Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of displacement - time characteristics of stirling engine drive mechanisms - II

The relative merits of the mechanical configurations tried out so far in Stirling prime movers is examined based on isothermal analysis taking into account dead volume. Single and double acting cases are considered. It is concluded that the modified Rhombic configuration proposed in the first part, is superior to the conventional Rhombic and Slider crank configurations, in single and double acting modes. Further investigations on frictional losses and transient effects are necessary in making a final choice of the drive con figuration for implementing the Stirling cycle.
A 1.8 GHz monolithic LC voltage-controlled oscillator

The authors describe a monolithic LC VCO (voltage-controlled oscillator) for use in the microwave frequency range. The circuit does not require any external components, but instead relies on characteristics inherent in the circuit configuration for frequency tuning. A simplified circuit schematic of the LC VCO is shown. A monolithic LC VCO achieves a measured tuning range of 200 MHz, extending from 1.68 GHz to 1.86 GHz. <<ETX>>
How Well Can We Learn With Standard BCI Training Approaches? A Pilot Study.

While being very promising, brain-computer interfaces (BCI) remain barely used outside laboratories because they are not reliable enough. It has been suggested that current training approaches may be partly responsible for the poor reliability of BCIs as they do not satisfy recommendations from psychology and are thus inadequate. To determine to which extent such BCI training approaches (i.e., feedback and training tasks) are suitable to learn a skill, we used them in another context (without a BCI) to train 20 users to perform simple motor tasks. While such approaches enabled learning for most subjects, results also showed that 15% of them were unable to learn these simple motor tasks, which is close to the BCI illiteracy rate [1]. This further suggests that current BCI training approaches may be an important factor of illiteracy, thus deserving more attention.
Noise-robust speech recognition using a cepstral noise reduction neural network architecture

The problem of speech recognition in the presence of interfering nonstationary noise is addressed. A method for noise reduction in the cepstral domain based on a universal approximator is proposed and tested on a large database of isolated words contaminated with nonstationary F-16 jet cockpit noise. The speech recognition system consists of a concatenation of an auditory preprocessing module, the cepstral noise reduction network (CNR network), and a neural network classifier. The proposed architecture performs a nonlinear autoassociative mapping in the cepstral domain between a set of noisy cepstral coefficients from the preprocessing module and a set of noise-free cepstral coefficients. The output from the CNR network is input to the neural network classifier, in which the output functions are approximations to the Bayes optimal discriminant functions. Noise reduction is possible in the preprocessing module and in the classifier, essentially making the system a three-stage noise reduction system. The average recognition rate on a test database was improved up to 65% when the CNR network was added to the speech recognition system. <<ETX>>
Nonlinear finite element modeling of cellular materials under dynamic loading and comparison to experiments

This study used an open source three-dimensional Voronoi cell software library to create nonlinear finite element models of open cell metal foams in the 5% to 10% relative density range. Cubic and Body-Centered Cubic (BCC) seed point generation techniques were compared. The impact of random positional perturbations on original seed points was investigated as it relates to material stiffness and yield strength. The models simulated a 10-cell cube of foam material under uniaxial loading at strain rates of around 10/s up to about 80% compressive strain. It was shown that the models created with BCC seed points generally had a higher modulus which was less sensitive to perturbations in seed point location. The models were compared to drop-weight experiments on ERG Duocel metal foams of 10, 20, and 40 Pores Per Inch (PPI) which were filmed with a high speed camera. The models showed good agreement with analytical predictions for material properties, but a comparison with experimental data indicated that they lost accuracy in simulating material response after 50% compressive strain. Past this point, cell-wall contact within the foam was a dominant mechanism in the mechanical response, and model predictions did not appear to match well with experimental data. In a parallel experimental effort ERG foams of 10 PPI and around 8% relative density were subjected to tensile loading at a strain rate of 73/s. High speed photography was again used to interpret the data. The Young’s modulus and yield strength of these foams were shown to increase by a factor of ten as compared to quasistatic values, indicating significant rate dependence.
On the testability of distributed real-time systems

Event-triggered and time-triggered systems are compared with respect to their testability. To facilitate the comparison, three aspects of testability are introduced: test coverage, observability, and controllability. After a brief review of the problems of testing concurrent programs, the author compares the two system architectures with respect to each of these three aspects. The results of the comparisons favor time-triggered systems in all three aspects, most notably with respect to controllability and test coverage. Thus, time-triggered systems are inherently more testable than event-triggered systems. A series of experiments is summarized that shows that it is easy to achieve reproducible testing of time-triggered systems. <<ETX>>
Building and navigating maps of road scenes using an active sensor

