pinecone/core-2020-05-10-deduplication huggingface dataset:
Bridging the gap between SPI and SMEs in educational settings: a learning tool suporting ISO/IEC 29110

The software development industry is dominated by a myriad of smaller organizations world-wide, including very small entities (VSEs), which have up to 25 people. Managing software process is a big challenge for practitioners. In 2011, due to the VSEs’ increasing importance, a set of ISO/IEC 29110 standards and guides were released. Although other initiatives are devoted to small entities, ISO/IEC 29110 is becoming the widely adopted standard. But it is an emerging standard and practitioners need to be actively engaged in their learning. In this sense, serious games offer the potential to entertain and educate. This study shows empirical evidence to support the overall applicability of the game proposed as learning tool. Moreover, the results indicate that the learning tool creates a positive experience, and therefore could be used as a strategy to promote the standard
Towards efficient flight: insights on proper morphing-wing modulation in a bat-like robot

In this article, we address the question of how the flight efficiency of Micro Aerial Vehicles with variable wing geometry can be inspired by the biomechanics of bats.We use a bat-like drone with highly articulated wings using shape memory alloys (SMA) as artificial muscle-like actuators. The possibility of actively changing the wing shape by controlling the SMA actuators, let us study the effects of different wing modulation patterns on lift generation, drag reduction, and the energy cost of a wingbeat cycle. To this purpose, we present an energy-model for estimating the energy cost required by the wings during a wingbeat cycle, using experimental aerodynamic and inertial force data as inputs to the energy-model. Results allowed us determining that faster contraction of the wings during the upstroke, and slower extension during the downstroke enables to reduce the energy cost of flapping in our prototype
Analysis of thermionic bare tether operation regimes in passive mode

A thermionic bare tether (TBT) is a long conductor coated with a low work-function material. In\ud
drag mode, a tether segment extending from anodic end A to a zero-bias point B, with the standard\ud
Orbital-motion-limited current collection, is followed by a complex cathodic segment. In general,\ud
as bias becomes more negative in moving from B to cathodic end C, one first finds space-chargelimited\ud
(SCL) emission covering up to some intermediate point B*, then full Richardson-Dushman\ud
(RD) emission reaching from B* to end C. An approximate analytical study, which combines the\ud
current and voltage profile equations with results from asymptotic studies of the Vlasov-Poisson system for emissive probes, is carried out to determine the parameter domain covering two limit regimes, which are effectively controlled by just two dimensionless parameters involving ambient plasma and TBT material properties. In one such limit regime, no point B* is reached and thus no segment full RD emission develops. In an opposite regime, SCL segment BB* is too short to contribute significantly to the current balance
Children With Chronic Conditions: Perspectives on Condition Management

This qualitative study described children's (8–13years old) perspectives of their chronic health conditions (e.g., asthma, diabetes, cystic fibrosis): how they perceived their condition, its management, and its implications for their future. The study used the family management style framework (FMSF) to examine child perspectives on the joint venture of condition management between the child and family. Children within this age group viewed condition management in ways similar to their parents and have developed their own routines around condition management. Future studies of this phenomenon comparing child and parent perspectives would further our understanding of the influence of family management
Translational Repression Protects Human Keratinocytes from UVB-Induced Apoptosis through a Discordant eIF2 Kinase Stress Response

