Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
PREPARATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF SOLID DISPERSIONS OF CARVEDILOL WITH POLOXAMER 188

Solid dispersions in water-soluble carriers have attracted considerable interest as a means of improving the dissolution rate, and hence possibly bioavailability, of a range of hydrophobic drugs. The poor solubility of carvedilol leads to poor dissolution and hence variation in bioavailability. The purpose of the present investigation was to increase the solubility and dissolution rate of carvedilol for enhancement of oral bioavailability. In the present investigation solid dispersions with poloxamer 188 were prepared by fusion method. The physical mixture and solid dispersion(s) were characterized for drug-carrier interaction, drug content, solubility and dissolution rate. The solubility of drug increased with increasing polymer concentration. The dissolution rate was substantially improved for carvedilol from its solid dispersion compared with pure drug and physical mixture. As indicated from X-ray diffraction pattern, DSC thermograms and SEM photographs, carvedilol was in the amorphous form, which confirmed the better dissolution rate of solid dispersions. FTIR results proved no chemical interaction between carvedilol and poloxamer 188. SEM images showed a novel morphology of solid dispersion compared with pure drug. The solid dispersion was stable under accelerated storage conditions.
Methods of assessing the performance of IPCC-AR4 models in simulating Australian rainfall teleconnections with Indo-Pacific climate drivers

Significant improvements have been achieved in the simulation of Indo-Pacific variability, such as the India Ocean Dipole (IOD) and the El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) by models used in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Fourth Assessment Report (IPCC-AR4). In this paper, we discuss Australian rainfall teleconnections with these modes using 20th Century experiments from 23 IPCC-AR4 climate models. The results show that averaged over all models, the Australian rainfall teleconnection with ENSO is too weak over eastern Australia, and too strong over the northwest Western Australia. The latter is due to the well-known bias associated with the Pacific cold tongue, which extends too far west. Both the ENSO and IOD rainfall teleconnections vary strongly from one model to another, although the rainfall teleconnection with the IOD is more realistic compared with observations. Factors such as the amplitude of the simulated ENSO, the structure of the model cold tongue, and the signal to noise ratio in determining the teleconnections will be discussed.
Surface Properties of a Nano-Quasicrystalline Forming Ti Based System

Two decades of intense research on quasicrystalline materials have suggested their potential use as surface coatings, considering their low coefficient of friction, high hardness, good corrosion and wear resistances and low surface energy. In that sense, quasicrystals could be introduced into the field of biomaterials since biomolecules are well known to be sensitive to solid surface properties. In this paper we report on investigations of the early stage of oxidation of the quasicrystals forming Ti45Zr38Ni17 alloy and its surface reactivity with respect to an aminoacid. After analysing the microstructure of as-quenched ribbons both by transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction, surface oxide layers were characterized by X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS). Oxidation of Ti45Zr38Ni17 results in the formation of a ZrO2/TiO2 barrier oxide layer, avoiding toxic Ni release. This latter is mainly present at the oxide/alloy interface. Thereafter, adsorption of L-glutamic acid has been investigated by infrared spectroscopy. Even if this biomolecule is found to adsorb to each substrate, it seems to display different adsorption mechanisms on quasicrystalline ribbons compared to that on pure titanium (CpTi) or on pure zirconium (Zr), leading to a weaker signal on Ti45Zr38Ni17. We discuss these results along with the affinities of each alloying metal to oxygen and with the peculiar electronic properties of quasicrystals which could affect the surface properties of Ti45Zr38Ni17. [doi:10.2320/matertrans.48. 278]
AC DYNAMIC LOAD CONTROL FROM SOLAR ENERGY BY USING PHASE-IN POSITION CONTROL TECHNIQUE

