Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Effect of Nucleotide-binding Oligomerization Domain (NOD) Proteins on the Secretion of Cytokines from Macrophages

The study of Nucleotide-Binding Oligomerization Domain (NOD) Proteins is a very new area of immunology, with the gene for NOD2 having only been mapped in 2001 (Ogura et al 2001). It holds particular significance for those researching autoimmune disorders such as Blau syndrome and Crohns Disease (CD), as it has been found that a mutation in the NOD2 gene is present in a substantial proportion of CD sufferers, and having the mutation increases a person‟s susceptibility to developing the disease later in life (Economou et al 2004). This review will look at the current research surrounding the NOD proteins and what products they form, and how this can be used to further our knowledge of CD and how it can be managed. It will be specifically looking into the effects that NOD proteins in macrophages have on the secretion of various pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines and how these can be augmented by the interaction of NOD protein signalling pathways with those of other molecules in the cell.
How Profitable is Cultivation of Rainfed Crops? Some Insights from Cost of Cultivation Studies

It is believed that the irrigated crops generate more profit than that of the same crops cultivated under rainfed or less-irrigated condition. How far does this perception hold true at a time when the farmers across regions have been groaning of rising cost of cultivation and inadequate profit from crop cultivation? Using the cost of cultivation data published by the CACP for the period 1971-72 to 2010-11, this paper has studied the economics of five important crops, namely bajra, maize, gram, groundnut and cotton, grown under two distinct conditions, viz. irrigated and rainfed/less-irrigated, in different states of India. The study has shown that there is no marked difference in the profitability (at constant prices) of cereal crops (bajra and maize) cultivated under irrigated and rainfed conditions. Unlike cereal crops, gram has unbelievably turned out to be a profitable crop to the farmers in both the irrigated and rainfed conditions. In the case of groundnut crop, the rainfed state of Gujarat has outshined the irrigated Tamil Nadu state where farmers have suffered losses more number of times as compared to their counterparts in Gujarat during the study period. The cotton crop has proved to be a massively loss-making crop under rainfed condition, but quite profitable under irrigated condition. The study has also revealed that due to fast increase in the cost of cultivation, the profitability of the crops has been severely hit mostly during the agrarian crisis period (1995-96 to 2010-11).
Variability of LiDAR volume prediction models for productivity assessment of radiata pine plantations in South Australia

Site Quality (site productivity) information underpins many aspects of radiata pine plantation management in South Australia. The criterion of Site Quality is volume production at age 10 and is directly assessed by means of plot based and ocular assessments. Trials examining the use of LiDAR for Site Quality assessment were commenced in 2002. LiDAR data was captured using three different LiDAR systems in 2002, 2006, 2007 and 169 field plots were measured across 9 sites. A study was carried out to investigate the effect of LiDAR data capture parameters Campaign and Site on the regression relationships between forest and LiDAR variables. The study found that the factor Campaign had a significant effect on volume prediction models while a possible Site effect was detected for one Site. Predominant height prediction models were unaffected. Introducing Campaign and Site parameters in volume prediction models reduced Root Mean Square Error by up to 25.5%. Predominant height and volume prediction models explained 95.3% and 95.2% of the variance respectively. Campaign effects were not due to scanning angle, flying altitude or point density effects but appear to reflect differences in LiDAR systems and drought effects. Calibration protocols and modelling strategies are therefore needed for general application.
Integral design: the new roles for architect and engineers for developing nearly zero energy buildings

Improving the built environment is a cornerstone for sustainable development ultimately leading to Zero Energy Buildings; there is the urgent need for innovation. The urgent need for innovative and a more sustainable built environment has led to a more complex design process. As a result, the architect requires increasing support from specialised engineers in multi–disciplinary design teams. A design method was developed, based on the use of morphological charts and a morphological overview, to support design teams with structuring and organising their communication and knowledge. After testing the method in workshops in industry, it was applied at the department of architecture for master students for their multidisciplinary master project, integral design of a nearly Zero Energy Building. Our experiments showed that it is possible to stimulate the innovative outcome of multidisciplinary design teams within the conceptual building design phase by changing their traditional roles into new team's roles.
Variability in Construction of Cement-Treated Base Layers

