Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The EUSO program to study UHECR from space: status and perspectives.

The study of Ultra High Energy Cosmic Rays (UHECRs) offers unique possibilities to probe the energies currently inaccessible by man-made accelerators. The last years have shed light on several characteristics of these particles, but - due to their extremely low flux - their origin, nature and acceleration mechanisms are still unclear. Space-based observations have a potential for a large increase in statistics and capability to cover the whole sky, allowing for a direct comparison of spectra and direction of arrival from different regions and sources. Even a relatively small detector, with the exposure of a few times that of Auger, would be able to clarify the differences between the Northern and Southern sky, confirm the existence of TA hot spot, and measure multipolar anisotropies with high precision. To achieve this goal within the constraints of power, mass, size and bandwidth of space detectors, a number of novel technologies -- from optics to sensors, front-end and read-out electronics -- have been developed over the years. Several scaled versions of a large area space-borne telescope have been built: in August 2014 a balloon flight (EUSO-BALLOON) was successfully launched from Timmins (CA); since February 2015 a ground based detector (EUSO-TA) has been operating at the Telescope Array site in Utah. In 2017 a Super Pressure Balloon (EUSO-SPB) flew from Wanaka, New Zealand. In parallel, a series of missions have been realized by the Moscow State University to study the UV background and transient phenomena from night-time Earth: the Tatiana-1 and -2, Vernon, and TUS satellite-borne detectors. The next steps of the JEM-EUSO program include: a) MINI-EUSO -- a detector to be placed inside the International Space Station (2017); b) A second SPB flght, c) K-EUSO -- the first reflector based mission to perform UHECR science from space, paving the way to d) POEMMA, a Multi-Messenger devoted mission. In this work we discuss the current status of research and plans of the JEM-EUSO program.
Corporate governance, concentration, and economic growth in the GCC banking sector

The aim of this paper is to study the growth and corporate governance implications of market concentration in the GCC banking sector. It will begin by defining corporate governance, its significance in the context of banks, and how it can be improved by more competition or less concentration in the banking market. It will then discuss the importance of corporate governance to “better functioning and well-behaved” financial systems, and how both can favorably affect growth. A discussion of the GCC economies and banking system will follow, with an emphasis on market concentration in the banking system. To document empirically the effect of banking market concentration on growth, we estimate a growth model to capture this effect, and find that the effect is positive but conditioned by the level of financial development. The paper conclude by stating that policies aimed at opening the GCC banking market, and creating less concentration in the process, will have a positive effect on growth when the financial system is relatively more developed.
Hemodynamic abnormalities in a carotid bifurcation based on Doppler ultrasound imaging

Carotid Doppler ultrasound and imaging, are focused on the visualization and measurement of blood flow, providing critical diagnostic information noninvasively about fluid dynamics and abnormalities. Ultrasound imaging is a complicated interplay between physical principles and signal processing methods. In this work, the development of a new algorithm for lumen identification and segmentation in ultrasound images is reported. In longitudinal images, a fully automatic technique based on row-wise pixel intensity distribution alleviates the laborious and time-consuming manual evaluation of the lumen. Then a region growing methodology is applied ensuring convergence from lumen identification to lumen boundary. However, for carotid transversal images, a semi-automatic methodology must be adopted due to image specification. Computational fluid dynamics is a powerful tool to investigate the hemodynamic behavior in the carotid bifurcation. A patient-specific analysis is presented. Carotid artery bifurcation reconstructions based on a combining set of longitudinal and transversal ultrasound images were considered as input geometry for three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics. Inlet pulsatile velocity obtained from Doppler ultrasound measurements is considered. Computation based on assumptions such as incompressible and Newtonian fluid, rigid vascular wall and non-slip condition at wall suggests a complicated hemodynamic behavior. Vessel wall shear stress parameters were derived from the simulated velocities on the complex three-dimensional geometry revealing hemodynamic abnormalities consistent with sites of local development and progression of atherosclerotic disease.
BCL 2 L 15 ( BCL 2-like 15 )

The BCl2L15 gene has a total length of 10734 nt and consists of 4 exons and 3 intervening introns (Coul tas et al., 2003). The organization of the BCL2L15 gene , with the BH3 domain located on a single exon (exon 2) and the BH2 domain split between two exons (exons 3 and 4), is similar to that of other BCL2 family members, including BCL2, BCL2L1 (BCLX), BAX, and BAK1 (BAK) (Petros et al., 2004).
A cross-national comparative study between Australia and Singapore: attitudes towards television advertising

