Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Time-Domain Evaluation of Fractional Order Controllers’ Direct Discretization Methods

Fractional Order Control (FOC), in which the controlled systems and/or controllers are described by fractional order differential equations, has been applied to various control problems. Though it is not difficult to understand FOC’s theoretical superiority, realization issue keeps being somewhat problematic. Since the fractional order systems have an infinite dimension, proper approximation by finite difference equation is needed to realize the designed fractional order controllers. In this paper, the existing direct discretization methods are evaluated by their convergences and time-domain comparison with the baseline case. Proposed sampling time scaling property is used to calculate the baseline case with full memory length. This novel discretization method is based on the classical trapezoidal rule but with scaled sampling time. Comparative studies show good performance and simple algorithm make the Short Memory Principle method most practically superior. The FOC research is still at its primary stage. But its applications in modeling and robustness against non-linearities reveal the promising aspects. Parallel to the development of FOC theories, applying FOC to various control problems is also crucially important and one of top priority issues.
Zuwanderung und globale Migration als Herausforderung der Demokratie

Zusammenfassung Warum und unter welchen Umständen schotten sich gerade Demokratien gegen Zuwanderung ab? Eine solche Tendenz ist nicht neu, sondern lässt sich bereits an der attischen Demokratie er Antike beobachten. Neu dagegen ist, dass die reichen Gesellschaften heute auf Zuwanderung angewiesen sind, wenn sie nicht schrumpfen sollen und das Wohlstandsniveau erhalten bleiben soll. Dieser längerfristige Aspekt kommt jedoch in einer auf kurzfristige Politik angelegtenDebatte selten zum Tragen. Freilich gibt es eine Grenze sozio-politischer Integration, die in der Erosion von Vertrautheit und Vertrauen liegt. Wo diese Grenze liegt, hängt indes von der Integrationskraft einer Gesellschaft ab.
DIFFERENTIAL EFFECTS OF MOUSE APOBEC3 AFTER INCORPORATION INTO MURINE LEUKEMIA VIRUSES

ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS . iv TABLE OF CONTENTS . v Chapter 1: Introduction . 1 1.1. Retroviruses . 1 1.2. Murine Leukemia viruses . 2 1.3. MuLV Genome and Proteins . 4 1.4. Replication Cycle . 9 1.4. 1. Binding and entry . 9 1.4. 2. Reverse transcription and integration . 10 1.4. 3. Transcription of the provirus . 15 1.4. 4. Translation and maturation . 15 1.5. Restriction Factors . 17 1.5. 1. APOBEC3. 18 1.5. 2. Murine APOBEC3 (mA3) . 22 1.5. 3. mA3 as retroviral restriction factor . 23 1.6. Importance of the work . 24
The Challenge of Cultural Competency in the Multicultural 21st Century: A Conceptual Model to Guide Occupational Therapy Practice

Background: Occupational therapists increasingly encounter clients from diverse cultural backgrounds and need to meet their professional obligation of delivering culturally competent practice. Yet the process of cultural competency is poorly understood in occupational therapy practice. There is a need for a clear understanding of the meaning and process of cultural competency as it is enacted in practice with a wide range of individuals from culturally diverse backgrounds.Aim: To investigate the process, stages, characteristics, and requirements of cultural competency as practiced by experienced occupational therapists.Method: Semi-structured interviews were carried out with 13 community occupational therapists experienced in delivering occupational therapy services in clients’ homes in a culturally diverse area in London, England.Findings: Interview data were analyzed and ordered into the format of a conceptual process model where cultural competency formed the core concept. The model of cultural competency that emerged from this study comprised six stages: cultural awareness, cultural preparedness, a cultural picture of the person, cultural responsiveness, cultural readiness, and cultural competence.Conclusion: Cultural competency is a complex process that needs to be based on underpinning occupational theory and actualized at the level of practice. Further research is needed to test out the model and illuminate the process of cultural competency in different areas of occupational therapy practice. (Less)
Monetary and Fiscal Rules in an Emerging Small Open Economy

