Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Identification and Control of a Simulated Distillation Plant using Connectionist and Evolutionary Techniques

This paper deals with the application of neural networks and evolutionary techniques to the area of process identification and control. A distillation process is simulated with the dynamic flow-sheet simulator DIVA which employs a first-principle-based model. Several neural paradigms were implemented to adaptively model the concentration dynamics. A combined PI-Neural Net controller for concentration control is presented. Using genetic algorithms it was possible to optimize the network structure and reduce the size of the training set. Finally, some parallelization methods for neural and evolutionary algorithms, implemented on Connection Machine architectures, are briefly explained.
Repopulating retinal microglia restore endogenous organization and function under CX3CL1-CX3CR1 regulation

Chemokine signaling via CX3CL1-CX3CR1 helps regulate homeostasis in the population of microglia in the adult mouse retina. Microglia have been discovered to undergo repopulation following ablation. However, the functionality of repopulated microglia and the mechanisms regulating microglia repopulation are unknown. We examined microglial homeostasis in the adult mouse retina, a specialized neural compartment containing regular arrays of microglia in discrete synaptic laminae that can be directly visualized. Using in vivo imaging and cell-fate mapping techniques, we discovered that repopulation originated from residual microglia proliferating in the central inner retina that subsequently spread by centrifugal migration to fully recapitulate pre-existing microglial distributions and morphologies. Repopulating cells fully restored microglial functions including constitutive “surveying” process movements, behavioral and physiological responses to retinal injury, and maintenance of synaptic structure and function. Microglial repopulation was regulated by CX3CL1-CX3CR1 signaling, slowing in CX3CR1 deficiency and accelerating with exogenous CX3CL1 administration. Microglial homeostasis following perturbation can fully recover microglial organization and function under the regulation of chemokine signaling between neurons and microglia.
Recruiting and engaging African-American men in health research.

BACKGROUND Improving the health of black and minority ethnic (BME) men in the US continues to be a public health priority. Compared with men of other races and ethnicities, African-American men have higher rates of mortality and morbidity from chronic illness and diseases including cancer, heart disease, prostate cancer, diabetes and HIV/AIDS. One way to address these disparities is to include African-American men in health research, to elicit their perspectives on health risks and protective factors. These can then inform interventions aimed at reducing health disparities. However, challenges remain in recruiting and engaging African-American men in health research. AIM To provide strategies for recruiting African-American men in health research, using as an exemplar a qualitative study of fathers' perspectives of sexual health promotion with young African-American males. DISCUSSION Efforts are needed to increase the representation of African-American men in health research. Ensuring that researchers are aware of the cultural, social and environmental factors related to decisions to participate in research can lead to effective methods to recruit and engage them. CONCLUSION There are several essential strategies for increasing African-American men's participation in health research: ensuring the research team is culturally and gender-sensitive; recruiting in trusted environments; using respected gatekeepers; developing trust with participants; and being transparent. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE Implementing strategies to include African-American men in health research has the potential to improve health disparities in the US.
Basking in reflected glory: the election of president Obama and naming behaviour

ABSTRACT The influence of the 2008 election of President Barack Obama on the naming of children born to African American mothers was investigated. Results indicated that children born after the election were given names that sounded more ‘African American’ than were children born before the election. In addition, African American mother’s Collective Self-Esteem scores were positively correlated with the ethnic sound of a child’s name. It was concluded that this difference in naming behaviour could be viewed through a social identity theory approach and might indicate a desire to ‘bask in the reflected glory’ of President Obama’s election.
Improved determination of mechanical power output in rowing: Experimental results

