Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Complementary Split Ring Resonator Effects on Radiation Pattern Reconfigurable Circular Microstrip Antennas

In this study, a radiation pattern reconfigurable microstrip antenna is designed and fabricated. The antenna’s radiation pattern is directed in 9 different angles by employing a radiating patch and embedding complementary split ring resonators (CSRR) on the ground plane. The radiating patch is of circular shape, while for CSRR elements both circular and rectangular shapes are investigated. The antenna is excited through coaxial feed. There are four CSRR cells on the ground plane. With applying slots on CSRR’s arms and loading them by pin diodes, variable length CSRRs are obtained which result in radiation pattern reconfigurable property. Radiation characteristics of the antenna versus different switching modes of pin diodes are investigated and illustrated. The proposed antenna is also compact. The designed antenna was fabricated on FR4 substrate with thickness of 1.6 mm, and measurement results are provided. The results demonstrate that the presented antenna has impedance bandwidth of 2.39-2.47 GHz with a gain of more than 7 dBi.
How deliberative designs empower citize...oll on agriculture and the environment

Empowering ordinary citizens with the capacity to deliberate is a core issue in science communication. Despite growing deliberative practices in developed nations, it is significantly less understood how public deliberation can happen among populations who live with limited educational resources and poor urban infrastructure in developing countries. This article studied a case of a well-designed deliberation method, Deliberative Poll, in Tamale, Ghana. I analyzed the stimulus information video and thousands of speech acts from deliberation transcripts to examine how expertise was used and what was deliberated in public dialogue. A broad range of expertise and interests were represented. Participants had thoughtful discussions on complex policy issues and their discussion results were considered by local policymakers. This article contributes to our understanding of how to effectively foster public deliberation among populations in the Global South and measure the nuances of expertise and public reasoning on science.
A Knowledge Representation Model for Analytico-Synthetic Classification

This paper presents the preliminary results of the research work carried out by the authors at Documentation Research and Training Centre (DRTC). on automatic assignment of class numbers to book titles in the field of Library and Information Science. It should be made clear that it is not attempted to build a system that generates a classification schedule. On the other hand, we have attempted to translate the Colon Classification schedule into a kind of facts in a Frame based Expert System. The objective is to develop a Knowledge Representation (KR) model for analytico synthetic classification scheme. The system that is developed on this model is named PROLOGOMENA.
NON-MONETARY COSTS OF IMMIGRATION AND ADAPTATION TO THE HOST COUNTRY

This paper explores the hypothesis that individuals face non-monetary costs when they decide to move between countries in order to find better jobs. Parallel to the traditional economic literature of immigration, which tests the wage convergence between immigrants and natives by the Immigrant Assimilation Hypothesis (IAH), we use satisfaction data from the British Household Panel Survey (BHPS) to test the Satisfaction Assimilation Hypothesis (SAH) of job satisfaction convergence. We use two different methodologies: the original cross-section approach due to Chiswick (1978) and synthetic cohort methodology (SCM) by Borjas (1985). Our cross-section analysis supports the SAH, that is, although immigrants tend to report lower satisfaction then natives once in the UK, they experience a relative growth on satisfaction through the years and eventually match natives‘ average subjective wellbeing levels. However, the convergence is slow, and once we control for cohort effects, the effect of years in the host country vanishes, indicating that our cross-section analysis used to explain a dynamic phenomenon can be misleading and that the positive crosssection evidence was due to changing cohort inherent characteristics and not to assimilation.
THE EFFECT OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON STOCK MARKET EVIDENCE FROM TWITTER

In this study, we investigate the sentiment of social media to predict stock market performance. In particular, we test the relationship between the twitter activity, number of tweets and followers, and the stock return, volume, and volatility of top 82 companies listed on ASX. We obtain a data set of number of tweets and followers from each company’s twitter account at end of the fiscal year 2019. Our results indicate that stock return is positively associated with the number of organizations' twitter followers, suggesting firms with high returns are likely to have significant number of followers. Moreover, stock trading volume is positively (negatively) associated with the number of organizations' tweets (twitter followers). These findings suggest that firms with high liquidity tend to have significant flow of tweets information rather than many followers with few tweets. However, we find no evidence suggesting that twitter followers and tweets are associated with stock volatility. This study will assist regulators in understanding to what extent the information on major social media platforms can help investors in their investment decision-making.
Quick Determination of Leaf Photosynthetic Pigments Using SPAD Readings

