Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Investigation of Indoor Stability Testing of Polymer Solar Cell

We have fabricated organic solar cell of a new low bandgap polymer poly[4,4-bis(2-ethylhexyl)-4H-cyclopenta[2,1-b:3,4-b′]dithiophene-2,6-diyl-alt-4,7-bis(2-thienyl)-2,1,3-benzothiadiazole-5′,5′′-diyl] (PCPDTTBTT). We have investigated for the first time the stability tests, ISOS-L-1 and ISOS-D-3, of PCPDTTBTT solar cells. Thermal annealing of PCPDTTBTT solar cells at 80°C brought about an improvement of photocurrent generation, stability, and efficiency of the solar cells. T80 value of PCPDTTBTT solar cell is about 150 hours which is close to P3HT (235 h). PCPDTTBTT is very promising polymer for both polymer solar cell efficiency and stability.
Is Manager Gender Important in the Performance of Mutual Funds

We investigate whether there are differences in characteristics and performance of mutual funds caused by the manager’s gender. Through examining a large sample of U.S. domestic equity mutual fund, we find some evidence that suggests female managers have a lower risk tolerance than males. This leads to the observation that females tend to hold a higher total number of assets (stocks) and fewer assets in their top 10 holdings than do male managers. We then analyze performance within funds over time in order to evaluate the impact of changes in management’s gender composition on funds’ performance. We find some evidence that the percentage of female managers managing a fund is negatively related to the fund’s performance over time. JEL Classifications: C91, G11
Research on the Working Performance of Carbonized Micro-wood Fiber DPF

Along with the increasingly stringent emissions regulations, the Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) is one of the leading technologies for reducing particulate matter in diesel exhaust. In this study, it is presented that the Carbonized Micro-Wood Fiber (CMWF) is used as filter material of DPF. Firstly, the permeability and the inertia coefficient are obtained by numerical simulation method, then the geometric relationship between the Δp/H (the ratio of a pressure difference of the front and back of a filter body and the thickness) and the v 1 (exhaust flow velocity in front of the filter body), lastly, the test is performed utilizing the self-designed detachable DPF and the flow characteristics test bed. Theory and test proves that the numerical simulation method can be consistent with the test very well, which shows the DPF with bigger pore diameter and longer axial length should take priority over the others.
Wide-Beam Circularly Polarized Crossed Scythe-Shaped Dipoles for Global Navigation Satellite Systems

This paper describes composite cavity-backed crossed scythe-shaped dipoles with wide-beam circularly polarized (CP) radiation for use in Global Navigation Satellite Systems. Each branch of the dipole arm contains a meander line, with the end shaped like a scythe to achieve a significant reduction in the size of the radiator. For dual-band operation, each dipole arm is divided into two branches of different lengths. The dipoles are crossed through a 90° phase delay line of a vacant-quarter printed ring to achieve CP radiation. The crossed dipoles are incorporated with a cavity-backed reflector to make the CP radiation unidirectional and to improve the CP radiation beamwidth. The proposed antennas have broad impedance matching and 3-dB axial ratio bandwidths, as well as right-hand CP radiation with a wide-beamwidth and high front-to-back ratio.
Simulation of the emersion procedure for a new underwater generator

During the last years, a great amount of electrical underwater generator designs have been proposed for exploiting the sea energy resources. Multidisciplinary engineering is needed to conceive, to design and to construct any of these devices and a large amount of concepts have to be taken into account when an underwater generator is designed. SOERMAR and the Technical University of Madrid are developing a new concept for marine current energy use: The GESMEY project, whose main goals and conceptual design are briefly described. It is based on a Y structure with additional elements which can handle its own floatability by controlling the amount of water ballast inside these elements. This paper analyses one of the methods proposed to move the generator from the operation depth to the sea surface in order to prepare it for the maintenance position in a controlled way. The obtained simulated results of the emersion procedure are presented in this paper.
TAX RATE DOES INVESTMENT RESPOND ? A SYNTHESIS OF EMPIRICAL RESEARCH ON TAXATION AND FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT

Differences in corporate taxation can affect the allocation of foreign direct investment (FDI) by driving a wedge between the postand pre-tax rates of return. Tax authorities can therefore try to attract internationally footloose business activity by lowering the tax rate. In discussions about tax harmonisation in Europe, Ireland is often cited as an example of the effectiveness of such a strategy. Whereas corporate tax rates in Ireland have been lowered from 43 per cent in 1990 to 24 per cent in 2000 and even substantially less for manufacturing corporations, the inflow of FDI into Ireland has increased a hundredfold (OECD, 2002). Although this example suggests a strong impact of taxation on FDI, the increase may also be due to different factors. Since the mid-Eighties, a number of papers have attempted to estimate the actual strength of the response. A review of this literature by Hines (1997 and 1999) suggests a consensus estimate of about –0.5, that is a one per cent higher tax rate on companies leads to a reduction in inward FDI by 0.5 per cent.
Current Trends in Research on Mobile Phones in Language Learning

