Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Passage kinetics of dry matter and neutral detergent fibre through the gastro-intestinal tract of growing beef heifers fed a high-concentrate diet measured with internal ð13C and external markers

Fractional rumen passage rates (K1) are fundamental in feed evaluation systems for ruminants to predict the extent of nutrient degradation. Data on passage kinetics of growing beef cattle fed high-concentrate diets are scarce and mainly rely on external passage markers which do not provide nutrient-specifi cK 1 estimates. The present study describes the use of carbon stable isotopes (d 13 C) as an internal marker to estimate K1 of dry matter (DM) and neutral detergent fibre (NDF) fractions of a compound feed in a high-concentrate diet, and compares them to the external markers ytterbium (Yb)-actetate and chromium mordanted fibre (Cr-NDF). Four rumen-fistulated Holstein heifers received four times per day a basal diet consisting of barley straw and pelleted compound feed offered separately (ratio 10:90, DM basis). Compound feed in the basal diet was mainly based on wheat of low natural 13 C enrichment (� 28.4 d 13 C), which was exchanged with a single dose of a maize-based compound feed of higher natural 13 C enrichment (� 18.9 d 13 C). This differenceinnatural 13 CabundancewasusedtodetermineK1valuesfromfaecal 13 Cexcretionpatterns.AtthesametimeYb- Acetate and Cr-NDF were introduced into the rumen to determine K1 values from faecal excretions. Faeces were collected over 90 h after pulse dosing. The K1 of d 13 C-marked DM (0.062/h) did not differ (P = 0.745) from d 13 C- marked NDF (0.060/h). The d 13 C-based K1 values also did not differ from Cr-NDF (0.056/h; P = 0.315). These results indicate similar passage behaviour of these fractions in the rumen of beef heifers fed a high-concentrate diet.
Atmospheric Aerosol Elements over the Inland Tibetan Plateau: Concentration, Seasonality, and Transport

Between November 2005 and November 2007, weekly total suspended particle samples were collected at the Nam Co station in the inland Tibetan Plateau (TP). Through inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, twenty-nine elements were analyzed and their sources and fluxes were investigated. Mean elemental concentrations were lower than those at the edge of the TP. Some elements, such as Cr, Ni, Cd, and Pb, exhibited high enrichment factors (Cr: 22; Ni: 17; Cd: 23; and Pb: 9), indicating possible anthropogenic influence in this remote region, particularly during the pre-monsoon and monsoon seasons. In addition, an empirical orthogonal function analysis revealed the dominance of crustal-origin elements, rather than anthropogenic elements, in the aerosol. Furthermore, backward air mass trajectories demonstrated that the Nam Co region was mainly influenced by air masses from Central and South Asia. Accordingly, because of dust storms from Central Asia and within the TP, crustal element concentrations, such as of Al, were higher during winter and pre-monsoon seasons than during the monsoon season. By contrast, anthropogenic elements, such as Cr and Cd, were relatively higher during the pre-monsoon and monsoon seasons because of pollutants transported from South Asia, where atmospheric brown clouds are concentrated and biomass combustion is prevalent. Dry deposition of aerosols dominated in the Nam Co region, particularly during the non-monsoon period, which is useful to interpret the elemental records in the TP ice cores and lake sediments.
Compact leaky wave antenna using ferroelectric materials

In this work, we present a leaky wave antenna with an enhanced angular scan rate (ASR) using high permittivity materials. The proto‐type leaky wave antenna consists of a copper‐made rectangular waveguide filled with lead zirconate titanate (PZT). The effective permittivity of the rectangular waveguide is tuned by varying the thickness of the PZT. The antenna showed an ASR of 265°/GHz between 2.4 GHz and 2.6 GHz as the effective permittivity is 337, and an ASR 636°/GHz between 2.12 GHz and 2.23 GHz as the effective permittivity is increased to 813.
The Impact of Low Frequency Ultrasound and Lymphatic Drainage on Triglycerides

