Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Inverse muscle group activity estimation based on neuromusculoskeletal system model

In this paper, a novel neuromusculoskeletal system model for an inverse muscle activity estimation method is proposed. The neuromusculoskeletal system is represented as a state-space equation by standard models in physiology and the proposed neural input model. Conditions for the system observability are investigated and shown that they are physiologically satisfied. Hence, a state observer is utilized to estimate the muscle activity. To verify the proposed method, a simulation study is conducted for the case of normal gait. The estimation result shows reasonable values compared to well known electromyography (EMG) patterns, which demonstrate that the proposed method is able to estimate muscle activity. Since the proposed method is purely based on physiology and utilizes only joint kinematics and torques, it is expected to provide a simple, fast and physiological estimation, which can lead to human-friendly designs of assistance systems.
Implementing digital individual development planning in teacher education: the challenges of communication in relation to the development of ICT‐supported methods

This paper presents a study of the experiences of a group of teacher educators during the 2006–2007 academic year, when they participated in a project to try out and implement digital individual development planning (which in Swedish is digital ‘Individuella Utvecklings‐Planer’ or IUP) in a teacher education faculty at a Swedish university. The project group consisted of seven female teacher educators and three colleague mentors. They shared their experiences of the project and how they viewed their roles in the implementation process through individual narrative interviews. In order to illuminate how the attributes of digital IUP were perceived and how these attributes were communicated within the faculty, the data were analysed in the light of Rogers' (2003) diffusion of innovation theory. Furthermore, concepts of symbolic capital from Bourdieu (1984) were used in analysing the teacher educators' positions as change agents. The article presents a discussion of the circumstances in which digital IUP promotes reflective dialogue. Furthermore, it illuminates the change process and the participants as change agents from a power relations perspective, highlighting communication and shared pedagogical visions.
Histamine Enhances Theta-Coupled Spiking and Gamma Oscillations in the Medial Entorhinal Cortex Consistent With Successful Spatial Recognition

Encoding of spatial information in the superficial layers of the medial entorhinal cortex (sMEC) involves theta-modulated spiking and gamma oscillations, as well as spatially tuned grid cells and border cells. Little is known about the role of the arousal-promoting histaminergic system in the modification of information encoded in the sMEC in vivo, and how such histamine-regulated information correlates with behavioral functions. Here, we show that histamine upregulates the neural excitability of a significant proportion of neurons (16.32%, 39.18%, and 52.94% at 30 μM, 300 μM, and 3 mM, respectively) and increases local theta (4-12 Hz) and gamma power (low: 25-48 Hz; high: 60-120 Hz) in the sMEC, through activation of histamine receptor types 1 and 3. During spatial exploration, the strength of theta-modulated firing of putative principal neurons and high gamma oscillations is enhanced about 2-fold by histamine. The histamine-mediated increase of theta phase-locking of spikes and high gamma power is consistent with successful spatial recognition. These results, for the first time, reveal possible mechanisms involving the arousal-promoting histaminergic system in the modulation of spatial cognition.
Constraints from fault roughness on the scale-dependent strength of rocks

Principal slip surfaces in faults have measurable roughness generated during slip. The roughness both records previous events and poses the boundary conditions for future rupture. Digital, high-precision roughness data are now available at the field scale (tens of centimeters to tens of meters) for at least 22 faults, and at the laboratory scale (millimeters to tens of centimeters) for a subset of these. We quantify the slip surface roughness by measuring the aspect ratio, which is the average asperity height divided by the profile length. Higher aspect ratios indicate rougher surfaces. From the field studies, two major trends have emerged: (1) fault surface roughness lies in a restricted range with aspect ratios in the slip-parallel direction of 0.07%–0.5% for profiles of 1 m length, and (2) fault surfaces are rougher at small scales than large ones. These features can both be interpreted as fingerprints of scale-dependent strength, which sets a limit to the aspect ratio of the surface. The measurements imply that shear strength scales with the observation scale, L , as L –0.4 . The new understanding of the physical controls on roughness allows generalization of the extant measurements of a wide array of faults.
Neurotrophin-Regulated Sorting of Opioid Receptors in the Biosynthetic Pathway of Neurosecretory Cells