This paper presents the design, control and simulation of multifunctional, two-stage, three- Phase SPV energy conversion system which have been carried out using an control algorithm based on ANF. The ANF has been used for extraction of fundamental part of load current. The reference grid currents are then estimated using all load currents, PV contribution and loss component of VSC, which are further used to generate the switching pulses for VSC. The performance of the system has been demonstrated for harmonics elimination, compensation of reactive power, load balancing and power factor correction. An InCA technique has been used for the electrical MPPT of SPV panels. The performance of the two-stage, three-phase grid-interfaced SPV energy system has been found satisfactory under different dynamics and steady state operating conditions. The THD of grid currents is found well under IEEE-519 standard. A wide range of simulation results has been shown to prove the feasibility of the control approach.
BigDataBench: A Scalable and Unified Big Data and AI Benchmark Suite

Several fundamental changes in technology indicate domain-specific hardware and software co-design is the only path left. In this context, architecture, system, data management, and machine learning communities pay greater attention to innovative big data and AI algorithms, architecture, and systems. Unfortunately, complexity, diversity, frequently-changed workloads, and rapid evolution of big data and AI systems raise great challenges. First, the traditional benchmarking methodology that creates a new benchmark or proxy for every possible workload is not scalable, or even impossible for Big Data and AI benchmarking. Second, it is prohibitively expensive to tailor the architecture to characteristics of one or more application or even a domain of applications. We consider each big data and AI workload as a pipeline of one or more classes of units of computation performed on different initial or intermediate data inputs, each class of which we call a data motif. On the basis of our previous work that identifies eight data motifs taking up most of the run time of a wide variety of big data and AI workloads, we propose a scalable benchmarking methodology that uses the combination of one or more data motifs---to represent diversity of big data and AI workloads. Following this methodology, we present a unified big data and AI benchmark suite---BigDataBench 4.0, publicly available from~\url{this http URL}. This unified benchmark suite sheds new light on domain-specific hardware and software co-design: tailoring the system and architecture to characteristics of the unified eight data motifs other than one or more application case by case. Also, for the first time, we comprehensively characterize the CPU pipeline efficiency using the benchmarks of seven workload types in BigDataBench 4.0.
Functional-Food Supplementation and Health of Broilers

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of a probiotic mixture and chromium as food supplementation on broiler chicks' performance. The experiment was conducted, to determine the effect of a probiotic mixture (BiovetYC) and chromium chloride supplementation on growth performance, carcass traits and immune response against Avian Influenza virus from 0- to 42-d-old broiler chicks as well as to determine the anti-stress effect of the dietary probiotic mixture and chromium chloride supplementation on broiler chicks (0-42days old) when subjected to high stocking density (15 birds/m 2 in open-system) as a stress factor. Growth performance, carcass traits and Avian Influenza immune response were recorded. At 42-d of age, 50 birds were randomly selected from each group for blood samples collection and slaughtered for carcass traits. Stress indicators in blood (cortisol and L/H ratio) were measured. The current results revealed: (1) The activation effect of the probiotic mixture on growth performance (2) Chromium chloride supplementation improves growth performance, carcass traits, and immune response and had a strong anti-stress effect. (Nature and Science 2010;8(5):181-189). (ISSN: 1545-0740).
The Use of A Two Phase Algorithm In The Restoration of Bi-Level Image

A two phase technique used in bi-level image restoration introduced herein is consists of two phases. The first phase is used for checking every bit in the image individually for knowing if that bit is original or noisy bit. The second phase is used to increase the image quality that by checking each bit in a cluster of bits. The cluster helps for knowing which bit has a strange value among all the other bits. The performance of this technique is investigated in the presence of different types of noise like AWGN, speckle, Uniform, and impulse noise (pepper and salt noise). It is shown that the algorithm behaves well with different degrees depending on the underlying noise type. Preliminary tests of this technique show valuable results and the corrupted ones become readable images. The beauty of this algorithm lies on its simplicity in implementation and its power in identifying noisy pixels from informative pixels.
Ultraviolet absorption observations of intermediate-velocity cloud gas detected towards the M 15 globular cluster