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of low frequency ultrasound plus lymphatic drainage on blood triglycerides in cardiac patients (chronic coronary atherosclerosis patients with high triglycerides and fat mass body composition. Forty female patients with age ranges from 40 to 50 years were selected from Palestine hospital and they were chronic atherosclerotic patients and were assigned into 2 groups according to their BMI based on the classification of the world health organization. Each patient in the two groups (Group A and Group B) was evaluated before and after 24 sessions treatment program by using the combination of ultrasound and lymphatic drainage machine. The assessment of blood serum triglycerides by UDICHEM-310 ANALYSER have been done before and after the end of 24 sessions and Re-assessment after 2 months from the last treatment session. The collected raw data of the current patients were statistically analyzed to evaluate the results of the two groups to investigate the effect of using the combination of ultrasound and lymphatic drainage machine on blood serum triglycerides. In this study, the results are revealed statistically significant improvement of blood serum triglycerides before and after the treatment with more improvement had been achieved after 2 months after last session. Furthermore, the low frequency ultrasound technique plus lymphatic drainage technique improve blood serum triglycerides of chronic coronary atherosclerosis patients with high triglycerides and fat mass composition.
Simulations of a Single-Phase Flow in a Compound Parabolic Concentrator Reactor

This paper deals with the analysis and interpretation of flow visualization and residence time distribution (RTD) in a compound parabolic concentrator (CPC) reactor using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). CFD was calculated under turbulent flow conditions solving the Reynolds averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) equation expressed in terms of turbulent viscosity and the standard k−ε turbulent model in 3D. A 3D diffusion-convection model was implemented in the CPC reactor to determine the RTD. The fluid flow visualization and RTD were validated with experimental results. The CFD showed that the magnitude of the velocity field remains almost uniform in most of the bulk reactor, although near and inside the 90° connectors and the union segments, the velocity presented low- and high-speed zones. Comparisons of theoretical and experimental RTD curves showed that the k−ε model is appropriate to simulate the nonideal flow inside the CPC reactor under turbulent flow conditions.
SIMULATION OF SUBSURFACE FLOWS ASSOCIATED WITH RAINFALL-INDUCED SHALLOW SLOPE FAILURES

Modeling transient subsurface flow along the soil-bedrock interface and the subsequent mounding of porewater pressure head in the slope toe zone is key to a successful prediction of rainfall-induced shallow slope failure and debris flow initiation. To this end, finite element analyses are performed on some model slopes subjected to artificial rainfall using calibrated soil-water characteristic curves (SWCCs) and soil permeability functions (SPFs). Analytical results highlighted the importance of lateral subsurface flow in modeling rainfall-induced shallow slope failure, which cannot be adequately simulated using one-dimensional seepage models. Analytical results also revealed that the formation of a saturated zone and an outward subsurface flow over the entire length of the soil-bedrock interface signals rapid slope mass wasting. Results of a comparative study showed that an accurate modeling of time-dependent subsurface water table development requires modifications to the analytical boundary conditions induced by the wash-away of the slope toe. An accurate physical model of shallow slope failures requires further works to address this issue.
Promoting Micro-Savings through the NGO Model: The Success Story of Sinapi Aba Trust

The aim of this paper is to offer a cogent basis for integration of voluntary micro-savings into the NGO model of microfinance. We use data from SINAPI ABA TRUST (SAT), a microfinance institution operating in Ghana. The study finds that voluntary savings scheme of SAT has outperformed its compulsory counterpart in terms of annual growth in savings mobilization and that despite the predominance of females in the microfinance industry their propensity to save is less than their male counterparts. The paper concludes that, contrary to the orientation of the NGO model of microfinance, the poor and financially excluded are willing to save.
Investigation of Path Loss Models for Mobile Communications in Malaysia

