Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Polarimetric studies of comet Halley

In the present work, the non-spherical grain characteristics of comet Halley are analysed using the T-matrix method at $\lambda = 0.365, 0.485$ and $0.684\mu m$ respectively. In order to analyse the polarisation data of comet Halley, the dust size distribution function derived by Das et al. (2004) for comet Halley is used in the present work. The size range of the grains is taken to be 0.01$\mu m \le$ s $\le 3\mu m$. Using the T-matrix method, the best fit values of complex refractive indices $(n, k)$ and aspect ratio ($E$) are determined at three different wavelengths $ 0.365, 0.485$ and $0.684\mu m$ and the corresponding values are given by $(1.380, 0.043, 0.962), (1.378, 0.049, 0.962)$ and $(1.377, 0.058,0.962)$ respectively. After comparing the above result with Mie theory result, it is found that prolate grains give the best fit to the observed polarisation data of comet Halley. Also the negative polarisation behaviour of comet Halley is discussed thereafter.
Performance Analysis for Optimization of CDMA 20001X Cellular Mobile Radio Network

- Cellular network operators must periodically optimize their networks to accommodate traffic growth and performance degradation. Optimization action after service rollout is to correct the expected errors in network planning and to achieve improved network capacity, enhanced coverage and quality of service. This paper presents the performance analysis for optimizing mobile cellular radio network with respect to the CDMA 20001X. The various ways of ensuring that the radio parameters are maintained at their standard thresholds after the optimization of the network to enhance the network performance are equally presented. The results obtained before and after optimization were simulated . The results obtained during the various models and techniques clearly showed an improvement in the optimized network performance parameters from the non-optimized network.
Leadership and innovation : entrepreneurs in government

Jameson W. Doig and Erwin C. Hargrove outline a perspective on leadership in government that emphasizes entrepreneurship. They show how government executives' ability to set goals, generate support inside and outside the bureaucracy, and implement innovative ideas-- even at risk to their own careers-- can have a significant impact on their organizations and on society. In this abridged edition, biographical studies of David Lilienthal, Hyman Rickover, James Webb, Nancy Hanks, Robert McNamara, Wilbur Cohen, Robert Ball, and Austin Tobin illustrate a variety of skills and strategies used by effective executives. Doig and Hargrove describe their styles as ranging from "rhetorical leaders" to "entrepreneurial administrators". Yet these diverse leaders share some important traits, including a capacity to see historical opportunity, the ability to mobilize constituencies, and a desire to "make a difference".
Intact function of Lgr5 receptor-expressing intestinal stem cells in the absence of Paneth cells

Lifelong self-renewal of the adult intestinal epithelium requires the activity of stem cells located in mucosal crypts. Lgr5 and Bmi1 are two molecular markers of crypt-cell populations that replenish all lineages over time and hence function as stem cells. Intestinal stem cells require Wnt signaling, but the understanding of their cellular niche is incomplete. Lgr5-expressing crypt base columnar cells (CBCs) reside deep in the crypt, mingled among mature Paneth cells that are well positioned for short-range signaling. Partial lineage ablation previously had implied that Paneth cells are nonessential constituents of the stem-cell niche, but recently their absence was reported to interfere with Lgr5+ CBCs, resurrecting an appealing idea. However, previous mouse models failed to remove Paneth cells completely or permanently; defining the intestinal stem-cell niche requires clarity with respect to the Paneth cell role. We find that Lgr5+ cells with stem-cell activity cluster in future crypts early in life, before Paneth cells develop. We also crossed conditional Atoh1−/− mice, which lack Paneth cells entirely, with Lgr5GFP mice to visualize Lgr5+ CBCs and to track their stem-cell function. In the sustained absence of Paneth cells, Lgr5+ CBCs occupied the full crypt base, proliferated briskly, and generated differentiated progeny over many months. Gene expression in fluorescence-sorted Lgr5+ CBCs reflected intact Wnt signaling despite the loss of Paneth cells. Thus, Paneth cells are dispensable for survival, proliferation, and stem-cell activity of CBCs, and direct contact with Lgr5-nonexpressing cells is not essential for CBC function.
Cortical & Subcortical Dementias: A Psychoneurolinguistic Perspective