ABSTRACT In rowing, mechanical power output is a key parameter for biophysical analyses and performance monitoring and should therefore be measured accurately. It is common practice to estimate on-water power output as the time average of the dot product of the moment of the handle force relative to the oar pin and the oar angular velocity. In a theoretical analysis we have recently shown that this measure differs from the true power output by an amount that equals the mean of the rower’s mass multiplied by the rower’s center of mass acceleration and the velocity of the boat. In this study we investigated the difference between a rower’s power output calculated using the common proxy and the true power output under different rowing conditions. Nine rowers participated in an on-water experiment consisting of 7 trials in a single scull. Stroke rate, technique and forces applied to the oar were varied. On average, rowers’ power output was underestimated with 12.3% when determined using the common proxy. Variations between rowers and rowing conditions were small (SD = 1.1%) and mostly due to differences in stroke rate. To analyze and monitor rowing performance accurately, a correction of the determination of rowers’ on-water power output is therefore required.
T-Reqs: Tool Support for Managing Requirements in Large-Scale Agile System Development

T-Reqs is a text-based requirements management solution based on the git version control system. It combines useful conventions, templates and helper scripts with powerful existing solutions from the git ecosystem and provides a working solution to address some known requirements engineering challenges in large-scale agile system development. Specifically, it allows agile cross-functional teams to be aware of requirements at system level and enables them to efficiently propose updates to those requirements. Based on our experience with T-Reqs, we i) relate known requirements challenges of large-scale agile system development to tool support; ii) list key requirements for tooling in such a context; and iii) propose concrete solutions for challenges.
FYCO1 mediates clearance of α‐synuclein aggregates through a Rab7‐dependent mechanism

Parkinson's disease can be caused by mutations in the α‐synuclein gene and is characterized by aggregates of α‐synuclein protein. We have previously shown that over‐expression of the small GTPase Rab7 can induce clearance of α‐synuclein aggregates. In this study, we investigate which Rab7 effectors mediate this effect. To model Parkinson's disease, we expressed the pathogenic A53T mutant of α‐synuclein in HEK293T cells and Drosophila melanogaster. We tested the Rab7 effectors FYVE and coiled‐coil domain‐containing protein 1 (FYCO1) and Rab‐interacting lysosomal protein (RILP). FYCO1‐EGFP‐decorated vesicles containing α‐synuclein. RILP‐EGFP also decorated vesicular structures, but they did not contain α‐synuclein. FYCO1 over‐expression reduced the number of cells with α‐synuclein aggregates, defined as visible particles of EGFP‐tagged α‐synuclein, whereas RILP did not. FYCO1 but not RILP reduced the amount of α‐synuclein protein as assayed by western blot, increased the disappearance of α‐synuclein aggregates in time‐lapse microscopy and decreased α‐synuclein‐induced toxicity assayed by the Trypan blue assay. siRNA‐mediated knockdown of FYCO1 but not RILP reduced Rab7‐induced aggregate clearance. Collectively, these findings indicate that FYCO1 and not RILP mediates Rab7‐induced aggregate clearance. The effect of FYCO1 on aggregate clearance was blocked by dominant negative Rab7 indicating that FYCO1 requires active Rab7 to function. Electron microscopic analysis and insertion of lysosomal membranes into the plasma membrane indicate that FYCO1 could lead to secretion of α‐synuclein aggregates. Extracellular α‐synuclein as assayed by ELISA was, however, not increased with FYCO1. Coexpression of FYCO1 in the fly model decreased α‐synuclein aggregates as shown by the filter trap assay and rescued the locomotor deficit resulting from neuronal A53T‐α‐synuclein expression. This latter finding confirms that a pathway involving Rab7 and FYCO1 stimulates degradation of α‐synuclein and could be beneficial in patients with Parkinson's disease.
The CCR4-NOT deadenylase complex controls Atg7-dependent cell death and heart function