This study delineates the mechanisms by which UVB regulates protein synthesis in human keratinocytes and the importance of translational control in cell survival. Translation initiation is regulated by phosphorylation of eukaryotic initiation factor 2 (eIF2-P) that causes decreased global protein synthesis coincident with enhanced translation of selected stress-related transcripts, such as activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4). ATF4 is a transcriptional activator of the integrated stress response (ISR) that has cytoprotective functions as well as apoptotic signals through the downstream transcriptional regulator C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP; GADD153/DDIT3). We determined that UVB irradiation is a potent inducer of eIF2-P in keratinocytes, leading to decreased levels of translation initiation. However, expression of ATF4 or CHOP was not induced by UVB as compared with traditional ISR activators. The rationale for this discordant response is that ATF4 mRNA is reduced by UVB, and despite its ability to be preferentially translated, there are diminished levels of available transcript. Forced expression of ATF4 and CHOP protein before UVB irradiation significantly enhanced apoptosis, suggesting that this portion of the ISR is deleterious in keratinocytes following UVB. Inhibition of eIF2-P and translational control reduced viability following UVB that was alleviated by cycloheximide (CHX), indicating that translation repression through eIF2-P is central to keratinocyte survival
Characterization of meta-Cresol Purple for spectrophotometric pH measurements in saline and hypersaline media at sub-zero temperatures

Accurate pH measurements in polar waters and sea ice brines require pH indicator dyes characterized at near-zero and below-zero temperatures and high salinities. We present experimentally determined physical and chemical characteristics of purified meta-Cresol Purple (mCP) pH indicator dye suitable for pH measurements in seawater and conservative seawater-derived brines at salinities (S) between 35 and 100 and temperatures (T) between their freezing point and 298.15 K (25 °C). Within this temperature and salinity range, using purified mCP and a novel thermostated spectrophotometric device, the pH on the total scale (pHT) can be calculated from direct measurements of the absorbance ratio R of the dye in natural samples as\ud
\ud
pHT=−log(kT2e2)+log(R−e11−Re3e2)\ud
\ud
Based on the mCP characterization in these extended conditions, the temperature and salinity dependence of the molar absorptivity ratios and − log(kT2e2)\ud
of purified mCP is described by the following functions: e1 = −0.004363 + 3.598 × 10−5T, e3/e2 = −0.016224 + 2.42851 × 10−4T + 5.05663 × 10−5(S − 35), and − log(kT2e2) = −319.8369 + 0.688159 S −0.00018374 S2 + (10508.724 − 32.9599 S + 0.059082S2) T−1 + (55.54253 − 0.101639 S) ln T −0.08112151T. This work takes the characterisation of mCP beyond the currently available ranges of 278.15 K ≤ T ≤ 308.15 K and 20 ≤ S ≤ 40 in natural seawater, thereby allowing high quality pHT measurements in polar systems
The innovation debt penalty: cost of debt, loan default, and the effects of a public loan guarantee on high-tech firms

High-technology firms per se are perceived to be more risky than other, more conventional, firms. It follows that financial institutions will take this into account when designing loan contracts, and that this will manifest itself in more costly debt. In this paper we empirically test whether the provision of a government loan guarantee fundamentally changes the way lenders price debt to high-tech firms. Further, we also examine whether there are differential loan price effects of a public guarantee depending on the nature of the firms themselves and the nature of the economic and innovation environment that surrounds them. Using a large UK dataset of 29,266 guarantee backed loans we find that there is a high-tech risk premium which is justified by higher default, but, in general, that this premium is altered significantly when a public guarantee is provided for all firms. Further, all these loan price effects differ on precise spatial economic and innovation attributes
Solving 2D-pattern matching with networks of picture processors

We propose a solution based on networks of picture processors to the problem of picture pattern matching. The network solving the problem can be informally described as follows: it consists of two subnetworks, one of them extracts simultaneously all subpictures of the same size from the input picture and sends them to the second subnetwork. The second subnetwork checks whether any of the received pictures is identical to the pattern. We present an efficient solution based on networks with evolutionary processors only, for patterns with at most three rows or columns. Afterwards, we present a solution based on networks containing both evolutionary and hiding processors running in O(n+m+kl+k) computational (processing and communication) steps, where the input picture and the pattern are of size (n,m) and (k,l), respectively
Collaborative mapping of emerging cities in developing countries: the León Emergente Project

