Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Lung Function and Inflammation in Adult Sickle Cell Disease in a West Indian Sickle Cell Cohort

Background: The commonest cause of mortality in sickle cell disease (SCD) is an acute condition called the acute chest syndrome. Little is known of the long term effects of this condition or of its effect on lung function. Objective: To determine lung function in sickle cell disease (SCD) adults and its relation to acute chest syndrome, baseline haemoglobin and systemic inflammation as estimated by serum C-reactive protein. Methods: The lung function in sickle cell disease (SCD) outpatients was compared to that in asymptomatic age and sex matched controls. Stable haemoglobin and serum C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured. Results: 74 controls of mean age 31 years and 154 sickle cell disease (SCD) outpatients with mean age 31 with 44% males were recruited. Controls and sickle cell disease (SCD) patients did not differ in age or sex. 18% sickle cell disease (SCD) patients had at least one episode of acute chest syndrome and 7% had two or more episodes. Forced vital capacity was lower in sickle cell disease (SCD) patients than controls and 47% of sickle cell disease (SCD) patients had a restrictive ventilatory defect. A further 19% had obstruction but the presence of this abnormality was not related to smoking habit. Patients with a history of two or more acute chest syndrome episodes were more likely to have poor lung function. Haemoglobin was positively correlated with forced vital capacity and inversely correlated C-reactive protein. Multivariate analysis showed that haemoglobin in sickle cell disease (SCD) patients was lower if patients also had a low forced vital capacity, high serum C-reactive protein, low body mass index, older age or male gender. Conclusions: Abnormal lung function is common in sickle cell disease (SCD) adults. In sickle cell disease (SCD), adult’s low haemoglobin is related to a restrictive ventilatory defect and systemic inflammation. Severity of stable disease in sickle cell patients is related to poor lung function and systemic inflammation.
Organizational Citizenship Behavior In Relation To Social Capital in North West Region of Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation: A Case of Amhara Regional State

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between employee’s organizational citizenship behavior and organizational social capital in North West Region of Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation. First, the study area was clustered in to five zones and three zones were selected through simple random sample. All study samples (359) were planned to collect out of 860 employees. However, only 347 questionnaires were distributed because 12 (3.3%) of participants were involuntary to fill the questionnaire so that they were excluded from the study. The response rate was 245 (70.6%). The remaining 102(29.39%) was either wrongly filled or unreturned so that only 237 (68.3%) were used for analyzing the data. The data was analyzed with the help of SPSS version 20 and AMOS was used to investigate whether the model fits to the data or not. Through the help of AMOS, the value greater than 0.90 exhibits a good fit for the model so that for this study i.e., comparative fit index, Normed Fit Index, Relative Fit Index, Incremental Fit Index and Tucker-Lewis index was consider and the result confirms all this fit indexes was greater than . 90. The correlation result revealed that OCB has significant relationship with social capital. All dimensions of OCB except sportsmanship show significant relationship with social capital. Furthermore, nearly 6.2 percent variance of the current level of employees’ social capital is accounted for the manifestation of organizational citizenship behavior and OCB was a significant predictor of social capital at (β=.253, p<.01).
The Impact of Management Structure and Bank Characteristics on the Level of Compliance with IAS 21: Evidence from Bahrain

This paper discusses the impact of management structure and bank characteristics on the level of compliance with IAS 21in Bahrain Stock Exchange (BSE). Issues addressed include the management structure and bank characteristics and its impact on the level of compliance with IAS 21 in Bahrain. The data were collected from financial reporting and questionnaire as primary data and the literature review as secondary data. The main findings concludethat, there is an impact of the management structure and bank characteristics on the level of compliance with IAS 21 in Bahrain. In addition, banks of Bahrain have a high level of compliance with IAS 21 standard. Based on the findings, this paper concludes with various recommendations for future research, the most important of which is the need for future studies on how IAS 21 accounting standards can be made mandatory in all GCC countries. This paper also contributes towards a better understanding and acceptability of the need and adoption of International Accounting Standards.
Using Image Processing and Artificial Neural Networks to Determine Classification Parameters of Olives

Quality is one of the important factors in the marketing of agricultural products . Classing machines have a great importance in quality control system. Today, the image processing is the most effective method in classing machine. Agricultural products are classified according to the desired quality features with image processing in a serial way. It also leads agricultural products to be marketed at the highest value. In this study, it is aimed to classify the olives according to first their colors and then to their sizes by using image processing techniques and artificial neural networks. Olives are classified according to their colors as black and green by using image processing techniques. Then, the system was trained with pictures of large and small olives to classify the olives according to their sizes by using multi-layered neural networks. In this study, Matlab software was used for the use of image processing and artificial neural networks.
Documenting the social and environmental consequences of oil palm plantations in Nicaragua

