Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Z Copy‐Controlled Gain‐Current Differencing Buffered Amplifier and its applications

The Z Copy‐Controlled Gain‐Current Differencing Buffered Amplifier (ZC‐CG‐CDBA) is introduced in the paper. In addition to the well‐known CDBA, the input Current Differencing Unit (CDU) is modified and completed by special circuits. Analogously to the conventional CDBA, the z terminal is internally connected to the input of voltage buffer. The current gain from the difference input p, n to the output z can be controlled electronically or by an external device. In addition, an independent high‐impedance output zc is available, providing difference current Ip−In. In the paper, the extension of application range of the ZC‐CG‐CDBA compared with the conventional CDBA is referred to. The novel circuit element is assembled from commercial integrated circuits and its principle is verified experimentally on a universal second‐order filter. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Mothers Matter Too: Benefits of Temperature Oviposition Preferences in Newts

The maternal manipulation hypothesis states that ectothermic females modify thermal conditions during embryonic development to benefit their offspring (anticipatory maternal effect). However, the recent theory suggests that the ultimate currency of an adaptive maternal effect is female fitness that can be maximized also by decreasing mean fitness of individual offspring. We evaluated benefits of temperature oviposition preferences in Alpine newts (Ichthyosaura [formerly Triturus] alpestris) by comparing the thermal sensitivity of maternal and offspring traits across a range of preferred oviposition temperatures (12, 17, and 22°C) and by manipulating the egg-predation risk during oviposition in a laboratory thermal gradient (12–22°C). All traits showed varying responses to oviposition temperatures. Embryonic developmental rates increased with oviposition temperature, whereas hatchling size and swimming capacity showed the opposite pattern. Maternal oviposition and egg-predation rates were highest at the intermediate temperature. In the thermal gradient, females oviposited at the same temperature despite the presence of caged egg-predators, water beetles (Agabus bipustulatus). We conclude that female newts prefer a particular temperature for egg-deposition to maximize their oviposition performance rather than offspring fitness. The evolution of advanced reproductive modes, such as prolonged egg-retention and viviparity, may require, among others, the transition from selfish temperature preferences for ovipositon to the anticipatory maternal effect.
A cost effective and high fidelity fluoroscopy simulator using the Image-Guided Surgery Toolkit (IGSTK)

The skills required for obtaining informative x-ray fluoroscopy images are currently acquired while trainees provide clinical care. As a consequence, trainees and patients are exposed to higher doses of radiation. Use of simulation has the potential to reduce this radiation exposure by enabling trainees to improve their skills in a safe environment prior to treating patients. We describe a low cost, high fidelity, fluoroscopy simulation system. Our system enables operators to practice their skills using the clinical device and simulated x-rays of a virtual patient. The patient is represented using a set of temporal Computed Tomography (CT) images, corresponding to the underlying dynamic processes. Simulated x-ray images, digitally reconstructed radiographs (DRRs), are generated from the CTs using ray-casting with customizable machine specific imaging parameters. To establish the spatial relationship between the CT and the fluoroscopy device, the CT is virtually attached to a patient phantom and a web camera is used to track the phantom’s pose. The camera is mounted on the fluoroscope’s intensifier and the relationship between it and the x-ray source is obtained via calibration. To control image acquisition the operator moves the fluoroscope as in normal operation mode. Control of zoom, collimation and image save is done using a keypad mounted alongside the device’s control panel. Implementation is based on the Image-Guided Surgery Toolkit (IGSTK), and the use of the graphics processing unit (GPU) for accelerated image generation. Our system was evaluated by 11 clinicians and was found to be sufficiently realistic for training purposes.
Effect of Surface Re-Meshing on Hemodynamic Simulations Quality in Carotid Arteries