In the expanding constellation of collaborative map-making initiatives, a growing number of small local projects coexist along with more ambitious and global ones. In developing countries, their existence is not only compatible and complementary, but also necessary, since they meet different needs and pursue diverse and essential objectives, in addition to collecting and sharing geo-located data. In this context, this paper describes the León Emergente initiative, a collaborative living atlas for the city of León in Nicaragua. The results are presented through two main maps that illustrate, for the first time, the formal and informal economic activity of the city as well as the health facilities in relation to the distribution of population across the city. The paper also describes the Leon Emergente online platform and presents a number of online maps that not only represent, but also collect data on different urban aspects and dynamics
Narrow-band photodetection based on M-plane GaN films

Rapid identification of a range of hazardous airborne biological and chemical agents requires simultaneous detection at several specific wavelengths, and consequently a set of photodetectors with very narrow-band spectral responsivity. We demonstrate two ultraviolet photodetection configurations based on strained M-plane GaN films on LiAlO2(100) substrates grown by molecular-beam epitaxy with a detection bandwidth below 8 nm. The optical band gap of the film depends on the orientation of the linear polarization of the incident light relative to the c-axis of GaN, which lies in the film plane. The first configuration consists of a polarizationsensitive planar Schottky photodetector and a filter. An orthogonal alignment of the c-axis of the photodetector and the filter produces a detection system with a peak responsivity at 360 nm and a bandwidth of 6 nm. The second one consists of two planar Schottky photodetectors with their c-axes oriented perpendicular to each other. The difference signal between the two photodetectors produces a peak responsivity at 358 nm and a bandwidth of 7.3 nm
Shadow analysis: A method for measuring soil surface roughness

Erosion potential and the effects of tillage can be evaluated from quantitative descriptions of soil surface roughness. The present study therefore aimed to fill the need for a reliable, low-cost and convenient method to measure that parameter. Based on the interpretation of micro-topographic shadows, this new procedure is primarily designed for use in the field after tillage. The principle underlying shadow analysis is the direct relationship between soil surface roughness and the shadows cast by soil structures under fixed sunlight conditions. The results obtained with this method were compared to the statistical indexes used to interpret field readings recorded by a pin meter. The tests were conducted on 4-m2 sandy loam and sandy clay loam plots divided into 1-m2 subplots tilled with three different tools: chisel, tiller and roller. The highly significant correlation between the statistical indexes and shadow analysis results obtained in the laboratory as well as in the field for all the soil–tool combinations proved that both variability (CV) and dispersion (SD) are accommodated by the new method. This procedure simplifies the interpretation of soil surface roughness and shortens the time involved in field operations by a factor ranging from 12 to 20
The CM-proteins from cereal endosperm: Immunochemical relationships

The CM-proteins, which are salt-soluble proteins that can be extracted with chloroform: methanol (2: 1, v/v), seem to be present in the endosperm of all the cereal species investigated. Antibodies raised against a mixture of the barley CM-proteins (A-H) cross-reacted with wheat and rye proteins in Ouchterlony tests and a detailed study was carried out for purified wheat (CM1, CM2. CM3. CM3') and barley (CMa, CMb, CMc, CMd) CM-proteins. [35Sl-Cysteine-labelled endosperm proteins from wheat and barley were investigated by immuno-precipitation, electrophoresis and fluorography using the antibodies (A-H) and also those to a mixture of wheat CM-proteins and to CMd. There was complete antigenic identity for all the wheat proteins and CMd, some of the other proteins showed partial antigenic identity. Previously proposed genetic and biochemical relationships among these proteins were confirmed in the present study
Comparison of different stomatal conductance algorithms for ozone flux modelling

