Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Factors with the Greatest Influence on Drivers' Judgment of When to Apply Brakes

This paper examines the factors that most strongly affect drivers' judgment with regard to braking timing. Experiments were conducted with 7 participants on a test course. Participants in the trailing vehicle applied brakes according to their subjective judgments on how best to prevent a rear-end collision. Various factors such as following car speed, distance between two vehicles, relative velocity, time-to-collision (TTC), rate of change of visual angle (which is the inverse of TTC) and others were examined in discriminant analysis. It was revealed that the rate of change of visual angle, which is the inverse of TTC, is the most closely related to a driver's judgment of when to apply the brakes
Anatomical and phylogenetic investigation of the genera Alabastrina Kobelt, 1904, Siretia Pallary, 1926, and Otala Schumacher, 1817 (Stylommatophora, Helicidae)

Abstract This study presents new insights in the anatomy of genital organs of some large helicid gastropods from northern Africa. The genetic analysis with the markers COI, 16S, H3, and 5.8 S rRNA+ITS2 reveales a high support for Alabastrina and Otala as separate evolutionary lineages within the Otalini. The position of Siretia as another separate lineage within the Otalini is discussed. “Tingitanaminetteidecussata” clusters within the O.xanthodon clade and confirms that the genus Tingitana can be synonymised with Otala. The genus Alabastrina differs from all other known genera by possession of a penial appendix. This character state is also found in topotypic A.tistutensis. Examination of the twin penial papilla system in Otala recovers a reduction of the proximal penial papilla in O.punctata. The position of Helixmurcica as a separate subspecies of O.lactea is not supported, and it is here considered to be a synonym of the latter species.
Interface/Bulk Trap Recovery After Submelt Laser Anneal and the Impact to NBTI Reliability

In this letter, submelt laser anneal used to achieve ultrashallow junctions (USJs) in capped high- devices with TaN/TiN metal gate electrode is investigated. The submelt laser anneal results in USJ and sharp junction on both n- and pMOSFET devices. However, this process induces interface and bulk defects and reduces negative-bias temperature instability (NBTI) reliability additionally. It is shown that if the laser anneal is followed by a rapid thermal anneal, the laser-related damage decreases, and the NBTI robustness improves without altering the obtained junction sharpness.
Investigations on the biodegradation of polyesters by isolated mesophilic microbes

The biodegradation of synthetic polyesters such as poly(tetramethylene adipate – co – tetramethylene terephthalate) (BTA), poly(e-caprolactone) (PCL) and polytetramethylene-adipate (SP 4/6) as well as the natural copolyester poly(hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) was investigated under mesophilic conditions. Microorganisms capable of hydrolyzing polyesters were isolated from mature compost and gardening soil. Eight strains from a total of 47 BTA and PCL hydrolyzing isolates could be assigned to the groups of mesophilic fungi (Arthrobotrys amerospora DSM 15963, Acremonium strictum DSM 15965, Cladosporium herbarum DSM 15967, Fusarium solani DSM 15964, Aspergillus fumigatus DSM 15966) and actinomycetes (Microbispora rosea subsp. Rosea DSM 44767 and DSM 44768, Streptomyces thermocarboxydus DSM 41841). Three fungal isolates (A. amerospora, A. strictum, C. herbarum) are specialized on the degradation of the synthetic polyesters, while two fungi (F. solani, A. fumigatus) and three actinomycetes strains (M. rosea subsp. rosea and S. thermocarboxydus) exhibited a wider substrate spectrum as they are able to degrade synthetic as well as natural polyesters. The synthetic and natural aliphatic polyesters were degraded faster than BTA 45:55 by most isolates. However, the strain A. amerospora degraded the aliphatic-aromatic copolyester BTA faster than PCL. Three fungal strains (F. solani, C. herbarum, A. strictum) showed also significant degradation potential for the polymer films at low temperatures (4°C). Extracellular PCL depolymerizing enzymatic activity in the supernatant of a culture from the strain M. rosea subsp. rosea could be identified. Regarding the different polyester structures, the enzyme showed a broad substrate specificity for different synthetic polyesters. However, in contrast to the whole organism, the enzyme was not active against the microbial polyester PHBV.
A study on the amplitude of the aperture transient radiation in time domain