We develop a optimal rules-based interpretation of the 'three pillars macroeconomic policy framework': a combination of a freely floating exchange rate, an explicit target for inflation, and a mechanism than ensures a stable government debt-GDP ratio around a specified long run. We show how such monetary-fiscal rules need to be adjusted to accommodate specific features of emerging market economies. The model takes the form of two-blocs, a DSGE emerging small open economy interacting with the rest of the world and features, in particular, financial frictions It is calibrated using Chile and US data. Alongside the optimal Ramsey policy benchmark, we model the three pillars as simple monetary and fiscal rules including and both domestic and CPI inflation targeting interest rate rules alongside a 'Structural Surplus Fiscal Rule' as followed recently in Chile. A comparison with a fixed exchange rate regime is made. We find that domestic inflation targeting is superior to partially or implicitly (through a CPI inflation target) or fully attempting to stabilizing the exchange rate. Financial frictions require fiscal policy to play a bigger role and lead to an increase in the costs associated with simple rules as opposed to the fully optimal policy.
A Research Framework for the Impact of Cultural Differences on IT Outsourcing

Abstract Contracting Global Virtual Teams as part of global IT outsourcing is currently en vogue. As might be expected when virtual team members are from different countries, cultural factors play an important role in the success of outsourcing. However, there have been very few studies that assess the effect of culture on IT outsourcing and virtual teams. This conceptual paper addresses this oversight by looking at the effect of cultural differences on IT outsourcing and virtual teams' performance. The applicable literature on outsourcing, virtual teams and culture is analyzed and a framework of offshore outsourcing success is developed. This framework includes the concept of psychic distance to better understand the phenomenon of virtual teams and outsourcing success. Adding this as a key research component provides a more realistic way of researching global virtual teams. Future directions for research based on the developed framework are also provided. By assessing the cultural differences of virtual teams in IT outsourcing, our research framework will help academics pursue this growing business phenomenon.
Feature-based Ontology Mapping from an Information Receivers’ Viewpoint

This paper compares four algorithms for computing feature-based similarities between concepts respectively possessing a distinctive set of features. The eventual purpose of comparing these feature-based similarity algorithms is to identify a candidate term in a Target Language (TL) that can optimally convey the original meaning of a culturally-specific Source Language (SL) concept to a TL audience by aligning two culturally-dependent domainspecific ontologies. The results indicate that the Bayesian Model of Generalization [1] performs best, not only for identifying candidate translation terms, but also for computing probabilities that an information receiver successfully infers the meaning of an SL concept from a given TL translation.
The Spatial Star Schema Benchmark

Spatial Data Warehouses (SDWs) enable the simultaneous processing of multidimensional queries and spatial analysis. In the literature, little attention has been devoted to the development of benchmarks for analyzing the performance of query processing over SDWs. In this paper, we propose a novel benchmark, called Spatial SSB, designed specifically to perform controlled experimental performance evaluation of SDWs environments. The Spatial SSB proposes a non-redundant SDW schema and controls: the generation of data, the query selectivity and the data dis- tribution in the extent. In addition, the Spatial SSB provides the increase of the data volume, varies the complexity of spatial objects' geometries, and generates a cer- tain number of objects that intersect an ad hoc spatial query window.
Hydrodynamic Dispersive and Advective Processes in Watershed Responses

A model for estimating the watershed response is presented and used for assessing how the watershed size and spatial variability of the hydrodynamic parameters (i.e., wave celerity and dispersion coefficient) affect the comparative importance of advective processes with respect to hydrodynamic dispersive processes. A parameter Ω was defined to quantify this comparative importance. This parameter represents the fraction of the watershed response variance that is explained by advection. A series of simulations were performed for basins of different sizes and different spatial distributions of their hydrologic parameters. It was found that, for spatially uniform hydrodynamic parameters, the effect of hydrodynamic dispersion decreases compared to that of advection as the watershed size increases, and vice versa; and that, for nonuniform hydrodynamic parameters, the spatial distribution of the parameter values over the watershed, in conjunction with the watershed size, determines which process—advection or hyd.
Randomize IPv6 Stateless Address Autoconfiguration in None-stable Storage Arduino Devices