A multiplicative and a semi-mechanistic, BWB-type [Ball, J.T., Woodrow, I.E., Berry, J.A., 1987. A model predicting stomatalconductance and its contribution to the control of photosynthesis under different environmental conditions. In: Biggens, J. (Ed.), Progress in Photosynthesis Research, vol. IV. Martinus Nijhoff, Dordrecht, pp. 221–224.] algorithm for calculating stomatalconductance (gs) at the leaf level have been parameterised for two crop and two tree species to test their use in regional scale ozone deposition modelling. The algorithms were tested against measured, site-specific data for durum wheat, grapevine, beech and birch of different European provenances. A direct comparison of both algorithms showed a similar performance in predicting hourly means and daily time-courses of gs, whereas the multiplicative algorithm outperformed the BWB-type algorithm in modelling seasonal time-courses due to the inclusion of a phenology function. The re-parameterisation of the algorithms for local conditions in order to validate ozone deposition modelling on a European scale reveals the higher input requirements of the BWB-type algorithm as compared to the multiplicative algorithm because of the need of the former to model net photosynthesis (An
Comparison of metaheuristic strategies for peakbin selection in proteomic mass spectrometry data

Mass spectrometry (MS) data provide a promising strategy for biomarker discovery. For this purpose, the detection of relevant peakbins in MS data is currently under intense research. Data from mass spectrometry are challenging to analyze because of their high dimensionality and the generally low number of samples available. To tackle this problem, the scientific community is becoming increasingly interested in applying feature subset selection techniques based on specialized machine learning algorithms. In this paper, we present a performance comparison of some metaheuristics: best first (BF), genetic algorithm (GA), scatter search (SS) and variable neighborhood search (VNS). Up to now, all the algorithms, except for GA, have been first applied to detect relevant peakbins in MS data. All these metaheuristic searches are embedded in two different filter and wrapper schemes coupled with Naive Bayes and SVM classifiers
Inventive Productivity and Patent Quality: Evidence from Italian Inventors

By considering a regional sample of Italian inventors, this paper explores the factors behind the different individual performances in terms of number and quality of patents. Our reference population is composed of 570 inventors residing in the Marche region who, over the period 1991-2005, have contributed to 743 patent applications filed at the European Patent Office. Looking at the number of patents per inventor, a Lotka’s distribution emerges suggesting that also for geographical areas inventive activities are highly concentrated in a few key inventors. To examine whether both the inventive productivity and quality are affected by individual and firm characteristics, we use the outcomes of a survey on 106 inventors. We find that the patent productivity is not influenced by individual characteristics but it is higher for the inventors working in teams and employed in large firms with greater patent portfolios. With respect to patent value we employ a composite index in which forward citations, claims and patent families are taken into account. Measured in this way, patent quality is significantly associated, along with the presence of an inventive team, with a set of individual features such as the inventors’ experience and level of education. This suggests that inventions coming from individuals working in small firms or independently can be as valuable as those generated by inventors occupied in larger companies.
Chaotic careers: a narrative analysis of career transition themes and outcomes using chaos theory as a guiding metaphor

In a rapidly changing world of work, little research exists on mid-career transitions. We investigated these using the open-systems approach of chaos theory as a guiding metaphor and conducted interviews with seven mid-career individuals chosen for their experience of a significant mid-career transition. Four common themes were identified through narrative analysis, where 'false starts' to a career were a common experience prior to finding a career 'fit'. Career transitions, precipitated by a trigger state and/or event such as a period of disillusionment, were an important part of this 'finding a fit' process. Overall, career success outcomes were shaped by a combination of chaos elements: chance, unplanned events, and non-linearity of resultant outcomes. We discuss implications for future research and practice. © 2012 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC
Design and manufacturing interface modelling for manufacturing processes selection and knowledge synthesis in design

This research is part of the regional French project IFP2R :
“ Manufacturing constraints integration in rapid prototyped part design
” with IFTS (Higher Technical Formation Institute of Charleville Mézières- France).The research results presented in this paper are related to the specification of a method and models that tackle the problem of manufacturing processes selection and the integration, as soon as possible, of their constraints in the product modelling (i.e. information synthesis). This method is based on a skin and skeleton design/manufacturing interface model that ensures connection between design and manufacturing information. The use of these features is justified by their capacity to make a product representation which allows integration of both design and manufacture data and therefore assists the product breakdown definition (including the 3D forms) by least commitment. This method first analyses the product data issued from functional analysis and component selection (form, roughness, tolerance interval, etc.). Then, it deals with manufacturing information (manufacturing processes constraints). The approach is formalised with IDEF and UML models and has been consolidated with software developments based on C++ and open CASCADE technologies
Application of CrAlN coatings on carbide substrates in routing of MDF

