Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sheets of branched poly(lactic acid) obtained by one step reactive extrusion calendering process: Melt rheology analysis

One-step reactive extrusion-calendering process (REX-Calendering) was used in order to obtain sheets of 1mm from two PD,L-LA extrusion grades modified with a styrene-acrylic multifunctional oligomeric agent. In a preliminary internal mixer study, torque versus time was monitored in order to determine chain extender ratios and reaction time. Once all parameters were optimized, reactive extrusion experiments were performed. Independently of the processing method employed, under the same processing conditions, PD,L-LA with the lower D enan- tiomer molar content revealed a higher reactivity towards the reactive agent, induced by its higher thermal sensitivity. REX- Calendering process seemed to minimize the degradations reactions during processing, although a competition between degradation and chain extension/branching reactions took place in both processes. Finally, the rheological characterization revealed a higher degree of modification in the melt rheological behaviour for REX-Calendered samples.
Worldwide Gravity in Online Commerce

We analyse geographical patterns of cross-country Internet transactions using proprietary data from Google. Spanning all countries from 2008-2011 and over 10 billion online transactions, the data allow us to examine a fast growing, but neglected area of trade. We nd the elasticity of distance to be around -0.5, indicating that distance eects persist in the virtual marketplace. We also discover that cultural characteristics, such as shared languages or religions, have a large impact in e-commerce, while economic ties, such as a common currency, have an insignicant eect. Our results improve upon an unpublished study of eBay transactions by signicantly expanding the set of countries and correcting known econometric biases.
A U 1 snRNP – specific assembly pathway reveals the SMN complex as a versatile hub for RNP exchange

In eukaryotes, U1 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein (snRNP) is necessary for precursor (pre)-mRNA splicing1,2 and telescripting, suppression of premature cleavage, and polyadenylation that ensures full-length transcription3–7. U1’s function in telescripting probably explains why human cells have a higher abundance of U1 compared to the other spliceosomal snRNPs (U2, U4, U5 and U6)8. All the spliceosomal small nuclear RNAs (snRNAs) that acquire Sm cores (U1, U2, U4, U5 and the minor spliceosomes U11, U12 and U4atac) have an snRNA-defining motif termed the snRNP code, which consists of the Sm site (AU5–6G), around which the Sm core forms, and an adjacent 3′-terminal stem-loop9–11. In Sm cores, Sm heterodimers Sm D1D2 (D1D2) and Sm BD3 (BD3) and the heterotrimer Sm FEG (FEG) subunits are arranged in the order D1, D2, F, E, G, D3 and B, and each Sm protein interacts with a single nucleotide of the Sm site12–17. The snRNP code (~50 nt) is recognized by the RBP Gemin5 (refs. 18–20). Sm-core assembly is mediated by the survival of motor neurons (SMN)–Gemin complex, a large oligomeric complex (30–70S) comprising SMN, Gemins2–8 and Unrip9,21,22. The SMN–Gemin complex is ubiquitously expressed in eukaryotes (except Saccharomyces, which have a Gemin2 ortholog but no detectable SMN) and is found in both the nucleus and in the cytoplasm. SMN and its interacting protein Gemin2, the two most highly conserved components of the SMN–Gemin complex, bind Sm proteins23–25. Pre-snRNAs, including pre-U1 snRNA, are delivered to SMN–Gemin2 by Gemin5, where they encounter the Sm proteins and acquire Sm cores20. Sm-core assembly is a prerequisite for snRNP maturation—including hypermethylation of the 5′-monomethyl guanosine cap (to form a trimethylguanosine) and 3′-end processing—and for snRNP function26,27. U1 in vertebrates differs from other snRNAs in two respects: first, it has a divergent snRNP code, owing to its noncanonical Sm site (AUUUGUG or AUUUCUG), which has weaker binding affinity to Gemin5 (ref. 19), and second, its Sm-core assembly strongly depends on stem-loop 1 (SL1), a U1-specific structure outside the snRNP code28–30. Interestingly, earlier studies have shown that SL1 alone can inhibit Sm-core assembly30; however, the role of SL1 and U1’s divergent snRNP code in Sm-core assembly remains unknown. Here, we investigated the roles of these U1 elements in Sm-core assembly, seeking to understand how U1 overabundance is achieved and more generally what factors contribute to cells’ unequal snRNP repertoire.
Flow field of a diffusion flame attached to a thick-walled injector between two coflowing reactant streams

