Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Propagation of two symmetrical pulsed atmospheric plasma streams generated by a pulsed plasma gun

A new plasma source, named Plasma Gun, has been developed in GREMI within the frame of the Plasmed project dedicated to plasma medicine applications The plasma gun generates pulsed atmospheric plasma streams (PAPS) which propagate at high velocity (>108 cm.s-1) in various dielectric tubes, including flexible catheters. In this work, we performed time resolved ICCD imaging of the plasma gun allowing measurement of the light emission intensity, the plasma velocity and the evolution of the plasma streams topography during their propagation. It is seen that the so-called plasma “bullet” is in fact the PAPS head which corresponds to a zone of higher intensity in the front of the plasma stream. We demonstrated PAPS splitting in two or multiple branches. For example, two symmetrical PAPS can be generated from a single one when reaching T-shape or ring structures. Each of the two streams ensuing from the splitting of the original one present very similar intensity and propagation features , also similar to those of a single PAPS at the same distance from the primary DBD discharge reactor. The mixing of the two PAPS was studied with the circular assembly and reveals that a constructive mixing occurs leading to the generation of a new single plasma stream which light emission is roughly the addition of that of the two colliding ones.
The social media overture of the pan-European Stop-ACTA protest

As the latest instalments of protest from the Arab Spring to Occupy and beyond are digested in scholarly work, they point to a scalable, informal structure that develops as an impermanent framework for performing coordinational tasks formerly associated with collective organizations. Whilst a substitution of this nature appears a distinct possibility with social media, the participatory dynamics at the heart of such connective action remain largely uncharted. This article scrutinizes the scope for the participatory development of motivations and resources to undertake collective action. For this purpose, it reviews an empirical study of public Facebook and Twitter communication associated with the pan-European protest against the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement. Ensuing results point to a rational, resource-oriented mode of communication figuring prominently on both platforms. Moreover, the time distribution of motivational and resource-driven talk confounds earlier claims about patterns of social media usage in collective action. Finally, despite their smaller number, motivational posts had a higher impact than resource-oriented talk on both platforms – an apparent sign of their particularly positive reception.
A PURE NODAL-ANALYSIS METHOD SUITABLE FOR ANALOG CIRCUITS USING NULLORS

una novedosa tecnica adecuada para asistida por ordenador de circuitos integrados analogicos (ICS) es introducido. Esta tecnica utiliza las caracteri­sticas de ambos analisis nodal (NA) y analisis simbolico, a nivel nullor . En primer lugar, la nullor se utiliza para modelar el comportamiento ideal de varios dispositivos analogicos, a saber: los transistores, opamps, OTA, y transportadores actuales. A partir de este enfoque de modelado, se muestra como transformar los circuitos de trabajo en tension de modo a modo actual y viceversa. En segundo lugar, se demuestra que nullors utilizando, todos los no-NA-elementos compatibles pueden ser transformados en los NA-compatible, esto se traduce en un metodo computacional-NA mejora pura. En tercer lugar, el calculo de la totalidad-se describe el uso de expresiones simbolicas,. Esta demostrado que una expresion simbolica que da una vision mas clara en el comportamiento y el rendimiento del circuito. Por ultimo, algunos ejemplos demuestran la idoneidad y adecuacion del metodo propuesto para ser utilizado en la educacion.
An Efficient Signature System Using Optimized RSA Algorithm

Summary Digital signature are used in message transmission to verify the identity of the sender and ensure that a message has not been modified after signing. RSA algorithm is extensively used in the popular implementations of Public Key Infrastructures. In this paper, we have develop a new algorithm for generating signature that overcomes the shortcomings of the RSA system (longer processing time & computational overheads ). In addition, the new algorithm achieve high security for digital signature. The performance of the two public key cryptosystem ( RSA and DSS) and the new algorithm has been implemented and compared. The results obtained show that signing and verification operations are faster in the case of using new algorithm than in the case of RSA and DSS . Also it can forbid any one from reaching the sender's message because with the new algorithm an intruder cannot pose the message sent since the sender’s private key is unknown for him. Accordingly, the sender can not be impersonated. On the receiver part, the message is verified by using sender’s public key and his private key to decrypt the message successfully.
Formation of secondary organic aerosol from isoprene oxidation over Europe

