Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparative study of three kinds of doubly salient BLDC generators

Doubly salient machine with a rectifier circuit constitutes a type of simple BLDC generators, which include doubly salient permanent magnet generator (DSPG), doubly salient electro-magnetic generator (DSEG) and doubly salient hybrid excitation generator (DSHEG). Magnetic field analysis of these generators is carried out based on finite element method (FEM). Hence, a comprehensive comparison of the static characteristics of these three kinds of generators is investigated. The output characteristics of these generators are compared by field-circuit coupled analysis. Results of comparing the three generators such as the voltage regulation, total mass of effective materials, the maximum power, power density and the efficiency are given.
Analysis of differential shrinkage in frozen brain sections and its implications for the use of guard zones in stereology

Increasing numbers of neuroanatomists are using stereological methods, and unbiased stereological estimation rules recommend the use of guard zones with the optical disector method to count objects of interest within a volume. Although these methods are statistically unbiased, we believe there is a need to explore sources of systematic bias (e.g., effects of tissue processing and sectioning) that may be affecting estimates of object number. Toward this end, we evaluated neuron distribution through, and tissue shrinkage in, non‐embedded tissue cut on a freezing microtome. Our data show that in the x‐ and y‐planes there are minimal changes in tissue area during tissue processing, sectioning, and staining. In the z‐axis (perpendicular to the cutting surface), however, sections shrink to ∼25% of the cut thickness. This z‐axis shrinkage was quite variable between sections (coefficient of variation about 10%) but stable within the same section (coefficient of variation about 3%). Lastly, individual particle densities are non‐uniform through the thickness of the section when the densities should have been uniform. We advise experimenters to use a new protocol, a modified optical disector, for estimation when objects to be counted are marked such that the x‐, y‐, and z‐coordinates are recorded through the full thickness of a section and guard zones are applied post data collection based on the characteristics of the object distribution along the z‐axis. It is likely that individual experiments with different embedding materials and histological processing steps could require guard zones of varying sizes, or none at all, depending on object distribution in the z‐axis. J. Comp. Neurol. 519:2803–2810, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A case study for medical tourism: investigating a private hospital venture in Turkey

Abstract This paper investigates the county-specific environmental factors that a private hospital needs to consider when entering the medical tourism market by using a strategic marketing road map. A qualitative research was conducted, and primary data were collected from the 2 directors and 12 medical professionals in a case hospital. The results show that government support, infrastructure, economic factors such as cost, capacity, and human resources orientation are the main factors affecting the development of medical tourism for a private hospital.
Roles of CD4- and CD8-bearing T lymphocytes in the immune response to the erythrocytic stages of Plasmodium chabaudi

The possible role of CD4- and CD8-bearing T lymphocytes in parasite clearance in vivo was investigated, using Plasmodium chabaudi in C57BL/6 mice as a model. Monoclonal antibodies specific for the CD4 and CD8 molecules were administered in vivo to deplete selectively the appropriate subset of T cells. The efficacy of depletion was ascertained by flow cytometry and functional studies. These mice were then infected with P. chabaudi, and the course of infection was followed. The control groups had maximum parasitemias of approximately 30% 10 days after infection, and the infection was cleared within 27 days. Mice without CD4+ cells had significantly higher parasitemias which they were unable to reduce below 20% for the duration of the experiment. Mice without CD8 cells had slightly higher parasitemias which were cleared after 34 days. Because of the possibility that CD8+ cells alone could not be activated in the absence of growth factors, exogenous interleukin-2 was administered to the mice depleted of CD4 cells. This did not significantly affect parasitemias, and the mice were still unable to clear their infections. The data suggest that CD4+ T cells play a crucial role in the protective immune response to the erythrocytic stages of P. chabaudi.
Improvement in the Performance of Byzantine Fault Tolerant in Hadoop

MapReduce is emerging as an important programming model for large-scale data-parallel applications such as web indexing, data mining, and scientific simulation. MapReduce runtimes like Hadoop tolerates only crash faults, not arbitrary or Byzantine faults. Byzantine fault tolerance algorithm in MapReduce typically requires 3f+1 servers to tolerate f Byzantine Servers, which involves considerable costs in hardware, software, and administration. By achieving arbitrary fault tolerance using proposed Byzantine Fault Tolerance (BFT) MapReduce algorithms, which improve previous algorithms in terms of several metrics. First, design a framework requires only 2f + 1 replicas, instead of the usual 3f + 1. Second, improve the performance of framework with help of non-speculative and speculative algorithms. An important aspect in terms of BFT MapReduce algorithm executes the job with acceptable cost for many critical applications.
Sustainability and Marketing: Concurrent Pursuit of a Smaller Environmental Footprint and a Larger Market Footprint

