Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
AQUATIC ECOLOGY AS A FUNCTION OF AVALANCHERUNOUTINTOANALnNELAKE

Avalanche actlVlty formed an avalanche plunge pool, developed a high-quality spawning area, and changed the water quality of Emerald Lake, a 2.72ha tarn located at 2800m in the southern Sierra Nevada of California. The submerged plunge pool at Emerald Lake is characterized by a distinct arcuate ridge surrounding a depression visible from the lake shore, at a depth of only 0.5 to 2.0 m. The plunge pool lies directly below the largest and most active avalanche path in the basin. The local topography has the distinct form identified by many researchers as unique to avalanche processes. Formation of the plunge pool by avalanches in Emerald Lake has resulted in the development of a high-quality spawning area for the resident brook trout (Salvelil1/lS fontinalis) in this steep-walled section of (he lake. The avalanche plunge pool covers only 2% of lake area but accounts for about 50% of the successful spawning in the lake. Snow accumulation in the lake from avalanche mnout had a marked impact on the chemistry of lake water. The low values for alkalinity and pH at this site relative to other areas of the lake indicate that any increases in the acidity of snowfall will not be buffered and could have adverse effects on the local biota.
E-Health in Pakistan: Issues and Prospects

In connection with access to information in developing countries, information flows through existing networks of communication is a main theme in the current IS literature . Information-intensive infrastructure is a requirement for information dissemination due to the shortage of network infrastructure in the majority of developing states. It is verified by many researchers that information managing technologies with their main purpose of ‘handling information’ have the advantage to enhance already existing technologies by making better information-communication a priori to new ICT innovations . Presently health information system infrastructure is deficient in resources to meet the demands and needs of increasing population in developing countries. Health care systems of developing countries have major barriers like poverty and lack of technological sophistication. The basic difficulties or barriers in using information technologies include poor or inadequate infrastructure, insufficient access to the hardware and inadequate or poor resources allocation. By eliminating these barriers population health status can be improved in developing countries. This study aims to determine the main issues and prospects for e-health in the current situation of developing countries like Pakistan and the way forward for policy makers to manage all issues in future for more effective and rational decision-making in healthcare organizations. Keywords : E-health, Issues, Prospects
Micr ofouling inhibitors from the Indian gorgonian Subergorgia reticulata (Ellis and Solander, 1786)

A ntifouling research currently focuses on greener ways of biofouling control in view of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) imposed regulations on toxic biocides. Microfouling, the initial phase of fouling, is an important target to prevent further macrofouling assemblage. In this perspective, the antimicrofouling potential of three calamenene derivatives (2-methoxy calamenene, 1; 2,5-dimethoxy calamenene, 2 and 2-methoxy,5-acetoxy calamenene, 3) isolated from the Indian gorgonian Subergorgia reticulata was investigated. These compounds inhibited growth of five fouling bacterial strains (Bacillus megaterium, Vibrio furnissi, V. fischeri, V. gazogenes and V. parahaemolyticus) as well as the two species of diatoms (Amphora coffeaeformis and Navicula transitans). Of these, the highest activity was exhibited by compound 3 against B. megaterium (MIC, 12.5µg) and N. transitans (EC50,14 µg/ml). The environmental-compatibility of this compound was evidenced from the non-toxicity to B. amphitrite nauplii (IC50 1 µg/ml) and Artemia sp. nauplii (IC50 0. 6µg/ml). Analysis of structure-activity relationship suggested that the acetoxy group present in 3 may be responsible for the comparatively high antifouling activity exhibited by this compound.
Mobile RFID Mutual Authentication and Ownership Transfer

In this paper, we propose an ownership transfer scheme that applies in mobile RFID networks. The scheme includes a mutual authentication protocol and a role-based ownership transfer protocol. A tag will decide what actions are allowed for a reader according to the reader's role class, and the back-end server will send to the reader the requested information about the tag. Keyed-hash functions are used to secure the protocols. Last, we prove that our protocol can do against the threats of replay attacks, distributed denial of service (DDoS), Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) attacks that change users' data, interception of data and location privacy, and tracking of tags' ownership transfer. Keywords-RFID;authentication; ownership transfer
Interleukin-4 Receptor Alpha Expressing B Cells Are Essential to Down-Modulate Host Granulomatous Inflammation During Schistosomasis

