Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Dairy Value Chain Analysis in Meta District, Eastern Ethiopia

Identifying dairy value chain map, examining performance of actors in the chain and analyzing the determinants of milk market participation decision and level of milk marketed in the study area was the those specific objectives . The primary data for this study were collected by three stage sampling technique. In the first stage from 55 kebeles, eleven kebeles were selected purposively based on production potential. In the second stage out of those selected kebeles 4 of them were selected randomly and third stage 121 producers were randomly selected from list of dairy producer kebeles. Meanwhile, 46 traders from different markets and 28 consumers in Dire Dawa, Harar and Meta towns were selected and interviewed. Heckman two stage models were applied to identify determinants of milk market participation and volume of milk supply to the market. The cost margin indicates that the highest share profit margin profit was obtained by cafes 6.57 Birr/litre and the lowest profit goes to retailers(1.85 Birr/litre) next to producers (1.86 Birr/litre). Results of Heckman two stage selection model shows among those 14 explanatory variables hypothesized to affect milk market participation decision, distance to the nearest market, nonfarm income, crop income, land size and age of household were found negatively and significantly affecting participation decision. Supplementary feed, hybrid dairy cows, livestock size (TLU) were significantly and positively influencing the value of milk marketed. Mill’s ratio was significant at outcome equation and it indicates that there were selectivity bias between those sample dairy producer households and heckman two-stage model was appropriate for the collected data. The value chain analysis revealed that the major value chain actors are input suppliers, producers, collectors, rural wholesalers, urban wholesalers, retailers, cafes and consumers. Value chain supporters are Meta Agricultural Office and Haramaya University. It is also found that milk passes through several intermediaries with value added products (boiled milk and yoghurt) before reaching the ultimate users. Therefore, policies aiming at increasing producer’s provision of modern inputs, number of dairy cows and improving livestock production of dairy cows and change of their attitudes towards dairy production and participating to dairy market were recommended to accelerate diary value chains development in the study area. Keywords : Dairy value chain, Heckman two-stage, market participation, value chain actors.
Design of a Full Solid Angle Scanning Cylindrical-and-Conical Phased Array Antennas

In this paper, a full solid angle scanning cylindrical-and-conical (CYLCON) conformal phased array antenna (PAA) is designed. First, a microstrip Yagi antenna with low profile and small size is proposed and discussed. Second, a cylindrical conformal Yagi antenna array consisting of 24 aforementioned 8-element Yagi antennas is designed and optimized. Simulation results show that the Yagi antenna array can realize low-elevation beam scanning in the region of <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$ 0 {^{\circ }} \le \theta \le 30 {^{\circ }}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>, <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$30 {^{\circ }} \le \varphi \le 150 {^{\circ }}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> with low sidelobe levels and sharp beams. Third, CYLCON conformal microstrip antenna arrays are developed to realize the broadside beam scanning. Afterwards, an integrated PAA by combining the aforementioned conformal arrays along with feeding networks is constructed to achieve full solid angle scanning. Finally, a prototype is fabricated, the measured results show that it can realize beam scanning in the regions of <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$ 0 {^{\circ }} \le \theta \le 30 {^{\circ }}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>, <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$30 {^{\circ }} \le \varphi \le 150 {^{\circ }}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>, and <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$30 {^{\circ }} \le \theta \le 180 {^{\circ }}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>, <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$60 {^{\circ }} \le \varphi \le 120 {^{\circ }}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>, which meet well with those of the simulated. By arranging proper number of arrays along the perimeter accompanied with the switchable feeding configurations, a full solid angle scanning can be achieved.
De l’utilisation de l’algèbre différentielle pour la localisation et la navigation de robots mobiles autonomes