Destabilization of Atg7 mRNA by the CCR4-NOT complex prevents p53-dependent cell death in the heart. Protecting the heart by destabilizing mRNA The removal of polyadenylate tails from mRNAs by the CCR4-NOT complex marks these mRNAs for degradation. Yamaguchi et al. (see also the Focus by Das) found that this activity of this complex was required to prevent cell death in the heart. Mice deficient in a component of this complex suffered from cardiac dysfunction and died of heart failure due to cardiomyocyte death. The CCR4-NOT complex deadenylated Atg7 mRNA, which encodes a protein required for autophagy, a process by which cellular constituents and organelles are digested. The increase in Atg7 in the mutant mice resulted in activation of cell death–associated genes by the transcription factor p53. Drugs that increase autophagy have been explored for the treatment of various diseases, but the authors note that their results raise the possibility of cardiovascular side effects for such drugs. Shortening and removal of the polyadenylate [poly(A)] tail of mRNA, a process called deadenylation, is a key step in mRNA decay that is mediated through the CCR4-NOT (carbon catabolite repression 4–negative on TATA-less) complex. In our investigation of the regulation of mRNA deadenylation in the heart, we found that this complex was required to prevent cell death. Conditional deletion of the CCR4-NOT complex components Cnot1 or Cnot3 resulted in the formation of autophagic vacuoles and cardiomyocyte death, leading to lethal heart failure accompanied by long QT intervals. Cnot3 bound to and shortened the poly(A) tail of the mRNA encoding the key autophagy regulator Atg7. In Cnot3-depleted hearts, Atg7 expression was posttranscriptionally increased. Genetic ablation of Atg7, but not Atg5, increased survival and partially restored cardiac function of Cnot1 or Cnot3 knockout mice. We further showed that in Cnot3-depleted hearts, Atg7 interacted with p53 and modulated p53 activity to induce the expression of genes encoding cell death–promoting factors in cardiomyocytes, indicating that defects in deadenylation in the heart aberrantly activated Atg7 and p53 to promote cell death. Thus, mRNA deadenylation mediated by the CCR4-NOT complex is crucial to prevent Atg7-induced cell death and heart failure, suggesting a role for mRNA deadenylation in targeting autophagy genes to maintain normal cardiac homeostasis.
Rate-aware flow scheduling for commodity data center networks

Flow completion times (FCTs) are critical for many cloud applications. To minimize the average FCT, recent transport designs, such as pFabric, PASE, and PIAS, approximate the Shortest Remaining Time First (SRTF) scheduling. A common, implicit assumption of these solutions is that the remaining time is only determined by the remaining flow size. However, this assumption does not hold in many real-world scenarios where applications generate data at diverse rates that are smaller than the network capacity. In this paper, we look into this issue from system perspective and find that the operating system (OS) kernel can be exploited to better estimate the remaining time of a flow. In particular, we use the rate of copying data from user space to kernel space to measure the data generation rate. We design RAX, a rate aware flow scheduling method, that calculates the remaining time of a flow more accurately, based on not only the flow size but also the data generation rate. We have implemented a RAX prototype in Linux kernel and evaluated it through testbed experiments and ns-2 simulations. Our testbed results show that RAX reduces FCT by up to 14.9%/41.8% and 7.8%/22.9% over DCTCP and PIAS for all/medium flows respectively.
Accuracy of human motion capture systems for sport applications; state-of-the-art review

Abstract Objective: Sport research often requires human motion capture of an athlete. It can, however, be labour-intensive and difficult to select the right system, while manufacturers report on specifications which are determined in set-ups that largely differ from sport research in terms of volume, environment and motion. The aim of this review is to assist researchers in the selection of a suitable motion capture system for their experimental set-up for sport applications. An open online platform is initiated, to support (sport)researchers in the selection of a system and to enable them to contribute and update the overview. Design: systematic review; Method: Electronic searches in Scopus, Web of Science and Google Scholar were performed, and the reference lists of the screened articles were scrutinised to determine human motion capture systems used in academically published studies on sport analysis. Results: An overview of 17 human motion capture systems is provided, reporting the general specifications given by the manufacturer (weight and size of the sensors, maximum capture volume, environmental feasibilities), and calibration specifications as determined in peer-reviewed studies. The accuracy of each system is plotted against the measurement range. Conclusion: The overview and chart can assist researchers in the selection of a suitable measurement system. To increase the robustness of the database and to keep up with technological developments, we encourage researchers to perform an accuracy test prior to their experiment and to add to the chart and the system overview (online, open access).
Robust and User Friendly 3D Re-Construction of Neutron Tomographic Images