Through analytical integral, this paper first obtains the analytic representations of the transient radiation of antenna when the step pulse excites the aperture synchronously. After that it presents a quantitative analysis of relationship of the amplitude of the field to the pulse width of the rectangle pulse, the size of the aperture, the distance and the angle of the observation. The analysis indicates that the pulse duration of the field broadens as the plunge angle of the observation and the size of the aperture increases in /spl theta/ /spl ne/ 0/spl deg/, the pulse width of the field narrows as the distance of the observation increases in /spl theta/ = 0/spl deg/. The amplitude of the field augments yet the pulse width of the field tends to narrow as the plunge angle of the observation increases.
FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH SALMONELLA ENTERICA SHEDDING BY FINISHING PIGS . AN EPIDEMIOLOGICAL SURVEY IN FRENCH PIG FARMS

An analytic epidemiological survey was carried out in France to better assess the circumstances for subclinical Salmonella contamination of fattening pigs. A cohort study was carried out from November 2000 to October 2001. 105 French farrow-to-finish pig farms were included in this study. In each herd, a batch of contemporary pigs was followed from the end of the postweaning phase up to slaughter, through several visits. Salmonella shedding was tested with a piece of sterile tissue used to wipe fecal material on the slatted floor of the pens. A poor hygiene during farrowing and post-weaning phase increases significantly the risk of Salmonella excretion at the end of the finishing period. Salmonella contamination of the finishing pens before loading was associated with Salmonella excretion. Seroconversion regarding Porcine Respiratory Coronavirus and Lawsonia intracellularis was significantly associated with Salmonella shedding. Wet feeding during the fattening period tended to reduce shedding at the end of the finishing phase. Our study demonstrated the importance of animal health and of proper implementation of hygiene procedures regarding Salmonella excretion.
Relay-aided multiple antenna transmissions for wireless backhaul applications

We present a novel approach for relay transmissions with multiple antennas using a decode and forward policy. The basic idea is to route the data by sending multiple independent spatial data streams directly to the destination and to different relays and then collect them at the destination. The relays are selected using an opportunistic approach in order to obtain the “multi-relay” diversity gain. Another factor of the gain is due to the fact that by splitting the streams between different relays, the effective degrees of freedom of the channel are not limited by the rank of a single link channel. We show the effectiveness of the proposed technique for fourth generation (4G) systems by using both link-level and system-level simulations.
A Bernoulli Filter for Extended Target Tracking Using Random Matrices in a UWB Sensor Network

In this paper, we propose a new tractable Bernoulli filter based on the random matrix framework to track an extended target in an ultra-wideband (UWB) sensor network. The resulting filter jointly tracks the kinematic and shape parameters of the target and is called the extended target Gaussian inverse Wishart Bernoulli (ET-GIW-Ber) filter. Closed form expressions for the ET-GIW-Ber filter recursions are presented. A clustering step is inserted into the measurement update stage in order to have a computationally tractable filter. In addition, a new method that is consistent with the applied clustering method is embedded into the filter recursions in order to adaptively estimate the time-varying number of measurements of the extended target. The simulation results demonstrate the robust and effective performance of the proposed filter. Furthermore, real data collected from a UWB sensor network are used to assess the performance of the proposed filter. It is shown that the proposed filter yields a very promising performance in estimation of the kinematic and shape parameters of the target.
Ansiedad y depresión en la EPOC: Prevalencia en una muestra española e impacto sobre la calidad de vida de los pacientes