Palm oil production is expanding in many tropical areas worldwide. The implications for the landscape, social relations and living conditions in the respective areas are the subject of a controversial debate. This article explores the social, economic, and environmental impacts caused by palm oil production in two places in south-eastern Nicaragua: Kukra Hill and Boca de Sabalos. From a theoretical perspective of political ecology, this article reflects on the opportunities and limitations of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and researchers in documenting social and environmental impacts of one crop within a process of agrarian change in a local setting. The study sheds light on the social and environmental consequences of oil palm cultivation in both places. The text departs from reports and documentation gathered by two Nicaraguan NGOs, Centro Humboldt and Fundacion del Rio, who used participatory methods to gather information. Their documentation is complemented by interviews of additional actors involved and affected by oil palm, impressions of field work at both sites, as well as an analysis of newspaper articles. The findings of the analysis concern multiple topics. Firstly, the research suggests that large-scale oil palm plantations accelerate land use changes, contribute to deforestation, and decrease local food sovereignty. Secondly, with large-scale oil palm plantations, the overall use and contamination of water increases and pesticide use multiplies, which has severe impacts on human and animal health. Nevertheless, local authorities perceive themselves as facing a dilemma: they welcome the tax revenue and job creation, and therefore some ignore their citizens’ complaints, while others perceive that they themselves lack control mechanisms. Furthermore, bad working conditions, low safety standards, and ignorance of workers’ rights are subjects of conflict. Keywords: Oil palm, Monocultures, Nicaragua, political ecology, social consequences, NGOs Data of the article First received : 21 September 2017 | Last revision received : 10 December 2017 Accepted : 14 December 2017 | Published online : 29 December 2017 URN: nbn:de:hebis:34-2017112153837
Is Social Security Really Bad for Growth

This paper develops a model of endogenous growth with overlapping generations to investigate the joint determination of social security, public investment and growth in a small open economy. We argue that a pure pay-as-you-go system provides the taxpayers with the incentives to support growth-oriented policies, which increase the future productivity of labor. We find that outcomes characterized by positive levels of intergenerational redistribution, public investment and long run growth can be sustained as subgame-perfect Nash equilibria of an infinitely repeated intergenerational game, if and only if the marginal productivity of public capital is large enough. Furthermore, we show that transfers either comove with public investment and growth or display a non-monotonic relation, where they initially increase along with public investment and growth and then decrease.
The Secondary Optical Design and Fabrication for the Uniform Illuminating LED Spotlight Using TIR Lens

Different with the fact that the traditional imaging optics emphasizes its ability to get clear image on the image plane, the purpose of LED illumination design is to meet the requirement of high availability of optical energy and homogeneity of illumination. As the study object, the LED track lighting has been designed with secondary optical design by the Lighttools design software. After using TIR lens which has two ways of concentrating: reflectors and lenses, the exit light of the spotlight will be adjusted and the illuminated surface will be with high homogeneity. Therefore, it will reduce the harm of the light to human’s eyes. In this study, the LED spotlights have been produced and tested with the corresponding test results: Lighting power is 7W, luminous efficiency is 82.57lm/W, color rendering index is 83.7, the main wavelength is 488.2nm, the ratio of red, green, blue is 13.1: 83.0: 3.9.
Aggregation Theory for Incomplete Systems

Gormanâ€™s theory of demand is extended comprehensively to incomplete systems. The incomplete systems approach dramatically increases this class of models. The separate roles of symmetry and adding up are identified in the rank and the functional form of this class of models. We show that symmetry determines rank and the maximum rank is three. We show that adding up and 0Âo homogeneity determines the functional form and there is no functional form restriction for an incomplete system. We prove that every full rank system and reduced rank systems with a minimal level of degeneracy can be written as a polynomial in a single function of income. A complete set of closed form solutions for the indirect objective functions of this class of models is derived. A simple method to nest rank and functional form for incomplete systems is presented.
Mechanisms of Stability and Energy Expenditure in Human Locomotion.

