Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Experimental application of contour method for determination of residual stress in subsurface layers of milled sample

Determination of residual stress close to the sample surface is in the most cases performed by hole-drilling method, X-Ray diffraction or neutron diffraction. Each of these methods has its benefits and disadvantages. In case of diffraction methods the measurement speed is the main disadvantage. It is also very problematic to apply diffraction method in case of sample with mechanically deformed surface, for example by standard machining operations. Therefore, determined results are very often confusing and hard to interpret. On the other side, hole drilling method is less sensitive to quality of sample surface than diffraction methods, but measurement realization is quite expensive and equipment demanding (strain gage rosettes, miniature milling cutter, high speed milling machine, pc equipment,.). Recently introduce contour method used for determination of residual stress inside the sample is very fast, can be performed with almost common laboratory equipment and combines traditional stance with modern numerical methods by FEM. Contour method was selected for determination of residual stress below the milled surface and the dependency of milling process quality on residual stress value is demonstrated.
Bond of NSM FRP-strengthened concrete: round robin test initiative

AbstractDespite the extensive research on the debonding behavior of fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) strengthening systems, no standard methodology has been established on its experimental characterization. To assess the performance and reliability of small-scale testing on near-surface mounted (NSM) FRP strengthening systems, an experimental program was carried out on a series of nine NSM FRP strengthening systems (bars and strips), in the framework of an international round robin testing (RRT). Eleven laboratories and seven manufacturers and suppliers participated in this extensive international exercise, which regarded both NSM and EBR FRP strengthening systems. The experimental results are discussed and compared in this paper in order to investigate (1) the bond behavior of NSM strips and bars, (2) the influence of alternative single-bond or double-bond shear pulling setups adopted by the participating laboratories, and (3) the influence in concrete strength due to different constituent materials betwee.
Exploring the nature of new main-belt comets with the 10.4 m GTC telescope: (300163) 2006 VW139

Aims. We aim to study the dust ejected by main-belt comet (MBC) (300163) 2006 VW139 to obtain information on the ejection mechanism and the spectral properties of the object. This will help to see if they are compatible with those of “normal” comets. Methods. Broad-band images in the g and r band as well as a low-resolution spectrum in the 0.35–0.9 μm region were obtained with the GTC telescope (Roque de los Muchachos Observatory, La Palma, Spain). Images were analyzed to produce a color map and derive a lower limit of the absolute magnitude H. A Monte Carlo scattering model was used to derive dust properties such as mass loss rates and ejection velocities as a function of time. The reflectance spectrum was compared to that of the well-studied MBC 133P/ Elst-Pizarro. The spectrum was also used to search for CN emission and to determine the upper limit of the CN production rate. Results. The reflectance spectrum of 2006 VW139 is typical of a C-class asteroid, with a spectral slope S � = 0.5 ± 1.0%/1000 A. It is similar to the spectrum of 133P and other MBCs. No CN emission is detected in the spectrum. A CN production rate upper limit of 3.76 × 10 23 s −1 is derived. Images show that the MBC present a narrow almost linear tail that extends up to 40 000 km in the anti-solar direction and more than 80 000 km in the direction of the object’s orbital plane. The color of the tail is slightly redder than
A study on Carbon Nanotube-Gene Interaction in Induction of Glial Cells to Neuron Cell

Introduction: Reprogramming different cell to neuron have yet remained attractive field in regenerative medicine, so discovery new methods or improve existing methods could be helpful. The aim of this study was to evaluate the Carbon Nanotube-Gene Interaction in Induction of Glial Cells to Neuron Cell. Materials and Methods: Accordingly, we analyzed the transcriptome data of glial and neuron cells to determine the different gene expression in both groups. Then, based on this transcriptome data, the gene chemical interaction was determined to find the most important chemical structure which induces glial cell to neurons. Data extract from transcriptome database related rat cerebral cortex cells generated by RNA sequencing transcriptomic (RNAseq) technique. By comparison neuron against glial cells (astrocyte, oligodenderocyte and microglia) determined different gene expression. In Comparative Toxicogenomics Database (CTD) determined the most important chemical to interact with this gene set. Then by using genetrail2 database determined mechanism of gene set associated to chemicals and miRNA enriched. Results: Result determined different chemical with the risk factor and protective factor properties related to 500 genes that enriched in a neuron in comparison with glial cells. The carbon nanotube is the first important chemicals that interact with 75 genes of 500. Gene ontology analysis determined the carbon nanotube effect on genes that induce neurogenesis, neurodevelopment, and differentiation. Genetrail2 release the 29 significant miRNAs enriched in gene interacts with carbon nanotube in which miR-34a and miR-449a are the most significant molecules. Network analysis of these genes represents KIT (tyrosine-protein kinase, CD117), Gria1, Syt1, Rab3c, and Tubb3 have central roles in neurogenesis by the carbon nanotube. Conclusion: In sum up, the carbon nanotube is an electrical stimulator that has biocompatibility to induce glial cell to the neuron which applies as devise lonely or combination with a cell in damage part of the neural tissue.
Evaluation of different deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) extraction methods using dried blood spot for early infant diagnosis of HIV1 in Sub-Saharan Africa

