Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Low resistance TiAl ohmic contacts with multi-layered structure for p-type 4H-SiC

The effect of the Al concentration and layer structure on the electrical and microstructural properties of TiAl Ohmic contacts for p-type 4H-SiC were investigated. The Al concentration was found to effect strongly on these contact properties, and the specific contact resistance of 1 × 10 -5 Ω-cm 2 was obtained for the TiAl contacts with the Al concentration higher than 77 at% after annealing at 1000°C. However, agglomeration of Al was observed after annealing, which caused the rough surface morphology. On the other hand, the TiAl contacts with the Al concentration lower than 75 at% showed non-Ohmic behavior and had smooth surface morphology after annealing at 1000°C. It was found from X-ray diffraction analysis that the interface structures were strongly influenced by the Al concentrations.of the TiAl contacts. For the TiAl contact with high Al concentration, formation of Al 3 Ti, Ti 3 SiC 2 , and Al 4 C 3 was observed, and for the TiAl contact with low Al concentration, formation of Al 3 Ti, Ti 3 SiC 2 , and Ti 5 Si 3 was observed. It was concluded that the electrical property of the TiAl contact was not affected by the number of TiAl layers and was very sensitive to the Al concentration in the TiAl contacts.
Robust and resistant semivariogram modelling using a generalized bootstrap

The semivariogram is a second-order moment used in geostatistics for quantifying spatial correlation. We assume a true underlying semivariogram model, γ(h), which quantifies the second-order spatial correlation of the population of all values of a spatial (or regionalized) random variable, Z(·); a semivariogram, γ̂ (h), can be inferred from a set of data values, z(ui), measured at the set of (relatively sparse) locations {ui}. The underlying semivariogram is defined as:
Wide-band acousto-optic light modulator for frequency domain fluorometry and phosphorimetry

Multifrequency‐phase and modulation fluorometry allows for accurate analysis of fluorescence decay in the frequency domain. Essential to these frequency domain methods is a high‐frequency modulation of the light source. Techniques for generating wide‐band modulation of light are currently limited to the use of Pockel’s cells and intrinsically modulated sources such as mode‐locked lasers and synchrotron radiation. We present a method that employs two acousto‐optic modulators in series for use with cw light sources. This modulator system gives two orders of magnitude more intensity output than the Pockel’s cell modulator and requires less than one‐tenth of the rf driving power. In addition, the Pockel’s cell system is limited to modulation frequencies less than 250 MHz, whereas the particular implementation discussed here gives a quasicontinuous distribution of modulation frequencies from dc to 320 MHz. To obtain this range of frequencies, acoustic standing waves are set up simultaneously in each modulator,.
COBRA Preprint Series Year Paper A Theory of Sufficient Cause Interactions

Sufficient-component causes are discussed within the potential outcome framework so as to formalize notions of sufficient causes, synergism and sufficient cause interactions. Doing so allows for the derivation of counterfactual conditions and statistical tests for detecting the presence of sufficient cause interactions. Under the assumption of monotonic effects, more powerful statistical tests for sufficient cause interactions can be derived. The statistical tests derived for sufficient cause interactions are compared with and contrasted to interaction terms in standard statistical models.
2 Endothelial Dysfunction in HIV

Vani Subbarao1, David Lowe2,3, Reza Aghamohammadzadeh4,5 and Robert J. Wilkinson2,3,6 1Madwaleni Hospital, Elliotdale, Eastern Cape 2Clinical Infectious Disease Research Initiative, Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town 3Wellcome Trust Centre for Research in Clinical Tropical Medicine, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London 4British Heart Foundation Clinical Research Fellow 5NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Centre Clinical Research Fellow 6Division of Mycobacterial Research, MRC National Institute for Medical Research, The Ridgeway, Mill Hill, London 1,2South Africa 3,4,5,6UK
Information and Knowledge Sharing: Involving Customers in Developing Services

