Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Synthesis of Calcium Phosphate Controllable Coating Thickness on Oil-in-Water Nanoemulsion with Performance of Oxygen Release as Oxygen Carrier

Perfluorocarbon emulsion has been studied as an oxygen carrier, due to its high oxygen content. In clinical trials, it has shown stability in delivering oxygen to the target region. The purpose of the present study was to increase the stability of the emulsion by coating its surface with calcium phosphate. A layer-by-layer method was employed to coat the flexible emulsion surface. Considering the ionic affinity of calcium and phosphate to the lecithin emulsion surface, the first layer of coating was calcium and the second layer was comprised of phosphate ion. The coated emulsion demonstrated various oxygen release times depending on the thickness of the layers: from 0.04 sec. for a thickness of 8 nm to 0.17 sec. for a thickness 38 nm. Overall, the stability of the calcium phosphate coated emulsion was increased, while its original function as an oxygen carrier was maintained.
Flight Envelope Protection Control Based on Reference Governor Method in High Angle of Attack Maneuver

The reference governor strategy is presented for the flight envelope protection control of the aircraft during high angle of attack maneuvers. Limits of key flight parameters and amplitude saturation of control surfaces are explicitly considered by imposing the output and input constraints on the flight system. Firstly, a nominal flight control scheme is designed using eigenstructure assignment approach. The static and dynamic reference governors are discussed for flight envelope protection control of the aircraft during stability-axis roll maneuver. Then, a new reference governor is presented based on step response model. The performance of these reference governors for flight envelope protection is demonstrated and compared by numerical simulations. Results show that the dynamic reference governor and the proposed step response model based reference governor are valid for the flight envelope protection control and the latter is easier to be realized.
A Survey on Expert System using Classification Concept

- In many expert systems classifier technique is successfully applied. Expert system means the system which makes decision based on provided knowledge by human expert and displays the result. Expert System contains knowledge provided by field expert in terms of rules. These rules are match with the system input and display the appropriate result of it. To minimize the effort of rule matching we apply classifier technique. By using decision tree classifier we reduce the size of the records for compare with previously design rules. After find the reduced set we apply rule matching on it and find out the exact rule match with user input.
Reassessment of the genus Catillochroma (lichenized Ascomycota, Ramalinaceae)

Abstract The species assigned to the genus Catillochroma are reassessed. The two characters used to characterize Catillochroma, exciple anatomy and thalline chemistry, are shown to be variable and contradictory with a number of intermediates. Consequently, Catillochroma is reduced to synonymy with Megalaria, and the species previously placed in Catillochroma transferred, or returned, to Megalaria. As such, the following new combinations are proposed: Megalaria anaglyptica, M. endochroma, M. intermiscens and M. leptocheila. The genus Lopezaria is also shown to be related to Megalaria and to be closely related to the type species of Catillochroma, C. endochroma, and so is also reduced to synonymy with Megalaria. A number of species found to have been misplaced in Catillaria are also transferred to Megalaria: M. leucochlora, M. melanopotamica, M. obludens, M. pannosa and M. phaeolomiza. Megalaria imshaugii is reduced to synonymy with M. obludens, Megalaria pannosa is reported for the first time from North America and Lopezaria isidiza is reported for the first time from outside Asia from Jamaica.
Nutritional health of young children in South Africa over the first 16 years of democracy

Objectives. Malnutrition among young children is a major health problem in post-apartheid South Africa. Despite implementation of numerous health and nutrition programmes, these extensive efforts to alleviate the situation have not been adequately reviewed. Methods. We provide an overview of various aspects of the current nutritional health status of young children. The reviewed data are from the time period 1994 - 2010, and were collected from literature databases and official reports, as well as our own experience with field research in various urban and rural parts of the country. Results. Both smaller province-based studies as well as three large nationwide surveys conclude that many young South African children have inadequate nutritional status. Rates of stunting, micronutrient deficiencies and hunger and food insecurity are all unacceptably high. Coexisting HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis add to this burden. A gradual transition to a westernised diet characterised by energy-dense food has led to a worrying increase in overweight and obesity. Conclusion. A major challenge for the South African health authorities is still the fight against childhood undernutrition and hunger, which in turn are rooted in poverty and social inequalities. The double burden of disease adds to the scale and complexity of this challenge.
Effects of Corporate Culture on Organization Performance

