Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Mediate and Regulate Leukocyte Functions Protein-Coupled Receptor Kinases To CXCR2 Couple to Distinct G The Chemokine Receptors CXCR1 and

The chemokine receptors, CXCR1 and CXCR2, couple to G a i to induce leukocyte recruitment and activation at sites of inﬂammation. Upon activation by CXCL8, these receptors become phosphorylated, desensitized, and internalized. In this study, we investigated the role of different G protein-coupled receptor kinases (GRKs) in CXCR1- and CXCR2-mediated cellular functions. To that end, short hairpin RNA was used to inhibit GRK2, 3, 5, and 6 in RBL-2H3 cells stably expressing CXCR1 or CXCR2, and CXCL8-mediated receptor activation and regulation were assessed. Inhibition of GRK2 and GRK6 increased CXCR1 and CXCR2 resistance to phosphorylation, desensitization, and internalization, respectively, and enhanced CXCL8-induced phosphoinositide hydrolysis and exocytosis in vitro. GRK2 depletion diminished CXCR1-induced ERK1/2 phosphorylation but had no effect on CXCR2-induced ERK1/2 phosphorylation. GRK6 depletion had no signiﬁcant effect on CXCR1 function. However, peritoneal neutrophils from mice deﬁcient in GRK6 (GRK6 2 / 2 ) displayed an increase in CXCR2-mediated G protein activation but in vitro exhibited a decrease in chemotaxis, receptor desensitization, and internalization relative to wild-type (GRK6 +/+ ) cells. In contrast, neutrophil recruitment in vivo in GRK6 2 / 2 mice was increased in response to delivery of CXCL1 through the air pouch model. In a wound-closure assay, GRK6 2 / 2 mice showed enhanced myeloperoxidase activity, suggesting enhanced neutrophil recruitment, and faster wound closure compared with GRK6 +/+ animals. Taken together, the results indicate that CXCR1 and CXCR2 couple to distinct GRK isoforms to mediate and regulate inﬂammatory responses. CXCR1 predominantly couples to GRK2, whereas CXCR2 interacts with GRK6 to negatively regulate receptor sensitization and trafﬁcking, thus affecting cell signaling and angiogenesis. The Journal of Immunology , 2012, 189: 000–000.
Smarter, greener, more inclusive? Indicators to support the Europe 2020 strategy - 2017 edition

The 2017 edition of 'Smarter, greener, more inclusive? - Indicators to support the Europe 2020 strategy' continues the series of Eurostat flagship publications supporting the Europe 2020 strategy by monitoring progress towards the targets and goals defined under the three mutually reinforcing priorities of smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. The analysis is based on the Europe 2020 headline indicators chosen to monitor progress towards the strategy's targets. Other indicators focusing on specific subgroups of society or on related contextual issues are also used to deepen the analysis and present a broader picture. The data used mainly come from official statistics produced by the European Statistical System and disseminated by Eurostat. It covers the period from 2002 or 2008 up to the most recent year for which data are available (2015 or 2016).
Comparison of Health and Safety Executive and Cumbrian birth cohort studies of risk of leukaemia/non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in relation to paternal preconceptional irradiation

In 1993, a case-control study by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) assessed the risk of leukaemia and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (LNHL) among children of fathers employed at the Sellafield nuclear installation in relation to paternal preconceptional irradiation (PPI). It concluded that the statistical association between risk of LNHL and PPI was confined to children born in the village of Seascale, where the dose-response was extremely high and very significant. In contrast, in 2002, a Cumbrian birth cohort study, investigating largely the same cases, concluded that this statistical association was not significantly different among children born inside and outside Seascale and estimated the dose-response inside Seascale to be much lower. This review makes a detailed comparison of the two studies, considering their design, data and analyses. The differences between their findings are due to: (i) differences in the distribution of offspring-years which are differential with respect to dose category and Seascale birth status, (ii) a non-Seascale high-dose case included in the Cumbrian but not the HSE study, (iii) differences between analyses using categorical and continuous PPI dose and (iv) the presence of Seascale controls with PPI over 200 mSv in the Cumbrian but not the HSE study.
On the `Mandelbrot set' for a pair of linear maps and complex Bernoulli convolutions

