Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
AFRL-PR-WP-TM-2006-2003 FLUID MECHANICS OF COMPRESSION SYSTEM FLOW CONTROL

The aim of Fluid Mechanics of Compression System Flow Control is to increase the diffusion capacity of an axial compressor stator through the application of bladesurface-mounted flow control. The experimental portion of the work employs a small wind tunnel that allows the investigation of flow control concepts applied to a simulated single stator passage. Baseline results are presented along with those of three flow control modules; all are variations of blowing (no aspiration) flow control using a planar jet behind a backward facing step positioned upstream of the passage curvature. Two preliminary investigations are presented. The first includes the effect of the thickness of the lip separating the main stream from the core stream of the backward facing step and its impact on the flow control effectiveness. The second introduces streamwise vorticity via flat plate vortex generators as a means of enhancing the interaction between the blowing jet and the core stream. Introduction Flow control particular to axial compression systems has become a very active research topic for the last few decades. It has the potential to open the design envelope for axial compressors to higher loading levels. This translates into higher overall pressure ratios for reduced thrust specific fuel consumption (TSFC). Increased loading levels also increases thrust-to-weight(T/W) ratios by reducing turbine engine axial length for a given pressure ratio. The Air Force Versatile Affordable Advanced Turbine Engine (VAATE) program cycle requirements will drive a much higher overall pressure ratio, thus requiring larger pressure rise per stage in order to keep overall engine length reasonable. The research objective of this work is to increase the diffusion capability of a stator flow passage via flow control methods. To assist in this effort, an experimental flow control research rig has been designed and will be briefly outlined in this report. Following will be the initial investigation and comparison of three flow control modules; all are variations on a theme of blowing only flow control using a planar jet behind a backward facing step. Two of the variations are preliminary investigations into the effect of the separation distance between the primary and secondary streams due to finite material thickness separating the streams. The third variation seeks to embed streamwise vorticity via vortex generators into the shear layer between the primary and secondary flow streams. The goal is to enhance the interaction between
The Demilitarization of the Egyptian Cabinet

One way that social scientists categorize and describe political regimes is to analyze the nature of the executive branch of government, particularly the makeup of cabinets. The assumption is that the structure of the cabinet and the class background, and the educational or occupational training of ministers reflect the nature of the regime. Those at the top of the state may represent certain groups in society or be particularly responsive to the demands of the social groups from which they come. Background characteristics may also be a good indicator of the style of rule. Education, training, age, occupational career, all indicate how decision-makers think, how they organize to approach problems, how they issue orders and use subordinates. The institutional background of ministers may reflect the importance of various institutions in society, for the connection of institutions through individuals at the top of the state may be a good indication of which specialized constituencies must be consulted, which command power and which control political, economic, and social resources.
Winners of Globalization

In itself globalization is neither good nor bad. Its economic impact can be both welfare-enhancing and dislocating. This paper dwells on the former, that is, the positive and constructive impact of the contemporary phase of globalization. It examines the evidence for its beneficial effect on several country groups as well as over the global economy. Without making any assertions of universality of positive impact of globalization, this article provides wide ranging evidence of its being a definitive transformative force for several economies and groups thereof. By successfully exploiting market-led outer-oriented development strategy and climbing the ladder of development by first producing and exporting labor-intensive manufactures and then switching to exports of capital- and technology-intensive manufactures several country groups integrated with the global economy and have commendable results to show. Global economic and financial integration on balance yielded rich dividends for many economies as well as the global economy. It concludes that, going by the available evidence, globalization on balance is a welfare-enhancing force.
The T0 domain of rabbit KV1.3 regulates steady state channel protein level.

The Shaker superfamily encodes voltage-gated potassium (Kv) channels. The amino (N) terminus is important for channel assembly and mediates fast inactivation. We recently isolated a Kv channel from rabbit kidney, denoted rabKv1.3 (Yao et al., J. Clin. Invest. 97, 2525-2533, 1996) and found that deleting a region (T0 domain, amino acids 3-39) proximal to the T1 recognition domain (a.a 42-185) leads to a 13-fold amplification of Kv current as compared to wild type channels (Yao et al., BBRC 249, 492-498). Here we show that deleting the T0 domain affects neither single channel conductance nor channel open probability. Instead, it increases the absolute number of channel proteins present in the membrane. We conclude that the T0 domain is a previously unrecognized Shaker Kv1.3, N-terminal regulatory region that modulates steady state channel protein density in the plasma membrane.
MUC4 expression is increased in dysplastic cervical disorders.

