Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Frequency-domain Green's function for a planar periodic semi-infinite phased array. II. Diffracted wave phenomenology

For pt.I see ibid., vol.48, no.1, p.67-74, 2000. This second part of a two-paper sequence deals with the physical interpretation of the rigorously derived high-frequency asymptotic wave-field solution in part I, pertaining to a semi-infinite phased array of parallel dipole radiators. The asymptotic solution contains two parts that represent contributions due to truncated Floquet waves (FWs) and to the corresponding edge diffractions, respectively. The phenomenology of the FW-excited diffracted fields is discussed in detail. All possible combinations of propagating (radiating) and evanescent (nonradiating) FW and diffracted contributions are considered. The format is a generalization of the conventional geometrical theory of diffraction (GTD) for smooth truncated aperture distributions to the truncated periodicity-induced FW distributions with their corresponding FW-modulated edge diffractions. Ray paths for propagating diffracted waves are defined according to a generalized Fermat principle, which is also valid by analytic continuation for evanescent diffracted ray fields. The mechanism of uniform compensation for the FW-field discontinuities (across their truncation shadow boundaries) by the diffracted waves is explored for propagating ad evanescent FWs, including the cutoff transition from the propagating to the evanescent regime for both the FW and diffracted constituents. Illustrative examples demonstrate: (1) the accuracy and efficiency of the high-frequency algorithm under conditions that involve the various wave processes outlined above and (2) the cogent interpretation of the results in terms of the uniform FW-modulated GTD.
The effects of some microelements supplementation - selenium, zinc and copper into dairy cows feeds on their health and reproductive performances

Microelements such as selenium, zinc and copper are indispensable nutrients for preserving major physiological functions, improving reproductive characteristics and overall health state. By their adequate use different ailments are prevented, while at the same time they have a positive effect on fertility and resistance. Insufficient quantities of these microelements, inadequate absorption and interaction with other microelements may lead to the impairment of the immune response due to metabolic and oxidative stress. In recent years, mainly organic forms of microelements have been administered to animals because they show better biological availability and can be retained longer in the organism. Besides, organic forms improve quality of products for human nutrition. Antioxidants should be added in optimal quantities in food for dairy cows with the aim of maximizing immune function and protection of tissues. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. TR 31086: Optimisation of technological procedure and zootechnical resources on farms with the aim of improving the sustainability of milk production]
PDMS-Based Microfluidic Devices for Cell Culture

Microfluidic technology has affirmed itself as a powerful tool in medical and biological research by offering the possibility of managing biological samples in tiny channels and chambers. Among the different applications, the use of microfluidics for cell cultures has attracted much interest from scientists worldwide. Traditional cell culture methods need high quantities of samples and reagents that are strongly reduced in miniaturized systems. In addition, the microenvironment is better controlled by scaling down. In this paper, we provide an overview of the aspects related to the design of a novel microfluidic culture chamber, the fabrication approach based on polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) soft-lithography, and the most critical issues in shrinking the size of the system.
Accumulation and transmission of TSWV at larval and adult stages in six thrips species : distinct patterns between Frankliniella and Thrips

Introduction Thrips species may show vector specificity in the transmission of Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) (Wijkamp et al. 1995). Specificity might be closely related to the change or multiplication of virus in the vector from larvae to adults, because thrips acquire virus in their larval stages, but individuals subsequently transmit TSWV at second larval and adult stages with circulation and replication of viruses (Sakimura 1962; Ullman et al. 1992; Wijkamp and Peters 1993; van de Wetering et al. 1996). The virus multiplication in thrips is likely to be related to virus accumulation (Wijkamp et al. 1993). Although several researchers showed the change of accumulation for the TSWV-N protein during developmental stages of thrips vectors (Tsuda et al. 1996; van de Wetering et al. 1996; Ohnishi 1998), little information about differences of virus accumulation among thrips species is available. In the present study, the accumulation and transmission of TSWV by second larval Accumulation and transmission of TSWV at larval and adult stages in six thrips species: distinct patterns between Frankliniella and Thrips
The Abundance of Specialist and Generalist Lepidopteran Larvae on a Single Host Plant Species: Does Spatial Scale Matter?