Understanding customer needs is a critical success factor in development of products and services. In most enterprises there are several people interfacing with customers, throughout the organization in different units and functions. The result is that information on customer needs and requirements exists, but it remains scattered and unorganized. Another issue is that those who are interacting with customers are not necessarily involved with development of products and services. Here the challenge is to integrate information and knowledge from customer needs to the R&D process. Theoretically, there are mechanisms for sharing information and knowledge. Using different knowledge sharing mechanisms becomes especially important in large organizations which operate in multiple locations. These call for infrastructures, rules and procedures so that sharing of information would be possible. In this research, we study mechanisms that empower the sharing of knowledge and information on customer requirements, so that it could be effectively used in the R&D process Keywordsknowledge sharing, R&D, customer needs, customer requirements, absorptive capacity, development
Elasticity of alcohol consumption, alcohol-related harms, and drinking initiation in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Sornpaisarn, B. , Shield, K. Cohen, J., Schwartz, R. & Rehm, J. (2013). Elasticity of alcohol consumption, alcohol-related harms, and drinking initiation in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review and meta-analysis. International Journal of Alcohol and Drug Research, 2(1) , 45-58. doi: 10.7895/ijadr.v2i1. 50 ( http://dx.doi.org/10.7895/ijadr.v2i1.50 ) Aim: To systematically review research outlining the effects of price and taxation on alcohol consumption, alcohol-related harms, and drinking initiation in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). Design: The systematic review and meta-analyses were conducted according to internationally standardized protocols (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis; PRISMA). Data were collected up to June 2011 by searching the peer-reviewed article databases MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, and EconLit, along with the World Health Organization’s gray literature Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects, and by reference tracking. The meta-analyses were performed using random effects analysis, tests for publication bias, and sensitivity analyses. Measures: Any type of association between alcohol price and/or taxation and alcohol consumption, alcohol-related harms, and alcohol drinking initiation in LMIC. Findings: Our systematic search disclosed 12 studies that outlined an association between alcohol price or taxation and alcohol consumption in LMIC, while no articles were found that outlined a relationship between taxation and/or price and alcohol-related harms or drinking initiation in LMIC. The elasticity estimates were –0.64 (95% CI: –0.80 to –0.48) for total consumption of alcohol, –0.50 (95% CI: –0.78 to –0.21) for consumption of beer, and –0.79 (95% CI: –1.09 to –0.49) for consumption of other alcoholic beverages. Publication bias did not significantly affect the estimated elasticities. Conclusion: Price elasticity of demand for alcohol in LMIC is similar to that found in high-income countries. There is an imperative need for research on the association between alcohol price or taxation and alcohol-related harms and drinking initiation in LMIC.
Reconsidering the Generalized Logistic Map as a Pseudo Random Bit Generator

The purpose of the paper is to evidence the possibilities to use the generalized logistic map, known until now for its inability togenerate uniform pseudo random numbers, as a source for such numbers when certain restriction have been imposed. The cases whenthis is possible are shown and the results of the statistical tests applied for to the numbers are revealed. A good pseudo random bitgenerator must pass certain statistical tests to be a good candidate for cryptographic algorithms. There are three principles that are crucialfor such a task and we shall remind them in brief: the distribution of the numbers must be uniform; the number of ones and zeros must berelatively equal and the number of long sequences of ones and zeros must not exceed certain, well established, limits. Ill. 5, bibl. 8 (inEnglish; summaries in Lithuanian, English and Russian).
The effect of exogenous leptin on pancreatic enzyme secretion in anaesthetized rats

The influence of leptin on the secretion of pancreatic juice was examined in biliary-pancreatic duct-cannulated anaesthetised rats. Exogenous leptin was given in boluses either intravenously or intraduodenally. A low dose of leptin (0.1 μg/kg BW) had no effect on pancreatic secretion. Leptin in a dose of 1 μg/kg BW given intravenously inhibited protein and amylase output only when the exocrine pancreas was stimulated by CCK-8 (12 pmol/kg BW, iv). Leptin in a high, pharmacological dose (10 μg/kg BW) given intravenously inhibited juice secretion, protein and amylase output, whereas given intraduodenally, stimulated them. Intravenous infusion of 2-deoxy-glucose (0.25 g/kg BW per h) induced pancreatic juice secretion, which was abolished by a leptin bolus (10 μg/kg BW). In conclusion, leptin can regulate the exocrine pancreas via different mechanisms.
Simulation and Evaluation of CTP and Secure-CTP Protocols

