Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Current mode filters using two output inverting CCII

Current mode Tow Thomas filter using two-output inverting second-generation current conveyor is given, the circuit has low input impedance, employs two grounded capacitors and three grounded resistors and has independent control on Q. A universal current mode filter capable of realizing the five filter functions is also given. Both circuits have low sensitivities to all circuit components. Spice simulation results are included. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification assay to rapidly diagnose foot-and-mouth disease virus C

A reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) assay was developed to rapidly detect foot-and-mouth disease virus serotype C (FMDV C). By testing 10-fold serial dilutions of FMDV C samples, sensitivity of the FMDV C RT-LAMP was found to be 10 times higher than that of conventional reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR). No cross-reactivity with A, Asia 1, or O FMDV or swine vesicular disease virus (SVDV) indicated that FMDV C RT-LAMP may be an exciting novel method for detecting FMDV C.
Transplantation of feeder‐free human induced pluripotent stem cell–derived cortical neuron progenitors in adult male Wistar rats with focal brain ischemia

The use of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) eliminates the ethical issues associated with fetal or embryonic materials, thus allowing progress in cell therapy research for ischemic stroke. Strict regulation of cell therapy development requires the xeno‐free condition to eliminate clinical complications. Maintenance of hiPSCs with feeder‐free condition presents a higher degree of spontaneous differentiation in comparison with conventional cultures. Therefore, feeder‐free derivation might be not ideal for developing transplantable hiPSC derivatives. We developed the feeder‐free condition for differentiation of cortical neurons from hiPSCs. Then, we evaluated the cells' characteristics upon transplantation into the sham and focal brain ischemia on adult male Wistar rats. Grafts in lesioned brains demonstrated polarized reactivity toward the ischemic border, indicated by directional preferences in axonal outgrowth and cellular migration, with no influence on graft survival. Following the transplantation, forelimb asymmetry was better restored compared with controls. Herein, we provide evidence to support the use of the xeno‐free condition for the development of cell therapy for ischemic stroke.
A game theoretic approach to balancing energy consumption in heterogeneous wireless sensor networks

Energy balancing is an effective technique in enhancing the lifetime of a wireless sensor network WSN. Specifically, balancing the energy consumption among sensors can prevent losing some critical sensors prematurely due to energy exhaustion so that the WSN's coverage can be maintained. However, the heterogeneous hostile operating conditions-different transmission distances, varying fading environments, and distinct residual energy levels-have made energy balancing a highly challenging task. A key issue in energy balancing is to maintain a certain level of energy fairness in the whole WSN. To achieve energy fairness, the transmission load should be allocated among sensors such that, regardless of a sensor's working conditions, no sensor node should be unfairly overburdened. In this paper, we model the transmission load assignment in WSN as a game. With our novel utility function that can capture realistic sensors' behaviors, we have derived the Nash equilibrium NE of the energy balancing game. Most importantly, under the NE, while each sensor can maximize its own payoff, the global objective of energy balancing can also be achieved. Moreover, by incorporating a penalty mechanism, the delivery rate and delay constraints imposed by the WSN application can be satisfied. Through extensive simulations, our game theoretic approach is shown to be effective in that adequate energy balancing is achieved and, consequently, network lifetime is significantly enhanced. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Genome Characteristics of a Novel Phage from Bacillus thuringiensis Showing High Similarity with Phage from Bacillus cereus

Bacillus thuringiensis is an important entomopathogenic bacterium belongs to the Bacillus cereus group, which also includes B. anthracis and B. cereus. Several genomes of phages originating from this group had been sequenced, but no genome of Siphoviridae phage from B. thuringiensis has been reported. We recently sequenced and analyzed the genome of a novel phage, BtCS33, from a B. thuringiensis strain, subsp. kurstaki CS33, and compared the gneome of this phage to other phages of the B. cereus group. BtCS33 was the first Siphoviridae phage among the sequenced B. thuringiensis phages. It produced small, turbid plaques on bacterial plates and had a narrow host range. BtCS33 possessed a linear, double-stranded DNA genome of 41,992 bp with 57 putative open reading frames (ORFs). It had a typical genome structure consisting of three modules: the “late” region, the “lysogeny-lysis” region and the “early” region. BtCS33 exhibited high similarity with several phages, B. cereus phage Wβ and some variants of Wβ, in genome organization and the amino acid sequences of structural proteins. There were two ORFs, ORF22 and ORF35, in the genome of BtCS33 that were also found in the genomes of B. cereus phage Wβ and may be involved in regulating sporulation of the host cell. Based on these observations and analysis of phylogenetic trees, we deduced that B. thuringiensis phage BtCS33 and B. cereus phage Wβ may have a common distant ancestor.
Validation of cutaneous lymphoma international prognostic index (CLIPI) for mycosis fungoides and Sézary syndrome