Abstract. The role of isoprene as a precursor to secondary organic aerosol (SOA) over Europe is studied with the two-way nested global chemistry transport model TM5. The inclusion of the formation of SOA from isoprene oxidation in our model almost doubles the atmospheric burden of SOA over Europe compared to SOA formation from terpenes and aromatics. The reference simulation, which considers SOA formation from isoprene, terpenes and aromatics, predicts a yearly European production rate of 1.0 Tg SOA yr −1 and an annual averaged atmospheric burden of about 50 Gg SOA over Europe. A fraction of 35% of the SOA produced in the boundary layer over Europe is transported to higher altitudes or to other world regions. Summertime measurements of organic matter (OM) during the extensive EMEP OC/EC campaign 2002/2003 are better reproduced when SOA formation from isoprene is taken into account, reflecting also the strong seasonality of isoprene and other biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOC) emissions from vegetation. However, during winter, our model strongly underestimates OM, likely caused by missing wood burning in the emission inventories. Uncertainties in the parameterisation of isoprene SOA formation have been investigated. Maximum SOA production is found for irreversible sticking (non-equilibrium partitioning) of condensable vapours on particles, with tropospheric SOA production over Europe increased by a factor of 4 in summer compared to the reference case. Completely neglecting SOA formation from isoprene results in the lowest estimate (0.51 Tg SOA yr −1 ). The amount and the nature of the absorbing matter are shown to be another key uncertainty when predicting SOA levels. Consequently, smog chamber experiments on SOA formation should be performed with different types of seed aerosols and without seed aerosols in order to derive an improved treatment of the absorption of SOA in the models. Consideration of a number of recent insights in isoprene SOA formation mechanisms reduces the tropospheric production of isoprene derived SOA over Europe from 0.4 Tg yr −1 in our reference simulation to 0.1 Tg yr −1 .
Forecasting the impact of an invasive macrophyte species in the littoral zone through aquatic insect species composition.

Invasive macrophytes threaten freshwater ecosystem biodiversity. We analyzed the impact of the invasive white ginger lily ( Hedychium coronarium Konig J, 1783.– Zingiberaceae) on aquatic insect assemblages living in the littoral zone of a tropical reservoir. We took aquatic insect samples in the littoral zone on four main vegetal profile banks: white ginger monotypic bank, forest partially invaded, native macrophyte monotypic bank and riparian forest. At each vegetal bank, we measured abiotic variables such as dissolved oxygen, pH, water temperature and depth. We analyzed the aquatic insects through abundance, richness and Simpson diversity. We used the non-Metric Multidimensional Scaling (nMDS) analysis to analyze the spatial distribution of each assemblage, and Analysis of similarities (ANOSIM) to verify differences amongst dissimilarity distances. Additionally, we analyzed the main taxa associated with invasive macrophytes through indicator species analyses using IndVal index. We observed that the invasive macrophyte banks presented higher abundance of associated specimens, as well as lower dissimilarity of aquatic insect assemblages. Additionally, invasive macrophytes shifted the water pH and littoral depth of reservoir banks. The IndVal index indicated eight aquatic insects as indicator species. Labrundinia unicolor Silva, 2013 , Ablabesmyia depaulai Neubern, 2013 and Diastatops Rambur, 1842 were indicator species on banks. We concluded that invasion of white ginger lily caused loss of shallow littoral habitat and altered the pH of the surrounding water probably by high decomposition rate and high production of plant biomass. We suggest the use of species of aquatic insects as indicator species to monitor white ginger lily impact in freshwater systems.
Higher Plasma Concentrations of the Methylglyoxal Metabolite D-lactate are Independently Associated with Insulin Resistance: The CODAM Study

