Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Advanced development of traveling-wave antenna array (TWAA) as multioctave planar phased array

Full-fledged characterization of Traveling-Wave Antenna Array (TWAA) for wide-angle scan up to 60° off broadside over 2-12 GHz was first presented in 2015 IEEE Antenna Symposium by this author. Ironically, in the same Symposium, presentation by Neto and Cavallo stated that no “Connected Array” has yet reached a bandwidth of 2:1 due to poor cross-polarization higher than -10 dB. This paper shows that TWAA does not suffer from the high X-pol problem, based on recent measurements at both WEO and Georgia Tech. Plausible causes of the high X-pol problem are also discussed.
Microfinance as an aspect of corporate enterprise development and its impact on SMME growth and local economic development in South Africa

II DECLARATION III ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS IV LIST OF TABLES VIII LIST OF FIGURES IX 1 CHAPTER: INTRODUCTION 1 1.1 PURPOSE OF THE STUDY 1 1.2 CONTEXT OF THE STUDY 1 1.2. 1 UNEMPLOYMENT AND POVERTY 1 1.2. 2 SMME DEVELOPMENT 2 1.2. 3 CHALLENGES IN THE SOUTH AFRICAN BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT 2 1.2. 4 EMERGENCE OF ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT 3 1.2. 5 LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (LED) 4 1.3 PROBLEM STATEMENT 5 1.3. 1 MAIN PROBLEM 5 1.3. 2 SUB-PROBLEMS 5 1.4 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY 5 1.5 DELIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY 6 1.6 DEFINITION OF TERMS 7 1.6. 1 EMPLOYEES 7 1.6. 2 ENTREPRENEUR 7 1.6. 3 ENTREPRENEURSHIP 7 1.6. 4 ENTERPRISE 8 1.6. 5 ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT 8 1.6. 6 GROWTH 8 1.6. 7 IMPACT 9 1.6. 8 INNOVATION 9 1.6. 9 JOBS 9 1.6. 10 LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 9 1.6. 11 SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED ENTERPRISES 10 1.6. 12 PERFORMANCE 12 1.7 ASSUMPTIONS 12 1.8 CONCLUSION 13 2 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW AND THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK 16 2.
Multi-layer enhancement to polysilicon surface-micromachining technology

A multi-level polysilicon surface-micromachining technology consisting of 5 layers of polysilicon is presented. Surface topography and film mechanical stress are the major impediments encountered in the development of a multilayer surface-micromachining process. However, excellent mechanical film characteristics have been obtained through the use of chemical-mechanical polishing for planarization of topography and by proper sequencing of film deposition with thermal anneals. Examples of operating microactuators, geared power-transfer mechanisms, and optical elements demonstrate the mechanical advantages of construction with 5 polysilicon layers.
Actin-Based Molecular Motors for Cargo Transportation in Nanotechnology&#8212; Potentials and Challenges

Here, we review the use of actin-based motors, (myosins; e.g., the molecular motor of muscle) in nanotechnology. The review starts from the viewpoints of the molecular motors as being important devices responsible of cargo transportation in the cell and end in discussions about their employment in nanotechnological applications. First, we describe basic biophysics of the myosin motors with focus on their involvement in cargo transportation in the living cell, leading us over into a discussion about in vitro motility assays. These are biological test systems where the myosin-induced translocation of actin filaments is studied on an artificial surface outside the cell. Then follows a review about modified motility assays for production of ordered motion. Here, we discuss ours and others' work with regards to making micro- and nanostructured surfaces and channels where the position and direction of movement produced by molecular motors is controlled. In this section, we consider the role of the channel size in promoting unidirectional myosin-induced motion of actin filaments. Furthermore, we consider the usefulness of surface modifications, e.g., various silanization procedures in order to promote and hinder molecular motility, respectively. Particularly, we describe our latest test system being both morphologically and chemically nanostructured giving us unsurpassed possibilities to perform functional studies as well as extremely good spatio-temporal control. Then follows a section about nanotechnological cargo transportation systems based on the actomyosin motor system. For instance, we present results of attaching fluorescent quantum dots as cargoes to the actin filaments. In this section, we also discuss the possibilities of having cargo attachment and detachment being performed on demand. Finally, we consider the usefulness of molecular motors for lab-on-a-chip applications and the requirements for incorporating these motors in commercially viable devices. In this context, the significant potential of the actomyosin motor system to overcome traditional limitations of micro- and nanofluidics is stressed.
Chlamydia pneumoniae Infects and Multiplies in Lymphocytes In Vitro

