Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
1 Tuning of Size and Shape of Au-Pt Nanocatalyst for Direct Methanol Fuel Cells

In this paper, we report the precise control of the size, shape and surface morphology of Au-Pt nanocatalysts (cubes, blocks, octahedrons and dogbones) synthesized via a seed-mediated approach. Gold ‘seeds’ of different aspect ratios (1 to 4.2), grown by a silver-assisted approach, were used as templates for high-yield production of novel Au-Pt nanocatalysts at a low temperature (40 C). Characterization by electron microscopy (SEM, TEM, HRTEM), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), UV-Vis spectroscopy, zeta-potential (surface charge), atomic force microscopy (AFM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) were used to better understand their physico-chemical properties, preferred reactivities and underlying nanoparticle growth mechanism. A rotating disk electrode was used to evaluate the Au-Pt nanocatalysts electrochemical performance in the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and the methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) of direct methanol fuel cells. The results indicate the Au-Pt dogbones are partially and in some cases completely unaffected by methanol poisoning during the evaluation of the ORR. The ORR performance of the octahedron particles in the absence of MeOH is superior to that of the Au-Pt dogbones and Ptblack, however its performance is affected by the presence of MeOH.
Perspective-Correct Computation Pixels Color for Systems of Three-Dimensional Rendering

In computer graphics, the projections of three-dimensional images are considered on a twodimensional picture plane. Flat geometric projections are divided into two main classes: central and parallel. The difference between them is determined by the relationship between the center of the projection and the projection plane. If the distance between them is finite, then the projection will be central, and if it is infinite, then the projection will be parallel. In real space reflection of rays from objects is perceived at the location of the observer, that is, on the principle of central projection. Correct reproduction of colors takes place provided that the components of the color intensities of the corresponding surface points in the global (object) and screen coordinate systems coincide. The authors propose methods to improve the performance of texture mapping and realism of shading, in particular, the methods perspective-correct texturing and Phong shading.
Physiological Properties and Genome Structure of the Hyperthermophilic Filamentous Phage φOH3 Which Infects Thermus thermophilus HB8

A filamentous bacteriophage, φOH3, was isolated from hot spring sediment in Obama hot spring in Japan with the hyperthermophilic bacterium Thermus thermophilus HB8 as its host. Phage φOH3, which was classified into the Inoviridae family, consists of a flexible filamentous particle 830 nm long and 8 nm wide. φOH3 was stable at temperatures ranging from 70 to 90°C and at pHs ranging from 6 to 9. A one-step growth curve of the phage showed a 60-min latent period beginning immediately postinfection, followed by intracellular virus particle production during the subsequent 40 min. The released virion number of φOH3 was 109. During the latent period, both single stranded DNA (ssDNA) and the replicative form (RF) of phage DNA were multiplied from min 40 onward. During the release period, the copy numbers of both ssDNA and RF DNA increased sharply. The size of the φOH3 genome is 5688 bp, and eight putative open reading frames (ORFs) were annotated. These ORFs were encoded on the plus strand of RF DNA and showed no significant homology with any known phage genes, except ORF 5, which showed 60% identity with the gene VIII product of the Thermus filamentous phage PH75. All the ORFs were similar to predicted genes annotated in the Thermus aquaticus Y51MC23 and Meiothermus timidus DSM 17022 genomes at the amino acid sequence level. This is the first report of the whole genome structure and DNA multiplication of a filamentous T. thermophilus phage within its host cell.
Maximizing the Influence and Profit in Social Networks

