Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Characterizing solids mixing in DEM simulations

In the production and processing of granular matter, solids mixing plays an important role. Granular materials such as sand, polymeric particles and fertilizers are processed in different apparatus such as fluidized beds, rotary kilns and spouted beds. In the operation of these apparatus mixing often plays an important role, as it helps to prevent formation of hot-spots, off-spec products and undesired agglomerates. DEM can be used to simulate these granular systems and provide insight in mixing phenomena. Several methods to analyse and characterize mixing on basis of DEM data have been proposed in the past, but there is no general consensus on what method to use. In this paper we discuss various methods that are able to give quantitative information on the solids mixing state in granular systems based on DEM simulations. We apply the different methods to full 3D DEM simulations of a fluidized bed at different operating pressures. The following analysis methods will be investigated: average height method, Lacey index, nearest neighbours method, partner distance method and the sphere radius method. It is found that some of these methods are grid dependent, are not reproducible, are sensitive to macroscopic flow patters and/or are only able to calculate overall mixing indices, rather than indices for each direction. We compare some methods described in literature and in addition propose two new methods, which do not suffer from the disadvantages mentioned above. We applied each of these aforementioned methods to full 3D discrete particle simulations (DPM) with 280·103 particles and we performed simulations for seven different operating pressures. We found that, mixing improves with operating pressure caused by increased porosity and the increased granular temperature of the particulate phase.
ERP implementation in Omantel: a case study

Purpose – Enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems if successfully implemented bring about competitive advantages. On the other hand, project failure could, in an extreme case, cause an organisation to go out of business. Mapped against existing literature on ERP critical success factors, this paper examines environmental factors that impacted on the adoption of ERP by The Oman Telecommunication Company (Omantel). Design/methodology/approach – A case study methodology is used to study perceptions of the ERP system implementation project in Omantel.Findings – This paper highlights the particular problems of large organisations that operate disparate legacy systems.Research limitations/implications – A single case study is conducted. This provides opportunities for further research in a number of varied settings.Originality/value – It is very important that experiences of ERP projects are shared across countries and sectors. This is because many ERP implementations are rolled out by multi‐national corporat.
Seven criteria for improving effectiveness trials in psychiatry

Background. There are no published criteria for improving the quality of effectiveness of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in psychiatry. Method. The authors review and systematize the relevant literature on effectiveness trials, with particular reference to psychiatry. Results. In planning effectiveness RCTs in psychiatry, seven sets of issues need to be carefully considered: (i) study question (i.e. is the study question expressed in an answerable way? ); (ii) reference population (i.e. what is the reference group or subgroup to which the trial results should be generalized? ); (iii) patient sample (i.e. how far does the sample reflect the target population? ); (iv) study settings (i.e. how representative are the study settings of routine clinical sites? ); (v) study interventions (i.e. is the study intervention manualized, acceptable to patients and suitable for widespread use? ); (vi) control condition (i.e. are the key characteristics of the control condition well described, and do they vary within and between sites? ); and (vii) bias (e.g. attrition, blinding, concealment, consent and contamination). Conclusions. More effectiveness trials are needed which have sufficient statistical power to provide precise answers to assist clinicians in making treatment decisions. The development of effectiveness trials in psychiatry, both for studies of individual treatments and for service evaluations, may be enhanced by carefully considering and justifying decisions in relation to each of the seven key headings proposed here.
Optimal consensus protocols based on the LQR perspective

This paper investigates the optimal consensus problems of both continuous-time and discrete-time multiagent systems based on the proposed global cost functions. Based on the LQR perspective and the the proposed global cost functions, we derive the optimal consensus protocols and the optimal topologies for both the continuous-time and discrete-time multiagent systems cases. The results shows that the optimal topologies correspond to global cost functions with different parameters choices, the complete directed graph and connected undirected graph cases are given in the following. Numerical examples are given to validate the theoretical results.
Matching Advertising Appeals to Culture: The Influence of Products' Use Conditions

Abstract In an empirical study, the authors investigated the effects of different advertising appeals used in the United States and China. The study focused on the match between values expressed in advertising and values in each of the two cultures, and included the influence of product use condition (socially visible use vs. use in a private setting). Results indicate that although culturally congruent appeals were more effective in general, product use condition moderated the effectiveness of culturally incongruent advertising appeals. Specifically, the subjects' reactions to the appeal were more positive when the appeal matched the product use condition than when the appeal did not match either the culture or the product use condition. Managerial implications are discussed.
Test-Order Effects: A Measure of Verbal Memory Influences Performance on a Measure of Verbal Fluency