The design of a propagation path loss model requires knowledge of environment characteristics. Quite a number of propagation path loss models for mobile radio communication system were published in the literature. However, choosing the most suitable model for a given geographical and morphographical area is not a simple task because descriptions of terrain and land-use information can vary widely from country to country. Furthermore, Efficiency of present path loss models suffers when they are used in the environment other than for which they have been designed. The Malaysian geographical and morphographical area varies widely from areas where most models were developed. In addition, several studies in Malaysia, Indonesia and others have shown that the known path loss models perform unsatisfactory when compared with measured data. Hence, this prompts the necessity to investigate the models that suit the Malaysian environment conditions. To investigate the path loss models, measurements of path loss were carried out at an international Islamic university Malaysia. The measured path losses were compared with various path loss prediction models. The results were used to evaluate the accuracy for these models to determine the one that best fit Malaysian environment. The results show that log-normal and lee models were the closest to the measured data.
Chinese FDI in Italy

Beginning with the Open-door policy in 1978, China started to invest abroad with a intensification from the 1990s, following the liberalization policies launched by Deng Xiaoping (Voss et al., 2008). Nevertheless, the evident upsurge of Chinese investments has begun only very recently in 2001, spurred by the “Go Global” strategy. In a few years, China has come out as one of the leading sources of foreign direct investments (FDI) among emerging countries (UNCTAD, 2006) and, notwithstanding their total stock is only USD 75 billion in 2006, representing less than 1 per cent of the world total (MOFCOM, 2007), due to their recent very rapid growth (Figure 1) Chinese outward FDIs (OFDI) have attracted a lot of attention in the media.
R & D and Productivity in the UK : evidence from firm-level data in the 1990 s *

The UK’s business R&D (BERD) to GDP ratio is low compared to other leading economies, and the ratio has slowly declined over the 1990s. This paper uses firm-level data to analyse the link between R&D and productivity over the 1989-2000 period. Using a production function approach, and a sample of up to 719 firms, various different samples and estimators are used to assess the elasticity and rate of return of R&D. The results indicate that UK returns to R&D in manufacturing are slightly lower than in other leading economies. There is some evidence that non-manufacturing firms have slightly higher returns to R&D. Furthermore, the returns to R&D have been relatively stable over the 1990s. In aggregate, the results suggest that the low BERD to GDP ratio in the UK is unlikely to be due to direct financial or human capital constraints (as these would imply finding relatively high rates of return). Instead, the low BERD to GDP ratio appears to reflect low (perceived) opportunities by firms and the inability of firms to manage R&D to generate value.
A variable-voltage direct torque control based on DSP in PM synchronous motor drive

In this paper, a kind of variable-voltage direct torque control (DTC) method for permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) drive system is proposed. 24 or more voltage vectors with variable voltage on circle traces are obtained. A new switch table is used to select voltage vectors effectively. By theory analysis and simulation research, the proposed control method is proved to enable diminishing the torque ripple, especially in low speed range. In the preliminary experiment, both smooth control of speed and high dynamic performance are achieved.
Comparative Study on Effectiveness of On-Chip , On-Package and PCB Decoupling for Core Noise Reduction by Using Broadband Power Delivery Network Models

This paper discusses the effectiveness of on-chip, onpackage and printed circuit board decoupling capacitors (DECAPS) used in the power delivery network (PDN) of high performance microprocessor systems for reducing the core power and ground noise over a wide frequency range. A novel method of system level broadband PDN modeling by using the impedance characterization is described. Simulation results are presented to support the validity of the PDN modeling with special emphasis on the optimization of the system level PDN impedance over a wide frequency range.
On the Effect of Mean-Nonstationary Initial Conditions in Dynamic Panel Data Models ∗

