Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Preface Intellectual capItal and technologIcal InnovatIon

This volume compiles a series of works devoted to the analysis of intellectual capital, innovation processes and outcomes, the link between the former two concepts, and also related to a phenomenon increasingly important for both intellectual capital and innovation, that is, social capital. This publication follows the way of the Intellectual Capital-Based View, considering that innovation is the best representation of competitive advantage in the present day. This first chapter introduces the four sections and fourteen contents chapters that built up the book, as well as the theoretical framework and concepts that lie at the heart of this project. This volume is titled 'Intellectual Capital and Technological Innovation: Knowledge-Based Theory and Practice'. In short, it compiles a series of works devoted to the analysis of intellectual capital, innovation processes and outcomes, the link between the former two concepts, and also related to a phenomenon that is quite close for both intellectual capital and innovation, that is, social capital. The main idea behind a research paper compilation like this is quite simple in essence, but quite complex in practice, because it involves intangible and multifaceted theoretical constructs as intellectual capital, technological innovation, and social capital. The idea, trying to express it in a single sentence, is that knowledge stocks (or intellectual capital), is one of the main determinant factors (if not the most) for obtaining innovations, which in turn improve the initial knowledge base and allow the starting of a virtuous cycle, when the innovator and owner of that intellectual capital socially interacts with other agents, developing also what can be labelled as social capital. Although in the following chapters, readers may find formal and fully-developed definitions based on literature reviews and academic conversations, we are outlining the three main concepts that the book deals with. Thus, in the following paragraphs, brief definitions for intellectual capital, innovation, and social capital are provided, as well as the main assumptions of the Resource-Based View and the Intellectual Capital-Based View. Intellectual capital is usually considered as a synonym for intangible assets Assets and capital are economic and accountability terms, but the intellectual adjective makes reference to a certain dimension that has been generally neglected by economists
Quality of Service in NoC for Reconfigurable Space Applications

Configurable System-on-Chip (SoC) solutions based on state-of-the art FPGA are a good candidate to fulfill the requirements of future high end onboard payload applications. Reliability, performance and flexibility provided by SoCs can be further extended using a new communication paradigm, the Network-on-a-Chip (NoC). NoCs have the potential to solve the scalability problem of traditional on-chip bus systems but may introduce uncertainties due to contention for shared network resources. This paper explores NoC solutions that provide QoS and propose a methodology for the seamless integration of payload data-handling protocols into a NoC architecture.
Performance Analysis and Investigation of the Slipstream Flow of Podded Propellers

Especially high speed craft (HSC) and vessels with large propellers have unfavourable effects on the marine environment. These effects are mostly observed on other vessels and on the marine life. The most important sources of these negative effects caused by ships are the propeller slipstream fl ow and the ship wake. Marine propellers in particular can create a large effect area by accelerating the fl ow behind the ship, so they can cause erosion on coastal structures and on the sea bed while they traverse narrow channels and straits. In this study the effects of the propeller slipstream on the marine environment are analyzed for a model propeller and a podded propeller of a RO-RO ship by a computational fl uid dynamics method. The validations of the numerical results are made through the comparison with the experimental results. The numerical predictions of the propeller slipstream fl ows are important for obtaining results which cannot be acquired by experimental measurements. The computations are made separately for the open water and behind the hull conditions for the podded propeller. Additionally, the propeller characteristics for the model and the podded propeller are calculated for various advance coeffi cients.
ACM SIGACT News distributed computing column 3

The Distributed Computing Column covers the theory of systems that are composed of a number of interacting computing elements. These include problems of communication and networking, databases, distributed shared memory, multiprocessor architectures, operating systems, verification, internet, and the web.After some announcements, this issue includes a contribution by Idit Keidar and myself.
Bats Are Natural Reservoirs of SARS-Like Coronaviruses