The pervasiveness of IoT device requires each device to have a unique address number in order to communicate. Internet Standard specified in RFC4941-Privacy Extension for SLAAC had question raised on the randomness of the IPv6 address generated due to the shortcoming of device random generator algorithm. Improvements to the RFC’s have been proposed and Arduino Uno had been selected as IoT platform since it currently supports IPv6 implementation. An enhancement algorithm was developed. The generated IPv6 address is then tested against ENT Random Test tool for observation and conclusion.
Heat Resistant Steel Alloys

Atlas Copco is interested in investigating the friction in the top-hammer drilling tool threads that causes the steel to heat up, leading to a phase transformation and a softer steel in the threads. The aim of this project is to find a steel alloy or surface finishing that will retain its hardness at elevated temperatures better than the presently used threads material. The solution is intended to be used as a replacement material for the threads. The potential material is meant to combat the premature breakdowns of the threads and thus minimizing the economical losses. To achieve our project goal, literature studies and an experimental parts were employed. Hardening methods are discussed thoroughly in the thesis, such as carbides/nitrides, precipitation, solid solution, grain size, and martensitic transformation. Alloying elements and their effects on steels properties were also discussed. C, Cr, Co, Mn, Mo, Ni, W, and V were found to increase the steel's hardness at elevated temperature, high temperature strength and abrasion wear resistance. Nitration can be applied to most of the steels that Atlas Copco uses today, and will give a harder, and more wear resistant surface at elevated temperatures. A problem with nitration is that the nitrided layer is generally thinner than the martensitic hardening used today. Three tool steels samples (ASP 2030, ASP 2053 and ASP 2060) were acquired from Erasteel. These were used in the experimental part and compared to reference steels that Atlas Copco currently are using (R1-R6). The experiments were conducted in 400 and 600°C and the samples were tempered for 1, 10 and 100 hours before the hardness were measured with a Vickers hardness test. The conclusion from the experiments was that ASP 2060 and ASP 2053 from Erasteel are the steels that have a much higher hardness at elevated temperature than the other steels tested in the experiment. The results indicate that the tool steels will probably not experience the same premature breakdown as the threads used today. R1 and ASP 2053 have the greatest heat resistance. The suggested tool steels are all quite expensive, and to minimize the material needed only the threads and not the rod can be in the new alloy. Lowering the cost could also be achieved by hardfacing where a layer of the new expensive alloy is welded onto a cheaper steel. Table of contents
The Impact of Speed Limits on Recreational Boating in the Lagoon of Venice

