Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Preliminary study of functional electrical stimulation: Application of swinging trajectory based on knee-joint range-of-motion (ROM)

Nowadays, research and developments of control system for spinal cord injury (SCI) using functional electrical stimulation (FES) is widely used. Restoring mobility to persons with paraplegia with regard to FES-approaches for function restoration is really challenging issues. A sarcastic view of FES is the complexity control of muscle motor function by the artificial activation of paralyzed muscles. Therefore; laboratory apparatus setup to study the knee joint control by FES electrical stimulation test with computer-controlled stimulator system consisted of Matlab/Simulink-Hasomed has been arranged. Anthropometric measurements of length of the lower limb were made. Novel wearable lower limb suit developed for FES experimental. This scenario can be seen by monitoring the sinusoidal stimulation current range muscle contraction on able-bodied (AB) subject with the simulation work was applied on knee joint swinging trajectory range-of-motion. Significant value of sinusoidal stimulation current signal is determined and regulated to vary within potential of preliminary data mining attempts to model an efficient power consume of knee joint controller. At this stage, it can improve with better technique by reduce and determine overall parameter limitation using FES.
DCT/DPCM Hybrid Coding for Interlaced Image Compression

By the nature of images, picture elements in local regions are highly correlated with one another. In such cases, image compression techniques are introduced to reduce the amount of data is needed to represent the same information, either exactly or approximately. In this work DCT/DPCM hybrid approach have been designed and implemented for interlaced images. The image signal was first transformed row-wise using discrete cosine transform (DCT) and a differential pulse code modulation (DPCM) scheme then was used column-wise to get difference signal. For still images the same 3-bit quantizer was employed which makes quantization process easier. For interlaced images 3-bit quantizer was used for the odd field and 2-bit quantizer for even field, since the difference signal of the even field was very small. A compression ratios of about 13:1 was obtained for interlaced image. Objective measurements showed a high peak to peak signal to noise ratio without noticeable impairment.
Political complexity predicts the spread of ethnolinguistic groups

Human languages show a remarkable degree of variation in the area they cover. However, the factors governing the distribution of human cultural groups such as languages are not well understood. While previous studies have examined the role of a number of environmental variables the importance of cultural factors has not been systematically addressed. Here we use a geographical information system (GIS) to integrate information about languages with environmental, ecological, and ethnographic data to test a number of hypotheses that have been proposed to explain the global distribution of languages. We show that the degree of political complexity and type of subsistence strategy exhibited by societies are important predictors of the area covered by a language. Political complexity is also strongly associated with the latitudinal gradient in language area, whereas subsistence strategy is not. We argue that a process of cultural group selection favoring more complex societies may have been important in shaping the present-day global distribution of language diversity.
Contextualizing agile software development

This paper presents a contextual model for software‐intensive systems development to guide the adoption and adaptation of agile software development practices. This model was found especially useful when the project context departs significantly from the “agile sweet spot”, that is, the ideal conditions in which agile software development practices originated from, and where they are most likely to succeed, “out of the box”. This is the case for large systems, distributed development environment, safety‐critical systems, system requiring a novel architecture, or systems with an unorthodox business model or governance model. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Isolation of ortho- and paramyxoviruses from feral birds in Hokkaido, Japan--1980 and 1981.

Eight influenza viruses and 12 paramyxoviruses were isolated from 411 feral birds comprising 287 waterfowls of 13 species and 124 small birds of 16 species. Influenza viruses isolated from 40 teals consisted of 3 H3N8, 1 H4N6, 1 H6N6, 1 H8N1 and 1 designated as H8N? because the neuraminidase was not inhibited by any antiserum to N1-N8 neuraminidases. One H4N6 strain was also isolated from 5 spot-billed ducks. The H8N1 isolate represents the first isolation in nature of an influenza virus possessing such combination of hemagglutinin and neuraminidase. The paramyxoviruses were isolated from 9 of the 40 teals, 1 of the 11 mallards, 1 of the 78 eastern dunlins and 1 of the 72 Japanese buntings tested. Based on the antigenic specificity of their M proteins, 5 isolates from teals and that from an eastern dunlin were classified into. species Newcastle disease virus, 4 isolates from teals and that from a Japanese bunting were classified into Duck/Mississippi/75, and the isolate from a mallard was classified into the same species as Duck/Hong Kong/199/77. Viruses were recovered only from lower intestinal tissues or cloacal swabs.
Replication and incompatibility properties of plasmid pE194 in Bacillus subtilis

pE194, a 3.5-kilobase multicopy plasmid, confers resistance to the macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin B antibiotics in Bacillus subtilis. By molecular cloning and deletion analysis we have identified a replication segment on the physical map of this plasmid, which consists of about 900 to 1,000 base pairs. This segment contains the replication origin. It also specifies a trans-acting function (rep) required for the stable replication of pE194 and a negatively acting copy control function which is the product of the cop gene. The target sites for the rep and cop gene products are also within this region. Two incompatibility determinants have been mapped on the pE194 genome and their properties are described. One (incA) resides within the replication region and may be identical to cop. incB, not located in the replication region, expresses incompatibility toward a copy control mutant (cop-6) but not toward the wild-type replicon.
A novel cyclic beta-1,2-glucan mutant of Rhizobium meliloti

