Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
From Users and Choosers to Makers and Shapers: Repositioning Participation in Social Policy *

Summaries This article explores approaches to participation in social policy, setting them within broader debates on the rights and responsibilities of citizenship. Drawing on studies of participation in a range of social policy arenas in the North and South, it explores the implications of a shift from a focus on clients or consumers of social policies as users and choosers to a more active engagement of citizens as agents in the making and shaping of the social policies that affect their lives.
Stuck in gear: age-related loss of variable gearing in skeletal muscle

ABSTRACT Skeletal muscles power a broad diversity of animal movements, despite only being able to produce high forces over a limited range of velocities. Pennate muscles use a range of gear ratios, the ratio of muscle shortening velocity to fiber shortening velocity, to partially circumvent these force–velocity constraints. Muscles operate with a high gear ratio at low forces; fibers rotate to greater angles of pennation, enhancing velocity but compromising force. At higher forces, muscles operate with a lower gear ratio; fibers rotate little so limiting muscle shortening velocity, but helping to preserve force. This ability to shift gears is thought to be due to the interplay of contractile force and connective tissue constraints. In order to test this hypothesis, gear ratios were determined in the medial gastrocnemius muscles of both healthy young rats, and old rats where the interaction between contractile and connective tissue properties was assumed to be disrupted. Muscle fiber and aponeurosis stiffness increased with age (P<0.05) from 19.1±5.0 kPa and 188.5±24.2 MPa, respectively, in young rats to 39.1±4.2 kPa and 328.0±48.3 MPa in old rats, indicating a mechanical change in the interaction between contractile and connective tissues. Gear ratio decreased with increasing force in young (P<0.001) but not old (P=0.72) muscles, indicating that variable gearing is lost in old muscle. These findings support the hypothesis that variable gearing results from the interaction between contractile and connective tissues and suggest novel explanations for the decline in muscle performance with age. Summary: Age-related changes in skeletal muscle support the idea that the interaction between contractile and connective tissues is responsible for variable gearing and is therefore essential to muscle performance.
TQM implementation and its impact on organisational performance in developing countries: a case study on Libya

I ACKNOWLEDGMENTS . II TABLE OF CONTENTS. III LIST OF TABLES . VIII LIST OF FIGURES . X LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS . XI CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION . 1 1.1 BACKGROUND . 1 1.2 PROBLEM DEFINED . 4 1.3 THE IMPORTANCE OF THE STUDY . 5 1.4 THE RESEARCH OBJECTIVES . 5 1.5 RESEARCH QUESTIONS . 6 1.6 CONTRIBUTION OF THE STUDY . 6 1.7 MOTIVATION FOR THE STUDY . 7 1.8 SCOPE OF STUDY . 8 1.9 ORGANISATION OF THE THESIS . 9 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW . 11 2.
Optimal reconfiguration of a radial power distribution network based on Meta-heuristic optimization algorithms

The present paper deals with the application of the real time optimal reconfiguration of a radial power distribution system using three Meta-heuristic optimization algorithms; the Biogeography Based Optimization (BBO), the particle swarm optimization (PSO) and the Genetic algorithms (GAO). The main objective is to minimize the active power loss in the whole system while keeping the voltage at each node in the whole distribution system above certain required threshold based on real time information of the power flow and voltages of the studied system. A detailed performance analysis is applied on four standard IEEE networks 14-bus, 33-bus, 69-bus and 84-bus to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed methodology and the used optimization algorithms.
Observations on Salmonella contamination of commercial laying farms before and after cleaning and disinfection

Little is known about the effectiveness of the cleaning and disinfection methods in use on commercial laying farms in Great Britain. Samples were taken from poultry house structures and equipment of five cage layer flocks, five barn egg production flocks and two free-range flocks. In the free-range houses there was a decrease in Salmonella after cleaning and disinfection, although the soil in the paddocks remained contaminated. In the barn and especially the cage layer houses, significant residual contamination remained on the surfaces of buildings and equipment. Wildlife pests were also found to be carrying Salmonella in the disinfected houses and free-range paddocks.
A visual navigation system for autonomous land vehicles