Three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction of neutron tomographic projection images is an important tool for research on animal and plant tissues. Neutron scattering images contain impulsive noise caused by background cosmic gamma radiation that can significantly affect the reconstruction quality. Common de-noising methods are computationally efficient, but may also blur edges in the signal reducing the quality of reconstruction and may require careful parameter selection. Moreover, prior to reconstruction we must correct for rotation axis misalignment during data acquisition and suppress statistical noise due to variations in the neutron source. Currently many of these steps require manual intervention and parameter selection to maximize reconstruction quality. We have developed a more automatic algorithm which performs comparably to the semi-automatic state-of-the-art process.
Validating fatty acid intake as estimated by an FFQ: how does the 24 h recall perform as reference method compared with the duplicate portion?

Abstract Objective To compare the performance of the commonly used 24 h recall (24hR) with the more distinct duplicate portion (DP) as reference method for validation of fatty acid intake estimated with an FFQ. Design Intakes of SFA, MUFA, n-3 fatty acids and linoleic acid (LA) were estimated by chemical analysis of two DP and by on average five 24hR and two FFQ. Plasma n-3 fatty acids and LA were used to objectively compare ranking of individuals based on DP and 24hR. Multivariate measurement error models were used to estimate validity coefficients and attenuation factors for the FFQ with the DP and 24hR as reference methods. Setting Wageningen, the Netherlands. Subjects Ninety-two men and 106 women (aged 20–70 years). Results Validity coefficients for the fatty acid estimates by the FFQ tended to be lower when using the DP as reference method compared with the 24hR. Attenuation factors for the FFQ tended to be slightly higher based on the DP than those based on the 24hR as reference method. Furthermore, when using plasma fatty acids as reference, the DP showed comparable to slightly better ranking of participants according to their intake of n-3 fatty acids (0·33) and n-3:LA (0·34) than the 24hR (0·22 and 0·24, respectively). Conclusions The 24hR gives only slightly different results compared with the distinctive but less feasible DP, therefore use of the 24hR seems appropriate as the reference method for FFQ validation of fatty acid intake.
Emerging human pathogen Acinetobacter baumannii in the natural aquatic environment: a public health risk?

Abstract Bacterium Acinetobacter baumannii is an emerging human pathogen whose presence in the aquatic environment raises the issue of public health risk. Fish colonization represents the potential route of pathogen transmission to humans. The aim was to examine the colonization of A. baumannii to freshwater fish Poecilia reticulata. An extensively drug-resistant A. baumannii was tested at three concentrations in natural spring water. Additionally, 70 fish from the Sava River (Croatia) were screened for the presence of A. baumannii, which was not found in gill swabs or analysed gut. The colonization potential of A. baumannii in freshwater fish is dependent upon its concentration in surrounding water. The low concentration of A. baumannii in natural waters represents low colonization potential of freshwater fish. The risk for public health exists in closed water bodies where there is constant inflow of water polluted by A. baumannii in concentrations above 3 log CFU mL−1.
In-air microfluidics enables rapid fabrication of emulsions, suspensions, and 3D modular (bio)materials