Abstract Specialist insects are more sensitive to spatial variations than generalists, which are able to exploit diverse hosts in various habitats. This study investigated whether specialist lepidopteran larvae feeding on a single host, Roupala montana Aubl. (Proteales: Proteaceae), maintain consistent abundance rates across spatial scales. We compared the abundance of specialist and generalist larvae at local and regional scales during the same period of collection, with equal sample efforts, and in the same type of vegetation, within a Brazilian savanna biome. Particularly, we focused on the following questions: Does spatial scale matter to the abundance of specialist larvae on a single host plant species? What is the relationship between the abundance of specialists and generalists among spatial scales? As predicted, in general, specialist larvae were present at higher densities on their specific host plants than generalists. However, we sought to learn how this abundance changed or did not change with spatial scale, as well as whether community similarity increased with spatial proximity. In this study, most larvae of specialist species on R. montana occurred at both local and regional scales, but they differed in abundance at different spatial scales. Moreover, although specialist larvae exhibited higher densities on R. montana than generalists, this pattern was not always consistent. The assemblage of larvae in neighboring areas showed greater mutual similarity, and there was a negative relationship between distance and similarity.
Processes structuring communities: evidence for trait‐mediated indirect effects through induced polymorphisms

Trait-mediated indirect effects (TMIs) are changes in the density of one species that are caused by induced changes in one or more traits of an intervening species. For example, induced defense in a prey species may alter the nature of indirect effects that are mediated through that prey species. In the present study, we investigated the TMIs that stem from an interaction between a carnivorous whelk (Acanthina angelica) and an intertidal barnacle (Chthamalus anisopoma). Depending on the timing of the interaction, the predator either kills the barnacle or induces a predation-resistant morph. Based on previous work that addressed the direct interactions between Chthamalus and other species in the community we predicted and subsequently found that community structure varies as a function of these differing effects. Specifically, we found that Acanthina has a positive indirect effect on mussels when it interacts with (kills) undefended adult barnacles. In contrast, the predator has a positive indirect effect on an encrusting algae (Ralfsia) when it comes into contact with juvenile barnacles, causing the induction of the predator-resistant morph. We suggest that further research should consider the role of environmentally induced polymorphisms in structuring communities.
Preparation of oligopeptides from corn gluten meal by two enzymes at one step using response surface methodology and investigation of their antifatigue activities

The corn gluten meal, byproduct through the corn starch industry, was hydrolyzed with the combination of alkaline protease and papain to produce oligopeptides with high Fisher-values. Response surface methodology was applied to optimize the hydrolysis conditions, including reaction temperature, pH, enzyme to substrate ratio, and percentage papain added. The highest degree of hydrolysis (29.51%) was obtained at a reaction temperature of 55? C, a reaction pH at 11.10, an enzyme to substrate ratio of 0.85, and percentage of papain added at 20%, which was in agreement with the predicted value (30.84%) estimated by response surface methodology within a 95% confidence interval. In addition, the final product was the mixture of oligopeptides with relatively high content of branched-chain amino acids and in vivo the effect on physical fatigue was investigated by using a loaded swimming test, along with the determination of blood lactic acid, blood urea nitrogen, liver glycogen and muscle glycogen contents. The data showed that the oligopeptides could extend exhaustive swimming times of mice, as well as increase liver and muscle glycogen contents and decrease blood lactic acid contents. These results support that the oligopeptides, prepared from corn proteins using the combination of two proteases, have an anti-physical fatigue effect.
Gouty Tophus: Cytological Findings in a Case Diagnosed by Fine Needle Aspiration

A case of gouty tophus in the elbow of a 62-year-old male is presented. Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) revealed the presence of acicular crystals, birefringent when viewed under polarized light as is typical for monosodium urate crystals. Histological study of the removed lesion confirmed a typical gouty tophus. We briefly comment the main characteristics of this entity.
THE CRYSTAL STRUCTURE OF SYNTHETIC KUTINAITE, Cu14Ag6As7