Objective: Methylglyoxal (MGO), a highly reactive dicarbonyl compound generated by the spontaneous degradation of glycolytic intermediates, is a major precursor for advanced glycation endproducts and can potentially disrupt cellular functions. MGO can be detoxified by the glyoxalase system into D-lactate. Although experimental studies have shown that increased levels of MGO are associated with insulin resistance, epidemiological evidence of such an association in human studies is lacking. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between plasma D-lactate, as a reflection of plasma MGO concentrations, and insulin resistance. Methods: Cross-sectional, complete case analyses were performed in the Cohort study on Diabetes and Atherosclerosis Maastricht (CODAM). 513 participants were included in the study population: 59.4 ± 6.9 years of age, 63% men, and, by design, 23% impaired glucose metabolism (IGM) and 23% type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Plasma D-lactate was measured by UPLC-MS/MS. The main outcome measure was HOMA2-IR, as a measure of insulin resistance. The association between plasma D-lactate and HOMA2-IR was studied by multiple linear regression analysis. Results: The prevalence of T2DM increased significantly over the tertiles of plasma D-lactate concentrations. Moreover, plasma D-lactate was positively associated with HOMA2-IR, when adjusted for age and sex (β=0.429; 95% CI: 0.350-0.507; p<0.001), as well as in the fully adjusted model, additionally adjusted for glucose metabolism status, smoking status, prior cardiovascular disease, use of medication (glucose-, lipid-, and blood pressure lowering), estimated glomerular filtration rate, waist circumference, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1C) and plasma L-lactate levels (β=0.145; 95% CI: 0.051-0.239; p=0.003). Additional data indicate that other sources of D-lactate can be excluded. Conclusion: We found a positive association between plasma D-lactate and HOMA2-IR, independently of putative confounders. These results suggest that MGO plays a role in insulin resistance, although direct measurement of MGO is necessary to confirm this.
Modeling Equilibrium Dynamics of the Benguela Current System

The Regional Ocean Modeling System (ROMS) is used to systematically investigate equilibrium conditions and seasonal variations of the Benguela system at a resolution of 9 km, including both the large-scale offshore flow regime and the economically and ecologically important coastal upwelling regime. A shelf-edge poleward flow exists in the northern Benguela region (i.e., north of 28°S) and is driven primarily by the wind stress curl via the Sverdrup relation. As such, it is strongly seasonal and is most intense during spring and summer, when the wind stress curl is most negative. The poleward flow deepens as it moves southward; between 25° and 27°S, much of it veers offshore because of the nature of the wind stress curl and its interaction with the northwestward path of the Benguela Current, which is influenced by alongshore topographical variations. The Benguela Current is driven by nonlinear interactions of passing Agulhas rings and eddies and does not have a striking seasonal signal. In the mean state, it is characterized by two streams. The more inshore stream is topographically controlled and follows the run of the shelf edge. The meandering nature of the offshore stream is a result of the preferential path of Agulhas rings. The model simulates all seven of the major upwelling cells within its domain. The three southernmost cells have the strongest seasonal signal and experience their greatest upwelling during spring and summer months, whereas the two northernmost cells have less seasonal variability but nevertheless have increased upwelling from autumn to spring (and least upwelling in summer), and the central Benguela upwelling cells experience year-round upwelling. The effect of topography on coastal upwelling was investigated by smoothing alongshore coastline and topography variations, which showed that, in all of the seven major upwelling cells, upwelling is enhanced on the downstream side of capes.
Corporate Governance and Book-Tax Differences: Tunisian Evidence

