Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The use of disjunct eddy sampling methods for the determination of ecosystem level fluxes of trace gases

The concept of disjunct eddy sampling (DES) for use in measuring ecosystem-level micrometeorological fluxes is re-examined. The governing equations are discussed as well as other practical considerations and guidelines con- cerning this sampling method as it is applied to either the disjunct eddy covariance (DEC) or disjunct eddy accumula- tion (DEA) techniques. A disjunct eddy sampling system was constructed that could either be combined with rela- tively slow sensors (response time of 2 to 40 s) to measure fluxes using DEC, or could also be used to accumulate sam- ples in stable reservoirs for later laboratory analysis (DEA technique). Both the DEC and DEA modes of this sampler were tested against conventional eddy covariance (EC) for fluxes of either CO 2 (DEC) or isoprene (DEA). Good agree- ment in both modes was observed relative to the EC systems. However, the uncertainty in a single DEA flux measurement was considerable ( 40%) due to both the reduced statisti- cal sampling and the analytical precision of the concentra- tion difference measurements. We have also re-investigated the effects of nonzero mean vertical wind velocity on accu- mulation techniques as it relates to our DEA measurements. Despite the higher uncertainty, disjunct eddy sampling can provide an alternative technique to eddy covariance for deter- mining ecosystem-level fluxes for species where fast sensors do not currently exist.
Measurements of unity gain cutoff frequency and saturation velocity of a GaN HEMT transistor

The measured intrinsic saturation velocity (v/sub si/) of carriers in a gallium nitride (GaN) high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) is very much lower than that predicted using Monte Carlo simulation. A novel method of extraction of the intrinsic saturation velocity (v/sub si/) of carriers has been developed utilising the deembedded s-parameters, thus enabling the calculation of v/sub si/ over a wide range of bias conditions. The method is equally applicable for gallium arsenide (GaAs) and indium phosphide (InP) based transistors. The measurements indicate for GaN-based HEMT a maximum deembedded saturation velocity of 1.1/spl times/10/sup 5/ m/s close to the pinchoff voltage (V/sub P/). It was found that self-heating had only a weak effect on the saturation velocity up to junction temperatures approaching 140/spl deg/C above ambient.
Identification and regulation of a gene required for cell fusion during mating of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

We have devised a screen for genes from the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae whose expression is affected by cell type or by the mating pheromones. From this screen we identified a gene, FUS1, whose pattern of expression revealed interesting regulatory strategies and whose product was required for efficient cell fusion during mating. Transcription of FUS1 occurred only in a and alpha cells, not in a/alpha cells, where it was repressed by a1 X alpha 2, a regulatory activity present uniquely in a/alpha cells. Transcription of FUS1 showed an absolute requirement for the products of five STE genes, STE4, STE5, STE7, STE11, and STE12. Since the activators STE4, STE5, and STE12 are themselves repressed by a1 X alpha 2, the failure to express FUS1 in a/alpha cells is probably the result of a cascade of regulatory activities; repression of the activators by a1 X alpha 2 in turn precludes transcription of FUS1. In addition to regulation of FUS1 by cell type, transcription from the locus increased 10-fold or more when a or alpha cells were exposed to the opposing mating pheromone. To investigate the function of the Fus1 protein, we created fus1 null mutants. In fus1 X fus1 matings, the cells of a mating pair adhered tightly and appeared to form zygotes. However, the zygotes were abnormal. Within the conjugation bridge the contained a partition that prevented nuclear fusion and mixing of organelles. The predicted sequence of the Fus1 protein (deduced from the FUS1 DNA sequence) and subcellular fractionation studies with Fus1-beta-galactosidase hybrid proteins suggest that Fus1 is a membrane or secreted protein. Thus, Fus1 may be located at a position within the cell where it is poised to catalyze cell wall or plasma membrane fusion.
The paracaspase MALT1 cleaves the LUBAC subunit HOIL1 during antigen receptor signaling

ABSTRACT Antigen-receptor-mediated activation of lymphocytes relies on a signalosome comprising CARMA1 (also known as CARD11), BCL10 and MALT1 (the CBM complex). The CBM activates nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) transcription factors by recruiting the ‘linear ubiquitin assembly complex’ (LUBAC), and unleashes MALT1 paracaspase activity. Although MALT1 enzyme shapes NF-κB signaling, lymphocyte activation and contributes to lymphoma growth, the identity of its substrates continues to be elucidated. Here, we report that the LUBAC subunit HOIL1 (also known as RBCK1) is cleaved by MALT1 following antigen receptor engagement. HOIL1 is also constitutively processed in the ‘activated B-cell-like’ (ABC) subtype of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), which exhibits aberrant MALT1 activity. We further show that the overexpression of MALT1-insensitive HOIL1 mitigates T-cell-receptor-mediated NF-κB activation and subsequent cytokine production in lymphocytes. Thus, our results unveil HOIL1 as a negative regulator of lymphocyte activation cleaved by MALT1. This cleavage could therefore constitute an appealing therapeutic target for modulating immune responses. Summary: This study reveals that the cleavage of the LUBAC subunit HOIL1 by the paracaspase MALT1 participates in T-cell receptor signaling.
Mean-square performance of adaptive filters using averaging theory