Aims. We present medium resolution ultraviolet interstellar absorption measurements recorded with the HST-COS and FUSE spectrographs towards two post-AGB stars (K 559 & K 648) located within the M 15 globular cluster (l ∼ 65 ◦ , b ∼ –27 ◦ ). By sampling interstellar gas over the 10.4 kpc sight-line towards M 15 we wish to reveal spectral features that are associated with absorption due to the foreground g1 intermediate velocity cloud (IVC), whose distance has previously been constrained to lie between 1.8–3.8 kpc. Methods. Inspection of the UV line profiles recorded towards both stars have revealed measurable IVC absorption at Vlsr ∼ +61.5 ± 5k m s −1 in the profiles of the CI, CII, CII*, CIV, NI, NII, OI, OVI, AlII, SiII, SiIII, SiIV, PII, SII, FeII, FeIII and NiII ions. Line-profile fitting to the IVC absorption features has resulted in column density determinations for the low and high ions. The best-fit column density values for the various ions have near identical values along both sight-lines, such that our UV data does not reveal the significant small-scale structure that has been reported previously for the g1 cloud. Results. The observed column density ratios of the CIV, SiIV, OVI and NV IV components are consistent with what may be expected from turbulent mixing layers, shock ionization or halo SNR models, although no one model can predict all of the observed ratios. We derive sub-solar metallicity values of [O/H] = −1.22 ± 0.44 and [N/H] = −1.21 ± 0.38 for the neutral IVC gas, and also the IV components of C, Si, Al, Ni and Fe mainly possess less than solar abundance ratios relative to that of N. A possible origin for the g1 IVC is that of a low metallicity cloud that has been accreted towards our galaxy, has passed through the disk and is now moving away from the galactic plane.
2 CORPORATE REPORTING AND AUDIT WHAT DETERMINES AUDIT INDEPENDENCE AND EXPERTISE IN RUSSIA ? FIRM-LEVEL EVIDENCE

Using a unique dataset of joint-stock companies, we explore the corporate audit system in transition Russia. In comparison with companies in Western and Asian Pacific states, Russian firms have a weaker audit system in terms of the independence and expertise of the audit committee and the external auditor. Board composition, foreign investment, and affiliation with a business group are highly important factors determining audit committee composition and audit firm choice as well as a combination of the two auditing bodies. However, each of these factors has a clearly distinct impact. Moreover, empirical evidence suggests that government ownership, company size, fund procurement activities, and overseas advancement significantly affect audit independence and expertise in Russia. **
Geometry Based Other-Sector Interference Modelling for Downlink System Simulations

An other-sector interference model is developed for the downlink of 3G cellular systems. It is solely based on the cell geometry factor and a user’s line of sight angle of connection to a serving base station antenna array. The dependency on just two parameters makes it especially suitable to support a decoupled approach of link and system level simulations, where the link simulations already account for other-sector interference effects. A comparison of the model with a standard 57 sector macrocellular set-up shows that for a 3-sector site deployment, modelling 5 out of 57 sectors with multipath fading characteristics delivers a good trade-off between simulation complexity and other-sector interference modelling accuracy. Keywords— Other-cell interference, other-sector interference, G-factor, quasi-static downlink system simulations.
Tracing the atomic nitrogen abundance in star-forming regions with ammonia deuteration

