Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
New Institutionalist Schools and a Deliberative Alternative : How Do Institutions Maintain and Break Structured Inequalities?

In the field of political science, new institutionalism has been widely recognized as a key theoretical insight for explaining preference formation, actors’ strategic action, and political outcomes. The institutionalist approach has often been divided into sub-disciplines such as rational-choice institutionalism, historical institutionalism, and sociological institutionalism. This paper presents how these three approaches differ and what each school of thought implies for the maintenance or disruption of the social status quo, such as structured social disparities.
Stepped Cylindrical Antenna with a Higher-Order Mode Ring Patch for Wideband Conical Radiation Pattern

A stepped cylindrical antenna with a higher-order mode ring patch for wideband conical radiation pattern is proposed. To accomplish a low profile with wideband conical radiation characteristics, a stepped cylindrical monopole and a TM41 higher-order mode ring patch with four shorting pins are utilized. The proposed antenna has a monopole-like radiation pattern with a wide 10-dB return loss bandwidth of 11 GHz (2 GHz–13 GHz). It can cover various wireless services, such as wireless broadband (WiBro; 2.3 GHz–2.39 GHz), wireless local area networks (WLAN; 2.4 GHz–2.484 GHz, 5.15 GHz–5.35 GHz, and 5.725 GHz–5.875 GHz), digital multimedia broadcasting (DMB; 2.63 GHz–2.655 GHz), and ultra wideband (UWB; 3.1 GHz–10.6 GHz). The antenna has a height of only 0. 12λ0 at 2 GHz.
THE FAST DIFFUSION EQUATION WITH INTEGRABLE DATA WITH RESPECT TO THE DISTANCE TO THE BOUNDARY

In this paper, we study the existence and regularity of very weak solutions to the fast diffusion equations with integrable data with respect to the distance to the boundary. 1. Introduction and statement of the main results This paper deals with the following problem (P)    @u @t − �(|u| m−1 u) = f in Q, u = 0 on �, u(x,0) = u0 in , where is a bounded open subset of R N (N ≥ 2) with smooth boundary @ and T > 0,Q = ×(0,T), � denotes the lateral surface ofQ, f ∈ L 1 (Q,�),u0 ∈ L 1 (,�), �(x) = distance(x,@), 1 − 2 N+1 < m < 1.
Cardiac Progenitor Cells and their Therapeutic Application for Cardiac Repair

Heart disease is the principal cause of death in humans. Stem cell-based therapy for heart regeneration has long been seen as a potential application since the heart lacks adequate intrinsic regenerative potential. In the cardiovascular field, clinical trials have already been carried out by implantation of both bone marrow-derived stem cells and cardiac resident progenitor cells derived from the adult heart tissue into the injured myocardium to restore the functionality of the heart after damage. However, before a robust stem and progenitor cell-based therapy for cardiovascular diseases can be applied in the clinical setting, more research is necessary to generate sufficient quantities of functional cardiomyocytes from stem cells and to understand behavior of cardiomyocytes upon transplantation. A comprehensive understanding of the developmental processes involved in cardiogenesis might support further investigations in more efficient cell-based regeneration therapies. This review discusses the molecular aspects of cardiogenesis during early development and links the insights with the in vitro generation of cardiac progenitor cells as well as functional cardiomyocytes. Furthermore, we discuss the advantages of cardiac progenitor cells and cardiomyocytes derived from pluripotent stem cells, cardiac resident stem cells in regenerative applications to cope with the damaged heart.
Numerical investigation of the steady viscous flow past a stationary deformable bubble

A method for solving the Navier–Stokes equations in domains with moving boundaries is proposed. By means of a coordinate transformation, the region under consideration is converted to a region with known boundaries which are coordinate surfaces. An appropriate difference scheme with an algorithm for its implementation is constructed. The method is applied to the case of steady incompressible viscous flow past a resting deformable bubble. Results are obtained for wide ranges for Reynolds and Weber numbers and compared with other theoretical or experimental works in the common regions for the governing parameters. A separation of the flow and the occurrence of a toroidal vortex in the rear of the bubble is observed and verified through a number of computations. Typical flow patterns as well as a variety of practically important relations between the parameters of the flow are shown graphically.
Kitenergy: a radical innovation in wind energy generation

This paper presents an innovative technology of high-altitude wind power generation, indicated as Kitenergy, which exploits the automatic flight of tethered airfoils (e.g. power kites) to extract energy from wind blowing between 200 and 800 meters above the ground. The key points of such a technology are described and the design of large scale plants is investigated here, in order to show that Kitenergy technology has the potential to provide large quantities of renewable energy with competitive cost with respect to fossil sources. Such claims are supported by the results obtained so far in the research activities undergoing at Politecnico di Torino, Italy, including numerical simulations, prototype experiments and wind data analyses.
Diferenciação de genótipos de trigo quanto à tolerância à deficiência de fósforo, em solução hidropônica