In neuropsychological assessment, the impact of completing one measure on the performance of a second measure is often unknown. The current study examined the effect of a list-learning measure, the California Verbal Learning Test-Second Edition (CVLT-II), on a verbal fluency measure, the Delis-Kaplan Executive Functioning System Verbal Fluency subtest, when completed in a battery of tests. These tests were chosen because stimuli from the CVLT-II can function as responses for Verbal Fluency. Twenty-eight individuals seeking psychoeducational evaluation were randomly assigned to one of two test orders: the CVLT-II followed by Verbal Fluency, or the reverse order. Consistent with hypotheses, individuals who completed the CVLT-II first used more words from this task as responses on the various Verbal Fluency tasks, t(26) = 2.84, p = . 009. In addition, they obtained higher raw scores and scaled scores on Category Fluency: t(26) = 3.01, p = . 006, and t(26) = 2.53, p = . 018, respectively. Surprisingly, the larger number of words produced on Category Fluency exceeded the number of CVLT-II words used as responses. These results suggest that clinicians should consider the order of administration when using these measures, and they indicate a need for further investigation of order effects.
Rapid detection and identification of non-tuberculous mycobacterial pathogens in fish 1 using high resolution melting analysis ( HRMA ) 2 3 4

1 Institute of Biotechnology (IBT), Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST), 18 Hoang 8 Quoc Viet Road, Cau Giay, Hanoi, Vietnam 9 2 Institut Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), UMR226 ISEM, 361 rue Jean Francois Breton, 10 34196 Montpellier cedex 05, France 11 3 INSERM U1058, CHU Arnaud de Villeneuve, 371 avenue du doyen Gaston Giraud, 34295 12 Montpellier Cedex 05, France 13 4 Laboratoire Départemental Vétérinaire de l’Hérault, 306 rue Croix de Las Cazes, CS 69013, 34967 14 Montpellier Cedex 2, France 15 5 Université Montpellier 2, UMR5119 ECOSYM, Place Eugène Bataillon, 34095 Montpellier cedex 16 05, France 17
Primary prevention with metoprolol in patients with hypertension.

To the Editor. — The design of the Metoprolol Atherosclerosis Prevention in Hypertensives (MAPHY) Study 1 is as unorthodox as the results are surprising. How can deletion of the half of the original cohort from centers not electing to use metoprolol as the β-blocker in the Heart Attack Primary Prevention in Hypertensives (HAPPHY) trial and extension of the period of observation for only 15 months yield findings so disparate from those of the parent HAPPHY trial? If smoking men randomized to metoprolol treatment in the MAPHY Study had a significantly lower mortality rate than those randomized to diuretic treatment, yet in the HAPPHY trial there was no difference in mortality between men taking β-blocker (metoprolol or atenolol) and those taking diuretics, irrespective of smoking habits, it seems inescapable that in the atenolol group that was deleted from the MAPHY Study the mortality rate must have been significantly higher for men taking the
Multimodality MRI in mesial temporal sclerosis: Relative sensitivity and specificity

Our objectives were to determine the relative sensitivity and specificity of different MRI sequences and analysis techniques for the detection of mesial temporal sclerosis (MTS). Mesial temporal sclerosis is the most common pathologic finding in patients undergoing temporal lobe epilepsy surgery. Magnetic resonance imaging is the most reliable preoperative imaging technique for the detection of MTS. We analyzed the abnormalities in preoperative MRIs of 44 consecutive patients who had undergone temporal lobectomy and who had pathologic confirmation of MTS. Techniques included inversion recovery (IR); T1-weighted, volume-acquired images; hippocampal T2 relaxometry (HT2); volumetric assessment; and visual analysis. Sensitivity was 86% with IR, 90% with T1-weighted qualitative visual analysis, and 97% with quantitative volumetry. Pathologic prolongation of HT2(>2 SD of normal) was present in 79%. Analysis of variance showed statistically significant differences in sensitivity between HT2, volumetric measurements (p < 0.01), and qualitative visual atrophy (p < 0.05). Concordance between all MRI modalities was 68%. Inversion recovery and qualitative analysis lateralized the side of surgery in 93%. The combination of IR and T1-weighted images correctly identify MTS in most patients. Hippocampal volumetry provided localization in an additional small number of patients.
Rural-Urban Differences in Breastfeeding Initiation in the United States

Research has noted a rural disadvantage in breastfeeding initiation; however, most previous research has been based on nonrepresentative samples and has been limited in its ability to compare racial/ethnic differences in breastfeeding initiation based on residential location. This research fills this gap by examining a nationally representative sample of births using the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study—Birth Cohort (ECLS—B) to explore associations between rural-urban residence and maternal race/ethnicity on breastfeeding initiation. Results indicate that associations observed for rural-urban breastfeeding initiation differ based on maternal race/ethnicity and poverty status. These patterns likely reflect differences in economic resources, work environments, and social support among rural minority postpartum women. J Hum Lact. 26(2):118-129
Analysis of CMS noise reduction for 65 nm CIS

This work explores the combination of a downscaled technology with in-pixel source-follower (SF) optimization, a high column-level gain and an analog implementation of Correlated-Multiple-Sampling (CMS) for noise reduction of CIS readout chains. Transient noise simulations show that in the optimal condition of a pMOS SF, a column-level gain equal to 64 and a CMS of order 8, the noise can be reduced to the extremely low value of 0.20e−rms, with a readout time of 43 μs, demonstrating the possibility of true photoelectron counting for this standard 65 nm process.
Ultrastructural study of leucocytes and urates in gouty arthritis.