SPAD meter is a simple, portable diagnostic device that measures the greenness or relative chlorophyll content of leaves. Compared with the traditional destructive methods of chlorophyll extraction, the use of this tool device saves time, space, and resources. The objective of this article is to review the associations between the photosynthetic pigments content (chlorophylls, carotenoids) extracted in dimethylsulfoxide or acetone, with the SPAD readings in leaves for estimating their content non-destructively. To estimate photosynthetic pigment content in flag leaves of wheat using the chlorophyll meter, linear models were developed by Kumar and Sharma (2019) from the relationship between the Chlorophyll meter SPAD readings and photosynthetic pigments, i.e., Chla (Chla=0.0690 × SPAD Value 1.082), Chlb (Chlb=0.021 × SPAD Value 0.396), total Chl (Total chlorophyll=0.090 × SPAD Value 1.477) and total carotenoids (Total Carotenoids=0.013 × SPAD Value 0.074). Therefore, it is obvious that the portable chlorophyll meters, SPAD-502 produced readings are associated with leaf photosynthetic pigments and thus allow for a quick determination of the concentration of photosynthetic pigments in the leaves of crop plants with high accuracy and avoiding the use of chemical reagents and extensive laboratory protocols.
Information systems in Industry 4.0: Mechanisms to support the shift from data to knowledge in Lean environments

The paradigm that presently emerges in the organizational context, known as Industry 4.0 (I4.0) promises to bring principles of connectivity and flexibility to the companies that embrace it. However, it is known that the adoption of the Lean philosophy was absorbed by the industrial environment, with results that proved to be exuberant, considering the simplicity of the tools. In this way, the I4.0 implementation must be prepared to preserve the existing manufacturing systems. MES systems will be decisive in the foundation of the I4.0 paradigm. They are capable of eliminate information silos, introduce knowledge management practices and data visualization mechanisms. Thus, their documentation is an organizational pillar, with BPMN and UML being able to guide it. However, BPMN is also likely to be applied in capturing tacit knowledge, which can be a foundation for the constitution of knowledge repositories, impacting organizational excellence. This work aims the creation of guidelines that facilitate the implementation of I4.0 strategies in Lean industrial environments. Some applications aligned with the I4.0 paradigm and with the Lean philosophy were developed and contemplated and considering the evidence reported in the literature, a Lean 4.0 framework oriented to the shop floor is proposed.
Toward a Multi-Language and Multi-Environment Framework for Live Programming

While applications of live programming are expanding to more practical and professional domains, most live programming environments (LPEs) are still developed for a single target language with an original code editor. We propose an implementation framework for developing LPEs so that we can minimize efforts on implementing an LPE for a different target language and an existing code editor/IDE. Our idea is to use a meta-JIT language implementation framework (e.g., Graal/Truffle and RPython) and LSP to separate core live programming implementations from language-specific and editor/IDE specific implementations. This paper takes the Kanon live programming environment as a concrete example and discusses how we can design the framework to accommodate the features of Kanon. Although the framework design is still underway, the paper presents a sketch of the framework APIs for separating language-specific functions and clarifies the requirements to LSP.
Exploring the Effect of Waivers to the Non-Manufacturer Rule on Contract Awards to Small Businesses

The U.S. government regularly participates as a buyer in industrial markets where products are customarily sold through indirect marketing and distribution chains, separating buyers from manufacturers. In many cases, these marketing, distribution, and store-front activities add significant value for buyers, such as through preand post-sale service and support, improvements to product availability, and reductions in per-unit pricing (e.g., via economies due to warehousing, transportation, and ordering processes). Accordingly, the government (U.S. Small Business Administration) has, in some instances, issued class waivers to the requirements of the “non-manufacturer rule” (15 U.S.C. § 657s) when no small business manufacturers exist for a product, such that contracts can be set aside for competition among small business non-manufacturers. This study models the effectiveness of class non-manufacturer rule waivers on the utilization of small business concerns. The purpose of the research is to obtain a better understanding of market and industry conditions in which these waivers are successful at driving small business utilization, as well as conditions where class waivers, once issued, tend to be poorly utilized. A time series panel of data derived from several archival sources was used to estimate a fractional response model with a Bernoulli quasi-maximum likelihood estimation methodology. Findings indicate that NMR waivers work best to increase small business utilization in industries characterized by low concentration and low levels of price inflation. Understanding these factors will inform policy and regulation.
Forecasting the localized bilateral effects of ocean acidification on the counter carbonate pump using recurrent neural networks