We consider the family of self-similar sets Aλ, attractors of the iterated function system {ℂ; λz−1, λz+1}, depending on a parameter λ in the open unit disc. First we study the set ℳ of those λ for which Aλ is connected. We show that a non-trivial portion of ℳ near the imaginary axis is the closure of its interior (it is conjectured that ℳ∖ℝ is contained in the closure of its interior). Next we turn to the sets Aλ themselves and natural measures νλ supported on them. These measures are the complex analogues of much-studied infinite Bernoulli convolutions. Extending the results of Erdös and Garsia, we demonstrate how certain classes of complex algebraic integers give rise to singular and absolutely continuous measures νλ. Next we investigate the Hausdorff dimension and measure of Aλ, for Lebesgue-a.e. λ∊ℳ, and obtain partial results on the absolute continuity of νλ, for a.e. λ with |λ|>1/(2)1/2.
Nonlinear vibration energy harvesters for powering the internet of things

The ever decreasing power consumption in electronic devices and sensors have facilitated the development of autonomous wireless sensor nodes (WSNs), which ushered in the era of the Internet of Things (IoT). However, the problem of long-term power supply to the numerous WSNs pervasively dispersed to enable the IoT is yet to be resolved. This work focuses on the development of novel vibration energy harvesting (VEH) devices and technologies for effective transduction of mostly wide-band and noisy ambient mechanical vibrations to power WSNs. In this thesis meso-scale and MEMS-scale nonlinear and frequency tunable VEH devices have been designed, fabricated and characterized. The first meso-scale VEH prototype developed in this thesis combines a nonlinear bistable oscillator with mechanical impact induced nonlinearity, which exhibits upto 118% broadening in the frequency response over a standalone bistable system. The second meso-scale prototype combines magnetic repulsion induced bistable nonlinearity with stretching induced monostable cubic nonlinearity in a single device structure. The device effectively merged the beneficial features of the individual nonlinear bistable and monostable systems, and demonstrates upto 85% enhanced spectral performance compared to the bistable device. The third prototype is a MEMS-scale device fabricated using spiral silicon spring structure and double-layer planar micro-coils. A magnetic repulsion induced frequency tuning mechanism was incorporated in the prototype, and it was demonstrated that both linear and nonlinear hysteretic frequency responses could be tuned (by upto 18.6%) to match various ambient vibration frequencies. In order to enhance the power generating capability of MEMS-scale electromagnetic devices, an ultra-dense multi-layer microcoil architecture has been developed. The proposed ultra-dense micro-coil is designed to incorporate double number of turns within the same volume as a conventional microcoil, and significantly enhance the magnetic flux linkage gradient resulting in higher power output (~4 times). However, attempts to fabricate the ultra-dense coil have not been successful due to lack of proper insulation between the successive coil layers. Finally, a power management system combining diode equivalent low voltage drop (DELVD) circuit and a boost regulator module was developed. It was demonstrated that energy harvested from harmonic and bandlimited random vibrations using linear, nonlinear bistable, and combined nonlinear VEH devices could be conditioned into usable electricity by the power management system with 60% 75% efficiency. In addition to developing new prototypes and techniques, this thesis recommends directions towards future research for further improvement in vibration energy harvesting devices and technologies.
Excitation, dynamics and dephasing in quantum dots