The paper discusses characteristics and qualities of two routing protocols - Collection Tree Protocol and its secure modification. The original protocol, as well as other protocols for wireless sensors, solves only problems of ra- dio communication and limited resources. Our design of the secure protocol tries to solve also the essential security ob- jectives. For the evaluation of properties of our protocol in large networks, a TOSSIM simulator was used. Our effort was to show the influence of the modification of the routing protocol to its behavior and quality of routing trees. We have proved that adding security into protocol design does not necessarily mean higher demands for data transfer, power consumption or worse protocol efficiency. In the paper, we manifest that security in the protocol may be achieved with low cost and may offer similar performance as the original protocol.
Impact of Drip Irrigation Scheduling on Vegetative Parameters in Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) Under Unheated Greenhouse

Grafted Tomatoes were grown on a fine sandy soil using drip irrigation and plastic mulch to evaluate the effects of irrigation scheduling on water requirements and vegetative parameters under typical Massa greenhouses growing conditions. Capacitive sensors were used to automatically schedule irrigations. The result of this study shows that irrigation dose and frequency does not affect stem diameter in grafted tomato plant, no significant effect on leaves number has been observed. But irrigation scheduling have a large effect on root's development, The root containers results indicated that a water stress equivalent to 50%ETc and 20% frequency can lead to deep root system; that makes possible to sustain a suitable vegetative canopy if doses and frequencies are well managed in a daily scale; It was possible save 50% of irrigation water.
Effect of Groundnut (Arachis Hypogaea L.) Intercropping with Different Crops

Intercropping is growing of two or more crops simultaneously in the same land and popular in rain-fed agriculture, with limited resources, because one crop can exploit a resource that the other is not exploiting fully. Cereal-legume mixture is the common form of intercropping practiced by most small scale farmers in the tropics and subtropics. This method conserves soil water by means of reduction of the evaporation losses and increases the organic matter in the soil, which in turn improves soil structure, infiltration and water retention and helps prevent soil erosion. Groundnut fixes atmospheric nitrogen with the help of Rhizobium in the root nodules which helps to partially fulfill the crops nitrogen requirement. Crop combinations having shade tolerant legumes with non-climbing habit such as groundnut, cowpeas, soyabean or phaseolus beans, with maize, Sorghum, millet, cotton or castor beans have given greater overall yield from intercropping compared to sole cropping. Intercropping system helps for greater stability of yield, improve soil fertility, enhance ground cover thereby reducing weed competition, suppressing soil erosion and providing N for use by subsequent crops. Evidence showed that the nitrogen contribution of Groundnut on the growth of Maize in intercropping system is equivalent to an application of 96 kg N-fertilizer per hectare at a ratio of plant population densities of 1:4 Maize to Groundnut plants. Keywords : Intercropping, Intensification, Nitrogen and resource
Effects of TiO2 NPs Coating-Titanium for Fibroblast Adhesion