Abstract Purpose The purpose of this paper is to present a conceptual framework that provides insights into major environmental and organizational forces underlying greater levels of organizational responsiveness to the environmental sustainability imperative by a growing number of firms, worldwide. Methodology/approach The paper is conceptual in its focus, and the proposed framework builds on extant literature from multiple literature streams. Findings Societal progress toward environmental sustainability is a shared responsibility of consumers, corporations, and the government at various levels. A potential avenue for societal progress toward environmental sustainability is fostering a macroenvironment that is conducive to the elimination of consumption certain products, reduction in consumption certain other products, and redirection of consumption of still other products from ecologically more harmful to ecologically less harmful substitute products (and relatedly, demand elimination, demand reduction, and demand redirection). Research and practical implications An implication for corporate sustainability responsibility is that firms while planning and formulating strategies for increasing their market footprint must also concurrently plan and formulate strategies for decreasing their environmental footprint. An implication for government sustainability responsibility is that even under conditions of high levels of commitment by a large and growing number of firms and consumers to engage in environmentally sustainable behaviors, in the absence of supporting infrastructure for engaging in such behavior, they may find it necessary to engage in environmentally unsustainable behaviors. Originality/value Issues relating to environmental sustainability have been the focus of a large body of recent research in a number of academic disciplines including marketing. A cursory examination of numerous articles published in scholarly journals on issues pertaining to environmental sustainability, and in the business press pertaining to the myriad environmental sustainability initiatives of firms worldwide is indicative of its growing importance.
The Impacts of ISO 9001 Quality Management System Implementation on Employees’ Performance of Pension Funds inTanzania: A Case of National Social Security Fund (NSSF)

The study aimed at examining the impacts of ISO 9001 quality management system implementation on employee performance of pension funds in Tanzania, for the case of National Social security Fund (NSSF). The study was necessitated by the lack of ample literature linking of ISO 9001 to employees’ performance. The explanatory research designs with the case study strategy were adopted in the study. The study focused on NSSF – Temeke Regional Office being the largest region of NSSF in Tanzania in terms of revenue collection and it is the first region to be ISO certified where by effective assessment of the impacts was explored. The study involved a total of fifty seven targeted respondents who supplied with structured self administered questionnaires. Purposive and simple random sampling methodologies were applied to select respondents. The findings of the study revealed that management commitment has a positive impact on the employees’ performance in the pension fund at NSSF. On the other hand internal communication, workplace physical environment and capacity enhancement found to have a positive impact on employees’ performance. These findings are in line with the existing literature of quality management system implementation. The study recommends the adoption of QMS practices in all pension funds in Tanzania and all districts of NSSF. Also the Management of pension funds should be committed to ensure the availability of mechanism of internal communication which will result to the employees’ performance. Finally regular capacity building program like on job training should be adopted as well as allocation of resources towards establishment of conductive environment which will ensure higher productivity of the employees to the pension funds in Tanzania. Key word
The DREAM complex promotes gene body H2A.Z for target repression

The DREAM (DP, Retinoblastoma [Rb]-like, E2F, and MuvB) complex controls cellular quiescence by repressing cell cycle genes. Latorre et al. show that Caenorhabditis elegans DREAM targets have an unusual pattern of high gene body HTZ-1/H2A.Z. In mutants of lin-35, the sole p130/Rb-like gene in C. elegans, DREAM targets have reduced gene body HTZ-1/H2A.Z and increased expression. Consistent with a repressive role for gene body H2A.Z, many DREAM targets are up-regulated in htz-1/H2A.Z mutants.
Contourlet based Multi-exposure Image Fusion with Compensation for Multi-dimensional Camera Shake

Multi-exposure image fusion algorithms are used for enhancing the perceptual quality of an image captured by sensors of limited dynamic range by rendering multiple images captured at different exposure settings. One practical problem overlooked by existing algorithms is the compensation required for image deregistration due to possible multi-dimensional camera shake that results within the time gap of capturing the multiple exposure images. In our approach RANdom SAmple Consensus (RANSAC) algorithm is used to identify inliers of key-points identified by the Scale Invariant Feature Transform (SIFT) approach subsequently to the use of Coherent Point Drift (CPD) algorithm to register the images based on the selected set of key points. We provide experimental results on set of images with multi-dimensional (translational and rotational) to prove the proposed algorithm's capability to register and fuse multiple exposure images taken in the presence of camera shake providing subjectively enhanced output images.
Regulation of Function by Dimerization through the Amino-terminal Membrane-spanning Domain of Human ABCC1/MRP1*

