Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cable parameter variation due to skin and proximity effects: Determination by means of Finite Element Analysis

Computational simulations involving problems of power quality, electromagnetic transients and electromagnetic compatibility, among others, require the application of time domain cable models appropriate for high-frequency studies, able to represent the cable parameter variation in relation to frequency. Most of the models that satisfy this condition require, to be elaborated, input data regarding the cable resistance and inductance for different frequencies. Since the measurement of such parameters is oftentimes not feasible, the possibility of their determination from analytical or computational methods is highly desirable. Routines of the type ¿cable-line constants¿, commonly featured in commercial simulators, are widely used for this purpose; nevertheless, they present limitations that lead to inaccuracy and restrictions in their applicability. In this context, a methodology for cable parameter determination, based on finite element analysis (FEA), is presented, which overcomes these problems and thus arises as a very attractive tool for cable/line modeling.
A new configuration of printed non-directive surface-wave sources for advanced beam control

An array of surface-wave launcher (SWL) sources is presented for surface-wave (SW) control and beam steering on a grounded dielectric slab (GDS). Specifically, a four element array configuration of non-directive SWLs is investigated. By varying the relative phase difference and magnitude between SWL elements, the excited SW field distribution on the guiding surface can be steered and controlled. Simulations and measurements of a single SWL element are provided along with simulations of the proposed array. If metallic gratings or strips, or additional dielectric layers are placed on top of the GDS, the bound SWs can be transformed into radiated leaky-waves (LWs) and directive beam patterns can be generated in the far field. Examples are provided illustrating that broadside beam steering and circular polarization can be achieved at a single frequency. These slotted SWL arrays can be useful for novel SW beam scanning designs and other LW or cavity based antennas.
Severe Disease, Unaltered Leukocyte Migration, and Reduced IFN-γ Production in CXCR3−/− Mice with Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis1

Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is a CD4+ Th1 T cell-mediated disease of the CNS, used to study certain aspects of multiple sclerosis. CXCR3, the receptor for CXCL10, CXCL9, and CXCL11, is preferentially expressed on activated Th1 T cells and has been proposed to govern the migration of lymphocytes into the inflamed CNS during multiple sclerosis and EAE. Unexpectedly, CXCL10-deficient mice were susceptible to EAE, leaving uncertain what the role of CXCR3 and its ligands might play in this disease model. In this study, we report that CXCR3−/− mice exhibit exaggerated severity of EAE compared with wild-type (CXCR3+/+) littermate mice. Surprisingly, there were neither quantitative nor qualitative differences in CNS-infiltrating leukocytes between CXCR3+/+ and CXCR3−/− mice with EAE. Despite these equivalent inflammatory infiltrates, CNS tissues from CXCR3−/− mice with EAE showed worsened blood-brain barrier disruption and more von Willebrand factor-immunoreactive vessels within inflamed spinal cords, as compared with CXCR3+/+ mice. Spinal cords of CXCR3−/− mice with EAE demonstrated decreased levels of IFN-γ, associated with reduced inducible NO synthase immunoreactivity, and lymph node T cells from CXCR3−/− mice primed with MOG35–55 secreted less IFN-γ in Ag-driven recall responses than cells from CXCR3+/+ animals. CXCR3−/− lymph node T cells also showed enhanced Ag-driven proliferation, which was reduced by addition of IFN-γ. Taken with prior findings, our data show that CXCL10 is the most relevant ligand for CXCR3 in EAE. CXCR3 does not govern leukocyte trafficking in EAE but modulates T cell IFN-γ production and downstream events that affect disease severity.
Who Must Pay Bribes and How Much