ABSTRACT The obligate intracellular pathogen Chlamydia (Chlamydophila) pneumoniae is known to be associated with some chronic inflammatory diseases, such as atherosclerosis. Interaction between C. pneumoniae and immune cells is important in the development of such diseases. However, susceptibility of immune cells, particularly lymphocytes, to C. pneumoniaeinfection has not been reported, even though lymphocytes play a pivotal role in the development of the diseases caused by this bacterium. In this regard, we examined the susceptibility of lymphocytes to C. pneumoniae infection in vitro. The results demonstrated that human peripheral blood lymphocytes as well as mouse spleen lymphocytes could be infected with C. pneumoniae. Furthermore, purified T lymphocytes as well as established T-lymphocyte cell line cells showed an obvious susceptibility to C. pneumoniaeinfection, indicating that T cells could be one of the host cells for this bacterial infection. These findings reveal a new infection site for C. pneumoniae, i.e., lymphocytes.
Generic Security Service Application Program Interface Version 2, Update 1

The Generic Security Service Application Program Interface (GSS-API), Version 2, as defined in [RFC-2078], provides security services to callers in a generic fashion, supportable with a range of underlying mechanisms and technologies and hence allowing source-level portability of applications to different environments. This specification defines GSS-API services and primitives at a level independent of underlying mechanism and programming language environment, and is to be complemented by other, related specifications:
Product diversification: The need for innovation and the role of the balanced scorecard

This paper tests the benefit of contemporary approaches to performance measurement systems represented by the Balanced Scorecard (BSC) to diversified organisations. Product diversification relationships, embracing both innovation and performance, were examined in a structural equation model, where the BSC is treated as an endogenous variable. We find product diversification to be significantly associated with the use of the BSC. The BSC is shown in turn to significantly associate with organisational innovation, the use of management initiatives of total quality management (TQM) and just in time (JIT) and performance.
New method of abdominoplasty for morbidly obese patients

Introduction: We report two cases of morbidly obese patients with huge infected abdominal aprons who underwent apronectomies at Alice Springs Hospital, Northern Territory, Australia. We describe a novel technique which to date has not been described in the available literature. Patients afflicted by morbid obesity with large aprons can be incapacitated by immobility as well as suffer from recurrent infections. Apronectomy in this situation can be difficult because of the heavy weight of the apron.
The Rickettsia prowazekii ExoU Homologue Possesses Phospholipase A1 (PLA1), PLA2, and Lyso-PLA2 Activities and Can Function in the Absence of Any Eukaryotic Cofactors In Vitro

ABSTRACT Here we have characterized the Rickettsia prowazekii RP534 protein, a homologue of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa ExoU phospholipase A (PLA) secreted cytotoxin. Our studies showed that purified recombinant RP534 PLA possessed the predicted PLA2 and lyso-PLA2 activities based on what has been published for P. aeruginosa ExoU. RP534 also displayed PLA1 activity under the conditions tested, whereas ExoU did not. In addition, recombinant RP534 displayed a basal PLA activity that could hydrolyze phosphatidylcholine in the absence of any eukaryotic cofactors. Interestingly, the addition of bovine liver superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1), a known activator of P. aeruginosa ExoU, resulted in an increased rate of RP534-catalyzed phospholipid hydrolysis, indicating that mechanisms of activation of the ExoU family of PLAs may be evolutionarily conserved. The mechanism of SOD1-dependent stimulation of RP534 was further examined using active site mutants and a fluorogenic phospholipid substrate whose hydrolysis by RP534 over a short time course is measureable only in the presence of SOD1. These studies suggest a mechanism by which SOD1 stimulates RP534 activity once it has bound to the substrate. We also show that antibody raised against RP534 was useful for immunoprecipitating active RP534 from R. prowazekii lysed cell extracts, thus verifying that this protein is expressed and active in rickettsiae isolated from embryonated hen egg yolk sacs.
New logical and complexity results for Signed-SAT