The demonstration of urate crystals in synovial fluid is pathognomonic for gout. Hollander (1960) the of neutrophils leucocytes greater Neutral red preparations demonstrated that from 85 to 100 per cent. of the exudative neutrophils viable. Interestingly, the percentage of neutrophils with pyknotic nuclear lobes counted in Leishman-stained smears of the concentrated leucocytes did not parallel the percentage of nonviable neutrophils as determined by the nuclear exclusion of neutral red. Such findings emphasize the separa- tion which may exist between morphological and physiological criteria of leucocytic function. These findings examplify the value of applying various methods to assess a single parameter when leucocytes are involved in a dynamic process such as the acute inflammatory reaction.
It’s the End of the World and I Feel Fine

Five studies tested the effects that soul beliefs have on reactions to end-of-the-world scenarios. In Studies 1 and 2, participants who firmly believe in an immortal soul showed less resistance to an article predicting the end of humanity than those without such belief. However, in Studies 3 to 5, thoughts of symbolic immortality made soul believers more resistant to scientific evidence predicting the end of humanity. These results suggest that belief in an immortal soul provides psychological protection against the threat of humanity’s demise that does not hold for symbolic immortality beliefs.
Market Familiarity and the Location of South and North MNEs

We use a systematic empirical analysis of the determinants of South-South (SS) and North-South (NS) foreign direct investment (FDI) as a canvas to explore how multinational enterprises’ (MNEs) location decisions are shaped by better acquaintance with a foreign market resulting from bilateral ties, experience of international expansion, and knowledge of how to deal with poor governance. We find that these various aspects of market familiarity, which can interact together, are important to explain and differentiate the location behaviors of South MNEs (S-MNEs) and North MNEs (N-MNEs) in developing countries.
Age-related resistance in ovine cryptosporidiosis: patterns of infection and humoral immune response

The phenomenon of age-related resistance to infection with Cryptosporidium parvum has been well characterized in rodent models, and its existence has been demonstrated in calves. To determine whether this is a genuine age effect in a fully susceptible animal model or the result of infection with related pathogens inducing a nonspecific immunity, and to examine several parameters associated with severity of clinical diseases, lambs maintained in a parasite-free environment were infected with C. parvum oocysts at increasing ages. A marked decrease in the severity of clinical symptoms was observed as the age at infection increased, though the kinetics of both fecal and serum antibody responses were similar in all age groups, suggesting that mechanisms other than humoral response may play an important role in the development of age-related resistance. This study demonstrates the first experimental evidence for age-related resistance to ovine cryptosporidiosis and examines parameters which may influence the acquisition of resistance to infection.
Thin film amorphous silicon cells by inductive PECVD, with a view towards flexible substrates

A range of amorphous silicon based films and solar cells have been fabricated using an inductively coupled PECVD reactor in order to investigate how the deposition conditions influenced their properties. Complete cells were deposited onto rigid and flexible substrates, and homogeneous thin films were grown to investigate their optical and electrical properties separately from the influence of whole devices. Initial photoconductivity measurements performed on intrinsic amorphous silicon showed that it was suitable for photovoltaic applications (10-4 -1cm-1), complete single junction pin superstrate cells were then fabricated. The deposition conditions were altered to optimise cell efficiency, and the impact of substrate temperature, RF power, gas flow rate, system pressure, and substrate choice was commented on. The best cell produced was grown at 250C and was 8.05% efficient, after reversal of its structure to nip an efficiency of 5.77% was observed. The deposition temperature was lowered to 200C, and the properties of doped and intrinsic amorphous silicon films were investigated using measurements of the dark conductivity variation with temperature and spectroscopic ellipsometry. Optimum growth conditions were determined for each type of film and an nip cell was deposited using them resulting in an efficiency of 4.59%. The requirement of a carefully selected intrinsic region thickness in order to achieve effective collection of generated carriers was considered. Lastly the process was transfered from rigid glass to flexible polished stainless steel and Kapton substrates, requiring inversion of the cell orientation. A 1cm2 cell on a steel substrate was found to be functional under illumination and was 0.27% efficient. A 1cm2 cell was deposited onto Kapton but was only measured under dark conditions. It was concluded that the rear contact topography and defect density is of significant importance when dealing with flexible substrates and that sputtering rather than evaporation would have been a more suitable technique to fabricate it.
Effects of mecA and mecB (clpC) mutations on expression of sigD, which encodes an alternative sigma factor, and autolysin operons and on flagellin synthesis in Bacillus subtilis