A modular system architecture has been developed to support visual navigation by an autonomous land vehicle. The system consists of vision modules performing image processing, three-dimensional shape recovery, and geometric reasoning, as well as modules for planning, navigating, and piloting. The system runs in two distinct modes, bootstrap and feedforward. The bootstrap mode requires analysis of entire images to find and model the objects of interest in the scene (e.g., roads). In the feedforward mode (while the vehicle is moving), attention is focused on small parts of the visual field as determined by prior views of the scene, to continue to track and model the objects of interest. General navigational tasks are decomposed into three categories, all of which contribute to planning a vehicle path. They are called long-, intermediate-, and short-range navigation, reflecting the scale to which they apply. The system has been implemented as a set of concurrent communicating modules and used to drive a camera (carried by a robot arm) over a scale model road network on a terrain board. A large subset of the system has been reimplemented on a VICOM image processor and has driven the DARPA Autonomous Land Vehicle (ALV) at Martin Marietta's test site in Denver, CO.
Regional differences in the negative inotropic effect of acetylcholine within the canine ventricle.

1. Regional differences in the effects of ACh on sub‐epicardial, mid‐wall and sub‐endocardial cells of the dog left ventricle have been studied. 2. ACh produced a dose‐dependent, atropine‐sensitive negative inotropic effect that was greatest in sub‐epicardial cells and small or absent in sub‐endocardial cells. 3. In sub‐epicardial (but not sub‐endocardial) cells, ACh also resulted in a dose‐dependent decrease in action potential duration. The inotropic effect of ACh on sub‐epicardial cells was primarily the result of the decrease of action potential duration, because during trains of voltage clamp pulses the inotropic effect of ACh was reduced or abolished. At a holding potential of ‐80 mV, 10(‐5)M ACh decreased L‐type Ca2+ current by approximately 8% and this is thought to be responsible for the small inotropic effect during trains of pulses. 4. Although 4‐AP, a blocker of the transient outward current (I(to)), abolished the ‘spike and dome’ morphology of the sub‐epicardial action potential, it had little or no effect on the actions of ACh on sub‐epicardial cells. ACh had no effect on I(to) in sub‐epicardial cells in voltage clamp experiments. 5. ACh activated a Ba(2+)‐sensitive outward current (IK,ACh) in sub‐epicardial cells, but little or no such current in sub‐endocardial cells. In sub‐epicardial cells, ACh also inhibited the inward rectifier current, IK,1. 6. It is concluded that in left ventricular sub‐epicardial cells, ACh activates IK,ACh. This results in a shortening of the action potential and, therefore, a negative inotropic effect. In subendocardial cells, ACh activates little or no IK,ACh and, therefore, it has little or no negative inotropic effect. This may result from a regional variation in the expression of the muscarinic K+ channel.
RISK, GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS, AND THE ENVIRONMENT

Nearly all farm business ventures involve financial risk. In some instances, private and public tools used to manage financial risks in agriculture may influence farmers' production decisions. These decisions, in turn, can influence environmental quality. This bulletin summarizes research and provides some perspective on private and public attempts to cope with financial risks and their unintended environmental consequences. Specifically, it examines the conceptual underpinnings of risk-related research, challenges involved with measuring the consequences of risk for agricultural production decisions, government programs that influence the risk and return of farm businesses, and how production decisions influence both the environment and the risk and average returns to farming.
On the Subtree Size Profile of Binary Search trees

For random trees T generated by the binary search tree algorithm from uniformly distributed input we consider the subtree size profile, which maps k ∈ ℕ to the number of nodes in T that root a subtree of size k. Complementing earlier work by Devroye, by Feng, Mahmoud and Panholzer, and by Fuchs, we obtain results for the range of small k-values and the range of k-values proportional to the size n of T. In both cases emphasis is on the process view, i.e., the joint distributions for several k-values. We also show that the dynamics of the tree sequence lead to a qualitative difference between the asymptotic behaviour of the lower and the upper end of the profile.
Energy-Efficient Traffic Splitting for Time-Varying Multi-RAT Wireless Networks