The flow field of a diffusion flame attached to a thick-rim injector between two coflowing streams of fuel and oxidiser is analysed in the Burke–Schumann limit of infinitely fast reaction rate. The length of the recirculation region immediately behind the injector and the velocity of the recirculating fluid are proportional to the shear stresses of the reactant streams on the wall of the injector for a range of rim thicknesses, and the structure of the flow in the wake depends then on three main non-dimensional parameters, measuring the gas thermal expansion due to the chemical heat release, the air-to-fuel stoichiometric ratio of the reaction, and the air-to-fuel ratio of wall shear stresses. The recirculation region shortens with increasing heat release, and the position of the flame in this region depends on the other two parameters. An asymptotic analysis is carried out for very exothermic reactions, showing that the region of high temperature around the flame is confined by neatly defined boundaries and the hot fluid moves like a high-velocity jet under a favourable self-induced pressure gradient. The immediate wake is surrounded by a triple-deck region where the interacting flow leads to an adverse pressure gradient and a reduced shear stress upstream of the injector rim for sufficiently exothermic reactions. Separation of the boundary layers on the wall of the injector, however, seems to be postponed to very large values of the gas thermal expansion.
UvA-DARE ( Digital Academic Repository ) Informed floating voters ?

The increase in electoral volatility in European democracies has raised the question whether volatile voters are just randomly switching or actually making more informed vote choices. This study addresses this question by examining the underlying mechanisms through which political campaign exposure influences two types of electoral volatility: crystallization and conversion. Specifically, it examines how political information efficacy and campaign cynicism mediate the impact of campaign exposure on both types of vote change. We use a Dutch panel survey (N = 1349), collected during the 2014 European Parliament elections. A structural equation model analysis reveals that campaign exposure positively affects electoral volatility, both directly and indirectly via information efficacy. Both effects were especially pronounced among voters who were undecided at the onset of the campaign.1 1 This chapter is under review as: Geers, S. , Bos, L. , & De Vreese, C.H. (2016). Informed switchers? How the impact of campaign exposure on vote change depends on political information efficacy. International Journal of Communication. INFORMED SWITCHERS? 103
An Initial Assessment of the GOES Microburst Windspeed Potential Index

A suite of products has been developed and evaluated to assess hazards presented by convective downbursts to aircraft in flight derived from the current generation of Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite. The existing suite of GOES microburst products employs the GOES sounder to calculate risk based on conceptual models of favorable environmental profiles for convective downburst generation. Large output values of the microburst index algorithms indicate that the ambient thermodynamic structure of the troposphere fits the prototypical environment for each respective microburst type. Accordingly, a new diagnostic nowcasting product, the Microburst Windspeed Potential Index, is derived from merging existing algorithms and designed to quantify the most relevant factors in convective downburst generation in intermediate thermodynamic environments. This paper provides an initial assessment of the MWPI algorithm, presents case studies demonstrating effective operational use of the MWPI product, and presents validation results for the 2007 convective season.
Gender Differences in Neuropsychological Functioning of New Zealand Adolescents with and without Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Only recently have studies included a female Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) sample when investigating neurocognitive functioning of individuals with ADHD. As such, the generalisability of findings of impaired executive functioning is limited to ADHD males. This study compared four groups aged 13–17 years: 30 male controls, 35 female controls, 24 males with ADHD, and 25 females with ADHD. Participants were assessed using the K‐SADS‐PL and Conners’ Rating Scales, and completed tests of rapid naming, processing speed, memory, inhibition, set‐shifting, and interference. Results showed that the males with ADHD and the females with ADHD performed similarly with only one notable difference: males with ADHD showed some evidence of more impaired inhibition than females with ADHD. In contrast, after controlling for reading ability, comorbidity, and IQ, both males and females with ADHD showed some impairment in working memory, naming speeds, processing abilities, and inhibitory deficits as compared with controls. This study supports the growing literature documenting impaired neurocognitive functioning in both males and females with ADHD.
Combinatorial and Structural Results for γ-Ψ-dimensions