In this paper we present an approach to quantify the effect of surface re-meshing on hemodynamic modeling. This work is organized in three parts. First, we briefly present the basic concepts inherent in hemodynamic modeling. Then, we detail the approach of triangular surface re-meshing: simplification and local densification based on discrete curvature analysis. The re-meshed triangular surfaces are used as input as well as a parabolic inlet velocity profile to the hemodynamic modeling procedure. As a validation, the third part will be focused on two examples: carotid blood flow characterization for a healthy patient and one with stenosis in the carotid artery. We quantified the differences between the generated models by evaluating the Eucledean similarity, rate of change and RMSE between the measured and modeled velocity obtained with different mesh densities. We conclude with the important effect of re-meshing on the modeled results and we propose to adapt the choice of the localization and the proportion of re-meshing to the local deformation of arterial structure.
Evidence for Transitional Stages in the Evolution of Euglenid Group II Introns and Twintrons in the Monomorphina aenigmatica Plastid Genome

Background Photosynthetic euglenids acquired their plastid by secondary endosymbiosis of a prasinophyte-like green alga. But unlike its prasinophyte counterparts, the plastid genome of the euglenid Euglena gracilis is riddled with introns that interrupt almost every protein-encoding gene. The atypical group II introns and twintrons (introns-within-introns) found in the E. gracilis plastid have been hypothesized to have been acquired late in the evolution of euglenids, implying that massive numbers of introns may be lacking in other taxa. This late emergence was recently corroborated by the plastid genome sequences of the two basal euglenids, Eutreptiella gymnastica and Eutreptia viridis, which were found to contain fewer introns. Methodology/Principal Findings To gain further insights into the proliferation of introns in euglenid plastids, we have characterized the complete plastid genome sequence of Monomorphina aenigmatica, a freshwater species occupying an intermediate phylogenetic position between early and late branching euglenids. The M. aenigmatica UTEX 1284 plastid genome (74,746 bp, 70.6% A+T, 87 genes) contains 53 intron insertion sites, of which 41 were found to be shared with other euglenids including 12 of the 15 twintron insertion sites reported in E. gracilis. Conclusions The pattern of insertion sites suggests an ongoing but uneven process of intron gain in the lineage, with perhaps a minimum of two bursts of rapid intron proliferation. We also identified several sites that represent intermediates in the process of twintron evolution, where the external intron is in place, but not the internal one, offering a glimpse into how these convoluted molecular contraptions originate.
An Enterovirus-Like RNA Construct for Colon Cancer Suicide Gene Therapy

Background: In gene therapy, the use of RNA molecules as therapeutic agents has shown advantages over plasmid DNA, including higher levels of safety. However, transient nature of RNA has been a major obstacle in application of RNA in gene therapy. Methods: Here, we used the internal ribosomal entry site of encephalomyocarditis virus and the 3’ non-translated region of Poliovirus to design an enterovirus-like RNA for the expression of a reporter gene (enhanced green fluorescent protein) and a suicide gene (thymidine kinase of herpes simplex virus). The expression of these genes was evaluated by flow cytometry and cytotoxicity assay in human colorectal adenocarcinoma cell line (SW480). We then armed RNA molecules with a target sequence for hsa-miR-143 to regulate their expression by microRNA (miRNA) mimics. Results: The results showed effective expression of both genes by Entrovirus-like RNA constructs. The data also showed that the restoration of hsa-miR-143 expression in SW480 leads to a significant translation repression of the introduced reporter and suicide genes. Conclusion: Collectively, our data suggest the potential use of Entrovirus-like RNA molecules in suicide gene therapy. Additionally, as a consequence of the possible downregulated miRNA expression in cancerous tissues, a decreased expression of gene therapy constructs armed with target sequences for such miRNA in cancer tissue is expected.
Distributed pair-wised transportation planning with incidental deliveries for multiple mobile robots

Aiming for the practical applications of warehousing logistics and social services, we study the multiple mobile robots cooperative transportation (MRCT) problem in this paper. A group of transportation robots are assigned to accomplish a set of pair-wised transportation tasks, each task has different time window constraints and capacity requirements. We incorporate the auction mechanism and propose an incidental delivery based approach to solve the MRCT problem. The proposed approach is fully distributed and can be extended to fulfill the online transportation planning or replanning requirement in the dynamic environment. Simulation results demonstrate the advanced performance of the proposed MRCT approach in large-scale transportation problems, and experiment results validate the practical applicability of the proposed approach in practical warehousing applications.
Using an Event Data Taxonomy to Represent the Impact of Cyber Events as Geometrical Instances

