Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF POLYPYRROLE AS A GAS SENSOR

The composite thin films of polypyrrole (PPy) with functionalized single wall carbon nanotube (fSWCNT) for hydrogen sulfide (H2S) gas sensing application are presented in this paper. PPy/ fSWCNTs nanocomposite were deposited onto ITO (Indium tin oxide) coated glass substrate by electrochemical polymerization method of pyrrole monomer with oxalic acid and different ratios from functionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes (0.005, 0.01) % in the 150 ml from distilled water. The nanocomposite films were characterized by X-ray diffraction XRD, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). The XRD result showed that the deposited films have polycrystalline structure at 2θ= (24, 43) . The FTIR spectra give distinct and the prominent bonds. The morphological study by AFM showed that formation of uniform granular structure with average grain size of (40.7547.07) nm. The response of these composite films for H2S gas was evaluated by monitoring the change in electrical resistance at (20, 50,100,150 and 200) C. It is observed that the PPy/ fSWCNT nanocomposite films show a higher sensitivity as compare to pure PPy.
ROBUST CLOCK SYNCHRONIZATION IN WIRELESS SENSOR NETWORKS A Thesis by SAWIN SAIBUA

Robust Clock Synchronization in Wireless Sensor Networks. (August 2010) Sawin Saibua, B.Eng., Chulalongkorn University Chair of Advisory Committee: Dr. Erchin Serpedin Clock synchronization between any two nodes in a Wireless Sensor Network (WSNs) is generally accomplished through exchanging messages and adjusting clock offset and skew parameters of each node’s clock. To cope with unknown network message delays, the clock offset and skew estimation schemes have to be reliable and robust in order to attain long-term synchronization and save energy. A joint clock offset and skew estimation scheme is studied and developed based on the Gaussian Mixture Kalman Particle Filter (GMKPF). The proposed estimation scheme is shown to be a more flexible alternative than the Gaussian Maximum Likelihood Estimator (GMLE) and the Exponential Maximum Likelihood Estimator (EMLE), and to be a robust estimation scheme in the presence of non-Gaussian/nonexponential random delays. This study also includes a sub optimal method called Maximum Likelihood-like Estimator (MLLE) for Gaussian and exponential delays. The computer simulations illustrate that the scheme based on GMKPF yields better results in terms of Mean Square Error (MSE) relative to GMLE, EMLE, GMLLE, and EMLLE, when the network delays are modeled as non-Gaussian/non-exponential distributions or as a mixture of several distributions.
A reassessment of genetic limits to evolutionary change

An absence of genetic variance in traits under selection is perhaps the oldest explanation for a limit to evolutionary change, but has also been the most easily dismissed. We review a range of theoretical and empirical results covering single traits to more complex multivariate systems, and show that an absence of genetic variance may be more common than is currently appreciated. From a single-trait perspective, we highlight that it is becoming clear that some trait types do not display significant levels of genetic variation, and we raise the possibility that species with restricted ranges may differ qualitatively from more widespread species in levels of genetic variance in ecologically important traits. A common misconception in many life-history studies is that a lack of genetic variance in single traits, and genetic constraints as a consequence of bivariate genetic correlations, are different causes of selection limits. We detail how interpretations of bivariate patterns are unlikely to demonstrate genetic limits to selection in many cases. We advocate a multivariate definition of genetic constraints that emphasizes the presence (or otherwise) of genetic variance in the multivariate direction of selection. For multitrait systems, recent results using longer term studies of organisms, in which more is understood concerning what traits may be under selection, have indicated that selection may exhaust genetic variance, resulting in a limit to the selection response.
Thermal decomposition of calcium(II) bis(acetylacetonate) n-hydrate