The author presents algorithms for building maps of road scenes using an active range and reflectance sensor and for using the maps to traverse a portion of the world already explored. He describes some advantages of an active sensor, namely, that it is independent of the illumination conditions, does not require complex calibration in order to transform observed features to the vehicle's reflectance frame, and provides 3-D terrain models as well as road models. Using this map built from sensor data facilitates navigation in two respects: the vehicle may navigate faster, since less perception processing is necessary, and the vehicle may follow a more accurate path, since the navigation system does not rely entirely on inaccurate visual data. The author presents a complete system that includes road-following, map-building, and map-based navigation using the ERIM laser rangefinder. Experimental results are presented. <<ETX>>
The Impact of Resistance Training Program on the Muscle Strength and Bone Density in Adolescent Athletes

Summary Strength training and other modes of physical activity may be beneficial in osteoporosis prevention by maximizing bone mineral accrual in childhood and adolescence. This study focuses on the impact of the nine-month long program of resistant exercises with different level of external loads (low, middle and high) on the lower limbs explosive strength and bone tissue density in athletes adolescents aged 17 to 18 years. Sixty healthy, male athletes and non-athletes, divided into experimental (ES, sprinters, N = 45) and control sub-sample (CS, non-athletes, N = 15), were included in study. ES examinees (EG1, EG2 and EG3) were subjected to the program of resistance exercises with low level (60% of the One Repetition Maximum-1RM), middle level (70% 1RM), and high level (85% 1RM) of external loads, respectively. Bone Density values were determined by the use of a clinical sonometer „Sahara” (Hologic, Inc., MA 02154, USA). Explosive strength values of hip extensors and flexors, knee extensors and flexors, and ankle plantar and dorsiflexors were determined by the use of accelerometer „Myotest” (Sion, Switzerland) and the means of Counter Movement Jump without arms swing (CMJ) and half squat. ANOVA method for repeated measures and ANCOVA method were used to determine significant differences and resistance program effects on the lower limbs explosive strength and bone tissue density. Resistance exercise does impact the explosive strength and bone parameters in a way to increase half squat 1RM values, but decreases CMJ values, and increases speed of sound (SOS), broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA) and bone mineral density (BMD) values in athletes-adolescents, aged 17-18 years.
The Influence of Slope Geometry on its Stability: Spatial and Plane Analysis

Abstract The paper presents the results of numerical calculations of the stability and deformation process of several idealized slopes performed by the elasto-plastic finite difference method, using the commercial codes FLAC3D and FLAC2D. The results of 3D analysis of these slopes are compared with those obtained by the 2D method. The behaviour of slopes of different shapes and inclinations was analyzed. The calculations were carried out for flat, concave and convex slopes inclined at 30°, 45° and 60°, taking into account the influence of the lateral constraints of the slope. Two variants of the medium were analysed, i.e. the mass with no friction and with no cohesion. A comparison of 3D calculation results with those obtained by the 2D limit equilibrium analysis indicates that the 3D approach produces almost always higher safety factors than does the 2D method.
Awareness of the health implications of use of biomass energy sources among women in rural households of Jigawa State, Nigeria

Abstract Various health challenges and fatalities in rural communities of most developing countries of the world have been traceable to the unabated use of biomass energy sources. We therefore assessed the awareness of the health implications of the use of biomass energy sources among women in rural households of Jigawa State. Multistage sampling procedure was used to collect data from 120 respondents using structured questionnaires. Data were collected on respondents’ socioeconomic characteristics, types of biomass used, information sources on the health implications from use of biomass energy sources, awareness of the health implications and constraints to the use of alternatives to biomass. Data were summarised using frequencies, percentages, means, Chi-square and Pearson Product Moment Correlation. Majority of the respondents (78.3 %) were below 40 years of age with a mean age of 30 ± 2.02 years. Majority were married (90.8 %), Muslims (100 %), involved in agro-processing (65.8 %), had no formal education (73.3 %), and earned not more than ₦10, 000 (90.8 %) with mean household size of 9 members. Wood (100 %) and charcoal (100 %) were the dominant biomass energy sources used. Respondents’ main source of information on the health implications of the use of biomass were radio (64.2 %) and extension agents (54.2 %). Awareness level of the health implications from the use of biomass energy sources was fairly high (51.7 %). High cost of the alternatives, scarcity of refilling points and alternatives and lack of capital were the main hindrances to the use of the alternatives to biomass energy sources. The result on the inferential statistics revealed that a significant association existed between education (χ2 = 6.08; P < 0.05) and awareness of health implications from the use of biomass. Efforts should be made to sensitize women on the health implications resulting from the use of biomass. Alternatives should be made available and affordable to encourage a switch from biomass energy sources thereby reducing the fatalities that may result from its continual use.
How do Firms with Management Ability Promote Competitive Advantages? An Integrated Model from Entrepreneurial Strategy Making and Internal Resources