Visualization and simulation models used for the evaluation and selection of security countermeasures need accurate data to compute the impact of cyber events (e.g., malicious and benign actions). The information required to build appropriate impact models depends directly on the nature of the system. The information dealt by water supply systems, for instance, is particularly different from the information obtained by energy, telecommunication, transportation, or finance systems. It is, therefore, important to properly classify the data of security events according to the nature of the system. This paper proposes an event data taxonomy based on the system’s criticality, the geographical location of the target, the time at which the information is obtained by the attacker, and the nature of the data. A use case on the impact assessment of events originated in a critical infrastructure is presented to show the applicability of the proposed taxonomy.
Statistical models for automatic video annotation and retrieval

We apply a continuous relevance model (CRM) to the problem of directly retrieving the visual content of videos using text queries. The model computes a joint probability model for image features and words using a training set of annotated images. The model may then be used to annotate unseen test images. The probabilistic annotations are used for retrieval using text queries. We also propose a modified model - the normalized CRM - which substantially improves performance on a subset of the TREC video dataset.
Watermarking Images in the Frequency Domain by Exploiting Self-inverting Permutations

In this work we propose efficient codec algorithms for watermarking images that are intended for uploading on the web under intellectual property protection. Headed to this direction, we recently suggested a way in which an integer number w which being transformed into a self-inverting permutation, can be represented in a two dimensional (2D) object and thus, since images are 2D structures, we have proposed a watermarking algorithm that embeds marks on them using the 2D representation of w in the spatial domain. Based on the idea behind this technique, we now expand the usage of this concept by marking the image in the frequency domain. In particular, we propose a watermarking technique that also uses the 2D representation of self-inverting permutations and utilizes marking at specific areas thanks to partial modifications of the image’s Discrete Fourier Transform (DFT). Those modifications are made on the magnitude of specific frequency bands and they are the least possible additive information ensuring robustness and imperceptiveness. We have experimentally evaluated our algorithms using various images of different characteristics under JPEG compression. The experimental results show an improvement in comparison to the previously obtained results and they also depict the validity of our proposed codec algorithms.
Step-up modular multilevel converters for transformerless grid connection of large wind turbines

This paper presents a comprehensive review of the general operation of Modular Multilevel Converters (MMCs). It shows that manipulating the arm DC component can make an MMC operate in: normal, step-down, or step-up mode. Operating an MMC in a step-up mode can eliminate the need for a line step-up transformer and minimize the size of the output filter in Wind Energy Conversion Systems (WECSs). In order for an MMC to operate in a step-up mode, the Sub-Modules (SMs) should have the ability to generate bipolar voltages. In addition to the existing Full-Bridge SM (FB-SM), this paper introduces a novel Bipolar Flying Capacitor SM (BFC-SM). It is shown that replacing two FB-SMs by a BFC-SM can reduce the installed capacitance by 50% and the number of switches by 25%. Moreover, the peak-to-peak magnitude of the circulating current and the averaged voltage variation across the capacitors of the upper and lower arms is slightly reduced by adopting BFC-SMs rather than FB-SMs.
Studies on Ultrasonic Extracting Saponins of Panax notoginseng

Objective:To Study on ultrasonic extracting how to affect the rate of extraction in saponins of Panax notogineng.Methods:The contents of saponins were determined by HPLC.Results:The time of ultrasonic extracting is shortened many multiples than the common extracting, either of rate of extraction are not obvious differente.Conclusion:To choose the 30 min～1 h of ultrasonic extracting replace the 36 h of common extracting.
Long-Term Effects of the Cleaner Fish Labroides dimidiatus on Coral Reef Fish Communities