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) emerged in 2002 to 2003 in southern China. The origin of its etiological agent, the SARS coronavirus (SARS-CoV), remains elusive. Here we report that species of bats are a natural host of coronaviruses closely related to those responsible for the SARS outbreak. These viruses, termed SARS-like coronaviruses (SL-CoVs), display greater genetic variation than SARS-CoV isolated from humans or from civets. The human and civet isolates of SARS-CoV nestle phylogenetically within the spectrum of SL-CoVs, indicating that the virus responsible for the SARS outbreak was a member of this coronavirus group.
A novel modulation scheme and voltage balancing algorithm for modular multilevel converter

This paper presents a low cost, less computational pulse width modulation scheme for a modular multilevel converter (MMC). In the present control approach, the reference output voltage is generated by averaging the two nearest voltage levels. The switching states corresponding to the two nearest voltage levels and their duty cycles are obtained from the instantaneous value of reference output voltage. The proposed modulation scheme is easily extended to any number of submodules per arm without any modifications. In addition, a voltage balancing algorithm is proposed for the balancing of submodule capacitors voltage. The performance of the proposed modulation scheme and voltage balancing algorithm is evaluated on the 2MVA/6kV MMC system with three-level flying capacitor submodules. Also, the proposed modulation scheme is compared with the conventional phase-shifted carrier pulse width modulation (PSC-PWM) scheme and the results are presented.
Residual stresses in selective laser sintering and selective laser melting

Purpose – This paper presents an investigation into residual stresses in selective laser sintering (SLS) and selective laser melting (SLM), aiming at a better understanding of this phenomenon.Design/methodology/approach – First, the origin of residual stresses is explored and a simple theoretical model is developed to predict residual stress distributions. Next, experimental methods are used to measure the residual stress profiles in a set of test samples produced with different process parameters.Findings – Residual stresses are found to be very large in SLM parts. In general, the residual stress profile consists of two zones of large tensile stresses at the top and bottom of the part, and a large zone of intermediate compressive stress in between. The most important parameters determining the magnitude and shape of the residual stress profiles are the material properties, the sample and substrate height, the laser scanning strategy and the heating conditions.Research limitations/implications – All exper.
The Developmental Origins of Selective Social Learning

The study of children’s social learning is a topic of central importance to our understanding of human development. Learning from others allows children to acquire information efficiently; however, not all information conveyed by others is accurate or worth learning. A large body of research conducted over the past decade has shown that preschoolers learn selectively from some individuals over others. In the present article, we summarize our work and that of others on the developmental origins of selective social learning during infancy. The results of these studies indicate that infants are sensitive to a number of cues, including competence, age, and confidence, when deciding from whom to learn. We highlight the important implications of this research for our understanding of the cognitive and social skills necessary for selective learning and point out promising avenues for future research.
On Asymptotic Statistics for Geometric Routing Schemes in Wireless Ad Hoc Networks

In this paper, we present a methodology employing statistical analysis and stochastic geometry to study geometric routing schemes in wireless ad hoc networks. In particular, we analyze the network-layer performance of one such scheme, the random [ 1/ 2]disk routing scheme, which is a localized geometric routing scheme in which each node chooses the next relay randomly among the nodes within its transmission range and in the general direction of the destination. The techniques developed in this paper enable us to establish the asymptotic connectivity and the convergence results for the mean and variance of the routing path lengths generated by geometric routing schemes in random wireless networks. In particular, we approximate the progress of the routing path toward the destination by a Markov process and determine the sufficient conditions that ensure the asymptotic connectivity for both dense and large-scale ad hoc networks deploying the random [ 1/ 2]disk routing scheme. Furthermore, using this Markov characterization, we show that the expected length (hop count) of the path generated by the random [ 1/ 2]disk routing scheme normalized by the length of the path generated by the ideal direct-line routing, converges to 3π/4 asymptotically. Moreover, we show that the variance-to-mean ratio of the routing path length converges to 9π2/64-1 asymptotically. Through simulation, we show that the aforementioned asymptotic statistics are in fact quite accurate even for finite granularity and size of the network.
An Iterative Process to Connect Business and IT Development: Lessons Learned