Ce travail etudie l'apport de l'algebre differentielle a deux problematiques principales de la robotique mobile a roues, la localisation et la navigation. La premiere problematique consiste a etre capable de dire ou le robot se situe dans son environnement. Nous supposons ici que nous possedons un certain nombre de points d'interet de l'espace dont les coordonnees dans cette espace sont connues. En fonction du nombre de points d'interet, il est possible ou non de localiser le robot. Cette notion de localisabilite est definie et etudiee dans le cadre algebrique. Nous montrons que ce cadre d'etude est plus interessant que le cadre geometrique en ce sens que non seulement il permet l'etude de la localisabilite mais en plus il permet de construire des estimateurs d'etats permettant de reconstruire la posture du robot. Cette etude est effectuee dans cinq cas d'etudes pour quatre des cinq classes de robots mobiles a roues. La deuxieme problematique etudiee est celle de la navigation d'une flottille decentralisee de robots dans un environnement complexe. Ce travail presente une architecture pouvant etre utilisee dans une large classe de probleme et beneficiant des avantages des approches discretes et des approches continues. En effet, a haut niveau, un bloc strategie specifie l'objectif, les contraintes et leurs parametres ainsi que la fonction cout utilisee, a bas niveau, une trajectoire est calculee afin de minimiser la fonction cout en respectant l'objectif et les contraintes du probleme. Cette minimisation est faite sur un horizon glissant de maniere a pouvoir prendre en compte des modifications de l'environnement ou de la mission en cours de navigation
Data mining no suporte à construção de conhecimento organizacional

O processo de descoberta de conhecimento em bases de dados automatiza a descoberta de relacionamentos e outras descricoes a partir dos dados. Os padroes extraidos durante este processo sao considerados conhecimento, em relacao aos conceitos teoricos que sustentam esses padroes. Neste artigo e apresentada uma outra perspectiva, na qual se defende que estes padroes nao podem ser considerados conhecimento, uma vez que o conhecimento apenas pode residir na mente humana. Em vez de conhecimento, os padroes devem ser apresentados como representacoes do conhecimento ou informacao. Atraves da apresentacao de um caso de teste, no qual se evidenciam as diversas fases do processo de descoberta de conhecimento na analise de uma base de dados organizacional, e possivel constatar que ao construir os modelos, a ferramenta de descoberta de conhecimento utilizada permite trazer para a memoria consciente da organizacao a sua experiencia passada, contribuindo para um reforco ou reformulacao da sua propria identidade e do seu papel no mercado para o qual se direcciona.
Orbital-Angular-Momentum-Based Electromagnetic Vortex Imaging

A novel radar imaging technique based on orbital angular momentum (OAM) modulation is presented. First, the generation of electromagnetic (EM) vortex wave, which carries the OAM, using incrementally phased uniform circular array (UCA) is introduced, and factors that affect the phase-front distribution are analyzed. Subsequently, echo signal models of both multiple-in-multiple-out and multiple-in-single-out modes are established. The target images are obtained using the fast Fourier transform (FFT) and back-projection methods. Simulation results demonstrate that orbital angular momentum has the prospect for acquiring the azimuth information of radar target. The signal of both OAM modulation and frequency modulation can be used to obtain two-dimensional radar target image. The work can benefit the development of novel information-rich radar based on orbital angular momentum, as well as radar target recognition.
Evaluation de l'interprétation d'images

Les algorithmes de traitement d'images regroupent un ensemble de methodes qui vont traiter l'image depuis son acquisition par un capteur jusqu'a l'extraction de l'information utile pour une application donnee. Parmi ceux-ci, les algorithmes d'interpretation ont pour but de detecter, localiser et reconnaitre un ou plusieurs objets dans une image. Le probleme traite dans cette these reside dans l'evaluation de resultats d'interpretation d'une image ou une video lorsque l'on dispose de la verite terrain associee. Les enjeux sont nombreux comme la comparaison d'algorithmes, l'evaluation d'un algorithme au cours de son developpement ou son parametrage optimal. Nous proposons dans cette these une formalisation des proprietes attendues d'une metrique de localisation. Nous realisons une etude comparative rigoureuse des metriques de localisation de l'etat de l'art au vu de ces proprietes. Nous realisons un travail similaire sur les methodes de reconnaissance utilisant une representation locale des objets dans le but de quantifier une erreur de reconnaissance. Nous avons mis au point une methode d'evaluation d'un resultat d'interpretation d'une image exploitant les lecons de ces etudes comparatives. L'avantage de la methode proposee est de pouvoir evaluer un resultat d'interpretation d'une image en prenant en compte a la fois la qualite de la localisation, de la reconnaissance et de la detection d'objets d'interet dans l'image. Le comportement de cette methode d'evaluation a ete teste sur une large base de tests et s'avere interessant. Plusieurs parametres permettent de modifier le comportement de cette methode suivant l'application visee.
Strategies for small businesses selling online