Schistosomiasis (bilharzia) is a parasitic helminth disease that can cause severe inflammatory pathology leading to organ damage in humans. Failure of the host to regulate egg-driven granulomatous inflammation causes host morbidity during chronic infection with Schistosoma mansoni. Although the importance of B cells in regulating pathology during chronic infection has been well defined, the specific contribution of IL-4Rα-expressing B cells is still unknown. To address this, we examined B cell-specific IL-4Rα-deficient (mb1creIL-4Rα−/lox) mice in three experimental models of schistosomiasis: high-dose (100 cercariae), low dose (30 cercariae), and a synchronous egg challenge. In the high dose model, we found that mice deficient in IL-4Rα-expressing B cells were more susceptible to acute schistosomiasis than B cell-deficient (μMT) mice, succumbing to infection at the acute stage whereas μMT mice survived until the chronic stage. An S. mansoni egg challenge model demonstrated that deleting IL-4Rα expression specifically on B cells resulted in increased lung granulomatous pathology, suggesting a role for this B cell subset in controlling granulomatous pathology. In agreement with this, a low dose model of schistosomiasis—which mimics the course of clinical chronic disease—demonstrated that depleting IL-4Rα-expressing B cells in mb1creIL-4Rα−/lox mice considerably impaired the host ability to down-modulate granulomatous inflammation in the liver and gut during chronic schistosomiasis. Taken together, our findings indicate that within the B cell compartment, IL-4Rα-expressing B cells in particular down-modulate the deleterious egg-driven tissue granulomatous inflammation to enable host survival during schistosomiasis in mice.
A multi-objective location routing problem using imperialist competitive algorithm

Article history: Received August 31 2015 Received in Revised Format Septmber 26 2015 Accepted December 2 2015 Available online December 7 2015 Nowadays, most manufacturing units try to locate their requirements and the depot vehicle routing in order to transport the goods at optimum cost. Needless to mention that the locations of the required warehouses influence on the performance of vehicle routing. In this paper, a mathematical programming model to optimize the storage location and vehicle routing are presented. The first objective function of the model minimizes the total cost associated with the transportation and storage, and the second objective function minimizes the difference distance traveled by vehicles. The study uses Imperialist Competitive Algorithm (ICA) to solve the resulted problems in different sizes. The preliminary results have indicated that the proposed study has performed better than NSGA-II and PAES methods in terms of Quality metric and Spacing metric. © 2016 Growing Science Ltd. All rights reserved
The Virtual Cybernetic Building Testbed-A Building Emulator | NIST

Building emulators couple computer simulations to real control hardware, creating a useful tool for studying building control system performance. The National Institute of Standards and Technology’s (NIST’s) Virtual Cybernetic Building Testbed (VCBT) is a whole building emulator designed to support research in a variety of topics linked to the concept of a “cybernetic building”, where numerous building control systems are integrated together and with outside entities such as utility providers. The design and use of the VCBT is described in the context of specific research projects involving building system commissioning, automated fault detection and diagnostics.
A Preliminary Innovation Evaluation System for Economic Development Agencies

This article examines the nature of the innovation process and its role in economic development. Evidence suggests that Australia is not only losing ground internationally in the pursuit of technology-based exports, but also in terms of its underlying innovative capacity. Innovation is essential to long-term industrial export growth, and economic development policies need to reflect the nature and the scope of the innovation process. It is proposed that one way to improve Australia’s performance is to manage the risks associated with innovation assistance by placing greater emphasis on early innovation evaluation. A Preliminary Innovation E v a l u a t i o n S y s t e m i s d e s c r i b e d t h a t i s designed to enable economic development agencies and others to identify promising ideas at an early stage in the innovation process.
Challenges in Designing and Implementing a Meaningful Field Experience for Future School Leaders

During the past decade, educational leadership programs have faced significant criticism for degreeprograms not adequately preparing students for the current demands of school administration,particularly for not providing meaningful field experiences. Leadership programs have been challengedto replicate experiences provided in "model" programs, contain discrete and multi-month formalizedinternships in which candidates are released from teaching responsibilities. Unfortunately, suchprograms are highly dependent upon both external grant funding and significant financial support fromuniversities and school districts.This paper examines the solution reached by one large suburban institution in Georgia when requiredto redesign its master’s degree program in educational leadership.
Role of On-farm/In situ Conservation and Underutilized Crops in the Wake of Climate Change *

Traditionally farmers use diverse crops, trees and wild plant species, livestock and aquatic species to sustain/enhance their livelihood. The use of diverse species and varieties enhances their adaptability and resilience capacity to changing environmental and economic conditions. Genetic diversity is a key element in farmers’ livelihood strategies particularly in areas under high ecological, climatic and economic stresses and risks. Global food security has become increasingly dependent on a limited number of varieties of a few major crops and in the wake of climate change, such a situation makes farmers more vulnerable with regard to their nutrition and income security. This paper aims to discuss the conceptual framework of on-farm/in situ conservation in adapting and mitigating climate change through an integrated system of diversified food production and land use. The role of on-farm/in situ conservation of crops is discussed along with its complementary advantages over ex situ conservation. Empowerment of farming communities is essential for effective in situ/on-farm conservation as the process encourages local level decision making on management of genetic resources. The paper also highlights community-based biodiversity management as a methodology to realize in situ/on-farm conservation through strengthening farmer seed systems, and promoting climate resilient integrated home garden production systems, especially underutilized crop species and carbon rich farming that support climate change actions. Implementation of biodiversity management approaches will require conducive policy environment in order to be truly effective and sustainable. Some relevant recommendations on how to best proceed towards a viable in situ/on - farm conservation system are also proposed.
A Seven Year Review of the Seroprevalence of Transfusion Transmitted Infections in a Hospital Based Blood Bank in Ibadan, Nigeria