This paper’s main objective is to examine the effect of corporate governance on earnings manipulations using BTD proxy. We investigate whether ownership structure board and audit committee characters affect earnings and tax management. Based on a sample of 21 corporations listed on Tunisian stock market during the period 2003-2012, our study employs regression analysis to test the prediction that the governance attributes reduces the likelihood of earnings and tax aggressiveness. We find that the ownership structure is an important corporate governance mechanism that affects BTD. We find that BTD does not vary with board size and the cumulative effect of the function of chief executive and president of the board. We find that the percentage of outside directors is associated with managerial discretion. Finally, we find that the audit committee influences ABTD through the variable relating to the financial expertise of the committee.
Obtaining the Name aliases from the Web, using them to Cluster Text Documents with Cuckoo Algorithm and Comparing Results with K-Means Algorithm

There is an increase in the searching where name aliases are concerned. Approximately 30 percent of searches are based on aliases; hence it becomes important to obtain correct aliases. Lexical pattern based method is used to obtain the aliases of any personal or place from the web The aliases obtained are ranked and filtered based on the co-occurrence frequency and web dice methods These final aliases are then used to cluster the text documents present in a huge database. To get the best cluster cuckoo method of clustering is used. This method is based on the reproduction system of the cuckoo bird. According to the studies this clustering method when used with levy flight concept gives the best results when huge data is concern and also outperforms particle swarm optimization algorithm and genetic algorithm. The result will be compared with the result of kmeans clustering method.
A reevaluation of the impact of financial development on economic growth and its sources by regions

This work estimates the impact of Private Credit to the private sector and Liquid Liabilities (as measures of financial development) on economic growth, capital growth and productivity growth for different regions. Estimations are conducted with a panel database of 78 countries and 35 years using GMM system estimator method for dynamic panel data, correcting by Windme¼er (2005) robust errors and using fewer and relevant instruments compared to the established procedure in the literature of financial development and economic growth. We consider four geographical regions, Latin Amerca, Europe and North America, Asia and Africa. The results with this new methodology, that improves the inference over the usual one used in the literature , suggest a significant effect of financial development in economic growth for the entire panel (for the measue of Liquid Liabilities) and Latin America. We find no evidence of an effect of our financial development measures over physical capital accumulation but there is a positive effect of financial development, measure by liquidity, over total factor productivity growth. The effect of financial development over economic growth is greater in the less developed regions.
Effects of receptor thickness on localised surface plasmon resonance sensing performance

Metal nanoparticles (MNPs) have potential uses in biochemical sensing applications owing to their localised surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) characteristics. In practice, selective biochemical sensors based on LSPR are constructed by MNPs and selective receptors for specific biochemical molecules. This Letter studies the effects of receptor thickness on LSPR sensing properties experimentally and theoretically. Experimental results demonstrate that an increase in polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) receptor thickness induces a red shift of LSPR spectrum. For a 42 nm PMMA receptor, the maximum extinction efficiency is more sensitive to the test chloroform vapour than the peak wavelength. This receptor thickness effect is confirmed by electrodynamics calculations: a relatively thin receptor layer will create high peak wavelength sensitivity and low extinction efficiency sensitivity. However, it is the opposite for a relatively thick receptor layer. The turning point between thick and thin is approximately 20 nm in this Letter. These insights can be used as guidelines in fabricating high-sensitive LSPR-based biochemical sensors.
The Concept of Green Analytical Chemistry

Three years ago, when we published our review paper on Green Analytical Chemistry [1] it was clear that, at this time, Green Chemistry was a well established paradigm well supported by more than 50 published books, an increasing number of research teams who influenced the scientific literature and involved the editions of special journals like
A search for absorption of MG and CA compounds in molecular clouds towards Galactic continuum sources