This study aimed at examining the major mobile wireless technologies, that is, mobile phones and the possibilities associated with them, currently in use in the educational domains, with an emphasis on language teaching and learning practices. Accordingly, some of the most typical studies using different functions of mobile phones such as e-mail, multimedia capabilities, Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) and SMS in their mobile learning (m-learning) practices are elaborated. Pedagogical implications and considerations in the integration of mobile technologies in language-related practices are considered, too. Potential limitations and barriers to m-learning undertakings are also reported. Finally, in order to further understand where m-learning as the cutting edge of education currently stands, a status quo of m-learning is considered.
‘She's a fucking ticket’: the pragmatics of fuck in Irish English – an age and gender perspective

In this paper, I examine the pragmatics of fuck in terms of age and gender in an Irish English context. The paper aims to explore sociolinguistic variation in the use of this taboo form by using quantitative and qualitative corpus-based tools and methodologies, which include relative frequency lists and concordances, as well as details of formulaic strings, including significant clusters. I show that fuck is a high-frequency item in everyday talk. I illustrate that, in terms of age and gender, fuck occurs most frequently among male speakers in their twenties. I also focus on fucking as an extremely emotionally charged form that is a high frequency item in the interactions of both the males in their twenties and the males in their forties. I note that the use of this form brings a certain dramatic intensity or dynamism to their discourse. I attribute this intensity to being a feature of how males interact. I conclude by discussing other variables at play in the data.
Mortality Due to Malignant and Non-Malignant Diseases in Korean Professional Emergency Responders

Objective This study was conducted to estimate the cause-specific mortality in male emergency responders (ER), compare with that of Korean men. Mortality was also compared between more experienced firefighters (i.e., firefighters employed ≥20 years and firefighters employed ≥10 to <20 years) and less experienced firefighters and non-firefighters (i.e., firefighters employed <10 years and non-firefighters) to investigate associations between mortality and exposure to occupational hazards. Methods The cohort was comprised of 33,442 males who were employed as ERs between 1980 and 2007 and not deceased as of 1991. Work history was merged with the death registry from the National Statistical Office of Korea to follow-up on mortality between 1992 and 2007. Standardized mortality ratios (SMR) for ERs were calculated in reference to the Korean male population. Adjusted relative risks (ARRs) of mortalities for firefighters employed ≥20 years and ≥10 years to <20 years were calculated in reference to non-firefighters and firefighters employed < 10 years. Results Overall (SMR=0.43, 95%CI=0.39–0.47) and some kinds of cause-specific mortalities were significantly lower among ERs compared with the Korean male population. No significant increase in mortality was observed across the major ICD-10 classifications among ERs. Mortality due to exposure to smoke, fire, and flames (SMR=3.11, 95% CI=1.87–4.85), however, was significantly increased among ERs. All-cause mortality (ARR=1.46, 95% CI=1.13–1.89), overall cancer mortality (ARR=1.54, 95% CI=1.02–2.31) and mortality of external injury, poisoning and external causes (ARR=3.13, 95% CI=1.80–5.46) were significantly increased among firefighters employed ≥20 years compared to those of non-firefighters and firefighters employed < 10 years. Conclusions An increase in mortality due to all cancer and external injury, poisoning, and external causes in firefighters employed ≥20 years compared with non-firefighters and firefighters employed <10 years suggests occupational exposure.
Methanol along the path from envelope to protoplanetary disc

Interstellar methanol is considered to be a parent species of larger, more complex organic molecules. A physicochemical simulation of infalling parcels of matter is performed for a low-mass star-forming system to trace the chemical evolution from cloud to disc. An axisymmetric 2D semi-analytic model generates the time-dependent density and velocity distributions, and full continuum radiative transfer is performed to calculate the dust temperature and the UV radiation field at each position as a function of time. A comprehensive gas–grain chemical network is employed to compute the chemical abundances along infall trajectories. Two physical scenarios are studied, one in which the dominant disc growth mechanism is viscous spreading, and another in which continuous infall of matter prevails. The results show that the infall path influences the abundance of methanol entering each type of disc, ranging from complete loss of methanol to an enhancement by a factor of >1 relative to the prestellar phase. Critical chemical processes and parameters for the methanol chemistry under different physical conditions are identified. The exact abundance and distribution of methanol is important for the budget of complex organic molecules in discs, which will be incorporated into forming planetary system objects such as protoplanets and comets. These simulations show that the comet-forming zone contains less methanol than in the precollapse phase, which is dominantly of prestellar origin, but also with additional layers built up in the envelope during infall. Such intriguing links will soon be tested by upcoming data from the Rosetta mission.
Within-Stand Selection of Canada Lynx Natal Dens in Northwest Maine, USA

