Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Location Based Services for Human Self-Localization

Abstract. Human self-localisation is an important part of everyday life. In order to determine one’s own position and orientation, the allocentric representation, usually in the form of a map, has to be aligned with one’s own egocentric representation of the real world. This requires objects (anchor points) that are present in both representations. We present two novel approaches that aim to simplify the process of alignment and thus the self-localisation. The Viewshed approach is based on visibility analysis and the Image Recognition approach identifies objects and highlights them on the map. On the basis of an empirical experiment with 30 participants in the city of Vienna, Austria, the two approaches were compared with each other as well as with a standard approach using a 2D map representation. The goal is to assess and compare aspects like efficiency, user experience, and cognitive workload. Results show that the Image Recognition method provided the best support and was also most popular among users. The Viewshed method performed well below expectations.
NMR spectroscopy coupled with multivariate data analysis to assess antiinflammatory activities of Eugenia uniflora fruits in different developmental stages

Eugenia uniflora is widely used in Argentina, Brazilian and Paraguayan folk medicine. In this study, crude extracts of berries in different developmental stages were examined by assessing their effect on the production of TNF-α in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulated U937 cell lines. Zebrafish embryos expressing fluorescent protein were used for in-vivo studies. Berries were staged into green, yellow, red and purple according to the period towards maturity. The fruits at the green stages presented significant antiinflammatory activity in both the assays followed by yellow, purple and red stages. NMR spectroscopy together with multivariate data analysis was applied to identify the compounds responsible for activity. Projections to latent structures (PLS) were found effective in discriminating high activity samples from low activity samples. By analysing the coefficient plot, the active constituents in the high activity samples have been identified as quercetin, myricetin, kaempferol, cinnamic acid NMR spectroscopy coupled with multivariate data analysis to assess antiinflammatory activities of Eugenia uniflora fruits in different developmental stages Chap.8 183 and chlorogenic acid. NMR spectroscopy proved to be a valuable tool for identifying compounds responsible for activity. Keyword: Eugenia uniflora, NMR, TNF-α, inflammation, zebrafish, multivariate data analysis NMR spectroscopy coupled with multivariate data analysis to assess antiinflammatory activities of Eugenia uniflora fruits in different developmental stages Chap.8 184 8.
Use of meta-Topolin, an unconventional cytokinin in the in vitro multiplication of Opuntia stricta Haw

The erect prickly pear (Opuntia stricta Haw) is an important alternative used to feed ruminants during prolonged periods of drought. The objective of this research was to evaluate the effect of different types and concentrations of cytokinins on the morphophysiological aspects of in vitro multiplication of O. stricta. Segments of O. stricta were grown in liquid and semisolid Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 2.22 or 1.11 μM l-1 of 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) and 1.11 μM l-1 meta-Topolin (mT). The experiment was conducted in a growth room at 25±2°C over a period of 45 days. It were evaluated multiplication rate, shoot formation index, rooting and callus formation, fresh biomass, height, activity of antioxidant enzymes, and content of hydrogen peroxide and malondialdehyde. The experiment was carry out in a completely randomized design with six treatments and twelve replicates. The results showed that the consistency of the medium had influence on the shoots development and roots emission. The increase in BAP concentrations resulted in a reduction in the length and fresh biomass of the shoots and in the root system. The enzymatic activity and oxidative stress were inducted with the use of 6-benzylaminopurine. The micropropagation of O. stricta was improved with the use of mT, verified through shoot with better morphophysiological quality for acclimatization, with longer shoot length, rooting and reduction in the occurrence of hyperhydricity, a morphophysiological disorder that leads to large losses in micropropagation of this specie.
A high-quality hourly, daily and monthly solar irradiance
dataset in China during 1981–2014 based on MERRA-2
Reanalysis products

Abstract. Solar irradiance (SI) is the main driving factor contributing to climate change and energy balance between the land and atmosphere. High-quality records of global solar irradiance (GHI), direct normal irradiance (DNI) and diffuse solar irradiance (DIF) are of vital importance for solar applications, but the solar radiation observations are sparse around the world. As an alternative, numerous SI reanalysis data in grid format have been developed in regional and global scales. Among them, the MERRA-2 (Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications, version 2) products could provide high quality SI records with acceptable accuracy and long temporal ranges. This study attempted to improve the accuracy of GHI records derived from MERRA-2 products, and to generate grid DNI and DIF datasets for all-sky conditions over mainland China during 1981–2014, based on the REST2 model and cloud transmittance estimates combining sunshine observations. The results indicate that the estimated GHI values (GHInew) show higher agreements with GHI measurement at 17 CMA (China meteorological administrations) stations than that for the GHI records derived from MERRA-2 products (MERRA-2 GHI). Then, grid GHI, DNI and DIF datasets (0.50° (lat) *0.625° (lon)) throughout China were constructed. The results indicated that the MERRA-2 GHI records may overestimate the GHI values over mainland China. Generally, the GHI and DNI values gradually decreased during 1981-2014, however, DIF values gradually increased from 1981 to 2014, especially in 1992 (DIF = 90.914 W m−2, anomaly DIF value = 15.544 W m−2). The Qinghai Tibetan Plateau has always been an area with the highest GHI, the highest DNI and the lowest DIF values, whereas the Sichuan Basin has always been an area with the lowest GHI, the lowest DNI and the highest DIF values. The grid GHI, DNI and DIF dataset generated in this study can assist in numerous solar studies and applications. We provide these solar irradiance data in publicly available repository: https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare. 10026563 (Qin, W. et al., 2019).
Improving rooting characteristics in air-layers of Ficus elastica var. decora using indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) in the presence of Bacillus subtilis and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi

The current experiment was conducted to study the response of Ficus elastica var. decora air-layers to seven treatments of IBA (control, 50 and 100 ppm in rooting substrate, 1500 and 3000 ppm by painting girdled zone, and 1500 and 3000 ppm in talc paste) in the presence of root promoting microorganisms including Bacillus subtilis and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF).
Theory of Thermionic Carrier Injection in Graphene/Organic Schottky Interface

Understanding the physics of charge transport in organic materials and charge injection across organic-based interface is critically important for the development of novel organic electronics and optoelectronics. Despite extensive efforts devoted to the study of transport and injection phenomena in organic materials and interfaces, the physics of thermionic carrier injection across graphene/organic interface remains largely incomplete thus far. Here we construct a model of thermionic carrier injection across a graphene/organic Schottky interface based on the Lengevin theory of charge recombination and the detailed balance formalism. We show that, due to the strong electrostatic doping effect in graphene under the influence of an external gate voltage, the electrical current traversing the interface differs significantly from conventional bulk-metal/organic Schottky interface and the injection current can be efficiently modulated by a gate-voltage to achieve an on-off ratio well-exceed 107. The model developed here shall provide a theoretical foundation for the understanding graphene/organic Schottky interface, thus paving the way toward the development of novel nanoscale graphene-hybrid organic electronic and optoelectronic devices.
Asymmetric volatility and macroeconomic factors on Indonesian government bond returns

Macroeconomic are important variables influencing volatility in the bond market. Some of the challenges faced such as default risk, liquidity risk, interest rate risk, inflation risk, and exchange rate risk. This study is aimed at examining asymmetric volatility using the EGARCH model and at estimating macroeconomic variables which influence the return of Indonesian Government bonds. The asymmetric volatility can be measured by determining the best order value of the EGARCH model. Based on the findings of the study, EGARCH (2.1) is the best model for assessing volatility in short-term SUN returns, EGARCH (3.1) for medium-term SUN and EGARCH (2.3) for the long term. The asymmetric volatility pertains in the returns of short, medium and long-term government bonds. In addition, the negative information has a greater impact than positive information in the short, medium and long term. The deposit rate and return of the Composite Stock Price Index have a significant positive effect on short, medium and long term bond returns. The effective federal funds rate or FED interest rate has a significant positive effect on the return of short and long-term SUN bonds while in the medium term it has no effect. Exchange rates have a significant negative effect on short, medium and long term bond returns. JEL Classification: D13, I31, J22 DOI : https://doi.org/10.26905/jkdp.v23i3. 2613
Restriction of vif-competent HIV-1 by physiological levels of APOBEC3G in primary T-helper cells

The cytidine deaminases APOBEC3G and APOBEC3F exert anti-HIV-1 activity that is countered by the HIV-1 vif protein. Based on potential transcription factor binding sites in their putative promoters, we hypothesized that expression of APOBEC3G and APOBEC3F would vary with T helper lymphocyte differentiation. Naive CD4+ T lymphocytes were differentiated to T helper type 1 (Th1) and 2 (Th2) effector cells by expression of transcription factors, Tbet and GATA3, respectively, as well as by cytokine polarization. APOBEC3G and APOBEC3F RNA levels, and APOBEC3G protein levels, were higher in Th1 than Th2 cells. T cell receptor stimulation further increased APOBEC3G and APOBEC3F expression in Tbetand control-transduced, but not in GATA3transduced, cells. Neutralizing anti-interferon-γ antibodies reduced both basal and T cell receptor-stimulated APOBEC3G and APOBEC3F expression in Tbetand control-transduced cells. HIV-1 produced from Th1 cells had more virion APOBEC3G, and decreased infectivity, compared to virions produced from Th2 cells. These differences between Th1and Th2-produced virions were greater for viruses lacking functional vif, but also seen with vif-positive viruses. Overexpression of APOBEC3G in Th2 cells decreased the infectivity of virions
Sustainable Feasibility of Carbon Trading Policy on Heterogenetic Economic and Industrial Development