The expression of the major vegetative phase-specific autolysin genes (cwlB [lytC] and cwlG [lytD]) was greatly reduced by mecA and mecB null mutations. In contrast to the negative effects on late competence genes (such as comG) and levansucrase gene (sacB) expression, this positive effect of mec genes on autolysin gene expression was not mediated through the ComK protein but apparently through the level of the SigD protein. The pleiotropic effects of the mec mutations, i.e., the reduction of sigD expression and the overexpression of the ComK protein, seem not to be interwoven since the SigD- and ComK-dependent functions are clearly separable in the mec mutants. We also show that the synthesis of the flagellin protein, which is encoded by the SigD-dependent hag gene, was similarly affected by the mec mutations. Complementation analysis with a SigD-overproducing plasmid, pHYSigD, in mec mutants revealed the reversion of almost all of the SigD-dependent phenotypes except motility. This finding suggested that Mec proteins act on motility genes at two levels, one of which is apparently SigD independent. Finally, we discuss the transcriptional regulation of the sigD gene by multiple regulators, i.e., MecA, MecB, SinR (FlaD), and DegS-DegU, and its implications for cells in a global context.
EIMERIA ACERVULINA INFECTION ELEVATES PLASMA AND MUSCLE 3-METHYLHISTIDINE LEVELS IN CHICKENS

To assess muscle breakdown during avian coccidiosis, the level of the nonmetabolizable amino acid 3-methylhistidine (3MH) was determined in muscle, plasma and excreta from chickens infected with Eimeria acervulina. The changes in 3MH levels during infection were assessed at 1–29 days postinoculation (DPI) in animals given 5 × 105 oocysts per bird. The effect of levels of parasitism were evaluated at 8 DPI in birds receiving 5 × 103, 5 × 104, 5 × 105 or 1 × 106 oocysts each. The 3MH levels of plasma, muscle, and excreta samples were determined by high-pressure liquid chromatography after derivatization with fluorescamine. Weight gains, breast muscle weight, eviscerated weight, plasma carotenoid levels, dry weight of muscle, and gross lesion scores were also determined. Infected birds had significantly elevated plasma and muscle 3MH at 4 and 8 DPI following a single dose of E. acervulina. The increase in 3MH levels had an inverse relationship with the time course of weight gain and plasma carotenoid levels. Plasma and muscle 3MH levels returned to control values by 15 DPI and remained unchanged from control values through the remainder of the experiment (29 DPI). Breast weight was decreased in infected birds, but the ratio of breast weight to eviscerated body weight was unchanged. Excretion of 3MH decreased relative to controls at 4 and 8 DPI and returned to control levels on 15 DPI. The plasma and muscle levels of 3MH were related to severity of infection; however, levels of excreted 3MH were not. The results suggested that muscle breakdown, as assessed by plasma and muscle levels of 3MH, increased during the acute stage of E. acervulina infection. The underlying causes for this muscle breakdown was unclear but could involve a physiological response to anorexia and decreased food intake during the acute phase of infection. Levels of excreted 3MH did not increase during infection and this may be the result of decreased excreta output during infection. Plasma and muscle levels of 3MH were correlated with severity of E. acervulina infections but may not be as sensitive an indicator of infection as plasma carotenoid levels or other physiological parameters.
Reduced function of l‐AP4‐sensitive metabotropic glutamate receptors in human epileptic sclerotic hippocampus

Human temporal lobe epilepsy is characterized by strong synaptic reorganization that leads to abnormal recurrent excitatory synaptic connections among hippocampal neurons. In addition, electrophysiological studies show that synaptic activity of the main afferent input to the hippocampus, the perforant path, is prolonged and amplified by changes in postsynaptic glutamate receptors. The current view is that these morphological and physiological abnormalities contribute significantly to the hyperexcitability seen in the hippocampus of temporal lobe epilepsy. Recently, it was found that presynaptic inhibitory metabotropic glutamate receptors are an important negative feedback mechanism that controls synaptic release of glutamate in the hippocampus. In this study, we assessed the functionality of this feedback system by investigating the metabotropic glutamate receptor mediated depression of excitatory synaptic transmission in surgically removed hippocampi from patients with marked synaptic reorganization (Ammon's horn sclerosis group) and from patients without detectable reorganization (lesion group). We report here that this control of synaptic transmission is lost in hippocampi from the Ammon's horn sclerosis group whereas this control is preserved in hippocampi from the lesion group. The data presented here suggest that the loss of feedback inhibition mediated by metabotropic glutamate receptors could be a further, previously not recognized, mechanism in the pathophysiology of temporal lobe epilepsy.