In this paper, we consider dynamic panel data models with possibly mean-nonstationary initial conditions. We derive the asymptotic properties of the generalized method of moments (GMM) estimators when both N and T are large, where N and T denote the dimensions of the cross section and time series. We find that when initial conditions are mean-nonstationary and the degree of heterogeneity, which is measured by the variance ratio of individual effects to the disturbances, is large, the biases and variances of the GMM estimators become small. We demonstrate that this is because the correlation between the lagged dependent variable and instruments gets larger due to the unremoved individual effects. This implies that the instruments become strong when initial conditions are meannonstationary and the degree of heterogeneity is large. For the purpose of comparison, we also derive the asymptotic properties of the within groups (WG) estimator and show that the WG estimator have small bias when initial conditions are mean-nonstationary and the degree of heterogeneity is large. Numerical studies are conducted to assess the properties of these estimators.
Biological evaluation of 8-alkyl xanthines as potential cytotoxic agents

A series of 8-substituted alkyl xanthines were evaluated in vitro to test the cytotoxocity in cells. For this experiment, we utilized different mammalian cancer cell lines primarily representing prostrate and lung. One of the compounds synthesized, viz. 8-tertbutyl caffeine showed potent anticancer activity at low concentrations against DU145 when compared to adriamycin. Further experiments were carried out to check the cell cycle arrest in the DU145 cells treated with adriamycin, caffeine and 8-tert butyl caffeine. We observed that there was an arrest in G1 phase of cell cycle at 24 hours while at 48 hours of incubation, the cells were constantly distributed (59.71% -70.79%). We conclude that the effect of 8-tertbutyl caffeine is relatively comparable to caffeine whereas in adriamycin treated cells, we observed the cells underwent G2 arrest. We evaluate the studies on these effects by showing potent analogues which could be used as promising anticancer agents.
Modelling mites, moulds and mushroom yields in the Australian Mushroom Industry

Efficient sustainable mushroom production is dependent on a consistent production of compost that needs to be of a high quality. Unwanted mites and soil fungi, especially Trichoderma species, can reduce yields so it is important to be able to manage this situation. The relationship between mites, fungi and mushroom yields are complex and a Bayesian Belief Network (Norsys Pty Ltd) (BBN) was used to try to resolve these complexities. Two BBN (Figure 1) models were developed using published information on the main species of mites, Trichoderma. Two independent datasets were used: 1. Data from growing experiments; and 2. Data from farm surveys
Production Efficiency Sources Of Settlers Under Brazilian Land Reform In Northeast Region

The model of Brazilian land reform is based on settlements of families without land, in unoccupied public lands, or by expropriation of unproductive estates. The market assisted land reform programs are considered complementary instruments of land reform. They are used to provide credit for land purchase by groups of landless farmers directly from the land market. The aim of this paper was to measure the profit efficiency, considering two different mechanisms of land access. In this paper, analysis of profit efficiency was performed using the stochastic frontier analysis. The frontier of production was estimated based on Cobb-Douglas production function. The data set represents the states: Bahia, Ceara, Maranhao, Pernambuco and the north region of Minas Gerais. The overall efficiency estimates were 0.3163. The efficiency estimates were 0.3678 for the farmers assigned by expropriation, and 0.3537 for the farmers with market land access. The production showed decreasing gains with the major partial elasticity for land. The positive efficiency effect sources are: off-farm labor, collective labor, location in superior soil class county areas, location in Maranhao and Ceara states, age of head of household, crops with irrigation or flood, and use of machinery. The negative efficiency effect sources are: outer incomes and family consumption of its own production.
Comparison of Different MPPT Algorithms with a Proposed One Using a Power Estimator for Grid Connected PV Systems