Phosphorus (P) is one of the most critical elements for agriculture, not only by the high P requirement for adequate crop growth and development, but also by the gradual scarcity of its natural sources. The differentiation among genotypes is required for further mechanism investigation, and to combine different mechanisms at the same individual which might allow superior tolerance. This work aimed to differentiate, in hydroponic solution, wheat genotypes with contrasting P deficiency tolerance. Three studies were carried out. In the first one, the effect of endosperm removal on wheat seedling P response was evaluated. In the second one, seedlings from two wheat cultivars contrasting in the response to P starvation, Anahuac (sensitive) and Toropi (tolerant) were evaluated at different P availabilities. In the third study, five recombinant inbred lines were evaluated in hydroponic solution. The wheat endosperm contains enough P to mask the seedling P response. The endosperm removal allows evaluation of P tolerance in 10 days-old seedlings. The ratios between shoot free phosphate (Pi) concentration at 10 and 1.000 µmol L-1 P doses can identify the tolerant genotypes. Tolerant genotypes have a ratio around 1.0 and sensitive ones have around 0.5 ratio. The total amount of Pi in the shoot or in the whole plant can also be used. Toropi and the inbred lines NYW 865-016, NYW 865-081 and NYW 865-086 are more tolerant than Anahuac and the inbred lines NYW 865-034 e NYW 865-073. Toropi tolerance, at the conditions used in this work, is not due to root system volume but might be related to P transport and P internal use.
The Frequency of Mycoplasma Hominis, Mycoplasma Genitalium and Ureaplasma Urealyticum in Women with Cervicitis

Background and Objective : Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are common infectious diseases in communities. Mycoplasma hominis , Mycoplasma genitalium , and Ureaplasmaurealyticum are the smallest bacteria without cell walls and cancausevarious STDs. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of these bacterial infections in women with cervicitis in Kermanshah. Methods: Two hundred and thirty-five married women with cervicitis were included, cervical samples were collected using Dacron swabs, and demographic and other relevant data of the women were recorded. Bacterial DNAwasextractedfor Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) analysis with specific primers for the detection of M. hominis , M. Genitalium and U.urealyticum . Results: Of the 235womenwith an averageageof32.5 years, 82 (34.9%) were infected, and 12 (5.1%), 14(6%) and 61(26%)had M.hominis , M. genitalium, and U.urealyticum infection,respectively. Two hundred and twenty-one patients (94%) had clinicalsymptoms and vaginal discharge was the most common symptom among women with cervicitis. Conclusion: The overall prevalence rate of mycoplasma infection in Kermanshah is similar to that in other parts of the world. The frequency of infection by this bacterium is higher among age groups with more sexual activity. The use of condom reduces mycoplasma infections, indicating the significant role that men play in the transmission of these bacteria. Mycoplasma infection needs to be considered and assessed among women with cervicitis. Keywords : Mycopla smahominis , Mycoplasma
Sovereign Debt and Sovereign Credit Rating: Literature Review

The aim of this study is to summarise the recent literature related to sovereign debt credit rating and the Credit Rating Agencies (CRA). The ratings provided by the RAs address default risk of a sovereign borrower. These ratings are used to assess the ability of sovereigns in meeting their financial obligations. Simply put, these ratings are the RAs opinions about the sovereigns’ financial strength or lack of strength. Moreover, the RA activities may lead to lower degrees of information asymmetry in financial markets being judged by the amount of sovereign information they often provide and disclose to the investors.
The Economic Returns of Network Resources to the Urban Informal Economy: Evidence from Street Vendors in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

It is widely recognized that social capital constitutes an important form of social regulation in informal sector and it is the major component of the asset portfolios of the urban poor. Nevertheless, the potential contribution of social capital in the informal sector remains under-investigated in African cities. Applying the network approach, this study examined the economic returns of social capital to microenterprises in the informal sector. To do so, the personal networks of street vendors in Addis Ababa were examined. Multi-stage sampling procedures involving purposive and systematic random-walk techniques were applied to draw samples. Data were collected through position generator surveys. The data were analyzed using OLS and Instrumental Variable Estimators. By controlling the potential endogeneity, the estimation results revealed that network resources are positive and significant predictors of enterprise profit. But their benefit is less for married vendors than unmarried ones. The human capital measures such as education, vocational training, and business experience are not significant predictors of enterprise profit. Key Words: Social Capital, Social Networks, Informal Sector, Ethiopia, Addis Ababa
Bright Prospects for Arctic Sea Ice Prediction on Subseasonal Time Scales