This paper concerns the femtosecond dynamical relaxation of excited states in quantum dots or clusters. The clusters are typically polar, consisting of 150-200 atoms, and are of interest for potential photonic devices. Our work identifies certain novel effects, `dynamic dilation' and `ringing', associated with excited states of non-metallic dots of this size. Dynamic dilation occurs for dots at constant pressure, rather than constant volume. Dilation induces a modest but significant energy shift on a picosecond timescale, slower than the characteristic vibrational period of the configuration coordinate. The magnitude of the shift is clearly size dependent, tending to zero in the limit of a bulk system. This shift can be equivalent to dephasing, and may explain one component of dephasing already experimentally observed. Such dephasing may also affect the usefulness of dots in ultrafast optical switching. The second novel effect associated with the clusters is the relatively long-lived vibrational excitation of the dot leading to `ringing'. This is strongly sensitive to the acoustic mismatch with the environment. Neither `dynamic dilation' nor `ringing' are especially sensitive to the composition of the dots, or to whether the excited states correspond closely to bulk excitons or to defect states, and hence need to be taken into account in the excitation of quantum dots.
Cost optimization for the 100% renewable electricity scenario for the Java-Bali grid

A 100% renewable electricity supply is no insurmountable technical problem anymore after the respective technologies to harvest the energy from multiple renewable energy sources have been developed and have reached a high level of maturity. A problem may rather be suspected to reside on the economic side of an exclusively renewable electricity supply. The present study examines the economic implications of a renewable energy scenario for the Java-Bali grid. Based on given energy supply scenarios, the costs of an electricity supply from renewable energy sources alone are determined. Economic optimum configurations are determined for which the annual system costs and accordingly the power generation costs are minimized. First the system running costs are considered, i.e. the operation and maintenance costs as well as the costs of the continuous renovation of system components, while capital costs are not taken into account. After this the capital costs are taken into consideration, and total system costs and power generation costs are determined. The main result is a specification of economic optimum system configurations. One important result is that a future electricity supply from renewable resources alone is not more expensive than the current power generation in developed countries. Another result is that the integration of special long-term storage into the Java-Bali grid, like for instance methane storages, besides pumped storages and batteries, is not economically favourable if further moderate battery cost reductions are reached.Article History: Received May 18th 2018; Received in revised form August 16th 2018; Accepted October 1st 2018; Available onlineHow to Cite This Article: Günther, M. , Eichinger, M. , (2018) Cost Optimization for the 100% Renewable Electricity Scenario for the Java-Bali Grid, International Journal of Renewable Energi Development, 7(3), 269-276.https://doi.org/10.14710/ijred.7. 3.269-276
Modelling, design and experimental implementation of non-linear attitude tracking with disturbance compensation using adaptive-sliding control based on quaternion algebra

ABSTRACT In this paper, a non-linear tracking control algorithm is extended. The control objective of this research is to track a desired time-varying attitude of a satellite in the presence of inertia uncertainties and external disturbances, in order to be more suitable for implementation in a real-world application. In this investigation, the actuators are reaction wheels and the actuator dynamics are modelled in addition to the spacecraft dynamics. Thus, the control signal is DC motor voltage which is the most fundamental control variable and can be generated easily by a motor driver in practical cases. To achieve robust tracking of the desired time-varying attitude, a sliding mode controller is designed, and adaptive techniques are developed based on sliding mode control to overcome the inertia uncertainties and to estimate and compensate external disturbances. The kinematic equations of the satellite are expressed using quaternion parameters, and a novel control law will be derived by using a new facilitating approach in controller design, which is based on quaternion algebra, because of quaternion advantages, such as singularity rejection. Using this approach it will be more comfortable to deal with tedious mathematical operations, and on contrary with most of the previous studies, the terms corresponding to derivatives of the desired attitude are not neglected, and tracking capability is retained. The global stability of both methods (Sliding Mode Control (SMC) and adaptive sliding) is investigated using Lyapunov’s stability theorem. In order to validate the control methods, first, Simulink-ADAMS co-simulation of a 3-DOF attitude control is used to verify the algorithm performance and integrity, and finally, the control strategy is implemented on the Amirkabir University of Technology (AUT) 3-DOF attitude simulator for different types of non-linear attitudes. Both co-simulation and implementation results clearly illustrate the designed attitude control algorithm’s excellent performance in the various manoeuvres.
Internal Controls in Fraud Prevention Effort: A Case Study