A carbon emission trading system (ETS) is an effective market mechanism for promoting the reduction of global greenhouse gas emissions and achieving sustainable development between the economy and the environment. To analyze the emissions reduction effect and economic effect of China’s ETS and further discuss the mechanisms of economic development differences and industrial development differences on the final effect of the policy, this study adopts the propensity score matching-difference in differences method and triple difference method. The empirical results show the following: (1) The ETS can simultaneously achieve both the emissions reduction effect and economic effect when key control variables are included. (2) The population, carbon emissions intensity and per capita GDP have significant positive impacts on carbon emissions; the environmental pollution control intensity, research structure, and research intensity have negative impacts on carbon emissions; and the capita stock, employment, and energy consumption have significant positive economic effects. (3) The ETS has a stronger inhibitory effect on the provinces with higher levels of economic and service development compared to the provinces with lower levels of economic and service development. In contrast, the policy has a weaker inhibitory effect on provinces with higher levels of industrial and construction development compared with the lower level provinces.
BAYESIAN ESTIMATION OF PARETO SURVIVAL MODEL WITH INFORMATIVE PRIOR ON CENSORED DATA

This research conducts a case of the cancer patients in censored data using Bayesian methodology. There are three types of loss function in Bayesian estimation method such as squared error loss function (self), linear exponential loss function (lelf) and general entropy loss function (gelf). Pareto survival model is selected as presentation data. To construct a posterior distribution, framing a likelihood function of Pareto and a prior, requires the prior distribution. An exponential distribution is chosen as a prior that describes parameter character of the Pareto. The posterior distribution is used to discover estimators in three loss functions of Bayesian methods. There are estimators held down by Bayesian self , Bayesian lelf and Bayesian gelf which substance 3.79, 3.78 and 3.90 correspondingly. After getting those estimators, the hazard functions , and and survival functions , and can be determined. The result shows that all of survival values under Bayesian approaches are lower than the real survival value. It means the result is more trusted because as a prior, the parameter is defined more precisely than before. The hazard function confirmations a same shape in all approaches. The rates of hazard are decreasing along with survival values which show the same behavior. The curves are strictly dropping after first data. This occurrence because due to a heavy-tailed character of Pareto. The result indicates that MSE of parameter estimation under the Bayesian self, lelf and gelf are 1.3x10-2, 1.2x10-2 and 0 respectively. The mse of survival estimation under the Bayesian self, lelf and gelf are 10-4, 1.1x10-4 and 3x10-5 individually. It concludes that the Bayesian gelf is the best approximation.
Can the Famous University Experience of Top Managers Improve Corporate Performance? Evidence from China

With the continuous improvement of China’s overall education level, the number of top managers with famous university experience in listed companies has been increasing. The question then becomes whether the performance of the listed companies is better if there are more top managers with famous university experience in the top management team (TMT). Based on the sample of listed companies in China from 2008 to 2018, we adopted the two-way fixed effect model and panel propensity score matching (Panel-PSM) methodology to examine the impact of top managers with famous university experience on corporate performance and its mechanism. We found that the higher the proportion of top managers with famous university experience in the TMT, the better the corporate performance will be, and this positive effect is larger in companies with high business complexity. We also found that this effect is mediated by overconfidence of the TMT. The proportion of top managers with famous university experience in the TMT will inhibit the overconfidence of the TMT, which will ultimately benefit corporate performance.
The Usefulness of High-Resolution Three-Dimensional Dynamic MR Imaging with Sensitivity Encoding for Evaluating Extrahepatic Bile Duct Cancer

Purpose: We assessed the usefulness of high-resolution 3D dynamic MR imaging with sensitivity encoding (mSENSE) for evaluating bile duct cancer. Materials and Methods: Twenty-three patients with extrahepatic bile duct cancer underwent multiphasic 3D GRE MRI, including two delayed phases without and with mSENSE. The first delayed phases were obtained with volumetric interpolated breathhold imaging (VIBE) and then the higher in-plane resolution images (320168) were obtained using mSENSE. The two delayed phase images were compared quantitatively by measuring the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of liver and tumor, the liver-visceral fat contrast and the tumor-visceral fat contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR); the two delayed phase images were compared qualitatively by evaluating the sharpness of the hepatic vessels and bile duct, the artifacts and the conspicuity of bile duct cancer. Results: The quantitative results with mSENSE image were significantly better than those with conventional VIBE. Though the clarity of the intrahepatic vessels and the intrahepatic bile duct, and the artifacts did not differ significantly between the two images (p>0.05), the clarity of the extrahepatic vessels, the extrahepatic bile duct and the bile duct cancer were better on the mSENSE image than on the VIBE (p
Multi-constellation GNSS interferometric reflectometry with mass-market sensors as a solution for soil moisture monitoring