This paper uses averaging analysis to study the mean-square performance of adaptive filters, not only in terms of stability conditions but also in terms of expressions for the mean-square error and the mean-square deviation of the filters, as well as in terms of the transient performance of the corresponding partially averaged systems. The treatment relies on energy conservation arguments. Simulation results illustrate the analysis and the derived performance expressions.
Simplification and improvement in estimating drug dosage and fluid and dietary allowances for patients of varying sizes.

FOR over a century clinicians have known that infant dosages expressed per kilogram are excessive for adults and that adult dosages per kilogram are inadequate for infants. The Background Recognizing this lack of proportionality of dosage to body weight, Hufeland,1 in 1830, proposed on the basis of clinical experience a scale of doses according to size, the doses expressed as percentage of adult dose being closely proportional to body-surface area. Moore,2 in 1909, wrote as follows: It is an almost universal custom at the present time, in describing scientific work of a pharmacological or therapeutic nature intended either to establish .
Executive Function Mediates Effects of Gestational Age on Functional Outcomes and Behavior in Preschoolers

Objective: To investigate the role of executive function (EF) skills, measured by parent-rating and performance-based instruments, as mediators of the effects of gestational age (GA) on functional outcomes and behavior symptoms in preterm (PT) and full-term (FT) preschoolers. Patients and Methods: Children born PT (n = 70; mean GA, 29.6 weeks; mean birth weight, 1365 g) were compared to children born FT (n = 79) on composite measures of EF (using the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function and a performance-based EF battery), adaptive function, prereading skills, and behavior symptoms. For the entire sample, mediation analyses examined the effect of GA on the outcomes with EF as mediator. Results: Compared to children born FT, children born PT had significantly higher parent-rated EF scores and lower performance-based EF scores, both indicating more problems; furthermore, children born PT had lower adaptive function and prereading scores and more problematic behavior. GA contributed to adaptive function, prereading skills, and behavior symptoms for all children. EF acted as a mediator of GA for all 3 outcomes; different patterns emerged for parent-rated and performance-based EF evaluations. For adaptive function, both EF measures significantly mediated the effects of GA; for prereading skills, only performance-based EF was significant; for behavior symptoms, only parent-rated EF was significant. Conclusions: We propose standard assessment of EF, using both parent-rating and performance-based EF measures, in young PT children and other children at the risk of EF impairments. EF skills are measurable, mediate important functional outcomes, and may serve as intervention targets.
Women using a web‐based digital health coaching programme for stress management: stress sources, symptoms and soping strategies

Researchers have proposed and tested many theories to understand gender differences in stress experiences. However, little research has identified differences between subgroups of women in terms of stress sources, symptoms, coping strategies and help-seeking behaviour. The purpose of this study was to examine these characteristics of women seeking help for stress management through a digital health coaching programme. We examined cross-sectional data from 63,690 women between the ages of 18 and 59 years who participated in the stress management programme from 2001 to 2008. We divided the sample into age groups to identify developmental patterns in their stress characteristics. Work, time demands and psychological reactions to stress were consistent concerns, whereas between-group comparisons indicated diverse stress characteristics by age group. Importantly, women at all ages reported being uncomfortable asking for help. The findings suggest that technology-based solutions like digital health coaching may reach women who may not otherwise seek or receive help for stress management. The results also emphasize the importance of considering the unique characteristics of women when providing them stress management interventions. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Head pose estimation based on fuzzy systems using facial geometric features

Head pose estimation has many applications in the field of computer vision and it is a useful part of pose-invariant face recognition. In this paper, we propose a novel method to estimate head pose (yaw and pitch rotations) based on fuzzy systems by facial geometric features. Firstly, seven certain points are selected on face. These points includes some main properties. They are all visible even for large pose variations. Since no point is selected on mouth region, obviously this method is insensitive to facial expression. By these points, some ratios and angles are computed as the inputs of two fuzzy systems. The output data of these systems are the corresponding yaw and pitch angles. After training them and determining some parameters, they are used for head yaw and pitch estimation. This method is evaluated on two databases and the experimental results demonstrate that our proposed method is strongly accurate, robust, and beneficial for head pose estimation.
POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBON / METAL MIXTURES : EFFECT ON PAH INDUCTION OF CYP 1 A 1 IN HUMAN HEPG 2 CELLS