This Paper uses an unique data set on corruption containing quantitative information on estimated bribe payments of Ugandan firms. The data has two striking features: not all firms report they need to pay bribes; and there is considerable variation in reported graft across firms facing similar institutions/policies. To explain these patterns we construct a simple bargaining model. The model yields predictions on both the incidence and the level of graft. Consistent with the model we find that variation in policies/regulations (across industries) explain the incidence of corruption, while variation in profitability and technology choice explain the variation in bribes for the group of bribe paying firms. These findings suggest that public officials act as price (bribe) discriminators, and that prices of public services are endogenously determined in order to extract bribes.
Management Practices, Self-Selection into Management Training Participation, and Training Effects in the Garment Industry in Ethiopia

Many observational studies of micro and small enterprises have found that enterprise performance and education levels of entrepreneurs are positively associated. Does it follow that entrepreneurs’ management capacities depend on their academic achievements? This paper examines what types of entrepreneurs participated in a managerial training program held in Ethiopia, who benefited more from the program, and who had better management knowledge before the program. We find that highly educated entrepreneurs were more willing to learn about management, more knowledgeable about management, and gaining more from the training program, but that such simple relationships are missing among entrepreneurs operating larger enterprises.
Miniaturized Fractal Reflectarray Element Using Fixed-Size Patch

A Minkowski fractal-shaped patch is proposed for the design of a reduced-size reflectarray element. The intrinsic miniaturization capability of the fractal geometry is fully exploited by leaving unchanged the patch length, while using the fractal scaling factor to obtain a good reflectarray phase agility. The achieved size reduction effect allows to choose array grids with smaller interelement spacing, thus offering the opportunity to have wide-angle scanning capabilities. As validation test, a fractal-shaped X-band reflectarray element, embedded into a 0. 3λ×0. 3λ cell, is designed to give a high phase agility range, greater than 300°. Furthermore, the design and the experimental validation of a 15 ×15 reflectarray prototype are presented to prove the fixed-beam large angle pointing ability.
Evaluating Twitter Influence Ranking with System Theory

A considerable part of social network analysis literature is dedicated to determining which individuals are to be considered as influential in particular social settings. Most established algorithms, such as Freeman and KatzBonacich centrality metrics, place emphasis on various structural properties of the social graph. Although this makes centrality metrics generic enough to be applied in virtually any setting, they are oblivious to the functionality of the underlying social network. This paper examines five social influence metrics designed especially for Twitter and their implementation in a Java client retrieving network information from a Neo4j server. Additionally, a sceheme is proposed for evaluating the performance of an influence ranking based on estimating the exponent of a Zipf model fitted to the ranking score.
Independent regions of adenovirus E1A are required for binding to and dissociation of E2F-protein complexes

The transcription factor E2F is present in independent complexes with the product of the retinoblastoma susceptibility gene, pRB, and a related gene product, p107, in association with the cyclin A-cdk2 or the cyclin E-cdk2 kinase complex. pRB and p107 can negatively regulate E2F activity, since overexpression of pRB or p107 in cells lacking a functional pRB leads to the repression of E2F activity. The products of the adenovirus E1A gene can disrupt E2F complexes and result in free and presumably active E2F transcription factor. The regions of E1A required for this function are also essential for binding to a number of cellular proteins, including pRB and p107. Through the use of a number of glutathione S-transferase fusion proteins representing different regions of E1A, as well as in vivo expression of E1A proteins containing deletions of either conserved region 1 (CR1) or CR2, we find that CR2 of E1A can form stable complexes with E2F. E1A proteins containing both CR1 and CR2 also associate with E2F, although the presence of these proteins results in the release of free E2F from its complexes. In vitro reconstitution experiments indicate that E1A-E2F interactions are not direct and that pRB can serve to facilitate these interactions. Complexes containing E1A, p107, cyclin A, and E2F were identified in vivo, which indicates that E1A may associate with E2F through either p107 or pRB. Peptide competition experiments demonstrate that the pRB-binding domain of the human E2F-1 protein can compete with the CR1 but not CR2 domain of E1A for binding to pRB. These results indicate that E1A CR1 and E2F-1 may bind to the same or overlapping sites on pRB and that E1A CR2 binds to an independent region. On the basis of our results, we propose a two-step model for the release of E2F from pRB and p107 cellular proteins.
Nonparametric estimation of reference intervals by simple and bootstrap-based procedures.