Designer microparticles and multiscale materials can be fabricated in one step by microfluidic processing in the air. Microfluidic chips provide unparalleled control over droplets and jets, which have advanced all natural sciences. However, microfluidic applications could be vastly expanded by increasing the per-channel throughput and directly exploiting the output of chips for rapid additive manufacturing. We unlock these features with in-air microfluidics, a new chip-free platform to manipulate microscale liquid streams in the air. By controlling the composition and in-air impact of liquid microjets by surface tension–driven encapsulation, we fabricate monodisperse emulsions, particles, and fibers with diameters of 20 to 300 μm at rates that are 10 to 100 times higher than chip-based droplet microfluidics. Furthermore, in-air microfluidics uniquely enables module-based production of three-dimensional (3D) multiscale (bio)materials in one step because droplets are partially solidified in-flight and can immediately be printed onto a substrate. In-air microfluidics is cytocompatible, as demonstrated by additive manufacturing of 3D modular constructs with tailored microenvironments for multiple cell types. Its in-line control, high throughput and resolution, and cytocompatibility make in-air microfluidics a versatile platform technology for science, industry, and health care.
Application of Integrated Drug Screening/Kinome Analysis to Identify Inhibitors of Gemcitabine-Resistant Pancreatic Cancer Cell Growth

Continuous exposure of a pancreatic cancer cell line MIA PaCa-2 (MiaS) to gemcitabine resulted in the formation of a gemcitabine-resistant subline (MiaR). In an effort to discover kinase inhibitors that inhibited MiaR growth, MiaR cells were exposed to kinase inhibitors (PKIS-1 library) in a 384-well screening format. Three compounds (UNC10112721A, UNC10112652A, and UNC10112793A) were identified that inhibited the growth of MiaR cells by more than 50% (at 50 nM). Two compounds (UNC10112721A and UNC10112652A) were classified as cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitors, whereas UNC10112793A was reported to be a PLK inhibitor. Dose–response experiments supported the efficacy of these compounds to inhibit growth and increase apoptosis in 2D cultures of these cells. However, only UNC10112721A significantly inhibited the growth of 3D spheroids composed of MiaR cells and GFP-tagged cancer-associated fibroblasts. Multiplexed inhibitor bead (MIB)–mass spectrometry (MS) kinome competition experiments identified CDK9, CLK1-4, DYRK1A, and CSNK1 as major kinase targets for UNC10112721A in MiaR cells. Another CDK9 inhibitor (CDK-IN-2) replicated the growth inhibitory effects of UNC10112721A, whereas inhibitors against the CLK, DYRK, or CSNK1 kinases had no effect. In summary, these studies describe a coordinated approach to discover novel kinase inhibitors, evaluate their efficacy in 3D models, and define their specificity against the kinome.
An Ultra-Low-Power RFID/NFC Frontend IC Using 0.18 μm CMOS Technology for Passive Tag Applications

Battery-less passive sensor tags based on RFID or NFC technology have achieved much popularity in recent times. Passive tags are widely used for various applications like inventory control or in biotelemetry. In this paper, we present a new RFID/NFC frontend IC (integrated circuit) for 13.56 MHz passive tag applications. The design of the frontend IC is compatible with the standard ISO 15693/NFC 5. The paper discusses the analog design part in details with a brief overview of the digital interface and some of the critical measured parameters. A novel approach is adopted for the demodulator design, to demodulate the 10% ASK (amplitude shift keying) signal. The demodulator circuit consists of a comparator designed with a preset offset voltage. The comparator circuit design is discussed in detail. The power consumption of the bandgap reference circuit is used as the load for the envelope detection of the ASK modulated signal. The sub-threshold operation and low-supply-voltage are used extensively in the analog design—to keep the power consumption low. The IC was fabricated using 0.18 μm CMOS technology in a die area of 1.5 mm × 1.5 mm and an effective area of 0.7 mm2. The minimum supply voltage desired is 1.2 V, for which the total power consumption is 107 μW. The analog part of the design consumes only 36 μW, which is low in comparison to other contemporary passive tags ICs. Eventually, a passive tag is developed using the frontend IC, a microcontroller, a temperature and a pressure sensor. A smart NFC device is used to readout the sensor data from the tag employing an Android-based application software. The measurement results demonstrate the full passive operational capability. The IC is suitable for low-power and low-cost industrial or biomedical battery-less sensor applications. A figure-of-merit (FOM) is proposed in this paper which is taken as a reference for comparison with other related state-of-the-art researches.