Nous avons etabli la structure cristalline de la kutinaite synthetique, Cu 1 4 Ag 6 As 7 , a partir de donnees en diffraction X obtenues sur poudre, enregistrees avec un diffractometre Guinier et affinees parla methode de Rietveld avec le logiciel FULLPROF. L'affinement final (Δ/σ m a x < 0.2), avec 31 parametres (9 portant sur le profil et 23 sur la structure), repose sur 4600 donnees et 226 reflexions, et ont mene aux indices de concordance suivants: R w p o = 18.2%, R p = 13.4%, R e x p = 14.7%, S = 1.54, R(B) = 1.78%. Le parametre a de la structure cubique est egal a 11.78079(2) A (l'ecart-type est sous-estime par un facteur de 2.4686); le groupe spatial est Pm3m, Z = 4. Mis a part les lacunes aux sites du Cu, partiellement ordonnees, l'agencement des atomes se rapproche de celui du groupe spatial Fm3m. La structure Pm3m de la kutinaite resulterait de la mise en ordre partielle des lacunes aux sites Cu; dans un precurseur de haute temperature, dont le groupe spatial est Fm3m, ces lacunes devraient etre completement desordonnees. Les atomes Cu2 et Cu3 ont une coordinence tetraedrique, les sites Cul et Cu4 (partiellement remplis) ont une coordinence trigonale planaire avec les atomes As. Les atomes de Ag forment des agencements octaedriques Ag 6 dans des cavites octaedriques de la trame Cu-As. D'une part la structure de la kutinaite contient une multiplicite de contacts metal-metal et metal-semimetal courts, et donc des coordinences elevees, et une indication d'interactions metal-metal directes. Une analyse de la densite des electrons etaye la presence de ces contacts par liaisons metal-metal, et indique les limites suivantes des contact dans ces liaisons: 2.70 A (Cu-Cu), et 3.05 A (Ag-Cu). D'autre part, un reseau de liaisons Cu-As importantes definit un complexe tri-dimensionnel ayant une charge negative, neutralisee par les charges positives des complexes localises Ag 6 . De cette situation resulte deux descriptions complementaires de la structure de la kutinaite. On peut concevoir la kutinaite comme alliage icosaedrique ou comme un arseniure avec des groupements d'atomes metalliques.
Evaluation and management of cases of infertility in a limited resource rural setup

Background: Infertility is a global medical problem with important psychological, economical, social, marital and medical implications. Majority of the infertile couples live in resource-poor countries, with limited access to the sophisticated assisted reproductive techniques. Also high-quality, low-cost infertility clinics are not available in the public sector. This study is to evaluate infertile couples in a resource limited setting; in which giving maximum benefit and reducing the treatment costs were the major stand. Aims: - To evaluate the cases of infertility in rural area with available resources in order to find the etiology. - To manage the cases of infertility in rural area with available resources. Method: A total of hundred patients, including both primary and secondary infertility, were evaluated right from history and further investigations and interventions as and when required. A note was made of every visit so as to minimize the treatment time and cost of the couple. Result: A conception rate of 19% was achieved with the available limited resources. Conclusion: Stepwise management of an infertile couple with proper planning of all the visits and judicial use of the available resources would give maximum positive outcome and minimize the treatment cost to an appreciable extent. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.4038/sljog.v35i1. 5998 Sri Lanka Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology 2013; 35 : 16-21
K-THEORY AND MULTIPLIERS OF STABLE C*-ALGEBRAS