The objective of this study was to investigate the thermal decomposition path of calcium bis(acetylacetonate) n-hydrate (Ca(C5H7O2)2×nH2O). Thermal analysis of the investigated complex was accomplished using Simultaneous Differential Thermal and Thermo- Gravimetric Analysis (DTA/TGA) performed in dynamic air atmosphere up to 1, 300°C. The obtained curves have been interpreted on the basis of 1H and 13C Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), Fourier-transformed Infra-Red (FTIR) Spectroscopy and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) analysis of samples whose thermal treatment was interrupted at various temperatures. A total of six thermal decomposition steps, resulting in a total mass loss of 80%, has been observed: the release of adsorbed and coordinated water molecules in temperature intervals of 46-105°C and 105- 175°C, respectively ; two-step chelate decomposition processes in temperature interval of 175-305°C and 305-635°C, accompanied by the formation of calcite ; and calcite decarboxylation and formation of calcium oxide in temperature interval between 635-800°C and oxidation of amorphous carbon residues at temperatures above 800°C.
Tipología de atributos ponderada en base a normas de producción de atributos semánticos

Feature taxonomy proposed by sensory-functional theories to differentiate between domains (living or non-living things) received a number of critics: (a) the vagueness of the defi nition of attribute types; (b) the limitations of the dichotomous taxonomy; (c) the insuffi ciency of feature production variable to discriminate between domains. This paper aims to contribute to overcome these diffi culties by proposing an analysis based on a complex taxonomy supported on empirical data obtained from Semantic Feature Production Norms in Spanish, considering features ́ frequency and order of production. Data was collected from a sample of 180 Spanish speaking healthy adults who produced defi ning features for 90 concrete concepts. The results show similarities between domains, in so far as to the primacy of superordinate attributes, and differences in the weight of the dynamic (functional and behavioral) and sensory features. This information is worthy to characterize the compositional structure of the features that constitute the semantic representation of concrete concepts.
Capital Inflows, Financial Intermediation, and Aggregate Demand: Empirical Evidence from Mexico and Other Pacific Basin Countries

In trying to explain the balance-of-payments and banking crises of 1994-95 that erupted in Mexico, observers have pointed to various effects of the substantial capital inflows that took place in the preceding half decade. It has been argued that these inflows contributed to rapid monetary growth, real appreciation of the peso, and the widening of Mexico's current account deficit. In addition, by making available credit for consumption loans at a time when investment spending in Mexico was not yet ready to grow rapidly, these inflows may have contributed to the fall in Mexico's savings rate. This paper looks at the effect of capital flows on macroeconomic and financial variables in Mexico during the 1980s and 1990s and compares Mexico's experience with that of a cross-section of Pacific Basin countries. In particular, we attempt to gauge the effect of capital flows on money growth, interest rates, consumption and investment. We do find evidence of an independent effect of capital flows on monetary conditions and domestic demand, controlling for certain other domestic factors. However, these inflows appear not to have altered substantially the basic trajectories of money, consumption, and investment in the recipient countries.
Expression and Characterization of the Hemagglutinin Gene of Avian Influenza Virus Subtype H 9 in the Protozoan Host Leishmania tarentolae

During the last decades avian influenza viruses of subtype H9N2 became panzootic and have been isolated in multiple avian species throughout Asia, the Middle East, Europe and Africa. Co-circulation with other influenza viruses enhances the potential of reassortment events with the emergence of new viruses. Phylogenetic analyses showed that viruses of subtype H9N2 served as donor of internal gene segments for highly pathogenic influenza viruses of subtype H7 and H5. Therefore vaccination against influenza viruses of subtype H9N2 is of high relevance and economical importance. As an alternative to laborintensive and time consuming conventional egg-based influenza vaccine and mammalian cell culture propagation, recombinant H9 protein production using eukaryotic systems are being applied towards the development of influenza vaccines. Based on this concept, haemagglutinins (HA) from influenzavirus H9N2 strains were expressed in Leishmania tarentolae. This expression system, based on a parasite of lizards, yields proteins with animal like glycosylation pattern and can be readily propagated to high cell density (>108 cells/ml) at 26°C. The gene encoding HA was cloned from the influenza H9N2 strain named A/chicken/ Bangladesh/VP01/2006(H9N2). Soluble HA proteins were secreted into the cell culture medium and were successfully purified via a His-Tag domain fused to the proteins. After purification of protein using Ni-NTA agarose, this system resulted in a yield of approximately 2–5 mg of HA per liter of culture. The expressed recombinant HA proteins were characterized by SDS-PAGE and western blotting using different antisera. Deglycosylation using Endo H proved that the recombinant HA was glycosylated. The produced recombinant glycosylated protein may act as a promising vaccine candidate for preventing H9N2 avian influenza associated disease.
Quantifying the Impact of Different Model Discrepancy Formulations in Coupled Multidisciplinary Systems