Numerous books and articles have been written advising businesses how to set up a successful ecommerce website and much of this advice is relevant to small businesses. The research reported here examines this advice to generate a list of tactics and then attempts to group the tactics into strategies which describe how small businesses are using, or want to use, the Internet. Results suggest that SMEs are very customer oriented, even when dealing online. Small businesses have traditionally always been customer focused, many know their customers individually, and it is interesting to see that use of the Internet has not eroded this as some had feared. This may be due to the caution many SMEs showed by being slow to adopt the Internet or it may be the cause of this caution. The results also suggest that small businesses find it important to use the Internet to apply traditional business tenets. The things that can only be accomplished on the Internet such as personalisation are not seen as important or are seen as unimportant. It may be that small businesses do not realise the Internet’s potential in these areas or if they do realise it, they do not see them as being useful.
Chicken STING Mediates Activation of the IFN Gene Independently of the RIG-I Gene

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) is an adaptor that functions downstream of retinoic acid–inducible gene I (RIG-I) in mammalian cells; however, RIG-I is absent in chickens. We identified chicken STING (chSTING) as a critical mediator of virus-triggered type I IFN signaling in RIG-I–null chicken cells. Overexpression of chSTING in DF-1 cells inhibited Newcastle disease virus and avian influenza virus (AIV) viral replication and activated IRF-7 and NF-κB to induce expression of type I IFNs. Knockdown of endogenous chSTING abolished virus-triggered activation of IRF-7 and IFN-β and increased viral yield. chSTING was a critical component in the virus-triggered IRF-7 activation pathway and the cellular antiviral response. chSTING predominantly localized to the outer membrane of the endoplasmic reticulum and was also found in the mitochondrial membrane. Furthermore, knockdown of chSTING blocked polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid–, poly(deoxyadenylic-deoxythymidylic) acid–, and melanoma differentiation–associated gene 5 (MDA5)-stimulated induction of IFN-β. Coimmunoprecipitation experiments indicated that chicken MDA5 could interact with chSTING, and this interaction was enhanced by ectopically expressed chicken mitochondrial antiviral-signaling protein. Together, these results indicated that chSTING is an important regulator of chicken innate immune signaling and might be involved in the MDA5 signaling pathway in chicken cells. These results help with understanding the biological role of STING in innate immunity during evolution.
A data-driven spatially adaptive sparse generalized linear model for functional MRI analysis

A novel data-driven sparse generalized linear model (GLM) and statistical analysis method for fMRI is developed. Although independent component analysis (ICA) has been broadly applied to fMRI to separate spatially or temporally independent components, recent studies show that ICA does not guarantee independence of simultaneously occurred distinct activity patterns in the brain and sparsity of the signal has been shown to be more important. Motivated from the ICA and biological findings such as sparse coding in the primary visual cortex simple cells, we propose a compressed sensing based data-driven sparse GLM solely based upon the sparsity of the signal. It enables estimation of spatially adaptive design matrix from sparse signal components that represent synchronous neural hemodynamics. Furthermore, an MDL based model order selection rule can determine unknown sparsity for sparse dictionary learning.
The hemolymph proteome of the honeybee: Gel‐based or gel‐free?

