Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
All-Silica Hollow-Core Microstructured Bragg Fibers for Biosensor Application

The possibility to exploit all-silica hollow-core microstructured Bragg fibers to realize a biosensor useful to detect the DNA hybridization process has been investigated. A Bragg fiber recently fabricated has been considered for the analysis performed by means of a full-vector modal solver based on the finite-element method. Since the DNA molecules necessary for the biosensor realization are in aqueous solution, it has been taken into account a microstructured fiber with water-filled holes. The dispersion curve and the confinement loss spectrum have been calculated in order to understand how a biofilm layer on the inner surface of the fiber holes can modify the fundamental mode properties. The numerical analysis results have successfully demonstrated the DNA bio-sensor feasibility in hollow-core Bragg fibers.
Business Modeling With UML: Business Patterns at Work

From the Publisher: Eriksson and Magnus Penker now provide guidance on how to use UML to model your business systems. In this book, key business modeling concepts are presented, including how to define Business Rules with UML's Object Constraint Language (OCL) and how to use business models with use cases. The authors then provide 26 valuable Business Patterns along with an e-business case study that utilizes the techniques and patterns discussed in the book.
FreeSculptor: a computer-aided freeform design environment

This paper proposes an interactive freeform design modeling system, named FreeSculptor, which comprises 2D (two-dimensional) constraint-based sketching, advanced 3D (three-dimensional) modeling and haptic force-feedback devices. FreeSculptor adopts energy-based deformable modeling, which allows users to sculpt 3D virtual objects interactively. We investigate interaction metaphors for promoting creativity during the design phase.
Internal forces of chronic running injury sites.

A model of the lower extremity was created and analyzed to estimate the magnitude of the loads at common injury sites during running and the proportions due to muscle and ground reaction forces. The range of peak loads, normalized to subject body weight (BW), estimated from five running trials were: (1) Achilles tendon force: 6.1-8.2 BW; (2) ankle bone-on-bone--compressive force: 10.3-14.1 BW; shear force: -0.4- -0.7 BW; (3) lower leg--compressive force: 10.3-14.1 BW; shear force: -0.4- -0.7 BW; bending moment: -85- -117 N.m; (4) patellar tendon force: 4.7-6.9 BW; (5) patello-femoral joint compressive force: 7.0-11.1 BW; (6) plantar fascia force: 1.3-2.9 BW. All peak loads were associated with mid-stance and push-off when muscle activity was maximal. The impact force at heel contact was estimated to have no effect on the peak force seen at the chronic injury sites. The plantarflexor muscles were shown to provide an anti-shear mechanism at the ankle and an anti-shear, anti-bending mechanism within the lower leg. Simple sensitivity analyses were performed on the models to display possible variability in the peak load estimates.
Phytosterol supplementation does not affect plasma antioxidant capacity in patients with metabolic syndrome

Several studies have observed decreased levels of lipophilic antioxidants after supplementation with phytosterols and stanols. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of phytosterol supplementation on plasma total antioxidant capacity in patients with metabolic syndrome. In a parallel arm, randomized placebo-controlled design, 108 patients with metabolic syndrome were assigned to consume yogurt beverage which provided 4 g of phytosterols per day or yogurt beverage without phytosterols. The duration of the study was 2 months and the patients in both groups followed their habitual westernized type diet. Blood samples were drawn at baseline and after 2 months, and the total antioxidant capacity of plasma was measured using the ferric reducing antioxidant power of plasma and oxygen radical absorbance capacity assays. After 2 months of intervention, plasma total antioxidant capacity did not differ between and within the intervention and the control groups. Phytosterol supplementation does not affect plasma antioxidant status.
Is Bitcoin a Real Currency? An Economic Appraisal

A bona fide currency functions as a medium of exchange, a store of value, and a unit of account, but bitcoin largely fails to satisfy these criteria. Bitcoin has achieved only scant consumer transaction volume, with an average well below one daily transaction for the few merchants who accept it. Its volatility is greatly higher than the volatilities of widely used currencies, imposing large short-term risk upon users. Bitcoin's daily exchange rates exhibit virtually zero correlation with widely used currencies and with gold, making bitcoin useless for risk management and exceedingly difficult for its owners to hedge. Bitcoin prices of consumer goods require many decimal places with leading zeros, which is disconcerting to retail market participants. Bitcoin faces daily hacking and theft risks, lacks access to a banking system with deposit insurance, and it is not used to denominate consumer credit or loan contracts. Bitcoin appears to behave more like a speculative investment than a currency.
Design of Multibeam Dielectric Lens Antennas by Multiobjective Optimization