This paper focuses on the definition of organizational/corporate culture and sheds the light on the important studies on the topic. Various definitions of corporate culture as discussed by various authors have been analyzed. The different types of cultures and what researchers have found out about their effects on organization performance has been reviewed in this paper. A number of studies that linked the relationship between organizational culture and the organizational performance have been discussed. The researcher realized that as cited by Jennifer et al., (2011) the relationship between culture and organizational performance is still not well understood by many researchers. They bring out the criticism of strong and weak cultures citing that what matters is not the strength or weakness of a culture but how forcefully the norms are held by organizational members (its intensity), and how widely members agree about the norms within the organization (consensus) (O'Reilly, 1989; Jackson, 1960). The researcher agrees with this finding as supported by Sorensen (2002) who theorized that an organization cultures lead to consistency in performance by increasing employee consensus and willingness to endorse organizational goals, reducing uncertainty through goal clarity, and increasing motivation. Although Wilderom and Berg (1998) argued that instead of striving for strong culture, researchers should attempt to reduce the gap between employees' preferred organizational culture practices and their perception of the organizational practices. This prompts a further study to explore the reasoning by Wilderom and Berg.
CAUSALITY LINKS BETWEEN ASSET PRICES AND CASH RATE IN AUSTRALIA

This paper seeks to empirically investigate the causal linkages between asset prices and Australia’s cash rate. Quarterly data spanning the period 1980:1 and 2002:4 were employed in the analysis. The Johansen MLE multivariate co-integration procedure reveals that Australia’s cash rate and key determinants are co-integrated, and thus share a long-run equilibrium relationship. The Stock-Watson dynamic OLS model (DOLS), which is superior to a number of alternative estimators, finds empirical evidence of significant long run relationship between Australia’s cash rate and house prices, stock market prices, inflation rate and Australia’s real gross domestic product, and United States cash rate and real gross domestic product. The US cash rate Granger causes Australia’s cash rate. Australia’s stock market price Granger causes Australia’s house prices. The Granger causality test reveals a unidirectional causality from house prices to Australia’s cash rate, which is contrary to the conventional wisdom of a bi-directional causality running from the cash rate to house prices.
Implementation issues of 3D audio in a virtual room

This paper presents the audio system built for the virtual room at Helsinki University of Technology. First we discuss the general problems for multichannel sound reproduction caused by the construction of, and the equipment in virtual rooms. We also describe the acoustics of the room in question, and the effect of the back-projected screens and reverberation to the sound. Compensation of the spectral deficiencies and the problems with the large listening area and high frequency attenuation are introduced. The hardware configuration used for sound reproduction is shortly described. We also report the software applications and libraries built for sound signal processing and 3D sound reproduction.
Beyond the SUTVA: how policy evaluations change when we allow for interactions among firms

The shortage of studies on spatial spillovers of industrial policies is rather surprising considering that such policies are usually designed for generating spatial externalities. In this paper we propose a new framework that partially relaxes the SUTVA and allows contrasting the positive agglomeration effects with the negative cross-sectional substitution and the crowding-out effect. The global evaluation of the ATT and the spillover parameters shifts the spotlight from the policy effect on subsidised firms to the global effect of the industrial policy on the targeted territory. Analysing a capital subsidy policy in Italy we find a positive and large effect of the policy on subsidised firms in terms of investment, turnover, and employment; however, the employment growth is in part determined to the detriment of affected untreated firms located in the very proximity of one or more treated firms that belong to the same sector of activity.
Estimating Stability of MTDC Systems with Different Control Strategy