This study deals with the development of Chromium Aluminium Nitride (CrAlN) hard coatings (by varying the nitrogen content in the plasma, the target bias voltage, the working pressure and the deposition time) and their characterization by physical and mechanical techniques (XRD, nanoindentation, Young’s modulus, stress, scratch-test, composition, etc.) in order to determine the optimal deposition conditions to apply the coatings to carbide substrates.
Moreover, in order to improve the adhesion of the same optimal hard coatings and as it was efficient with Diamond Like Carbon (DLC) coatings, we tried to modify the carbide inserts by chemical attacks with Murakami’s agent before machining. The coated tools (with and without Murakami’s attack) were then tested in routing of Medium Density Fibreboard (MDF). A comparison of the abrasion and shock resistance of the conventional tools with the treated ones, was made. The efficiency of Murakami’s agent was also studied. It was obvious that the coated carbide tools had greater tool life than the untreated ones. Besides, Murakami’s attack was not optimized or not a solution to improve the adhesion of nitride coatings on carbide inserts.Regional Council of Burgundy
ISOROY Franc
Predictive RANS simulations via Bayesian Model-Scenario Averaging

The turbulence closure model is the dominant source of error in most Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes simulations, yet no reliable estimators for this error component currently exist. Here we develop a stochastic, a posteriori error estimate, calibrated to specific classes of flow. It is based on variability in model closure coefficients across multiple flow scenarios, for multiple closure models. The variability is estimated using Bayesian calibration against experimental data for each scenario, and Bayesian Model-Scenario Averaging (BMSA) is used to collate the resulting posteriors, to obtain a stochastic estimate of a Quantity of Interest (QoI) in an unmeasured (prediction) scenario. The scenario probabilities in BMSA are chosen using a sensor which automatically weights those scenarios in the calibration set which are similar to the prediction scenario. The methodology is applied to the class of turbulent boundary-layers subject to various pressure gradients. For all considered prediction scenarios the standard-deviation of the stochastic estimate is consistent with the measurement ground truth. Furthermore, the mean of the estimate is more consistently accurate than the individual model predictions.ANR UF
Estradiol affects liver mitochondrial function in ovariectomized and tamoxifen-treated ovariectomized female rats

Given the tremendous importance of mitochondria to basic cellular functions as well as the critical role of mitochondrial impairment in a vast number of disorders, a compelling question is whether 17[beta]-estradiol (E2) modulates mitochondrial function. To answer this question we exposed isolated liver mitochondria to E2. Three groups of rat females were used: control, ovariectomized and ovariectomized treated with tamoxifen. Tamoxifen has antiestrogenic effects in the breast tissue and is the standard endocrine treatment for women with breast cancer. However, under certain circumstances and in certain tissues, tamoxifen can also exert estrogenic agonist properties. We observed that at basal conditions, ovariectomy and tamoxifen treatment do not induce any statistical alteration in oxidative phosphorylation system and respiratory chain parameters. Furthermore, tamoxifen treatment increases the capacity of mitochondria to accumulate Ca2+ delaying the opening of the permeability transition pore. The presence of 25 [mu]M E2 impairs respiration and oxidative phosphorylation system these effects being similar in all groups of animals studied. Curiously, E2 protects against lipid peroxidation and increases the production of H2O2 in energized mitochondria of control females. Our results indicate that E2 has in general deleterious effects that lead to mitochondrial impairment. Since mitochondrial dysfunction is a triggering event of cell degeneration and death, the use of exogenous E2 must be carefully considered.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6WXH-4N43RMD-2/1/f707d152004c4bc26ef124e8b3f71eb