The periplasmic cyclic beta-1,2-glucans produced by bacteria within the Rhizobiaceae family provide functions during hypo-osmotic adaptation and plant infection. In Rhizobium meliloti, these molecules are highly modified with phosphoglycerol and succinyl substituents, and it is possible that the anionic character of these glucans is important for their functions. In the present study, we have used a thin-layer chromatographic screening method to identify a novel R. meliloti mutant specifically blocked in its ability to transfer phosphoglycerol substituents to the cyclic beta-1,2-glucan backbone. Further analysis revealed that the cyclic glucans produced by this mutant contained elevated levels of succinyl substituents. As a result, the overall anionic charge on the cyclic beta-1,2-glucans was found to be similar to that of wild-type cells. Despite this difference in cyclic beta-1,2-glucan structure, the mutant was shown to effectively nodulate alfalfa and to grow as well as wild-type cells in hypo-osmotic media.
Microsatellite analysis of population structure in Canadian polar bears

Attempts to study the genetic population structure of large mammals are often hampered by the low levels of genetic variation observed in these species. Polar bears have particularly low levels of genetic variation with the result that their genetic population structure has been intractable. We describe the use of eight hypervariable microsatellite loci to study the genetic relationships between four Canadian polar bear populations: the northern Beaufort Sea, southern Beaufort Sea, western Hudson Bay, and Davis Strait ‐ Labrador Sea. These markers detected considerable genetic variation, with average heterozygosity near 60% within each population. Interpopulation differences in allele frequency distribution were significant between all pairs of populations, including two adjacent populations in the Beaufort Sea. Measures of genetic distance reflect the geographic distribution of populations, but also suggest patterns of gene flow which are not obvious from geography and may reflect movement patterns of these animals. Distribution of variation is sufficiently different between the Beaufort Sea populations and the two more eastern ones that the region of origin for a given sample can be predicted based on its expected genotype frequency using an assignment test. These data indicate that gene flow between local populations is restricted despite the long‐distance seasonal movements undertaken by polar bears.
Towards beating the curse of dimensionality for gravitational waves using reduced basis

Using the reduced basis approach, we efficiently compress and accurately represent the space of waveforms for nonprecessing binary black hole inspirals, which constitutes a four-dimensional parameter space (two masses, two spin magnitudes). Compared to the nonspinning case, we find that only a marginal increase in the (already relatively small) number of reduced basis elements is required to represent any nonprecessing waveform to nearly numerical round-off precision. Most parameters selected by the algorithm are near the boundary of the parameter space, leaving the bulk of its volume sparse. Our results suggest that the full eight-dimensional space (two masses, two spin magnitudes, four spin orientation angles on the unit sphere) may be highly compressible and represented with very high accuracy by a remarkably small number of waveforms, thus providing some hope that the number of numerical relativity simulations of binary black hole coalescences needed to represent the entire space of configurations is not intractable. Finally, we find that the distribution of selected parameters is robust to different choices of seed values starting the algorithm, a property which should be useful for indicating parameters for numerical relativity simulations of binary black holes. In particular, we find that the mass ratios m_1/m_2 of nonspinning binaries selected by the algorithm are mostly in the interval [1,3] and that the median of the distribution follows a power-law behavior ∼(m_1/m_2)^(-5.25).
Origins of the Cottonwood Canyon fault rock in the Catalina Schist