We propose an effective method for designing multibeam dielectric lens antennas. A genetic algorithm (GA) with multiobjective optimization is adopted to balance gain against sidelobe level. The lens shapes and the position of each feed are associated with chromosomes. The gain and sidelobe level are evaluated by a Pareto ranking method. The method yields the distribution of the objective function values and the corresponding antenna structures.
Comparison of Double Inversion Recovery and Conventional Magnetic Resonance Brain Imaging in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis and Relations with Disease Disability

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system, predominantly affecting the white matter, but also the grey matter. Aim of this study was to detect MS lesions with double inversion recovery (DIR), fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) and T2-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) techniques and determine the sensitivity of these techniques, and the correlation between the number of lesions and expanded disability state scale (EDSS) scores. Thirty-four patients with MS (20 females and 14 males) were included in this study. DIR and conventional MR (T2-A, FLAIR) sequences were obtained. Lesions were counted and classified as belonging to one of seven anatomical regions: cortical, juxtacortical, deep grey matter, deep white matter, mixed white matter-grey matter, periventricular white matter and infratentorial. The correlation between lesion number and EDSS scores was investigated. DIR images showed more intracortical and mixed white matter-grey matter lesions in comparison with both FLAIR and T2 sequences (p=0, p=0 respectively). There was a significant difference between mean lesion numbers at the juxtacortical region, obtained with DIR and T2-weighted images (p = 0.002). The total number of lesions obtained with all methods was similar. DIR brain imaging had the highest sensitivity in the detection of cortical and mixed white matter - grey matter lesions, compared with FLAIR and T2 sequences. In addition, the lesions obtained with DIR images were more easily visualized.
Default Risk, Size and the Business Cycle: Three Decades of Australian Asset Pricing Evidence

We revisit the role of default risk in asset pricing. The detail of our dataset allows us to undertake this analysis on a previously ignored segment of the market - microcap stocks, allegedly vulnerable to default risk. The cross-equation restrictions in our baseline models are rejected, but the risk premia are positive and statistically significant. When we allow for intertemporal risk premia, our findings remain significant. We also find that the estimated default premium increases over time. When we condition on the business cycle, we find that the default risk premium is twice as high during expansions than during contractions.
Organizational architecture and pro-social behavior : Three essays

Social motivations and double-sided information asymmetry are present in many accounting contexts. This thesis recognizes that managers can have social motivations and there can be double-sided information asymmetry between managers and employees, and will illustrate that accounting choices and decisions by principals, and accounting solutions by organizations, may look different and may have to be revised when considering social motivations and double-sided information asymmetry. Chapter 2 examines the effect of delegating decision rights about cost reduction in capital budgeting and the type of compensation contracts on the managers’ misrepresentation of private information. Results show that the delegation of decision rights produces an important responsibility effect that makes managers care about the superiors’ interest. The responsibility effect materializes when managers receive a fixed wage contract without truth telling incentives, but fails to materialize when managers receive a contract with the incentives. The findings suggest that firms may be better off by combining delegation with a fixed wage contract in settings where social motivations are important. Chapter 3 examines how a principal’s choice of a truth-telling incentive contract affects the honesty of their agents’ cost reporting in a setting where principals may have information about social norms unknown to agents. Results show that the principal’s choice of incentives produces besides an incentive effect a negative information leakage effect. This choice leaks information of a selfish social norm. Agents conform to this social norm by misrepresenting cost information more. The results suggest that managers must recognize that their decisions can leak information, which may produce unanticipated consequences for the social norms at play in the organization. Chapter 4 studies the effect of an open policy (revealing the manager behavior openly to employees) and granting managers discretion over rewarding employees on managers’ propensity to behave well towards the organization. Results show that managers are more likely to behave well towards the organization under the open policy compared to the closed policy (employees cannot observe the manager behavior). The effect of the open policy on controlling managers is larger when managers have discretion over rewarding employees than when they do not have the discretion.
The iron phosphate CaFe3(PO4)3O

A new iron phosphate, calcium triiron(III) tris(phosphate) oxide, CaFe3(PO4)3O, has been isolated and shown to exhibit a three-dimensional structure built by FeO6 octahedra, FeO5 trigonal bipyramids and PO4 tetrahedra. The FeOx (x = 5, 6) polyhedra are linked through common corners and edges, forming [Fe6O28]∞ chains with branches running along [010]. Adjacent chains are connected by the phosphate groups via common corners and edges, giving rise to a three-dimensional framework analogous to those of the previously reported SrFe3(PO4)3O and Bi0.4Fe3(PO4)3O structures, in which the Ca2+ cations occupy a single symmetry non-equivalent cavity.
Kosterlitz-Thouless transition in a dilute Bose gas.