With retreating sea ice and increasing human activities in the Arctic come a growing need for reliable sea ice forecasts up to months ahead. We exploit the subseasonal‐to‐seasonal prediction database and provide the first thorough assessment of the skill of operational forecast systems in predicting the location of the Arctic sea ice edge on these time scales. We find large differences in skill between the systems, with some showing a lack of predictive skill even at short weather time scales and the best producing skillful forecasts more than 1.5 months ahead. This highlights that the area of subseasonal prediction in the Arctic is in an early stage but also that the prospects are bright, especially for late summer forecasts. To fully exploit this potential, it is argued that it will be imperative to reduce systematic model errors and develop advanced data assimilation capacity.
Proton tolerance of multiple-threshold voltage and multiple-breakdown voltage CMOS device design points in a 0.18 /spl mu/m system-on-a-chip CMOS technology

The paper presents the results of an investigation of the proton tolerance of the multiple-threshold voltage and multiple-breakdown voltage device design points contained in a 0.18 /spl mu/m system-on-a-chip CMOS technology. The radiation response of the CMOS devices having three different device design configurations are characterized and compared for equivalent gamma doses up to 300 krad(Si), using the threshold voltage, off-state leakage, and effective mobility to assess the dc performance. All three CMOS device configurations show a very slight degradation of threshold voltage and effective mobility with increasing dose. We also present for the first time the frequency response and S-parameters of these RF CMOS devices under proton radiation. The S-parameters and cut-off frequency show little degradation up to 300 krad(Si) total dose. These results suggest that the CMOS devices in this 0.18 /spl mu/m SoC CMOS technology are well-suited for RF circuit applications in an ionizing radiation environment without intentional total-dose hardening.
The Role of Large Players in a Dynamic Currency Attack Game

We establish a dynamic currency attack model in the presence of a large player (LP) based on Abreu and Brunnermeier (2003), which differs from most existing one-period static currency attack models. In an attack on a fixed exchange rate regime with a gradually overvaluing currency, both the inability of speculators to synchronize their attack and their incentive to time the collapse of the regime lead to the persistent overvaluation of the currency. We find that the presence of an LP, who is defined as a speculator with more wealth and superior information, can accelerate or delay the collapse of the regime, depending on his incentives to preempt other speculators or to "ride the overvaluation". When an LP's incentive to preempt other speculators is dominant, the presence of an LP will accelerate the collapse of the regime. However, when an LP's incentive to "ride the overvaluation" is dominant, the presence of an LP will delay the collapse of the regime. The latter case provides valuable insights into the role that LP's play in currency attacks: It differs from the usual perception that the presence of LPs will facilitate arbitrage in an asset market and alleviate asset mispricing due to their capability and willingness to arbitrage.
Adolescents with Sleep Disturbance: Causes and Diagnosis

In our previous study, circadian rhythm sleep disorders have been reported in pediatric and adolescent populations (Tomoda, Miike, Uezono, & Kawasaki, 1994). Pediatric practitioners now commonly encounter sleep disturbance in previously healthy children and adolescents (Boergers, Hart, Owens, Streisand, & Spirito, 2007; Giannotti, Cortesi, Sebastiani, & Ottaviano, 2002; Stein, Mendelsohn, Obermeyer, Amromin, & Benca, 2001). The characteristic clinical features are well known, but the specific causes remain unknown. New types of circadian rhythm sleep disorders, such as familial advanced sleep phase syndrome (ASPS) and delayed sleep phase syndrome (DSPS), non-24-h sleep-wake syndrome (non-24), and morningnesseveningness have been described during the last decade. Such disorders are probably caused by various disturbances of circadian expression of the clock gene (Archer et al., 2003; Ebisawa et al., 2001; Iwase et al., 2002; Pirovano et al., 2005; Takimoto et al., 2005; Toh et al., 2001; Wijnen, Boothroyd, Young, & Claridge-Chang, 2002). Polymorphisms in clock genes are known to induce circadian rhythm sleep disorders. For example, mutations in the period2 (Per2) gene (S662G) or casein kinase1 d (CK16) gene (T44A) cause familial ASPS; furthermore, missense polymorphisms in the Per3 (V647G) and CK1e (S408N) genes increase or decrease the risk of developing DSPS. In our clinical practices, we recognized that the majority of our patients have a circadian rhythm disorder even though they usually do not mention or recognize this problem at the first interview. We hypothesized that there could be certain relationship between biological rhythm disorders in these patients and their indefinite symptoms as well as their sleep disturbances. This chapter introduces sleep patterns, circadian rhythms of core body temperature (CBT), glucose metabolism, and human clock gene profile in children and adolescents with sleep disturbance.
Tracking and predicting cognitive development using magnetic resonance imaging