Africa has the highest prevalence of transfusion transmitted infections. The World Health Organization recommends universal and quality-controlled screening of blood donations for the major transfusion-transmissible infections (TTIs): human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and syphilis. Therefore a retrospective study was conducted to assess the effect of strategies in our blood bank to improve blood safety on the seroprevalence of HIV, HCV, HBV and syphilis infections among the donors over a seven year period. Existing data in the blood bank was used to determine number of the blood donors who were infected with HIV, HCV, HBV and syphilis. The test methods used to screen the donors were identified. The trend of prevalence of the transfusion transmitted infections among the blood donors from 2009 to 2015 was also determine. A total of 41,445 blood donors were screened. Voluntary blood donors constituted 11.1% of the donor population. The overall seroprevalence rate for the TTI was 12.3%. The prevalence was highest for HBV (8.5%) followed by HIV (1.8%), HCV (1.4%) and least for syphilis (0.5%) respectively. The infections showed significant inter-year variation (p<.001). A decreasing trend was observed for HBV among the blood donors while increase in prevalence of HIV, HCV and syphilis was observed from 2012 to 2014 and decreased in 2015. The prevalence of syphilis has risen from 0% in 2009 to 0.9% in 2015. The seroprevalence for TTI is high but is less compared to report from a previous study in same blood bank. The increasing infection rate for syphilis and sporadic surges in rates for HIV, HCV may suggest that the selection criteria is not effectively eliminating blood donors with risky lifestyle. There is need to educate the blood donors on avoiding risky lifestyle while also intensifying voluntary blood donor motivation strategy and increase community surveillance of the infections.
Where the Social Meets the Cognitive in Group Interactions: Mapping the Intersecting Spaces where "Learning" takes place in the Classroom Community

Utilizing social learning theory as a theoretical lens and group interaction process analysis as a methodology, this research investigates both the social-relational group dynamics and the task-related problem-based learning activities to map "learning" spaces in the classroom. The setting is a freshman high school classroom where "visiting" engineer/science doctoral students participate in a curriculum on alternative energy sources. Utilizing video-taping of the "visiting" engineers/scientists interaction with small groups of students, findings reveal the complex nature of group structures so central to the classroom experience: where relational constructs between student group members and the visiting engineers/scientists moved from surface relations, or politeness and tolerance, to deeper structures based on trust and acceptance. By placing student engagement in relational context and recording interaction and behaviour as visiting engineers/scientists negotiated their own membership into student "learning" groups, this research begins to reveal how relational issues affect insider and outsider members socially and, consequently, influence overall group connections and performance.
Basal Metabolic Rate Declines During Long-Distance Migratory Flight in Great Knots

Abstract Great Knots (Calidris tenuirostris) make one of the longest migratory flights in the avian world, flying almost 5500 km from Australia to China during northward migration. We measured basal metabolic rate (BMR) and body composition in birds before and after this flight and found that BMR decreased 42%. The mass-specific BMR based on lean mass decreased 33%. We also starved a group of pre-migratory Great Knots in captivity to determine whether they showed the same reduction in BMR without having undergone the hard work of flight. The captive birds showed a similar range and reduction of BMR values as the wild birds. Exponents of relationships between BMR and body mass in different comparisons were high, indicating large changes in BMR as a function of body mass. Analysis of the body composition of ten wild and three captive birds found that the flight muscle mass and intestine mass positively correlated with BMR. La Tasa Metabolica Basal Disminuye durante Vuelos Migratorios de Larga Distancia en Calidris tenuirostris Resumen. Calidris tenuirostris realiza uno de los vuelos migratorios más largos entre las aves, volando desde Australia hasta China durante la migración al norte. Medimos la tasa metabólica basal (TMB) y la composición corporal en aves antes y después del vuelo y encontramos que TMB se reduce en 42%. La TMB específica por masa, o sea la TMB corregida por masa magra, se redujo en 33%. También expusimos un grupo premigratorio de Calidris tenuirostris a un periodo de ayuno en cautiverio, para determinar si mostraban una tasa de reducción similar en la TMB sin haber soportado la dura tarea de volar. Las aves en cautiverio mostraron un rango y una reducción de los valores de la TMB similares a los de las aves en libertad. Los exponentes de la relación entre TMB y masa corporal en diferentes comparaciones fueron altos, indicando grandes cambios de la TMB en función de la masa corporal. El análisis de la composición corporal de diez aves libres y tres en cautiverio mostró que la masa de los músculos del vuelo y la masa de los intestinos esta positivamente correlacionada con la TMB.
Phylogenetic and pathogenetic analysis of Streptococcus suis serotype 7 strain HW07 isolated from diseased pig in China