1 0. Abstract Interpreting local structures and their role in a large scale system is important for understanding subduction zone and metamorphic processes. In the Catalina Schist of Santa Catalina Island, California, mélange associated with subduction processes consists of large blocks in a fine-grained matrix. This mélange is thought to have formed from the mixing of mafic and ultramafic protoliths, though the mixing processes themselves are poorly understood. The mélange shares a boundary with a coherent amphibolite unit. Within the coherent amphibolite and near this boundary is the Cottonwood Canyon fault with displacement on the centimeter scale and with thicknesses ranging from 15-150 cm over a distance of only about 10 m. Standard models comparing fault thickness and fault displacement cannot explain the thickness characteristics of this fault as the thickness of the fault core is uncharacteristically large for a low-displacement fault. This brings into question the origin of the fault rock. The fault rock may have been derived from the nearby incoherent mélange matrix, the coherent amphibolite hosting the fault, or a combination of both. The Cottonwood Canyon fault may demonstrate the dynamics of the mélange matrix, an incoherent portion of the mélange. The origin of the fault rock may also have implications for the timing of the formation of the fault relative to subduction; the mélange matrix would have been more likely to flow into a system during a warm period characteristic of subduction than during a cool period characteristic of exhumation. A variety of geochemical and petrographic techniques are implemented to test the hypothesis that the fault rock was in part derived from the mélange matrix. X-ray fluorescence is used to determine the major and trace element concentrations and thermal ionization mass spectrometry is used to determine Os concentrations and 187 Os/ 188 Os ratios. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry is used to determine other highly siderophile elements (HSE) concentrations, including those of Re, Ru, Pt, Ir, and Pd. Electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) and petrography are used to determine the mineralogy of samples, and petrography is also used to identify deformation microstructures in the form of fractures, folds, kinked grains, and evidence of crystal lattice strain. Magnesium, Cr, and Ni concentrations are expected to be high in more ultramafic rocks because the mantle is enriched in Mg and because Cr and Ni are both compatible elements. Amphibolite far from the fault has the expected relatively low concentrations …
International Tourists’ Travel Motivation by Push-Pull Factors and the Decision Making for Selecting Thailand as Destination Choice

This research paper aims to identify travel motivation by push and pull factors that affected decision making of international tourists in selecting Thailand as their destination choice. A total of 200 international tourists who traveled to Thailand during January and February, 2014 were used as the sample in this study. A questionnaire was employed as a tool in collecting the data, conducted in Bangkok. The list consisted of 30 attributes representing both psychological factors as “pushbased factors” and destination factors as “pull-based factors”. Mean and standard deviation were used in order to find the top ten travel motives that were important determinants in the respondents’ decision making process to select Thailand as their destination choice. The finding revealed the top ten travel motivations influencing international tourists to select Thailand as their destination choice included [i] getting experience in foreign land; [ii] Thai food; [iii] learning new culture; [iv] relaxing in foreign land; [v] wanting to learn new things; [vi] being interested in Thai culture, and traditional markets; [vii] escaping from same daily life; [viii] enjoying activities; [ix] adventure; and [x] good weather. Classification of pushbased and pullbased motives suggested that getting experience in foreign land was the most important push motive for international tourists to travel, while Thai food portrayed its highest significance as pull motive. Discussion and suggestions were also made for tourism industry of Thailand. Keywords—Decision Making, Destination Choice, International Tourist, Pull Factor, Push Factor, Thailand, Travel Motivation.
Differential expression of Pax6 and Ngn2 between pair‐generated cortical neurons

Progenitor cells that generate neuron pairs (“pair progenitor cells”) are implicated in mammalian cortical development, and their division has been thought to be “symmetric. ” However, asymmetric growth of two sister neurons generated by the division of a pair progenitor cell would lead to more efficient generation of neuronal diversity in the cortex. To explore mechanisms by which pair progenitor cells provide neuronal diversity, we examined molecular differences between a pair of neurons generated in clonal‐density culture. Time‐course analysis for the acquisition of neuronal markers and the disappearance of Pax6 and Neurogenin2 (Ngn2) demonstrated that 1) these transcription factors are expressed transiently in some but not all young neurons and 2) some neuron pairs showed uneven/asymmetric expression of Pax6 (19.5%) or Ngn2 (23.8%), whereas other pairs were either symmetrically positive or negative. Asymmetric Pax6 distribution in neuron pairs was not associated with asymmetric distribution of Numb, which raises an intriguing possibility, that Pax6 asymmetry in neuron pairs is produced by an alternative mode of the cell autonomous mechanisms. Stage‐dependent changes were noted in the pattern of Ngn2 retention in daughter neurons, reflecting qualitative changes in the pair progenitor population. We suggest that pair progenitor cells contribute to the generation of neuronal diversity through cell‐intrinsic heterogeneity and asymmetric division. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A pattern of enhancing innovative knowledge capabilities: Case study of a Chinese telecom manufacturer

Abstract During the 1990s Chinese telecommunication (telecom) manufacturing firms attempted to enhance their innovative knowledge capabilities by concentrating efforts on technological importation and assimilation. In order to improve indigenous technological innovation capability, Chinese firms enhanced their capabilities by accumulating and reactivating firm-specific knowledge. This paper attempts to explore the growth trajectory of some Chinese telecom firms' technological capabilities. Often the catching-up of a firm's technological capability is a trade-off process between the frequent accumulation of technical knowledge and the infrequent leapfrogging of the comprehensive technological capability. To explain the catching-up trajectory of technological evolution the Chinese telecom manufacturing sector was selected. A conceptual framework of the catching-up of technological capabilities is proposed. The framework and the implicit logic of technological catching-up are analyzed through a theoretical lens. A detailed empirical study of a Chinese telecom manufacturer is then presented to validate the capability catching-up pattern.
Taming Apoptosis in Peritoneal Dialysis