Environmental polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and metals coexist, and such mixtures could affect the carcinogenicity of PAHs, possibly by modification of PAH induction of the PAH-bioactivating CYP1A. The effect on PAH-mediated CYP1A induction of arsenic, lead, mercury, or cadmium (ranked as the most hazardous environmental metals by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry) has thus been investigated. Induction of CYP1A1 by benzo[a]pyrene (BAP), benzo[b]fluoranthene (BBF), dibenzo[a,h]anthracene (DBAHA), benzo[a]anthracene (BAA), or benzo[k]fluoranthene (BKF) was probed by ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase activity (EROD) in 96-well plates of human HepG2 cells, by immunoblot analysis, and by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Cells rapidly took up PAHs (BAP, BKF) from medium; by 24 h only 14% remained in the medium, and no detectable PAH bound to well walls. Induction efficiency (relative to dimethyl sulfoxide controls) was in the order BKF (16-fold) > DBAHA (14-fold) > BAA (4-fold) > BAP (3-fold) > BBF (1-fold), all at 5 mM PAH. The metals did not markedly affect cell viability at concentrations of arsenic, 5 mM; lead, 50 mM; mercury, 5 mM; and cadmium, 5 mM. At 5 mM PAH concentration, all of the metals decreased levels of PAH-induced CYP1A1 activities (direct inhibition of EROD activity was excluded) by variable extents and in a PAH-dependent manner. With BAP as inducer decreases in induction were arsenic, 57%; cadmium, 82%; mercury, 4%; and lead, 20%. The decreases were not a consequence of transcriptional down-regulation. One possible conclusion is that these metals could diminish PAH carcinogenic potential by decreasing PAH-mediated induction of their bioactivation by
Robust wide area control in power systems using linear matrix inequalities

This paper presents a wide area control for power systems based on Linear Matrix Inequalities (LMI). The methodology is based on a linearized model of the multimachine system considering the second order model of the machine. The proposed methodology improves the transient response of the power system considering wide area measurement based on phasor measurement units. Stability is ensured because Lyapunov-based constrains are included in the method. The LMI is solved using CVX, a program for convex optimizations that includes semidefinite programming models. Tests on two power systems considering different load scenarios were performed. The capacity of the methodology to generate a robust control was demonstrated. Finally restrictions associated with the overshoot on the control variable for stricter initial conditions within a permanent ellipsoid are included.
Convergent Actions of IκB Kinase β and Protein Kinase Cδ Modulate mRNA Stability through Phosphorylation of 14-3-3β Complexed with Tristetraprolin

ABSTRACT Regulation of gene expression at the level of mRNA stability is a major topic of research; however, knowledge about the regulatory mechanisms affecting the binding and function of AU-rich element (ARE)-binding proteins (AUBPs) in response to extracellular signals is minimal. The β1,4-galactosyltransferase 1 (β4GalT1) gene enabled us to study the mechanisms involved in binding of tristetraprolin (TTP) as the stability of its mRNA is regulated solely through one ARE bound by TTP in resting human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Here, we provide evidence that the complex formation of TTP with 14-3-3β is required to bind β4GalT1 mRNA and promote its decay. Furthermore, upon tumor necrosis factor alpha stimulation, the activation of both Iκβ kinase and protein kinase Cδ is involved in the phosphorylation of 14-3-3β on two serine residues, paralleled by release of binding of TTP and 14-3-3β from β4GalT1 mRNA, nuclear sequestration of TTP, and β4GalT1 mRNA stabilization. Thus, a key mechanism regulating mRNA binding and function of the destabilizing AUBP TTP involves the phosphorylation status of 14-3-3β.
Design of a Web-Based Health Promotion System and Its Practical Implementation for Cycle Ergometer Exercise

Health promotion is a very active topic in recent years. Most people want to exercise regularly, but there are various obstacles to keep staying motivated in their busy life today. In this paper, we propose a system design on a proven enterprise architecture that aims to support in constituting a comprehensive infrastructure for a wellness exercise environment. The design extends normal health promotion model to address cost-efficient and forward-looking for future health industry. Moreover, web-based technology has been widely adopted to implement a platform-nature solution in a heterogeneous computing environment based on the Internet. In particular, a Self-describing strategy for effectively developing and deploying exercise programs has been originally proposed and contrived. By applying the design to cycle ergometer exercise, we presented a practical exercise system realizing easy-to-use operation interfaces on a web browser. The web-based cycle ergometer exercise system was proved to be workable in our feasibility experiments.
A multiagent saver for the automatic management of HVAC systems

