitive processes of Planning, Attention, Simultaneous and Successive processing. The exploration of the PASS model is extended to the assessment tool used to quantify these four cognitive processes. The assessment tool is called the Cognitive Assessment System (CAS). The question posed in the study was whether results obtained with this PASS model of intelligence could provide insight into the cognitive functioning of South African children. To establish the validity of the CAS (the assessment tool), the scores were correlated with related achievement scores obtained. The sources for achievement were obtained from the normed standardised Woodcock Diagnostic Reading Battery (WDRB) as well as the pupil's school year marks for the previous year. The data obtained from the CAS, Woodcock Diagnostic Reading Battery (WDRB), and the scholastic marks obtained from school subjects for December 2000 were therefore examined for correlations. The findings of this first probe indicated that the PASS model of intelligence correlates with reading and scholastic achievement in the South African context. The consequence of these findings impacts on the strategies employed for assessment of and intervention with reference to children having difficulties in learning within the South African context. The need for additional research to exp lore the diagnostic value of the CAS in the wider community is on e of the challenges emanating from this probe. (South African Journal of Education: 2003 22(3): 246-252)
Do children walk where they bike? Exploring built environment correlates of children's walking and bicycling

Previous studies examined environmental correlates of children’s physical activity. While most of these studies used aggregated physical activity measures (i.e., overall physical activity, active travel), little is known about the contribution of specific environmental attributes to specific types of physical activity. This study examined associations between GIS-based environmental measures and children’s self-reported walking and bicycling. The study area included “traditional neighborhoods” (N=4), characterized by high-density, land-use mix and grid-street network, and “suburban neighborhoods” (N=3), characterized by low-density, land-use segregation, and cul-de-sac streets. Data on children’s physical activity and psychosocial and socio-demographic factors were obtained through a school survey (of fifth and sixth graders) (N=573). Urban-form measures (intersection density, residential density, and built coverage) were significantly positively associated with walking and negatively associated with bicycling. These associations remained significant after controlling for social, intra- and inter-personal factors. These findings suggest that certain environments may encourage children’s walking and hinder their bicycling at the same time (and vice versa) and therefore raise the need for a more clear distinction between child-related walkability and bikeablilty.
Segmenting the Wine Market Based on Price: Hedonic Regression when Different Prices mean Different Products

Many economists have estimated hedonic price functions for red and white wine. However, estimating a single hedonic price function imposes the assumption that the implicit prices of the attributes are the same for any red or white wine. We argue that even within these two categories, wines are differentiated, and disregarding this heterogeneity causes an aggregation bias in the estimated implicit prices. By estimating hedonic functions specific to price ranges, we show that the wine market is segmented into several product classes or market segments. We find that a model accounting for the existence of wine classes has greater ability to explain the variability in the data and produces more accurate and interpretable results regarding the implicit prices of the attributes. Copyright 2007 The Agricultural Economics Society.
Taming Global Finance in an Age of Capital? Wage-Setting Institutions' Mitigating Effects on Housing Bubbles

Analyses in international political economy (IPE) identify interest rate convergence, magnified in the process of European monetary integration, and financial market liberalization as causal factors behind the rise of house prices. Despite these common credit supply shocks, developed economies experienced heterogeneous trends in housing inflation throughout the 1990s and 2000s. Turning towards demand determinants of housing prices, we focus on whether wage-setting institutions blunt financial liberalization’s impact on housing inflation via their restraining effect on incomes. Employing both a panel regression analysis and a structured comparison of housing developments in Ireland and the Netherlands, we uncover two findings. First, income growth is a more important predictor of housing bubbles across OECD economies than financial variables (although income’s impact on house prices is severely mitigated for the United States). Second, countries with coordinated labor market institutions that grant political coalitions in the export sector veto powers over non-tradable sector interests, realize more restrained income growth and, in turn, are less prone to housing bubbles.
The integrated Earth system model version 1: formulation and functionality

Abstract. The integrated Earth system model (iESM) has been developed as a new tool for projecting the joint human/climate system. The iESM is based upon coupling an integrated assessment model (IAM) and an Earth system model (ESM) into a common modeling infrastructure. IAMs are the primary tool for describing the human–Earth system, including the sources of global greenhouse gases (GHGs) and short-lived species (SLS), land use and land cover change (LULCC), and other resource-related drivers of anthropogenic climate change. ESMs are the primary scientific tools for examining the physical, chemical, and biogeochemical impacts of human-induced changes to the climate system. The iESM project integrates the economic and human-dimension modeling of an IAM and a fully coupled ESM within a single simulation system while maintaining the separability of each model if needed. Both IAM and ESM codes are developed and used by large communities and have been extensively applied in recent national and international climate assessments. By introducing heretofore-omitted feedbacks between natural and societal drivers, we can improve scientific understanding of the human–Earth system dynamics. Potential applications include studies of the interactions and feedbacks leading to the timing, scale, and geographic distribution of emissions trajectories and other human influences, corresponding climate effects, and the subsequent impacts of a changing climate on human and natural systems. This paper describes the formulation, requirements, implementation, testing, and resulting functionality of the first version of the iESM released to the global climate community.
Impact by bomas on the distribution of spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) in the Mara Region, Kenya

The aim of this study is to find out if, and in what way the Maasai pastoralists affect the spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) through Bomas (Maasai settlement) and keeping of livestock. The study was carried out in the Maasai Mara National Reserve and the adjoining group ranch, Koyake GR, in South-western Kenya. Data was assembled through transect driving, with instantaneous scan sample during two seasons, December 2003 and May-June 2004. Study area contained 12 bomas with three different type of transects each: T1 (0.5 km from boma), T2 (3 km from boma) and T3 (5.5 km from boma), to create a gradual decline in human and livestock impact. Results show that there are differences in the hyena's utilisation of transect type during the day and during the night. The spotted hyena tend to avoid transects close to the boma during the day time, but go there during the night time. This could be an indication of impact from human activity. As previous studies demonstrate, hyenas tend to avoid pastoralists on foot with livestock. Results found here indicate that hyenas also avoid Maasai settlements during day time. The conflict between and impact of Maasai pastoralists, may not be large at the moment, since the behaviour plasticity of the hyena reduces this impact through adaptations. But change is on its way, pastoralism and group ranch system is gradually being replaced by private owned land and cultivation. Due to these changes in utilisation of the land that have occurred after gathering of the data it would be very interesting to conduct the same study again, to see if the impact has increased.
Pricing Options on Ghanaian Stocks Using Black-Scholes Model

We present a succinct new approach to derive the Black-Scholes partial differential equation and subsequently the Black-Scholes formula. We proceed to use the formula to price options using stocks listed on Ghana stock exchange as underlying assets. From one year historical stock prices we obtain volatilities of the listed stocks which are subsequently used to compute prices of three month European call option. The results indicate that it is possible to use the Black Scholes formula to price options on the stocks listed on exchange. However, it was realised that most call option prices tend to zero either due to very low volatilities or very low stock prices. On the other hand put options were found to give positive prices even for stocks with very low volatilities or low stock prices.