Neurotrophins modulate the endogenous opioid system, but the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. We observed an unexpected effect of neurotrophin signaling on the membrane trafficking of recombinant opioid receptors expressed in neurosecretory cells. Epitope-tagged δ opioid receptor (DOR) and μ opioid receptor (MOR) were differentially localized between surface and internal membrane pools, respectively, when expressed in primary cultured hippocampal neurons, consistent with previous studies by others of natively expressing neurons. Selective intracellular targeting of DOR was observed in nerve growth factor (NGF)-differentiated PC12 neurosecretory cells but not in PC12 cells cultured in the absence of NGF, where both DOR and MOR were localized in the plasma membrane. Surprisingly, NGF initiated intracellular targeting of DOR in PC12 cells acutely, within 60 min after initial activation of TrkA. The NGF-induced intracellular pool of DOR originated from a late stage of the biosynthetic pathway after exit from the endoplasmic reticulum and processing of N-linked glycans in the Golgi, resulting in the accumulation in cells of a biochemically mature “reserve” pool of intracellular DOR that exhibited depolarization-dependent insertion into the plasma membrane. The C-terminal cytoplasmic tail of DOR contains a signal determining the specificity of NGF-regulated intracellular targeting. These results indicate that cloned opioid receptors are differentially targeted when expressed heterologously in neurosecretory cells, establish a model system that facilitates mechanistic study of this process, and suggest a novel function of neurotrophins in modulating the anterograde membrane trafficking of opioid receptors.
Imail: Webmail service in Indian languages

The main objective of this paper is to introduce an electronic mail service in Indian languages. Electronic mail is an exchange of computer-stored messages by communication. E-mail is prominently used on the Internet and is still the most popular means of communication. At present these services are available in English like Gmail, Yahoo, Rediffmail, and so on. Language barriers are one of the biggest problems remaining for intercultural communication using the Internet. Here, proposed mail service is available in Indian languages. This paper shows how to send mail / receive mail and provide online chatting in all regional languages in INDIA.
Is There a Role for Chest Computed Tomography in Patients with Primary Spontaneous Pneumothorax

Background: Primary spontaneous pneumothorax is a relatively common condition in young adults. Although blebs and bullae are frequently found in patients with primary spontaneous pneumothorax, they are very rarely the actual cause of the pneumothorax. Objective: To assess our experience with chest computed tomography evaluation in patients with recurrent spontaneous pneumothorax as compared to their histopathology findings. Study Design: A prospective study analysis. Materials and Methods: From January 2013 to December 2016, 38 consecutive patients with unilateral recurrent spontaneous pneumothorax underwent video-assisted thoracic surgery. Their chest computed tomography scans were reviewed and compared with their histopathology findings. Results: Thirty-six adult patients with unilateral recurrent spontaneous pneumothorax were included; their mean age was 33.9 years, and they all received video-assisted thoracic surgery and mechanical pleurodesis. Blebs or bullae were present in the chest computed tomography scans of fourteen patients (39%); of those fourteen patients, five (35.7%) had emphysematous changes in histopathology. Seventeen out of the thirty-six (47%) had no blebs or bullae in their chest computed tomography scans; of those seventeen patients, ten (59%) had emphysema like changes and seven (41%) had blebs in their histopathology studies. The remaining five patients (14%) had normal chest computed tomography scans. Conclusions: We conclude that preoperative chest computed tomography is not beneficial in every patient with recurrence of primary spontaneous pneumothorax.
1.55 /spl mu/m photomixer sources for mm-wave heterodyne detection and frequency conversion with Schottky diodes