This paper aims to compare the attitudes of consumers in Australia and Singapore towards TV advertising through the replication of a study by Witkowski and Kellner (1998) conducted in Germany and America. Specifically, it investigates the possible converging or diverging television attitudes between Australia and Singapore. Further, it expands the previous study by studying the frequency of switching channels during advertising breaks. Data were collected from 192 Australian and 197 Singaporean respondents and were analysed. Some implications for marketers and advertisers are also discussed. Introduction Previous studies have shown that commercials that do not cause a great deal of arousal in the viewer actually produce more favourable opinions (Leone & D’Arienzo 2001). Other factors such as the length of a commercial break and the commercial’s positioning during the commercial break also affects consumers’ reaction towards the advertisement. It is found that a 10% increase in advertisement awareness was recorded during shorter commercial breaks and an 18% increase when the advertisements were positioned towards the end of a commercial break (2004). Due to the immensity of advertising clutter,
Fermentation of Arabinoxylan-Oligosaccharides, Oligofructose and their Monomeric Sugars by Hindgut Bacteria from Siberian Sturgeon and African Catfish in Batch Culture in vitro

The in vitro fermentation of two Non-Digestible Oligosaccharide (NDO) preparations, Arabinoxylan- Oligosaccharides (AXOS) and Oligofructose (OF), and their respective monomeric sugars, xylose and fructose, were investigated by hindgut microbiota of two major aquaculture fish species, Siberian sturgeon (Acipenser baerii) and African catfish (Clarias gariepinus). Inocula from the hindgut of both fish species were incubated for 48 h in bottles containing 1.0% of one of four substrates, i.e. AXOS, OF, xylose or fructose. Amounts and profiles of produced Short-Chain Fatty Acids (SCFAs) differed between the two fish species and substrates. The hindgut microbiota of Siberian sturgeon has a higher fermentation capacity than the microbiota from African catfish. Xylose was much easier fermented than AXOS by microbiota from Siberian sturgeon whereas OF was quicker fermented than fructose with African catfish inoculum. The SCFAs were dominated by acetic acid for both fish species and for all substrates. Fermentation of OF and fructose by hindgut microbiota of Siberian sturgeon also yielded high amounts of butyric and branched-chain fatty acids after 48 h incubation. Results of this study suggest that AXOS, OF, and their monomeric sugars have an impact on microbial fermentation activity of hindgut microbiota from Siberian sturgeon and African catfish in a substrate and species dependent manner.
Correlation and clusterisation of traditional Malay musical instrument sound using the I-KAZTM statistical signal analysis

The best feature scheme is vital in musical instrument sound clustering and classification, as it is an input and feed towards the pattern recognition technique. This paper studies the relationship of every traditional Malay musical instrument acoustic sounds by implementing a correlation and clustering method through the selected features. Two types of musical instruments are proposed, namely flutes involving key C and key G classes and caklempong consisting of gereteh and saua. Each of them is represented with a set of music notes. The acoustic music recording process is conducted using a developed design experiment that consists of a microphone, power module and data acquisition system. An alternative statistical analysis method, namely the Integrated Kurtosis-based Algorithm for Z-notch Filter (I-kaz), denoted by the I-kaz coefficient, Z, has been applied and the standard deviation is calculated from the recorded music notes signal to investigate and extract the signal’s features. Correlation and clustering is done by interpreting the data through Z and the standard deviation in the regression analysis and data mining. The results revealed that a difference wave pattern is formed for a difference instrument on the time-frequency domain but remains unclear, thus correlation and clusterisation are needed to classify them. The correlation of determination, R ranging from 0.9291 to 0.9831, thus shows a high dependency and strong statistical relationship between them. The classification of flute and caklempong through mapping and clustering is successfully built with each of them separated with their own region area without overlapping, with statistical coefficients ranging from (2.79 x 10, 0.002932) to (1.64 x 10, 0.013957) for caklempong, while the flute measured from (2.45 x 10, 0.013143) to (1.92 x 10, 0.322713) in the x and y axis.
Inhibition of heparanase protects against chronic kidney dysfunction following ischemia/reperfusion injury

Renal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury occurs in patients undergoing renal transplantation and with acute kidney injury and is responsible for the development of chronic allograft dysfunction as characterized by parenchymal alteration and fibrosis. Heparanase (HPSE), an endoglycosidase that regulates EMT and macrophage polarization, is an active player in the biological response triggered by ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. I/R was induced in vivo by clamping left renal artery for 30 min in wt C57BL/6J mice. Animals were daily treated and untreated with Roneparstat (an inhibitor of HPSE) and sacrificed after 8 weeks. HPSE, fibrosis, EMT-markers, inflammation and oxidative stress were evaluated by biomolecular and histological methodologies together with the evaluation of renal histology and measurement of renal function parameters. 8 weeks after I/R HPSE was upregulated both in renal parenchyma and plasma and tissue specimens showed clear evidence of renal injury and fibrosis. The inhibition of HPSE with Roneparstat-restored histology and fibrosis level comparable with that of control. I/R-injured mice showed a significant increase of EMT, inflammation and oxidative stress markers but they were significantly reduced by treatment with Roneparstat. Finally, the inhibition of HPSE in vivo almost restored renal function as measured by BUN, plasma creatinine and albuminuria. The present study points out that HPSE is actively involved in the mechanisms that regulate the development of renal fibrosis arising in the transplanted organ as a consequence of ischemia/reperfusion damage. HPSE inhibition would therefore constitute a new pharmacological strategy to reduce acute kidney injury and to prevent the chronic pro-fibrotic damage induced by I/R.
INDIA-SAARC Trade in Recovering Markets: An Augmented Trade Model

