Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Optimal setup adjustment and control of a process under ARMA disturbances

Process adjustment uses information from past runs to adjust settings for the next run and bring the output to its target. The efficiency of a control algorithm depends on the nature of the disturbance and dynamics of the process. This article develops a control algorithm when the disturbance is a general ARMA(p, q) process, in the presence of measurement error and adjustment error together with a random initial bias. Its optimality property is established and the stability conditions are derived. It is shown that the popular Exponentially Weighted Moving Average (EWMA) controller is a special case of the proposed controller. In addition, Monte Carlo simulations are conducted to study the finite sample behavior of the proposed controller and compare it with the proportional–integral–derivative controller when the disturbance is an ARMA(1,1) process and with the EWMA controller when the disturbance is an IMA(1,1) process. The ARMA controller is also implemented to control an ARMA(2,1) disturbance and its performance is compared with the other two controllers. All of the results reflect the new controller’s superiority when multiple sources of uncertainty exist or a general ARMA(p, q) disturbance is incurred.
The Allocation of Intellectual Property Control Rights In R&D Alliances

This paper studies the control rights allocated to partners within R&D alliances formed in the bio-pharmaceutical industry. More in particular, it focuses on the allocation of intellectual property control rights as seen from the perspective of the firm that is the main source of the technology that is developed or used within the alliance. The empirical analysis considers three main conditions that are expected to affect the allocation of control rights. The first condition refers to the impact of inter-firm asymmetries within alliances, i.e. asymmetries in innovative capabilities. The second condition relates to the scope of alliances in terms of both their focus on different stages of the innovation process and their breadth as indicated by the number of technology applications. The third condition refers to the exclusivity of contracts that limit the options for firms to engage in relevant alternative activities with third parties. The main findings indicate that conditions such as inter-firm asymmetries, in particular asymmetries in innovative capabilities, the technology scope of alliances, and the exclusivity in alliance partnering play a decisive role in the allocation of intellectual property control rights in R&D alliances.
The Transition from Short- to Long-Term Unemployment: A Statistical Profiling Model for Ireland

This paper develops a statistical profiling model of long-term unemployment risk in Ireland. We use a combination of administrative data and information gathered from a unique questionnaire that was issued to all jobseekers making a social welfare claim between September and December 2006 who were then tracked for eighteen months. We find that factors such as a recent history of long-term unemployment, advanced age, number of children, relatively low levels of education, literacy/numeracy problems, location in urban areas, lack of personal transport, low rates of recent labour market engagement, spousal earnings and geographic location all significantly affect the likelihood of remaining unemployed for twelve months or more. While the predicted probability distribution for males was found to be relatively normal, the female distribution was bimodal, indicating that larger proportions of females were at risk of falling into long-term unemployment. We find evidence that community based employment schemes for combating long-term unemployment have little effect as participants re-entering the register typically experience extended durations. Finally, we argue that the adoption of an unemployment profiling system will result in both equity and efficiency gains to Public Employment Services
Natural Killer Cells: A Potential Therapy for Paediatric Brain Tumours

Natural killer cells are innate immune cells that are naturally involved in tumour immunosurveillance. These cells have direct cytotoxic activity and also secrete proinflammatory cytokines upon activation. The activation of natural killer cells’ cytolytic activity is dependent on a balance between inhibitory signals and activating signals provided by the host cells. Natural killer cells do not exert their activity on healthy cells, due to interactions of inhibitory receptors with self major histocompatibility class I. Inhibition may be overcome when the cell binds tumour-associated antigens on the surface of tumour cells, resulting in the polarized release of cytolytic granules toward the target cell. Natural killer cells demonstrate particular promise for cellular therapy, as they can identify and eliminate tumours that have altered major histocompatibility class I expression. Central nervous system tumours are the second most common paediatric cancer and are associated with a high mortality rate. Many of these high-grade paediatric brain tumours have very dismal prognoses, despite standard treatment regimens, and patients would substantially benefit from a novel type of therapy. Natural killer cells have been shown to be effective against many human malignancies; however, less is known about their efficacy against brain tumours. Treatment of medulloblastoma and adult glioblastoma with natural killer cells has been investigated previously and yielded promising results. Natural killer cells represent a small fraction of peripheral blood, which poses a limitation for their widespread use in adoptive cell therapy. Current research is focussed on establishing an optimal protocol for the ex vivo expansion and activation of natural killer cells. In the future, paediatric brain tumours such as glioblastoma multiforme, ependymoma and atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumours should be examined for their susceptibility to natural killer cells.
A recombinant lactobacillus strain expressing genes coding for restriction enzymes cleaving the HIV genomes for use as a live microbicide strategy against heterosexual transmission of HIV