Absorption lines of MgH and CaH N = 1 − 0 transitions were searched for in foreground molecular clouds towards the continuum sources associated with Sgr B2 (M) and W49A (N). None of these lines was detected with our sensitivity level of ~20 mK. Millimetric absorption lines of MgO, MgOH, CaO and CaOH were also searched for towards Sgr B2 (M) without success. The fractional abundances relative to molecular hydrogen are ≲ 1.0 × 10 −11 for MgH, ≲ 7.9 × 10 −13 for MgO, ≲ 1.6 × 10 −10 for MgOH, ≲ 1.6 × 10 −9 for CaH, ≲ 2.0 × 10 −12 for CaO, and ≲ 2.5 × 10 −10 for CaOH, respectively. The low abundances measured in absorption indicate that a significant fraction of interstellar magnesium and calcium cannot be tied up in their monohydrides, monoxides and monohydroxides. The low abundance of MgH also implies that grain-surface chemistry involving magnesium is not efficient and that magnesium is depleted on to grains to a factor of ≳ 102.5 in well-shielded molecular clouds.
Grounds for Termination of Franchise Agreement in Jordan

Purpose: This study explores the termination of franchise agreement in Jordan. The study discusses the grounds to terminate the franchise agreement by each party whether franchisor or franchisee. Regulating the franchise sector by a specific act minimizes unfair termination and helps strengthen the franchise sector in Jordan. Design/methodology/approach: This study is qualitative. Eleven in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with the relevant parties involved in franchise agreements as well as legislatures. The analysis was thematically conducted and accordingly supported by sufficient excerpts. Findings: The study found several grounds to terminate the franchise agreement by the parties involved. Emphatically, the participants were unanimous regarding the breach of the contract terms and conditions as the main ground to terminate the franchise agreement. Research limitations: The research participants were franchisors, franchisees and parliamentarians in Jordan. Additionally, the data collection constrained by funds paucity and difficulties in securing appointments with the participants who were always busy and not available. Two of the participant answered the interview questions by filling up the questions instead of face to face and recorded interview. Practical implications: The study suggests that the termination grounds of the franchise agreement need to be more specific and limited to certain provisions which should be provided by specific act for this purpose. Otherwise the unfair termination whether by the franchisors or franchisees will continue. Originality/value: Even though franchise agreement literatures are aplenty, this study, however, is the first attempt at qualitatively exploring in-depth regarding the termination grounds for the franchise agreement in Jordan. Paper type: Research Paper Keywords: franchise agreement, termination, specific act, franchise law
Dynamics of HIV-1 Associated Kaposi Sarcoma During HAART Therapy

The techniques of mathematical modeling and investigative computer simulations are used to study the qualitative aspects of the patho-physiodynamics of HIV-1 associated Kaposi sarcoma (KS) during Highly Active Anti-Retroviral Therapy (HAART) of AIDS. Using a system of non-linear deterministic differential equations, the model incorporates the biologically measurable and clinically relevant immunological interactions and parameters. In particular, the computer simulations elucidate the role of CD8 T lymphocyte in the annihilation and persistence of Kaposi sarcoma during HAART.
English Language Teachers' Conceptions of Research.

This article examines the conceptions of research held by 505 teachers of English from 13 countries around the world. Questionnaire responses supplemented by follow-up written and interview data were analyzed to understand teachers’ views on what research is and how often they read and do it (and why or why not in each case). An understanding of these issues is central to the development of informed policies for promoting teacher research engagement, but relevant systematic evidence is lacking in the field of English language teaching (ELT). The study shows that the teachers held conceptions of research aligned with conventional scientific notions of inquiry. The teachers also reported moderate to low levels of reading and doing research, with a lack of time, knowledge, and access to material emerging as key factors which teachers felt limited their ability to be research-engaged. Teachers engaged in research reported being driven largely by practical and professional concerns rather than external drivers such as employers or promotion. Overall, the findings of this study point to a number of attitudinal, conceptual, procedural, and institutional barriers to teacher research engagement. Understanding these, it is argued here, is an essential part of the broader process of trying to address them and hence to make teacher research engagement a more feasible activity in ELT.