Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Genetic algorithms in design of a synchronous reluctance motor

The work handles with dependency of variations in the rotor design on the performance of a three phase synchronous-reluctance motor (SRM). Analytical geometry-dependant equations for the d- and q-axis SRM magnetizing inductances are derived. The finite element analyze was used to include the magnetic nonlinearities and saturation effects on SRM performance calculation. The use of genetic algorithms (GA) as global optimization procedure in generating and optimization of un-predetermined rotor shape is shown. Rotor materials used in this analyze have two characteristics: non-ferromagnetic and nonlinear ferromagnetic. Goal of un-predetermined rotor design optimization is to achieve maximum torque for a given rotor volume.
Fast Retrieval Algorithm for Earth Mover's Distance Using EMD Lower Bounds and a Skipping Algorithm

The earth mover's distance (EMD) is a measure of the distance between two distributions, and it has been widely used in multimedia information retrieval systems, in particular, in content-based image retrieval systems. When the EMD is applied to image problems based on color or texture, the EMD reflects the human perceptual similarities. However, its computations are too expensive to use in large-scale databases. In order to achieve efficient computation of the EMD during query processing, we have developed "fastEMD," a library for high-speed feature-based similarity retrievals in large databases. This paper introduces techniques that are used in the implementation of the fastEMD and performs extensive experiments to demonstrate its efficiency.
Clostridium perfringens Antigens Recognized by Broiler Chickens Immune to Necrotic Enteritis

ABSTRACT Little is known about immunity to necrotic enteritis (NE) in chickens. A recent study of broiler chickens showed that protection against NE was associated with infection-immunization with virulent but not with avirulent Clostridium perfringens.In the current study, six secreted antigenic proteins unique to virulent C. perfringens that reacted to serum antibodies from immune birds were identified by mass spectrophotometry; three of these proteins are part of the VirR-VirS regulon.
An Analysis of the Economics of Self Test

This paper presents an economic model of the testing process. This model is used to analyse the costs associated with producing and testing systems designed using self-testing ICs. A comparison is made between the costs arising from the use of self-testing ICs and those associated with the use of both LSSD and traditional test methods.
Decreased expression of cytochrome P450 2E1 is associated with poor prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma

Cytochrome P450‐2E1 (CYP2E1) is one of the major hepatic enzymes involved in the metabolism of procarcinogen. Our study aimed to investigate the differential expression level of CYP2E1 and its clinicopathological significance in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). CYP2E1 revealed low level of expression in 70% of the tumor tissues, when compared to the adjacent nontumor tissues, at both mRNA and protein levels. The low expression of CYP2E1 was significantly correlated with the aggressive tumor phenotype, including poor differentiation status (by the Edmondson grading system) (p=0.038), absence of tumor capsule (p=0.030) and younger age of the patients (p=0.002). Multivariate analysis indicated that CYP2E1 expression level and pTNM stage were independent prognostic factors for disease‐free survival. CYP2E1 was also shown to have a differential expression level in different liver tissues. The level of CYP2E1 was significantly higher in nontumor tissues from HCC patients compared to the intermediate level in cirrhosis livers from noncancer patients and normal livers from healthy persons. Tumor tissues were shown to have the lowest expression level. In conclusion, our results have shown that CYP2E1 is upregulated in the nontumor tissue and downregulated in tumor tissue, which is associated with aggressive tumor type and poor prognosis of the patients. It suggested that the differential expression of CYP2E1 may play an important role in HCC tumorigenesis. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Efficient abuse-free fair contract-signing protocol based on an ordinary crisp commitment scheme

A mathematical framework for conventional commitment schemes is proposed. Digital contract-signing protocols represent an important application of the proposed framework, where usually two mistrusted parties wish to exchange their commitments in a fair way. Building on a variant of the proposed framework, an efficient contract-signing protocol over the Internet is developed. The latter protocol is ‘optimistic, fairness and abuse-free’. Detailed security and performance analyses are provided. The performance analysis reveals an important computational aspect of the proposed protocol which requires only ‘four rounds’ to complete unlike existing protocols. Moreover, the communication and computational costs are relatively small. Given these theoretical and practical features, the proposed contract-signing protocol is not only of theoretical interest, but it also enjoys practical merits which make it very suitable for electronic transactions requiring online signature exchange.
Maslow's hierarchy of needs theory: It's relevance to Botswana youth affected with HIV AIDS?