This paper investigates the energy-efficient traffic splitting for time-varying wireless networks, which have been configured with multiple radio access technologies (multi-RATs). A single stream of the media content is split into multiple segments, which could be transmitted over multiple RATs simultaneously so that the complementary advantages of different RATs can be exploited. To address this problem, we formulate the traffic splitting as a long-term energy efficiency (EE) maximization problem with respect to the time-varying channel state information (CSI). An equivalent transformation method is proposed to convert the long-term nonconvex EE maximization problem into a concave optimization. To reduce the computational complexity, we develop a dynamic traffic splitting (DTS) algorithm, which iterates only one time when the network state changes. Then, we use the definition of tracking error to describe the difference between the DTS and the target optimal traffic splitting solution. After that, an adaptive-compensation traffic splitting (ACTS) algorithm is proposed to offset the tracking error so as to enhance the EE performance. More specifically, we give a sufficient condition for significantly eliminating the tracking errors of the ACTS algorithm. Simulation results show that the proposed ACTS algorithm obtains the EE performance comparable with the optimal solution at the overhead of only a single iteration at each timeslot of the network state acquisition.
Restoration of Temporal Image Sequence from a Single Image Captured by a Correlation Image Sensor

We propose a method that restores a temporal image sequence, which describes how a scene temporally changed during the exposure period, from a given still image captured by a correlation image sensor (CIS). The restored images have higher spatial resolutions than the original still image, and the restored temporal sequence would be useful for motion analysis in applications such as landmark tracking and video labeling. The CIS is different from conventional image sensors because each pixel of the CIS can directly measure the Fourier coefficients of the temporal change of the light intensity observed during the exposure period. Given a single image captured by the CIS, hence, one can restore the temporal image sequence by computing the Fourier series of the temporal change of the light strength at each pixel. Through this temporal sequence restoration, one can also reduce motion blur. The proposed method improves the performance of motion blur reduction by estimating the Fourier coefficients of the frequencies higher than the measured ones. In this work, we show that the Fourier coefficients of the higher frequencies can be estimated based on the optical flow constraint. Some experimental results with images captured by the CIS are demonstrated.
Can software be used to predict antigenic regions in Plasmodium falciparum peptides?

We compared the antigenicity of p126 Plasmodium falciparum peptides with predicted antigenic regions identified using the methods described by Garnier et al. (1978) and Chou & Fasman (1974). For this purpose nine different P. falciparum peptides were synthesized in accordance with the deduced amino acid sequence of the p126 gene, and their reactivity was tested using an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay against sera from individuals with a natural malaria infection. Both predictive methods gave similar antigenic‐index scores, however, a comparison of these predictive results with data obtained by ELISA showed that the probability of a correct prediction was only around 45% for both cases. Thus, in our view computer softwares could not be used in isolation for screening purposes, and other parameters must also be taken into account when using such software to assess antigenicity.
The proliferative response in vitro of vascular endothelial and smooth muscle cells exposed to wound fluids and macrophages

The ability of wound‐derived macrophages and of fluids obtained from wounds to stimulate the proliferation of vascular endothelial cells and vascular smooth muscle cells in vitro has been investigated. Sparse cultures of endothelial and smooth muscle cells maintained in the presence of optimal concentrations of serum and wound fluid showed a 25‐fold increase and a 10‐fold increase, respectively, in final cell density when compared to cultures maintained in the presence of serum alone. The response of both endothelial and smooth muscle cells to the wound fluid was dependent on the serum or plasma‐serum concentrations in which they were maintained. The ability of the wound fluid to stimulate endothelial cell proliferation was compared to that of fibroblast growth factor (FGF), which has already been shown to be a potent mitogen for endothelial cells in vitro. The growth response of endothelial cell cultures, when exposed to either 2% wound fluid or 100 ng/ml of FGF, was found to be similar, and the normal cell morphology was maintained. To examine the possibility that the growth stimulating activity present in the wound fluid originated from macrophages, endothelial cells or smooth muscle cells were co‐cultured with macrophages obtained from the wound fluid. A significant stimulation of both endothelial and smooth muscle cells was observed with 2 × 106 macrophages, which would suggest that macrophages may be the source of the mitogenic activity of the wound fluid in vivo.
RTP Payload Format for Generic Forward Error Correction