Abstract We sought to evaluate the performance of the cutaneous lymphoma international prognostic index (CLIPI), a prognostic index for mycosis fungoides (MF), and Sézary syndrome (SS), in our cohort of patients seen at Emory University between 1998 and 2013. Additionally, we examined the prognostic significance of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), B0a/b, and CD30 status. A total of 390 patients were included in analysis: 78.2% early stage (IA-IIA), 7.2% with SS, 53.1% male, mean age 53.5 years. CLIPI stratified patients into low, intermediate, and high-risk groups for overall survival (OS) and progression free survival (PFS) for early stage patients (p < 0.0001), but was not significant for late stage patients. On multivariable analysis for early stage patients, age >60, plaques, folliculotropic disease was significant for OS and age >60, plaques, N1/Nx was significant for PFS. In the overall cohort, CD30+, elevated LDH, and B0b were significant for worse OS and PFS.
Predicting the Flexural Postcracking Performance of Steel Fiber Reinforced Concrete from the Pullout of Single Fibers

A model based on simple principles of mechanics is proposed to predict the flexural toughness of steel fiber reinforced concrete (SFRC), having the experimental pullout force-versus-slip relationships of single fibers at different inclination angles and the compressive strength of the matrix as the only two input parameters. The model is shown to be in good agreement with experimental results from tests on SFRC in terms of average response and kinematics of the failure mode. In addition, a reliability analysis has been incorporated in the model allowing for the prediction not only of the average expected response but also of its variability. This study of the stochastic nature of the process is also shown to agree well with the experiments and those reported in the literature in terms of the expected variability in the flexural toughness testing.
Contributions of Reward Sensitivity to Ventral Striatum Activity Across Adolescence and Early Adulthood

It was examined how ventral striatum responses to rewards develop across adolescence and early adulthood and how individual differences in state‐ and trait‐level reward sensitivity are related to these changes. Participants (aged 8–29 years) were tested across three waves separated by 2 years (693 functional MRI scans) in an accelerated longitudinal design. The results confirmed an adolescent peak in reward‐related ventral striatum, specifically nucleus accumbens, activity. In early to mid‐adolescence, increases in reward activation were related to trait‐level reward drive. In mid‐adolescence to early adulthood decreases in reward activation were related to decreases in state‐level hedonic reward pleasure. This study demonstrates that state‐ and trait‐level reward sensitivity account for reward‐related ventral striatum activity in different phases of adolescence and early adulthood.
Properties of latent variable network models

Abstract We derive properties of latent variable models for networks, a broad class of models that includes the widely used latent position models. We characterize several features of interest, with particular focus on the degree distribution, clustering coefficient, average path length, and degree correlations. We introduce the Gaussian latent position model, and derive analytic expressions and asymptotic approximations for its network properties. We pay particular attention to one special case, the Gaussian latent position model with random effects, and show that it can represent the heavy-tailed degree distributions, positive asymptotic clustering coefficients, and small-world behaviors that often occur in observed social networks. Finally, we illustrate the ability of the models to capture important features of real networks through several well-known datasets.
Will Corporate Governance Reform Create an Economic Revival ?

In this paper, we investigate whether firm performance is affected by corporate governance and the change of corporate governance after Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX hereafter). We find that firm performance, on average, is negatively associated with the corporate governance after the passage of SOX. However, the firm performance is not significantly associated with the change of corporate governance after SOX. Our results suggest that firm performance is not significantly affected by SOX.
Interpersonal Circumplex Profiles Of Persistent Depression: Goals, Self-Efficacy, Problems, And Effects Of Group Therapy.

OBJECTIVES We assessed severely and persistently depressed patients' interpersonal self-efficacy, problems, and goals, plus changes in interpersonal functioning and depression during 20 weeks of group therapy. METHOD Outpatients (32 female, 26 male, mean age = 45 years) completed interpersonal circumplex measures of goals, efficacy, and problems before completing 20 weeks of manualized group therapy, during which we regularly assessed depression and interpersonal style. RESULTS Compared to normative samples, patients lacked interpersonal agency, including less self-efficacy for expressive/assertive actions; stronger motives to avoid conflict, scorn, and humiliation; and more problems with being too submissive, inhibited, and accommodating. Behavioral Activation and especially Cognitive Behavioral Analysis System of Psychotherapy interventions produced improvements in depression and interpersonal agency, with increases in "agentic and communal" efficacy predicting subsequent decreases in depression. CONCLUSIONS While severely and persistently depressed patients were prone to express maladaptive interpersonal dispositions, over the course of group therapy, they showed increasingly agentic and beneficial patterns of cognitions, motives, and behaviors.
On Modulating Interfacial Structure towards Improved Anti-Icing Performance