Este trabajo calcula la prevalencia de ansiedad y depresion en pacientes con EPOC estable aplicando los criterios CIE-10 mediante una entrevista estructurada. Identificamos que esas comorbilidades pasan desapercibidas en la mayoria de casos. Como estrategias para promover su diagnostico, se identifican los factores de riesgo para padecer esos trastornos emocionales y se investiga el punto de corte mas adecuado para el cuestionario autoadministrable Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), aplicable en la practica clinica. Tambien se evalua el impacto que tienen la ansiedad y la depresion sobre la calidad de vida relacionada con la salud (CVRS) utilizando diferentes cuestionarios: el St. George’s Respiratory Questionnaire, el cuestionario SF-36 y el cuestionario EuroQol. En la muestra de 204 pacientes con EPOC estable, un 36% padecia alguna de esas patologias en base a los criterios CIE-10. Sin embargo, solo un 9% de los casos estaba diagnosticado antes de entrar en el estudio. La ansiedad es mas frecuente que la depresion, y en una proporcion significativa de pacientes se superponen ambas patologias. En nuestra poblacion, los pacientes mas jovenes y con un mayor nivel de estudios tienen mas riesgo de presentar estas enfermedades. Otros factores de riesgo son un mayor indice BODE, mas agudizaciones, la falta de apoyo domiciliario y una mayor disnea medida por la escala mMRC. En cuanto al cuestionario HADS, este estudio muestra que la puntuacion obtenida sumando las dos subescalas del cuestionario es un mejor indicador de comorbilidad psiquiatrica en pacientes con EPOC estable que las subescalas por separado. La puntuacion total con un punto de corte ≥ 12, ha mostrado una muy buena adecuacion con el diagnostico psiquiatrico para detectar el estres emocional (k = 0,913, p< 0,001). Los pacientes con EPOC estable que ademas presentan ansiedad o depresion, obtuvieron peores resultados en los tres instrumentos de calidad de vida. El analisis multivariado a partir de una extensiva caracterizacion de la muestra, confirma que en esta poblacion los trastornos emocionales son predictores independientes de la calidad de vida relacionada con la salud. Es interesante destacar que cada diagnostico psiquiatrico repercute en la calidad de vida en un grado diferente. En el enfoque terapeutico actual de la EPOC, mejorar la calidad de vida de los pacientes constituye un objetivo principal, de modo que identificar y tratar la ansiedad y la depresion resulta relevante.
Analytical modeling and simulation of subthreshold behavior of dual material gate (DMG) Al0.7Ga0.3Sb/InAs HEMT

In this work, a two dimensional (2-D) analytical model and simulation of dual material gate (DMG) Al0.7Ga0. 3Sb/InAs High Electron Mobility Transistor (HEMT) has been presented. Superiority of DMG over single material gate (SMG) structure for this kind of HEMTs has been highlighted. Simulation results show the suppression of short channel effects (SCEs) and improvement of carrier transport efficiency. Material with lower work function works as a screening gate while material with higher work function works as a control gate and thus suppresses the short channel effects. The electric field also becomes more uniform and so the carrier transport efficiency improves. This work shows the variation of channel potential and electric field with channel length for both double material gate (DMG) and single material gate (SMG) Al0.7Ga0. 3Sb/InAs HEMT. All the results have been verified using ATLAS device simulator. So this work shows a simple model to effectively analyze the sub-threshold behavior of DMG Al0.7Ga0. 3Sb/InAs HEMTs.
Association of Polymorphisms in IRAK1, IRAK4 and MyD88, and Severe Invasive Pneumococcal Disease