In this paper, we quantify the impact of different formulations of model discrepancy propagation in coupled multidisciplinary systems. Standard Gaussian process formulations of model discrepancy leave room for interpretation when incorporated into coupled system analyses. The objective of this work is to analyze resulting coupling variable distributions under different assumptions regarding these model discrepancy interpretations. The goal is to identify efficient, implementation independent, methods and rationale for the rigorous propagation of uncertainty in coupled systems. We demonstrate our methodology on an aerostructural wing analysis problem.
Monocotyledons in Particleboard Production: Adhesives, Additives, and Surface Modification of Reed Canary Grass

As a supplier to the furniture industry, the particleboard industry is searching for opportunities to reduce costs, weight, and formaldehyde emissions. One such opportunity is to use monocotyledons such as straw and hemp, as well as grasses like reed canary grass. A major problem when using reed canary grass or other monocotyledons in combination with wood is the difference in their surface properties, leading to poor reactivity and wettability with adhesives such as melamine urea formaldehyde. To this end, either the surface of the particles must be modified in some way, or different adhesives must be used. The purpose of this paper is to present adhesives, surfactants, coupling agents, and pre-treatment methods that can be used in combination with monocotyledons to improve compatibility with wood. Some of the methods have been tested on reed canary grass. The results show a wide range of strength values for the joint between wood and untreated or pre-treated reed canary grass glued with different adhesives, with and without a surfactant and a coupling agent. Isocyanate-based adhesives provided relatively strong bonds, and polyvinyl acetate, acryl, and epoxy adhesives were also effective. The most effective method was pre-treatment followed by adhesives in combination with a coupling agent.
ATVB in Focus Oxygen Sensing

Atmospheric oxygen appeared approximately 2.3 billion years ago and sustains most complex life on earth. As mitochondria evolved to harness the energy in oxygen, systems developed to sense and respond to local oxygen concentrations and metabolic conditions. For more than a decade, research has focused on hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF1), a key component of the eukaryotic oxygen-response system. Recently, evidence for other systems has also surfaced. One of these systems involves the PGC-1 coactivator, a powerful transcriptional regulator of mitochondria and oxidative metabolic programs. This brief review will focus on this burgeoning role for PGC-1 and will highlight the many questions that remain unanswered. (Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2010;30:662-666.)
Modelling brain deformations for computer‐integrated neurosurgery

In this review paper we discuss Intelligent Systems for Medicine Laboratory's contributions to mathematical and numerical modelling of brain deformation behaviour for neurosurgical simulation and brain image registration. These processes can be reasonably described in purely mechanical terms, such as displacements, strains and stresses and therefore can be analysed using established methods of continuum mechanics. We advocate the use of fully non‐linear theory of continuum mechanics. We discuss in some detail modelling geometry, boundary conditions, loading and material properties. We consider numerical problems such as the use of hexahedral and mixed hexahedral–tetrahedral meshes as well as meshless spatial discretization schemes. We advocate the use of total Lagrangian formulation of both finite element and meshless methods together with explicit time‐stepping procedures. We support our recommendations and conclusions with two examples: computation of the reaction force acting on a biopsy needle, and computation of the brain shift for image registration. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Content-Sensitive Supervoxels via Uniform Tessellations on Video Manifolds