Mechanisms of Stability and Energy Expenditure in Human Locomotion by John R Rebula Chair: Arthur D. Kuo Although humans normally walk with both stability and energy economy, either feature may be challenging for persons with disabilities. For example, in patients with lower-limb amputation, falling is pervasive, and may lead to activity avoidance. Similarly, energy expenditure is higher than for healthy subjects and may deter patients from walking, reducing mobility. A better understanding of the fundamental principles of stability and economy could lead to better prostheses that increase quality of life for patients. When designing a mechanism to assist or mimic human gait, such as orthoses or walking robots, the stability and economy of the resulting gait should be considered. To further our understanding of these fundamental principles of gait, I explore a lesser known balance mechanism, foot heading, as well as the role of muscle force production costs in gait. To investigate the role of foot heading in stabilizing gait, I first characterize a method of measuring natural human gait variability outside of lab environments using foot mounted inertial sensors. Accuracy is found comparable to motion capture, while allowing capture of gait in natural environments. Then, using both a simple model of walking, and a variability analysis of walking in humans, I present evidence that humans stabilize gait laterally by altering foot heading step-to-step. I then consider the metabolic cost of force production in human locomotion. First, an optimization study of a simple model of locomotion shows that force fluctuation costs have a stronger role in determining gait than force amplitude costs. I then illustrate the connection between force fluctuation and a cost for calcium pumping in muscles using a simple muscle model. Finally, a human subject experiment altering force fluctuation in walking demonstrates the higher metabolic cost of fluctuating forces. While human locomotion is a complex activity involving many muscles, sensory systems, and neural circuitry, we are able to learn about the underlying principles of gait using basic mechanical models. A better understanding of stability and economy could have applications to many fields involving locomotion, such as the diagnosis of fall-risk in elderly subjects, the development of rehabilitation techniques, the design of prostheses, and the creation of robust and practical walking machines.
Preparation and characterization of ZnO Nanofibers by Electrospinning

Recently, one-dimensional nanostructured materials such as nanowires, nanofibers, nanorods, and nanotubes have received a great attention for their potential applications in numerous areas due to their special properties, which are distinct from conventional bulk materials. Among various semiconductor nanostructures, variety of nanostructures of ZnO has been investigated. Pure ZnO is an n-type semiconductor with a wide bandgap (3.37 eV) and it is one of the most promising materials due to its use in a wide range applications in various fields, including short wavelength lightemitting diode and room temperature ultraviolet (UV) lasing diode, solar cell, UV-absorber, transparent conductor, gas sensor, etc. The ZnO has been early and widely studied due to its high mobility of conduction electron, good chemical and physical stability, low cost, and so on. Compared to other structural types of ZnO gas sensors, nanostructured ZnO gas sensors are reported to exhibit higher sensitivity. From this perspective, of ZnO nanofiber based gas sensors are expected to exhibit sensing performance at very low gas concentrations. We have prepared PAN nanofibers from PAN solutions by an electrospinning method. Subsequent calcination of PAN nanofibers under an N2 atmosphere produced carbon nanofibers(CNF). The carbon nanofibers was coated with zinc oxide sol. Finally, thermal treatment of the zinc oxide sol coated CNF under oxidative conditions resulted in ZnO nanofibers. In this work, we prepared ZnO nanofibers using an electrospinning method. The morphologies and microstructures of ZnO nanofibers as a function of annealing temperature were analyzed using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Furthermore, the electrical and CO gas sensing properties of ZnO nanofibers were investigated.
Population Dynamics and Demography of Humpback Whales in Glacier Bay and Icy Strait, Alaska

Standardized sight-resight data of Humpback Whales (Megaptera novaeangliae )i n Glacier Bay and Icy Strait, Alaska, have been collected since 1985. We applied closed robust design capture-recapture models to these data to provide inferences about: (1) population size; (2) population growth rate; (3) apparent survival rate; and (4) temporary emigration rate in the region during 1985-2009, while accounting for imperfect detection probability. Population size estimates ranged from a low of 49.8 (95% CI: 44.3-64.4) in 1986 to a high of 181.1 (95% CI: 173.5-196.2) in 2009, and the geometric mean of year-to-year changes in abundance suggested a rate of population growth over the 25-y period of about 4.4%/y. We estimated the annual survival rate to be 0.948 (95% CI: 0.936-0.957). We estimated the probability of temporarily emigrating from the study area to be 0.106 (95% CI: 0.086-0.128), and the probability of a temporary emigrant remaining outside the study area as 0.777 (95% CI: 0.712-0.830). Our results provide new insights into the status and dynamics of this endangered species in and around a large marine protected area and highlight the value of intensive long-term population monitoring efforts.
Amorphous carbon interlayers for gold on elastomer stretchable conductors

Gold on polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) stretchable conductors were prepared using a novel approach by interlacing an hydrogenated amorphous carbon (a-C : H) layer between the deposited metal layer and the elastomer. AFM analysis of the a-C : H film surface before gold deposition shows nanoscale buckling, the corresponding increase in specific surface area corresponds to a strain compensation for the first 4–6% of bi-axial tensile loading. Without this interlayer, the deposited gold films show much smaller and uni-directional ripples as well as more cracks and delaminations. With a-C : H interlayer, the initial electrical resistivity of the metal film decreases markedly (280-fold decrease to 8 × 10−6 Ω cm). This is not due to conduction within the carbon interlayer; both a-C : H/PDMS and PDMS substrates are electrically insulating. Upon cyclic tensile loading, both films become more resistive, but return to their initial state after 20 tensile cycles up to 60% strain. Profiling experiments using secondary ion mass spectroscopy and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy indicate that the a-C : H layer intermixes with the PDMS, resulting in a graded layer of decreasing stiffness. We believe that both this graded layer and the surface buckling contribute to the observed improvement in the electrical performance of these stretchable conductors.
Working Paper No . 403 From Rags to Rifles : Deprivation , Conflict and the Welfare State

