Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Design and simulation of MEMS based thermally actuated positioning system

In this paper, we have addressed the design and simulation results of an thermally actuated positioning system that is capable of producing in-plane as well as out-of-plane displacements. The device was designed to be consistent with the design rules of PolyMUMPs process. The coupled multiphysics simulation and study of the electrical, thermal and — most importantly — the mechanical behavior of the positioning system was done using COMSOL Multiphysics. The device has an inplane displacement range of 4.4 μm (2.2 μm in either direction). An out-of-plane displacement range of approximately 15 μm is achieved for an input voltage range of only 5V. The ability of precise control of movement of the positioning system in space is likely to lead to potential applications in diverse fields.
Hyper‐accurate ribosomes inhibit growth.

We have compared both in vivo and in vitro translation by ribosomes from wild‐type bacteria with those from streptomycin‐resistant (SmR), streptomycin‐dependent (SmD) and streptomycin‐pseudo‐dependent (SmP) mutants. The three mutant bacteria translate more accurately and more slowly in the absence of streptomycin (Sm) than do wild‐type bacteria. In particular, the SmP bacteria grow at roughly half the rate of the wild‐type in the absence of Sm. The antibiotic stimulates both the growth rate and the translation rate of SmP bacteria by approximately 2‐fold, but it simultaneously increases the nonsense suppression rate quite dramatically. Kinetic experiments in vitro show that the greater accuracy and slower translation rates of mutant ribosomes compared with wild‐type ribosomes are associated with much more rigorous proofreading activities of SmR, SmD and SmP ribosomes. Sm reduces the proofreading flows of the mutant ribosomes and stimulates their elongation rates. The data suggest that these excessively accurate ribosomes are kinetically less efficient than wild‐type ribosomes, and that this inhibits mutant growth rates. The stimulation of the growth of the mutants by Sm results from the enhanced translational efficiency due to the loss of proofreading, which more than offsets the loss of accuracy caused by the antibiotic.
Convolutional Recurrent Neural Networks for Dynamic MR Image Reconstruction

Accelerating the data acquisition of dynamic magnetic resonance imaging leads to a challenging ill-posed inverse problem, which has received great interest from both the signal processing and machine learning communities over the last decades. The key ingredient to the problem is how to exploit the temporal correlations of the MR sequence to resolve aliasing artifacts. Traditionally, such observation led to a formulation of an optimization problem, which was solved using iterative algorithms. Recently, however, deep learning-based approaches have gained significant popularity due to their ability to solve general inverse problems. In this paper, we propose a unique, novel convolutional recurrent neural network architecture which reconstructs high quality cardiac MR images from highly undersampled k-space data by jointly exploiting the dependencies of the temporal sequences as well as the iterative nature of the traditional optimization algorithms. In particular, the proposed architecture embeds the structure of the traditional iterative algorithms, efficiently modeling the recurrence of the iterative reconstruction stages by using recurrent hidden connections over such iterations. In addition, spatio–temporal dependencies are simultaneously learnt by exploiting bidirectional recurrent hidden connections across time sequences. The proposed method is able to learn both the temporal dependence and the iterative reconstruction process effectively with only a very small number of parameters, while outperforming current MR reconstruction methods in terms of reconstruction accuracy and speed.
New Evidence on the Late Bronze/Iron I Transition at Megiddo: Implications for the End of the Egyptian Rule and the Appearance of Philistine Pottery

n this article, we present new evidence pertaining to the transition from the Late Bronze to the Iron I at Megiddo and analyse data from past excavations. Meticulous excavations of stratigraphic sequences in different parts of the site, accompanied by good control over ceramic typology and a rigorous programme of radiocarbon dating, enable observing minute developments in the history of the site. We shed light on the history of Megiddo in the later phases of the Late Bronze Age and early days of the Iron I, the end of the Egyptian rule and the appearance of Philistine pottery. All three issues have implications beyond Megiddo.
ANALYSES OF MICRONUCLEI IN EXFOLIATED EPITHELIAL CELLS FROM INDIVIDUALS CHRONICALLY EXPOSED TO ARSENIC VIA DRINKING WATER IN INNER MONGOLIA, CHINA