This article deals with the generalization performance of margin multi-category classi ers, when minimal learnability hypotheses are made. In that context, the derivation of a guaranteed risk is based on the handling of capacity measures belonging to three main families: Rademacher/Gaussian complexities, metric entropies and scale-sensitive combinatorial dimensions. The scale-sensitive combinatorial dimensions dedicated to the classi ers of this kind are the γ-Ψ-dimensions. We introduce the combinatorial and structural results needed to involve them in the derivation of guaranteed risks and establish the corresponding upper bounds on the metric entropies and the Rademacher complexity. Two major conclusions can be drawn: 1. the γ-Ψ-dimensions always bring an improvement compared to the use of the fat-shattering dimension of the class of margin functions; 2. thanks to their capacity to take into account basic features of the classi er, they represent a promising alternative to performing the transition from the multiclass case to the binary one with covering numbers.
Inflammatory bowel disease , intestinal microflora , prebiotics and probiotics

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a group of intestinal conditions characterized by chronic relapsing course of uncontrolled inflammation within the gastrointestinal tract. The two main types of IBD are ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease (CD). Both genetic and environmental factors are involved in etiopathogenesis. According to most recent theories, IBD is probably a consequence of abnormal mucosal immune response to antigens of gut bacterial microflora in geneticaly susceptable individuals. If tolerance to commensal bacteria is lost, an immune response may be elucidated against non-pathogenic bacteria, leading to increased production of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. Consequently different subsets of inflammatory cells are activated. Growing knowledge about implication of gut microflora into the pathogenesis of IBD encouraged scientific word to search for new therapeutic strategies concentrated on changing the microenvironmental factors. Nutritional therapy has been advocated in CD patients, especially for children and adolescents. The rationale behind prebiotic use is to elevate the populations of certain beneficial bacteria and thereby quantitatively changing the composition of microflora. Although several prebiotic compounds possess promising properties to have beneficial effect on IBD, only few of them (Plantago ovata, germinated barley foodstuff) have been clinically tested. Multiple mechanisms of action have been suggested to explain the effect of probiotics in IBD. A great number of basic, animal model and human studies have revealed the great potential of probiotic use in treatment of IBD patients. However, clinical use of probiotics has been proved effective only in a therapy of pouchitis and maintenance of remission in ulcerative colitis, while their effectiveness in a therapy of Crohn’s disease is not firmly proved.
Finger millet (Eleusine coracana) polyphenols: Investigation of their antioxidant capacity and antimicrobial activity.

Finger millet (Eleusine coracana) or ragi, one of the important minor cereals is a rich source of several phytochemicals and among them polyphenols are the most important because of their nutraceutical potentials. The seed coat-rich fraction (SCF) of the millet contains over 70% of polyphenols of the millet. Treated with different polar and non-polar solvents as such and after acidification with HCl for the extraction, it was observed that the polar solvents extracted more (1.7 to 7.4%) than the non-polar solvents (0.28 to 1.54%) while the 1% HCl–methanol extracted the highest proportion of polyphenols (13%). Fractionation of extracted polyphenols by HPLC revealed the presence of a large number of constituent phenolics. The inhibitory concentration (IC50) values for the antioxidant activity of the polyphenols determined in terms of 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), hydroxyl and 2, 2’- azinobis – 3 – ethylbenzothiazoline – 6 – sulfonate (ABTS) radicals scavenging activities of acidified methanolic extract, were 63, 109, and 114 µg/mL phenolic, respectively. The polyphenols extracted from finger millet seed coat using 1% HCl –methanol was fractionated by reverse phase– high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) and the constituent phenolics were characterized by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) and NMR. The phenolics identified were the benzoic acid derivatives (gallic, protocatechuic, p-hydroxybenzoic, vanillic, and ferulic acids) and cinnamic acid derivatives (syringic, trans-cinnamic and p-coumaric acids); and also a flavonoid compound namely, quercetin. The millet polyphenols showed proliferation inhibitory activities on Escherichia coli, Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes, Streptococcus pyogenes, Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Serratia marcescens, Klebsiella pneumonia, and Yersinia enterocolitica. Quercetin exhibited substantial inhibition of the growth of these pathogenic bacteria revealing the potential nutraceutical properties of the millet polyphenols. From the observation, it could be inferred that finger millet polyphenols could be used as natural source of antioxidants especially for minimizing the risk of diseases arising from oxidative deterioration.
Using CHAMP radio occultation data to determine the top altitude of the Planetary Boundary Layer