The main theorem is that if A is a C*-algebra with a countable approximate identity consisting of projections, then the unitary group of M(A ® K) is contractible. This gives a realization, via the index map, of Ko(A) as components in the set of Fredholm operators on HA . For a C*-algebra A let HA = {(aJ I a j E A and 'Lara j converges in norm}. Then HA becomes a right A-module under the action (aJb = (ajb). With the A-valued inner product «aj),(bJ) = 'Larbj' HA is a Hilbert A-module. 2(HA) is the C*-algebra of operators on HA that have an adjoint; f(HA) is an ideal of 2'(HA), called the compact operators on HA. Set [11, §2, Definition 4). Operators in 2'(HA) invertible modulo f(HA ) are called Fredholm and have an index that takes its values in Ko(A). The paper is divided into two parts. In Part 1 we show that index: [~] ~ Ko(A) is an isomorphism, where [~] denotes the set of path components of the set of Fredholm operators. In Part 2 we show that the unitary group of M(A ® K) is contractible when A has a countable approximate identity consisting of projections. As 2(HA ) = M(A ® K), this in particular implies that the unitary group of 2(HA ) is connected when A is unital. This latter result is used to prove the isomorphism mentioned above. The results of this paper were announced in [14] (see Remark 2.5(2». This research is based on the author's doctoral work done at Dalhousie University under the supervision of Professor P. A. Fillmore. The author also wishes to thank W. J. Phillips for many useful suggestions. PART 1. THE INDEX OF A FREDHOLM OPERATOR 1.1. We describe the index map from Fredholm operators on Hilbert C*-modules to the corresponding K-groups. The principal ingredients of this construction have been discussed by several authors: Kasparov [12], Miscenko and Fomenko [15], and Pimsner, Popa, and Voiculescu [17]. However, as we shall need refinements and variations of these constructions, we will give a detailed account of the index map. Throughout this paper K or f(H) will denote the C*-algebra of compact operators on a separable infinite dimensional Hilbert space H. For any two C *-algebras A and B, A ® B will denote the completion of the algebraic tensor product AGB in the spatial or minimal C*-norm (see e.g. Effros and Lance [8, §2]). Received by the editors July 28, 1983 and, in revised form December 27, 1985. 1980 Mathematics Subject Classification (1985 Revision). Primary 46L05. 46M20. 397 ©1987 American Mathematical Society 0002-9947/87 $1.00 + $. 25 per page License or copyright restrictions may apply to redistribution; see http://www.ams. org/journal-terms-of-use
Macro- and micro-aggregate stability of soils determined by a combination of wet-sieving and laser-ray diffraction

Soil structural stability affects the profitability and sustainability of agricultural systems. Different-sized structural units have different stability mechanisms and respond differently to such external factors as rain, wind, irrigation and management. A comprehensive analysis of the soils structural stability requires its characterization at the macroand micro-aggregate scales. We determined the aggregate stability of 36 soils at the macro-aggregate scale using wetsieving methods and of 20 soils at the micro-aggregate scale using laser-ray diffraction techniques. All the tests gave consistent estimates of aggregate stability. Most soils were homogeneous and quite stable at the macro-aggregate level as determined by the «water stable aggregate» parameter, but differed significantly among them and were quite unstable at the micro-aggregate level as determined by the «mean weight diameter of micro-aggregates» parameter. Slaking induced by the fast wetting of aggregates was the main destabilizing mechanism in these soils (88% of the soils had slaking stability index values 0.5). The combination of the macro- and micro-aggregate stability tests is a consistent way for describing the structural stability of the studied soils.
Managerial Stress in Greater China : The Direct and Moderator Effects of Coping Strategies and Work Locus of Control

© International Association for Applied Psychology, 2002. Published by Blackwell Publishers, 108 Cowley Road, Oxford OX4 1JF, UK and 350 Main Street, Malden, MA 02148, USA. Blackwell Science Ltd Oxford, UK APPS pplied Psychology: an International Review 0269-994X © Int rnational Association for Applied Psychology, 2002 2002 51 41 riginal Arti le Stress in Gre ter Chin iu et l. Managerial Stress in Greater China: The Direct and Moderator Effects of Coping Strategies and Work Locus of Control
Does competition improve performance? Evidence from the Czech manufacturing industries