Historical evidence suggests that poor population groups are more likely to engage in conict. We construct a theoretical model of the choice between appropriation and production. Fully speci ed production functions allow for both symmetrical outcomes and for introducing inequalities in abilities and endowments. It is examined under what conditions income and capital redistribution, as well as education, health and poverty-alleviation spending reduce the incentives for appropriation. Empirical evidence is presented that is consistent with the theory. JEL Classi cation: D02, D74, H50, I30.
Regional foreign direct investment in manufacturing: do agglomeration economies matter?

This paper examines the role played by agglomeration economies as location determinants of regional foreign direct investment in manufacturing. The analysis reveals that foreign direct investment location is dependent on specific industry traits, and that agglomeration economies appear as the strongest pull factors. The model, estimated with panel data, finds evidence, first, that industries with a high level of linkages are attracted to regions with high manufacturing activity; and, second, that locations which accumulate R+D activities attract high-tech industries. Finally, one cost-oriented industry was found not to value agglomeration economies, being attracted instead to regions with low salary levels.
Analyzing Options Market Toxicity and the Black-Scholes Formula in the Presence of Jump Diffusion as Simulated with Agent-Based Modeling

This paper presents new and significant research on the Black-Scholes Formula using the agent-based modeling software NetLogo. The software was used to simulate an options market subject to jump diffusion. Since the widely-used Black-Scholes Formula has at times proven unreliable, this research sought to understand circumstances that render the formula ineffective. It was hypothesized that markets would become difficult to trade in or “toxic” at low price volatility but high jump volatility. Further, it was predicted that kurtosis would alert the presence of toxic markets by accurately and consistently conveying whether jump diffusion was present.
First Experiences with HESR Stochastic Cooling System

The stochastic cooling system of the HESR (High Energy Storage Ring) is based on completely new structures especially designed for the HESR. Each beam surrounding slot of these so called slot-ring couplers covers the whole image current without a reduction of the HESR aperture and without any plunging system. One pickup (PU) and one kicker (K) system have been already fabricated and installed into the COSY ring to demonstrate stochastic cooling in all three dimensions with only one structure. First results of commissioning with proton beams will be presented. The longitudinal cooling system at HESR is based on filter cooling with an optical notchfilter and ToF cooling. The demanding accuracy concerning phase stability requires dedicated control of the notchfrequency. The optical COSY filter has been modified and can be proven in long term runs together with the new stochastic cooling system. STOCHASTIC COOLING SYSTEM OF HESR Stochastic cooling at HESR is not only used to reduce beam size and momentum spread during the experiment, but also to accumulate antiprotons due to the postponed Recuperated Experimental Storage Ring (RESR) [1, 2] of the modularized start version of the FAIR project. Figure 1: Stacks of slot ring couplers with and without 16:1 combiner-boards and two stacks mounted together including 2:1 combiner with heat-trap. The system is based on dedicated structures. Each beam-surrounding slot of these so called slot-ring couplers covers the whole image current without a reduction of the HESR aperture [3]. Each resonant ring structure is heavily loaded with eight 50 Ω electrodes for a broadband operation. The rings are screwed together to a selfsupporting structure in stacks of 16 rings. Four of these stacks will build the spindle for one tank. Fig. 1 shows these stacks; one without combiner one with combinerboard and a combination of two stacks including additional 2:1 combiner especially designed to minimize the heat flow to the 16:1 combiners. Basic parameters of the main 2 4 GHz system are summarized in Table 1. Table 1: Parameters of the Main Stochastic Cooling System Main system Based on slot-ring couplers Bandwidth 2 4 GHz Cooling methods transverse, longitudinal filter cooling, longitudinal ToF cooling β-range 0.83-0.99 Pickup: 2 tanks No. of rings /tank 64 Shunt impedance Zpu / ring 9 Ohm Total impedance 1152 Ohm Structure temp. 20 K Kicker: 3 tanks 2 tanks for transverse or longitudinal cooling, 1 tank longitudinal cooling only No. of rings /tank 64 Shunt impedance Zk / ring 36 Ohm Impedance /tank 2304 Ohm Installed power/tank 640 (longitudinal cooling) 320 (transverse cooling) W W The same system will be used to cool also heavy ions. Extensive simulations have shown that gain and installed RF-power are sufficient to cool 1*10 heavy ions (limited due to radiation safety) above 740 MeV/u [4].