Millimetre-wave signals from high speed InP/InGaAs uni-traveling-carrier photodiodes (UTC-PD) have been used to drive Schottky diodes for harmonic generation, the down conversion of an 80 GHz tone and the heterodyne detection of 183 GHz radiation.
Geo-location for voice search language modeling

We investigate the benefit of augmenting with geo-location information the language model used in speech recognition for voice-search. We observe reductions in perplexity of up to 15% relative on test sets obtained from both typed query data, as well as transcribed voice search data; on a subset of the test data consisting of “local” queries — search results displaying a restaurant, some address, or similar — the reduction in perplexity is even higher, up to 30% relative. Automatic speech recognition experiments confirm the utility of geo-location information for improved language modeling. Significant reductions in word error rate are observed both on general voice search traffic, as well as “local” traffic, up to 2% and 8% relative, respectively.
Global radiative effects of solid fuel cookstove aerosol emissions

Abstract. We apply the NCAR CAM5-Chem global aerosol-climate model to quantify the net global radiative effects of black and organic carbon aerosols from global and Indian solid fuel cookstove emissions for the year 2010. Our assessment accounts for the direct radiative effects, changes to cloud albedo and lifetime (aerosol indirect effect, AIE), impacts on clouds via the vertical temperature profile (semi-direct effect, SDE) and changes in the surface albedo of snow and ice (surface albedo effect). In addition, we provide the first estimate of household solid fuel black carbon emission effects on ice clouds. Anthropogenic emissions are from the IIASA GAINS ECLIPSE V5a inventory. A global dataset of black carbon (BC) and organic aerosol (OA) measurements from surface sites and aerosol optical depth (AOD) from AERONET is used to evaluate the model skill. Compared with observations, the model successfully reproduces the spatial patterns of atmospheric BC and OA concentrations, and agrees with measurements to within a factor of 2. Globally, the simulated AOD agrees well with observations, with a normalized mean bias close to zero. However, the model tends to underestimate AOD over India and China by ∼ 19 ± 4 % but overestimate it over Africa by ∼ 25 ± 11 % (± represents modeled temporal standard deviations for n = 5 run years). Without BC serving as ice nuclei (IN), global and Indian solid fuel cookstove aerosol emissions have net global cooling radiative effects of −141 ± 4 mW m−2 and −12 ± 4 mW m−2, respectively (± represents modeled temporal standard deviations for n = 5 run years). The net radiative impacts are dominated by the AIE and SDE mechanisms, which originate from enhanced cloud condensation nuclei concentrations for the formation of liquid and mixed-phase clouds, and a suppression of convective transport of water vapor from the lower troposphere to the upper troposphere/lower stratosphere that in turn leads to reduced ice cloud formation. When BC is allowed to behave as a source of IN, the net global radiative impacts of the global and Indian solid fuel cookstove emissions range from −275 to +154 mW m−2 and −33 to +24 mW m−2, with globally averaged values of −59 ± 215 and 0.3 ± 29 mW m−2, respectively. Here, the uncertainty range is based on sensitivity simulations that alter the maximum freezing efficiency of BC across a plausible range: 0.01, 0.05 and 0.1. BC–ice cloud interactions lead to substantial increases in high cloud (
South American Weakly Electric Fish (Gymnotiformes) Are Long-Wavelength-Sensitive Cone Monochromats