The stability of a multi-terminal direct current (MTDC) system is often influenced by its control strategy. To improve the stability of the MTDC system, the control strategy of the MTDC system must be appropriately adopted. This paper deals with estimating stability of a MTDC system based on the line-commutated converter based high voltage direct current (LCC HVDC) system with an inverter with constant extinction angle (CEA) control or a rectifier with constant ignition angle (CIA) control. In order to evaluate effects of two control strategies on stability, a MTDC system is tested on two conditions: initialization and changing DC power transfer. In order to compare the stability effects of the MTDC system according to each control strategy, a mathematical MTDC model is analyzed in frequency domain and time domain. In addition, Bode stability criterion and transient response are carried out to estimate its stability.
Grain-size distribution and chemical composition of water-insoluble components in aeolian dust collected in Japan in spring 2002

We have studied chemical characteristics of aeolian dust (Kosa) during the transportation from China to Japan. Dust samples were collected at Naha, Fukuoka, Nagoya and Tsukuba in Japan from March to May 2002 and analyzed for the chemical composition of water-insoluble components. The chemical concentrations of most elements in the air were the highest during a dust event, and their particle size distribution patterns are characterized by having one large peak at 2.1-7. 0μm. Most elements are considered to originate in mineral aerosol because mass concentrations have the same distribution patterns. However, some elements, Cd, Sn, Sb, Pb and Bi, were highly enriched in small particles (under 1μm), which consist of mainly carbon aerosol released by a vehicle, plant and heating system. These elements are considered to originate in anthropogenic materials. The elemental concentrations divided by Al2O3 contents are useful to examine the change of mineralogical composition or estimate the contribution of anthropogenic materials. The concentration ratios of most elements were almost constant through the particle size, but often high in the smaller particle (0.65-1.01μm). The particle’s mineral composition probably changes at 1μm. On the contrary, distribution patterns of some heavy metals having anthropogenic origins revealed that the fraction of anthropogenic materials in aeolian dust gradually increased with the decrease of particle size and suddenly rose at 2μm of particle size. Finally, we examined geochemical differences between two periods (dust event and non-dust event) and among observation stations. Some elements (P2O5, K2O, T-Fe2O3, Zr, Nb and Mo) have systematic differences among sampling locations during non-dust event and showed that aeolian dust contains some local materials. However, these systematic differences disappeared when a dust event was observed and revealed that a dust storm carried a large amount of aerosol from East Asia to Japan and made a nearly homogeneous chemical composition of dust at each station.
One-Pot Template-Free Hydrothermal Synthesis of Monoclinic Hollow Microspheres and Their Enhanced Visible-Light Photocatalytic Activity

Monoclinic-phase BiVO4 hollow microspheres with diameters of about 2–4 μm have been successfully fabricated in high yield by a one-pot template-free hydrothermal route. The reaction duration and urea concentration are shown to play important roles in the formation of the BiVO4 hollow microspheres. X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms, fourier transform infrared spectrometry, and UV-visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy are used to characterize the products. The results show that all the as-prepared BiVO4 samples have monoclinic phase structure and exhibit good crystallinity. A formation mechanism for the BiVO4 hollow spherical structure via a localized Ostwald ripening is proposed based on the experimental observations. In addition, studies of the photocatalytic properties by exposure to visible light irradiation demonstrate that the as-obtained BiVO4 hollow spheres show potential photocatalytic application. Hydroxyl radicals (•OH) are not detected on the surface of visible-light-illuminated BiVO4 by the photoluminescence technique, suggesting that •OH is not the dominant photooxidant and photogenerated hole could directly take part in photocatalytic reaction. The prepared BiVO4 hollow spheres are also of great interest in pigment, catalysis, separation technology, biomedical engineering, and nanotechnology.
Acoustic metamaterials for sound focusing and confinement