We define Mv-formulas as the union of the subclasses of signed CNF formulas known as regular and monosigned CNF formulas, and then define resolution calculi that are refutation complete for Mv-formulas and give new complexity results for the Horn-SAT and 2-SAT problems. Our goal is to use Mv-formulas as a constraint programming language between CSP and SAT, and solve computationally difficult combinatorial problems with efficient satisfiability solvers for Mv-formulas. The results presented in this paper provide evidence that Mv-formulas are a problem modeling language that offers a good compromise between complexity and expressive power.
Entrepreneurial Intentions Among Business Students in Pakistan

The present exploratory study is based on ‘Entrepreneurial Intention Model’ and has its foundation in ‘Planned Behavioral Theory’. The main focus of the study is on measuring factors affecting Entrepreneurial Intentions among business students in Pakistan. Apart from demographics, study is particularly focused on personal attraction, perceived social norms and perceived social behavior. The paper is based on systematic sampling methodology and targets the business graduates and nascent entrepreneurs. The study will provide useful implications for educational institutions within the field of business and management, and off course for government policy makers.
Metabolism, physiology and stress defense in three aging Ins/IGF‐1 mutants of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans

The insulin/insulin‐like growth factor‐1 (Ins/IGF‐1) pathway regulates the aging rate of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. We describe other features of the three Ins/IGF‐1 mutants daf‐2, age‐1 and aap‐1. We show that the investigated Ins/IGF‐1 mutants all have a reduced body volume, reduced reproductive capacity, increased ATP concentrations and an elevated stress resistance. We also observed that heat production is lower in these mutants, although the respiration rate was similar or higher compared with wild‐type individuals, suggesting a metabolic shift in these mutants.
Differentiation-regulated serine phosphorylation of STAT1 promotes GAF activation in macrophages

Gamma interferon (IFN-gamma), a macrophage-activating cytokine, modulates gene expression through the activity of a transcription factor designated IFN-gamma activation factor (GAF). GAF is formed after phosphorylation on tyrosine and dimerization of the 91-kDa protein STAT1. We have recently reported that differentiation of the promonocytic cell line U937 into monocytes increases the amount of cellular GAF after IFN-gamma treatment and at the same time increases the phosphorylation of STAT1. Here we show that activation of the JAK family kinases, which are instrumental in mediating STAT1 phosphorylation on tyrosine, did not increase upon monocytic U937 differentiation. Consistent with this finding, levels of STAT1 tyrosine phosphorylation were virtually identical in promonocytic and monocytic U937 cells. Analysis of STAT1 phosphoamino acids and mapping of phosphopeptides showed an IFN-gamma-dependent increase in Ser phosphorylation in differentiated cells. Analyses of STAT1 isoforms by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis demonstrated a differentiation-induced shift toward more acidic isoforms. All isoforms were equally sensitive to subsequent tyrosine phosphorylation, as indicated by a sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis mobility shift typical for tyrosine-phosphorylated STAT1. Consistent with the importance of Ser phosphorylation for high-affinity binding to the IFN-gamma activation site sequence, phosphatase 2A treatment strongly reduced the formation of IFN-gamma activation site-GAF complexes in an electrophoretic mobility shift assay. Our data indicate that the activity of GAF is modulated by STAT1 serine kinases/phosphatases and suggest that this mechanism is employed in the developmental control of macrophage responsiveness to IFN-gamma.
A Simple Biomarker to Exclude the Presence of Low Grade Inflammation in Apparently Healthy Individuals