The honeybee has an invaluable economic impact and is a model for studying immunity, development and social behavior. The recent sequencing and annotation of the honeybee genome facilitates the study of its hemolymph, which reflects the physiological condition and mediates immune responses. We aimed at making a proteomic reference map of honeybee hemolymph and compared gel‐free and gel‐based techniques. One hundered and four 2‐DE spots corresponding to 62 different proteins were identified. Eight identical 2‐DLC experiments resulted in the identification of 32 unique proteins. One repeat was clearly not representative for the potential of the given 2‐DLC setup. Only 27% of the identified hemolymph proteins were found by both techniques. In addition, we found proteins of three different viruses which creates possibilities for biomarker design. Future hemolymph studies will benefit from this work.
Towards a Home-based Virtual Reality Game System to Promote Exercise

This paper presents the design and usability testing results for a home-based virtual reality game system that aims to promote exercise with the spin machine. The novelty of our approach lies in the design of the game mechanics that promote increased calorific output among the participants and the ease of setup with any commercially available Virtual Reality (VR) sensor. The paper describes the motivation behind the developed system, the design details of the games created to promote the use of the system and the results from a usability test conducted with 37 participants.
Spatiotemporal Distributions of Reported Cases of the Avian Influenza H5N1 (Bird Flu) in Southern China in Early 2004

Abstract This study investigates spatiotemporal distributions of reported cases of the avian influenza H5N1 (bird flu) in Southern China in early 2004. Forty-nine cases of the avian influenza H5N1 covering a 6-week period (January 19, 2004, through March 9, 2004) were compiled from the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture and the World Health Organization. Geographic information systems (GIS) techniques combined with statistical techniques were used to analyze the spatiotemporal variation of reported cases of avian influenza. Using Oden's direction method, we also explored the spatiotemporal interaction of individual-level avian influenza cases during the study duration. The peak period (temporal clustering) for the epidemiological avian influenza outbreak occurred between the third and fourth weeks. Although we observed a major northeast–southwest distribution of the avian influenza H5N1 cases, there was no significant spatiotemporal association in average “direction of advance” of these cases. The directional finding is very consistent with the major migratory bird routes in East Asia, but owing to weak surveillance and reporting systems in the region, the study findings warrant further evaluation.
Effect of Microfinance on Vulnerability, Poverty and Risk in Low Income Households

Uncertainty and unpredictability faced by low-income households increase their vulnerability making poverty even more unbearable. India’s National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD)-initiated Self-Help Group (SHG) program, which is currently the largest and fastest growing microfinance program in the developing world, has been aggressively promoted as a way of combating poverty. This paper investigates whether or not SHG participation results in reducing poverty and vulnerability. A theoretical framework is developed to examine the mechanisms through which the pecuniary and non-pecuniary effects of the SHG program on the beneficiaries’ earnings and empowerment, influence their households’ ability to manage risk. Going beyond the traditional poverty estimates, we use a vulnerability measure which quantifies the welfare loss associated with poverty as well as different types of risks like aggregate and idiosyncratic risks. Applying this measure to an Indian panel survey data for 2000 and 2003, we find that SHG members have lower vulnerability as compared to a group of non-SHG (control) members. Furthermore, we find that the poverty contributes to about 80 percent of the vulnerability faced by the household followed by aggregate risk.
Low cost smart antenna array hardware implementation

This paper presents and describes a low-cost hardware implementation of smart antenna based on FPGA. Unlike systems using high-cost devices, the case herein uses a low-end FPGA for beamforming algorithm implementation, enabling smart antenna applications in practical and commercial problems, as for instance interference mitigation. The low-cost smart antenna array underwent two different types of tests, solving the beamforming problem by a non-adaptive algorithm and by a blind adaptive one. The desired beamforming is reached in both cases and interference mitigation is achieved in the second one.
What is the function of neuronal AP‐3?