This study is aimed at investigating how far the internal controls are able to prevent fraud in financing administration at an Islamic Bank in Medan, Indonesia. The method applied in this study was a case study method. The operational definition used in this study was COSO framework. The data were collected through observations and semi-structured interviews. The results of the study show that some weaknesses of the internal controls have been identified as one of the factors of fraud. Poor internal controls lead to fraud. The management of the b ank still employs one official to the same officials to conduct various financing activities. It leads to fraud because the activities are lack of supervisions. This study is focused on one company, so the findings may not be generalized to other companies. It is because of the different types of business, working environment, and practices. It is expected that the future study is able to enlarge the number of samples or companies. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui sejauh mana pengendalian internal yang dimiliki mampu mencegah fraud yang terjadi dalam penyediaan kegiatan pembiayaan pada bank pembiayaan syariah di Medan, Indonesia. Metode penelitian yang digunakan adalah metode studi kasus, definisi operasional dalam penelitian ini adalah kerangka kerja COSO. Teknik pengumpulan data menggunakan teknik observasi dan wawancara di bank pembiayaan syariah di Medan, Indonesia. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa beberapa kelemahan pengendalian internal telah diidentifikasi dapat mengakibatkan terjadinya kegiatan fraud. Pengendalian internal yang buruk memberikan peluang terjadinya fraud. Manajemen bank masih memberdayakan beberapa fungsi terkait yang menjalankan kegiatan pembiayaan dimana masih ada pekerjaan yang dilakukan oleh satu pejabat wewenang yang mengurusi berbagai kegiatan pembiayaan, sehingga kegiatan dari pembiayaan tersebut tidak dapat berjalan secara maksimal dan rentan terhadap aktivitas fraud. Keterbatasan penelitian ini hanya berfokus pada satu perusahaan saja, temuan tersebut mungkin tidak digeneralisasikan ke perusahaan lain, karena sifat bisnis, lingkungan kerja, dan praktiknya berbeda. Penelitian di masa yang akan datang diharapkan dapat memperbesar jumlah sampel atau perusahaan.
NETWORK AND SOCIAL SUPPORT IN CHILDREN WITH CHRONIC DISEASES: UNDERSTANDING THE CHILD'S PERCEPTION

Objetivo identificar a rede e o apoio social na percepcao da crianca com doenca cronica. Metodo pesquisa qualitativa, realizada entre novembro de 2012 e junho de 2013, em um hospital publico da Paraiba (Brasil), com oito criancas com diagnostico de doenca cronica. Utilizou-se uma adaptacao do procedimento de desenho-estoria com tema. Os dados foram interpretados por meio da analise tematica. Resultados em alguns momentos da vida, a crianca recebe diferentes tipos de apoio, que sao oferecidos por vinculos fortalecidos que compoem sua rede social. Entretanto, nem sempre, essa rede se mostrou fortalecida e capaz de oferecer o apoio necessario ao enfrentamento adequado da doenca. Conclusao os profissionais da saude precisam direcionar seu olhar para a crianca, ouvindo-a em suas singularidades e ajudando a identificar elos em sua rede social, que possam lhe fornecer o apoio de que precisam para enfrentar a doenca cronica
Orientation of elastic rods in homogeneous Stokes flow

Using hydrodynamic simulation methods and scaling arguments, we consider an elastic rod which is moving in a gravitational or electric field through a quiescent fluid in the low-Reynolds-number limit. Hydrodynamic effects lead to rod bending and orientation perpendicular to the direction of motion, similar to what is seen in anomalous electric birefringence experiments on TM and FD viruses or polyelectrolytes. Static and dynamic scaling relations for the mean orientation as a function of rod length and elasticity are established.
Properties of GaN and related compounds studied by means of Raman scattering