Speed limits were introduced in the Lagoon of Venice in 2002 to reduce wave motion, which damages environmentally sensitive areas in the broader Lagoon as well as buildings in the city of Venice. In this paper, we estimate the welfare losses experienced by recreational boaters as a result of the speed limits. We fit a single-site travel cost model to a sample of boaters intercepted as they depart from or arrive to marinas and launching ramps on the Lagoon. Our Poisson model is corrected for truncation and endogenous stratification. We construct three measures of the price per trip, which allow us to check the sensitivity of models and welfare estimates to possible measurement errors in the opportunity cost of time. Our results are robust to the measure of price used and conservatively peg the welfare losses of boaters to €7.7-9.6 million per year. Even under conservative assumptions, the welfare losses of boaters are sufficiently large that, given current monitoring and enforcement of the speed limits, we believe there is a strong incentive for boaters to disregard the limits.
Pterostilbene reduced post-antibiotic effect time of linezolid against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Pterostilbene is biologically classified as a phytoalexin, which is part of the plant's defense system in response to pathogen infection. The present study is to identify the type of interaction and post-antibiotic effect time of pterostilbene in combination with linezolid against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus American type culture collection 43300 and methicillin-resistant S. aureus American type culture collection 33591. The minimum inhibitory concentration values of individual antimicrobial agents were determined using microbroth dilution technique whereas the microdilution checker board assay was employed to verify the type of interaction of the combined agents from the fractional inhibitory concentration index values. The post-antibiotic effect time of pterostilbene and linezolid and in combination treatment was evaluated using viable plate count method. The minimum inhibitory concentration value of pterostilbene against both strains were the same (31.25 μg/ml) compared to linezolid at 0.78 μg/ml and 1.56 μg/ml, against 43300 and 33591 strain, respectively. microdilution checker analysis of pterostilbene in combination with linezolid against both methicillin-resistant S. aureus strains displayed fractional inhibitory concentration value of 1.25. Despite the indifference interaction between pterostilbene and linezolid as shown by microdilution checker study, post-antibiotic effect analysis demonstrated antagonism as depicted by a decrease of post-antibiotic effect time of linezolid by pterostilbene against both methicillin-resistant S. aureus strains. The duration of post-antibiotic effect time obtained for pterostilbene were twice (3.6±0.15 h) that of linezolid (1.8±0.31 h) against methicillin-resistant S. aureus American type culture collection 43300. However, pterostilbene exhibited shorter post-antibiotic effect time of 0.3±0.10 h compared to linezolid (0.9±0.06 h) against 33591 strain. In conclusion, pterostilbene was not able to prolong the post-antibiotic effect duration of linezolid in both strains and each of the antimicrobials demonstrated a more favorable timing of doses when these agents were used singly.
Induction of pBAD-ompA Fails to Enhance Conjugation in ompA-Deletion Mutant Escherichia coli Strains Containing the Plasmid

Outer membrane protein A plays an essential role in horizontal gene transfer in Escherichia coli by acting as a docking protein for the pilus during conjugation. The purpose of this study was to assess the ability of plasmidencoded and L-arabinose induced OmpA expression in a pBAD expression vector to restore mutant ompA phenotype back to wild type. The Escherichia coli recipient strains used were ompA wild-type strain BW25113, ompA-deletion mutants LVYY11w-1 with empty pBAD TOPO plasmid, LVYY11w-2 with pBAD TOPO inserted with ompA, and JW0940 without plasmid transformation. The F’ donor used to test conjugation was Escherichia coli strain JCFLOxK1200. Relative conjugation efficiencies of mutant recipient strains were compared to the wildtype strain and with each other through statistical analysis. Our results showed that the wild-type BW25113 strain had the highest relative conjugation efficiency. All other ompA-deletion mutant recipients had reduced relative conjugation efficiencies when L-arabinose levels varied between 0% and 2% (w/v). Because there was no statistically significant difference in conjugation efficiency among strains LVYY11w-2, LVYY11w-1, and JW0940, we concluded that the plasmid-encoded OmpA might be misfolded, or falsely processed. Furthermore, since the ompA gene inserted in the plasmid was from Escherichia coli strain MG1655, its encoded protein might play different roles compared to OmpA protein in wild-type strain BW25113.
Brine-Dependent Recovery Processes (Smart-Water/Low-Salinity-Water) in Carbonate and Sandstone Petroleum Reservoirs: Review of Laboratory-Field Studies, Interfacial Mechanisms and Modeling Attempts

Brine-dependent recovery process has seen much global research efforts in the past two decades because of their benefits over other oil recovery methods. The process involves the tweaking of the ionic composition and strength of the injected water to improve oil production. In recent years, several studies ranging from laboratory coreflood experiments by many researchers to field trials by several companies admit to the potential of recovering additional oil in sandstone and carbonate reservoirs. Sandstone and carbonate rocks are composed of completely different minerals, with varying degree of complexity and heterogeneity, but wettability alteration has been widely considered as the consequence rather than the cause of brine-dependent recovery. However, there is no consensus on the cause as several mechanisms have been proposed to relate the wettability changes to the improved recovery. This review paper aims to provide a state-of-the-art development in published research and various efforts of the industry. This review outlines an overview of laboratory and field observations, descriptions of underlying mechanisms and their validity, the complexity of the oil-brine-rock interactions, modelling works, and comparison between sandstone and carbonate rocks. The provided information is intended to provide the reader with up-to-date information, point to relevant studies for those who are new and those implementing either laboratory- or field-scale projects to speed up the process of further investigations in this research area. Overall, the outcome of this review would potentially be of immense benefit to the oil industry.
Colitis-Associated Colorectal Cancer in Mice: In vivo Disease Imaging and Insight into the AOM/DSS Model