This document specifies a payload format for generic Forward Error Correction (FEC) for media data encapsulated in RTP. It is based on the exclusive-or (parity) operation. The payload format described in this document allows end systems to apply protection using various protection lengths and levels, in addition to using various protection group sizes to adapt to different media and channel characteristics. It enables complete recovery of the protected packets or partial recovery of the critical parts of the payload depending on the packet loss situation. This scheme is completely compatible with non-FEC- capable hosts, so the receivers in a multicast group that do not implement FEC can still work by simply ignoring the protection data. This specification obsoletes RFC 2733 and RFC 3009. The FEC specified in this document is not backward compatible with RFC 2733 and RFC 3009. [STANDARDS-TRACK]
SLYA ACTIVATES FIMB EXPRESSION AND TYPE 1 FIMBRIATION IN ESCHERICHIA COLI K-12 *

1 School of Biosciences, University of Kent, Canterbury, CT2 7NJ, United Kingdom and 2 Institut de Biologie Physico-Chimique (Unité Propre de Recherche 9073, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique), 13 Rue Pierre et Marrie Curie, 75005 Paris, France. Running title: SlyA and type 1 fimbriation Address correspondence to: Ian C. Blomfield, School of Biosciences, University of Kent, Canterbury, CT2 7NJ, United Kingdom. Telephone +44 1227 823697; Fax +44 1227 763912; E-Mail: i.c. blomfield@kent.ac. uk
Discipline Behavior of Day Traders in the Taiwan Futures Market

Based on the principle that discipline can be achieved by steadfastly losing small and winning big, In addition to the two measures used by Locke and Mann (2005), Cheng et al. (2011) Construct a pair of straightforward and easy-to-implement measures of trading discipline which goes beyond merely recognizing the need for discipline by cutting losses short and letting profit runs. Applying their measures to the trade-by-trade transactions of retail traders, foreign institutional traders and proprietary traders in Taiwan futures market, we explore whether the more disciplined traders are, the more profitable they are. Also, concerning that many traders do not necessarily behave consistently in trading discipline between periods as found by Cheng et al. (2011) using two periods only, we investigate monthly dynamic relationship between the prior discipline behavior, prior profitability and the current discipline behavior since the degree of discipline behavior might depend on prior profitability and prior degree of discipline behavior. In addition, two age groups of traders in each trading type, age above 30 and below, are investigated for their dynamic discipline behavior since Green et al. (1996) find impulsive and risk-taking tendencies tend to decrease rapidly from high levels in late adolescence and young adulthood to much lower levels by around age 30 and then they decrease slightly or remain relatively stable when they are getting older.
Algorithmes pour l' étude de la structure secondaire des ARN et l'alignement de séquences. (Algorithms for RNA secondary structures study and sequence alignment)

HAL is a multi-disciplinary open access archive for the deposit and dissemination of scientific research documents, whether they are published or not. The documents may come from teaching and research institutions in France or abroad, or from public or private research centers. L’archive ouverte pluridisciplinaire HAL, est destinée au dépôt et à la diffusion de documents scientifiques de niveau recherche, publiés ou non, émanant des établissements d’enseignement et de recherche français ou étrangers, des laboratoires publics ou privés. Algorithmes pour l’ étude de la structure secondaire des ARN et l’alignement de séquences Lou Feng
Physicochemical Properties and Possible Applications of Waste Corncob Fly Ash from Biomass Gasification Industries of China