Using genetically engineered endogenous lactobacillus strains colonizing the vagina mucosa to express heterogenous proteins has of late joined the novel strategies aimed at developing a microbicides against HIV. Using the lactobacillus metabolic genome pathway, we found that these bacteria do not naturally produce restriction enzymes, but rather, have a number of putative alien genes of the type. In view of the antiviral defence role of restriction modification systems (RMS), we searched for enzymes that cleave HIV-1, 2 and other SIV genomes using theoretical computational methods. With over 200 such enzymes identified, we present herein a plasmid vector mediated strategy for modifying lactobacillus strains to express RMS islands as an approach to developing a live HIV microbicide. This model is transferable to other viral infections that find their way into humans through mucosal orifices.
Évaluation d’indices de comparaison pour la substitution des solvants en milieu de travail

Substitution is a primary preventive method which allows the elimination of hazards to workers at the source. One of the steps in substitution analysis is the comparison between options in order to choose the best alternative. Various comparison indices based on physicochemical, health and environmental parameters of substances may facilitate the choice. However, no evaluation of theses indices has been done in the case of solvent substitution. Development research was undertaken in order to propose an improved methodology for solvent substitution. A systematic procedure of solvent substitution was applied to a real workplace case and the comparison between options was made using the Vapour Hazard Ratio (VHR). Three Overexposure Potential Indices (OPIs) (VHR, « Maleteknisk Arbejdshygiejnisk Luftbehov » (MAL) and SUBstitution FACtor (SUBFAC)) and three comprehensive hazard screening indices (air index (ψi), Indiana Relative Chemical Hazard Score (IRCHS) and Final Hazard Score (FHS)) were evaluated and compared using a list of 56 and 67 solvents respectively. In the case of mixtures, the effect of nonideality on OPIs was also investigated by comparing 50 solvent mixtures. Quantitative property-property relationship (QPPR) models were developed for estimating Occupational Exposure Limits (OELs) for solvents without OELs. QPPR models were made from octanol:air, blood:air and metabolic constants using a list of 88 solvents. The case study showed that the use of the VHR made comparison of replacement options easier, although it was limited by the absence of an OEL for a solvent. VHR and SUBFAC
Is size important for the investment-uncertainty relationship?: an empirical analyses for Dutch firms

Abstract By using data from a survey amongst a panel of Dutch firms we investigate whether the investment-uncertainty relationship depends on the size of the firm. We find that uncertainty has a positive effect on investment of small firms, whereas it is negative for large firms. There are probably two reasons for this outcome. First, both small and large Dutch firms do not seem to be financially constrained. Second, sunk costs are much higher for large than for small Dutch firms.
Women and Leisure: Premises and Performances Uncovered in an Integrative Review

Research about women and leisure continues to expand as meanings are examined from different perspectives. The purpose of this paper is to extend three previous integrative reviews about research trends and outcomes regarding women's leisure. Research articles appearing from 2001–2005 in selected major research journals of English speaking countries were analyzed through an integrative review to ascertain patterns and themes. New as well as recurring patterns in the content of the research emerged. Results indicated five themes related to premises and performances of leisure that summarized the recent literature about women and leisure at the beginning of the new century: gender resistance and leisure choices, gendered leisure and critical theory, constraints in context, women's leisure and social factors, and active leisure.
Effect of dietary fish oil (Omega - 3 - fatty acid) against oxidative stress in isoproterenol induced myocardial injury in albino wistar rats

In the present study, the protective effect of fish oil treatment on the fatty acid composition in isoproterenol (IPH)-induced myocardial infarction was studied in male albino Wistar rats. Rats were injected with Isoproterenol, IPH (8.5 mg/Kg, s.c) twice at an interval of 24hrs to induce myocardial infarction. Fish oil was administered orally at 5% v/w for 30 days after which serum and heart tissue were assayed for clinical marker enzymes in the tissue & in determination of biochemical parameters and the remaining tissue was subjected for histopathological studies.Biochemical assessment of myocardial infarction was done by measuring the activities of lipid peroxides(LPO), reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase(GPX), glutathione-S-transferase(GST), superoxide dismutase (SOD), Catalase(CAT), creatine kinase (CK) and serum enzymes which were significantly elevated in the rats administered with IPH. The fish oil treatment for a period of 30 days decreased the levels of cardiac markers (creatinine kinase and biochemical parameters) and reversed the biochemical lesions induced by IPH. Our study suggests that supplement of fish oil protects myocardium against oxidative stress through its antioxidant defence mechanism and anti thrombotic activity and thereby restores the structural and functional
Axial Ratio Enhancement of Equilateral Triangular-Ring Slot Antenna Using Coupled Diagonal Line Slots