Background: A rapidly increasing number of studies that focus on the relationship between language and cortical (CD) and subcortical dementias (SCD) have recently shown that such correlation is existent. Mounting evidence suggests that cognitive impairments should be investigated against language disorders. Aims: This study aims at investigating how language is associated with dementia diseases namely CD &SCD in light of psychoneurolinguistic approach. Method: Data from multiple sources (e.g., theses, dissertations, articles, researches, medical records, direct testing, staff reports, and client observations) have been integrated to provide a detailed analysis of the relationship between language and CD & SCD. The researchers identified over 20 most of dementia types, and described them. Having the collected and described data, the researchers then analyzed these data independently to see to what extent CD & SCD are involved in matters concerning language. Results: Results of the present study demonstrate that language and CD & SCD are undoubtedly correlated with each other. The loss of the ability of some organs to perform certain functions (due to any of the dementia disease) results in no way to the loss of some language aspects and /or speech skills. In clearer term, it is rare to find a patient with dementia who is not suffering from partial or complete linguistic difficulties. Many deficits run through current interpretation of linguistic disorders: language disorders, speech disorders, articulation disorders, or voice disorders.
Bremen Small Multi-Agent Robot Team ( B-Smart ) Team Description for RoboCup 2004

This paper describes the current state and further development of the B-Smart Small Size team since RoboCup 2003 as well as the goals of the team for the next competition. Amongst other things, it will give an overview about the new robot platform and will also introduce the techniques used for behaviour control.
Structural vs. relational embeddedness: social capital and managerial performance

This paper examines the impact of managers' social capital on managerial performance. Two dimensions of social capital are compared—the structural embeddedness (i.e., configuration) of a manager's network of work relations and the relational embeddedness (i.e., quality) of those relations. Based on a sample of 120 product and sales managers in a Fortune 100 pharmaceutical firm, this paper presents evidence indicating that both elements of social capital influence managerial performance, although in distinct ways: structural embeddedness plays a stronger role in explaining more routine, execution‐oriented tasks (managerial sales performance), whereas relational embeddedness plays a stronger role in explaining new, innovation‐oriented tasks (managerial performance in product and process innovation). This research considers resource exchanges within firms as key to value creating behaviors and contributes a deeper understanding of how social capital influences productive resource exchanges. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Rousseau's political writings : new translations, interpretive notes, backgrounds, commentaries

Each piece is fully annotated. Backgrounds includes a sketch of Rousseau's life, selections from his Confessions, and comments on Rousseau's work and character from such illustrious contemporaries and early critics as Voltaire, Hume, Boswell and Johnson, Paine, Kant, and Proudhon. Commentaries includes assessments of Rousseau's political thought by a wide variety of scholars and critics including Judith Shklar, Robert Nisbet, Simone Weil, and Benjamin R. Barber.
Wireless sensor and ad-hoc networking

The investigators acquired laboratory equipment to establish Secure Wireless Ad-hoc Networking (SWAN) laboratory with wireless sensor and ad-hoc network capabilities consisting of laptops and MICA2 motes. We are currently working to develop efficient protocols in sensor and ad-hoc networks to address node position identification, cross-layered MAC, reliable data communication, and enhancing the security of these networks. We were able to implement a simple version of a dynamic forwarding cross-layered MAC which shows better delays and throughput. Research infrastructure funded through the project has enabled us to develop test-bed capabilities that have allowed them to add experimental knowledge, prototype protocols, and enhance the understanding of sensor network deployment.
Functional Role of Tryptophan Residues in the Fourth Transmembrane Domainof the CB2 Cannabinoid Receptor

Abstract: Several tryptophan (Trp) residues are conserved in Gprotein‐coupled receptors (GPCRs). Relatively little is known about thecontribution of these residues and especially of those in the fourthtransmembrane domain in the function of the CB2 cannabinoidreceptor. Replacing W158 (very highly conserved in GPCRs) and W172 (conservedin CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors but not in manyother GPCRs) of the human CB2 receptor with A or L or with F or Yproduced different results. We found that the conservative change of W172 to For Y retained cannabinoid binding and downstream signaling (inhibition ofadenylyl cyclase), whereas removal of the aromatic side chain by mutating W172to A or L eliminated agonist binding. W158 was even more sensitive to beingmutated. We found that the conservative W158F mutation retained wild‐typebinding and signaling activities. However, W158Y and W158A mutants completelylost ligand binding capacity. Thus, the Trp side chains at positions 158 and172 seem to have a critical, but different, role in cannabinoid binding to thehuman CB2 receptor.
Climate Policy Without Commitment

Climate mitigation policy should be imposed over a long period, and spur development of new technologies in order to make stabilization of green house gas concentrations economically feasible. The government may announce current and future policy packages that stimulate current R&D in climate-friendly technologies. However, once climate-friendly technologies have been developed, the government may have no incentive to implement the pre-announced future policies, that is, there may be a time inconsistency problem. We show that if the government can optimally subsidize R&D today, there is no time inconsistency problem. Thus, lack of commitment is not an argument for higher current R&D subsidies. If the offered R&D subsidy is lower than the optimal subsidy, the current (sub-game perfect) climate tax should exceed the first-best climate tax.
On the Synthesis of Situation Control Rules under Exogenous Events