In the last decade, we have seen very rapid and significant developments in Raman scattering experiments on GaN and related nitride compounds: the Γ-point phonon frequencies have been identified for both cubic and hexagonal structures of binary compounds of GaN, AlN, and InN. The phonon spectra of their ternary alloys, InGaN and AlGaN, were also intensively studied. On the basis of these studies, characterizations of strain, compositional fluctuation, defects, impurities, etc, are now being intensively conducted. Besides such pure lattice properties, coupled modes between a lattice vibration (LO phonon) and a collective excitation of free carriers (plasmon) in GaN have been thoroughly studied, and the results are now widely applied to characterize carrier-transport properties. Low-dimensional structures of nitrides such as quantum dots and superlattices will soon enter the most active field of Raman scattering characterization. This article briefly reviews the present status of Raman scattering experiments on GaN and related nitride compounds and presents some future prospects.
Optical and electrical diagnostics of a non-equilibrium air plasma

An AC-driven, non-equilibrium, atmospheric pressure air plasma is generated within the gap separating a disc-shaped metal electrode and a water electrode. The typical OH emission intensity distribution is recorded by high-speed CCD camera. The temporal emission behaviour of OH(A–X) shows that the OH emission intensity stays relatively constant during most of the current cycle but decreases abruptly when the current is close to zero. The N2 rotational and vibrational temperatures are obtained by comparison of the simulated spectra of C 3Π u–B 3Πg (Δv = −2) band transition of nitrogen with the experimental results. They are about 1800 K and 2600 K, respectively. The electron density in the plasma is measured utilizing the electrical conductivity. It is found to be 7 × 1012 cm−3 in the centre of the discharge during the peak current of Ipeak = 40 mA. The electron density follows a Gaussian radial distribution with a typical width of 0.35 mm.
First photon detection in time-resolved transillumination imaging: a theoretical evaluation

First photon detection, as a special case of time-resolved transillumination imaging, is studied through the derivation of the temporal probability density function (pdf) for the first arriving photon. The pdf for different laser intensities, media and second and later arriving photons were generated. The arrival time of the first detected photon reduced as the laser power increased and also when the scattering and absorption coefficients decreased. The pdf for an imbedded totally absorbing 3 mm inhomogeneity may be distinguished from the pdf of a homogeneous turbid medium similar to that of human breast in dimensions and optical properties.
A New Approach to Conservation: A Critical Analysis of DOC’s Commercial Partnership Strategy

The complex range of challenges facing the environment has prompted the conservation movement to evolve and incorporate new concepts, attitudes and strategies. A prominent approach that has attracted scholarly attention is the appeal for broader societal involvement and an increased human-focus for the conservation movement. This new approach is particularly notable for the inclusion of private business in conservation strategies. Subsequently, these strategies have prompted criticism of their links to neoliberal ideology and the encouragement of consumption-based measures. Conservation in Aotearoa New Zealand has followed this strategy of business involvement, represented by the Department of Conservation’s (DOC) commercial partnerships. The deliberate use of large businesses is used to access external resources and expertise alongside exposure to their respective customer bases. However, the criticisms of neoliberal ideology, matched by the national significance of the conservation estate and its relationship with the New Zealand public has created numerous challenges and considerations for DOC to navigate. To acknowledge the different attitudes and relationships that people have to the environment and conservation, a constructivist approach was used to examine the implementation of DOC’s partnership strategy. A case study consisting of seven interviews with representatives from DOC, environmental NGOs and the businesses involved in the partnerships was carried out. The data revealed three central themes; initially, of the need for a wider approach to conservation, followed by the intrusion and influence of neoliberal ideology into the domain, and the presentation of win-win strategies. This research provides a critical analysis of DOC’s recent shift in strategy and the implications of it on future strategies.
A laboratory characterization of soils and clay-bearing rocks using the Enslin-Neff water-adsorption test

The application of the Enslin-Neff water-adsorption test for the determination of soil-index properties has been investigated on commercially available reference minerals and on real soils. The Enslin-Neff test is a simple and reliable laboratory method, which can provide important information about the behavior of soils, clay-bearing rocks and aggregate fines that are in contact with water. Although the test has been frequently used for bentonite testing, practically no results have been published about the physical meaning of the Enslin-Neff water-adsorption values for real soils. The results of this study indicate that the Enslin-Neff water-adsorption test can be used to obtain accurate values of some soil-index properties, such as the liquid limit, the plasticity index, the methylene-blue value, and the soil-water characteristic curve.