As a by-product generated from the processing of corn, the production in China of corncob (CC) is abundant, with up to 3.87 million tons per year. The biomass gasification industries make use of the CC residue as feedstock, but large volumes of generated corncob ash (CCA) requires daily disposal. In this study, CCA was characterized by laser particle size analyzer (LPSA), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermal gravimetric and differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA), scanning electron microscopy, and energy dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX). XRF results showed that the CCA was rich in K, Ca, and P, indicating its potential as a soil amendment. High content of SiO2 in CCA revealed its potential as a pozzolan in blended cement concrete. XRD showed the presence of crystal phases such as potassium carbonate, sylvite, arcanite, quartz, calcite, and nitrite. SEM images revealed the high agglomeration of CCA. EDX gave evidence of the external surface of agglomerated particles coated with KCl. TG-DTA analysis indicates that decomposition of CCA has stepwise mechanism. The CCA powders through a 0.154 mm sieve showed a high specific surface area of 162.32 m2/g, average pore size of 12.17 A with pore volume of 0.116 cm3/g. The carbon residue separated from CCA has the potential to be used as activated carbon.
Organisational culture in multinational organisations

In the last ten years South Africa has seen a dramatic change in the way organisations and individuals, within the business environment, view culture, ethnicity, socio economics, gender and race. These recent developments are largely attributed to globalisation and diverse national and cultural origins. With more and more culturally diverse South African and foreign national employees entering the labour market, there has been a greater focus on culture than ever before. As South Africans one have been exposed to diverse cultures within a business, organisational and occupational context, however in today's complex and fast changing world of multinational business where workforce has become increasingly diverse in national and cultural origins, and work assignments are more commonly performed by team members of varying nationalities, managing multinational teams is fast becoming an increasingly important function. This paper will explore the concept of organisational culture, and determine how cultural diversity impacts the business environment and how leaders manage cultural diversity within a multinational organisation.
Polarization filtering for automatic image dehazing based on contrast enhancement

To overcome the degraded images taken in hazy weather, an adaptive restoration method based on improved contrast enhanced restoration was proposed. Firstly, by quadtree subdivision searching method, the sky area of multi-channel polarization image are extracted automatically, and the atmospheric light and degree of polarization are calculated; Second, scene depth information of image are calculated based on contrast enhancement method. Then, atmospheric intensity are thinly restored by guided filter, finally the degradation image are restored. Experimental results have shown that the proposed method can improve fog degradation image and increase definition of the image effectively.
Proteasome inhibition in neuronal cells induces a proinflammatory response manifested by upregulation of cyclooxygenase-2, its accumulation as ubiquitin conjugates, and production of the prostaglandin PGE(2).

Inclusions containing ubiquitin-protein aggregates appear in neurons of patients with neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. The relationship between inclusion production and cell viability is not understood. To address this issue, we investigated the response of an established mouse neuronal cell line and of embryonic rat mesencephalic cultures to inhibition of the ubiquitin/proteasome pathway. Two proteasome inhibitors, a peptidyl aldehyde and an epoxy ketone, which cause accumulation of ubiquitinated proteins, were found to enhance expression of stress-inducible genes, including HSP70i and the polyubiquitin genes UbB and UbC. Under these conditions, mRNA and protein levels of the inducible form of cyclooxygenase (COX-2) were upregulated together with its product, PGE(2), a proinflammatory prostaglandin. Proteasomal inhibition also led to stabilization of COX-2 as ubiquitin conjugates, suggesting that the ubiquitin/proteasome pathway contributes to the regulation of COX-2 protein levels. Treatment with antioxidants known to inhibit NFkappaB and AP-1 transcriptional activation failed to abrogate COX-2 upregulation. Instead, these inhibitors exacerbated the stress response by potentiating HSP70i levels while eliciting a decrease in PGE(2) production. These findings suggest that the accumulation of ubiquitinated proteins resulting from proteasome inhibition in neuronal cells is associated with a proinflammatory response that may be an important contributor to neurodegeneration.