Neurotransmission requires the proper organization and rapid recycling of synaptic vesicles. Rapid retrieval has been suggested to occur either by kiss‐and‐stay or kiss‐and‐run mechanisms, whereas classical recycling is mediated by clathrin‐dependent endocytosis. Molecular coats are key components in the selection of cargos, AP‐2 (adaptor protein 2) playing a prominent role in synaptic vesicle endocytosis. Another coat protein, AP‐3, has been implicated in synaptic vesicle biogenesis and in the generation of secretory and lysosomal‐related organelles. In the present review, we will particularly focus on the recent data concerning the recycling of synaptic vesicles and the function of AP‐3 and the v‐SNARE (vesicular soluble N‐ethylmaleimide‐sensitive fusion protein‐attachment protein receptor) TI‐VAMP (tetanus neurotoxin‐insensitive vesicle‐associated membrane protein) in these processes. We propose that AP‐3 plays an important regulatory role in neurons which contributes to the basal and stimulated exocytosis of synaptic vesicles.
Adaptation of Interpersonal Psychotherapy to Borderline Personality Disorder: A Comparison of Combined Therapy and Single Pharmacotherapy

Objective: Combined treatment with interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) and antidepressants (ADs) has been found more effective than single pharmacotherapy in patients with major depression and concomitant borderline personality disorder (BPD). The aim of our study is to investigate whether combined treatment with a modified version of IPT is still superior to ADs when treating patients with a single diagnosis of BPD. Method: Fifty-five consecutive outpatients with a Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision, diagnosis of BPD were enrolled. They were randomly assigned to 2 treatment arms for 32 weeks: fluoxetine 20 to 40 mg per day plus clinical management; and fluoxetine 20 to 40 mg per day plus IPT adapted to BPD (IPT-BPD). Eleven patients (20%) discontinued treatment owing to noncompliance. Forty-four patients completed the treatment period. They were assessed at baseline, and at week 16 and 32 with: a semi-structured interview for demographic and clinical variables; Clinical Global Impression Scale (CGI-S); Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS); Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HARS); Social and Occupational Functioning Assessment Scale (SOFAS); BPD Severity Index (BPD-SI); and a questionnaire for quality of life (Satisfaction Profile [SAT-P]). A univariate general linear model was performed with 2 factors: duration and type of treatment. P values of less than 0.05 were considered significant. Results: Remission rates did not differ significantly between subgroups. Duration, but not type of treatment, had a significant effect on CGI-S, HDRS, SOFAS, and total BPD-SI score changes. Combined therapy was more effective on the HARS; the items: interpersonal relationships, affective instability, and impulsivity of BPD-SI; and the factors: psychological functioning and social functioning of SAT-P. Conclusions: Combined therapy with adapted IPT was superior to fluoxetine alone in BPD patients, concerning a few core symptoms of the disorder, anxiety, and quality of life.
Epidemiological features of calf mortality due to hemophilosis in a large feedlot.

Hemophilosis was the most significant cause of mortality in fall-placed calves in a large feedlot in Saskatchewan, despite routine single immunization of calves with a commercial Haemophilus somnus bacterin on arrival. Common manifestations of fatal H. somnus infection were myocarditis and pleuritis; occasionally, thrombotic meningoencephalomyelitis (TME), peracute septicemia, and pneumonia were observed. Circumstantial evidence suggested that H. somnus may be a pathogen in polyarthritis. Death from pneumonia mainly occurred during the first five weeks in the feedlot. Death from myocarditis, pleuritis, TME, and septicemia, and euthanasia because of polyarthritis, occurred mainly after the third week in the feedlot.The median fatal disease onset (FDO) for pneumonia was day 12; for septicemia, day 17; for polyarthritis, day 18; for myocarditis and pleuritis, day 22; and for TME, day 29. Calves that died from myocarditis frequently were found dead in their "home" pen; however, 88% of these animals had been treated previously. Fifty-seven percent of the calves that died from pleuritis were never treated, and those that died from TME or septicemia were either never treated or died shortly after initial treatment.