Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
CARBON NANOTUBE ENHANCED COMPOSITE MATERIALS

Non covalent functionalization by π stacking was accomplished by treating multi walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) through the use of Kentera, a conjugate rigid rod polymer. The functionalized MWNTs were then introduced into the epoxy resins through a combination of shear and elongation forces. The resulting epoxy resin (containing MWNTs) was then impregnated with carbon fiber under hot-melt conditions to produce epoxy pre-preg. Composites were fabricated from both epoxy resin and prepreg by hand lay ups and cured in autoclave. Mechanical testing showed about 50% and 25% improvements in flexural strength and modulus respectively. Furthermore, SEM, DMA, and mechanical test data of the composites suggested formation of strong interfacial bonding between the MWNTs, epoxy matrix and carbon fiber.
Integration of the optical storage processor and the DBC/1012 database computer

The DBC/1012, a high-performance, fault-tolerant, parallel-processing, database computer optimized for storing and processing relational databases, is described. In response to the need for online archival storage for data migrated from the DBC/1012, and in light of the advantages that expanded processing capabilities would bring to mass storage systems, the integration of the DBC/1012 with the optical storage processor (also known as file-tek storage machine) has been initiated. The phased integrations steps and the functionality provided as a result of the joining of these advanced technologies are briefly outlined. >
Nonlinear bounded control for norm-bounded uncertain systems

In this paper, a method to derive a bounded continuous feedback control function which stabilizes a norm bounded uncertain linear system in a certain region is proposed. The aim is to ensure a certain performance level in a neighborhood (ellipsoid) of the origin, through a guaranteed cost state feedback control. Outside this neighborhood, a linear-like control with state-dependent gains is obtained from the solutions of a family of parameter dependent algebraic Riccati equation similar to the one arising in H/sub /spl infin// control.
Towards a simplified building of time Petri Nets reachability graph

An enumerative approach for time Petri nets (or Melin's model) analysis is presented. In this model, if a transition t is enabled at time /spl tau/, it can be fired at any time in the interval [/spl tau/+tmax(t)]. It is shown that the firing condition at the nth firing can be expressed by the means of the marking, the enabling point of enabled transitions, and the minimal and maximal elapsed time between to firings. This result leads to an attractive definition of state classes and allows a simple computation of reachable state classes. The approach presented has two main advantages. First, the computation of reachable state classes is more simple and does not require any solution of a system. Second, the graph obtained is a subgraph of that given by M. Menasche (1982). <<ETX>>
How Do Banks Adjust to Stricter Supervision?

We analyze the phase-in of Europe's Single Supervisory Mechanism (SSM), which moved banking supervision from national regulators to the European Central Bank. Before the ECB assumed supervision, it conducted a review of banks' balance sheets and a stress test. We show that banks reduced leverage in anticipation of this regulatory change. Most of the reduction in leverage was achieved by selling assets and repaying wholesale debt, rather than by increasing capital. We exploit a discontinuity in the assignment mechanism to establish causal effects. The evidence highlights banks' reluctance to adjust capital when target leverage changes, which has implications for macroprudential policy.
PATTERNS OF THRESHOLD EVOLUTION IN POLYPHENIC INSECTS UNDER DIFFERENT DEVELOPMENTAL MODELS

Two hypotheses address the evolution of polyphenic traits in insects. Under the developmental reprogramming model, individuals exceeding a threshold follow a different developmental pathway from individuals below the threshold. This decoupling is thought to free selection to independently hone alternative morphologies, increasing phenotypic plasticity and morphological diversity. Under the alternative model, extreme positive allometry explains the existence of alternative phenotypes and divergent phenotypes are developmentally coupled by a continuous reaction norm, such that selection on either morph acts on both. We test the hypothesis that continuous reaction norm polyphenisms, evolve through changes in the allometric parameters of even the smallest males with minimal trait expression, whereas threshold polyphenisms evolve independent of the allometric parameters of individuals below the threshold. We compare two polyphenic species; the dung beetle Onthophagus taurus, whose allometry has been modeled both as a threshold polyphenism and a continuous reaction norm and the earwig Forficula auricularia, whose allometry is best modeled with a discontinuous threshold. We find that across populations of both species, variation in forceps or horn allometry in minor males are correlated to the population's threshold. These findings suggest that regardless of developmental mode, alternative morphs do not evolve independently of one another.
Precarious Jobs In Labour Market Regulation The Growth Of Atypical Employment In Western Europe

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Roles for the Cytoplasmic Tails of the Fusion and Hemagglutinin-Neuraminidase Proteins in Budding of the Paramyxovirus Simian Virus 5