Construction factors most correlated to specific mechanical properties of cement-treated base (CTB) layers were identified. Construction factors that exhibit comparatively high variability within individual construction sections of the two pavement reconstruction projects included in this study were determined. In addition, differences between construction sections tested in this research were evaluated. Researchers collected extensive field and laboratory data, which were analyzed using several statistical techniques. The results of this analysis suggest that reduced spatial variability is needed in reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) content, cement content, and time between mixing and compaction, which were all identified as important predictors of CTB strength in this study. For full-depth reclamation projects, milling plans should be used to achieve improved uniformity in RAP content, and inspection protocols for encouraging improved control of cement content during construction should be implemented to ensure high-quality work. Compaction should be performed as soon as possible after mixing to minimize the adverse effects of cement hydration on the ability to achieve maximum dry density in the field. Minimizing variability in construction of CTB layers will ultimately lead to higher-quality pavements that more consistently meet design expectations.
Spontaneous‐adjustment emission of inertia‐gravity waves by unsteady vortical motion in the hurricane core

Spontaneous‐adjustment emission of inertia‐gravity waves (IGWs) from unsteady vortical motion in the hurricane core is further examined. An idealized divergent barotropic model simulation is conducted in an unforced framework using a highly asymmetric potential vorticity (PV) field, consisting of an offset monopole embedded in an elliptically shaped ring, which is motivated by concentric eyewalls that were observed in the inner core of hurricane Ivan (2004). The simulation proceeds in two phases. The first phase is marked primarily by inner‐core potential vorticity (PV) mixing and rearrangement as the monopole interacts with the ring, however axisymmetrization does not occur. This leads to a second phase characterized by a prolonged (lasting at least 36 h) period of spontaneous‐adjustment emission of IGWs to the environment. During the spontaneous‐adjustment phase, unsteady vortical motion acts as an IGW source, constraining the frequency and radial wavenumber of the waves. Diagnostics of this simulation reveal two important conclusions. First, the spontaneous radiation of IGWs is insignificant for vortex intensification or decay; rather, PV mixing in the early portion was more important. Secondly, using a non‐divergent barotropic model simulation of the same configuration and idealized simulations, we demonstrate that non‐axisymmetrization in this case‐study is caused primarily by PV (Rossby wave) dynamics, with the Rossby‐IGW instability only playing a minor role. These results support the existence of a slow quasi‐manifold with exponentially small fuzziness at small Froude and large Rossby numbers. Copyright © 2010 Royal Meteorological Society
Challenges and Limitations of Applying an Emotion-driven Design Approach on Elderly Users

Population ageing is without parallel in human history and the twenty-first century will witness even more rapid ageing than did the century just past. Understanding the user needs of the elderly and how to design better products for this segment of the population is crucial, as it can offer a competitive advantage for companies. In this paper, challenges of applying an emotion-driven design approach applied on elderly people, in order to identify their user needs towards walking frames, are discussed. The discussion will be based on the experiences and results obtained from the case study. To measure the emotional responses of the elderly, a questionnaire was designed and adapted from P.M.A. Desmet’s product-emotion measurement instrument: PrEmo. During the case study it was observed that there were several challenges when carrying out the user survey, and that those challenges particularly related to the participants’ age and cognitive abilities. The challenges encountered are discussed and guidelines on what should be taken into account to facilitate an emotion-driven design approach for elderly people are proposed.
Feasibility Study of a Micro Modular Reactor for Military Ground Applications

In this research the feasibility of the Holos Highly Integrated Micro Modular Reactor (HI-MMR), developed by Filippone and Associates LLC, is studied as a power source for military ground deployment. The Holos HI-MMR is a thermal gas-cooled reactor designed to generate 30 MWt. A model of the reactor was created in the Monte Carlo N-Particle code MCNP 6.1 to obtain the basic parameters of criticality and an estimate of burnup. The reactor design uses tristructural-isotropic (TRISO fuel), which was modeled as a homogeneous mixture at ten percent enrichment. At ten percent 235U, the k-effective value of the reactor was found to be 1.05810 ± 0.00166 at beginning of life (BOL). Based on burnup calculations, the reactor will last 13 years before requiring refueling. A value comparison to current configurations of diesel generators used in forward military operation bases was then performed using a baseline of $7 per gallon of diesel. In a case study of Bagram airfield, the Holos reactor was found to have a value of 7.03 out of 10 versus the current diesel generator configuration, which had a value of 4.15. Both of these values are found against criteria developed in this paper.
Project finance in Europe: An overview and discussion of key drivers

This paper examines the pricing of project finance (PF) and non-project finance (non-PF) loans and examines the factors that influence the borrower's choice between project financing and corporate financing. Using a sample of 210,273 syndicated loans closed between 2000 and 2014, we find that PF and Non-PF loans are influenced differently by common pricing characteristics and that PF loans in the U.S. and W.E. are priced in segmented markets. Borrowers choose PF when they seek long-term financing and funding cost reduction. We find that transaction cost considerations, the financial crisis and country risk affect the financing choice. Our results document that publicly traded sponsors who prefer project financing to corporate financing are larger, less profitable, more financially distressed and have a higher asset tangibility. Finally, privately held firms that choose off-balance sheet financing are smaller and less profitable and use PF to raise relatively larger amounts of debt.
Diversion To Treatment: A Study of Drug-related Cases In The Dublin Metropolitan District Court