Background Atherosclerosis is accompanied by a low grade inflammatory response. Hypothesis To use erythrocyte aggregability as a biomarker to exclude the presence of low grade inflammatory response in apparently healthy individuals. Methods The adhesiveness/aggregation of red blood cells was quantitated by using a simple slide test and image analysis. Results We included 121 apparently healthy individuals and found a significant correlation between the degree of erythrocyte adhesiveness/aggregation and either the concentration of high sensitive CRP (r = 0.6, P < 0.001), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (r = 0.5, P < 0.0001) or fibrinogen (r = 0.5, P < 0.0001). By using certain cutoff points for the erythrocyte adhesiveness/aggregation test we could define individuals with a very low grade inflammatory response. Conclusions By using this inexpensive and rapid assessment, we could clearly discriminate between individuals with a very low inflammatory response and those with a more intense one. This biomarker should be further evaluated as a possible screening test for use in large populations of apparently healthy individuals in whom the detection of low grade inflammation might contribute to guiding appropriate lifestyle modifications and therapeutic interventions.
Amino Acid-Dependent mTORC1 Regulation by the Lysosomal Membrane Protein SLC38A9

ABSTRACT The serine/threonine kinase mTORC1 regulates cellular homeostasis in response to many cues, such as nutrient status and energy level. Amino acids induce mTORC1 activation on lysosomes via the small Rag GTPases and the Ragulator complex, thereby controlling protein translation and cell growth. Here, we identify the human 11-pass transmembrane protein SLC38A9 as a novel component of the Rag-Ragulator complex. SLC38A9 localizes with Rag-Ragulator complex components on lysosomes and associates with Rag GTPases in an amino acid-sensitive and nucleotide binding state-dependent manner. Depletion of SLC38A9 inhibits mTORC1 activity in the presence of amino acids and in response to amino acid replenishment following starvation. Conversely, SLC38A9 overexpression causes RHEB (Ras homolog enriched in brain) GTPase-dependent hyperactivation of mTORC1 and partly sustains mTORC1 activity upon amino acid deprivation. Intriguingly, during amino acid starvation mTOR is retained at the lysosome upon SLC38A9 depletion but fails to be activated. Together, the findings of our study reveal SLC38A9 as a Rag-Ragulator complex member transducing amino acid availability to mTORC1 activity.
Business Process Management in Service-Oriented Companies

This paper presents the business model of a call center company including human resource management features. Starting from several approaches of business model definitions, we adopted a model for a service-oriented company. Based on the system objective, function, component modules and key indicators of Telmar software we analyzed a call centre company, using aggregated data from this software and determined human resource dynamics for past three years and key management indicators in two campaigns.
Credit Risk and Growth of Banking System

Drawing on the financial data 0f 21 banks for the period 2004-2011, the current study investigates the role of credit risk in the growth of the banking system. A conceptual model has been developed based on the seven antecedents of credit risk which include credit risk exposure, a loan to equity ratio, non-performing loans to capital, credit monitoring, credit screening, a credit collection ratio and a charge-offs ratio. Panel data analysis has been performed to analyse the relationship between credit risk and growth of banking system. The results show that credit risk plays a significant role in the growth of the banking system under favourable economic conditions. The study contains important policy implications for growth of banking system in Pakistan.
Supervised and Unsupervised Speaker Adaptation in the NIST 2005 Speaker Recognition Evaluation

Starting in 2004, the annual NIST speaker recognition evaluation (SRE) has added an optional unsupervised speaker adaptation track where test files are processed sequentially and one may update the target model. In this paper, various model adaptation factors are investigated for MAP adaptation using a supervised (ideal) adaptation scheme. Once the best performing model adaptation factor is found, unsupervised adaptation experiments are run using a threshold to determine when to update the target model. Three NIST training conditions, 10sec4w, 1conv4w, and 8conv4w, all with the 1conv4w test condition are used for experiments with the NIST 2005 SRE. MinDCF values for the three training conditions are reduced by 60.9% for 10sec4w, 48.3% for 1conv4w, and 33.3% for 8conv4w using the supervised adaptation compared to the baseline. For the unsupervised adaptation, minDCF values were reduced by 16.7%, 21.6%, and 20.5% for the respective training conditions
Does having regular care by a family physician improve preventive care?