A recent isolate of Streptococcus suis serotype 7 (SS7), named HW07, was isolated from brains of pigs suspected with Streptococcus suis (S. suis) infection. The sequence types (ST) of this isolate was determined by Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) method. In order to evaluate pathogenesis of HW07 isolate, zebrafish and pigs were inoculated with HW07 strain by peritoneal cavity and vein. The results demonstrate that the 50% lethal dose (LD50) of HW07 isolate was 1.25 × 10 5 colony forming units (CFU)/fish and could induce pig disease, the ST number of HW07 isolate is a novel ST-ST335. Molecular and phylogenetic analysis for the recA gene of HW07 isolate showed that it joins to the I group cluster of S. suis strains, the predominant genotype in China.
Foreign Direct Investment Inflows into Zimbabwe

Abstract The authors sought to explore factors that influenced foreign direct investment (FDI) in Zimbabwe between 1990 and 2014. In spite of Zimbabwe being one of the richest countries, with respect to mineral endowment in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region there was a paradox of less FDI attracted into the country. We include the investment policy stability (IPS) variable that has been ignored in the current literature; yet, the investment centre policies in any given developing country influence FDI inflows. The authors used Ordinary Least Square regression analysis technique to estimate an investment equation for Zimbabwe using Time-Series annual data obtained from the UNCTAD and World Bank database. The results suggest that investment policy stability; trade openness of the country; inflation rate and growth in real domestic product have a significant influence on the FDI inflows into the country. In conclusion, the results suggest that investment policy stability played an important role in attracting FDI into the country. Also, the results are expected to give a useful insight to policymakers that are responsible for attracting FDI inflows into Zimbabwe and other developing countries.
Synthesis and cytotoxicity evaluation of 2-Phenyl-1H-benzo[de]isoquinoline-1,3(2H)-dione derivatives as apoptosis inducers with probable anticancer effects

Due to the resistance and exertion of severe side effects of current anticancer drugs, development of new anticancer agents is one of the main goals in medicinal chemistry. Apoptosis process is occurred in all organisms to control their cell numbers and to omit extra or damaged cells. Caspases are an enzyme family that precedes apoptosis. Activation of caspases results in irreversible apoptotic cell deat h. Naphthalimide derivatives as DNA intercalators have exhibited high anticancer activities against various cell lines. Some naphthalimides such as amonafide have demonstrated remarkable potency in clinical trials. In the current work, a new series of naphthalimide-based anticancer agents were synthesized. Then, the cytotoxic was evaluated by MTT assay in vitro . Three cancerous cell lines were utilized namely AGS (human gastric carcinoma), HT29 (colorectal cancer), PC3 (prostate cancer) and the obtained results were compared to the doxorubicin as reference drug. In order to study the structure activity relationships of the target compounds, various substituents such as Cl, F, NO 2 and -OCH 3 were introduced on the phenyl ring. Generally, electron withdrawing substituents caused better anticancer activity compared to doxorubicin. Some selected derivatives activated the caspase 3 more than control drug and also influenced on mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and reduced it. It means that these compounds may induce the apoptosis n via the intrinsic pathway. Production of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) was also investigated and the obtained results showed that the most of the tested compounds induced the production of free radicals less than control drug. Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE FA /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
Teaching Electromagnetic Compatibility and Component Parameter Tolerances

This paper describes a graduate level course on Electromagnetic Compatibility where the effects of component parameter tolerances are covered by simulation and measurement. The component parameter changes could be critical not only to maintain desired circuit or system parameters, but they can affect electromagnetic compatibility of components, circuits and systems. They create interference problems between various circuits in the system. When the clock speed or communication speed exceed limits, the interference signals and their harmonics affect other circuits. In addition to the circuit analysis, the tolerances of some connecting cables were also considered in order to observe how the signal integrity could change and how this affected the circuit performance, sensitivity of circuits, component tolerances, signal integrity and effect of environmental changes on the overall system. A simple assessment of the effectiveness of the course is done at the end of the semester by student survey. The students commented that the course material was easy to understand due to the lab experiments and demonstrations in the class. Details of topics covered in our course, the circuit simulations done, measurements of interference signals under varying conditions, challenges faced and student feedback are also presented.