ABSTRACT The efficient release of many enveloped viruses from cells involves the coalescence of viral components at sites of budding on the plasma membrane of infected cells. This coalescence is believed to require interactions between the cytoplasmic tails of surface glycoproteins and the matrix (M) protein. For the paramyxovirus simian virus 5 (SV5), the cytoplasmic tail of the hemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) protein has been shown previously to be important for normal virus budding. To investigate a role for the cytoplasmic tail of the fusion (F) protein in virus assembly and budding, we generated a series of F cytoplasmic tail-truncated recombinant viruses. Analysis of these viruses in tissue culture indicated that the cytoplasmic tail of the F protein was dispensable for normal virus replication and budding. To investigate further the requirements for assembly and budding of SV5, we generated two double-mutant recombinant viruses that lack 8 amino acids of the predicted 17-amino-acid HN protein cytoplasmic tail in combination with truncation of either 10 or 18 amino acids from the predicted 20-amino-acid F protein cytoplasmic tail. Both of the double mutant recombinant viruses displayed a replication defect in tissue culture and a budding defect, the extent of which was dependant on the length of the remaining F cytoplasmic tail. Taken together, this work and our earlier data on virus-like particle formation (A. P. Schmitt, G. P. Leser, D. L. Waning, and R. A. Lamb, J. Virol. 76:3953-3964, 2002) suggest a redundant role for the cytoplasmic tails of the HN and F proteins in virus assembly and budding.
MOTIVOS DA ADOÇÃO DE TECNOLOGIAS PELAS MICRO E PEQUENAS EMPRESAS DISTRIBUIDORAS DE PRODUTOS ALIMENTARES | REASONS FOR THE ADOPTION OF TECHNOLOGIES BY MICRO AND SMALL FOOD DISTRIBUTION FIRMS

Este artigo tem como objetivo identificar os motivos da adocao de tecnologias pelas micro e pequenas empresas distribuidoras de produtos alimentares em Portugal. Utilizou-se a tecnica do inquerito por questionario como metodo de recolha de dados, sendo a amostra constituida por 92 empresas. As empresas foram inquiridas para o periodo entre 2010 e 2014. Os resultados sugerem que estas empresas nao adotam tecnologias de forma planejada. A adocao de tecnologias acontece em funcao do crescimento da empresa, do alargamento de produtos e servicos oferecidos, e como resposta a concorrencia ou por imposicao do Governo ou influencia dos clientes. Contudo, para a maioria das tecnologias adotadas nao foi possivel identificar uma motivacao especifica. DOI: 10.18226/23190639.v4n1. 04
TNF-α Antagonism Generates a Population of Antigen-Specific CD4+CD25+ T Cells That Inhibit Protective Immunity in Murine Histoplasmosis1

In both humans and mice, treatment with TNF-α antagonists is associated with serious infectious complications including disseminated histoplasmosis. The mechanisms by which inhibition of endogenous TNF-α alter protective immunity remain obscure. Herein, we tested the possibility that neutralization of this cytokine triggered the emergence of T cells that dampen immunity. The lungs of mice given mAb to TNF-α contained a higher proportion and number of CD4+CD25+ cells than controls. This elevation was not observed in IFN-γ- or GM-CSF-deficient mice or in those given a high inoculum. Phenotypic analysis revealed that these cells lacked many of the characteristics of natural regulatory T cells, including Foxp3. CD4+CD25+ cells from TNF-α-neutralized mice suppressed Ag-specific, but not nonspecific, responses in vitro. Elimination of CD25+ cells in vivo restored protective immunity in mice given mAb to TNF-α and adoptive transfer of CD4+CD25+ cells inhibited immunity. In vitro and in vivo, the suppressive effect was reversed by mAb to IL-10. Thus, neutralization of TNF-α is associated with the induction of a population of regulatory T cells that alter protective immunity in an Ag-specific manner to Histoplasma capsulatum.
Antiepileptic Drugs and the Electroencephalogram

Summary: : The usefulness of electroencephalography (EEG) as an aid to diagnosis of seizure disorders is established, but its role as a guide to monitoring treatment is much less certain. For those patients with classical absences and 3‐s spike wave activity there is a very close correlation between control of clinically detected seizures and EEG events. In some, but not all, patients with other seizure disorders there is a positive correlation between numbers of seizures and amount of interictal epileptiform activity (IEA). Intravenous benzodiazepines and phenytoin result in both acute seizure control and suppression of IEA. For seizures other than absences, and antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) given in the medium and long term, there is generally not a clear relationship between control of seizures and IEA. In studies of children whose epilepsy is in remission, persistent IEA has been associated with a higher risk of seizure relapse should AEDs be discontinued, but in adults the relevance of persistent IEA appears to be much less certain. Benzodiazepines and barbiturates result in increased fast activity. All AEDs may result in slowing of the dominant rhythm and increased slow activity. Carbamazepine, in particular, is often associated with apparent deterioration of background activity, even in the face of clinical improvement. Further studies are necessary to determine the mechanisms and significance of AED‐induced changes in EEG background activity.
Spatial clustering of knowledge-based industries in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area