Excessive, insufficient, or untimely apoptosis may result in disorders of cell numbers. Peritoneal demesothelization is an example of disease by decreased cell number; untimely leukocyte apoptosis impairs peritoneal defense. Conventional peritoneal dialysis solutions accelerate neutrophil apoptosis. Glucose degradation products such as 3,4-dideoxyglucosone-3-ene (3,4-DGE) decisively contribute to apoptosis induced by these solutions, in both leukocytes and mesothelial cells and in both culture and peritoneal dialysis patients. Pan-caspase inhibition retards neutrophil apoptosis and improves peritoneal clearance of Staphylococcus aureus in animal models. However, regulation of apoptosis in mesothelial cells is more complex than in leukocytes, and caspase inhibitors may not be the optimal drugs to modulate apoptosis in these cells. In this regard, Bax antagonistic peptides protect mesothelial cells from 3,4-DGE. In addition, novel molecular targets have been identified. Short-term modulation of apoptosis may be useful to accelerate recovery and to prevent irreversible peritoneal injury following peritonitis.
The Myth of Reserpine-Induced Depression: Role in the Historical Development of the Monoamine Hypothesis

For five decades it has been generally accepted that reserpine, an antihypertensive and antipsychotic drug, causes depression. The discovery that reserpine depletes brain monoamines was an important factor in the development of the monoamine hypothesis of depression, and it continues to be widely cited in support of this hypothesis. The present paper argues that, contrary to prevailing belief, reserpine is not depressogenic. The reason for perpetuation of this myth is reluctance to discard the monoamine hypothesis. This hypothesis ushered the modern biochemical paradigm into psychiatry and is still of great importance. It serves as a heuristic to guide research, it enhances psychiatry’s prestige, and it helps to validate and promote drug therapy for depression and other mental disorders.
Give the people what they want: studying end-user needs for enhancing the web

End-user programming (EUP) is a common approach for helping ordinary people create small programs for their professional or daily tasks. Since end-users may not have programming skills or strong motivation for learning them, tools should provide what end-users want with minimal costs of learning –i.e., they must decrease the barriers to entry. However, it is often hard to address these needs, especially for fast-evolving domains such as the Web. To better understand these existing and ongoing challenges, we conducted two formative studies with Web users –a semi-structured interview study, and a Wizard-of-Oz study. The interview study identifies challenges that participants have with their daily experiences on the Web. The Wizard-of-Oz study investigates how participants would naturally explain three computational tasks to an interviewer acting as a hypothetical computer agent. These studies demonstrate a disconnect between what end-users want and what existing EUP systems support, and thus open the door for a path towards better support for end user needs. In particular, our findings include: (1) analysis of challenges that end-users experience on the Web with solutions; (2) seven core functionalities of EUP for addressing these challenges; (3) characteristics of non-programmers describing three common computation tasks; (4) design implications for future EUP systems.
Silencing Mitogen-activated Protein 4 Kinase 4 (MAP4K4) Protects Beta Cells from Tumor Necrosis Factor-α-induced Decrease of IRS-2 and Inhibition of Glucose-stimulated Insulin Secretion*

Obesity and type 2 diabetes present partially overlapping phenotypes with systemic inflammation as a common feature, raising the hypothesis that elevated cytokine levels may contribute to peripheral insulin resistance as well as the decreased beta cell functional mass observed in type 2 diabetes. In healthy humans, TNF-α infusion induces skeletal muscle insulin resistance. We now explore the impact of TNF-α on primary beta cell function and the underlying signaling pathways. Human and rat primary beta cells were sorted by FACS and cultured for 24 h ± 20 ng/ml TNF-α to explore the impact on apoptosis, proliferation, and short-term insulin secretion (1 h, 2.8 mm glucose followed by 1 h, 16.7 mm glucose at the end of the 24-h culture period) as well as key signaling protein phosphorylation and expression. Prior exposure to TNF-α for 24 h inhibits glucose-stimulated insulin secretion from primary beta cells. This is associated with a decrease in glucose-stimulated phosphorylation of key proteins in the insulin signaling pathway including Akt, AS160, and other Akt substrates, ERK as well as the insulin receptor. Strikingly, TNF-α treatment decreased IRS-2 protein level by 46 ± 7% versus control, although mRNA expression was unchanged. While TNF-α treatment increased MAP4K4 mRNA expression by 33 ± 5%, knockdown of MAP4K4 by siRNA-protected beta cells against the detrimental effects of TNF-α on both insulin secretion and signaling. We thus identify MAP4K4 as a key upstream mediator of TNF-α action on the beta cell, making it a potential therapeutic target for preservation of beta cell function in type 2 diabetes.