Maslow (1970) asserted that society has hindrances that can prevent individuals from succeeding in selfactualization. Cultural beliefs are one of those hindrances. The conceptual frame work of this paper is based on Maslow’s hierarchy of needs theory and its relevancy to Botswana youth affected by HIV/AIDS. The writer presents her arguments in relation to the mentioned above title. The theory is humanistic and focuses on the individual’s potential. It can be more applicable to cultures that encourage independent self-conception. Some cultural beliefs are perceived as hindrances to youths affected by HIV/AIDS. For example, in cultures that promote interdependent self-conception, HIV/AIDS victims may prefer education about the epidemic that is related to their cultural context. Self-actualization, though it encourages an individual’s independence, with collective cultures it can disconnect an individual from relational advices.
Compact high selectivity and wide stopband bandpass filter using dual-layer structure

In this paper, a compact bandpass filter with high selectivity and wide stopband using the dual-layer structure is proposed. Fundamental-resonance with two close transmission zeros can be employed and adjusted by the hybrid microstrip/coupled-meander-shape defected ground structure (CMSDGS) cell. Then, based on these cells, an interdigital-coupled scheme with short-stubs is introduced to provide strong narrowband coupling and high selectivity for passband enhancement and stopband spurious suppression, respectively. Therefore, a filter with good passband and stopband responses can be easily achieved. The measured results show that the proposed filter operated at 2.45 GHz (i.e., f0) has the merits of an strong selectivity (i.e., the attenuation slope with 387.1 dB/GHz in the lower and 462.3 dB/GHz in the upper transition bands) and wide stopband up to 3.88f0.
On Evaluation Criterion of Image Super-Resolution Reconstruction

The image super-resolution and its reconstruction techniques are introduced, the super-resolution evaluation criterion is preliminarily discussed, the minimizing norm of image difference gradient modular square sum, frequency domain method and profile density curve method are proposed and simulation tests and analysis are carried out in this paper. It is shown from the tests that these methods are superior to the traditional methods of objective evaluation and can be better in accordance with the subjective evaluation results.
High-level energy characterization, modeling and estimation for OS-based platforms. (Caractérisation, modélisation et estimation de la consommation d'énergie à haut-niveau des OS embarqués)

The ever-increasing complexity of embedded systems that are developing their computation performances poses a great challenge for embedded systems designers: power and energy consumption. This thesis focuses on power and energy characterization, modeling, estimation of embedded operating systems (OS) energy consumption. First, an OS energy consumption characterization flow is introduced: a set of benchmarks, which are test programs that stimulate each OS service separately, are implemented. These programs are executed on the hardware platform: OMAP 35x EVM board. Based on hardware measurements, several hardware and software parameters that influence the OS power/energy consumption are identified and energy consumption mathematical models are extracted. The second contribution consists in proposing a high level model of software application, the OS services and hardware platform using an architecture analysis and design language (AADL). Then, AADL and mathematical models of OS services energy consumption are integrated in a multiprocessor scheduling simulator (STORM) in order to evaluate the OS energy overhead when using DPM and DVFS low power techniques. Finally, a flow of definition and verification of system requirements when allocating application tasks to the processors is proposed. Using a set of languages, RDAL and QAML, various real time and energetic constraints are checked when exploring the design.
MpcT is the transducer for membrane potential changes in Halobacterium salinarum

In Halobacterium salinarum mutants containing either of the light‐driven ion pumps bacteriorhodopsin (H+) or halorhodopsin (Cl–) as their only retinal protein, a decrease of irradiance in the absence of respiration causes a phototactic response. The conversion of the causal event, a decrease of proton motive force across the cell membrane, into a reversal of flagellar motor rotational direction was expected to involve a transducer. Via deletion analysis of all 18 known and putative halobacterial transducer (htr) genes, we found that Htr14, a methylatable membrane‐bound transducer lacking an extracellular domain, mediates the biological response, which includes adaptive methylation. Based on a minimal stimulus length of 200 ms and the determined cytoplasmic buffering capacity, we conclude that the change in the membrane potential (ΔΨ), and not that of the internal pH, is the signal‐generating event. Htr14 was therefore renamed to Membrane potential change Transducer, or MpcT. It is the first transducer for which the causative stimulus could be narrowed to a change in ΔΨ, as opposed to a change in pH or cellular redox state.
Bacillus subtilis Cysteine Synthetase Is a Global Regulator of the Expression of Genes Involved in Sulfur Assimilation

ABSTRACT The synthesis of l-cysteine, the major mechanism by which sulfur is incorporated into organic compounds in microorganisms, occupies a significant fraction of bacterial metabolism. In Bacillus subtilis the cysH operon, encoding several proteins involved in cysteine biosynthesis, is induced by sulfur starvation and tightly repressed by cysteine. We show that a null mutation in the cysK gene encoding an O-acetylserine-(thiol)lyase, the enzyme that catalyzes the final step in cysteine biosynthesis, results in constitutive expression of the cysH operon. Using DNA microarrays we found that, in addition to cysH, almost all of the genes required for sulfate assimilation are constitutively expressed in cysK mutants. These results indicate that CysK, besides its enzymatic role in cysteine biosynthesis, is a global negative regulator of genes involved in sulfur metabolism.
Proteasome-independent HLA-B27 Ligands Arise Mainly from Small Basic Proteins*S