This study examines the practice and policy of the District Court when dealing with drug related offenders in light of the claim that there already exists the nucleus of a Drug Court in Dublin. The constituent elements of the criminal justice system which impact upon drug issues were explored to contextualize the research question. The literature reviewed examined the emergence of Drug Treatment Courts in the United States with particular emphasis on crime causation and drug related behaviour, Drug Treatment Court interventions and Drug Treatment Court evaluations. The study focuses on the process of diverting drug related offenders to treatment. A qualitative research approach was used employing a focus group of judges and a case study. Additionally, a number of cases where diversion to treatment by the court was indicated, were examined. The methods used enabled analysis of cognitions and expectations of the Focus Group participants. The findings reveal that the key actors, the Judiciary, the Probation and Welfare Service and Treatment Agencies do not subscribe to common aims and objectives. The exigencies of competeing paradigms of control and care create difficulties and inhibit the emergence of shared objectives and modalities. Current practice reflects traditional sentencing values and procedures. The establishment of a Drug Treatment Court in Ireland requires radical structural and attitudinal changes involving realignment of procedures and perspectives of the sectoral actors.
Influence of taxonomic resolution, biological attributes and data transformations on multivariate comparisons of rocky macrofaunal assemblages

Multivariate comparisons of impacted and non-impacted biotic assemblages require decisions to be made about the taxonomic resolution to be used, biological attributes to be measured and whether the contributions of common, or combinations of common, intermediate and rare taxa should be emphasised. This study shows how these decisions affect comparisons of exploited and non-exploited rocky infratidal macrofaunal assemblages distributed across a biogeographic transi- tion zone on the south-east coast of South Africa. Two-way crossed ANOSIM tests were used to test for differences in the structure of assemblages among regions of the coast and between exploited and non-exploited localities. In tests based on presence/absences, significant differences in assemblages among regions and between treatments were evident only at the species level. In tests based on den- sities and biomasses, regional differences were evident at the species, order, class and phylum level, and were irrespective of whether dominant or combinations of dominant, intermediate and rare taxa were emphasised. Significant differences in exploited and non-exploited assemblages were evident in all of the comparisons except those in which numerically dominant higher taxa were emphasised. These results do not suggest that the natural environmental gradient influences the fauna more by species replacements than by changes to the proportions of higher taxa, nor do they indicate that natural environmental variations and anthropogenic disturbances modify macrofaunal assemblages at different taxonomic levels. Further studies are needed to establish whether the taxonomic level, at which modification of assemblages occurs, varies with the type of disturbance (e.g. pollution vs exploitation, strong vs weak gradients) or biotic component (e.g. rocky vs soft-bottom assemblages) under consideration.
Chemotypes and geographic distribution of the Fusarium graminearum species complex

The Fusarium graminearum species complex (FGSC) consists of phylogenetically distinct pathogenic species. Isolates from various regions display genetic variety worldwide. Three type B trichothecene chemotypes have been identified within the FGSC: nivalenol, 3-deoxynivalenol and 15-deoxynivalenol. The variations in morphological, genetic and virulence traits of FGSC fungi can be attributed mainly to their geographic boundaries. The geographic range of host plants, type of farming system and weather conditions also influence the prevalence of FGSC taxa. The geographic distribution of FGSC members may reflect not
Do we understand children's restlessness? Constructing ecologically valid understandings through reflexive cooperation

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most widely used children's mental health diagnosis today, but the validity of the diagnosis is controversial, for instance, because it might conceal relational and ecological dimensions of restlessness. We invited parents and professionals from one local community in western Norway to participate in cooperative group discussions on how to conceptualize and understand children's restlessness. We carried out a thematic and reflexive analysis of the cooperative group discussions on ADHD and children's restlessness, and present findings related to three ecological levels inspired by Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems model. At the level of the individual, restlessness was discussed as individual trait, as the expectation to be seen and heard, and as a result of traumatization. At the level of dyad, group or family, restlessness was discussed as a relational phenomenon and as parents' problems. At the level of community, restlessness was discussed as lack of cooperation and lack of structures or resources. Our findings show how contextualized and cooperative reflexivity can contribute to more valid understandings of children's restlessness, and how cooperative inquiry can stimulate reflections about solidarity and sustainability in relation to adult's actions.
Dengue type 1 viruses circulating in humans are highly infectious and poorly neutralized by human antibodies