Abstract. Per capita arable land is decreasing due to the rapidly increasing population, and fresh water is becoming scarce and more expensive. Therefore, farmers should continue to use technology and innovative solutions to improve efficiency, save input costs, and optimise environmental resources (such as water). In the case study presented in this paper, the Global Navigation Satellite System interferometric reflectometry (GNSS-IR) technique was used to monitor soil moisture during 66 d, from 3 December 2018 to 6 February 2019, in the installations of the Cajamar Centre of Experiences, Paiporta, Valencia, Spain. Two main objectives were pursued. The first was the extension of the technique to a multi-constellation solution using GPS, GLONASS, and GALILEO satellites, and the second was to test whether mass-market sensors could be used for this technique. Both objectives were achieved. At the same time that the GNSS observations were made, soil samples taken at 5 cm depth were used for soil moisture determination to establish a reference data set. Based on a comparison with that reference data set, all GNSS solutions, including the three constellations and the two sensors (geodetic and mass market), were highly correlated, with a correlation coefficient between 0.7 and 0.85.
The role of O-GlcNAc signaling in acute myocardial ischemia.

THE ROLE OF O-GlcNAc SIGNALING IN ACUTE MYOCARDIAL ISCHEMIA Gladys Afor Ngoh October 21, 2009 O-linked ~-N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) is an inducible, dynamically cycling, and reversible post-translational modification of serine/threonine amino acid residues of nucleocytoplasmic and mitochondrial proteins. O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT) adds, while O-GlcNAcase (GCA) removes O-GlcNAc from proteins. Albeit being a recruitable stress-induced signal in other tissues, the role of 0GlcNAc in the heart is unknown. Therefore, we hypothesized that O-GlcNAc is recruited in the heart during acute stress, and enhanced O-GlcNAc is cardioprotective. Subjecting neonatal rat cardiac myocytes (NRCMs) to hypoxia, or mice to myocardial ischemia reduced O-GlcNAc signaling. Augmented 0GlcNAc signaling attenuated, while diminished O-GlcNAc signaling exacerbated post-hypoxic cardiomyocyte death. To determine how O-GlcNAc protects, we identified numerous proteins including voltage dependent anionic channel (VDAC) to be O-GlcNAc-modified via mass spectrometry and immunoprecipitation. Since VDAC is a putative member of the mitochondrial
Faculty of Business Economics Master of Management

Business Process Improvement has been reported to be among the main topics in the minds of managers and executives in the last few years, due to its potentials to help improve customer satisfaction, reduce costs and throughput times. The existing approaches on process improvement mostly give instructions on what improvements should target, such as cost reduction, shorten cycle time, reduce waiting time etc. However, very limited research has been directed towards the actual “act of improvement”. To close this gap, a pattern-based approach has been designed and already tested by several researchers, which has so far delivered positive outcomes. The objective of this research is to further evaluate the functionality and the usefulness of the pattern-based approach by analyzing the effective application of the proposed pattern-based approach. The result of the study proved that for process improvement patterns to be effectively applied, there should exist a strong relationship between the organizational objectives and process models.
Extremum Seeking for Dead-Zone Compensation and Its Application to a Two-Wheeled Robot

In this work, we apply discrete-time extremum seeking control with a moving average filter for tuning dead-zone compensation to cancel the input dead-zone property of the controlled plant. This tuning is accomplished to optimize a control performance in real time. Unstable plants with a dead-zone property such as a twowheeled robot show vibration motion. The original extremum seeking control is proposed by Haring et al. in which the periodic steady-state output is treated.
Uncertainty quantification of model predictive control for nonlinear systems with parametric uncertainty using hybrid pseudo-spectral method

Abstract In this paper, a hybrid pseudo-spectral (hPS) method is utilized to analyze the uncertainty of the model predictive control (MPC) for nonlinear systems with stochastic parameter uncertainty. The hPS method incorporates Generalized polynomial expansion (gPC) and pseudo-spectral (PS) optimal control in a hybrid format. To quantify the effect of uncertainty on the MPC states and control inputs, we use the gPC method, and for time discretization of the MPC problem, the pseudo-spectral method is employed. The proposed method will be compared with the well-known Monte Carlo (MC) simulation method in terms of computational speed. Two dynamical systems are tested. First, an industrial process, continuous stirred reactor tank, which is a highly nonlinear system, with Gaussian distributed parameter uncertainty and second, a typical second-order dynamical system with uniform and Weibull distributed parameter uncertainty. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed method can approximate the two first moments of the states and control inputs under MPC much faster and computationally more efficient than MC simulations.