Cleaning behaviour is deemed a mutualism, however the benefit of cleaning interactions to client individuals is unknown. Furthermore, mechanisms that may shift fish community structure in the presence of cleaning organisms are unclear. Here we show that on patch reefs (61–285 m2) which had all cleaner wrasse Labroides dimidiatus (Labridae) experimentally removed (1–5 adults reef−1) and which were then maintained cleaner-fish free over 8.5 years, individuals of two site-attached (resident) client damselfishes (Pomacentridae) were smaller compared to those on control reefs. Furthermore, resident fishes were 37% less abundant and 23% less species rich per reef, compared to control reefs. Such changes in site-attached fish may reflect lower fish growth rates and/or survivorship. Additionally, juveniles of visitors (fish likely to move between reefs) were 65% less abundant on removal reefs suggesting cleaners may also affect recruitment. This may, in part, explain the 23% lower abundance and 33% lower species richness of visitor fishes, and 66% lower abundance of visitor herbivores (Acanthuridae) on removal reefs that we also observed. This is the first study to demonstrate a benefit of cleaning behaviour to client individuals, in the form of increased size, and to elucidate potential mechanisms leading to community-wide effects on the fish population. Many of the fish groups affected may also indirectly affect other reef organisms, thus further impacting the reef community. The large-scale effect of the presence of the relatively small and uncommon fish, Labroides dimidiadus, on other fishes is unparalleled on coral reefs.
Guidefill: GPU Accelerated, Artist Guided Geometric Inpainting for 3D Conversion of Film

The conversion of traditional film into stereo 3D has become an important problem in the past decade. One of the main bottlenecks is a disocclusion step, which in commercial 3D conversion is usually done by teams of artists armed with a toolbox of inpainting algorithms. A current difficulty in this is that most available algorithms either are too slow for interactive use or provide no intuitive means for users to tweak the output. In this paper we present a new fast inpainting algorithm based on transporting along automatically detected splines, which the user may edit. Our algorithm is implemented on the GPU and fills the inpainting domain in successive shells that adapt their shape on the fly. In order to allocate GPU resources as efficiently as possible, we propose a parallel algorithm to track the inpainting interface as it evolves, ensuring that no resources are wasted on pixels that are not currently being worked on. Theoretical analyses of the time and processor complexity of our algorithm without .
Convergent Evolution Associated with Habitat Decouples Phenotype from Phylogeny in a Clade of Lizards

Convergent evolution can explain similarity in morphology between species, due to selection on a fitness-enhancing phenotype in response to local environmental conditions. As selective pressures on body morphology may be strong, these have confounded our understanding of the evolutionary relationships between species. Within the speciose African radiation of lacertid lizards (Eremiadini), some species occupy a narrow habitat range (e.g. open habitat, cluttered habitat, strictly rupicolous, or strictly psammophilic), which may exert strong selective pressures on lizard body morphology. Here we show that the overall body plan is unrelated to shared ancestry in the African radiation of Eremiadini, but is instead coupled to habitat use. Comprehensive Bayesian and likelihood phylogenies using multiple representatives from all genera (2 nuclear, 2 mitochondrial markers) show that morphologically convergent species thought to represent sister taxa within the same genus are distantly related evolutionary lineages (Ichnotropis squamulosa and Ichnotropis spp.; Australolacerta rupicola and A. australis). Hierarchical clustering and multivariate analysis of morphological characters suggest that body, and head, width and height (stockiness), all of which are ecologically relevant with respect to movement through habitat, are similar between the genetically distant species. Our data show that convergence in morphology, due to adaptation to similar environments, has confounded the assignment of species leading to misidentification of the taxonomic position of I. squamulosa and the Australolacerta species.
Association of Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1 Gene Polymorphism with Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Iranian Azeri Turkish Patients