Abstract Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis) were listed as threatened in the contiguous United States under the Endangered Species Act in March 2000. Little information on lynx ecology at the southern extent of their range was available at the time of listing, and no ecological studies had been conducted in the eastern USA. Between 1999 and 2004, we investigated habitat selection at natal dens in northern Maine to address questions on the importance of forest conditions to denning requirements. We compared within-stand characteristics of 26 den sites to general characteristics of the stands containing dens. We used logistic regression to identify components within stands that distinguished natal dens from the residual stand and used the information-theoretic approach to select models that best explained lynx den-site selection. The top-ranked model had 2 variables: tip-up mounds of blown-down trees and visual obscurity at 5 m from the den (wi = 0.92). Within-stand structure was useful for predicting lynx den-site selection in managed forests in Maine and suitable denning habitat did not appear to be limiting.
The minimal-span channel for rough-wall turbulent flows

Roughness predominantly alters the near-wall region of turbulent flow while the outer layer remains similar with respect to the wall shear stress. This makes it a prime candidate for the minimal-span channel, which only captures the near-wall flow by restricting the spanwise channel width to be of the order of a few hundred viscous units. Recently, Chung et al. (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 773, 2015, pp. 418–431) showed that a minimal-span channel can accurately characterise the hydraulic behaviour of roughness. Following this, we aim to investigate the fundamental dynamics of the minimal-span channel framework with an eye towards further improving performance. The streamwise domain length of the channel is investigated with the minimum length found to be three times the spanwise width or 1000 viscous units, whichever is longer. The outer layer of the minimal channel is inherently unphysical and as such alterations to it can be performed so long as the near-wall flow, which is the same as in a full-span channel, remains unchanged. Firstly, a half-height (open) channel with slip wall is shown to reproduce the near-wall behaviour seen in a standard channel, but with half the number of grid points. Next, a forcing model is introduced into the outer layer of a half-height channel. This reduces the high streamwise velocity associated with the minimal channel and allows for a larger computational time step. Finally, an investigation is conducted to see if varying the roughness Reynolds number with time is a feasible method for obtaining the full hydraulic behaviour of a rough surface. Currently, multiple steady simulations at fixed roughness Reynolds numbers are needed to obtain this behaviour. The results indicate that the non-dimensional pressure gradient parameter must be kept below 0.03–0.07 to ensure that pressure gradient effects do not lead to an inaccurate roughness function. An empirical costing argument is developed to determine the cost in terms of CPU hours of minimal-span channel simulations a priori. This argument involves counting the number of eddy lifespans in the channel, which is then related to the statistical uncertainty of the streamwise velocity. For a given statistical uncertainty in the roughness function, this can then be used to determine the simulation run time. Following this, a finite-volume code with a body-fitted grid is used to determine the roughness function for square-based pyramids using the above insights. Comparisons to experimental studies for the same roughness geometry are made and good agreement is observed.
Synthesis and Characterization of Bioactive Glass - In Vitro Studies

Melt quench experimental method was used to prepare a new B2O3 based bioactive glasses with low lithium bromide and low lithium fluoride content. The aim of this work is to investigate the bioactivity nature of prepared glass samples with composition Na2O-LiBr-SrOCdO-B2O3-P2O5 and Na2O-LiF-SrO-CdO-B2O3-P2O5.The melt derived glass ceramics were characterized by using X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS). For In vitro studies, the bone bonding ability is evaluated by examining the formation of hydroxyl apatite layer (HCA) on its surface when treated in Simulated Body Fluid (SBF) for few days. SEM and EDS analysis were used for surface morphology of the glass ceramics as well as to detect the presence of crystalline phase hydroxyl carbonate apatite (HCA) formation onto the surface of glass ceramics. SEM and EDS confirms the in vitro bioactivity of glass ceramics. Keywords— Bioactivity, Bone bonding, Hydroxyl carbonate apatite, In Vitro studies, SBF.
Soil quality evaluation following the implementation of permanent cover crops in semi-arid vineyards. Organic matter, physical and biological soil properties.