The groundwater in Bayingnormen (Ba Men), located in Central West Inner Mongolia, China, is naturally contaminated with arsenic at concentrations ranging from 50 w g/L to 1.8 mg/L. Various adverse health effects in this region, including cancer, have been linked to arsenic exposure via drinking water. A pilot study was undertaken to evaluate frequencies of micronuclei (MN), as measures of chromosomal alterations, in multiple exfoliated epithelial cell types from residents of Ba Men chronically exposed to arsenic via drinking water. Buccal mucosal cells, airway epithelial cells in sputum, and bladder urothelial cells were collected from 19 residents exposed to high levels of arsenic in drinking water (527.5 - 24 w g/L), and from 13 control residents exposed to relatively low levels of arsenic in drinking water (4.4 - w g/L). Analytical results from these individuals revealed that MN frequencies in the high-exposure group were significantly elevated to 3.4-fold over control levels for buccal and sputum cells, and to 2.7-fold over control for bladder cells (increases in MN frequency significant at p < .001 for buccal cells; p < .01 for sputum cells; p < .05 for bladder cells). When smokers were excluded from high-exposure and control groups the effects of arsenic were observed to be greater, although only in buccal and sputum cells; approximately 6-fold increases in MN frequency occurred in these tissues. The results indicate that residents of Ba Men chronically exposed to high levels of arsenic in drinking water reveal evidence of genotoxicity in multiple epithelial cell types; higher levels of induced MN were observed in buccal and sputum cells than in bladder cells.
Delaunay-based optimization in CFD leveraging multivariate adaptive polyharmonic splines (MAPS)

Delaunay-based derivative-free optimization leveraging global surrogates (∆-DOGS) is a recentlydeveloped optimization algorithm designed for nonsmooth functions in a handful of adjustable parameters. The first implementation of the original ∆-DOGS algorithm used polyharmonic splines to develop an inexpensive interpolating “surrogate” of the (expensive) function of interest. The behavior of this surrogate was found to be irregular in cases for which the function of interest turned out to be much more strongly dependent on some of the adjustable parameters than others. This irregularity of the surrogate led to the optimization algorithm requiring many more function evaluations than might have otherwise been necessary. In the present work, a modified interpolation strategy, dubbed multivariate adaptive polyharmonic splines (MAPS), is proposed to mitigate this irregular behavior, thereby accelerating the convergence of ∆-DOGS. The MAPS approach modifies the natural polyharmonic spline (NPS) approach by rescaling the parameters according to their significance in the optimization problem based on the data available at each iteration. This regularization of the NPS approach ultimately reduces the number of function evaluations required by ∆-DOGS to achieve a specified level of convergence in optimization problems characterized by parameters of varying degrees of significance. The importance of this rescaling of the parameters during the interpolation step is problem specific. To quantify its beneficial impact on a practical problem, we compare ∆-DOGS with MAPS to ∆-DOGS with NPS on an application related to hydrofoil shape optimization in seven parameters; results indicate a notable acceleration of convergence leveraging the MAPS approach.
Current Sensor Fault Detection by Bilinear Observer for a Doubly Fed Induction Generator

A bilinear observer is presented to detect current sensor faults in a doubly fed induction generator. The state space model is derived from the voltage equations of stator and rotor. The bilinear behaviour of induction machines and its influence on the state space model is discussed. An open loop model suffers from model and parameter uncertainty. A closed loop observer is shown to greatly reduce these effects. Observer pole placement is mentioned. Feeding back rotor currents only, the observer becomes independent from stator current measurements. The resulting free residuals can be used for sensor fault detection. The observer is validated by laboratory experiment
Arm and trunk kinematic features during reaching in virtual and real world environments

In this study we characterized patterns of arm and trunk movement during hand reaching in two environments: virtual and physical. In the virtual environment, subjects used less trunk displacement, had jerkier and larger hand paths, and used more arm torsion around the shoulder-hand distal vector. In conclusion, virtual and physical environments do not generate identical motor performances. Differences in reaching patterns may be attributed to the lack of depth perception in the 2D virtual environment.
Evolutionarily conserved anterior expansion of the central nervous system promoted by a common PcG-Hox program