Partitioning of elemental nitrogen in star-forming regions is not well constrained. Most nitrogen is expected to be partitioned among atomic nitrogen (N I), molecular nitrogen (N 2 ), and icy N-bearing molecules, such as NH 3 and N 2 . NI is not directly observable in the cold gas. In this paper, we propose an indirect way to constrain the amount of NI in the cold gas of star-forming clouds, via deuteration in ammonia ice, the [ND 2 H/NH 2 D]/[NH 2 D/NH 3 ] ratio. Using gas-ice astrochemical simulations, we show that if atomic nitrogen remains as the primary reservoir of nitrogen during cold ice formation stages, the [ND 2 H/NH 2 D]/[NH 2 D/NH 3 ] ratio is close to the statistical value of 1/3 and lower than unity, whereas if atomic nitrogen is largely converted into N-bearingmolecules, the ratio should be larger than unity. Observability of ammonia isotopologues in the inner hot regions around low-mass protostars, where ammonia ice has sublimated, is also discussed.We conclude that the [ND 2 H/NH 2 D]/[NH 2 D/NH 3 ] ratio can be quantified using a combination of Very Large Array and Atacama Large Millimeter/ submillimeter Array observations with reasonable integration times, at least towards IRAS 16293-2422, where high molecular column densities are expected.
Criteria For Selection And Gate Reviews Of Technology Innovation Projects

This paper describes appropriate project selection criteria and gate review-point criteria for government agencies that fund technology innovation projects in South Africa. Data was gathered via a Delphi survey in which seven expert respondents participated. The most significant project selection criteria and relevant gate reviewing criteria were established. The proposed basic framework consists of fourteen selection criteria, their associated weights, and forty relevant gate reviewing criteria. Commercial risk and feasibility was considered the most important criterion, followed by the team’s skills and competence in second place. The use of these criteria when considering investment in technology innovation projects could improve the likelihood of commercial success. OPSOMMING Hierdie artikel beskryf, vir staatsinstansies wat projekte vir tegnologiese innovasie in Suid Afrika befonds, toepaslike kriteria vir die seleksie van projekte en vir oorsig by hersieningspunte aan die einde van projek fases. Data is ingewin deur middel van ŉ Delphiopname waaraan sewe deskundige respondente deelgeneem het. Die mees beduidende kriteria vir seleksie en oorsig is bepaal. Die voorgestelde raamwerk bestaan uit veertien seleksie-kriteria, relatiewe gewigte vir elk, en veertig kriteria vir hersiening by oorsigpunte. Kommersiele risiko en doenbaarheid word beskou as die belangrikste kriterium, wat gevolg word deur die span se vaardigheid in die tweede plek. Die gebruik van hierdie kriteria wanneer investering in projekte vir tegnologiese innovasie oorweeg word, kan die waarskynlikheid van kommersiele sukses verhoog.
Does the Chinese Banking System Benefit from Foreign Investors?

We find empirical evidence that the Chinese banking system has benefited from the entry of foreign investors through higher profitability and increased efficiency of the banking system. Foreign participation, which consists of a minority stake in a Chinese bank (in contrast to the typical pattern in emerging countries), appears to be most effective when the foreign bank acts as a strategic investor. Purely financial investors contribute little, if anything, to bank performance.
The Moderating Influence of Inherent Project Risk on the Relationship between Project Planning and Perceived Project Success

Project planning is considered to be a critical success factor for project success. However, recent literature questions whether planning has similar importance in various project contexts. This research investigates the effectiveness of project planning on project success in various project risk contexts of software development projects. A survey based research design was used to collect data to test the proposed model. The results reveal that various inherent project risks can moderate the effects of project planning on project success and in different ways for various success measures. More specifically, the results indicate that project planning makes a greater contribution to project success when there is a low level of inherent project risk and its positive impact on project success diminishes when there is a high level of inherent project risk. The results of this study contribute to a more acute understanding of the contingency approach to software project risk management. Practical implications of these results suggest that project managers should put more emphasis on less detailed formal planning in high risk project situations in order to meet project success.
Carotenoid concentration and coloration of American Kestrels (Falco sparverius) disrupted by experimental exposure to PCBs