The design of anti-icing surfaces presents an interface with high causal density that has been challenging to quantify in terms of individual contributions of various interactions and environmental factors. In this commentary, we highlight the role of interfacial water structure as uniquely expressing the physico-chemical aspects of ice accretion. Recent work on the topic that focuses on control of interfacial structure is discussed along with results by our research group on wettability of chemically modified surfaces and the role of ions in modulating interfacial structure. Suggestions for systematic studies to understand the fundamental interactions at play in ice adhesion at interfaces are made especially in the under-explored areas of cooperative hydrogen bonding and the role of solvated counterions. Insights expected from such studies would contribute to design of robust anti-icing hierarchies.
Balance Recovery Prediction with Multiple Strategies for Standing Humans

Human balance recovery from external disturbances is a complex process, and simulating it remains an open challenge. In particular, there still is a need for a comprehensive numerical tool capable of predicting the outcome of a balance perturbation, including in particular the three elementary recovery strategies: ankle, hip and stepping with variable step duration. In order to fill this gap we further developed a previously proposed multiple step balance recovery prediction tool to include the use of the hip strategy and variable step duration. Simulated recovery reactions are compared against observations from different experimental situations from the literature. Reasonable accuracy in terms of step positions and durations were obtained for these different situations using a single set of controller parameters. Moreover, variations in the use of the hip strategy and the step duration between situations were consistent with biomechanical observations. Such a model could be useful to better understand the balance recovery mechanisms, and could also be used to identify potentially hazardous situations.
JUdGMentS oF heiGht FRoM FaceS aRe inFoRMed BY doMinance and FaciaL MatURitY

People who occupy a larger physical space tend to occupy more social space as well. In five studies, the authors investigated how people estimate targets' physical height when provided with facial portraits. In Studies 1a and 1b, participants' estimates of height from targets' faces were significantly correlated with targets' actual height. Because dominance, facial maturity, and facial-width-to-height ratio (FWHR) are all relevant to individuals' perceived “social size,” in Studies 2a and 2b participants judged dominance, facial maturity, warmth, and height. The association between actual and perceived height was partially mediated by dominance and facial maturity, but not warmth or FWHR. In Study 3, measurements of chin area—an aspect of facial maturity—also mediated the actual-perceived height association. People may therefore draw upon the most relevant aspects of “social size” to extrapolate physical size, assuming that those who are more dominant or mature are physically larger—an inference that may.
ANIMAL WELL-BEING AND BEHAVIOR Effects of light sources and intensity on broilers grown to heavy weights . Part

This study investigated the effects of light sources and light intensity on growth performance, carcass characteristics, and welfare indices of heavy broilers (>3.0 kg) in 4 trials with 2 replications per trial. A total of 960 one-day-old Ross × Ross 708 chicks (30 males/30 females/room) were randomly distributed into 16 environmentally controlled rooms at 50% RH. A 4 × 2 factorial treatment structure evaluated 4 light sources (incandescent [ICD, standard], compact fluorescent [CFL], neutral light emitting diode [Neutral-LED], and cool poultry specific filtered LED [Cool-PSF-LED]) and 2 levels (5 lx, 20 lx) of light intensities. Each of the 4 light sources was paired with one of the 2 light intensities. Birds were fed the same diet with a 4-phase feeding program (starter, grower, finisher, and withdrawal). Feed and water were provided ad libitum. Birds and feed were weighed on one, 14, 21, 28, 42, and 56 d of age for growth performance. All mortality was recorded daily and feed conversion was adjusted for mortality. Immune response was determined on d 28 to d 35, whereas other welfare indices were performed on d 42 and 49, respectively. At d 56 of each trial, 20 (10 males and 10 females) birds from each room were processed to determine weights and yields. The BW, BW gain, live weight, and carcass weights of birds reared under CoolPSF-LED were different (P ≤ 0.05) in comparison to birds reared under ICD. However, FI, FCR, and mortality were not affected by treatments. There was no effect of treatments on fat or breast and tender weights and yields. In addition, there was no effect of treatments on ocular development, immune response, and other welfare indices, suggesting that the light sources evaluated did not compromise welfare of heavy broilers. It was concluded that the 3 light sources evaluated in this study may be suitable for replacement of ICD light source in poultry facilities to reduce energy cost and optimize production efficiency.
Semiempirical van der Waals interactions versus ab initio nonlocal correlation effects in the thiophene-Cu(111) system