Background/Aim: Previous studies have shown the association of some genetic factors, such as Plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1 (PAI-1) 4G/5G polymorphism, with the development of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We aimed to study this polymorphism as a risk factor in IBD patients in this cohort. Patients and Methods: One hundred and fifteen IBD patients and 95 healthy controls were selected from Iranian Azeri Turks and -6754G/5G polymorphism of PAI-1 gene was tested by polymerase chain reaction using allele-specific primers confirmed by sequencing. Results: There was no significant difference of PAI-1 polymorphism between IBD patients and the control group (P > 0.05). Furthermore, these data showed no significant difference between Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis patients. However, 4G/4G homozygotes have reduced probability to progression of loss of appetite, whereas 5G/5G genotypes have increased risk for development of chronic diarrhea without blood, nausea, and loss of appetite. Conclusions: Although our study showed no significant association of PAI-1 polymorphism between patients and control group, the carriers of 4G/4G genotype and 4G allele had reduced risk for the progression of IBD features in this cohort.
Validated High Speed Pull and Shear Test Methodologies to Evaluate Pb-Free BGA Mechanical Strength

The conversion to lead free Ball Grid Array (BGA) packages has raised several new assembly and reliability issues. Lead-free solder joints are generally stiffer than tin-lead solder joints, and mechanically induced failures have become more prevalent in lead-free solder assemblies. Traditionally, assembly bend and shock testing is performed to evaluate mechanical assembly reliability. However, bend and shock tests are expensive, cumbersome and not feasible for evaluating lot-to-lot variations in mechanical strength. Consequently, there is a need for a validated, component level test method that can be used as an accurate indicator of assembly level mechanical strength. Several publications have been written to evaluate the efficacy of high speed pull and shear testing as a viable reliability indicator [1 – 10]. In this study, a comprehensive Gauge R&R study was performed to evaluate the accuracy of the test equipment, including high speed video calibration. Then, test studies were performed to compare the.
Detecting voluntary gait initiation/termination intention using EEG

In this study, we employed a linear classifier to grasp the abstract features of electroencephalography (EEG) for recognizing voluntary gait intention and termination. We monitored Mu-band EEG to find gait intention and tried to detect a movement on/offset. Considerable gait-related (de) synchronization occurred hence, amplified by common spatial pattern (CSP). Performance of the classifier was evaluated in terms of classification success rates and false positive rates.
Isolating the Unique Effects of the Unified Protocol Treatment Modules Using Single Case Experimental Design

The Unified Protocol (UP) for the Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders is a cognitive-behavioral intervention designed to treat the range of anxiety, depressive, and related disorders. Thus far, the UP treatment modules have only been studied when they are delivered in their entirety and presented in a standard sequence. To personalize the presentation of the UP modules for a given patient’s presentation (e.g., providing the modules in a varied order, dropping irrelevant modules), it is first necessary to establish that each module leads to change in the skill it is designed to promote, and that these changes can occur in the absence of the other modules. Using a multiple baseline design in accordance with the single-case reporting guidelines in behavioral interventions (SCRIBE), eight patients with heterogeneous emotional disorders were randomly assigned to a 1- or 3-week baseline assessment phase followed by four sessions of one of four UP modules (psychoeducation, emotional awareness, cognitive flexibility, and countering emotional behaviors). Results provide preliminary support for the notion that each UP module under study leads to change in its associated skill in the absence of the other modules (five of eight patients demonstrated reliable change in the module-specific skill). In addition, exploratory analyses suggest that the emotion awareness training and cognitive flexibility modules appeared to exhibit change specific to their associated skills, psychoeducation, and countering emotional behaviors demonstrated somewhat more broad-based change across skills.
Endovascular Sealing for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms – Evolution or Revolution ?

The Neurointerventions track in Lisbon in 2012 was hugely popular, with most rooms filled to capacity. This reflects the increasing role IR is playing in stroke management, and this year’s Neurointerventions track has been expanded accordingly, with two Foundation Course sessions, two Special Sessions, three Workshops and an exciting Hot Topic Symposium. Invited expert Andreas Mahnken lists his Top 5 reasons for IRs to get involved. R news congress