ABSTRACT A conserved feature of the central nervous system (CNS) is the prominent expansion of anterior regions (brain) compared with posterior (nerve cord). The cellular and regulatory processes driving anterior CNS expansion are not well understood in any bilaterian species. Here, we address this expansion in Drosophila and mouse. We find that, compared with the nerve cord, the brain displays extended progenitor proliferation, more elaborate daughter cell proliferation and more rapid cell cycle speed in both Drosophila and mouse. These features contribute to anterior CNS expansion in both species. With respect to genetic control, enhanced brain proliferation is severely reduced by ectopic Hox gene expression, by either Hox misexpression or by loss of Polycomb group (PcG) function. Strikingly, in PcG mutants, early CNS proliferation appears to be unaffected, whereas subsequent brain proliferation is severely reduced. Hence, a conserved PcG-Hox program promotes the anterior expansion of the CNS. The profound differences in proliferation and in the underlying genetic mechanisms between brain and nerve cord lend support to the emerging concept of separate evolutionary origins of these two CNS regions. Summary: In both Drosophila and mouse, anterior CNS expansion results from proliferation differences between brain and nerve cord, and is controlled by the PcG-Hox regulatory program.
Omni-directional vision-based parallel-parking control design for car-like mobile robot

This paper presents an omni-directional vision-based control scheme for the car-like mobile robot (CLMR), which possesses autonomous parking capability. At first, we apply the image processing technique to the omni-directional images to filter out the noise and find the characteristic points of the parking lot. From the image information, one can estimate the position of the CLMR in the parking space and figure out a feasible reference path. Then, we propose a fuzzy logical control to manipulate the steering wheel such that it can execute parallel-parking missions. Finally, the real-time experiment demonstrates the feasibility of the developed schemes.
Diagnostic value of urinary microRNAs as non-invasive biomarkers for bladder cancer: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND Bladder cancer (BC) is the fifth most common malignancy worldwide. The expression levels of microRNAs (miRNAs) in urine samples of BC patients have been demonstrated to be different from healthy people. Several studies focusing on the diagnostic value of urinary miRNAs for BC detection have been reported. The aim of this meta-analysis was to access the overall diagnostic accuracy comprehensively and quantitatively. METHODS PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, and CNKI were searched without language restrictions for studies about the diagnostic value of miRNAs for BC. The pooled sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative likelihood ratios (PLR and NLR, respectively), diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) were calculated using the random effects model. The summary receiver operating characteristic (SROC) curve was also generated and the area under the curve (AUC) was also reckoned to assess the diagnosis accuracy. Besides, Chi-square test and I(2) test were used to assess the heterogeneity between studies. Publication bias was evaluated by the Deeks' funnel plot asymmetry test. RESULTS Fourteen studies were included in this meta-analysis, with a total of 1,128 BC patients and 1,057 matched controls. The overall sensitivity, specificity, PLR, NLR and DOR of urinary miRNAs for the diagnosis of BC were 0.71 (95% CI: 0.67-0.75), 0.75 (95% CI: 0.70-0.79), 2.8 (95% CI: 2.3-3.4), 0.39 (95% CI: 0.33-0.46) and 7 (95% CI: 5-10), respectively. The area under the SROC curve was 0.79. Subgroup analyses suggested that the ethnicity and miRNA profiling had an obvious influence on the diagnostic accuracy. CONCLUSION The current analysis suggested that urinary miRNA panels may be a promising noninvasive biomarker in the diagnosis of BC.
A self produced mother wavelet feature extraction method for motor imagery brain-computer interface