The adsorption mechanism of single thiophene (C4H4S), 4-thiophene (C16H10S4), and their dimers on the Cu(111) surface has been studied in the framework of the density functional theory (DFT). The importance of the London dispersion effects on the molecule-surface adsorption geometry and the corresponding binding energy was investigated by using semiempirical and first-principles methods. Interestingly, the physisorption character of the thiophene bonding on Cu(111) suggested by strength of the molecule-surface interaction as revealed by the DFT calculations turns out to be a weak chemisorption even for the DFT ground-state geometry when a nonlocal correlation energy functional [Dion et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 92, 246401 (2004)] is used. Our ab initio calculations also suggest that the formation of thiophene and 4-thiophene dimers is energetically favorable with respect to the adsorption of single molecules.
Adopting the Perspective of Flow to Investigate the Effects of Participation Motivation on Volunteer Firefighters' Job Satisfaction

Volunteer firefighters are praised and respected by the public because of their selfless and passionate dedication. Previous studies have explored the participation motivations that drive people to work as volunteer firefighters and fulfill highly risky firefighting tasks, the communication and interactions among members of firefighter groups in work environments, the teamwork among group members, and the members’ perception of the organizations. This study incorporated the flow theory. Thus, we built and tested an integrated model for investigating the relationships among participation motivation, flow experience, and job satisfaction. This paper explored these relationships using structural equation modeling (SEM) to analyze data from volunteer firefighters in Taiwan. The SEM analyses results generally supported the hypotheses. The article concludes with theoretical and managerial implications based on the research findings.
ACTIVE Cognitive Training and Rates of Incident Dementia

Abstract Systematic cognitive training produces long-term improvement in cognitive function and less difficulty in performing activities of daily living. We examined whether cognitive training was associated with reduced rate of incident dementia. Participants were from the Advanced Cognitive Training for Independent and Vital Elderly (ACTIVE) study (n = 2,802). Incident dementia was defined using a combination of interview- and performance-based methods. Survival analysis was used to determine if ACTIVE treatment affected the rate of incident dementia during 5 years of follow-up. A total of 189 participants met criteria for incident dementia. Baseline factors predictive of incident dementia were older age, male gender, African American race, fewer years of education, relationship other than married, no alcohol use, worse MMSE, worse SF-36 physical functioning, higher depressive symptomatology, diabetes, and stroke (all p < .05). A multivariable model with significant predictors of incident dementia and training group revealed that cognitive training was not associated with a lower rate of incident dementia. Cognitive training did not affect rates of incident dementia after 5 years of follow-up. Longer follow-up or enhanced training may be needed to fully explore the preventive capacity of cognitive training in forestalling onset of dementia. (JINS, 2012, 18, 1–9)
Settlement plates as monitoring devices for non-indigenous species in marine fouling communities

Non-indigenous species (NIS) are one of the leading forces of change in coastal marine ecosystems and are often associated with fouling communities, especially the artificial structures of marinas and ports. As a result, monitoring of marine fouling communities is crucial to evaluate the introduction and spread of NIS as well as assess the efficacy of legislation aimed to prevent further introductions. Settlement plates have long been used as a means of studying fouling communities. Many factors such as orientation, movement, and substrate type have been shown to influence the number and type of organisms present in fouling communities, but one key question remains poorly studied: how well do settlement plates represent the established fouling community of a marina, especially regarding NIS? We investigated this question, by examining the sessile invertebrates on both marina structures and settlement plates from three marinas in San Francisco Bay (California, USA). Total species richness, NIS richness, and community composition on settlement plates were found to be similar to those on existing marina floating docks. Our results indicate that settlement plates can provide a sensitive and standardized measure of the NIS richness and composition in fouling communities.
Behaviourally Mediated Phenotypic Selection in a Disturbed Coral Reef Environment

Natural and anthropogenic disturbances are leading to changes in the nature of many habitats globally, and the magnitude and frequency of these perturbations are predicted to increase under climate change. Globally coral reefs are one of the most vulnerable ecosystems to climate change. Fishes often show relatively rapid declines in abundance when corals become stressed and die, but the processes responsible are largely unknown. This study explored the mechanism by which coral bleaching may influence the levels and selective nature of mortality on a juvenile damselfish, Pomacentrus amboinensis, which associates with hard coral. Recently settled fish had a low propensity to migrate small distances (40 cm) between habitat patches, even when densities were elevated to their natural maximum. Intraspecific interactions and space use differ among three habitats: live hard coral, bleached coral and dead algal-covered coral. Large fish pushed smaller fish further from the shelter of bleached and dead coral thereby exposing smaller fish to higher mortality than experienced on healthy coral. Small recruits suffered higher mortality than large recruits on bleached and dead coral. Mortality was not size selective on live coral. Survival was 3 times as high on live coral as on either bleached or dead coral. Subtle behavioural interactions between fish and their habitats influence the fundamental link between life history stages, the distribution of phenotypic traits in the local population and potentially the evolution of life history strategies.