In recent years, increasing interest has arisen in nonparametric estimation of reference intervals. The IFCC recommendation focuses on the nonparametric procedure, and the NCCLS guideline on reference interval estimation deals exclusively with the nonparametric approach (1)(2). The mentioned reports are based on the simple nonparametric approach, taking as a basis the sorted sample values. In addition to this basic approach, modern computer-based procedures have been introduced, which have made it possible to attain slightly increased precision for the nonparametric approach by applying resampling methods, weighted percentile estimation, or smoothing techniques (3)(4). In the present report, both the simple nonparametric reference interval estimation procedure and the resampling (bootstrap) principle were studied using simulations based on distribution types that should be relevant for clinical chemistry, i.e., gaussian and skewed distributions. According to the procedure recommended by the IFCC and NCCLS, the observations are ranked according to size, and the 2.5 and 97.5 percentiles are obtained as the 0.025 (n + 1) and 0.975 (n + 1) ordered observations (1)(2). If the estimated rank values are not integers, then linear interpolation is carried out. In the statistical literature, various modifications of the computation procedure have been considered (5)(6)(7). Here the traditional one used in clinical chemistry as outlined above (called method I) is compared with an alternative (called method II): p /100 × n + 0.5, where p indicates the percentile (6). For the 2.5 and 97.5 percentiles, method II yields the 0.025n + 0.5 and 0.975n + 0.5 ordered values, respectively. In the following, the above-mentioned calculation principles are referred to as “simple” procedures (IS or IIS) as opposed to “bootstrap” modifications described below (IB or IIB). The bootstrap principle consists of repeated random resampling of the original observations with replacement, which …
The Effects of Attribute Framing and Political Party Affiliation on Taxpayer Preferences

Understanding how tax reforms, tax agency initiatives, and taxpayer characteristics influence attitudes such as perceptions of tax fairness is an important issue for tax researchers, administrators, and policy makers. Public support for the tax system has serious implications for taxpayer compliance as well as for political support on tax-related proposals. This study examines whether attitudes toward the federal income tax system and the 2001 tax rebate vary by political party affiliation and by attribute frames. Using data from a randomized telephone survey we find that perceptions differ significantly by political party affiliation. In addition, our study extends prior research by showing that simply manipulating the perspective or frames of an attribute can significantly affect normative evaluations of tax law preferences. Specifically, we test attribute framing in a tax context and find that negative frames elicit significantly different preferences about the tax system compared to positive frames with essentially equivalent information.
Phase I Analysis of Individual Observations with Missing Data

The effect of the methods for handling missing values on the performance of Phase I multivariate control charts has not been investigated. In this paper, we discuss the effect of four imputation methods: mean substitution, regression, stochastic regression and the expectation maximization algorithm. Estimates of mean vector and variance covariance matrix from the treated data set are used to estimate the unknown parameters in the Hotelling's T2 chart statistic. Based on a Monte Carlo simulation study, the performance of each of the four methods is investigated in terms of its ability to obtain the nominal in‐control and out‐of‐control overall probability of a signal. We consider three sample sizes, five levels of the percentage of missing values and three types of variable numbers. Our simulation results show that the stochastic regression method has the best overall performance among all the competing methods. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Counting Device Selection and Reliability: Synthesis Study