Mother-to-child transmission leads to death of 50% of infected children in the first 2 years of life. Early diagnosis is essential for timely treatment. Dried blood spots (DBS) collected on filter paper provide a simple approach for sample collection especially in resource limited settings, because storage and shipment are very easy. The aim of the study was to standardize reproducible, affordable and not expensive deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) extraction procedures. 146 samples were collected in the context of DREAM Program activity (Drug Resources Enhancement against AIDS and Malnutrition), a large public health programme in Africa to treat AIDS, and nine experimental methods were compared with the HIV-DNA extraction from whole blood using Amplicor HIV-1 DNA Roche Molecular Systems. The results obtained demonstrates that it is possible to extract DNA form DBS using a Chelex resin based method with comparable efficiency to that of a commercial standardized kit, as Qiagen, decreasing test costs by about 50% and with an excellent correlation with whole blood extraction.
Load forecasting method considering temperature effect for distribution network

To improve the accuracy of load forecasting, the temperature factor was introduced into the load forecasting in this paper. This paper analyzed the characteristics of power load variation, and researched the rule of the load with the temperature change. Based on the linear regression analysis, the mathematical model of load forecasting was presented with considering the temperature effect, and the steps of load forecasting were given. Used MATLAB, the temperature regression coefficient was calculated. Using the load forecasting model, the full-day load forecasting and time-sharing load forecasting were carried out. By comparing and analyzing the forecast error, the results showed that the error of time-sharing load forecasting method was small in this paper. The forecasting method is an effective method to improve the accuracy of load forecasting.
A Peccati-Tudor type theorem for Rademacher chaoses

In this article, we prove that in the Rademacher setting, a random vector with chaotic components is close in distribution to a centered Gaussian vector, if both the maximal influence of the associated kernel and the fourth cumulant of each component is small. In particular, we recover the univariate case recently established in Döbler and Krokowski (2019). Our main strategy consists in a novel adaption of the exchangeable pairs couplings initiated in Nourdin and Zheng (2017), as well as its combination with estimates via chaos decomposition.
Impact of Intracellular Concentrations on Metabolic Drug-Drug Interaction Studies

Accurate prediction of drug-drug interactions (DDI) is a challenging task in drug discovery and development. It requires determination of enzyme inhibition in vitro which is highly system-dependent for many compounds. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the determination of intracellular unbound concentrations in primary human hepatocytes can be used to bridge discrepancies between results obtained using human liver microsomes and hepatocytes. Specifically, we investigated if Kpuu could reconcile differences in CYP enzyme inhibition values (Ki or IC50). Firstly, our methodology for determination of Kpuu was optimized for human hepatocytes, using four well-studied reference compounds. Secondly, the methodology was applied to a series of structurally related CYP2C9 inhibitors from a Roche discovery project. Lastly, the Kpuu values of three commonly used CYP3A4 inhibitors—ketoconazole, itraconazole, and posaconazole—were determined and compared to compound-specific hepatic enrichment factors obtained from physiologically based modeling of clinical DDI studies with these three compounds. Kpuu obtained in suspended human hepatocytes gave good predictions of system-dependent differences in vitro. The Kpuu was also in fair agreement with the compound-specific hepatic enrichment factors in DDI models and can therefore be used to improve estimations of enrichment factors in physiologically based pharmacokinetic modeling.
Arctic rapid sea ice loss events in regional coupled climate scenario experiments

Rapid sea ice loss events (RILEs) in a mini-ensemble of regional Arctic coupled climate model scenario experiments are analyzed. Mechanisms of sudden ice loss are strongly related to atmospheric circulation conditions and preconditioning by sea ice thinning during the seasons and years before the event. Clustering of events in time suggests a strong control by large-scale atmospheric circulation. Anomalous atmospheric circulation is providing warm air anomalies of up to 5 K and is forcing ice flow, affecting winter ice growth. Even without a seasonal preconditioning during winter, ice drop events can be initiated by anomalous inflow of warm air during summer. It is shown that RILEs can be generated based on atmospheric circulation changes as a major driving force without major competing mechanisms, other than occasional longwave effects during spring and summer. Other anomalous seasonal radiative forcing or short-lived forcers (e.g., soot) play minor roles or no role at all in our model. RILEs initiated by ocean forcing do not occur in the model, although cannot be ruled out due to model limitations. Mechanisms found are qualitatively in line with observations of the 2007 RILE.
Effect of Working Capital Management on the Profitability of Selected Manufacturing Companies in Nigeria