Losses of cone opsin genes are noted in animals that are nocturnal or rely on senses other than vision. We investigated the cone opsin repertoire of night-active South American weakly electric fish. We obtained opsin gene sequences from genomic DNA of 3 gymnotiforms (Eigenmannia virescens, Sternopygus macrurus, Apteronotus albifrons) and the assembled genome of the electric eel (Electrophorus electricus). We identified genes for long-wavelength-sensitive (LWS) and medium-wavelength-sensitive cone opsins (RH2) and rod opsins (RH1). Neither of the 2 short-wavelength-sensitive cone opsin genes were found and are presumed lost. The fact that Electrophorus has a complete repertoire of extraretinal opsin genes and conservation of synteny with the zebrafish (Danio rerio) for genes flanking the 2 short-wavelength-sensitive opsin genes supports the supposition of gene loss. With microspectrophotometry and electroretinograms we observed absorption spectra consistent with RH1 and LWS but not RH2 opsins in the retinal photoreceptors of E. virescens. This profile of opsin genes and their retinal expression is identical to the gymnotiform's sister group, the catfish, which are also nocturnally active and bear ampullary electroreceptors, suggesting that this pattern likely occurred in the common ancestor of gymnotiforms and catfish. Finally, we noted an unusual N-terminal motif lacking a conserved glycosylation consensus site in the RH2 opsin of gymnotiforms, a catfish and a characin (Astyanax mexicanus). Mutations at this site influence rhodopsin trafficking in mammalian photoreceptors and cause retinitis pigmentosa. We speculate that this unusual N terminus may be related to the absence of the RH2 opsin in the cones of gymnotiforms and catfish.
Couple Communication, Emotional and Sexual Intimacy, and Relationship Satisfaction

Emotional and sexual aspects of intimacy in romantic relationships are important correlates of couples’ relationship satisfaction. However, few studies have examined the effect of emotional and sexual aspects of intimacy on relationship satisfaction within the context of the interpersonal relationship processes. In addition, the association between emotional and sexual aspects of intimacy remains unclear. With a sample of 335 married couples from the Flourishing Families Project, the authors examined the associations between couple communication, emotional intimacy, sexual satisfaction, and relationship satisfaction, using the couple as the unit of analysis. The results of path analysis suggested that sexual satisfaction significantly predicted emotional intimacy for husbands and wives, while emotional intimacy did not appear to have a significant influence on sexual satisfaction. Further, mediation associations were suggested within as well as between spouses. Within spouses (for each spouse), emotional intimacy and sexual satisfaction mediated the association between spouses’ appraisal of their partners’ communication and their own relationship satisfaction. Gender differences were revealed in terms of how a spouse's perception of sexual satisfaction is associated with his or her partner's relationship satisfaction. In this study, although wives’ relationship satisfaction was not associated with their husbands’ sexual satisfaction, husbands tended to report high levels of relationship satisfaction when their wives reported greater sexual satisfaction. Findings suggest that both components of intimacy—emotional and sexual—should be comprehensively addressed in research and clinical work with couples.
Participatory Sensing for Community Data Campaigns: A case study

Participatory Sensing is a process whereby individuals and communities use mobile phones and web services to observe, analyze, and present personal and environmental artifacts, events and experiences. In this technical report we describe a community data campaign that made use of smartphone based participatory sensing for environmental needs assessment. Community organizers defined the content of the participatory sensing campaign. 68 individuals participated over the course of 6 weeks, uploading over 450 mini-surveys, including over 700 images.
Exploring the Utility of Importance Performance Analysis Using Confidence Interval and Market Segmentation Strategies

In recreation and tourism industries, importance performance analysis (IPA) has become a widely used technique to determine how businesses are functioning and to guide resource allocation decisions. Despite its long history, IPA has been criticized for a variety of different reasons, causing some to question its overall usefulness. To determine whether IPA is a robust technique able to provide meaningful information about industry functioning, IPA’s utility was explored through two strategies: 1) use of a modifi ed IPA technique that employed confidence intervals (CI) rather than point estimates to establish the stability of attributes’ quadrant locations and 2) use of loyalty-segmented data (high versus low loyalty customers) to explore diff erences in attribute location. Using a survey methodology, 453 whitewater rafting customers from the Salmon River in Idaho and the Arkansas River in Colorado completed importance-performance assessments of 27 specifi c trip attributes (e.g., guide knowledge of the area and to experience challenging rapids) and a measure of customer loyalty. Results from the fi rst strategy (use of CI) showed that 9 of the 27 attributes had 95% CIs that overlapped IPA axes, indicating that a full third of experience attributes could not be reliably located within a single quadrant. For the second strategy (use of market segmentation), t tests were performed to determine whether signififi cant differences existed between high and low loyalty customers in terms of their importance and performance ratings. Results showed that high loyalty customers rated nearly all attributes as signifi cantly more important and better performing than low loyalty customers. However, IPAs constructed for the two market segments demonstrated few diff erences in attribute quadrant locations, indicating that IPA may have only limited ability to make distinctions among market segments or customer types. Taken together, findings from both strategies (modifi ed IPA and market segmentation) do not provide overwhelming support for traditional IPA as a reliable tool for developing management strategies. Recommendations are made for the rafting industry based on the modifi ed IPA.
The effects of free‐air CO2 enrichment and soil water availability on spatial and seasonal patterns of wheat root growth