Inflammatory bowel diseases as ulcerative colitis and Cohn’s disease represent significant health problems in the western world. Colon cancer is a common consequence of those chron- ic inflammatory disorders, thereby it is essential to improve knowledge and research level of this area. AOM/DSS is a known and well-established chemically induced mice model of coli- tis associated cancer. In order to make research based on this model more efficient and relia- ble, improvements are desired. In vivo imaging with the use of specific fluorescent probes is a very convenient and recently strongly developed method worth exploiting in monitoring tumors development. Furthermore, introduction of knockout model enabling in depth exploration of colon cancer mechanisms shades light on the behavior of the disease. Particularly, due to the importance of insulin re- ceptor, as a key regulator of homeostasis, also involved in cancer pathology, it would be of high interest to explore it in terms of colon cancer. On the other hand, exploring physiology of the healthy colon is also essential in fighting this serious medical issue and culturing colon epithelium ex vivo gives a broad range of opportunities for this matter. 3D in vitro culture of colon crypts enables development of spherical organoids, imitating intestinal epithelium envi- ronment. In combination with mice of different genetic background, growing colon crypts raises a vast spectrum of exploration. The used methodology was based on a combination of Azoxymethane (AOM) with dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) that allowed induction of colitis associated colon cancer mice model. Tumor development was confirmed with weights monitoring, colonoscopy and tumor counts. In vivo imaging system with the use of fluorescent probes was tested for imaging of tumors in AOM/DSS model. Two types of probes potent for emitting signal in near-infrared light were used: active IntegriSense 680 and activatable ProSense 750. Insulin receptor knock out mice were genotyped to confirm loss-of-function mutation. Colon crypts were taken from healthy mice donors and 3D matrigel-based culture was set up in order to induce organoids develop- ment and survival in vitro. As a result, AOM/DSS model was successfully obtained which was confirmed with numerous tumors developed in distal part of the colon. In vivo imaging with IntegriSens 680 did not give significantly strong signal either in vivo or ex vivo. Activatable probe ProSense 750 how- ever failed in vivo imaging of induced tumors, provided some specific distinguishable signal ex vivo. Colon crypts were successfully isolated from mouse donors. Culture was maintained for 9 days during which colonoids grown and developed into variously shaped spherical struc- tures. AOM/DSS model resembles human colitis associated colon cancer. Although utilized fluorescent probes did not give expected results in vivo, ProSense 750 due to positive ex vivo measurement sheds a light on potential use and future optimization of that method. (Less)
Haptoglobin Function and Regulation in Autoimmune Diseases

Haptoglobin (Hp) is an acute phase protein, primarily synthesized in the liver and secreted into the plasma. Hp is also produced in other tissues including lung, skin, spleen, brain, intestine, arterial vessels and kidney, but to a lesser extent (D'Armiento et al., 1997; Pelletier et al., 1998; Yang et al., 2000). The normal concentration in human plasma ranges from 0.33 mg/ml and increases several fold in the occurrence of local or systemic inflammation. Increased production of Hp is the result of transcriptional activation of the Hp gene (Baumann & Jahreis, 1983; Oliviero et al., 1987) by pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin(IL)-1, IL-6, and Tumor Necrosis factor (TNF) (Baumann et al., 1989). The result of pro-inflammatory cytokine signalling is the activation of essential transcription factors that are needed for the expression of Hp (STAT, C/EBP, PEA3). Among vertebrate species, the promoter of the Hp gene is conserved and contains three key regulatory elements that include two C/EBP recognition sequences that flank a STAT binding site (Wang et al., 2001).