Motor imagery base brain-computer interface (BCI) is an appropriate solution for stroke patient to rehabilitate and communicate with external world. For such applications speculating whether the subjects are doing motor imagery is our primary mission. So the problem turns into how to precisely classify the two tasks, motor imagery and idle state, by using the subjects' electroencephalographic (EEG) signals. Feature extraction is a factor that significantly affects the classification result. Based on the concept of Continuous Wavelet Transform, we proposed a wavelet-liked feature extraction method for motor imagery discrimination. And to compensate the problem that the feature varies between subjects, we use the subjects' own EEG signals as the mother wavelet. After determining the feature vector, we choose Bayes linear discriminant analysis (LDA) as our classifier. The BCI competition III dataset IVa is used to evaluate the classification performance. Comparing with variance and fast Fourier transform (FFT) methods in feature extraction, 2.02% and 16.96% improvement in classification accuracy are obtained in this work respectively.
Sequential Nucleation and Growth of Complex Nanostructured Films

Nanostructured films with controlled architectures are desirable for many applications in optics, electronics, biology, medicine, and energy/chemical conversions. Low‐temperature, aqueous chemical routes have been widely investigated for the synthesis of continuous films, and arrays of oriented nanorods and nanotubes. More recently, aqueous‐phase routes have been used to produce films composed of more complex crystal structures. In this paper, we discuss recent progress in the synthesis of complex nanostructures through sequential nucleation and growth processes. We first review the use of multistage, seeded‐growth methods to synthesize a wide range of nanostructures, including oriented nanowires, nanotubes, and nanoneedles, as well as laminated films, columns, and multilayer heterostructures. We then describe more recent work on the application of sequential nucleation and growth to the systematic assembly of large arrays of hierarchical, complex, oriented, and ordered crystal architectures. The multistage aqueous chemical route is shown to be applicable to several technologically important materials, and therefore may play a key role in advancing complex nanomaterials into applications.
Stability Properties for a Compactly Supported Prescale Function

We show that if $\phi$ is a continuous, minimally supported prescale function, then its translates are linearly independent on any set of positive measure in the unit interval. This generalizes results of Y. Meyer and P. G. Lemari{e.This result implies that a stability condition, introduced by Gundy and Kazarian for the study of local convergence of spline wavelet expansions, is satisfied for all expansions arising from multiresolution analyses generated by such prescale functions $\phi$.
Online motion monitoring for a class of 3-legged 6-DOF parallel robots

Based on the local product-of-exponentials (POE) formula, this paper proposes an effective approach to solve the inverse displacement analysis for a class of modular 3-legged parallel robots by Paden-Kahan sub-problems. Since passive joint displacements can be solved together with solving active joint, so that the solved passive joint displacements can be regarded as guess solution to calculate forward kinematics by traditional numerical solution method. Through comparing with traditional iterative numerical solution method, proposed approach can evidently improve computation efficiency for forward kinematics. The effectiveness of the proposed approach has been demonstrated by machining demonstrations with online motion monitoring for a workpiece with spherical surface.
RFLP diversity in the nuclear genome of Acacia mangium

Genetic diversity in the nuclear genome of Acacia mangium was estimated using 57 anonymous RFLP loci for 10 individuals from each of 10 natural populations representing the geographical range of the species. The level of genetic diversity varied significantly among the populations, ranging from HE=0.01 on the island of Ceram to HE=0.21 in Muting, New Guinea. The small, geographically isolated populations of Daintree, Townsville, Ceram and Sidei had low levels of diversity (HE=0.01–0.09) whereas the large New Guinea and the Cape York Peninsula populations had higher levels of diversity (HE=0.16–0.21). There was evidence of genetic differentiation between populations (θ=0.35), 75% of which was attributable to differences between four geographical regions of Cape York and Daintree–Townsville in Australia, New Guinea and Ceram–Sidei. This may reflect restrictions to gene flow associated with past expansions and contractions of rainforests which occurred with climate and sea level changes. The level of variation detected with RFLPs was higher than previously detected with allozymes, supporting speculation that allozyme coding regions are more likely to be constrained by selection than noncoding regions. The distribution of variation within and among populations was consistent for the two marker types.
Residual activity after radioembolization of liver tumours with 90Y resin microspheres