Influence maximization problem is to find a set of seeds in social networks such that the cascade influence is maximized. Traditional models assume that all nodes are willing to spread the influence once they are influenced, and they ignore the disparity between influence and profit of a product. In this paper, by considering the role that price plays in viral marketing, we propose price related (PR) frame that contains PR-I and PR-L models for classic independent cascade and linear threshold models, respectively, which is a pioneer work. Two pricing strategies are designed, one is binary pricing (BYC), in which the seeds are offered free samples. The other is panoramic pricing (PAP), in which the seeds are offered different discounts. Furthermore, we find that influence and profit are like two sides of the coin, high price hinders the influence propagation and to enlarge the influence some sacrifice on profit is inevitable. Based on this observation under PR frame, by adopting a parameter to denote the decision maker’s preference toward influence and profit, we propose balanced influence and profit (BIP) maximization problem. We prove the NP-hardness of BIP maximization under PR-I and PR-L model. Unlike influence maximization, the BIP objective function is not monotone. Despite the nonmonotony, we show BIP objective function is submodular under certain conditions. Two unbudgeted greedy algorithms separately, named algorithm of BYC and algorithm of PAP are devised. We conduct extensive simulations on real world data sets, test the effectiveness of our proposed parameters, compare the algorithms’ performances, and evaluate the superiority of our algorithms over existing ones.
A novel swine model of ricin-induced acute respiratory distress syndrome

ABSTRACT Pulmonary exposure to the plant toxin ricin leads to respiratory insufficiency and death. To date, in-depth study of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) following pulmonary exposure to toxins is hampered by the lack of an appropriate animal model. To this end, we established the pig as a large animal model for the comprehensive study of the multifarious clinical manifestations of pulmonary ricinosis. Here, we report for the first time, the monitoring of barometric whole body plethysmography for pulmonary function tests in non-anesthetized ricin-treated pigs. Up to 30 h post-exposure, as a result of progressing hypoxemia and to prevent carbon dioxide retention, animals exhibited a compensatory response of elevation in minute volume, attributed mainly to a large elevation in respiratory rate with minimal response in tidal volume. This response was followed by decompensation, manifested by a decrease in minute volume and severe hypoxemia, refractory to oxygen treatment. Radiological evaluation revealed evidence of early diffuse bilateral pulmonary infiltrates while hemodynamic parameters remained unchanged, excluding cardiac failure as an explanation for respiratory insufficiency. Ricin-intoxicated pigs suffered from increased lung permeability accompanied by cytokine storming. Histological studies revealed lung tissue insults that accumulated over time and led to diffuse alveolar damage. Charting the decline in PaO2/FiO2 ratio in a mechanically ventilated pig confirmed that ricin-induced respiratory damage complies with the accepted diagnostic criteria for ARDS. The establishment of this animal model of pulmonary ricinosis should help in the pursuit of efficient medical countermeasures specifically tailored to deal with the respiratory deficiencies stemming from ricin-induced ARDS. Summary: Lung injury induced by intratracheal instillation of ricin to swine exhibits the full set of parameters defining ARDS.
Hepatic production of very low density lipoprotein, catabolism of low density lipoprotein, biliary lipid secretion, and bile salt synthesis in rats fed a bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) diet.

Rats fed a bean diet develop a significant hypocholesterolemia. The catabolism of low density lipoprotein (LDL; d 1.019-1.063 g/ml) was studied in vivo and in vitro in the isolated perfused liver of rats fed either a casein or a bean diet. The clearance of LDL was significantly increased by 100% from 0.38 +/- 0.04 to 0.63 +/- 0.04 ml/h x 100 g body wt in vivo in the bean-fed rat. Similarly, the clearance of homologous and heterologous (human) LDL was also increased by 100% in the isolated perfused liver of bean-fed animals. Spleen, kidney, and hepatic cholesterogenesis was increased by 150% in these animals. Bile salt synthesis was increased from 1.54 +/- 0.02 to 2.84 +/- 0.09 nmol/min x g liver wt (P < 0.02) and biliary cholesterol output by 200% from 0.81 +/- 0.03 to 2.18 +/- 0.04 nmol/min x g (P < 0.02) in the isolated perfused liver of rats fed a bean diet. These results explained the depletion of hepatic cholesterol and were consistent with the LDL turnover studies, suggesting that apoB/E receptor activity was increased in these animals. ApoB and triglyceride secretion in the d < 1.060 g/ml lipoprotein fraction of liver perfusates remained normal in the bean-fed rats. In contrast, total sinusoidal cholesterol output isolated in the d < 1.060 g/ml fraction significantly decreased by 100% after 90 min of perfusion. Cholesterol output in the d > 1.060 g/ml lipoprotein fraction was unmodified by the bean diet. These data demonstrate that key metabolic pathways of hepatic cholesterol are modified in the bean-fed rat. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Lumps and bumps in neonates and infants