Neuroimaging of the developing brain has helped describing and quantifying many of the biological processes underlying cognitive development. The protracted development of higher order cognitive functions has allowed detailed description of their neural correlates. While primary sensory and motor functions have been found to be relatively localized, higher order cognitive functions includingWorkingMemory (WM) have been found to be distributed over many brain regions. A growing amount of literature is describing a complex interaction of anatomically separate nodes making up networks sub-serving WM. The development of these networks is dependent on both predetermined maturation and environmental stimulation. The current thesis aims to expand the current knowledge by exploring if WM development can be predicted by using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) data explaining future development rather than correlating to current capacity. We further apply this principle on a sample of premature born children to predict future cognitive outcome using MRI at birth. Finally we address the question if individual variability in developmental timing affects cognitive abilities in childhood and adolescence. Study I: In this study we show that WM development to some degree can be predicted using structural and functional MRI. The prediction was based on a multivariate model of MRI data and could significantly predict WM two years after the scans. This significance was retained after controlling for three concurrent WM tests. Analysis to localize the predictive effect of MRI suggests basal ganglia and thalamic structures as important for future development while classical cortical WM areas correlate to concurrent WM capacity. Study II:We apply a similar analysis strategy as in Study I on a longitudinal sample of preterm born children. T2 and Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) sequences were collected in
Connected Crawler Robot - Design and Motion Planning for Climbing a Step

The application fields of autonomous mobile robots recently extend from indoor uses to outdoor uses. Rescue systems and planetary explorations are typical examples for such outdoor mobile robots. In such field, it is required to have both of rapid movement and adaptive function to rough terrain, while general wheel mechanisms are not suitable for such rough environment. To move in such environments, the robots need to be flexible to various environment. There are many researches concerning rough terrain mobile robots for rescue and planetary exploration. In such field, the robots require high mobile ability on rough terrain. When we design such kinds of robot, It become very important to choose the mechanism as a mobile platform. Several types of mechanisms have been proposed as a mobile platform: Crawler type, wheel type, leg type, and their combinations. Wheel type mechanism is the simplest mechanism and can be controlled easily, but in terms of moving on rough terrains, its performance is obviously inferior to the other two mechanisms. If we adopt wheel type and try to get enough mobility on slight obstacles, we have to utilize pretty large wheels. The leg mechanism is able to adapt various kind of environment, but, its weak points are low energy efficiency and complicated mechanism and control, that imply high cost and product liability problems. Those might be high barrier to develop them as a consumer product. The crawler mechanism shows the high mobile ability on various terrains; moreover it is simple mechanism and easy to control. Therefore a lot of rough terrain mobile robots adopt a crawler mechanism. However conventional single track mechanism has also mobility limitations; the limitation is determined by attacking angle, radius of sprockets, and length of crawler. In order to improve its mobility, it is required to adjust the attack angle against the obstacles, enlarge the radius of its sprockets, and lengthen its crawler tracks. And the mobility on the area like the stairs is inferior to that of the leg (S. Hirose, 2000). Therefore, a lot of researches have been done to supplement these weak points. The main theme common to those researches is to improve the mobility performance on rough terrain. Generally, the method which O pe n A cc es s D at ab as e w w w . ite ch on lin e. co m
The Price Stabilization Effects of the EU Entry Price Scheme for Fruit and Vegetables

The paper assesses the stabilization effects of the EU import regime for fresh fruit and vegetables based on the entry price system. The analysis is carried out on the EU prices of tomatoes and lemons and those of imports from some of the main competing countries on the EU domestic markets: Morocco, Argentina and Turkey. It is based on the estimation of a threshold vector autoregressive econometric model that is shown capable of taking the workings of the import regime into account. The model shows that prices behave differently when import prices are above/below the trigger entry price. This paper allowed to highlight the cases for which the isolation effect of EPS seems reached and the resulting stabilization effects.
Institutions and Development Processes: the Role of Strategic Complementarities. A Review of main Literature

This survey is an overview on the literature that investigates the relationship between the institutions and development processes. The attention it has been focus, in sequence, on the ways in which it has been performed the empirical and the theoretical analysis of the relationship between the economic development and the role of institutions. As it is clear the first difficulty is the definition of what an institution is, so the survey gives dig relevance to the different manners to conceptualize the notion of institution. Another difficulty arises from the perplexity about how the efficiency of the institutions can be evaluated. This problem is related to the necessity to close off in the right way the weight and the influence of the institutions respect to the other variables on the economic development. The analysis of the complementarities involved in the development processes, can be a useful way to explain some kinds of relationship between institutions and development processes especially in the short run. The use of more elaborated indices to measure the in�uence of institutions in the economic system and of the coentegration models can improve the reliability of the empirical analysis. In the same manner the supermodularity and the supermodular games can efficiently explain the mechanism of the strategic complementarity between di¤erent kinds of institution generating virtuous development processes from a theoretical point of view. Necessarily, in the future, both the analysis must be integrated but, for the time being, the state of art in the two approaches represent a very good starting point for new outcomes related to the investigation on these type of kind of economic phenomena.