A simple approach to derive the Planetary Boundary Layer (PBL) top altitude from CHAMP (CHAllenging Minisatellite Payload) radio occultation (RO) data is presented. Our RO processing cuts off at an altitude, typically ≤4 km, below which the GPS signals are affected by tracking errors. This lowest processed altitude (LPA) is assumed to coincide with the PBL top. We average LPAs for the years 2001 to 2004 over 5 Degree latitude longitude boxes and compare them to ECMWF analysis data. The ECMWF PBL top was calculated from the relative humidity gradient with respect to altitude. Agreement between the data sets is good in terms of mean PBL height, especially over sea. The CHAMP data shows the major features of PBL height with a realistic transition from stratocumulus regions to shallow and deep cumulus areas. CHAMP also shows a substantial amount of PBL height variability that may prove useful to study PBL dynamics.
Prevalence of Malaria and Typhoid Fever Co-infection and the Haematological Profile of Patients Attending Hospitals in Wukari Taraba State , Nigeria

This study on the prevalence of malaria and typhoid fever co-infection and the haematological profile of patients attending hospitals in Wukari Taraba State was concluded in June, 2017. The aim was to determine the prevalence of malaria and typhoid fever co-infection and their effects on blood parameters. It goes without saying, that both malaria and typhoid fever are endemic in the tropical regions in which Nigeria is no exception. Veinous blood was used for the various analyses. Of the 100 patients examined, 88(88%) patients were positive for malaria and 64(64%) patients were positive for typhoid fever. Females were more infected with both malaria and typhoid fever (91% and 64.2% respectively) than males (84% and 63.6% respectively). However, the difference in the prevalence of infections between the genders were statistically insignificant (P >0.05). In the prevalence of co-infection, 56(56%) patients were coinfected. Of the 56 patients, 23(52.3%) were males and 33(58.9%) were females. Gender and age wise, males between age group 31 – 40years had the highest co-infection (75%) while females between age group 41 – 50years had the highest prevalence of comorbidity. In the haematological analyses, this study showed that a reasonable percentage of malaria and typhoid fever infected patients were anaemic (25%), 5.4% had higher than normal leucocyte count, 21.4% with lymphocyte count lower than normal and 8.9% of the co-infected patients had monocyte count higher than the normal range.
EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION ON REPAIRING OF STEEL PIPES USING COMPOSITE MATERIALS: PART II

This Paper presents an experimental study of composite materials for the rehabilitation of steel pipes. Three specimens, of 83 mm internal diameter, 12.5 wall thickness and 900 mm length, were cut from new carbon steel pipes with ASTM specification (SA-106). In each specimen a hole was drilled at its mid length to simulate the corrosion defect. The diameters of the holes were chosen as 10, 15, and 20 mm. The composite repair materials were fiber glass woven roving (type E) and polyester resin. Bolted steel clamps were used to clamp the composite repairs around the pipes at the defect holes to minimize the delamination effect and stop the leakage of water during the tests of the pipes. A special rig was designed to carry out pressurized tests on the repaired pipes. It was concluded that the maximum pressure obtained was 200 bar for the pipe with 10 mm defect hole. The microscopic examination showed that matrix cracking and delamination were the dominant failure mode in the most of failed pipes.
Effectiveness of Guidance and Counselling Programme in Enhancing Students Academic, Career and Personal Competencies. A Case of Secondary Schools in Nyamira District, Kenya