—The counter carbonate pump(CCP) is responsible for carbon dioxide sequestration and cycling forms of carbon in the ocean. It is primarily driven by calcifying plankton, such as foraminifera, coccolithophores, and pteropods. These organisms are particularly vulnerable to ocean acidiﬁcation, which can have disastrous effects on their skeletons and productivity, upsetting the marine carbon cycle in ways that have not been quantiﬁed due to their chaotic nature. This project aims to provides high-resolution, accurate, and robust predictions of the efﬁciency of the CCP. These predictions are achieved by training recurrent neural networks on satellite-determined particulate inorganic carbon(PIC) to particulate organic carbon(POC) ratio data that represents the efﬁcency of calcifying organisms in exporting PIC. Recurrent neural networks mimic the way in which biological neurons learn patterns and recall past experiences, and have been shown to be good at predicting chaotic time series. For each 9x9km square sample in a random subset of the dataset, the time series of historical PIC, POC, tropospheric satellite CO2 data, latitude and longitude were used by the model. The applications of the model are threefold. First, it can pinpoint the most vulnerable area in the ocean at arbitrary times in the future. Second, general trends in PIC are a proxy for ocean acidiﬁcation. Finally, anomalous spikes in PIC can be potential coccolithophore blooms, which are dangerous for sub-surface marine life. The model predicts the ratio value to an error of 1.3%, tested using cross validation, and is signiﬁcantly better than linear regression. Future directions for work include physically testing affected specimens in projected water characteristics.
VASCULAR FLUID VOLUMES DURING POSTURAL, THERMAL AND EXERCISE STRESS: METHODOLOGICAL COMPARISONS

INTRODUCTION Direct blood volume measurement, in clinical settings, involves the dilution of radiolabelled erythrocytes and albumin, to measure red cell (RCV) and plasma (PY) volumes. Evan's blue dye dilution is also used to quantify PV (1). However, neither PV technique permits reliable serial measurement, since both label albumin, which readily leaves the vascular space (2). Consequently, acute PV changes are often quantified indirectly, using mixed-venous haematocrit (Hct,,) and haemoglobin ([Hb]) changes (3). Chronic PV changes may be tracked by referencing these changes to a directly measured, control PV (1). To avoid problems associated with albumin loss, we use radioiodinated serum fibrinogen (RlSF) to measure PV (4). In this paper, we compare RCV and PV changes measured using RlSF, with values derived from Hct" and [Hb] variations, during postural, thermal and exercise stresses.
Usability and User Experience Evaluation Model for Investigating Coordinated Assistive Technologies with Blind and Visually Impaired

The objective of this thesis is to examine how should usability and user experience of a cooperative assistive technology for blind and visually impaired be evaluated in a field setting. The target system in this study was developed by a doctoral student, who was also responsible for conducting an experiment in Pakistan. It is important to evaluate assistive technology for visually impaired because of poor adoption rates, while the number of visually impaired people needing them is going to increase. The research includes literature review on development of assistive technologies, and existing usability and user experience methods. Theory is supported with qualitative and quantitative methods. Discussions with three experts in Finland were held and analysed. An experiment for eleven blind and visually impaired people was conducted in Pakistan. This included interviews, analysed observations, and a validation of a user experience questionnaire, meCUE 2.0. Discussions with the research team and consultations from usability and user experience experts were used to assess the results of the research and to develop an evaluation model suitable for the prototype system in specified setting. The first main finding of this thesis is the developed model called UUXCAT for VIP. It can be used to evaluate cooperative assistive technology in a field setting. Development of the model was an iterative process and is based on synthesis of existing methods and available research. The second main finding is the extended contexts questionnaire. New contexts add dimensions that were missing from other methods. These contexts are trust and confidence, social, physical, and culture, and are relevant to visually impaired and the cooperative aspect of the system. The study is limited by Covid-19 as the planned experiment in Finland was not carried out that could further validate the model.
Degradation of environmental pollutants by microorganisms and their metalloenzymes

General strategies in the biodegradation of pollutants, Thomas W. Egli oxidation of aromatic pollutants by lignin-degrading fungi and their extracellular peroxidases, Kenneth E. Hammel biodegradation of tannins, J.A. Field and G. Lettinga aerobic biodegradation of aromatic hydrocarbons by bacteria, Shigeaki Harayama and Kenneth N. Timmis degradation of halogenated aromatics by actinomycetes, Bruno Winter and Wolfgang Zimmermann enzymes catalyzing oxidative coupling reactions of pollutants, Jean-Marc Bollag mechanism of action of peroxidases, Helen Anni and Takashi Yonetani mechanistic aspects of dihydroxybenzoate dioxygenases, John D. Lipscomb and Allen M. Orville aerobic and anaerobic degradation of halogenated aliphatics, Dick B. Janssen and Bernard Witholt mechanisms of reductive dehalogenation by transition metal cofactors found in anaerobic bacteria, Lawrence B. Wackett and Craig A. Schanke bacterial degradation of hemicelluloses, Wolfgang Zimmermann degradation of cellulose and effects of metal ions on cellulases, Anil Goyal and Douglas E. Eveleigh metalloproteases and their role in biotechnology, Guido Grandi and Giulano Galli metal-dependent conversion of inorganic nitrogen and sulfur compounds, Peter M.H. Kroneck et al.
Predicting passive intestinal drug absorption: An interesting relationship between fraction absorbed and melting point