Wideband circularly polarized antenna is required for many satellite applications. Circularly polarized (CP) Equilateral Triangular-Ring Slot (ETRS) antenna has narrow 3-dB axial ratio bandwidth (ARBW) compared to its impedance bandwidth. Two diagonal line slots were introduced to ETRS for enhancing its 3-dB ARBW. The diagonal line slots were inserted on the left and right side of ETRS. Lengths of the left and right line slots correspond to the lowest and highest frequencies of ETRS antenna 3-dB ARBW, respectively. Both diagonal line slots have successfully improved 3-dB ARBW of ETRS antenna by achieving 680MHz or 37% fractional bandwidth. Measured results of x-z and y-z planes of radiation patterns also confirm that the antenna has bidirectional radiation and presents good CP performance within its 3-dB ARBW. ETRS antenna RHCP gain is also improved thanks to the diagonal line slots insertion.
Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora caninum and Leishmania amazonensis antibodies in domestic dogs in the western Brazilian Amazon region

Blood samples from 99 domestic dogs were collected in the urban area (n = 33) and rural area (n = 66) of the municipality of Labrea, state of Amazonas, Brazil. Among the rural samples, 40 were collected in riverine communities and 26 were collected in Indian communities, both along the Purus River. During the sampling, a questionnaire was applied to obtain information relating to sex, age, living in dryland or seasonally flooded areas, access to the streets (for urban dogs) and access to forests. The presence of antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora caninum, Leishmania infantum chagasi and Leishmania amazonensis was detected by means of the indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) with cutoffs of 16, 50, 40 and 40, respectively. The association of each qualitative variable, with each parasite and positivity for each of them, were evaluated using the χ 2 test (p < 0.05). T. gondii, N. caninum and L. amazonensis antibodies were found, respectively, in 61.6%, 7.1% and 8.1% of the animals examined. None of the samples were positive for L. infantum chagasi. The variable of living in an urban area (p = 0.041) presented an association with occurrence of T. gondii and the positivity for T. gondii increased with age of the dogs (p = 0.0006). The variable of male sex presented an association with N. caninum (p = 0.018) and no variable presented any association with L. amazonensis . The antibody titers against T. gondii ranged from 64 to 32,768; against N. caninum from 100 to 800; and against L. amazonensis from 40 to 640. Both T. gondii and L. amazonensis are important zoonotic agents and are active in this region. The municipality studied, and especially its riverine communities, has geographic, social and ecological peculiarities. This region requires greater attention from the authorities for controlling these agents.
Educational Competences with Regard to Critical Infrastucture Protection

Current critical infrastructures can be considered cyber-physical systems (CPS). CPS are a subset of sociotechnical systems that provide seamless integration between computational, human and physical elements. The National Academy of Sciences identifies four event management cycles that a system needs to maintain to be resilient: 1) Selfmodify/Plan/Prepare, 2) Absorb, 3) Recover, and 4) Adapt and learn. The Network-Centric Warfare doctrine identifies four domains that create shared situational awareness and inform decentralized decision-making: 1) Physical, 2) Information, 3) Cognitive, 4) Social. The research data of our case study is collected from authentic research and development projects (n=16) from three Finnish universities. Results indicate that future competences with regard to CPS are multidisciplinary including many industrial sectors and academic disciplines as well as multiple theories. Designing new curriculums and educational needs with regard to CPS, could benefit from the design science research (DSR) framework from Hevner and Chatterjee (2010). We have exploited the DSR framework for mapping future educational needs with regard to CPS and relevant industrial sectors and academic disciplines should be included. This paper argues that CPS education should, in all cases, cover both the four CPS domains (physical, information, cognitive and social) as well as all event management cycles (plan/prepare, absorb, recover and adapt). Traditional safety and security thinking has been based on the supposition that we can focus our actions in controlling our own systems and to stay inside a “circle of protection”. Thus, multi-stakeholder coordination and cooperation are needed, as no one actor alone can control complex large integrated cyber-physical systems of critical infrastructure. The focus of CPS education should thus also focus on cooperation and information sharing between the different different stakeholders. This is the way to promote more resilient complex systems of systems. Students need frameworks and models that enable resilience management across the entire network to maintain and improve critical functionalities.
What is really in the economic partnership agreements for the Southern African region? A perspective from Botswana's beef export markets