One approach for computing plans for reactive agents is is to check goal statements over state trajectories modeling predicted behaviors of an agent. This paper describes a powerful extension of this approach to handle time, safety, and liveness goals that are specified by Metric Temporal Logic formulas. Our planning method is based on an incremental planning algorithm that generates a reactive plan by computing a sequence of partially satisfactory reactive plans converging towards a completely satisfactory one. Partial satisfaction means that an agent controlled by the plan accomplishes its goal only for some environment events. Complete satisfaction means that the agent accomplishes its goal whatever the environment event occur during the execution of the plan. As such, our plmmer can be stopped at any time to yield a useful plan.
Chloral Hydrate Treatment Induced Apoptosis of Macrophages via Fas Signaling Pathway

Background There are recent reports on several anesthetics that have anti-inflammatory and anti-infective effects apart from their uses for pain relief and muscle relaxation. Chloral hydrate is a clinical anesthetic drug and sedative that has also been reported to attenuate inflammatory response, but the mechanisms are not clearly understood. Material/Methods This study investigated the effect of chloral hydrate treatment on the apoptosis of macrophages and explored the underlying mechanisms. RAW264.7 macrophages were treated with various concentrations of chloral hydrate for various lengths of time. Morphological changes were observed under a light microscope and apoptosis was detected with annexin-V-FITC/PI double-staining assay, Hochest 33258 and DNA ladder assay, the expression of Fas/FasL was detected with a flow cytometer, and the Fas signaling pathway was assessed by Western blotting. Results The results showed that chloral hydrate treatment induced the morphology of RAW264.7 macrophages to change shape from typical fusiform to round in a concentration- and time-dependent manner, and was finally suspended in the supernatant. For the induction of apoptosis, chloral hydrate treatment induced the apoptosis of RAW264.7 macrophages from early-to-late stage apoptosis in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. For the mechanism, chloral hydrate treatment induced higher expression of Fas on RAW264.7 macrophages, and was also associated with changes in the expression of proteins involved in Fas signaling pathways. Conclusions Chloral hydrate treatment can induce the apoptosis of RAW264.7 macrophages through the Fas signaling pathway, which may provide new options for adjunctive treatment of acute inflammation.
An Extensible Platform for the Interactive Exploration of Fitts ’ Law and Other Movement Time Models

This paper describes a new software platform for the interactive exploration of movement time models such as Fitts’ law. The software is written in Java and provides a flexible environment for HCI education and research. It is specifically designed using a patterns-based object model to provide maximum extensibility in terms of new models, task types, and selection modes.
Research on Chinese Toponym Ontology Model

The toponym information exists in all walks of life, and it is also indispensable in the administration. This paper constructs Chinese toponym ontology model to express different areas of toponym information based on SUMO with toponym and spatial geography research, referencing classification standard of China. This model can describe toponym evolution, toponym spatial relationship and toponym-based administrative regions. With this model as knowledge representation model, spatially querying and reasoning can be realized in the toponym search engine. Finally, a search engine as an application of this toponym ontology is given.
Optimally Rational Expectations and Macroeconomics

This paper provides an alternative to the theory of rational expectations (RE). Its central idea is that the information set on which agents will choose to condition their expectations will not, in general, include all the available information. Our alternative has many of the attractive features of RE; it emerges from an explicit choice-theoretic framework; it has wide applicability; and it can in principle explain the failure of models incorporating RE to account for the dynamics of many macroeconomic relationships.
On the Positive Harris Recurrence for Multiclass Queueing Networks: a Uniied Approach via Uid Limit Models

A heavy traac limit theorem for networks of queues with multiple customer types. 27 We now compute the principal minors of D k 2 and D k 3. First consider D k 2. All the principal minors of order 2 are equal to 1. The principal minor corresponding to f1; 3; 4g is equal to 1 + 3 1 3 4 == 2 , and the remaining principal minors of order 3 are equal to 1. The determinant of the matrix itself is 1 ? 1 2 3 4. Now consider D k 3. Once again, the principal minors of order 2 are all equal to 1. The principal minor corresponding to f1; 2; 3g is equal to 1 + 1 2 3 1 == 4 , and that corresponding to f1; 3; 4g is equal to 1 ? 1 3 4 , while the remaining two principal minors of order 3 are equal to 1. The determinant of the matrix is 1 ? 1 2 3 4. Thus from the remark preceding the lemma it is clear that under the condition 1 2 3 4 < 1; (5.23) D k 2 and D k 3 are completely-S matrices. Finally consider D k 4. Since every entry in the matrix is nonnegative, and the diagonal elements are all strictly positive (in fact equal to 1), it is easy to see that for every principal submatrix A of D k 4 , A1 > 0, where 1 is the vector of all ones of the corresponding dimension. This directly veriies the completely-S property for D k 4. References 1] R. Atar and P. Dupuis. Large deviations and queueing networks: methods for rate function identiication.
Flexible-Routing Anonymous Networks Using Optimal Length of Ciphertext