ABSTRACT The central locations of metropolitan areas have some specific attributes, leading to an accumulation of large knowledge exchanges and extensive knowledge externalities, which encourage the concentration of various economic activities, especially knowledge-based industries (KBI). Other agglomeration economies found in metropolitan areas – such as telecommunications and transport infrastructures connected to global productive circuits and complementary labour markets – are key factors for KBI employment growth. This paper explores the Helsinki Metropolitan Area’s (HMA) spatial clustering of KBI at the sub-district level, and the role played by agglomeration economies (both specialization and diversity economies) in fostering this process. The results reveal that KBI employment shows patterns of concentration in the core and adjacent areas. The specialization and diversity economies found in the metropolitan core and the specialization economies found in others areas lead to KBI spatial clustering in the HMA. Public policies regarding the promotion of science parks have also played a decisive role.
ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 expression by endothelial cells grown on fibronectin-coated TCPS and PS.

Small-diameter vascular grafts rapidly fail as a result of blood coagulation and platelet deposition. Endothelial cells lining the inner side of blood vessels can provide the graft lumen with an antithrombogenic surface. One of the remaining problems is cell detachment after restoration of blood flow, because of infiltration of leukocytes that respond to an inflammatory-like activation of the endothelial cells. This endothelial activation is possibly caused by the surface characteristics of the underlying polymer. To get more insight into the effects of the polymer surface on endothelial cell activation, we seeded human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) in various densities and subsequently grew them on tissue culture polystyrene (TCPS; hydrophilic) and polystyrene (PS; hydrophobic) surfaces. To improve cell adhesion, surfaces were coated with purified fibronectin prior to cell seeding. During proliferation, the expressions of the leukocyte adhesion molecules ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 were determined. Results indicate that ICAM-1 expression is not influenced by the character of the polymer surface, and that VCAM-1 expression is slightly higher on the TCPS surface. Expressions of both adhesion molecules are influenced by the seeding density and time of proliferation. At low seeding densities (< or = 10,000 cells/cm(2)), a relatively low percentage of nonexogenously activated cells expressed ICAM-1 during the first 3 days of proliferation compared to higher seeding densities. Although less pronounced, this was also observed for the percentage of cells expressing VCAM-1. During proliferation, the amount of ICAM-1 per endothelial cell increased, whereas the expression of VCAM-1 remained low. The absence of large differences in leukocyte adhesion molecule expression by endothelial cells grown on TCPS or PS is possibly caused by coating of the surfaces with fibronectin. It is known that surface hydrophilicity influences protein adsorption. Although this had no or little effect on leukocyte adhesion molecule expression, endothelial cell growth was affected, because proliferation was slower on the hydrophobic PS.
Improving well-being of rural women through participation in microcredit programme: Evidence from Bangladesh

Women in rural areas of Bangladesh have very limited access to income producing activities and consequently less opportunity to contribute to the well-being of their families due to a number of social, cultural and religious barriers. In addition, they are not allowed to participate in economic activities outside their home and consequently not able to contribute to their families get out of poverty. In this circumstance, microcredit programme contributes significantly to poverty reduction in Bangladesh by creating income generation and self-employment opportunities for the poor people by providing small loans to them. In the present study, it has been attempted to assess the role of microcredit programme in improving the well-being of poor rural women and their families. The findings of the study show that the rural women, after joining the microcredit programme, engaged themselves in income generating activities and contributed to increase their total family income which helped to improve overall well-being of their family. Therefore, it can be concluded that supply of credit is increasingly being looked upon as a significant contribution to upgrading quality of life of the rural women.
Experiments to determine whether recursive partitioning (CART) or an artificial neural network overcomes theoretical limitations of Cox proportional hazards regression.

New computationally intensive tools for medical survival analyses include recursive patitioning (also called CART) and artificial neural networks. A challenge that remains is to better understand the behavior of these techniques in effort to know when they will be effective tools. Theoretically they may overcome limitations of the traditional multivariable survival technique, the Cox proportional hazards regression model. Experiments were designed to test whether the new tools would, in practice, overcome these limitations. Two datasets in which theory suggests CART and the neural network should outperform the Cox model were selected. The first was a published leukemia dataset manipulated to have a strong interaction that CART should detect. The second was a published cirrhosis dataset with pronounced nonlinear effects that a neural network should fit. Repeated sampling of 50 training and testing subsets was applied to each technique. The concordance index C was calculated as a measure of predictive accuracy by each technique on the testing dataset. In the interaction dataset, CART outperformed Cox (P < 0.05) with a C improvement of 0.1 (95% CI, 0.08 to 0.12). In the nonlinear dataset, the neural network outperformed the Cox model (P < 0.05), but by a very slight amount (0.015). As predicted by theory, CART and the neural network were able to overcome limitations of the Cox model. Experiments like these are important to increase our understanding of when one of these new techniques will outperform the standard Cox model. Further research is necessary to predict which technique will do best a priori and to assess the magnitude of superiority.
Effect of expiratory resistance on gas‐exchange and breathing pattern in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients being weaned from the ventilator