The female uterine cervix has 2 characteristic populations of epithelial cells: the endocervix is composed by mucus-secreting cells that express several mucin genes, and the exocervix has a typical stratified squamous epithelium and does not express secreted mucins. Among human mucin genes, the MUC4 sequence has a transmembrane domain, and its molecular structure suggests that it has a protective role and also may be implicated in intracellular signalling. The aim of this study is to analyze whether changes in the expression of MUC4 can be detected associated with the squamous dysplastic transformation of exocervical epithelium. MUC4 expression has been analyzed by immunohistochemistry, Western blotting, and in situ hybridization. Using immunohistochemical techniques, MUC4 is found in normal endocervix (n = 11) and is absent or only focally detected in the normal stratified cervical epithelium (n = 18). In samples from squamous metaplasia (n = 9), MUC4 is variably expressed (10% to 50% positive cells), whereas MUC4 is strongly detected in dysplastic cervical epithelia. The greatest number of positive cells is found in samples with moderate and severe dysplasia in which MUC4 is detected in 100% of the analyzed samples (n = 16). These results have been confirmed by Western blotting and by detection of MUC4 transcripts using in situ hybridization. The present data suggest that MUC4 is activated during the process of squamous dysplastic transformation and may be used as a marker for this pathologic process.
Mesoscale Architecture Shapes Initiation and Richness of Spontaneous Network Activity

Spontaneous activity in the absence of external input, including propagating waves of activity, is a robust feature of neuronal networks in vivo and in vitro. The neurophysiological and anatomical requirements for initiation and persistence of such activity, however, are poorly understood, as is their role in the function of neuronal networks. Computational network studies indicate that clustered connectivity may foster the generation, maintenance, and richness of spontaneous activity. Since this mesoscale architecture cannot be systematically modified in intact tissue, testing these predictions is impracticable in vivo. Here, we investigate how the mesoscale structure shapes spontaneous activity in generic networks of rat cortical neurons in vitro. In these networks, neurons spontaneously arrange into local clusters with high neurite density and form fasciculating long-range axons. We modified this structure by modulation of protein kinase C, an enzyme regulating neurite growth and cell migration. Inhibition of protein kinase C reduced neuronal aggregation and fasciculation of axons, i.e., promoted uniform architecture. Conversely, activation of protein kinase C promoted aggregation of neurons into clusters, local connectivity, and bundling of long-range axons. Supporting predictions from theory, clustered networks were more spontaneously active and generated diverse activity patterns. Neurons within clusters received stronger synaptic inputs and displayed increased membrane potential fluctuations. Intensified clustering promoted the initiation of synchronous bursting events but entailed incomplete network recruitment. Moderately clustered networks appear optimal for initiation and propagation of diverse patterns of activity. Our findings support a crucial role of the mesoscale architectures in the regulation of spontaneous activity dynamics. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Computational studies predict richer and persisting spatiotemporal patterns of spontaneous activity in neuronal networks with neuron clustering. To test this, we created networks of varying architecture in vitro. Supporting these predictions, the generation and spatiotemporal patterns of propagation were most variable in networks with intermediate clustering and lowest in uniform networks. Grid-like clustering, on the other hand, facilitated spontaneous activity but led to degenerating patterns of propagation. Neurons outside clusters had weaker synaptic input than neurons within clusters, in which increased membrane potential fluctuations facilitated the initiation of synchronized spike activity. Our results thus show that the intermediate level organization of neuronal networks strongly influences the dynamics of their activity.
Task Experience as a Predictor of Superior Loan Loss Judgments

An area of significant importance and risk exposure during an audit of a financial institution is assessing the uncollectible portion of the client's loan portfolio. Auditing the collectibility of a commercial loan can be difficult because this complex judgment is semi‐structured and many kinds of information can be relevant. However, timely judgment process and outcome feedback are available and may improve the quality of an auditor's conclusions over time. Therefore, to test for the benefits of task‐specific experience, I compare loan judgments provided by inexperienced seniors, experienced managers, and more experienced junior partners and senior managers to a criterion based on the conclusions of senior audit partners. While previous research usually does not indicate performance improvements beyond the level of an audit senior (e.g., Tan and Libby 1997) for this complex task with timely feedback, consistent and substantial performance improvements are reported here. Auditors provided increasingly mor.
Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor Activity in Bacterial Infection