Summary 1. Bright coloration in birds is typically a sexually selected trait. Expression of such traits is sensitive to environmental factors, so they can function as bioindicators of environmental contamination. Of particular value may be carotenoid-based coloration because it is commonly used as a social signal and these pigments have important health functions. 2. American Kestrels (Falco sparverius) in captivity were exposed to dietary PCBs in March. Colour and plasma carotenoids of exposed and control birds were evaluated at pairing and courtship in April, and in winter in December. Juveniles produced by these birds (exposed to PCBs only in ovo) were examined at fledging and in winter. 3. The brightly coloured ceres and lores were evaluated by comparison to colour charts and quantified using digital photographs, and plasma carotenoid concentrations were quantified by spectrophotometry. 4. During breeding, PCB-exposed kestrels differed from controls for both colour and carotenoids, although the nature of effects was sex-specific. Carotenoids of juveniles were not related to treatment at fledging. 5. In winter, PCB-exposure resulted in patterns of colour/carotenoid variation opposite to controls; exposed adult males were duller, and juveniles of both sexes were brighter, than controls. PCB juveniles had higher plasma levels of carotenoids. Sexual dimorphism was apparent in colour and carotenoids of control adults, but not for PCB-exposed birds. 6. Our results are consistent with endocrine disruption. Modulation of both colour and carotenoids may have serious consequences to social behaviour and health.
The effect of eye mask on sleep quality in patients of coronary care unit

Objectives: Patients in coronary care unit (CCU) are at risk of sleep deprivation. This study investigated effects of eye mask on sleep quality in patients of CCU in Southeast of Iran by a cross-over design. Methods: Using Verran and Snyder-Halpern Sleep Scale (VSH Sleep Scale), quality sleep of 60 patients with and without usage of eye mask were evaluated. This tool consists of 16 items that includes three main sleep sub scales: disturbance, effectiveness, and supplementation. Results: In total, 34, 22 and 4 out of 60 patients were admitted to CCU due to myocardial infarction (MI), chest pain and angina pectoris, respectively. Mean time of patients’ nocturnal sleep was 6.6 ± 1.1 hours. Using eye mask have statistically significant increased the quality of sleep in subscales disturbance and effectiveness (p < 0.05). Conclusion: In general, the use of eye mask is an easy and cheap method to improve the quality of sleep in CCU patients.
Multicarrier Transmission using Hadamard Transform for Optical Communications

The multicarrier transmission using Hadamard transform for optical communications is a cost effective alternative compared to orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) systems because of its significantly reduced hardware complexity. Especially it is suitable for shorter links of around 5 km as is usually the case for access, campus and inhouse networks.
Diagnosis of obsessive-compulsive disorder in the course of bipolar disorder

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the coexistence of obsessive-compulsive symptoms with bipolar disorder (during the manic phase, depressive phase and remission). Method: The subjects were 70 patients previously diagnosed with and treated for bipolar disorder. For the purposes of this study, three subgroups were created: patients in the manic phase, depressive phase and in remission. The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, Young Mania Rating Scale and Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale were diagnostic tools used for the evaluation of patients’ mental health. Results: The data indicate high likelihood of co-occurrence of obsessive-compulsive disorder (28.6%) and obsessive-compulsive syndromes (32.8%) with bipolar disorder. Obsessions and compulsions were observed irrespectively of the type of bipolar disorder (type 1 and 2) and phase of the illness (depression, mania, remission). The results in the three subgroups were similar. The severity of anankastic symptoms depended both on the severity of depression and mania. The subjects confirmed the presence of obsessive-compulsive symptoms in the interview, although they were usually undiagnosed and untreated. Conclusions: Obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms often coexist with bipolar disorder, both in its two phases and in remission. The severity of obsessive-compulsive symptoms in the course of bipolar condition varies, ranging from mild to extremely severe forms. The obsessive-compulsive disorder presentation in the course of bipolar disorder increases with the severity of depressive and manic symptoms. Obsessive-compulsive disorder can be primary to bipolar disorder. Obsessive-compulsive disorder coexisting with bipolar disorder is not diagnosed or treated properly.