OBJECTIVE To assess whether regular care from a family physician is associated with receiving preventive services. DESIGN Secondary analysis of the 1994 National Population Health Survey. SETTING Cross-sectional sample of the Canadian population. PARTICIPANTS A total of 15,731 non-institutionalized adults. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Reported visits to general practitioners and specialists in the previous year and reports of having had blood pressure measurements, mammography, and Pap smears. RESULTS A graded relationship was observed between level of regular care by a family physician in the previous year (none, some, regular) and receiving preventive services. Those without regular doctors and those reporting only some care by a family physician were less likely to have ever had their blood pressure checked than adults receiving ongoing care from a regular family physician. Women reporting some or no care were less likely to have had mammography within 2 years or to have ever had Pap smears. CONCLUSION Adults who receive regular care from a family physician are more likely to receive recommended preventive services.
Application of artificial neural networks to weighted interval Kalman filtering

The interval Kalman filter is a variant of the traditional Kalman filter for systems with bounded parametric uncertainty. For such systems, modelled in terms of intervals, the interval Kalman filter provides estimates of the system state also in the form of intervals, guaranteed to contain the Kalman filter estimates of all point-valued systems contained in the interval model. However, for practical purposes, a single, point-valued estimate of the system state is often required. This point value can be seen as a weighted average of the interval bounds provided by the interval Kalman filter. This article proposes a methodology based on the application of artificial neural networks by which an adequate weight can be computed at each time step, whereby the weighted average of the interval bounds approximates the optimal estimate or estimate which would be obtained using a Kalman filter if no parametric uncertainty was present in the system model, even when this is not the case. The practical applicability and robustness of the method are demonstrated through its application to the navigation of an uninhabited surface vehicle.
Structural design and construction of complex-shaped tall buildings

Today's diverse architectural design trends have produced tall buildings of various forms, such as twisted, tilted, and free forms, as can be seen in the Infinity Tower in Dubai, Veer Towers in Las Vegas and Phare Tower project in Paris. This paper studies various structural system design options for these complex-shaped tall buildings and their performances. For each complex form category, tall buildings are designed with different contemporary structural systems, such as diagrids, braced tubes and outrigger systems. The structural efficiency of each system, in conjunction with building forms, heights and height-to-width aspect ratios, is studied. Parametric structural models are generated to investigate the impacts of variation of important geometric configurations of complex-shaped tall buildings. The models are then exported to structural engineering software for analyses and design. Based on the study results, comparative structural efficiency of different structural systems for tall buildings of each complex form category is estimated.
High-resolution pulsed electro-acoustic (HR PEA) measurement of space charge in outer space dielectric materials

The pulsed electro-acoustic (PEA) method is used for thirty years for measuring space charge distribution in dielectric materials [1]. However, this method was limited to at least 150 μm thick films characterization. For some applications, in spatial industry for example, 50 μm thick outer space dielectric materials must be analyzed. A high resolution optimized measurement system is discussed in this paper in order to expand performances and ranges of this method. To design it, a new pulse generator has been conceived and an optimized acoustic detector, key of the PEA method, has been realized and validated. The optimized High-Resolution PEA apparatus allows to obtain calibration signal with 50 μm thick dielectric materials that can be used to obtain the characteristic transfer function of the PEA system, essential step to use the data processing to find space charge distribution to characterize thinner dielectric materials.
REGIONAL PRODUCTION NETWORK LED BY THE U.S. TEXTILE INDUSTRY AND THE IMPACT OF THE 2006-2008 U.S.-CHINA TEXTILE AGREEMENT

A regional production network (RPN) refers to a business cooperation system among firms in different countries involving a division of labor to develop, manufacture, and market specific commodities. This study focused on the trade flow relationships within the U.S. Textile and Apparel Regional Production Network (U.S. T&A RPN) and the impact of the 2006-2008 U.S.-China Textile Agreement on the U.S. T&A RPN. The study found that the more the United States imported apparel from China, the less the U.S. textile industry exported yarns and fabrics to Mexico and countries in the Caribbean Basin region, The study also found that the 2006-2008 U.S.-China Textile Agreement had a profound trade disruption effect on apparel imports from China to the United States, yet little or no impact on textile or apparel trade within the U.S. T&A RPN.