Significance Due to difficulty in obtaining relevant samples and low levels of dengue virus (DENV) present in patients, it has been difficult to characterize the properties of virions circulating in humans. We characterized DENV1 directly from early acute primary dengue samples and from their cell culture isolates. We observed that virions in humans are more infectious and mature as compared with their cell culture isolates. DENV1 cell culture isolates were hypersensitive to neutralization by human antibodies. Cross-reactive fusion loop antibodies and heterotypic immune sera poorly neutralized plasma DENV1. Identical genome sequences showed that the phenotypic differences are due to the differences in maturation state. The observed structural variation is a significant advance applicable to understanding vaccine failure and designing future vaccine strategies. The four dengue virus (DENV) serotypes are mosquito-borne flaviviruses of humans. The interactions between DENVs and the human host that lead to asymptomatic, mild, or severe disease are poorly understood, in part, because laboratory models are poor surrogates for human DENV disease. Virologists are interested in how the properties of DENVs replicating in people compare with virions propagated on laboratory cell lines, which are widely used for research and vaccine development. Using clinical samples from a DENV type 1 epidemic in Sri Lanka and new ultrasensitive assays, we compared the properties of DENVs in human plasma and after one passage on laboratory cell lines. DENVs in plasma were 50- to 700-fold more infectious than cell culture-grown viruses. DENVs produced by laboratory cell lines were structurally immature and hypersensitive to neutralization by human antibodies compared with DENVs circulating in people. Human plasma and cell culture-derived virions had identical genome sequences, indicating that these phenotypic differences were due to the mature state of plasma virions. Several dengue vaccines are under development. Recent studies indicate that vaccine-induced antibodies that neutralized DENVs in cell culture assays were not sufficient for protecting people from DENV infections. Our results about structural differences between DENVs produced in humans versus cell lines may be key to understanding vaccine failure and developing better models for vaccine evaluation.
Overseas R&D Activities by Multinational Enterprises: Evidence from Japanese Firm-Level Data

This paper investigates both the determinants and the impact of overseas subsidiaries' R&D activities, using firm-level panel data for Japanese multinational enterprises. We distinguish between overseas innovative and adaptive R&D and find substantial differences between the two types of R&D. The evidence suggests that overseas innovative R&D aims at the exploitation of foreign advanced knowledge, and by doing so, it helps to raise the productivity of the parent firm. In contrast, the primary role of overseas adaptive R&D is to enhance the productivity of overseas subsidiaries through the use of parent firms' knowledge. In addition, we find no complementarity between home and overseas innovative R&D, i.e., no evidence that overseas innovative R&D raises the marginal effect of home R&D on home productivity.
Trashé Designs: A Social Enterprise

During my years in graduate school, my understanding of economic inequality has further expanded. While my experience in the Peace Corps and Nepal allowed me to see it in real life, my time in school has allowed me to ground these experiences in academic literature. By means of an action research project, my goal is to create economic opportunity for the HIV/AIDS community in Chiang Mai, Thailand, through the creation of the social enterprise Trashé Designs. A social enterprise is a way to address a social challenge with a market-based solution. My social enterprise, Trashé Designs, uses recycled materials to create a variety of fashion accessories in order to provide a sustainable income for those who participate. This paper explores the success and barriers other social enterprises have faced, as well as provides a review of HIV/AIDS in Thailand and the stigma placed on individuals who have the disease. Understanding the marginalization of this community will provide the necessary context to understand why Trashé Designs, as well as other social enterprises, are important development tools in addressing problems of economic inequality.
The independence process in conditional quantile location-scale models and an application to testing for monotonicity

In this paper the nonparametric quantile regression model is considered in a location-scale context. The asymptotic properties of the empirical independence process based on covariates and estimated residuals are investigated. In particular an asymptotic expansion and weak convergence to a Gaussian process are proved. The results can, on the one hand, be applied to test for validity of the location-scale model. On the other hand, they allow to derive various specification tests in conditional quantile location-scale models. In detail a test for monotonicity of the conditional quantile curve is investigated. For the test for validity of the location-scale model as well as for the monotonicity test smooth residual bootstrap versions of Kolmogorov-Smirnov and Cramer-von Mises type test statistics are suggested. We give rigorous proofs for bootstrap versions of the weak convergence results. The performance of the tests is demonstrated in a simulation study.
Expense ratios of North American mutual funds

The average expense ratio paid by Canadian mutual fund investors is 50% higher than that paid in the United States. This discrepancy is commonly thought to exist because Canadian funds do not take advantage of economies of scale and have less competition. A monopolistic competition framework is used to develop a model for the mutual fund industry. By allowing each fund to have different attributes, the model permits funds to charge different expense ratios in equilibrium and is found to strongly fit the North American mutual fund market. Empirical analysis indicates that these two common explanations and measurable fund attributes account for 24% of the discrepancy.