We study the two-dimensional dilute Bose gas using the ladder or T-matrix approximation, which is valid if ln(1/na2)≫1, and show that this approximation can describe also the critical region of the Kosterlitz-Thouless transition accurately. In particular, we consider the superfluid properties of the gas and find that the superfluid density shows the square-root cusp together with the universal jump at the critical temperature. The theory is applied to spin-polarized atomic hydrogen adsorbed on a superfluid helium film, since this appears to be one of the most promising experimental setups to achieve the Kosterlitz-Thouless transition in a weakly interacting Bose gas.
Service continuity for audio visual service

This paper presents a monitoring and handover mechanism which aims to minimize audio visual (AV) service disruption. Service discovery technology like UPnP has limited and inflexible fault tolerance feature. Our proposed monitoring and handover mechanism enhances the functionality of UPnP eventing. It consists of a Fault Analyzing Manager which proactively monitors changes of subscribed events and determines the possible occurrence of service failure. Compared with other existing service continuity architectures, our proposed architecture is able to perform autonomous recovery action based on action list and move away from single point of failure problem. Furthermore, it offers adaptive and proactive fault detection.
Conjugation of poly(amidoamine) dendrimers with various acrylates for improved delivery of plasmid encoding interleukin-12 gene

In this study, a small library of polyamidoamine (PAMAM) derivatives was prepared through the conjugation of its amines with various acrylates containing 5–21 carbon chain lengths at two different conjugation degrees, and the ability of the nano-sized PAMAM-based complexes to transfer the plasmid encoding interleukin-12 (IL-12) gene into the cells was studied. As the wide clinical application of the recombinant IL-12 protein has been limited due to several deaths reported following the systemic administration of the protein, local expression of the IL-12 gene inside the tumor target has been considered as an effective alternative strategy. The idea subjacent to this type of modification was to enhance transfection efficiency by the synergistic effects of endosome buffering via the PAMAM amines and the interaction with biological membranes caused by the hydrophobic moieties grafted on the PAMAM structure. Acrylate conjugation of primary amines on PAMAM structure enhanced transfection efficiency, with the highest level of IL-12 expression occurring with the conjugates containing five to nine carbon chains on their periphery at the grafting degree of 10%. The results obtained in this study suggest that combining the cationic nature of PAMAM along with modulating the hydrophobicity of the dendrimer to achieve an appropriate hydrophobic-hydrophilic balance yields the optimal carriers for non-viral gene delivery.
Psychological Essentialism and Nationalism as Determinants of Interethnic Bias

ABSTRACT The present study examined whether individuals without strong national identity (i.e., low nationalism) would be susceptible to temporarily elicited essentialism to alter their mental representations of ethnic boundaries, and thus increase interethnic bias. To test these ideas we experimentally induced essentialist beliefs among Japanese subjects about the boundary between Japanese and Chinese ethnicities, while measuring the strength of nationalism as an individual variable. The results were generally consistent with predictions, suggesting that the activation of essentialist beliefs can strengthen interethnic biases among people without strong nationalism.
Overexpression of Snai3 suppresses lymphoid‐ and enhances myeloid‐cell differentiation

The altered expression of transcription factors in hematopoietic stem cells and their subsequent lineages can alter the development of lymphoid and myeloid lineages. The role of the transcriptional repressor Snai3 protein in the derivation of cells of the hemato‐poietic system was investigated. Snai3 is expressed in terminal T‐cell and myeloid lineages, therefore, we chose to determine if expressing Snai3 in the early stages of hematopoietic development would influence cell‐lineage determination. Expression of Snai3 by retroviral transduction of hematopoietic stem cells using bone marrow chimera studies demonstrated a block in lymphoid‐cell development and enhanced expansion of myeloid‐lineage cells. Analysis of Snai3‐expressing hematopoietic precursor cells showed normal numbers of immature cells, but a block in the development of cells committed to lymphoid lineages. These data indicate that the overexpression of Snai3 does alter bone marrow cell development and that the identification of genes whose expression is altered by the presence of Snai3 would aid in our understanding of these developmental pathways.
Dynamic TCP acknowledgement and other stories about e/(e-1)

We present the first optimal randomized online algorithms for the TCP acknowledgment problem [5] and the Bahncard problem [7]. These problems are well-known to be generalizations of the classical online ski rental problem, however, they appeared to be harder. In this paper, we demonstrate that a number of online algorithms which have optimal competitive ratios of e/(e-1), including these, are fundamentally no more complex than ski rental. Our results also suggest a clear paradigm for solving ski rental-like problems.
The stories of social entrepreneurs: Narrative discourse and social venture resource acquisition