Summary It has been experimentally shown that endotoxin induces a marked increase in the levels of a fast-acting inhibitor of plasminogen activator (PAI). The plasma PAI activity and tissuetype plasminogen activator (t-PA) concentrations were measured in 61 patients with human septicaemia and results were compared with those observed in healthy controls. There was a markedly significant increase of PAI in plasma and platelet extracts of patients with septicaemia as compared to controls (p <0.0001). No correlation between PAI and endotoxin concentration was observed. Fibrin autography of plasma samples confirmed that activator inhibition was associated with the formation of an enzyme-inhibitor complex. t-PA activity was similar in patients and controls, whereas t-PA Ag showed a significant increase in patients (p <0.0001). A significant inverse correlation between t-PA activity and PAI was observed (p <0.05). PAI activity was higher in patients with positive blood cultures (p <0.0001) and gram-negative septicaemia (p <0.0001). There was also a significant increase of PAI levels in patients with disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) as compared with patients without DIC (p <0.001). We conclude that there is a marked increase of PAI in patients with sepsis. Increased PAI activity may contribute to the pathogenesis of DIC associated with septicaemia.
The Paralogous MarR/DUF24-Family Repressors YodB and CatR Control Expression of the Catechol Dioxygenase CatE in Bacillus subtilis

ABSTRACT The redox-sensing MarR/DUF24-type repressor YodB controls expression of the azoreductase AzoR1 and the nitroreductase YodC that are involved in detoxification of quinones and diamide in Bacillus subtilis. In the present paper, we identified YodB and its paralog YvaP (CatR) as repressors of the yfiDE (catDE) operon encoding a catechol-2,3-dioxygenase that also contributes to quinone resistance. Inactivation of both CatR and YodB is required for full derepression of catDE transcription. DNA-binding assays and promoter mutagenesis studies showed that CatR protects two inverted repeats with the consensus sequence TTAC-N5-GTAA overlapping the −35 promoter region (BS1) and the transcriptional start site (TSS) (BS2). The BS1 operator was required for binding of YodB in vitro. CatR and YodB share the conserved N-terminal Cys residue, which is required for redox sensing of CatR in vivo as shown by Cys-to-Ser mutagenesis. Our data suggest that CatR is modified by intermolecular disulfide formation in response to diamide and quinones in vitro and in vivo. Redox regulation of CatR occurs independently of YodB, and no protein interaction was detected between CatR and YodB in vivo using protein cross-linking and mass spectrometry.
The effects of currency depreciation on stock returns: evidence from five East Asian economies

By using stock daily data for Thailand and the four Asian Tigers, this paper provides clear evidence that currency depreciation affects adversely stock returns and/or increases market volatility over the period of the Asian crisis 1997–1999. The implication is that international investors and fund managers who plan to invest in the East Asian newly emerging stock markets have to evaluate the stability of the foreign exchange markets before taking action.
Exploring Library Loan Data for Modelling the Reading Culture: Project LibDat

Reading is evidently a part of the cultural heritage. With respect to nourishing this, Finland is exceptional in the sense that it has a unique library system, used regularly by 80% of the population. The Finnish library system is publicly funded and free-of-charge. On this, the consortium “LibDat: Towards a More Advanced Loaning and Reading Culture and its Information Service” (2017–2021, Academy of Finland) sets out to explore the loaning and reading culture and its information service to the end that this project’s results would help officials to elaborate upon Finnish public library services. The project, as well as the data-analysis, has just started, so the paper contains more hypotheses than final results. The project is part of the constantly growing field of Digital Humanities, and its most important scientific benefit is to show how large “born digital “ material, new computational methods and literary-sociological research questions can be integrated into the study of contemporary literary culture. The project’s collaborator, Vantaa City Library, has collected daily loan data since July 27, 2016. This loan data is objective, crisp, and big. In this position paper, the main contribution is a discussion on the limitations that the data poses and the literary questions that may be explored by computational means. For this, we describe the data structure of a loan event and outline the dimensions of how to
A power‐efficient current‐mode neural/muscular stimulator design for peripheral nerve prosthesis

This paper presents a 16‐channel power‐efficient neural/muscular stimulation integrated circuit for peripheral nerve prosthesis. First, the theoretical analysis is presented to show the power efficiency optimization in a stimulator. Moreover, a continuous‐time, biphasic exponential‐current‐waveform generation circuit is designed based on Taylor series approximation and implemented in the proposed stimulation chip to optimize the power efficiency. In the 16‐channel stimulator chip design, each channel of the stimulator consists of a current copier, an exponential current generator, an active charge‐balancing circuit, and a 24‐V output stage. Stimulation amplitude, pulse width, and frequency can be set and adjusted through an external field‐programmable gate array by sending serial commands. Finally, the proposed stimulator chip has been fabricated in a 0.18‐μm advanced complementary metal‐oxide‐semiconductor process with 24‐V laterally diffused metal oxide semiconductor option. The maximum stimulation power efficiency of 95.9% is achieved at the output stage with an electrode model of 10‐kΩ resistance and 100‐nF capacitance. Animal experiment results further demonstrate the power efficiency improvement and effectiveness of the stimulator.
Which factors determine sovereign credit ratings?