Many of the constitutive peptide ligands of HLA-B27, a molecule strongly associated with spondyloarthritis, are proteasome-independent. Stable isotope tagging, mass spectrometry, and epoxomicin-mediated inhibition were used to determine their percentage, structural features, and parental proteins. Of 104 molecular species examined, 29.8% were proteasome-independent, paralleling the level of HLA-B27 re-expression in the presence of epoxomicin after acid stripping. Proteasome-dependent and -independent ligands differed little in peptide motifs, flanking sequences, and cellular localization of the parental proteins. In contrast, whereas the former set arose from proteins whose size and isoelectric point distribution largely reflected those in the human proteome, proteasome-independent ligands, other than a few matching signal sequences, were almost totally derived from small (about 6–16.5 kDa) and basic proteins, which account for only 6.6% of the human proteome. Thus, a non-proteasomal proteolytic pathway with strong preference for small proteins is responsible for a significant fraction of the HLA-B27-bound peptide repertoire.
Work-in-progress: prediction based convolution neural network acceleration

Although intra-layer parallelism is commonly used to expedite CNN execution, it is difficult to achieve inter-layer parallelism because of data dependence between layers. In the paper, we propose a two-phase prediction and correction mechanism to break the data dependence between CNN layers so as to enable inter-layer parallelism. Our technique achieves one more order of magnitude (from the order of 10 to the order of 100) CNN acceleration compared to other three state-of-the-art GPU based CNN acceleration mechanisms.
Fas on renal parenchymal cells does not promote autoimmune nephritis in MRL mice.

BACKGROUND Although Fas on pancreatic islets promotes autoimmune diabetes in mice, the role of Fas expression on kidney parenchymal cells during autoimmune disease is unknown. METHODS To determine whether Fas on renal parenchymal cells promotes autoimmune renal destruction, we compared apoptosis and pathology in Fas-intact and Fas-deficient kidneys in an autoimmune milieu. For this purpose, we transplanted single, normal kidneys from MRL-++ (Fas-intact) mice (3 months of age) into age-matched, congenic MRL-Faslpr (Fas-deficient) recipients after removal of nephritic kidneys. These Fas-intact kidneys were compared with Fas-deficient nephritic kidneys. RESULTS There is a progressive increase of FasL on kidney-infiltrating cells and Fas and FasL on renal parenchymal cells in MRL-++ kidneys during engraftment (0, 2, 4-6, and 8 weeks). By comparison, we detected an increase in FasL in MRL-Faslpr kidneys (3 to 5 months of age), whereas Fas was not detectable. The engagement of T cells bearing FasL with Fas expressing tubular epithelial cells (TECs) induced TEC apoptosis in vitro. However, apoptosis and pathology were similar in kidneys (MRL-++, 8 weeks postengraftment vs. MRL-Faslpr, 5 months) with equivalent amounts of FasL-infiltrating cells or FasL TECs, regardless of Fas on renal parenchymal cells. CONCLUSION The expression of Fas on renal parenchymal cells does not increase apoptosis or promote renal disease in MRL-++ mice. We speculate that the autoimmune milieu evokes mechanisms that mask, counter, or pre-empt Fas-FasL-initiated apoptosis in MRL kidneys.
Menstrual regulation clients in a village-based family planning programme

Summary Menstrual regulation (MR) was introduced as one of the components of the village-based family planning and meternal and child care programme initiated by the Cholera Research Laboratory, Dacca, in 70 villages in Matlab thana in October 1977. Social and demographic characteristics of the MR clients are compared with those of the users of other contraceptive methods offered by the programme. Reasons for pregnancy termination and the high continuation rates of contraceptive use after MR suggest that, in particular, the younger women are becoming increasingly conscious of controlling their childbearing and spacing their pregnancies.
Middleware, framework and novel computing models for grid and cloud service orchestration

Highly scalable, resilient commodity hardware along with the availability of huge amounts of data allow consumers and companies to access to a wide range of high-value services through a pay-per-use, pay-as-you-go model. The increasing need for intelligent services at large scale is bringing providers to optimise the use of resources in order to meet the increasing web-scale demand. Programming models are evolving to address the high complexity of service composition, which need resiliency and efficiency. Algorithms and technologies for intelligent orchestration allow multiple owners of cloud and grid infrastructures to satisfy customer requirements and business constraints. We assist in the development of new architectures, frameworks, middlewares and computing models, as well as innovative applications, aimed at supporting scientists and business analysts in the development of unified computing frameworks and data analysis at large scale. This paper summarises a number of contributions given in the area of distributed cloud and grid computing, with particular emphasis on service orchestrations and emergent applications for high-value services.
Sex identification in birds using two CHD genes