Photovoltaic (PV) energy is one of the most important energy sources since it is clean and inexhaustible. It is important to operate PV energy conversion systems in the maximum power point (MPP) to maximize the output energy of PV arrays. An MPPT control is necessary to extract maximum power from the PV arrays. In recent years, a large number of techniques have been proposed for tracking the maximum power point. This paper presents a comparison of different MPPT methods and proposes one which used a power estimator and also analyses their suitability for systems which experience a wide range of operating conditions. The classic analysed methods, the incremental conductance (IncCond), perturbation and observation (P&O), ripple correlation (RC) algorithms, are suitable and practical. Simulation results of a single phase NPC grid connected PV system operating with the aforementioned methods are presented to confirm effectiveness of the scheme and algorithms. Simulation results verify the correct operation of the different MPPT and the proposed algorithm.
STUDY OF COUPLED DYNAMICS BETWEEN BODY AND LEGS OF A FOUR LEGGED WALKING ROBOT

The paper presents a study of coupled dynamics between body and legs of a four legged robot with two articulate joints per leg. This study brings out the influence produced by the ground reaction forces through robot legs on the posture of robot body i.e. body rotations about X, Y and Z axis. An object oriented approach has been used for the bond graph modeling of locomotion dynamics of the four legged robot while taking into consideration the robot-ground interaction forces. Detailed kinematics analysis of a single leg has been carried out. Sub-model created for a single leg is repeatedly used for developing the bond graph model of the four legged walking robot. A multi bond graph is used to represent the system. A dynamical gait is proposed and implemented through joint control. Joint control has been achieved using a proportional derivative control law for each joint of the four legged robot. The robot locomotion has been successfully demonstrated through simulation and experiments on a robot prototype.
Power Generation Expansion Optimization Model Considering Multi-Scenario Electricity Demand Constraints: A Case Study of Zhejiang Province, China

Reasonable and effective power planning contributes a lot to energy efficiency improvement, as well as the formulation of future economic and energy policies for a region. Since only a few provinces in China have nuclear power plants so far, nuclear power plants were not considered in many provincial-level power planning models. As an extremely important source of power generation in the future, the role of nuclear power plants can never be overlooked. In this paper, a comprehensive and detailed optimization model of provincial-level power generation expansion considering biomass and nuclear power plants is established from the perspective of electricity demand uncertainty. This model has been successfully applied to the case study of Zhejiang Province. The findings suggest that the nuclear power plants will contribute 9.56% of the total installed capacity, and it will become the second stable electricity source. The lowest total discounted cost is 1033.28 billion RMB and the fuel cost accounts for a large part of the total cost (about 69%). Different key performance indicators (KPI) differentiate electricity demand in scenarios that are used to test the model. Low electricity demand in the development mode of the comprehensive adjustment scenario (COML) produces the optimal power development path, as it provides the lowest discounted cost.
Usefulness of follicular fluid estradiol and progesterone concentration measurement in predicting outcome of IVF/ICSI natural cycles.

Purpose: The aim of the study was to establish whether follicular fluid (FF) estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P) measurement could be used to predict the outcome of unstimulated IVF/ICSI cycles. Methods: 91 women underwent 150 unstimulated IVF/ICSI cycles (78 IVF and 72 ICSI). Follicular fluid samples were collected at the time of oocyte recovery. Using the ttest, FF E2 and FF P levels and their ratios (FF P/FF E2) were compared between cycles with successful (with oocyte) and unsuccessful (without oocyte) oocyte recovery, between cycles with and without fertilization and between nonconception and conception cycles. Results: The oocyte recovery rate was 86.7% (123/150), the fertilization rate 68.3% (84/123) and the pregnancy rate per oocyte recovery 14.0% (21/150). The average FF E2 level was 3530 ± 1339 nmol/L, average FF P 20649 ± 9489 nmol/L and average FF P/FF E2 ratio 7.18 ± 6.42. There were no statistically significant differences in FF E2, FF P levels and their ratio between cycles with unsuccessful and successful oocyte recovery, between cycles without and with fertilization, and between nonconception and conception cycles. Conclusion: From the FF E2 and P levels and their ratio, it is not possible to make inferences to the likelihood of oocyte recovery, fertilization and conception in unstimulated IVF/ICSI cycles.