Overexpression of some ATP-binding cassette (ABC) membrane transporters such as ABCB1/P-glycoprotein/MDR1 and ABCC1/MRP1 causes multidrug resistance in cancer chemotherapy. It has been thought that half-ABC transporters with one nucleotide-binding domain and one membrane-spanning domain (MSD) likely work as dimers, whereas full-length transporters with two nucleotide-binding domains and two or three MSDs function as monomers. In this study, we examined the oligomeric status of the human full-length ABC transporter ABCC1/MRP1 using several biochemical approaches. We found 1) that it is a homodimer, 2) that the dimerization domain is located in the amino-terminal MSD0L0 (where L0 is loop 0) region, and 3) that MSD0L0 has a dominant-negative function when coexpressed with wild-type ABCC1/MRP1. These findings suggest that ABCC1/MRP1 may exist and function as a dimer and that MSD0L0 likely plays some structural and regulatory functions. It is also tempting to propose that the MSD0L0-mediated dimerization may be targeted for therapeutic development to sensitize ABCC1/MRP1-mediated drug resistance in cancer chemotherapy.
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus prolongs intensive care unit stay in ventilator-associated pneumonia, despite initially appropriate antibiotic therapy

Objective:To determine the impact of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) on length of stay in the intensive care unit (ICU) for patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) and to control for the effect of initially inappropriate antibiotic treatment on outcomes by focusing only on persons who were given appropriate antibiotic therapy for their infection. Design:Retrospective analysis of pooled, patient-level data from multiple clinical trials in VAP. Setting:Multiple ICUs in France. Subjects:Persons with bronchoscopically confirmed VAP due to either MRSA or methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) and who received initially appropriate antibiotic treatment. All persons with MRSA VAP received vancomycin (15 mg/kg intravenously, twice daily). Interventions:None. Measurements and Main Results:We compared patients with MRSA VAP to persons with MSSA VAP. ICU length of stay represented the primary end point and ICU-free days served as a secondary end point. We recorded information regarding multiple confounders, including demographics, reasons for ICU admission and mechanical ventilation (MV), severity of illness at both ICU admission and time of diagnosis of VAP, and duration of mechanical ventilation before and following the onset of VAP. The final cohort included 107 patients, and one third of cases were due to MRSA. Despite receiving initially appropriate antibiotic treatment, median ICU length of stay was significantly longer for persons with MRSA infection (33 days vs. 22 days; p = .047). The median number of ICU-free days was concomitantly lower in MRSA VAP (0 days vs. 5 days; p = .011). Survival analysis employing a Cox proportional hazards model identified several predictors of remaining in the ICU: Pao2/Fio2 ratio at diagnosis of VAP, duration of MV before VAP, duration of MV after diagnosis of VAP, and reason for MV. Additionally, infection with MRSA as opposed MSSA doubled the probability of needing continued ICU care (hazard ratio, 2.08; 95% confidence interval, 1.09–3.95; p = .025). Conclusions:MRSA VAP independently prolongs the duration of ICU hospitalization, and in turn, increases overall costs, even for patients initially given appropriate antibiotic treatment. Confronting the adverse impact of MRSA will require efforts that address more than the initial antibiotic prescription.
Why Do Public Firms Issue Private Equity?

We examine the determinants of placing equity privately vs. publicly and analyze 5359 private investments in public equity (PIPEs) and seasoned equity offerings (SEOs) during 1997 to 2006. Using a p-score matched sample analysis we document that firms that are more likely to use PIPEs tend to be higher levered, unprofitable, less liquid, more opaque and cash restricted companies, compared to SEO issuers. Our long run performance analysis suggests that PIPE issuers underperform less severely than SEO firms one and two years after the offering, but are more likely to become takeover targets. The results from the empirical analysis are consistent with the information acquisition hypothesis for PIPE issues and the signaling hypothesis for SEO issues.
Study on transport characteristics of CNTFET based on NEGF theory

A CNTFET transport model was built using the Non-Equilibrium Green's Function (NEGF) formulism. This method abandons the rough continuum model, and connects the CNTFET transport properties with the CNT chiral directly. The output characteristics and transfer characteristics of (17, 0) Zigzag CNTFET are simulated. This research is of great significance for analyzing the CNTFET working mechanism and new characteristics different from traditional field effect transistors.
What does time constraint mean to information searchers?