Background: The majority of patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have flow limitation, which has deleterious side effects. If these patients are mechanically ventilated, this often results in difficult weaning. Spontaneously breathing COPD patients experience a beneficial effect of pursed lip breathing. We investigated whether in intubated COPD patients application of an external resistance could produce the same beneficial effects on breathing pattern and gas‐exchange as pursed lip breathing.
Analysis of Socioeconomic Factors That Affect Small Scale Farmers of Fresh Fruits and Vegetables’ Access To External Markets: A Case of Arusha Region

This study was undertaken to analyze socioeconomic factors that affect small scale farmers of fresh fruits and vegetables access to external markets. Specifically the study examined the effect of business skills; effect capital; effect of advocacy and intervention on performance of fresh fruits and vegetables access to external market. The study revealed that, FFV farming and exporting in Tanzania require skills on how to grow, harvest and sell their goods to the external markets. It was also revealed that, advocacy progrmmes from stakeholders of FFV such as government, external consumers and international food security and poverty eradication programmes need to intervene the industry. The study concludes that, factors such as business skills and capital are linked to advocacy and intervention as both needed by small scale farmers. Advocacy programme for intervening poverty eradication can be extended to FFV production and marketing, so as, the farmers can directly assess the external markets. Recommendations were done to the government to take a leading role in the design and formulation of policy and standards which shall be adopted and applied to empower the small scale farmers wishing to produce FFV. Small scale farmers were recommended to put more efforts and resources in dealing with these anomalies instead of complaining while living the opportunities to foreign exporters and those from neighbour countries. External buyers were recommended to participate in the sensitization campaign on market of FFV as well as training to farmers on farming skills to meet the international standards. Other players like commercial banks and other financial institutions were required to review and redesign loan procedures and credit facilities.
Economics, Neuroeconomics, and the Problem of Identity

Medicaid reimburses healthcare providers for services at a lower rate than any other type of insurance coverage. To account for the burden of treating Medicaid patients, providers claim that they must cost-shift by raising the rates of individuals covered by private insurance. Previous investigations of cost-shifting has produced mixed results. In this paper, I exploit a disabled Medicaid expansion where crowd-out was complete to investigate cost-shifting. I find that hospitals reduce the charge rates of the privately insured. Given that Medicaid is expanding in several states under the Affordable Care Act, these results may alleviate cost-shifting concerns of the reform
Firms’ Public Disclosure and Banking: Evidence from Disclosure Regulation

We examine the effect of firms’ public disclosure on their banking. Exploiting discontinuous public disclosure requirements assigned to otherwise similar small and medium-sized private firms, we document that public disclosure shifts firms’ banking from relationship toward transactional approaches. Our results suggest that public disclosure increases bank competition, but also crowds out banks’ private information acquisition. As firms benefit from banks’ private information acquisition, firms prefer relatively low levels of public disclosure despite the costs associated with low bank competition.
THE FRICTION FACTOR DEPENDENCE ON THE LOAD AND REVOLUTIONS IN SLIDING BEARINGS WITHOUT RELUBRICATION

Original scientific paper This article is focused on experimental research of the friction factor in sliding bearings without relubrication. The research includes study of friction factor values and their comparison depending on load and revolutions measured on sliding pairs, consisting of a sliding bearing and a shaft, without relubrication. The result of this experiment is an evidence of values measured reflecting the sliding pair actions under operation conditions. All the represented measured results and load conditions of each bearing are presented via graphs.
A novel antenna with a feed networks for RFID reader at ultra high frequency

The antenna and feed networks are presented for reader applications of radio frequency identification at ultra high frequency of 840 MHz - 845 MHz and 920 MHz - 925 MHz that is allocated for RFID use in China. The antenna is composed of two dual-L antennas orthogonally placed on a ground plane. The feed networks which are used to attain circular polarization characteristics of the antenna are introduced to control horizontal and vertical radiation current flows for each dual-L antenna respectively. The antenna can also be applied to ultra high frequency of 860 MHz - 960 MHz that is proposed for RFID use by ISO/IEC. The simulation and measurement were performed and the desired frequency bands with a return loss less than -10 dB were achieved.