The paper investigates both the impact of domestic and import competition on performance of manufacturing industries in the Czech Republic in 1998 - 2002. Using panel data we found a strong increasing non-linear (diminishing) relationship between performance of manufacturing industries and domestic competition measured by the Herfindahl-Hirschman Index. Import competition measured by an import penetration ratio is negatively related to performance of Czech industries, while foreign direct investments are positively correlated with performance.
Making a definite be interpreted as an indefinite

This paper proposes a novel analysis for the Basque definite determiner [-a] where it is argued, in opposition to other scholars (cf. Artiagoitia, 2002, 2006 where [-a] is argued to be a number marker when it gets the existential narrow scope interpretation), that the Basque definite determiner (despite its various interpretations) is just that, a definite determiner.
Causality between Tax Revenue and Government Spending in Malaysia

The trend of tax collection in Malaysia is inconsistent, changing upward and downward depending upon economic conditions. However, over a 30 year period, most years show an increasing increment in total collection. The exceptions are when there is an abnormal economic condition such as financial crisis, war or increase in world oil prices. Total tax revenue has always been a major contribution to Malaysiaâ€™s federal government revenue. Income tax is one of the surest ways to fund the government. The main objective of this study is empirically tests the causality between tax revenues and government spending in Malaysia for the past 36 years by applying an econometrics model. The results provide evidence for the existence of a long-run relationship between tax revenues and government spending with unidirectional and bidirectional causality in VAR models for the sample period 1970-2006.
An Experimental Study of Flexible Membrane Airfoils at Low Reynolds Numbers

An experimental study was conducted to explore the benefits of using flexible membrane airfoils/wings at low Reynolds numbers for MAV applications. In addition to measuring aerodynamic forces acting on the flexible membrane airfoils/wings, a high-resolution Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) system was used to conduct flow field measurements to quantify the transient behavior of vortex and turbulent flow structures around the flexible membrane airfoils/wings at different angles of attack. The force measurement results revealed that flexible membrane airfoils can provide better aerodynamic performance compared with their rigid counterpart at low Reynolds numbers. The flexibility (or rigidity) of the membrane skins was found to affect the aerodynamic performance of the membrane airfoils significantly. The PIV measurements elucidated that flexible membrane airfoils changed their camber (i.e., cross sectional shape) automatically to adapt incoming flows to balance the pressure differences applied on the upper and lower surfaces of the airfoils at different angles of attack, thereby suppressing flow separation on the membrane airfoils. The deformation of the flexible membrane airfoils also reduced the effective angle of attack of the airfoils to delay airfoil stall.
Determinants of outpatient antibiotic consumption in Europe: bacterial resistance and drug prescribers

This paper investigates socioeconomic determinants of outpatient antibiotic consumption in Europe. Comparable data on antibiotic use measured in the defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants (DID) are currently provided by the ESAC project. Results from applied econometric estimations for panel data reveal a link between antibiotic use and the per capita income, the demographic structure of the population, the level of education and cultural aspects. Supply-side factors, such as the density of providers and their remuneration methods, are also considered. We provide the first estimate of the impact of bacterial resistance on consumption when the e? ect of other determinants is simultaneously taken into account.
WHEEZE RECOGNITION BASED ON 2D BILATERAL FILTERING OF SPECTROGRAM

This paper describes the design of a low-cost and high performance wheeze recognition system. First, respiratory sounds are captured, amplified and filtered by an analog circuit; then digitized through a PC soundcard, and recorded in accordance with the Computerized Respiratory Sound Analysis (CORSA) standards. Since the proposed wheeze detection algorithm is based on the spectrogram processing of respiratory sounds, spectrograms generated from recorded sounds have to pass through a 2D bilateral filter for edge-preserving smoothing. Finally, the processed spectra go through an edge detection procedure to recognize wheeze sounds. Experiment results show a high sensitivity of 0.967 and a specificity of 0.909 in qualitative analysis of wheeze recognition. Due to its high efficiency, great performance and easy-to-implement features, this wheeze recognition system could be of interest in the clinical monitoring of asthma patients and the study of physiological mechanisms in the respiratory airways.