Spring wheat [ Triticum aestivum (L). cv. Yecora Rojo] was grown from December 1992 to May 1993 under two atmospheric CO2 concentrations, 550 μmol mol–1 for high‐CO2 plots, and 370 μmol mol–1 for control plots, using a Free‐Air CO2 Enrichment (FACE) apparatus. In addition to the two levels of atmospheric CO2, there were ample and limiting levels of water supply through a subsurface trip irrigation system in a strip, split‐plot design. In order to examine the temporal and spatial root distribution, root cores were extracted at six growth stages during the season at in‐row and inter‐row positions using a soil core device (86 mm ID, 1.0 m length). Such information would help determine whether and to what extent root morphology is changed by alteration of two important factors, atmospheric CO2 and soil water, in this agricultural ecosystem.
C3H Mouse Mammary Tumor Virus Superantigen Function Requires a Splice Donor Site in the Envelope Gene

ABSTRACT Mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) encodes a superantigen (Sag) that is required for efficient milk-borne transmission of virus from mothers to offspring. The mRNA used for Sag expression is controversial, and at least four different promoters (two in the long terminal repeat and two in the envelope gene) for sag mRNA have been reported. To determine which RNA is responsible for Sag function during milk-borne MMTV transmission, we mutated a splice donor site unique to a splicedsag RNA from the 5′ envelope promoter. The splice donor mutation in an infectious provirus was transfected into XC cells and injected into BALB/c mice. Mice injected with wild-type provirus showed Sag activity by the deletion of Sag-specific T cells and induction of mammary tumors in 100% of injected animals. However, mice injected with the splice donor mutant gave sporadic and delayed T-cell deletion and a low percentage of mammary tumors with a long latency, suggesting that the resulting tumors were due to the generation of recombinants with endogenous MMTVs. Third-litter offspring of mice injected with wild-type provirus showed Sag-specific T-cell deletion and developed mammary tumors with kinetics similar to those for mice infected by nursing on MMTV-infected mothers, whereas the third-litter offspring of the splice donor mutant-injected mice did not. One of the fifth-litter progeny of splice donor mutant-injected mice showed C3H Sag activity and had recombinants that repaired the splice donor mutation, thus confirming the necessity for the splice donor site for Sag function. These experiments are the first to show that the splicedsag mRNA from the 5′ envelope promoter is required for efficient milk-borne transmission of C3H MMTV.
Management Implications for the Korean Wave

Based on Penrose's resource-based theory (RBT), this paper aims to examine the resource and performance structures of South Korean entertainment firms, which are driving the Korean Wave, or K-culture, and arrive at the management implications of the finding. The analysis of the 2011 and 2012 management structures of all 11 listed Korean entertainment firms shows low degree of matching between individual resources and insufficient interconnectedness between resources and performance. Sustainable management began to be discussed in the industry during this period due to checks by neighboring countries such as China and Japan. This calls for specialized and scientific management of resources by entertainment firms in order to better leverage their resources and raise the resources' direct contribution to creating new resources and enhancing performance.