The purpose of the paper was to investigate trade patterns exhibited by Emerging Market Economies like India, by using influential traditional trade models. It examined India's trade with its SAARC partners, as also with the top five trading nations from 2000 to 2012. The Gravity Model was extended. Using time series analysis, a set of regression models was used to assess the effect of augmented gravity indicators and relative factor endowments (Heckscher-Ohlin Theorem) on India's trade. These (extended) traditional models were unable to explain observed trade patterns. The paper recommends an ‘Augmented Trade Model’, incorporating additional variables influencing trade for overcoming gaps in existing trade models. Additionally, such a model would have important policy implications for encouraging intra-regional trade as an ‘engine of growth’ in post-crisis recovering markets.
Vertical Intra-Industry Trade : An Empirical Examination of the U . S . AutoParts Industry

A distinctive feature of present globalization is the development of international production sharing activities i.e. production fragmentation. The increased importance of fragmentation in world trade has created an interest among trade economists in explaining the determinants of intra-industry trade in intermediate goods. In this study the extent of intra-industry trade in the U.S. auto-industry trade is analyzed by decomposing the U.S. auto-industry trade into one-way trade, vertical intra-industry trade and horizontal intra-industry trade in both final and intermediate good categories. Secondly, this paper aims to analyze the development of the U.S. vertical IIT in autopart industry, as an indicator for international fragmentation of production, and test empirically various country-specific factors drawn from fragmentation literature using newly developed panel econometrics techniques and more recent data period from 1989 to 2006. The results show that a substantial part of intra-industry trade in U.S. auto-parts industry was vertical IIT and econometric results support the hypothesis drawn from the fragmentation literature.
Lime stabilisation for earthworks : a UK perspective j

j1 Paul Beetham BSc, MSc, CEng, MICE, FGS Research Engineer, Centre for Innovative and Collaborative Construction Engineering, School of Civil and Building Engineering, Loughborough University, UK j2 Tom Dijkstra PhD Engineering Geologist, British Geological Survey, Keyworth, Nottingham, UK j3 Neil Dixon BSc, PhD, FGS Professor of Geotechnical Engineering, School of Civil and Building Engineering, Loughborough University, UK j4 Paul Fleming BEng (Hons), PhD, MCIHT Senior Lecturer in Geotechnical Engineering, School of Civil and Building Engineering, Loughborough University, UK j5 Robert Hutchison MSc, Eur Ing, FGS, MASCE, CEng, MICE Opus International Consultants Ltd, Service Excellence Leader UK, Nottingham, UK j6 John Bateman Director, Independent Stabilisation Company Ltd, Chesterfield, UK
INFLUENCE OF INTERNAL ORGANIZATION ALENVIRONMENT ON PERFORMANCE OF COMMUNITY-BASED HIV AND AIDS ORGANIZATIONS IN NAIROBI COUNTY

Organizational performance is a key concern for stakeholders in both the profit and non-profit sectors. However, more attention has been focused on profit-making organizations with little emphasis on performance of community-based organizations (CBOs) and other Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) especially those located in sub-Saharan Africa. Theoretically, scholars in management discipline indicate that the internal environment of an organization influences its performance. Thus, performance is dependent on the internal structures and systems existing within an organization. This paper examines the impact of the internal organizational environment on performance of community-based HIV and AIDS organizations in Nairobi County, Kenya. The authors empirically assess the predicted relationship using survey data from 163 Community Based HIV and AIDS Organizations, in Nairobi County, Kenya. The study findings indicate that the internal environment of an organization has an impact on an organization’s effectiveness, efficiency, relevance and financial viability with impacts on the efficiency and relevance performance indicators. This study has important implications for managers of CBOs on the relevance of developing sustainable internal systems and structures within their organizations to enhance performance.
Patient-Centered Care; Physicians’ View of Obstacles against and Ideas for Implementation