There is no doubt that the ultimate objective of any firm is to maximize profit. However, the preservation of the liquidity of a firm is an important objective too and it is the efficient management of the various components of working capital that helps to preserve liquidity. This paper therefore examined the effect of working capital management on profitability of selected manufacturing companies. Secondary data gathered from the annual reports of six selected companies in Nigeria covering the period between 2006 and 2013 was used for the study. Purposive sampling technique was adopted and data collected was analysed using panel data least square method of regression. The study found a significant negative relationship between the components of working capital (DCP, APP and ITID) and profitability (ROI). The study therefore concluded that working capital management has significant impact on profitability of manufacturing companies and recommended that companies should manage their cash, accounts receivables, inventories and accounts payable with a view to reducing the cash conversion cycle so as to increase their profitability amongst other things.
Security Governance and Networks: New Theoretical Perspectives in Transatlantic Security

The end of the Cold War has not only witnessed the rise of new transnational threats such as terrorism, crime, proliferation and civil war; it has also seen the growing role of non-state actors in the provision of security in Europe and North America. Two concepts in particular have been used to describe these transformations: security governance and networks. However, the differences and potential theoretical utility of these two concepts for the study of contemporary security have so far been under-examined. This article seeks to address this gap. It proposes that security governance can help to explain the transformation of Cold War security structures, whereas network analysis is particularly useful for understanding the relations and interactions between public and private actors in the making and implementation of national and international security policies.
FLEXIBILITY OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENTPROJECTS: A CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

As both the business and technological environments change rapidly, information systems development (ISD) projects cannot succeed without being flexible and responsive to changes. However, there is little theoretical understanding of ISD project flexibility and its measurement. This research defines and conceptualizes the flexibility construct and develops a conceptual framework for measuring ISD project flexibility. The framework is based on two dimensions: measures of flexibility and types of ISD project flexibility. Measures of flexibility include time, cost, difficulty, amount and range. ISD project flexibility is classified into two types: flexibility to respond to end-user requirement changes and flexibility to respond to information technology (IT) changes. The significance and implications of the proposed framework for research are discussed.
A Fully Automatic Method for Accurate Parametrization and Reconstruction of ECG Waveforms

Parameterization and synthesis of electrocardiogram (ECG) recordings are some of the most challenging problems in biomedical signal processing owing to the fact that ECG signals commonly exhibit complex temporal morphology and contain numerous artifacts of data collection process. In this paper, we present a fully automatic framework for accurate and robust parameterization and reconstruction of ECG waveforms. The method uses the observed signal to ascertain a nondeterministic model for the ECG signal and employs the Dynamic Time warping (DTW) algorithm to determine a non-linear temporal relationship between the established ECG model and the individual pulses in the ECG signal. The results of parameterization provide a set of data that accurately describe the morphology of the ECG pulses. The proposed signal synthesis algorithm is able to independently account for the temporal and spatial dynamics of consecutive ECG pulses and provide a faithful reconstruction of ECG signals. Performance evaluation experiments are conducted on a database of 135 one-minute ECG recordings. The percentage rootmean-square difference measure is employed to evaluate the quality of signal reconstruction and also validate the results of signal parameterization.
On the Development of a Specialized Flexible Gripper for Garment Handling

In this paper, we discuss ongoing work on the development of a new griper for garments handling and manipulation tasks. We analyze the specificity of the application determining the requirements for the design and functioning of the grasping system. Textiles do not have a stable shape and cannot be manipulated on the basis of a priori geometric knowledge. Therefore, the grasping task cannot be executed without exploring the material and the environment. This is to be achieved by a vision system, which is part of the robotic work cell, in combination with tactile sensors embedded in the fingertips of the gripper. A possible design for the gripper mechanism is outlined and open research and design problems are identified. 
Identification and Estimation of Hedonic Models

This paper considers the identification and estimation of hedonic models. We establish that in an additive version of the hedonic model, technology and preferences are generically nonparametrically identified from data on demand and supply in a single hedonic market. The empirical literature that claims that hedonic models estimated on data from a single market are fundamentally underidentified is based on arbitrary linearizations that do not use all the information in the model. The exact economic model that justifies linear approximations is unappealing. Nonlinearities are generic features of equilibrium in hedonic models and a fundamental and economically motivated source of identification.
Experimental Characterization of Organohalide Lead Perovskites for Photovoltaic Applications