ABSTRACT: There are many developmental abnormalities that may appear in the neonate and in infants when critical steps in embryogenesis fail. These steps are often not fatal but can lead to signifi‐cant morbidity for those patients affected. A logical approach is needed in addressing both the diagnostic and therapeutic issues that arise when caring for these patients, as various lesions will warrant an observational approach, and others may require imaging studies or definitive surgical intervention. Additionally, there are other “lumps and bumps” that are seen in the neonatal and infantile age groups that include malignancies and cutaneous neoplasms with associated systemic sequelae.
Characterization and modelling of antisolvent crystallization of salicylic acid in a continuous oscillatory baf fl ed crystallizer

Using antisolvent crystallisation of salicylic acid as the model process, we report our experimental investigation into the temporal and spatial steady states of solution concentration and mean crystal size in a continuous oscillatory baffled crystallizer. The evolutions of the two parameters over time and distance along the crystallizer are measured for a variety of operating conditions. The results show that the attainment of long term temporal and spatial stabilities (>100 residence times) for the solute concentrations are easily achieved, whereas the temporal steady states of the mean crystal size are more difficult to accomplish, even though the spatial steady states have been obtained. A simplified population balance model is applied to the experimental data for the determination of nucleation and growth kinetic parameters. From which both the solution concentration and the mean size were predicted and matched to experimental values reasonably well. In addition, we have identified and executed the conditions of long term steady states for extended operation of 6.25 h to produce close to 1 kg of crystal product with minimal variation in crystal size ( 3.01 mm). ã 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
THE TORT LAW DEBATE , EFFICIENCY , AND THE KINGDOM OF THE ILL : A CRITIQUE OF THE INSURANCE THEORY OF COMPENSATION

T ORT and liability theorists do not typically reside in the "kingdom of the ill," but of late they have at least begun to peer into it. The vigorous academic and political tort reform debate of recent years has prompted intense examination of how various legal rules advance the goals of deterrence and compensation.2 As to the latter goal, a number of noted academic and economic theorists have turned their attention to the challenging issue of how best to value and compensate injury, disease, and their consequences. Probably the most important theme to have emerged from this literature is what this Article terms the "insurance theory of compensation. "3 Basically, the insurance theory maintains that, in many
The incidence of nominal and real wage rigidity: An individual-based sectoral approach. National Bank of Belgium Working Paper, No. 191, June 2010

This paper presents estimates based on individual data on downward nominal and real wage rigidities for thirteen sectors in Belgium, Denmark, Spain and Portugal. Our methodology follows the approach recently developed for the International Wage Flexibility Project, whereby resistance to nominal and real wage cuts is measured through departures of observed individual wage-change histograms from an estimated counterfactual wage-change distribution that would have prevailed in the absence of any rigidity. We evaluate the role of worker and firm characteristics in shaping wage rigidities. We also confront our estimates of wage rigidities with structural features of the labour markets studied, such as the wage bargaining level, variable pay policy and the degree of product market competition. We find that the use of firm-level collective agreements in countries with rather centralised wage formation reduces the degree of real wage rigidity. This finding suggests that some degree of decentralisation within centralised countries allows firms to adjust wages downwards, when business conditions take a turn for the worse.
Title Two-stage optimization method for efficient power converterdesign including light load operation