Oral drug administration remains the most popular route of drug delivery. Absorption of the dissolved drug through the intestinal epithelial membrane is a prerequisite to systemic bioavailability and drug efficacy. In efforts to reduce the long lead times, attrition rates, and costs of drug discovery and development, computational models have been developed to predict the membrane permeability and absorption efficiency of a dosed drug. Many models utilize various molecular descriptors to correlate with in vitro permeability or human intestinal absorption data. It is widely accepted that the two most significant physicochemical properties that control a compound’s passive transport process are its aqueous solubility and lipophilicity characteristics. This work will discuss the theoretical background of passive transport, a number of computational models developed to predict in vitro permeability, other models that predict human fraction of dose absorbed, and predicting absorption efficiency relative to a maximum dose. A newly developed prediction method is also presented, that reveals an interesting relationship between fraction absorbed and the melting point of the drug.
Phthalocyanines : properties and materials

Phthalocyanines: Properties and Materials. Physical Properties of Phthalocyanine Based Materials (D. Dini, M. Hanack). Phthalocyanine Thin Films: Deposition and Structural Studies (M. J. Cook, I. Chambrier). Phthalocyanine Aggregation (A. Snow). Porphyrins and Phthalocyanines in Macromolecules (D. Wohrle, G. Schnurpfeil). Porphyrins and Phthalocyanines Encapsulated in Inorganic Host Materials (M. Wark).
Psychological empowerment as a predictor of quality in trainingA glance at the Portuguese context

This paper analyses the model of Adult Education and Training (AET) in Portugal, taking under consideration the two available reports on this recent domain, which reveal that empowerment is a prescriptive goal. However, this construct continues to be ill defined. The empowerment theory suggested by Zimmerman and colleagues, particularly the psychological empowerment construct, shows enough consistency with the AET model to consider that it might contribute to the management of quality in training. These reports also state the urge for better, more inclusive and more reliable measures in assessing quality in training. Contributions of the empowerment theory to this matter are discussed, attempting to analyse and operacionalize it in this specific domain. Key-words: Empowerment Psychological Empowerment Adult Education and Training – Assessment Quality in training. Psychological Empowerment as a predictor of quality in training – a glance at the Portuguese context
Etude par microscopie à force atomique et par microscopie de fluorescence de l’interaction de nanoparticules de silice avec des films lipidiques plans

Cette these s’inscrit dans le cadre des etudes portant sur la toxicite des nanoparticules (NPs). Leurs proprietes physico-chimiques conferent aux NPs la capacite de penetrer dans les cellules en traversant la membrane plasmique. La comprehension de l’interaction NPs-membrane est donc cruciale. La structure complexe des membranes nous a impose d’etudier l’interaction NPs-membrane a l’aide de films lipidiques plans (monocouches et bicouches) utilises comme modeles membranaires simplifies, deposes sur des surfaces nanostructurees par le depot prealable de NPs de silice (4 a 100 nm de diametre) ou transferes a partir de monocouches etalees sur une suspension de NPs. Deux methodes complementaires ont ete utilisees, la microscopie de force atomique (AFM) et la microscopie de fluorescence. Apres une premiere phase d’optimisation des protocoles experimentaux (choix des lipides, conditions de preparation des surfaces nanostructurees et des films), l’AFM a d’abord revele l’oxydation des films monocouches constitues de lipides insatures, se traduisant par la formation de domaines sureleves par rapport a la phase lipidique intacte. Dans le cas des films de lipides presentant une transition de phase de type liquide expanse/liquide condense, la presence des NPs (le plus souvent sous forme d’agregats) semble favoriser la transition vers la phase condensee, les NPs etant situes soit au coeur soit en lisiere des domaines condenses.Dans le cas des bicouches, l’etude par AFM en milieu liquide montre des comportements tribologiques differents des agregats de NPs, suggerant deux organisations possibles de la bicouche lipidique, recouvrant les NPs ou formant des pores autour d’elles.