Supervoxels are perceptually meaningful atomic regions in videos, obtained by grouping voxels that exhibit coherence in both appearance and motion. In this paper, we propose content-sensitive supervoxels (CSS), which are regularly-shaped 3D primitive volumes that possess the following characteristic: they are typically larger and longer in content-sparse regions (i.e., with homogeneous appearance and motion), and smaller and shorter in content-dense regions (i.e., with high variation of appearance and/or motion). To compute CSS, we map a video Îž to a 3-dimensional manifold M embedded in R6, whose volume elements give a good measure of the content density in Îž. We propose an efficient Lloyd-like method with a splitting-merging scheme to compute a uniform tessellation on M, which induces the CSS in Îž. Theoretically our method has a good competitive ratio O(1). We also present a simple extension of CSS to stream CSS for processing long videos that cannot be loaded into main memory at once. We evaluate CSS, stream CSS and seven representative supervoxel methods on four video datasets. The results show that our method outperforms existing supervoxel methods.
Stress Control of Si-based PECVD Dielectrics

The Si-based dielectric films, silicon dioxide (SiO2) and silicon nitride (SiNx) prepared by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD), are used in device fabrication throughout the microelectronics and optoelectronics industries. The stress of these films can affect the electrical and optical characteristics as well as the integrity and reliability of the devices. In this paper, results are presented on a study of different techniques for stress control of these films. This includes discussion of a simple stress control method and the mechanism involved for SiNx achieved by addition of He to the standard SiH4, NH3, and N2 plasma chemistry. A designed experiment has been used to optimize a low stress SiNx process based on this method on a commercial PECVD reactor developed for volume GaAs manufacturing.
Consumer Ethnocentrism in MS Region

This article deals with consumer ethnocentrism in the Moravian-Silesian region in the Czech Republic. Research was focused on finding out how strong consumer ethnocentrism is in the region and how it depends on demographic factors. The used method is CETSCALE and the data were obtained by questionnaire survey, analyzed by IBM SPSS. From the thousands of respondents the representative sample of 414 for MS region was created based on demographic factors of gender, age, education and income. The research analysis disclosed that consumer ethnocentrism in MS region depends on education and income and is independent on gender and age. Keywords—Consumer ethnocentrism, demographic factors, foreign products, local products.
Wing-Actuation System Optimisation of a Dragonfly-Inspired Flapping

An optimisation method using both global and local optimisation is implemented to determine the flapping profile which will produce the most lift for an experimental wing-actuation system. The optimisation method is tested using a numerical quasi-steady analysis. Results of an optimised flapping profile show a 20% increase in lift generated as compared to flapping profiles obtained by high speed cinematography of a Sympetrum frequens dragonfly. Initial optimisation procedures showed 3166 objective function evaluations. The global optimisation parameters initial sample size and stage one sample size, were altered to reduce the number of function evaluations. Altering the stage one sample size had no significant effect. It was found that reducing the initial sample size to 400 would allow a reduction in computational effort to approximately 1500 function evaluations without compromising the global solvers ability to locate potential minima. To further reduce the optimisation effort required, we increase the local solver’s convergence tolerance criterion. An increase in the tolerance from 0.02N to 0.05N decreased the number of function evaluations by another 20%. However, this potentially reduces the maximum obtainable lift by up to 0.025N.
Anomalies of Foetal Liver in South Indian population: Case Study

We have observed liver anomalies in two aborted foetuses during routine dissection for the medical undergraduates at Sri Venkateswara Medical College, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh. We have observed one foetus with tongue like projection in left lobe and in other case ligamentum teres tunnel with extended left lobe. Multiple internal congenital anomalies like absence of left lung, microtia on left side and other congenital anomalies were also observed. The larger left lobe is almost equally sized or more than the right lobe considered as accessory lobe of Liver which is in agreement with the previous literature. Anatomical variations in the human liver could be valuable in improving diagnostic procedures and pathological conditions associated with some liver diseases.
MOLECULAR DOCKING STUDIES OF SOME NOVEL THIOPHENE CARBOHYDRAZIDE DERIVATIVES ON ENTEROTOXIN OF BACILLUS CEREUS