Background: Severe invasive pneumococcal disease (SIPD) has high morbidity and mortality, conditioned by pneumococcus and host factors, such as Toll-like receptors and their Toll-IL1R common signaling pathway. The objectives of this study are (1) to correlate single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) involved in some Toll-IL1R signaling pathway proteins (IRAK1, IRAK4, IRAKM and MyD88) with SIPD by comparing patients versus healthy controls. (2) To determine whether these SNPs influence SIPD outcome. Methods: Case–control prospective observational study: 60 pediatric patients with IPD and systemic inflammatory response syndrome, and 120 healthy volunteers. Well-known immunodeficiencies were excluded. Independent variables: SNPs genotypes and alleles. Other variables: demographic, previous infections, and clinical, analytical and microbiological evolution data. Results: We have detected significant disequilibrium of SNPs frequencies between SIPD patients and controls in rs1059701-CC (IRAK1; P = 0.0067), rs4251513-CC (IRAK4; P < 0.0001), rs1461567-T (IRAK4; P = 0.0158) and rs6853-AA (MyD88; P < 0.0001). SIPD patients showed significant association between: leukocytosis > 15,000/mmc and rs1059702-nonTT (IRAK1; P = 0.0460), pleuropneumonia and rs1624395-G (IRAKM; P = 0.0147), and rs1370128-C (IRAKM; P = 0.0055), sequelae, and rs4251513-nonGG (IRAK4; P = 0.0055), death and rs6853-nonAA (P = 0.0054) and rs6853-G (P = 0.0065; MyD88). Conclusions: This is the first study to show an association between SNPs in IRAK1, IRAK4 and MyD88, and the presence of SIPD. Our data showed that some SNPs may lead to a higher risk of developing SIPD while other are related with the outcome in SIPD patients. Following PIRO score (predisposition, insult, response, organ dysfunction), identifying SNPs predisposing to infectious diseases, such as SIPD might help stratify patients with severe infectious diseases and design specific treatments.
Frequent epigenetic inactivation of Myocardin in human nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Epigenetic silencing of tumor suppressor genes plays an important role in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) tumorigenesis. In the present study, we explore a novel target gene of epigenetic silencing in NPC, Myocardin, which is inactivated by promoter hypermethylation.
Miniaturized dual-wideband bandpass filter using coupled slotted open stubs

This paper presents the design of a super-compact dual-wideband bandpass filter (BPF) using quarter-wavelength slotted open-circuited stubs (SOSs). These slotted open stubs are used to define the second and the third stopbands at 3 and 9 GHz respectively. Both stubs are separated by quarter-wavelength impedance transformers. Unlike conventional quarter-wavelength impedance transformers, this filter has a high-pass meandered line that is shorted to ground to form an additional stopband at zero frequency. Using this approach, a dual-wideband bandpass filter is designed, fabricated and measured. The measured results show that the fabricated dual-wideband BPF has two passbands with a fractional bandwidth of 117% and 36%, at respective center frequencies of 1 GHz and 6.65 GHz. The filter has a compact size (0.09 λg × 0.05 λg) and exhibits an attenuation level greater than 20 dB up to 12 GHz.
The collective effects of product and service quality on customer satisfaction - An empirical study on iPod and iTunes

The relationships between quality, customer satisfaction and loyalty have been widely investigated for more than two decades. However, most of these studies focus on a pure product or a pure service setting. This study hopes to fill the gap by investigating the effects of product and service quality on customer satisfaction and loyalty based on a holistic view. Results from an empirical study on iPod and iTunes show that service quality will greatly influence the impact of product quality on customer satisfaction and software, either as a core product or complementary component.
Vacuolar ATPase as a possible therapeutic target in human acute myeloid leukemia

ABSTRACT Introduction: V-ATPase is a proton pump expressed both in the membrane of intracellular organelles (e.g. endosomes, lysosomes, Golgi structures) and the plasma membrane. It is an important regulator of organellar functions, intracellular molecular trafficking, intercellular communication and intracellular signaling. It is therefore considered as a possible therapeutic target in the treatment of human malignancies. Areas covered: Relevant publications were identified through literature searches in the PubMed database. We searched for original articles and reviews describing the possible importance of V-ATPase for leukemogenesis and chemosensitivity in human myeloid cells, especially acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells. Expert commentary: The expression of V-ATPase in the primary human AML cells varies between patients, and high levels are associated with high constitutive release of a wide range of soluble mediators. Several of the molecules included in the V-ATPase interactome may also be important in leukemogenesis and/or development of chemoresistance in human AML. Therapeutic targeting of V-ATPase should therefore be regarded as a possible therapeutic strategy in human AML, but the efficiency of such targeting will probably differ between patients. The possibility of toxicity, especially hematological toxicity and immunosuppression, also has to be clarified.
Altered Escherichia coli membrane protein assembly machinery allows proper membrane assembly of eukaryotic protein vitamin K epoxide reductase