Power converter efficiency is always a hot topic for switch mode power supplies. Nowadays, high efficiency is required over a wide load range, e.g., 20%, 50%, and 100% load. Computeraided design optimization is developed in this research study, to optimize off-line power converter efficiency from light load to full load. A two-stage optimization method to optimize power converter efficiency from light load to full load is proposed. The optimization procedure first breaks the converter design variables into many switching frequency loops. In each fixed switching frequency loop, the optimal designs for 20%, 50%, and 100% load are derived separately in the first stage, and an objective function using the optimization results in the first stage is formed in the second stage to consider optimizing efficiencies at 20%, 50%, and 100% load. Component efficiency models are also established to serve as the objective functions of optimizations. Prototypes 400 V to 12 V/25 A 300 W two-FET forward converters are built to verify the optimization results.
The safety and efficacy of cobimetinib for the treatment of BRAF V600E or V600K melanoma

ABSTRACT Introduction: In the recent years, melanoma patients’ outcome and survival improved, mainly because of systemic treatment improvement with targeted therapy and checkpoint blockade. Targeted therapy with BRAF and MEK inhibitors was approved to treat patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma, harboring BRAF V600 mutations. This paper addresses the safety and efficacy of cobimetinib, when used in combination with vemurafenib, in the previous mentioned setting. Areas covered: This article presents an overview on the rationale for clinical development of cobimetinib, as well as the mechanism of action, the efficacy and safety, and the most important trials that led to the approval of the combination therapy with vemurafenib. We searched the PubMed for published papers related to safety and efficacy of cobimetinib, and resistance mechanisms to BRAF inhibition. The abstract databases of the American Society of Clinical Oncology and European Society for Medical Oncology were also searched for updates on the mentioned clinical trials. Expert commentary: Patients treated with targeted therapy experience a rapid tumor response. However, virtually all patients will develop resistance to treatment. Therapeutic combinations to overcome resistance mechanisms are currently addressed. In the future, targeted therapy strategy will include three or more drugs, probably from different therapeutic classes.
Constraints on the Effects of Locally Biased Galaxy Formation

While it is well known that "biased galaxy formation" can increase the strength of galaxy clustering, it is less clear whether straightforward biasing schemes can change the shape of the galaxy correlation function on large scales. Here we consider "local" biasing models, in which the galaxy density field δg at a point x is a function of the matter-density field δ at that point: δg = f(δ). We consider both deterministic biasing, where f is simply a function, and stochastic biasing, in which the galaxy-density δg is a random variable whose distribution depends on the matter density: δg = X(δ). We show that even when this mapping is performed on a highly nonlinear density field with a hierarchical correlation structure, the correlation function ξ is simply scaled up by a constant, as long as ξ ≪ 1. In stochastic biasing models, the galaxy autocorrelation function behaves exactly as in deterministic models, with X̄(δ) (the mean value of X for a given value of δ) taking the role of the deterministic bias function. We extend our results to the power spectrum P(k), showing that for sufficiently small k the effect of local biasing is equivalent to the multiplication of P(k) by a constant, with the addition of a constant term. If a cosmological model predicts a large-scale mass correlation function in conflict with the shape of the observed galaxy correlation function, then the model cannot be rescued by appealing to a complicated but local relation between galaxies and mass.
The nonpsychoactive cannabis constituent cannabidiol is an oral anti-arthritic therapeutic in murine collagen-induced arthritis.