El objetivo fue determinar los efectos del recubrimiento con nanoparticulas de dioxido de titanio (TiO2 NPs) e irradiacion UV sobre placas de titanio (Ti) para la adhesion y proliferacion de fibroblastos gingivales humanos (FGH). Un total de 15 placas de Ti se dividieron en tres grupos (n= 5); (i) control Ti, (ii) experimental Ti+NPs TiO2, (iii) experimental: Ti+NPs TiO2+UV. Las placas fueron analizadas en microscopia de fuerza atomica (MFA) y se determino la rugosidad (Ra y Rmax). La irradiacion con UV se realizo durante 20 min. FGH fueron subcultivados en DMEM+10 % de suero fetal bovino a 37 °C con 5 % de CO2. 2x106 celulas/mL fueron inoculadas sobre las placas e incubadas durante 1 h, se lavaron con solucion salina de buffer fosfato. En el caso de la proliferacion celular, las celulas se incubaron por 24 h mas. La viabilidad celular se determino con el metodo de MTT, el formazan fue disuelto con dimetilsulfoxido y se analizo a 540 nm. Los experimentos se realizaron a partir de tres experimentos independientes y los datos se analizaron por Kruskall-Wallis y por comparacion multiple de Mann-Whitney. La topografia de la superficie de las muestras correspondio de la siguiente manera: Ti (Ra= 0,492 µm y Rms= 0,640 µm), Ti+NPs TiO2, (Ra= 0,55 µm y Rms= 0,714 µm), respectivamente. El recubrimiento con NPs TiO2 aumento significativamente la adhesion y proliferacion de HGF en comparacion con el grupo de Ti control (p <0,05). La modificacion de la superficie de las placas de Ti recubiertas con NPs TiO2 aumento significativamente la adhesion y proliferacion de HGF con la formacion de una superficie hidrofila que favorece la humectancia. Este tratamiento aqui informado tal vez sea un metodo conveniente para acelerar el proceso de la osteointegracion de los implantes dentales a base de titanio.
Network calculations for cosmochronometric studies

The determinations of the age of the oldest objects in the universe, giving a lower limit of the age of the universe itself, are of great interest in astrophysics and cosmology. With the detection of the long-lived isotopes of thorium and uranium in a single star, their application as cosmochronometers has become possible. With network calculations, the production of Th and U can be studied for different input of the underlying mass model and the astrophysical environment. A comparison with the abundance pattern of very metal-poor stars can serve as a reference to check the validity of the assumptions and to better understand their influences on the final outcomes of the calculations. Once the initial amount of thorium and uranium are known, age estimations of stellar objects can be accomplished. Network calculations were performed that allow flexibly changing and studying the astrophysical environment in a parametric way, as well as the underlying nuclear physics input in terms of the final abundance pattern. The network used here includes more than 7000 nuclei, reaching far outside in the neutron rich area. The most relevant fission processes were implicitly taken into account. For all three massmodels a good agreement between the final abundance pattern and the abundance distribution for six metal poor stars is demonstrated. Network calculations are thus an appropriate tool to study and analyze the production of the cosmochronometers Th and U, which can be used for age-determinations for stars. A more detailed study of their production paths is necessary to reduce uncertainties with respect to the underlying massmodel and astrophysical environment.
Development of an Internet of Things Based Electrochemical Microfluidic System for Free Calcium Detection

This paper represents the design, fabrication, and implementation of an Internet of Things (IoT)-based electrochemical microfluidic system for free calcium concentration detection with a 3D printing technique. Free calcium solutions with desired concentrations between 0 and 40 µM can be obtained. The solutions were used to calibrate the system by using an impedance analyzer for monitoring the impedance change to determine the operating frequency. Continuously, an IoT enabled point of care device was used for real-time detection and to send signals to the cloud for sharing. The relationship between the concentration and reactance are y = − 1.3812 Lgx + 0.9809 at a wavelength of 450 Hz, with an R2 of 0.9719. We measured the calcium concentration changing from 39.8 µM to 1.35 µM (nearly real-time) by the PoC device and showed the concentration changes resulting with time on the cell phone app. The results depicted in this paper provide a strong platform for the precise and real-time monitoring of different biomedical samples.
Development of a Low-Material TPC Endplate for ILD

An ILD TPC design must satisfy competing demands for unprecedented particle-flow and tracking performance. Endplate material is limited to 25% radiation length, including detectors, electronics and cooling, while the readout elements must be positioned and stable to an accuracy of 50μm. The ILD TPC endplate presented here involves Computer-Aided-Design modeling and Finite-Element-Analysis (FEA) of structures at three levels of scale: the ILD TPC endplate, a low-material replacement endplate for the “LC-TPC large prototype”, and small test structures. A constructed replacement LCTPC large prototype endplate and small test structures have been used to validate the FEA.
The Novelty of ‘Cybercrime’