Combining business and IT viewpoints in large development projects is a big challenge for many organizations in the outsourced environment. The goal of this paper is to describe process and good practices that can support a case-study organization in connecting business and IT development during the requirements definition. The results are based on 17 interviews, an analysis of 15 large projects, process improvement meetings, validation workshops, and a survey. We first identified the lessons learned of the past projects and then defined good practices to be used in future projects. This paper describes a new process to be used by the customer organization and its suppliers in the outsourced IT development environment. The principal idea is to iteratively improve the requirements during the pre-study, procurement, and implementation phases of the project. To strengthen the link between business and IT development, the process also contains activities and good practices related to development-goals setting, innovation and business development, business-case analysis, solution planning and enterprise architecture modeling. The results indicate that the requirements definition should be not only part of the IT system development but also closely integrated with the business development of the customer organization.
Type A and B monoamine oxidase activities in the human and rat kidney.

The present work has examined the distribution of the two isoforms of monoamine oxidase (MAO), type MAO-A and MAO-B, in the cortex and medulla of the human and rat kidney. Homogenates of renal cortex and renal medulla were prepared in 67 mmoles l-1 phosphate buffer (pH = 7.2) and MAO activity was determined with [3H]5-hydroxytryptamine ([3H]5HT) and [14C]beta-phenylethylamine ([14C]beta-PEA) as preferential substrates of type A and type B MAO, respectively. Km and Vmax values for the two substrates were also calculated. Both MAO-A and MAO-B are present in the cortex and the medulla of the human and rat kidneys. In the human kidney, MAO-A activity was found to be similar in the cortex (Vmax = 142.70 +/- 45.05 nmoles mg-1 protein h-1) and medulla (Vmax = 133.91 +/- 35.51 nmoles mg-1 protein h-1); MAO-B activity was found to be higher in the cortex (Vmax = 166.19 +/- 19.75 nmoles mg-1 protein h-1) than in the medulla (Vmax = 92.91 +/- 13.22 nmoles mg-1 protein h-1). In the rat kidney, MAO-A was also found to be similar in the cortex (Vmax = 62.35 +/- 1.74 nmoles mg-1 protein h-1) and the medulla (Vmax = 59.42 +/- 0.97 nmoles mg-1 protein h-1) and higher than the activity of MAO-B in the two renal areas (cortex, Vmax = 31.06 +/- 1.09 nmoles mg-1 protein h-1; medulla, Vmax = 14.93 +/- 0.97 nmoles mg-1 protein h-1). (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
A one-dimensional coordination polymer formed from the reaction of 1,1-diphenyl-3,3'-[(1R,2R)-cyclohexane-1,2-diylbis(azanediyl)]dibut-2-en-1-one with MnCl2·4H2O.

In the title coordination polymer, catena-poly[[dichloridomanganese(II)]-μ-1,1-diphenyl-3,3'-[(1R,2R)-cyclohexane-1,2-diylbis(azaniumylylidene)]dibut-1-en-1-olate-κ(2)O:O'], [MnCl2(C26H30N2)]n, synthesized by the reaction of the chiral Schiff base ligand 1,1-diphenyl-3,3'-[(1R,2R)-cyclohexane-1,2-diylbis(azanediyl)]dibut-2-en-1-one (L) with MnCl2·4H2O, the asymmetric unit contains one crystallographically unique Mn(II) ion, one unique spacer ligand, L, and two chloride ions. Each Mn(II) ion is four-coordinated in a distorted tetrahedral coordination environment by two O atoms from two L ligands and by two chloride ligands. The Mn(II) ions are bridged by L ligands to form a one-dimensional chain structure along the a axis. The chloride ligands are monodentate (terminal). The ligand is in the zwitterionic enol form and displays intramolecular ionic N(+)-H.O(-) hydrogen bonding and π-π interactions between pairs of phenyl rings which strengthen the chains.
Multi-channel linear descriptors for event-related EEG collected in brain computer interface