Significance Proteins embedded in biological membranes are important targets for therapeutic intervention. However, they tend to be far more challenging to deal with than soluble proteins. We have used the anticoagulant target VKORc1 to investigate membrane protein expression bottlenecks in the bacterium Escherichia coli. When this poorly expressed enzyme is mutagenized or introduced to a library of E. coli mutants, functional expression is achieved. This approach gave clues on why certain foreign membrane proteins fail to correctly assimilate in E. coli membranes including mis-matches in membrane protein assembly signals. We also identified key critical residues in two components of membrane protein assembly and quality control for rational manipulations to enhance functional expression. Finally, we demonstrate the high-throughput screening for potential anticoagulants using bacteria. Functional overexpression of polytopic membrane proteins, particularly when in a foreign host, is often a challenging task. Factors that negatively affect such processes are poorly understood. Using the mammalian membrane protein vitamin K epoxide reductase (VKORc1) as a reporter, we describe a genetic selection approach allowing the isolation of Escherichia coli mutants capable of functionally expressing this blood-coagulation enzyme. The isolated mutants map to components of membrane protein assembly and quality control proteins YidC and HslV. We show that changes in the VKORc1 sequence and in the YidC hydrophilic groove along with the inactivation of HslV promote VKORc1 activity and dramatically increase its expression level. We hypothesize that such changes correct for mismatches in the membrane topogenic signals between E. coli and eukaryotic cells guiding proper membrane integration. Furthermore, the obtained mutants allow the study of VKORc1 reaction mechanisms, inhibition by warfarin, and the high-throughput screening for potential anticoagulants.
Sparking new frontiers: using in vivo electroporation for genetic manipulations.

In vivo electroporation is a fascinating new approach by which gene expression, regulation, and function can be studied in developmental systems. This technique offers new opportunities for manipulations in animal models that lack genetic approaches, including avians. Furthermore, this approach is applicable to other embryo populations including mice, ascidians, zebrafish, Xenopus, and Drosophila. In this review, we discuss technical aspects of in vivo electroporation, review recent studies where this approach has been utilized successfully, and identify future directions.
Truthful Relay Assignment for Cooperative Communication in Wireless Networks with Selfish Source-Destination Pairs

Cooperative communication is shown to be a promising technology to significantly increase the capacity of wireless networks. Due to the competition among multiple source-destination pairs for the same relay node set in the relay assignment problem, each pair may cheat others to achieve a more individual revenue. However, the cheating behavior may decrease the overall performance of the network greatly. Thus, there is a challenge for designing a truthful protocol that maximizes a pair's payoff only when this pair reveals its true individual information. In this paper, we propose a relay assignment protocol (RA-VCG) for cooperative communication to maximize the total social value (i.e., the total true value of all pairs) while guaranteeing truthfulness in an auction-theoretic sense by charging each pair an extra payment. Specially, RA-VCG implements a variation of the well-known VCG mechanism for the truthful relay assignment problem in the network with selfish source-destination pairs. Then, we prove the validity of this protocol and also show several surprising properties (such as no positive transfer and individual rationality) associated with this protocol. The simulation results show that the total social value achieved when each node takes untruthfully is about 23.3% less than that achieved when nodes behave truthfully.
The role of action and coping planning in the relationship between intention and physical activity: A moderated mediation analysis

Objective: Using a moderated mediation model, the present study investigated whether the mediation of intention into physical activity (PA) behaviour via action planning depends on the level of coping planning. Method: A four-month prospective study was conducted among 157 French adults, who were recruited through a web-based survey. They were administrated measures of behavioural intention and sociodemographic variables at baseline and action and coping planning and PA four months later. Results: Action planning partially mediated the contribution of intention on PA level. However, this indirect effect was conditional on the level of coping planning, insofar as action planning acted as a mediator of the intention–PA relationship only for individuals with high level of coping planning. Conclusion: The results highlight the complexity of the relationship between intention and behaviour and provide evidence for the distinct role of both forms of planning.