SUMMARY We present an efficient Hybrid Mix scheme that provides both routing flexibility and the optimal length of ciphertext. Although it is rather easy to embed routing information in the ciphertext, and a scheme that provides the optimal length of ciphertext is already known, it is not a trivial task to achieve both properties all at the same time. A critical obstacle for providing the optimal length of ciphertext is the session-key encapsulation header in a ciphertext that carries the encrypted session-key to each router, which linearly increases according to the number of intermediate routers. We solve this problem by improving the previously reported Hybrid Mix scheme such that the resulting scheme benefits from routing flexibility with a constant length of such headers. Our basic scheme is only secure against honest, but curious intermediate routers. Therefore, we further address the robustness issue to prevent malicious behavior by incorporating and improving an existing efficient approach based on the Message
A Case Study of Rural Land Prices at the Urban Fringe Including Subjective Buyer Expectations

It is well known that the (present) value of rural land is dependent upon anticipated future net benefits appropriately discounted. In his Principles of Economics in the late 1890s, Marshall noted that the capital value of land "is the actuarial 'discounted' value of all the net incomes which it is likely to afford" (1898, p. 718-emphasis added). Modern researchers like Harris and Nehring (1976), Lee and Rask (1976), Melichar (1979), Reinsel and Reinsel (1979), and many others readily acknowledge the importance of expectations in their theoretic models. Nevertheless, expectations apparently have been incorporated in only one cross-sectional, econometric analysis of land values. Reynolds and Timmons (1969) included two variables in their empirical study to proxy future expectations: expected capital gains and expected net farm income. These variables were calculated as a weighted average of historical returns. No empirical analyses using actual market transactions have incorporated variables to quantify the role of expectations based on the subjective beliefs of the land market participants. The role of subjective expectations is especially important in a rapidly developing county where much of the growth is in the form of relatively small residential lots scattered throughout the urban fringe. In such counties, there are many "speculators" in the urban fringe land market. In an area with fewer "speculators," less demand for building sites, and a lower probability of conversion, expectations may not be quite as important. Nevertheless, subjective expectations should be a significant determinant of price variations in any rural land market via their impact on an-
Canada's International Investment Position: Recent Trends and Implications for Aggregate Measures of Income and Wealth

This paper highlights the large progressive decline in Canada's net financial liabilities to non-residents that has occurred over the last fifteen years. It reports tabulations on changes in Canada's international investment position and the associated cross-border income flows, and evaluates the extent to which these investment income flows have affected the size of Canada's gross national income relative to its gross domestic income. The paper also examines the extent to which changes in Canada's net international investment position have increased the national net worth of Canadians relative to the country's stock of national wealth.
Carotid Plaque Area and Intima-Media Thickness in Prediction of First-Ever Ischemic Stroke: A 10-Year Follow-Up of 6584 Men and Women: The Tromsø Study

Background and Purpose— Carotid plaque and intima-media thickness (IMT) are recognized as risk factors for ischemic stroke, but their predictive value has been debated and varies between studies. The purpose of this longitudinal population-based study was to assess the risk of ischemic stroke associated with plaque area and IMT in the carotid artery. Methods— IMT and total plaque area in the right carotid artery were measured with ultrasound in 3240 men and 3344 women aged 25 to 84 years who participated in a population health study in 1994 to 1995. First-ever ischemic strokes were identified through linkage to hospital and national diagnosis registries, with follow-up until December 31, 2005. Results— Incident ischemic strokes occurred in 7.3% (n=235) of men and 4.8% (n=162) of women. The hazard ratio for 1 SD increase in square-root-transformed plaque area was 1.23 (95% CI, 1.09–1.38; P=0.0009) in men and 1.19 (95% CI, 1.01–1.41; P=0.04) in women when adjusted for other cardiovascular risk factors. The multivariable-adjusted hazard ratio in the highest quartile of plaque area versus no plaque was 1.73 (95% CI, 1.19–2.52; P=0.004) in men and 1.62 (95% CI, 1.04–2.53; P=0.03) in women. The multivariable-adjusted hazard ratio for 1 SD increase in IMT was 1.08 (95% CI, 0.95–1.22; P=0.2) in men and 1.24 (95% CI, 1.05–1.48; P=0.01) in women. There were no differences in stroke risk across quartiles of IMT in multivariable analysis. Conclusions— In the present study, total plaque area appears to be a stronger predictor than IMT for first-ever ischemic stroke.