Accuracy in traffic data detection is important for transportation operations and planning. Currently, inductive loop detectors are the most commonly used traffic counting devices in the field. New technologies are being developed to meet growing data counting and traffic surveillance needs. They include passive infrared, active infrared, passive magnetic, Doppler microwave, radar, passive acoustic, pulse and Doppler ultrasonic, and video image processor. However the relatively recent, but widespread, emergence of these technologies and the consequent sparseness in information on their performance characteristics preclude traffic agencies from making informed choices in the selection traffic counting devices. This study performs a comprehensive survey of the currently available traffic counting products in terms of functional capabilities, technological focus, performance characteristics, and user perspectives. It identifies the major selection criteria and ranks them in the order of importance based on user feedback from agencies in six U.S. states. A two-step filtering selection procedure is proposed to provide guidelines for traffic agencies to decide the type and make of devices that satisfy their data collection needs and the associated field environment.
Reductions of vascular endothelial growth factor and placental growth factor concentrations in severe preeclampsia.

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to determine whether plasma concentrations of vascular endothelial growth factor and placental growth factor are altered in women with severe preeclampsia. STUDY DESIGN We performed a case-control study to compare plasma concentrations of vascular endothelial growth factor and placental growth factor between women with severe preeclampsia and normotensive women admitted for delivery. Twenty-one women with severe preeclampsia were matched for gestational age and ethnicity with 21 normotensive women. Vascular endothelial growth factor and placental growth factor concentrations were measured with a specific antigen-capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS Women with severe preeclampsia demonstrated significantly lower plasma concentrations of both vascular endothelial growth factor (6.36 +/- 3.96 pg/mL vs 18.65 +/- 5.98 pg/mL; P <.0001) and placental growth factor (138 +/- 119 pg/mL vs 531 +/- 340 pg/mL; P <.0001) than did women with normotensive pregnancy. Logistic regression analysis showed an independent association between plasma vascular endothelial growth factor concentration and plasma placental growth factor concentration and preeclampsia. CONCLUSION Patients with severe preeclampsia had decreased maternal serum concentrations of both vascular endothelial growth factor and placental growth factor.
A novel nested polymerase chain reaction assay targeting Plasmodium mitochondrial DNA in field‐collected Anopheles mosquitoes

Sensitive techniques for the detection of Plasmodium (Aconoidasida: Plasmodiidae) sporozoites in field‐collected malaria vectors are essential for the correct assessment of risk for malaria transmission. A real‐time polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) protocol targeting Plasmodium mtDNA proved to be much more sensitive in detecting sporozoites in mosquitoes than the widely used enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay targeting Plasmodium circumsporozoite protein (CSP‐ELISA). However, because of the relatively high costs associated with equipment and reagents, RT‐PCRs are mostly used to assess the outcomes of experimental infections in the frame of research experiments, rather than in routine monitoring of mosquito infection in the field. The present authors developed a novel mtDNA‐based nested PCR protocol, modified from a loop‐mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay for Plasmodium recognition in human blood samples, and compared its performance with that of routinely used CSP‐ELISAs in field‐collected Anopheles coluzzii (Diptera: Culicidae) samples. The nested PCR showed 1.4‐fold higher sensitivity than the CSP‐ELISA. However, nested PCR results obtained in two laboratories and in different replicates within the same laboratory were not 100% consistent, probably because the copy number of amplifiable Plasmodium mtDNA was close in some specimens to the threshold of nested PCR sensitivity. This implies that Plasmodium‐positive specimens should be confirmed by a second nested PCR to avoid false positives. Overall, the results emphasize the need to use molecular approaches to obtain accurate estimates of the actual level of Plasmodium circulation within malaria vector populations.
Cognitive Divergence Among Entrepreneurship National Experts: Analysis of Gem Data 2000-2003