Changing from conventional vineyard soil management, which includes keeping bare soil through intense tilling and herbicides, to permanent grass cover (PGC) is controversial in semi-arid land because it has agronomic and environmental advantages but it can also induce negative changes in the soil physical status. The objectives of this work were (i) gaining knowledge on the effect of PGC on the soil physical and biological quality, and (ii) identifying the most suitable soil quality indicators for vineyard calcareous soils in semi-arid land. Key soil physical, organic and biological characteristics were determined in a Cambic Calcisol with different time under PGC (1 and 5 years), and in a conventionally managed control. Correlation analysis showed a direct positive relationship between greater aggregate stability (WSA), soil-available water capacity (AWC), microbial biomass and enzymatic activity in the topsoil under PGC. Total and labile organic C concentrations (SOC and POM-C) were also correlated to microbial parameters. Factor analysis of the studied soil attributes using principal component analysis (PCA) was done to identify the most sensitive soil quality indicators. Earthworm activity, AWC, WSA, SOC and POM-C were the soil attributes with greater loadings in the two factors determined by PCA, which means that these properties can be considered adequate soil quality indicators in this agrosystem. These results indicate that both soil physical and biological attributes are different under PGC than in conventionally-managed soils, and need therefore to be evaluated when assessing the consequences of PGC on vineyard soil quality.
FEM correlation and shock analysis of a VNC MEMS mirror segment

Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) are becoming more prevalent in today’s advanced space technologies. The Visible Nulling Coronagraph (VNC) instrument, being developed at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, uses a MEMS Mirror to correct wavefront errors. This MEMS Mirror, the Multiple Mirror Array (MMA), is a key component that will enable the VNC instrument to detect Jupiter and ultimately Earth size exoplanets. Like other MEMS devices, the MMA faces several challenges associated with spaceflight. Therefore, Finite Element Analysis (FEA) is being used to predict the behavior of a single MMA segment under different spaceflight-related environments. Finite Element Analysis results are used to guide the MMA design and ensure its survival during launch and mission operations. A Finite Element Model (FEM) has been developed of the MMA using COMSOL. This model has been correlated to static loading on test specimens. The correlation was performed in several steps—simple beam models were correlated initially, followed by increasingly complex and higher fidelity models of the MMA mirror segment. Subsequently, the model has been used to predict the dynamic behavior and stresses of the MMA segment in a representative spaceflight mechanical shock environment. The results of the correlation and the stresses associated with a shock event are presented herein.
Promastigote Existence in Infected Lesions of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis

Leishmaniasis is an endemic parasitic disease in 88 countries. It is widely distributed throughout the world, caused by vector-borne, obligate, intracellular hemoflagellates of the genus leishmania. The parasite continues its life cycle transforming to promastigote in the midgut of the sandfly vector and is transmitted to the human host in the form of promastigote through the bite of the sandfly. Other less encountered forms of transmissionare because of a laboratory accident, direct person-to-person transmission, organ transplant and blood transfusion. There is evidence that leishmaniasis may be transmitted either in utero or during the peripartum period. The promastigote form is considered the primary organism of disease transmission between the vector and the host. By not having a chance to continue its life cycle and transform into promastigote within the vector sandfly, and considering the many different routes of transmission other than the sandfly bites, it is reasonable to assume an alternative possible existence of the promastigote form of the parasite in the infected lesion of cutaneous leishmaniasis in human host. The information presented below indicates that a real transformation of amastigote to promastigote form occurs within the human host cutaneous lesion in the extracellular fluid after the macrophage membrane eruption and the amastigote release. New techniques are recommended for future studies to confirm these findings including realtime Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and applying the immunohistochemistry techniques using novel monoclonal antibody (mAb) against the parasite flagellate (promastigote form) cell wall component.
Non-parametric regression for spatially dependent data with wavelets

ABSTRACT We study non-parametric regression estimates for random fields. The data satisfies certain strong mixing conditions and is defined on the regular N-dimensional lattice structure. We show consistency and obtain rates of convergence. The rates are optimal modulo a logarithmic factor in some cases. As an application, we estimate the regression function with multidimensional wavelets which are not necessarily isotropic. We simulate random fields on planar graphs with the concept of concliques (cf. [Kaiser MS, Lahiri SN, Nordman DJ. Goodness of fit tests for a class of markov random field models. Ann Statist. 2012;40:104–130]) in numerical examples of the estimation procedure.
Happiness and economic freedom: Are they related?

In this article we investigate the linkage between economic freedom and happiness (subjective well-being). We attempt to understand which economic institutions (rule of law, limited government, regulatory efficiency, open markets) have influence on subjective well-being. For this purpose we use a panel dataset and analyze the effect of economic freedom on subjective well-being while using various control variables such as government expenditures as percentage of GDP, human development, social support, freedom of choice and generosity. Our pooled FGLS estimations indicate that all pillars of economic freedom have a strong influence on the average subjective well-being in society. Three of these pillars, namely rule of law, regulatory efficiency and open markets, positively affect subjective well-being. To our surprise we have found a negative relationship between limited government and subjective wellbeing. This might be due to the situation that reducing the size of government possibly leads to lower government expenditures and higher unemployment, which in turn results in lower subjective well-being.