Summary The actual number of resin microspheres is approximately 30-60 times higher than glass microspheres per 3 GBq vial. Thus, radioembolization (RE) with resin microspheres exerts an embolization effect besides the radiation effect. This embolization effect can occasionally cause early back flow of the microspheres before application of the entire calculated dose. To avoid these adverse side effects, RE has to be terminated at an earlier time point. Measurement of the residual activity in the delivery box, which includes the v-vial, tube and catheter, to calculate the achieved target dose is often challenging. The aim of the current study was to establish a post-RE measurement method comparable to the glass microspheres method without unnecessary radiation exposure to the staff and risk of contamination. Methods: Two different measurements were performed. First, total radioactivity in the shipping vial was measured in an ion chamber and then it was put in the delivery box and the radiation was measured from a 30 cm distance from the centre of the box with a dosimeter. The required radioactivity was then transferred to the v-vial, and the shipping vial was measured again. After that, the v-vial was measured from the same distance from the centre of the box with dosimeter. Results: Altogether 62 times the shipping vial with different activities were measured with a significant positive correlation between the amount of the activity measured in the iron chamber and the radiation dose, measured with dosimeter (r2 = 0.98; p < 0.001). There was also a strong positive correlation between these measurements of the v-vial (r2 = 0.98; p < 0.001). Conclusion: With measurement of the residual activity in the delivery box using a dosimeter the percentage of the whole injected activity can be easily calculated. This facilitates the calculation of the actual, achieved target and non-target dose in those cases, where therapy had to be stopped because of eminent flow reversal or obstruction.
Brief Clinical Report DOES LONG-TERM USE OF VALPROATE CAUSE WEIGHT GAIN IN PREPUBERTAL EPILEPTIC CHILDREN?

In this experiment, we studied the effect of valproate (VPA) on weight gain, and serum leptin levels in prepubertal epileptic children receiving VPA. Our purpose was to determine whether or not long-term use of VPA causes weight gain in childhood, and to evaluate serum leptin levels in a group of prepubertal children receiving VPA. Our study included 15 patients (9 males, 6 females) with new diagnosed epilepsy and 16 healthy age-matched controls (9 males, 7 females). The subjects ages ranged from 9 months to 12 years. Weight gain was noted in 9 (60%) of 15 patients in the study group, and 8 (50%) of 16 subjects in the control group (p >. 05). There was no difference between the groups for body mass index (BMI) and serum leptin levels. Although higher serum leptin levels were found in the patients treated with VPA weight gaining (5.65 - 3.06 ng/ml vs. 3.28 - 1.69 ng/ml), we did not find a difference between the patients weight gaining and nonweight gaining (p >. 05). While a significant correlation between BMI and serum leptin levels was found in the study group (r =. 704; p =. 003), it was not significant in the control group (r =. 330; p =. 211). In conclusion, our findings showed that long-term use of VPA did not cause weight gain in a group of prepubertal children receiving VPA and, parallel to this, serum leptin levels were similar in both the control and study group.
Directional image denoising method based on the relative intersection of confidence intervals rule

In this paper, the relative intersection of confidence intervals (ICI) rule is used to adaptively determine window sizes around each observed point in purpose of denoising. The relative ICI rule defines neighbourhoods of similar statistical properties for every signal sample. If we calculate a mean value on each window, it corresponds to the zero-order estimation and results in a denoised signal. Furthermore, the mean value can be replaced by median for additional robustness of estimation. The same approach could be taken on images. In this paper, we find the maximum window length in four, eight or sixteen directions around each pixel. Mean or median value of chosen surrounding pixels results in a denoised estimation of each observed pixel. The proposed denoising method was tested on an example of a piecewise constant image and compared to known methods. Under the given conditions, it has shown improvement in terms of the PSNR, MAE and subjective visual impression.
Advocacy: what it is.

Throughout this program, we have had two primary goals: to increase the personal comfort and confidence of ombudsman in their abilities to work effectively with residents living in adult homes who have multiple, chronic health problems (both mental and physical); and by doing so, to increase their ability to advocate effectively for and with these individuals. It is expected that this advocacy will occur at both the individual and systems levels.