This paper presents new empirical evidence on the existence of cognitive divergence among actors in the entrepreneurial ecosystem. These cognitive disjoints among the actors were examined on the 9 entrepreneurial framework conditions (hereinafter referred to as EFCs), which were developed in the GEM (Global Entrepreneurship Monitor) study. The EFCs, which consist of factors such as financial support, government policies, government programmes, education and training, research and development transfer, internal market openness, access to physical infrastructure and culture and social norms are postulated to facilitate the development of new firms and/or the growth of nascent firms. Past studies, which were based on institutional and social perception theories have examined the existence of perception differences among distinct individuals, groups or clusters, but little is known about the cognitive disjoints among the key players/actors in the entrepreneurial economy. This void in the literature leaves open many questions. Are there significant differences in perception among the key actors of entrepreneurship on the entrepreneurial framework conditions? If there are, in what areas do these perceptions converge and diverge? What are the implications of cognitive divergence among these actors? The actors were selected based on 4 distinct groups: policy makers, entrepreneurs, investors, and venture support professionals.
Differential Expression of the Pea Symbiotic Plasmid pJB5JI in Genetically Dissimilar Backgrounds

The Rhizobium leguminosarum host -range (Sym) plasmid, pJB5JI, is a 130 Mdal conjugative plasmid which carries the genes for host-specificity (i.e., for peas) and some of the genes for nitrogen-fixation. We hav e trans ferred plasmid pJB5JI into different species of Rhizobium and examined the symbiotic properties of the resulting transconjugants. The donor strain R. leguminosarum 6015 (pJB5JI), was only moderately effective on peas. Transconjugants of a Nod - mutant of R. trifolii, #2, became highly effective on peas, but did not regain their ability to nodulate clover. Transconjugants of a Nod + strain of R. trifolii, 0403, could nodulate peas, but only ineffectively, and retained the ability to nodulate clover effectively. All reisolates of #2 transconjugants from pea nodules had gained the ability to form ineffective nodules on clover. Reisolates of 0403 transconjugants from both clover and pea nodules exhibited three different symbiotic phenotypes: They could nodulate (1) both peas and clover effectively; (2) clover effectively but peas ineffectively; or (3) only clover effectively. Transconjugants made with a fastgrowing soybean- Rhizobium were unable to nodulate peas, but retained the ability to nodulate soyb eans. The presence of the plasmid in these transconjugants was ascertained by backcrossing to a Nod - of R. leguminosarum.In all of the studies, the identity of the donors, the recipients and the transconjugants were confirmed by their antibiotic and auxotrophic markers, as well as by immunofluorescence and immunodiffusion using strain specific antisera. In this study, we have shown that plasmid pJB5JI is readily transferable to differ ent species of Rhizobium. However, its symbiotic expression varies de pending on the genetic background it resides in.
Fear Extinction Induces mGluR5-Mediated Synaptic and Intrinsic Plasticity in Infralimbic Neurons

Studies suggest that plasticity in the infralimbic prefrontal cortex (IL) in rodents and its homolog in humans is necessary for inhibition of fear during the recall of fear extinction. The recall of extinction is impaired by locally blocking metabotropic glutamate receptor type 5 (mGluR5) activation in IL during extinction training. This finding suggests that mGluR5 stimulation may lead to IL plasticity needed for fear extinction. To test this hypothesis, we recorded AMPA and NMDA currents, AMPA receptor (AMPAR) rectification, and intrinsic excitability in IL pyramidal neurons in slices from trained rats using whole-cell patch-clamp recording. We observed that fear extinction increases the AMPA/NMDA ratio, consistent with insertion of AMPARs into IL synapses. In addition, extinction training increased inward rectification, suggesting that extinction induces the insertion of calcium-permeable (GluA2-lacking) AMPARs into IL synapses. Consistent with this, selectively blocking calcium-permeable AMPARs with Naspm reduced the AMPA EPSCs in IL neurons to a larger degree after extinction. Extinction-induced changes in AMPA/NMDA ratio, rectification, and intrinsic excitability were blocked with an mGluR5 antagonist. These findings suggest that mGluR5 activation leads to consolidation of fear extinction by regulating the intrinsic excitability of IL neurons and modifying the composition of AMPARs in IL synapses. Therefore, impaired mGluR5 activity in IL synapses could be one factor that causes inappropriate modulation of fear expression leading to anxiety disorders.