In theory, birds should control the sex ratio of the offspring they produce. In practice, we have very limited evidence to support this idea because of our difficulty in sexing nestling birds. In addition, extinction is facing an increasing number of birds. Our ability to help includes captive breeding which, again, is difficult if male and female adults cannot be recognized. Here we describe the discovery of a W-linked gene in the Great tit (Parus major). It is named CHD-W (chromodomain-helicase-DNA-binding protein W-linked), it is highly conserved and it is W-chromosome linked in a range of bird species. These birds also possess a second, non-W-linked CHD gene (CHD-NW). A single, simple polymerase chain reaction technique based on both genes can be used to identify the sex in a wide variety of birds.
Visualization of nucleosomes in thin sections by stereo electron microscopy

Nucleosomes (approximately diameter) were clearly visualized in thin sections (approximately 0.1 micrometer thick) of isolated chicken erythrocytes. The cells were lysed and fixed in low ionic strength buffers that maintained the chromatin as dispersed filaments and prevented the reformation of supranucleosomal structures. Stereo electron micrographs at high magnification demonstrate the stability of nucleosome structure in the dispersed chromatin state during fixation, dehydration, and embedding.
Isotope lymphography: a new method of investigating the role of the lymphatics in chronic limb oedema

A method of investigating the lymphatic system by radionuclide imaging in patients with chronic lower limb oedema is described. The clearance of 99mTc rhenium sulphur colloid from the interdigital space of 55 limbs and its appearance in the ilio‐inguinal lymph nodes 30 min, 1, 2 and 3 h later has been measured using a gamma camera in 34 limbs (26 patients) with the clinical and radiological features of primary lyphoedema, 10 limbs (8 patients) with venous oedema and 12 control limbs (6 volunteers). On visual interpretation the sensitivity of this technique in diagnosing lymphoedema was 97 per cent and its specificity 100 per cent, while it clearly differentiated between lymphoedema and venous oedema. Estimation of the percentage uptake of the colloid in the ilio‐inguinal lymph nodes at 1/2, 1, 2 and 3 h showed a markedly decreased lymph flow in the 34 lymphoedematous limbs and an increased flow in the 10 limbs with venous oedema. The results suggest that this technique can be used as a simple diagnostic outpatient technique in the investigation of chronic limb oedema.
An Efficient Method for Approximating Submesh Reliability of Two-Dimensional Meshes

An analytical model for submesh reliability of mesh-connected systems is proposed in this paper. A mesh is considered operational as long as a functional submesh of the required size is available. We use the principle of inclusion and exclusion to find the exact probability of having a functional submesh within a partition of the mesh. The partitions are taken along either dimension of the mesh. The partitions along the rows are called row partitions (RPs) and along the columns are called column partitions (CPs). The reliability of a partition is then used to approximate the submesh reliability of the system and, thus, this model is called partitioned mesh (PM) model. Instead of using a computationally intensive recursive algorithm as done in the previous work, a closed form approximation of the submesh reliability is derived in this paper. The PM model is validated through simulation and compared with the earlier proposed approximation techniques. It is shown that the PM model provides better approximations for submesh reliability with constant computational complexity.
Calcium affects OX1 orexin (hypocretin) receptor responses by modifying both orexin binding and the signal transduction machinery

One of the major responses upon orexin receptor activation is Ca2+ influx, and this influx seems to amplify the other responses mediated by orexin receptors. However, the reduction in Ca2+, often used to assess the importance of Ca2+ influx, might affect other properties, like ligand−receptor interactions, as suggested for some GPCR systems. Hence, we investigated the role of the ligand−receptor interaction and Ca2+ signal cascades in the apparent Ca2+ requirement of orexin‐A signalling.
The gamification of accessibility design: A proposed framework

The use of Gamification for the purpose of training and raising awareness has attracted considerable interest over the last years. However, the development of such solutions to use within the area of accessibility design has not been yet explored. In this paper, we present a proposed framework using Gamification as a method for engaging and motivating web designers to increase the adoption of the W3C WCAG 2.0 guidelines. It is anticipated that our framework will provide a more interactive and intuitive learning experience.
Survey and assessment of mammalian estrogen biological assays for hazard characterization.

With the growing awareness and concern regarding estrogens in the environment, the selection of reliable and appropriate methods for their detection and characterization has taken on considerable importance. The relevant literature covering the period from 1920 to 1996 was surveyed to identify methods that have been used to assay estrogens in mammalian systems. The estrogen biological assays identified were grouped into four categories: (1) reproductive tract response; (2) non-reproductive-tract target tissue response; (3) estrogen receptor binding; and (4) estrogen receptor-dependent transcriptional expression. The biological assays were summarized and their advantages and disadvantages discussed. A possible testing scheme also was provided to characterize estrogens, anti-estrogens, and pro-estrogens (chemicals metabolically converted to estrogens).