We give a theoretical design for a locally resonant two-dimensional cylindrical structure involving a pair of C-shaped voids in an elastic medium which we term as double ‘C’ resonators (DCRs) and imbedded thin stiff bars, that displays the negative refraction effect in the low frequency regime. DCRs are responsible for a low frequency band gap which hybridizes with a tiny gap associated with the presence of the thin bars. Using an asymptotic analysis, typical working frequencies are given in closed form: DCRs behave as Helmholtz resonators modeled by masses connected to clamped walls by springs on either side, while thin bars behave as a periodic bi-atomic chain of masses connected by springs. The discrete models give an accurate description of the location and width of the stop band in the case of the DCR and the first two dispersion bands for the periodic thin bars. We then combine our asymptotic formulae for arrays of DCR and thin-bars to design a composite structure that displays a negative refraction effect and has a negative phase velocity in a frequency band, and thus behaves in many ways as a negative refractive acoustic medium (NRAM). Finite element computations show that at this frequency, a slab of such NRAM works as a phononic flat superlens whereas two corners of such NRAM sharing a vertex act as an open resonator and can be used to confine sound to a certain extent.
Investigating the heterogeneity of the D″ region beneath the northern Pacific using a seismic array

[1] Seismic array recordings are used to study the heterogeneity of a 15° × 25° region of the lowermost mantle beneath the northern Pacific. We investigate P waves from northwestern Pacific events, 68° to 82° from the Yellowknife array in northern Canada. Anomalous arrivals (PdP) are observed 2–13.5 s after P with a slowness 0.4–1.2 s/deg smaller than P, suggesting that they are reflections from a D″ discontinuity. We use vespagrams (slant stacks) and f-k analyses to determine travel times and slowness vectors respectively. The f-k technique simultaneously estimates both the horizontal slowness and backazimuth of arrivals at a receiver, with better resolution than vespagrams. Travel time analysis reveals a mean discontinuity height of 241 km above the core-mantle boundary in the region studied here. However, there appears a systematic variation in this thickness which ranges from 211 to 336 km. The f-k analyses also reveal variations between P and PdP backazimuths, further implying the existence of lateral variations in D″ in this area. This site is thought to be a transition region from an area of mantle downwelling to a region of upwelling; thus the variations in heterogeneity in this region may be related to its proximity to a site of paleoslab accumulation.
Proinsulin in Healthy Pregnancy, Pregnancy with Gestational Diabetes and after Delivery

Summary The aim of the present study was to evaluate the levels of pro-insulin and pro-insulin/ insulin ratio (PIR) in pregnant with normal glucose tolerance (NGT), pregnant with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and women after delivery with GDM history. Normal pregnancy is characterized by progressive insulin resistance, which is physiologically compensated by an increase in insulin secretion. The higher secretion of the insulin precursor pro-insulin has been associated with β-cell dysfunction. A total of 102 pregnant women between 24-28 gestational weeks (53 GDM pregnant, 49 with NGT) and 22 postpartum with GDM history, as assessed by a 2h oral glucose tolerance test, were included in the study. Fasting plasma insulin and pro-insulin (PI) concentrations at the basal state were measured in all women. The ratio pro-insulin/insulin was calculated. BMI was significantly higher in GDM pregnant compared to NGT weight-matched group (30.56 ± 6.9 vs. 30.56 ± 6.9; p < 0, 011) and compared to the levels after delivery (30.56 ± 6.9vs. 27.9 ± 6, 27; p < 0, 001). Significant differences in the levels of PI between NGT and GDM pregnant (3.94 ± 2.78 vs. 7.59 ± 5.27; p = 0.006), between GDM and postpartum women (7.59 ± 5.27 vs. 4.46 ± 1.14; p = 0.022) were established. No signifi cant difference in the level of PIR between two pregnant groups was observed. Separately NGT and GDM showed signifi cant difference compared to young mothers (0.41 ± 0.14 vs. 0.148 ± 0.031, p < 0.02; 0.46 ± 0.16 vs. 0.148 ± 0.031, p = 0.009). Fasting insulin was statistically higher in GDM pregnant compare to NGT and women after delivery (13.84 ± 8.43 vs. 11.35 ± 7.38, p = 0.02; 13.84 ± 8.43 vs. 10.60 ± 7.53, p < 0.01). The correlation between PIR and BMI in the three groups studied were r = 0.416; r = 0,741; r = 0,556 (with statistical significance p = 0.01 between NGT and GDM pregnancy, p = 0.02 between GDM pregnancy and postpartum, p < 0.0001 between NGT pregnancy and young mother with GDM history). In our study, comparison of PI levels between pregnant with NGT and GDM demonstrated that the OR of developing GDM was 1.194 (95% CI, 1.028-1.329, P = 0.001). Increasing the value of PI with 10 pmol/l increases the risk for development of GDM with 19.4%. According to our results, pregnant with GDM have elevated levels of pro-insulin and PIR which could serve as a markers for this condition. These results support our findings about relationship and influence of BMI on β-cell functions, established in this study with normotolerant, gestational diabetes pregnant and women postpartum with GDM history. These results demonstrate that gestational diabetics have abnormalities in pancreatic beta-cell secretion, which are likely to be important both in the etiology of gestational diabetes and non-insulin dependent diabetes.
Scientific Knowledge and Knowledge Needs in Climate Adaptation Policy: A Case Study of Diverse Mountain Regions