By three multi-channel linear descriptors, i.e. spatial complexity (Ω), field power (Σ) and frequency of field changes (Φ), event-related EEG data within 8–30 Hz were investigated during imagination of left or right hand movement. Studies on the event-related EEG data indicate that a two-channel version of Ω, Σ and Φ could reflect the antagonistic ERD/ERS patterns over contralateral and ipsilateral areas and also characterize different phases of the changing brain states in the event-related paradigm. Based on the selective two-channel linear descriptors, the left and right hand motor imagery tasks are classified to obtain satisfactory results, which testify the validity of the three linear descriptors Ω, Σ and Φ for characterizing event-related EEG. The preliminary results show that Ω, Σ together with Φ have good separability for left and right hand motor imagery tasks, which could be considered for classification of two classes of EEG patterns in the application of brain computer interfaces.
Reduction of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)(1A)-mediated temperature and neuroendocrine responses and 5-HT(1A) binding sites in 5-HT transporter knockout mice.

The aim of the present study was to determine whether alterations in 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)(1A) receptors would be found in knockout mice lacking the serotonin transporter (5-HTT). Hypothermic and neuroendocrine responses to the 5-HT(1A) agonist 8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetraline (8-OH-DPAT) were used to examine the function of 5-HT(1A) receptors. Initial studies evaluated the dose-response and time course of 8-OH-DPAT-induced hypothermia and hormone secretion in normal CD-1 mice (the background strain of the 5-HTT knockout mice). 8-OH-DPAT dose-dependently produced hypothermic responses that peaked at 20 min postinjection. 8-OH-DPAT-induced hypothermia was blocked by the 5-HT(1A) antagonist WAY-100635. 8-OH-DPAT dose-dependently increased the concentrations of plasma oxytocin, corticotropin, and corticosterone. In the 5-HTT knockout (-/-) mice, the hypothermic response to 8-OH-DPAT (0.1 mg/kg s.c.) was completely abolished. Furthermore, 5-HTT-/- mice had significantly attenuated plasma oxytocin and corticosterone responses to 8-OH-DPAT. No significant changes in the hypothermic or hormonal responses to 8-OH-DPAT were observed in heterozygous (5-HTT+/-) mice. [(3)H]8-OH-DPAT- and [(125)I]MPPI [4-(2'-methoxyphenyl)-1-[2'-[N-(2"-pyridinyl)-iodobenzamido]ethyl] pip erazine]-binding sites in the hypothalamus and [(125)I]MPPI-binding sites in the dorsal raphe were significantly decreased in 5-HTT-/- mice. The results indicate that lack of the 5-HTT is associated with a functional desensitization of 5-HT(1A) receptor responses to 8-OH-DPAT, which may be a consequence, at least in part, of the decrease in density of 5-HT(1A) receptors in the hypothalamus and dorsal raphe of 5-HTT-/- mice.
INTRA-ARTICULAR DEPOT FORMING DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEM FOR OSTEOARTHRITIS

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic degenerative disease of the joint. Current treatments for this disease (such as glucocorticoid steroids) aim to reduce pain and increase mobility. Intra-articular injection is used in OA as treatment can be targeted to affected joints only. There is currently a lack of sustained release formulations for intra-articular injection. The aim of this thesis was to produce and characterise an injectable intra-articular drug delivery system capable of providing delivery of the steroid dexamethasone phosphate (DXMP) over 3 months. This would be an injectable hydrogel that contains drug loaded nanoparticles. Initially two systems Pluronic F127 gels and polyelectrolyte complexes between hyaluronic acid (HA) and chitosan, were investigated. The complexes between HA and chitosan were selected for the hydrogel portion of this system as they showed the greatest stability and promise in initial studies. To improve the polyelectrolyte complex properties a modified HA was synthesised. This modified polymer caused faster complex formation and produced stronger, more resilient complexes. DXMP was incorporated into poly(glycerol-adipate) (PGA) nanoparticles. A low but sufficient drug loading was achieved and particles were found to give a sustained drug release over 28 days. Nanoparticles were found to be efficiently incorporated and well retained within complexes. Nanoparticles slightly improved complex formation and properties. Composites were able to be formulated into an injectable form. Drug release from directly loaded complexes was rapid. A full release profile was not determined from composites of nanoparticle loaded complexes, however, over 60% of the loaded drug was recovered after 56 days of release study. Dexamethasone crystals were also incorporated directly into complexes to investigate the necessity of the use of nanoparticles. This gave a sustained drug release over 90 days making this system worthy of further investigation. These results highlight the different responses of these systems using drugs with different hydrophobicities.
Long / Short Term Experimental Study on Chloride Penetration in Cracked Concrete