The therapeutic potential of cannabidiol (CBD), the major nonpsychoactive component of cannabis, was explored in murine collagen-induced arthritis (CIA). CIA was elicited by immunizing DBA/1 mice with type II collagen (CII) in complete Freund's adjuvant. The CII used was either bovine or murine, resulting in classical acute CIA or in chronic relapsing CIA, respectively. CBD was administered after onset of clinical symptoms, and in both models of arthritis the treatment effectively blocked progression of arthritis. CBD was equally effective when administered i.p. or orally. The dose dependency showed a bell-shaped curve, with an optimal effect at 5 mg/kg per day i.p. or 25 mg/kg per day orally. Clinical improvement was associated with protection of the joints against severe damage. Ex vivo, draining lymph node cells from CBD-treated mice showed a diminished CII-specific proliferation and IFN-gamma production, as well as a decreased release of tumor necrosis factor by knee synovial cells. In vitro effects of CBD included a dose-dependent suppression of lymphocyte proliferation, both mitogen-stimulated and antigen-specific, and the blockade of the Zymosan-triggered reactive oxygen burst by peritoneal granulocytes. It also was found that CBD administration was capable of blocking the lipopolysaccharide-induced rise in serum tumor necrosis factor in C57/BL mice. Taken together, these data show that CBD, through its combined immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory actions, has a potent anti-arthritic effect in CIA.
A multiple-beam sector antenna with a dual planar reflectarray arrangement

A multiple-beam sector antenna realized with a dual planar reflect array arrangement is presented. A 58 GHz antenna with three feeds was built up and tested. Antenna dimensions are 150 mm diameter and 40 mm height, and each feed covers distinct 30deg-sectors in one plane in combination with a small beamwidth in the orthogonal plane
The Evolution of Tourism in Kenya

Until recently (the late 1980s) Kenya has been an important tourist destination, receiving over 6% of the total tourist arrivals to Africa. In 1989, the country received over 800,000 international tourists, and it was being predicted that if similar trends continued, the country could receive over 1 million tourists by the turn of the century. However, defying expert projections, Kenya's tourism industry experienced abrupt and unforeseeable decline in the 1990s, and currently the future of the country's tourism industry is uncertain. This paper provides a historical and contextual analysis of the evolution and development of tourism in Kenya. In order to put the evolution of tourism in Kenya in proper and broader context, the product life cycle model is used as an analytical tool. The model provides a conceptual framework to explain the complex processes of tourism development in Kenya over the years. However, as the study shows, while the product life cycle model is useful in explaining the development a.
O2 Extraction of Right and Left Ventricles

Summary O2 extraction was measured simultaneously in right and left ventricles of dogs. Extraction was about 2.5 vol% higher in left ventricle. This figure, together with flow measurements of others (1-3), indicates that VO2/100 g is at least twice as great in left ventricle as in right.
Review of Ipomoea pes-tigridis L . : Traditional Uses , Botanical Characteristics , Chemistry and Biological Activities

Convolvulaceae known as the morning glory family is widely distributed in tropical, subtropical and temperate regions. The Convolvulaceae are mostly twining herbs or shrubs, sometimes with milky sap, comprising about 60 genera and nearly 1600 species in the world. The present study has been taken up to review one of the ethnomedicinal important plant under this family, Ipomoea pes-tigridis L. (Tiger Foot Morning Glory in English). The study documented the details of its taxonomical, phytochemical, physiochemical characteristics, its folk lore uses and other scientific studies that were carried out on this plant.
Determine some physiCal properties in physiCs Classes

particle density, gravimetric and volumetric water contents and porosity are important basic concepts to characterize porous systems such as soils. this paper presents a proposal of an experimental method to measure these physical properties, applicable in experimental physics classes, in porous media samples consisting of spheres with the same diameter (monodisperse medium) and with different diameters (polydisperse medium). soil samples are not used given the difficulty of working with this porous medium in laboratories dedicated to teaching basic experimental physics. the paper describes the method to be followed and results of two case studies, one in monodisperse medium and the other in polydisperse medium. the particle density results were very close to theoretical values for lead spheres, whose relative deviation (rD) was -2.9 % and +0.1 % rD for the iron spheres. the rD of porosity was also low: -3.6 % for lead spheres and -1.2 % for iron spheres, in the comparison of procedures – using particle and porous medium densities and saturated volumetric water content – and monodisperse and polydisperse media.