Abstract The purpose of this study is to examine the determinants of the sovereign credit ratings provided by the three major rating agencies: Fitch Ratings, Moody’s and Standard and Poor. A principal component analysis is employed in order to identify the common factors affecting these ratings. The impact of the variables correlated with these factors on ratings is then assessed through an ordered logistic model. Results show that sovereign ratings are mostly influenced by per capita income, government income, real exchange rate changes, inflation rate and default history. The study also highlights the importance of corruption, as measured by Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index, which appears as a proxy for both economic development and the quality of the governance of a country.
Empirics of the Identification of Social Interactions: An Evaluation of the Approaches and Their Results

Over the last decade, the study of social interactions in economic decision making has become an important area of research. The main objective of this paper is to survey the extent to which recent empirical contributions have succeeded in overcoming the identification problems as first formulated by Manski (1993). This discussion is followed by a comparison of empirical studies in three key areas of research: neighborhood effects, substance use among teenagers, and peer effects among university roommates. Finally, I discuss questions like: Can economists restrict attention to a specific subcategories of social interactions? How do we define social groups, and what is the importance of social interactions for public policy?
MODEL FOR LEGAL PRINCIPLES OF COMPENSATION FOR ERRORS IN BILLS OF QUANTITIES: A LAW AND ECONOMIC ANALYSIS

Due to their complexity, construction contracts frequently encounter contract modification disputes, especially, the compensation claims for errors in the bills of quantities under lump sum contracts. The prevailing standard contract forms such as Joint Contracts Tribunal's Standard Building Contract with Quantities (JCT SBC/Q) often contain provisions for the adjustment of the lump sum price if there are errors in the bills. However, undesirable outcomes are often observed under current practice. By developing a game theory model, this paper investigates the contracting parties' strategic interactions and analyzes the differential efficacy of alternative legal principles of compensation for errors. Based on this model, we derive the legal principles that may reduce opportunism incentives and minimize transaction costs. The principles suggest that claims for error compensation should pass the test that the errors are not obvious ex ante to the eyes of professionals. Prevalent standard forms under which the compensation is granted regardless of the nature of errors violate the derived principles and deserve further investigation.
R-CHOEP-14 improves overall survival in young high-risk patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma compared with R-CHOP-14. A population-based investigation from the Danish Lymphoma Group.

BACKGROUND Optimal treatment of young patients with high-risk diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) remains a matter of debate and requires improvement. The combination chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisone (CHOP) with addition of etoposide (CHOEP) has in other patient groups been shown to be effective. Further improvement has been accomplished with the use of rituximab in combination with the regimens every 2 weeks (R-CHOP-14, R-CHOEP-14). The aim of the present retrospective population-based study was to compare R-CHOP-14 with R-CHOEP-14 in a cohort of high-risk patients aged 18-60 years with two or more risk factors (stage III-IV, elevated lactate dehydrogenase levels, performance status 2-4). To our knowledge, this is the first study comparing these two regimens in this patient group. METHODS We obtained data for the period 2004-2009 from the Danish Lymphoma Database. One hundred and fifty-nine patients were eligible to enter the study. Primary end point was overall survival (OS) and secondary end points were response to treatment, progression-free survival (PFS) and safety. RESULTS Four-year OS was superior in the R-CHOEP-14 group: 75% compared with 62% for R-CHOP-14 (P=0.04). This superiority was also seen for PFS: 4-year PFS was 70% for the R-CHOEP-14 group compared with 58% for the R-CHOP-14 group (P=0.02). CONCLUSION R-CHOEP-14 is a promising regimen for young patients with high-risk DLBCL with improved OS and PFS compared with R-CHOP-14.
The validity of self-reports of smoking: analyses by race/ethnicity in a school sample of urban adolescents.

OBJECTIVES This research compared the validity of self-reports of cigarette smoking for African-American, Hispanic, and White respondents. Previous research has raised a question about the validity of self-report for African Americans. METHODS A self-report of cigarette smoking was obtained together with a measure of carbon monoxide from expired air. Convergence between self-reported smoking and the biochemical measure was analyzed separately for three ethnic groups at 7th grade, 8th grade, 9th grade, and 10th grade. RESULTS Analyses indicated that the validity of self-reports of smoking was generally comparable across ethnic groups. Sensitivity and specificity were comparable with data reported in recent meta-analyses. Though sensitivity was slightly lower for minority adolescents than for White adolescents, prevalence rates corrected for group differences in sensitivity showed significantly lower smoking rates for African-American and Hispanic adolescents than for White adolescents. CONCLUSIONS The lower smoking rates reported for African-American adolescents are real and are not substantially a consequence of reporting artifacts.