Objective: In this work, we collected the three-dimensional structure of Enterotoxin from Bacillus cereus which plays an important role in the pathway. Methods: The protein structure was collected from PDB data bank. From the 3D structures of the proteins, the targeted derivatives were designed. Docking studies were performed with designed compounds. Results: The compounds docked to the protein by hydrogen bonding interactions and these interactions play an important role in the binding studies. Docking results showed the best compounds among the derivatives. Conclusion: The docking results agreed well with the observed in vitro data, in which the anti-microbial activity of the analogs was higher than other drugs and formed hydrogen bonds. Keywords: Antibacterial activity, Docking studies, Enterotoxin
Local Forms of Spatial Analysis

Local forms of spatial analysis focus on exceptions to the general trends represented by more traditional global forms of spatial analysis. There is currently a rapid expansion in the development of such techniques but their history almost exactly parallels that of Geographical Analysis, with the first examples of local analysis appearing in the late 1960s. Indeed, Geographical Analysis has published many of the significant contributions in this field. This paper reviews the development of local forms of spatial analysis and assesses the current situation. Following a discussion on the nature and importance of local analysis, examples are given of local forms of point pattern analysis; local graphical approaches; local measures of spatial dependency; the spatial expansion method; adaptive filtering; multilevel modeling; geographically weighted regression; random coefficients models; autoregressive models; and local forms of spatial interaction models.
Quantification of Seismic Resilience

The concept of seismic resilience needs a unified terminology and a common reference frame for quantitative evaluation. The evaluation can be based on nondimensional analytical functions related to variations of losses within a specified “recovery period”. The resilience must refer to both direct and indirect losses. The path to recovery usually depends on available resources and may take different shapes which can be estimated by proper recovery functions. The loss functions have major uncertainties due to the uncertain nature of the earthquake and structural behavior as well as due to uncertain description of functionality limits. Therefore losses can be described as functions of fragility of systems’ components. These fragility functions can be determined through the use of multidimensional performance limit thresholds, which allow considering simultaneously different mechanical-physical variables such as forces, velocities, displacements and accelerations along with other functional limits. A procedure which defines resilience as function of losses and loss recovery based on multidimensional system fragility is formulated and an example is presented for a typical California hospital considering direct and indirect losses in its physical system and in the population served by the system.
REVISED SIMULINK/STATEFLOW MODEL

Test case generation techniques are successfully employed to generate test cases from a formal model. A problem is that as the model evolves, test suites tend to grow in size, making it too costly to execute entire test suites. This paper aims to propose a practical approach to reduce the size of test suites for modified Simulink/Stateflow (SL/SF) model, which is popularly used for modeling software behavior in many industries like automobile manufacturers. The model for describing a system is frequently modified until it is fixed. The proposed technique is capable of extracting the minimized sized test suite in terms of test coverage, by taking into account both the modified and the affected portion of revised SL/SF model. Two real models for the ECUs deployed in a commercial car are used for an empirical study.
Modern methods for power system harmonics estimation

Harmonics has been present for a long time and its presence shapes the performance of a power system. Therefore, estimation of harmonics is of paramount importance while analyzing a power system network. Following the inception of harmonics, various filters have been devised to achieve an optimal control strategy for harmonic alleviation. This thesis introduces various algorithms to analyze harmonics in the power system. The objective is to estimate the power system voltage magnitude in the presence distortions taking into account the noise by employing different estimation approaches. We have focused our attention towards the study of Least Mean Squares (LMS) based filter, Recursive Least squares (RLS) based filter, Kalman filter (KF) and Extended Kalman (EKF) filter. For a test signal LMS, RLS, KF and EKF based algorithms have been analyzed and results have been compared. The proposed estimation approaches are tested for only static signals.