Mountain ecosystems around the world are recognized to be among the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. The need to develop sound adaptation strategies in these areas is growing. Knowledge from the natural sciences has an important role to play in the development of adaptation strategies. However, the extent of and gaps in such knowledge have not been systematically investigated for mountain areas. This paper analyzes the status of knowledge from natural science disciplines and research needs relevant to the national and subnational climate adaptation policies of 1 US state (Washington) and 7 countries (Austria, Bhutan, Colombia, Germany, Nepal, Peru, and Switzerland), in particular the elements of those policies focused on mountain areas. In addition, we asked key individuals involved in drafting those policies to answer a short questionnaire. We found that research needs mainly concern impact and vulnerability assessments at regional and local levels, integrated assessments, and improved climate and socioeconomic data. These needs are often related to the challenges to data coverage and model performance in mountainous areas. In these areas, the base data are often riddled with gaps and uncertainties, making it particularly difficult to formulate adaptation strategies. In countries where data coverage is less of an issue, there is a tendency to explore quantitative forms of impact and vulnerability assessments. We highlight how the knowledge embedded in natural science disciplines is not always useful to address complex vulnerabilities in coupled human and natural systems and briefly refer to alternative pathways to adaptation in the form of no-regret, flexible, and adaptive management solutions. Finally, in recognition of the trans- and interdisciplinary nature of climate change adaptation, we raise the question of which knowledge production paradigms are best able to deliver sustainable adaptations to growing environmental stressors in mountain regions.
The delay of stock price adjustment to information: A country- level analysis

This study measures the speed with which the aggregate stock market in 49 countries responds to global market-wide public information. Our empirical results show that there are wide variations in the aggregate price delay values over time and across countries. Subsequent panel analysis confirms previous firm-level evidence that market size, trading volume, short sales restrictions and the degree of investability are significant determinants of price delay even at the country level.
Influence of Psychographics and Risk Perception on Internet Banking Adoption: Current State of Affairs in Britain

This paper investigates the factors which determinate internet banking (IB) decisions among UK IB customers based on a survey which resulted into 191 usable questionnaire respondents randomly collected from a UK city. A linear regression technique is used to analyse data. It is found that perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use consistently have significant positive impacts on the decisions of IB adoption while these IB users are specifically concerned about security risk, privacy risk and financial risk related to using IB services. However, social risk has no significant impact on their decision to adopt IB. The findings indicate that traditional technology related factors are still relevant but psychological barriers, especially risk concerns have significant negative impacts on consumers’ attitudes towards IB.