This study is focused on examining the effect of cracks on chloride penetration into concrete. In order to get reliable results, short-term and long term experiments were set up and chloride penetration behaviour through cracks was examined. It was noticed that chloride penetration through cracks tends to decrease with time. One of the explanations is crack-healing. Especially, this trend was obvious in concrete samples with larger crack width. However, measuring the border between chloride contaminated zone and healthy zone was clear in concrete of short-term experiment, while it was ambiguous in long term experiment.
Demographic Outcomes and Ecosystem Implications of Giant Tortoise Reintroduction to Española Island, Galapagos

Restoration of extirpated species via captive breeding has typically relied on population viability as the primary criterion for evaluating success. This criterion is inadequate when species reintroduction is undertaken to restore ecological functions and interactions. Herein we report on the demographic and ecological outcomes of a five-decade-long population restoration program for a critically endangered species of “ecosystem engineer”: the endemic Española giant Galapagos tortoise (Chelonoidis hoodensis). Our analysis of complementary datasets on tortoise demography and movement, tortoise-plant interactions and Española Island’s vegetation history indicated that the repatriated tortoise population is secure from a strictly demographic perspective: about half of tortoises released on the island since 1975 were still alive in 2007, in situ reproduction is now significant, and future extinction risk is low with or without continued repatriation. Declining survival rates, somatic growth rates, and body condition of repatriates suggests, however, that resources for continued population growth are increasingly limited. Soil stable carbon isotope analyses indicated a pronounced shift toward woody plants in the recent history of the island’s plant community, likely a legacy of changes in competitive relations between woody and herbaceous plants induced by now-eradicated feral goats and prolonged absence of tortoises. Woody plants are of concern because they block tortoise movement and hinder recruitment of cactus–a critical resource for tortoises. Tortoises restrict themselves to remnant cactus patches and areas of low woody plant density in the center of the island despite an apparent capacity to colonize a far greater range, likely because of a lack of cactus elsewhere on the island. We conclude that ecosystem-level criteria for success of species reintroduction efforts take much longer to achieve than population-level criteria; moreover, reinstatement of endangered species as fully functioning ecosystem engineers may often require large-scale habitat restoration efforts in concert with population restoration.
A quitosana como biomaterial odontológico: estado da arte

The impossibility to completely eradicate the microorganisms from the oral cavity or from root canals has stimulated the search for new materials that efficiently prevent infections. Chitosan is a biopolymer with a unique chemical structure that renders it with outstanding biocompatibility and easy processing characteristics. The array of applications available is fascinating, as well as poorly understood. The industrial possibilities led to its use in several applications of varied technological interests, and especially in the biomedical area. Furthermore, its anti-oxidant, anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, wound healing and biofilm inhibiting properties make it especially attractive to be used in the odontological arena. In this review, we address the state of the art on chitosan-based applications for odontology.
For a few dollars less: Identifying review pages sans human labels

We address the problem of large-scale automatic detection of online reviews without using any human labels. We propose an efficient method that combines two basic ideas: Building a classifier from a large number of noisy examples and using the structure of the website to enhance the performance of this classifier. Experiments suggest that our method is competitive against supervised learning methods that mandate expensive human effort.