In this paper, we explore the relationship between time constraints and users' assessment of their search. A user experiment was conducted. Participants were asked to search under two conditions: with time constraint (TC) and with no time constraint (NTC). The results showed that time constraint did not significantly influence participants' assessment of task difficulty, but significantly influenced users' search confidence and their evaluation of search performance. Particularly, participants were less confident and considered their search performance worse in TC than in NTC conditions. We also found users acquired more new knowledge and had more positive affective states after searching in NTC than in TC conditions. Interestingly, we found time constraints also affect participants' anticipation of time needed to complete the task; participants thought they would need significantly less time to complete the search task when they were given time constraints than without time constraints. These preliminary results suggested that time constraints had remarkable influence upon users' perception of search tasks and their search experience.
A randomized comparison of caudal block by sacral hiatus injection under ultrasound guidance with traditional sacral canal injection in children

There is a risk of inadvertent dural or vascular puncture for the traditional single‐shot caudal block performed by inserting the needle into the sacral canal through the sacral hiatus. This prospective, randomized study was to evaluate the clinical feasibility of the hiatus injection under ultrasound guidance for caudal block in children.
Modified quaternion encryption for DICOM image

This paper studies and implements the existing encryption algorithm on 16-bit DICOM images using quaternions as the key, around which, the pixels of an image are rotated to get another image suitable for transmission over a network, such as internet, to the intended receiver. The existing algorithm is a strong encryption method that gives commendable results for random number sequence generation performed by various random sequence test suite. It also follows the avalanche effect by yielding 50% different result with achange of one bit in the key and effectively withstands a bruteforce and other types of decryption attacks. In this paper, authors have implemented the existing algorithm and subsequently modified it by splitting the image matrix into four smaller matrices instead of two as in the existing algorithm and performing parallel execution of those matrices in group of two to improve the execution time of the algorithm. Thus, it executes faster without affecting or compromising with the image qualityimplying that the strength of the encryption algorithm is not affected as the modification is made only to the way algorithm executes without interfering with the internal structure of the algorithm.
Key factors influencing the online buying decision when purchasing products in specific product categories

Online shopping in South Africa is at least five years behind that in developed countries and online retailers need to adapt their online presence and offerings in order to elevate their position over competitors. This study explores the key factors influencing the online buying decision when purchasing products in specific product categories in the Gauteng province in South Africa. Questionnaires were completed by 111 respondents and descriptive and inferential statistical methods were used to analyse the results. The online product categories investigated included gifts, books, education products/services, entertainment, air tickets, software/games, electronics, clothes and CDs/DVDs/Videos. It emerged that certain factors were key influencers when buying specific products. Important factors for electronics, for instance are online information and negative experience with shopping offline. The findings of the research can assist online retailers to make the online buying process easier and to increase the preference for online buying of their products in South Africa.
Anatomical and Physiological Substrates of Event‐Related Potentials

Because an excellent tutorial introduction to the anatomical and physiological substrates of event-related potentials (ERPs) is available (Goff et al. 1978), our objective in this chapter is not a general tutorial review. Rather, we intend to consider in detail the anatomical and physiological substrates of two classes or families of ERPs that have been the subject of intense investigation in recent years: (a) the auditory “ N I P ~ complex” and (b) P300 and related “endogenous” potentials. Our hope is that such a “case study” approach to ERP substrates will not only provide the reader with a thorough review of recent research findings, but will also provide a critical analysis of both the theoretical and empirical foundations of inferences about the neural substrates of ERPs. Our consideration of each family of potentials will consist of (a) a brief descriptive introduction, including the identifying characteristics of the potentials under consideration and the experimental conditions under which they can be obtained; (b) a detailed consideration of the different types of evidence that have been used to formulate and
Foraging behavior of stingless bees (Tetragonula biroi Friese): distance, direction and height of preferred food source

We examine the foraging behavior of stingless bees (Tetragonula biroi Friese) with regard to their preference of food location. The three factors considered are distance of the food source from the hive, direction of the food source, and height of the food source from the ground. Single-factor experiments for each factor were performed to determine the preferred food location. Statistical analysis shows that T. biroi species prefer the feeders located 1m away from the hive, which is the shortest distance used in the experiment. Results also show that this group of bees has no conclusive preferred direction, which might be a result of non-apparent cause, such as random search. In addition, the bees prefer the feeders located 1m above the ground, which are directly in front of the hive opening. Using the results from the single-factor experiments, a Three-Factor Factorial Experimental Design is used to analyze the interaction of the three factors. Factorial Analysis of Variance shows that the interaction among the three factors affects the preference of the bees. We hypothesize that the preference of the bees can be explained by (1) optimal foraging theory, (2) memory of food location, and (3) chemical marks left by conspecifics.