The high penetration of renewable energy generation has strongly modified the behavior of those users, or prosumers, that after shifting from passive receivers to active contributors, often aim to reach a zero net energy condition through a smart management of production, consumption and storage systems. A method for reducing energy consumptions of a Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system of a prosumer node is herein illustrated and verified by means of experimental field tests. Based on information from internal and external sensors, the proposed predictive controller can effectively minimize HVAC energy use by activating, for each working condition, the best agent, which is to be chosen, time by time, among three different, predefined energy savers. In all operating situations comfort levels in the conditioned zone were maintained within predefined limits.
Semi-global stabilization of linear systems subject to output saturation

It is established that a SISO linear system subject to output saturation can be semi-globally stabilized by linear output feedback if all its invariant zeros are in the closed left-half plane, no matter where the open loop poles are. This result can be viewed as dual to a well-known result: a linear system subject to input saturation can be semi-globally stabilized by linear output feedback if all its poles are in the open left-half plane, no matter where the invariant zeros are.
Assisting pre-registration students in the acquisition of clinical skills utilising computer assisted learning

Abstract Practical nursing skills form the bedrock of nursing practice. In line with Government initiatives, practitioners also need to master skills in information technology. In an attempt to address these issues, funding has been awarded for a nursing led multi-professional development of a Clinical Skills Website at the Florence Nightingale School of Nursing & Midwifery at King’s College London. The aim is to provide students with a high quality resource to promote mastery of clinical skills and information technology. It also provides practitioners with easily accessible teaching resources to use in their role as mentors.The following discussion explores the development of this innovative resource as well as the pedagogical underpinning, benefits, challenges and plans for future developments.
Correction of secondary cleft lip deformities.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES After studying this article, the practitioner should be able to (1) describe the common secondary deformities of the cleft lip, (2) determine the appropriate timing for surgical intervention to correct the deformities, and (3) determine the best method of addressing each of the individual secondary deformities of the cleft lip. Secondary deformities are common in children born with a cleft lip and palate. Patients with cleft lip deformity will undergo multiple surgical procedures early in life, so it is imperative to prioritize treatment of their secondary deformities and minimize the number of interventions needed. Of the many approaches used to correct these problems, surprisingly few work well consistently. As with all plastic surgery, the timing and procedure should be predicated on the severity of the deformity.
Model Selection of C-Support Vector Machines Based on Multi-Threading Genetic Algorithm

Since generalization performance of support vector machines depends a lot on parameter values of kernel functions, it is important to select optimal parameter values. How to finish optimal model selection of C-Support Vector Machines (C-SVM) with satisfiable speed is the main focus of this paper. We can hardly finish training process for large data sets with traditional methods because of long time-consuming cost. To take advantage of multi-threading and genetic algorithms, we studied a hybrid model selection method to select C and sigma of RBF kernel function for C-SVM classifier. This new method not only chooses global optimal parameters, but also saves training time based on parallel computing process. Experimental results show the efficiency and feasibility of the new method.
Enhanced HERIC based transformerless inverter with hybrid clamping cell for leakage current elimination

The transformerless inverters are widely employed in grid-tied PV systems, since they feature higher efficiency and lower cost compared with the transformer based inverters. One of the critical problems for transformerless inverters is the common-mode leakage current issue, which leads to serious safety and EMI problems. This paper proposed an enhanced HERIC based single-phase transformerless inverter with hybrid clamping cell to further eliminate the common-mode leakage current. Firstly, the leakage current problem caused by the parasitic parameters in the HERIC inverter is explored. Then, an enhanced HERIC based topology is proposed with its modulation and leakage current elimination principle. Through hybrid voltage clamping provided by the clamping cell, the common-mode voltage can be kept as constant, which helps reduce the leakage current and achieve excellent differential-mode characteristics. Finally, a 2kW test bench is built to verify the effectiveness of the proposed enhanced HERIC based inverter by comparing its performance with the HERIC inverter.
Sensitivity analysis of a current-source inverter-based three-phase grid-connected photovoltaic system

In this paper, first, a novel accurate small-signal model of a three-phase current source inverter (CSI)-based grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) system is derived. The model takes into account the nonlinear characteristics of PV arrays, as well as the controller and grid-side dynamics. Then, the developed small-signal model is employed to investigate the impact of different parameters on the stability of the CSI-based PV system, through sensitivity analysis. The sensitivity to variations of different parameters is assessed by tracking the positions of real parts of the eigenvalues corresponding to the dominant state variables in the s-plane. Insolation level, controller gains, and grid inductance are the parameters considered to study the sensitivity of state variables.