Guidance and counselling programme was first implemented in Nyamira District secondary schools after the banning of the cane in 2001. However, students in the district still lack academic, career and personal competencies as indicated by persistent poor academic performance, school disturbances and high drop-out rates. This may be attributed to ineffective school guidance and counselling programme among other factors. Thus this study purposed to determine the secondary school students, head teachers and teacher counsellors’ perceptions on the effectiveness of the guidance and counselling programme in enhancing students’ academic, career and personal competencies. The study utilized ex-post facto causal comparative design. The respondents of the study were 18 head teachers, 18 teacher counsellors and 302 students drawn from a population of 3752 form three students, 47 head teachers and 47 teacher counsellors. Random sampling method was used to select student respondents. Purposive sampling method was used to select the head teachers and teacher counsellors who participated in the study. Data for the study were collected using open and close ended questionnaires and interview schedules. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data. Means, frequencies and percentages were the descriptive statistics while one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was the inferential statistic used. The statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 115 was used to estimate the reliability. Reliability co-efficient of 0.87, 0.92 and 0.60 for students’ questionnaire (SQ), Teacher counsellors Questionnaire (TCQ) and Head Teachers Questionnaire (HTQ) were obtained respectively and were considered acceptable for the study. All the respondents who participated in the study perceived school guidance and counselling programme as effective in enhancing students academic, career and personal competencies. Education stake-holders and policy makers in education who include teacher counsellors, school managers, TSC personnel, Ministry of education officials and NGOs interested in education matters may use the results of this study to strengthen, improve and maintain the programme services. It was recommended that guidance and counselling programme be implemented and fully supported as a matter of priority in all secondary schools to equip all students with necessary academic, career and personal competencies. Keywords: Perception, effectiveness, guidance and counselling, competencies, Nyamira District.
Effect of in vitro manipulation of pH on magnesium solubility in ruminal and caecal digesta in sheep

Rumen and caecal digesta were collected, under anaesthetic, from eight sheep offered either hay, pelleted concentrate or pasture at the Johnston Memorial Laboratory, Lincoln University during 1991. Subsamples of digesta were incubated at 39°C for 1 h after adjustment of pH within the range 0·5–12 by the addition of H2SO4 or NaOH. The samples were centrifuged at 30000 g for 30 min and magnesium (Mg) concentration measured in the 30000 g supernatant fraction and in total digesta to assess Mg solubility. In rumen digesta, Mg solubility declined from 0·86 at pH 5 to 0·30 at pH 7 and differences in response between diets were small. Magnesium solubility in caecal digesta was generally higher than in ruminal digesta, and particularly at pH values >6. At pH 7 the difference was twofold. Moreover, differences were observed between diets in the rate of decline in solubility in caecal digesta with increasing pH. At pH 5, 0·90 of Mg from hay and concentrate diets was soluble compared with only 0·8 for pasture. At pH 7, Mg solubility in caecal digesta from hay and concentrate-fed animals was almost double that from pasture-fed animals (0·64 and 0·62 v. 0·36, respectively). The implications of the findings for Mg homoeostasis in ruminants are discussed.
Benefits of using a Trainer T4K ® myofunctional appliance after rapid palatal expansion: a prospective study on thirteen patients

The aim of this study was to observe the effects of treatment with a Trainer T4K® myofunc tional appliance of thirteen late mixed dentition patients. We conducted thorough clinical examinations that included assessment of breathing and swallowing capabilities and took profile cephalograms and study models for each one. We also selected a control group that had been treated only with palatal expansion so that we could distinguish the effects of myofunctional therapy from those of expansion. We observed significant mandibular growth (p group. Swallowing and breathing function also improved in these patients. The two groups had similar maxillary and mandibular expansion.So we conclude that use of a Trainer T4K® myofunctional appliance results in improved antero-postero dental relationships and an improvement in oral functioning.