Social entrepreneurship is a phenomenon of increasing significance. A key challenge for social ventures is resource acquisition. However, how social entrepreneurs gather the resources necessary to grow their organizations is not clear. The focus of this study is how narratives are used to acquire social venture resources. This topic is examined using a multi-study, inductive, theory-building design based on 121 interviews, observation, and archival data. In Study 1, 75 entrepreneurs, investors, and ancillary participants in the social enterprise sector are interviewed. In Study 2, case studies are constructed of eight technology-focused social ventures. Evidence from this study is used to construct a framework explaining how differences in entrepreneurs’ narrative tactics and characteristics are associated with differences in their resource acquisition success. Specifically, from Study 1 a typology is developed of social enterprise narratives, identify three narrative-types (personal, social-good, and business), and show that they possess unique elements. Evidence from Study 2 suggests that the three narrative-types serve as the building blocks for communication with external stakeholders. These findings contribute to three literatures that formed the basis of the study – social entrepreneurship, entrepreneurial resource acquisition, and organizational narrative theory – and have implications for work on competing organizational logics. They also produce several practical implications for social entrepreneurs.
A Novel Approach for Face Recognition Based on Weightiness Image Partition

In this paper we propose a novel method to improve the accuracy of face recognition . In the proposed method we partition the facial data into fifteen regions according to 'three courtyards and five eyes' theory in pencil sketch on facial image in Chinese traditional art. Then in each partition we use LDA getting eigenvalues of feature and structure character to represent the facial data. We assign different weightiness to each sub-image according to the result of sub-image variety. Experiments on AR and ORL dataset show that the proposed method is robust and effective to face with expression, lighting and expression variance. Index Terms—face recognition, image partition, LDA.
EFFECTS OF HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES ON ORGANIZATIONAL PERFORMANCE: A STUDY IN ENAMC AS A PUBLIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY IN ALGERIA

This study investigates the effects of Human Resource Management practices on organizational performance, which include practices such as recruitment and selection process, training and development practice, compensation and benefits system and performance appraisal system and are treated as independent variables. The study was conducted in public manufacturing company in Algeria ENAMC. The data was collected and analyzed objectively from a total of 130 responses; examined if Human Resource Management practices have significant effects on organizational performance. The aim is to get a clear and actual picture of the effects of Human Resource Management practices on organizational performance. The finding indicates that, there are positive effects of Human Resource Management practices on organizational performance. This study is important for several reasons. Firstly, recognizing positive effects between, HRM and organizational performance; secondly, to clarify the problems and barriers encountered in the application of human resource programs in Algerian companies in the context of the case included in this study. Thirdly, to participate in and contribute to research, resulting in Knowledge increase, and lastly, to assist scholars and other researchers in the HRM field.
SME family business innovation: exploring new combinations

– Continued research around innovation within small- and medium-sized enterprises (SME) family businesses is needed to better understand the influence of specific resources and capabilities that might promote and/or constrain entrepreneurial activities. The purpose of this paper is to develop an organising framework investigating SME family business innovation drawing on a Schumpeterian understanding of innovation as the introduction of new combinations. , – Four guiding principles are developed and applied to an illustrative case study of an entrepreneurial family business that highlights the usefulness of complexity thinking for understanding innovation. , – NZ Sock provides a rich illustrative case study to highlight how principles of complexity thinking along with Schumpeterian notions of innovation can usefully inform the authors’ understanding of entrepreneurial SME family businesses. The proposed guiding principles offered are borne out in application to the illustrative case example. , – The findings suggest that complexity thinking and a Schumpeterian lens can usefully inform and extend the authors’ understanding of innovation within entrepreneurial SME family businesses. Further research would benefit from exploring the guiding principles proposed in other entrepreneurial SME family businesses to further substantiate this field of inquiry. , – Principles of complexity thinking may provide additional understanding and insight for SME family business members needing to innovate and adapt to ever-changing operating environments. , – Innovation is critical to the long-term survival and success of such firms; yet, to date little theoretical contribution and research has been offered in the field of innovation within the context of SME family businesses. Complex adaptive systems provide a lens from which to understand such businesses and that that a complexity framework helpfully allows attention to be given to such phenomena as emergence, adaptability and combinations through which innovation outcomes and processes may be understood. This paper offers four guiding principles that can be further tested and refined.
Cloning and sequencing of human immunoglobulin λ. gene segments

To provide the building blocks for making synthetic antibody fragments we have used the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to clone human variable (V) gene segments of λ light chains. The PCR primers were based on the sequences of known human Vλ segments, and were used to isolate 14 new Vλ segments (including 4 pseudogenes) from a single individual. We have compiled a sequence directory from this data and other sources to include all known human Vλ segments with open reading frames and we have identified a new Vx family (Vλ IX). Almost all of the segments (22/24) have different sequences in the complementarity‐determining regions, setting a lower limit to the structural diversity of the antigen binding sites encoded by human Vλ genes in the human population.