Perovskites are a class of materials that possess many interesting properties with a wide range of technological applications in the field of optoelectronics and photovoltaics. In recent years, perovskites have gained considerable attention as an inexpensive and easy-to-synthesize light absorbing material for so-called organic-inorganic solar cells. In this study we wish to examine the structural and electronic properties of CH3NH3PbI3 organohalide lead perovskites. Charge transport behaviour between the light harvesting perovskite and the underlying electron transport mesostructure are some of the factors that affect the Power Conversion Efficiencies (PCE) of these devices. Therefore, advanced characterization methods were used to investigate the structural and electronic changes that may occur at the interface. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to survey the structure and morphology of the samples. It was found that the titania grain sizes were 20-25 nm in size and the perovskite grain sizes from 200 nm to 500 nm. The samples were prepared using a solution processing method, which is widely considered as one of the most cost effective ways for crystal growth. However, our studies show that this method does not provide a full perovskite coverage of the surface (14.4% of surface uncovered) which reduces the light harvesting yield. X-ray diffraction (XRD) was employed to study the crystal structure of the sample. It was concluded that the titania was in the anatase phase and the perovskite in a tetragonal crystal system (space group: I4/mcm), with a cell size of a=8.89 A and c=12.68 A. Moreover, our XRD results reveal the existence of a PbI2 crystal phase, indicating an incomplete conversion of the precursors to the perovskite phase. In order to probe the changes that occur at the interface and to elucidate the electron transport mechanisms, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was conducted and the core-level spectra was investigated. A shift of 0.44 eV in the binding energy of the Ti 2p line was observed between the titania samples and the titania/perovskite. We hypothesize the origin of this shift to be due to a local screening effect, or the formation of a barrier between the perovskite and the titania that is hindering charge transport and is preventing the compensation for the surface charges lost during photoionization. Based on the findings presented in this thesis we suggest, as a possible research direction for the future, UV Photoelectron Spectroscopy (UPS) for constructing the band alignment schemes with the PbI2 layer included and a thorough investigation of the substrate effects and the synthesis routes on the charge transport dynamics of these systems.
Development of a domestic water end use consumption forecasting modelfor South-East Queensland, Australia

The purpose of this paper is to explore the predominant determinants of shower end use consumption and the overarching approach to building a residential demand forecasting model using aligned socio-demographic and natural science data sets collected from 200 households fitted with smart meters in South-east Queensland, Australia. ANOVA as well as multiple regression analysis statistical techniques were utilised to reveal the determinants (e.g. household makeup, shower fixture efficiency, income, etc.) of household shower consumption. The study provides evidence that both household makeup and shower appliance efficiency are the most significant determinants of shower usage among other factors. The generated multiple regression model shows that these significant determinants can explain 90.2% of the variation in household shower consumption. The model also shows that the number of teenagers in the household is the most important household makeup characteristic in terms of shower consumption. The paper concludes with a discussion on the significant shower end use determinants and how this statistical approach will be followed to predict other residential end uses, and overall household residential consumption. Moreover, the implications of the research on conservation strategies and policy design, is discussed, along with future research directions.
Effect of Cashless Economy on Micro and Small Scale Businesses in Nigeria

The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of cashless policy on micro and small scale businesses in Nigeria. The objective of the study is to determine the possible implication of a cashless economy on micro and small scale businesses in Nigeria. It will also proffer solution to the impending challenges that micro and small scale businesses will face in a cashless society. Finally it will re-echo the role of policy makers on the survival of micro and small scale businesses. The researcher therefore, reviewed existing literature on the concept of cashless society and its effect on micro and small scale businesses. Recommendations on how to effectively implement the cashless policy in other to encourage micro and small scale business owners to be part of it were highlighted. It was concluded that if necessary measures are not put in place and the necessary stakeholders to the policy carried along with considerations on how the policy may affect them, the cashless policy will adversely affect micro and small scale businesses and may engineer their failure. Key Words : Cashless economy, micro and small scale businesses, electronic payment
Adulteration of Milk in Jabalpur

Aim-Milk adulteration is a serious threat posed in front of a country like Indiawhere milkis a major source of protein and consumed by all generations.There is need to ensure the extent and type of substances which are used for adulteration in a particular area.Present study was conducted to detect the adulteration in milk supplied to various dairies of Jabalpur. Material and Method-Sixty random raw milk samples were collected from dairy owners from different regions of Jabalpur. Samples were analyzed for determination and extent of adulteration. A standard milk adulteration kit manufactured by Himedia laboratories, Mumbai, India was usedto detect the adulterants. Results-Adulterants found were urea (63%), skim milk powder (23%), salt (28%), sucrose (90%) and detergent (20%) . Conclusion-This analysis which has unfolded proved that the milk wasadulterated with toxic chemicals which are injurious to health. The adulterants decrease the nutritive value of milk and may also cause serious human health related problems.