Abstract This study explores whether managerial ability (MA) promotes firms’ competitive advantages (CAs). By combining data collected through a questionnaire survey and a secondary database from 181 public firms in Taiwan, the results show that superior MA enhances CAs. Moreover, this research presents the mechanisms of value and rareness and offers evidence that MA promotes CAs through these mechanisms. More importantly, this research further finds that entrepreneurial strategy making (ESM) positively strengthens these mediated effects such that the indirect effects are stronger when ESM is strong rather than weak.
THE SYSTEM DESIGN AND OPERATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS (SDOE) PROGRAM: EXPERIENCES AND LESSONS LEARNED

The SDOE program at Stevens Institute of Technologies was created to address the graduate level education requirements of integrators and users of complex, multi-functional, knowledge intensive, and distributed systems. The motivation behind the program, its objectives and rationale, and its programmatic structure and delivery modes were presented in [8]. The objective of the program is to inculcate and nurture skills associated with abstract problem solving to address design synthesis and the quantitative modeling, simulation, and optimization techniques for design analysis and evaluation. A key aspect of the program is the use of project-based and case-based learning to facilitate understanding of the overarching “cause and effect” dependency between system design and system operations/support, with a view to enhancing System Operational Effectiveness (SOE). The SOE concept was developed and explained in [8]. This technical paper presents adaptations made to the program structure and the curriculum over the past two years, along with a sample course outline and student evaluations. Specific lessons learned are also discussed.
In vitro response of three contrasting cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) varieties to mannitol-induced drought stress

Abstract In vitro selection of drought-tolerant cassava varieties is essential for rapid breeding for drought tolerance. The objectives of this study were to determine the response of three contrasting cassava varieties to mannitol-induced drought stress to establish its suitability for in vitro screening and examine relationships among growth parameters. Plantlets were raised from nodal segments on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing 0 (control), 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 g/l mannitol. Variety CH 140 had the highest survival of explants and frequency of root formation, while MV 99/0395 recorded the highest number of chlorotic leaves and the lowest survival of explants. The lowest numbers of leaves were produced at 25 and 30 g/l mannitol by the three varieties. In CH 140, the highest number of leaves was produced in medium free of mannitol, while the highest number of leaves was produced at 5 and 10 g/l mannitol in MV 99/0395 and TMS 01/1206, respectively. In TMS 01/1206, number of roots produced decreased as the concentration of mannitol in culture media increased, whereas in CH140, number of roots increased as the concentration of mannitol increased before decreasing; while in MV 99/0395, number of roots was not affected by an increase in mannitol concentration. As the concentration of mannitol in the culture media increased shoot height of plantlets decreased with a sharp decline at 20 mg/l mannitol. Concentration of mannitol and survival of explants had significant negative correlation with all parameters. However, frequency of root formation only had significant positive correlation with shoot length. The study concluded that differential responses were expressed by the three varieties to mannitol-induced drought stress and mannitol at 20 g/l concentration was a suitable in vitro drought inducing-agent for screening cassava varieties for drought tolerance.
Complementarity Between Foreign Aid and Financial Development as a Driver of Economic Growth in Selected Emerging Markets

Abstract This paper studied whether the complementarity between financial development and foreign aid promotes economic growth in selected emerging markets using the panel Fully Modified Ordinary Least Squares (FMOLS) approach, with data ranging from 1994 to 2014. Although (1) aid-growth and (2) finance-growth studies have been conclusively dealt with, the role of financial development in the aid-growth nexus has been hardly researched. Is financial development a channel through which foreign aid positively influences economic growth? The current study seeks to address these issues using selected emerging markets as a case study. The complementarity between foreign aid and financial development (domestic credit provided by the financial sector, domestic private credit provided by banks, outstanding domestic private debt securities and stock market turnover) resulted in a significant positive impact on economic growth. The study, therefore, urges selected emerging markets to implement policies which deepen the financial sector in order to allow foreign aid to positively contribute towards economic growth.
The Relationship between Physical Punishment at Home and Victimization from Peer Aggression at School in Adolescents in Iran and Finland: A Mediator‒Moderator Analysis

Abstract The aim of the study was to investigate whether depressive symptoms could serve as a mediator between the experience of physical punishment in childhood and victimization from peer aggression at school, as has been shown by Söderberg et al. (2016). An aggregated sample consisting of 1,001 Iranian adolescents and 2,205 Finnish adolescents, all 13-15 years of age, participated in the study. Data were analyzed with conditional process modeling (Preacher & Hayes, 2008). The hypothesis was only partially corroborated. Depression served only as a weak mediator, and not at all among Iranian boys. The results are discussed.
The Liberal World Order and the Job-Offshoring Backlash—In Structuralist Perspective