Abstract The signing of the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) between the European Union (EU) and the African Caribbean Pacific (ACP) nations dominated the multilateral trade agenda in late 2007 and early 2008. While the Caribbean nations signed the full EPAs, some of the African countries only singed interim agreements with the EU and a number of West African countries chose not to sign any EPA. Using the case of Botswana's export markets, especially in agriculture, it is argued that the interim Southern African Development Community (SADC) EPA, which was signed by Botswana and her neighbours, with the exception of South Africa, may have been economically sensible in protecting Botswana's rural poor, at least in the short run. By tracing trade flows from the border to specifically poor sectors of the country, the importance of the beef exports sector to the poor and rural communities was found. The potential effects on the most significant exports of tariff bands associated with preferential agreements with the EU were found to be most beneficial in comparison to the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) and the South Africa-EU Trade Development and Cooperation Agreement (TDCA) tariff bands. But it is also argued that the EPA will most likely have far reaching long run costs on regional economic development and institutional integration, within the SADC and Southern African Customs Union (SACU).
The genetic consequences of emus as a vector for the long distance dispersal of seed in Leucopogon nutans

Dispersal is a primary function of most living organisms and is vital for reproduction and population growth. Aiding in population persistence as well as gene flow within a population and also between metapopulations, dispersal is vital for ensuring biodiversity and the conservation of populations and species. This study demonstrated for the first time the use of genetic tools on seeds dispersed by emus. Through the use of microsatellite markers, this study assessed the genetic diversity and structure of plant populations of Leucopogon nutans (a fire-killed perennial shrub) in two SW Australian jarrah forest areas that differed in disperser (emu) abundance; an area with high emu abundance (Avon Valley; AV), and one with low emu abundance (Sawyers Valley; SV). Seeds were also sourced from emu scats in the high abundance (Avon Valley) area. 37 scats were analysed and contained a mean of 255±140 fruits per scat, with a total of 11000 fruit collected overall. Seed fill in scats was low, with 2% of fruit containing seeds. All three sampled groups (plants at AV and SV, scats at SV) showed high levels of heterozygosity (He ≥0.50). Most importantly, seeds sourced from emu scats showed a relatively high level of population differentiation (mean FST= 0.052±0.036) and when compared to adult plants at the same site showed an even higher level of differentiation (mean FST=0.066±0.021). The area with low emu abundance (SV) showed the lowest level of population differentiation between plant samples (0.014±0.01). The high level of differentiation between seeds sourced from scats and adult plants at Avon Valley suggests that a portion of the seeds in scats originated outside of the adult plant sample region. This suggests that there is greater genetic structuring 1) within scats, compared to adults over the same area and 2) in areas with high emu abundance. These results reflect emu foraging habits, suggesting that emus graze within small patches of genetically similar adult plants before moving some distance (up to several kilometres) to other grazing hotspots. They support the, up to now largely circumstantial, evidence of emus as long distance dispersal vectors, with evidence suggesting that a portion of the potentially viable seeds found in scats originated greater the 3km away.
Nutritional status of pregnant cows in district Kupwara of Kashmir Valley

A survey was conducted in nine villages, three each from tehsil Kupwara, Handwara and Karnah of district Kupwara to find out the nutritional value of feeds and fodders, existing feeding practices and nutritional status of pregnant cows. For this purpose, fifteen farm families from each of the villages were randomly selected for the study. Data were collected from the selected farmers through a common questionnaire. The average dairy herd strength/family was 3.6± 0.22, 4.1± 0.23, 3.9± 0.31 in Kupwara, Handwara and Karnah tehsils respectively. The average body weight (kg) of pregnant cows was 165.57± 0.10, 175.15± 3.75 and 161.98± 3.35 in the respective tehsils. The daily DM intake was 41.40 and 37.21 per cent excess in tehsils Kupwara and Handwara, respectively than that of the nutrient requirement given in the feeding standard (Ranjhan, 1998) while for Karnah tehsil daily DM intake for pregnant cows was deficit by 6.80 per cent. The DCP intake was 19.81 and 19.94 per cent excess for pregnant cows in Kupwara and Handwara tehsils while for Karnah tehsil it was deficit by 1.0 per cent. The daily intake of TDN was 51.10, 48.49 and 11.65 per cent excess to the standard nutrient requirements for the respective tehsils.
Numerical Calculation of Beam Coupling Impedances in the Frequency Domain using FIT

The transverse impedance of kicker magnets is considered to be one of the main beam instability sources in the projected SIS-100 at FAIR and also in the SPS at CERN. The longitudinal impedance can contribute to the heat load, which is especially a concern in the cold sections of SIS100 and LHC. In the high frequency range, commercially available time domain codes like CST Particle Studio serve to calculate the impedance but they are inapplicable at medium and low frequencies which become more important for larger size synchrotrons. We present the ongoing work of developing a Finite Integration Technique (FIT) solver in frequency domain which is based on the Parallel and Extensible Toolkit for Scientific computing (PETSc) framework in C++. Proper beam adapted boundary conditions are important to validate the concept. The code is applied to an inductive insert used to compensate the longitudinal space charge impedance in low energy machines. Another application focuses on the impedance contribution of a ferrite kicker with inductively coupled pulse forming network (PFN).