To implement proper family medicine practice and to get the best of it, the concept of patient-centered care (PCC) has to be put into use. Studies have found that one of the most important advantages of PCC is the increase in the patients' quality of life. PCC has been recognized as a marker of quality in health service delivery with its improvement. However, the physicians’ belief is essential for its implementation. A cross-sectional study was done to find out what family physicians think of PCC and what they believe are the obstacles that block from its use in Bahrain. Twenty-eight family physicians (FPs) working in the primary health care centers were arbitrarily culled from a pool of doctors. To all a pre-designed questionnaire was sent that contained three parts; demographic information, type of facilities that they work and whether it is promoting PCC practice and the last was concerned with the physicians’ view about the barrier against its implementation and what they cerebrate that could avail in promoting it. The results showed that the majority of the participants were family physicians working in governmental health centers. More than 85% knew the congruous definition of PCC and 96.4% thought that the most common barrier for not implementing PCC approach is the time constraint while almost 93% thought that the short duration of time of the consultation is another impediment for implementing PCC. Withal, 57.1% and 53.6% of FPs thought that language and the doctor’s communication skills are other barriers respectively. Since the ultimate aim of provision of health care in any country is the optimal health of the population and since PCC practice could fortify and avail in achieving that goal, it is recommended that policy makers and health authorities are required to abstract all obstacles that works against implementing PCC and change the work environment in order to make it facile for the practitioners to apply PCC practice approach
The reliability of a new functional balance protocol for use in sports requiring jump landing tasks

Background: The current gold standard of balance testing within elite academy football has been shown to be time consuming and contain movement requirements non-specific to football. Purpose: To assess the reliability of a new balance protocol for use in elite academy football, due to the difficulty in testing large group sizes and the limited movements patterns with the current gold standard tests. Methods: 10 Participants completed a series of functional jumps, incorporating forward, lateral and vertical movement and landing strategies, with single leg landings. The participants’ jumps were videoed for retrospective analysis as well as scored in real time by two observers. The subjects balance abilities were graded based on pre-determined criteria derived from the current gold standards of balance testing. Both intra and inter-tester reliability of the functional balance protocol was assessed. Main Results: The results show the FBP has ‘excellent’ inter-rater reliability for both real-time analysis and retrospective video analysis, with correlation coefficients ranging from 0.864 to 0.950. Conclusions: The FBP has excellent intra and inter-rater reliability. The research supplies evidence to suggest that using a functional protocol with an objective fail criteria combining current “gold standard” balance tests, in conjunction with minimal equipment and a short testing duration may be a more appropriate method to test balance.
Optimisation of Common Acidulant (Fruitaric Acids) to Enhance Organoleptic Quality and Shelf Life of Fruit Juices

Citric, Malic, and Tartaric acids are widely used additives in the food Industries. These additives have been identified for their individual role in enhancing the organoleptic properties and shelf life of different fruit products but there is limited information pertaining to combined effect of these additives. On optimization an appropriate combination of these acids (fruitaric acid) would thus become as one single dative that can be used in several of the mixed fruit or common fruit flavours particularly in the confectionery, fruit juices, and other related products. These additives would contribute to a better flavour profile and shelf life of the fruit product than when used singly. Thus the current research was carried out to optimize the ratio of citric, malic and tartaric acid to enhance shelf life and organoleptic properties of fruit juices. In this research following ratios of citric to malic to tartaric acid were used for formulation of different test samples, viz. S1=25: 37.5: 37.5, S2=50: 25: 25, S3=75: 12.5: 12.5, S4= 100: 00: 00, and S5 as reference sample without any additive. Fruit juices selected in the current study were Apple and Mango juices. To evaluate the shelf life of product plate count, yeast count, pH, and total soluble solids were analysed for five weeks. Sensory analysis was performed for all the formulated test sample of the fruit juices to find out the best test sample and obtained result were analysed by SPSS software version 12 for windows. It is evident from this study that the organoleptic property and shelf life of product will be enhanced if acidulant is added as per sample S3.
The Black Swan: The Impact of the Highly Improbable

Nassim Nicholas Taleb's phenomenal international bestseller The Black Swan: The Impact of the Highly Improbable shows us how to stop trying to predict everything - and take advantage of uncertainty. What have the invention of the wheel, Pompeii, the Wall Street Crash, Harry Potter and the internet got in common? Why are all forecasters con-artists? What can Catherine the Great's lovers tell us about probability? Why should you never run for a train or read a newspaper? This book is all about Black Swans: the random events that underlie our lives, from bestsellers to world disasters. Their impact is huge; they're impossible to predict; yet after they happen we always try to rationalize them. "Taleb is a bouncy and even exhilarating guide.I came to relish what he said, and even develop a sneaking affection for him as a person. " (Will Self, Independent on Sunday). "He leaps like some superhero of the mind. " (Boyd Tonkin, Independent). "Funny, quirky and thought-provoking.confirms his status as a guru for every would-be Damien Hirst, George Soros and aspirant despot. " (John Cornwell, Sunday Times). "Idiosyncratically brilliant. " (Niall Ferguson, Sunday Telegraph). "Great fun.brash, stubborn, entertaining, opinionated, curious, cajoling. " (Stephen J. Dubner, Co-Author of Freakonomics).