Abstract Many factors have contributed to the current wave of anti-globalization sentiments in the advanced world. This paper focuses on one of such factors, MNEs’ job-offshoring through their overseas networks of operation and its impact on the US working class. To this end, the “ladder of economic development a la Schumpeter” is presented as an analytical model from a structuralist point of view. Within this framework, the relations of innovation-driven structural change, transmigration of industries from more advanced to emerging economies at the hands of MNEs, and the globalization-afflicted working class and communities in the US are examined as closely intertwined, co-evolutionary phenomena. Four MNE-related sources of globalization angst and social costs are then discussed. The paper concludes with a much-needed analysis of the economic rationales for President Trump’s “if you sell here, produce here” jawboning on MNEs.
Correlation between Biochemical and Morphometric Parameters in Gentamicin-Induced Kidney Injury: The Role of Co-Supplementation with Vitamins C and E

Summary The purpose of our study was to determine the effects of co-treatment with vitamins C and E on gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity and to quantify renal structural changes through morphometric analysis. Experiments were done on 24 Wistar rats divided into three groups of 8 animals each. The GM group animals were treated with gentamicin in the dose of 100 mg/kg. The GMEC group received both vitamin E in the dose of 100 mg/kg and vitamin C in the dose of 200 mg/kg together with gentamicin. The control group received normal saline. We confirmed nephrotoxicity in the GM group of rats by increased concentrations of creatinine and urea, altered parameters of oxidative stress (CAT, MDA, AOPP) and histopathological analysis of renal sections. Morphometric analysis showed increased glomerular basement membrane thickness and significant changes of glomerular and tubular parameters in the GM group. Analysis of parameters of oxidative stress showed that vitamins C and E significantly attenuated nephrotoxic effect of gentamicin; in addition, histological and morphometric analysis showed reduced histopathological damages of renal structures in the GMCE group. This study indicated that vitamins C and E could provide a significant protective effect against gentamicin-induced morphological and functional kidney alterations.
Investment Strategies that Beat the Market. What Can We Squeeze from the Market?

Abstract The paper presents a new approach to optimizing automatic transactional systems. We propose a multi-stage technique which enables us to find investment strategies beating the market. Additionally, new measures of combined risk and returns are applied in the process of optimization. Moreover, we define new elements of a risk control system based on volatility measures and consecutive signal confirmation. As a result, we formulate three complex investment systems which maximize returns and simultaneously minimize risk in comparison to all other alternative investments (IR=2, Maximum Drawdown<21%, Maximum Loss Duration=0.75 year). Our analysis is based on historical daily data (1998-2010, in- and out-of-sample period) for index and commodity futures. Afterwards, the systems are reoptimized and reallocated each half a year in order to include the most recent financial data. Finally, we show the results for a joint model consisting of our three systems.
Issue ownership as a determinant of political parties’ media coverage

Abstract For many citizens, news media are the most important source of information about relevant political topics and actors. As a consequence, it is crucial to investigate who gains media coverage and why. Leaning on two classic news sourcing criteria, suitability and availability, we claim that issue owners can be seen as good news sources. By combining a content analysis of television news with data collected through a journalist survey, we investigate whether issue ownership is a determinant of political parties’ news coverage. Results confirm that issue ownership is a predictor of parties’ news coverage, even when controlling for ministerial competences.
Mitochondrial Homeostasis and Cellular Senescence

Cellular senescence refers to a stress response aiming to preserve cellular and, therefore, organismal homeostasis. Importantly, deregulation of mitochondrial homeostatic mechanisms, manifested as impaired mitochondrial biogenesis, metabolism and dynamics, has emerged as a hallmark of cellular senescence. On the other hand, impaired mitostasis has been suggested to induce cellular senescence. This review aims to provide an overview of homeostatic mechanisms operating within mitochondria and a comprehensive insight into the interplay between cellular senescence and mitochondrial dysfunction.
Associations between personality traits and adequate home storage of drugs in older patients

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to investigate the association between personality traits of older patients and adequate home storage of drugs. Forty-four participating Dutch community pharmacists randomly selected each up to four community-dwelling elderly patients (≥65 years) who were using at least one prescription drug. The Big Five Inventory was used to assess the personality traits – ‘openness’, ‘conscientiousness’, ‘extraversion’, ‘agreeableness’ and ‘neuroticism’ – of patients. An assessment of adequate home storage of drugs was made using a summed composite score for each patient ranging from zero (adequate storage) to three (inadequate storage) was based on storage criteria representing quality, information and level of storage organization. A 51.2% of the patients stored drugs adequately in accordance with all quality (“Q“) and information (“I“) criteria. A high level of drug storage organization was found in 70.8% of patients. Forty-three patients (31.4%) stored their drugs adequately based on all storage criteria (composite storage score 0). No associations between personality dimensions and adequate drug storage were found. Having a lower number of drugs was associated with adequate drug home storage (ORadjusted 0.86; 95% CI: 0.77–0.96). In conclusion, this study suggests that personality is not associated with adequate home storage of drugs in older patients.