Recent discussions of ‘cybercrime’ focus upon the apparent novelty or otherwise of the phenomenon. Some authors claim that such crime is not qualitatively different from ‘terrestrial crime’, and can be analysed and explained using established theories of crime causation. One such approach, oft cited, is the ‘routine activity theory’ developed by Marcus Felson and others. This article explores the extent to which the theory’s concepts and aetiological schema can be transposed to crimes committed in a ‘virtual’ environment. Substantively, the examination concludes that, although some of the theory’s core concepts can indeed be applied to cybercrime, there remain important differences between ‘virtual’ and ‘terrestrial’ worlds that limit the theory’s usefulness. These differences, it is claimed, give qualified support to the suggestion that ‘cybercrime’ does indeed represent the emergence of a new and distinctive form of crime.
TOP-DOWN CONTROL OF SMALL HERBIVORES ON SALT-MARSH VEGETATION ALONG A PRODUCTIVITY GRADIENT

Exploitation theory predicts strongest plant-herbivore interactions at sites of intermediate productivity. Recent studies illustrate the importance of top-down effects by small to intermediate-sized herbivores in structuring salt-marsh communities. How long- term effects of herbivory are modified by productivity of the system is a largely unexplored area. We studied how herbivory by geese and hares affected plant species replacement by erecting exclosures along a natural productivity gradient in a temperate salt-marsh system. After seven years, the largest shifts in species composition were observed when both hares and geese were excluded from plots. Only excluding geese did not have a large impact on species replacement, indicating that geese alone did not control the vegetation. Herbivory slowed down succession by retarding the establishment and spread of late-successional species on the low salt marsh. Effects of herbivory were less clear on the high marsh. Vegetation change after excluding herbivores was most pronounced in the most unproduc- tive regions of the salt marsh. As a result, different successional trajectories emerged when herbivores were absent or present at the onset of salt-marsh succession. At sites of inter- mediate productivity, where grazing pressure was highest, no effect of herbivory on species composition was found. We hypothesize that the high dominance of grazing tolerant species at these sites retarded the invasion of late-successional species. The intensity of herbivory did not accurately predict the importance of herbivory in structuring plant communities. To understand herbivore effects along productivity gradients, the selectivity patterns of the herbivores and the bottom-up effects of plants on these interactions need to be considered.
SPECTRAL CHARACTERISTICS AND CLASSIFICATION OF URBAN LAND-COVER BASED ON AIRBORN HYPERSPECTRAL DATA

Hyperspectral remote sensing makes it possible to obtain detailed spectral information of surface objects. Using airborne hyperspectral (HS) data acquired over Houston, Texas, USA, provided by the 2013 IEEE data fusion contest, the spectral reflectance characteristics of surface materials were investigated. A multispectral (MS) image acquired by WorldView-2 satellite was also introduced and it was compared with the HS image. A field measurement using a handheld spectroradiometer (EKO MS-720) was also carried out by the present authors. The irradiances of surface materials obtained by the measurement were also compared with the digital numbers of the 144 HS bands. Finally supervised classification was conducted for the HS and MS data and their results were discussed.
Carcass Physical Features of Malagasy Chicken: Indigenous Race and Starbro Strain

This study aims to compare anatomies of Madagascar chickens (indigenous race and Starbro strain). With 8,262 individuals of either indigenous races or Starbro strain chickens raised in a suburban environment, the weights of different pieces of cut as well as the live weights before slaughter were determined. Results showed that breast development presents a positive linear relationship with thigh development for Starbro strain chickens (fast growing broiler) while the relationship between the two traits is negative for the indigenous races (slow growing chicken). Giblet proportions are similar between these two types of chicken. We found that slaughtering at 1,750g live weight (age 120 to 185 days) is profitable for indigenous race chickens (meat yield = 40.16%, breast yield = 18.10%, thigh yield = 20.15% and abdominal fat yield = 1.90%). For the Starbro strain, ideal weight at slaughter is 1,300-1,450 g, corresponding to 49 to 61 days of age (meat yield = 39.63%, breast yield = 17.85%, thigh yield = 20.27% and abdominal fat yield = 1.51%). The physical features of the cuts are similar between indigenous races and Starbro strain chickens.