Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Investigation on the thickness effect of a hydrophobic layer for operating voltage reduction in EWOD systems

This paper studies the optimum thickness of a hydrophobic layer for operating voltage reduction in electrowetting-on-dielectric (EWOD) systems by investigating the thickness effect on the surface wettability and hysteresis using an atomic force microscopy (AFM). To investigate the surface wettability, the thicknesses of Cytop and Teflon layers coated with different weight percent of Cytop and Teflon solutions are precisely measured by AFM. And the contact angles of D.I. water droplets sitting on the Cytop and Teflon layers with different thicknesses are measured by a microscope from the side. The results show that for Cytop films the contact angles of D.I. water droplets on the Cytop films thicker than 3 nm maintain around 110° on the other hand, the contact angles with the Cytop film thinner than 3 nm suddenly drop and decrease as the film becomes thinner. Teflon films show the similar trend as Cytop films, except the critical thickness (7 nm). The contact angle hysteresis on the different thicknesses of Cytop and Teflon films is separately investigated by the tilting base method. The results show that for the thin hydrophobic films, the contact angle hysteresis is over 10° however, it decreases as the film thickness increases. When the film is thicker than 12 nm, the values of the contact angle hysteresis are approximately halved and saturated. Based on the test results, the optimum hydrophobic film thickness (12 nm) is suggested. Finally, the thickness effect of the hydrophobic film on the operating voltage in EWOD actuation is tested. As expected the operating voltage in thin hydrophobic films is lower than in thick films. For the Cytop film, the saturation voltage in 12 nm is 20 V lower than 500 nm and 40 V lower than 1500 nm, respectively. Similarly, for the Teflon film, the saturation voltage in 12 nm is 20 V lower than 600 nm and 40 V lower than 1600 nm, respectively.
Deletion of Vitamin C biosynthesis enzyme, Arabino‐1, 4‐lactone oxidase in Leishmania donovani results in increased pro‐inflammatory responses from host immune cells

Recently, we reported molecular characterization, localization and functional importance of Arabino‐1, 4‐lactone oxidase (ALO) enzyme from Leishmania donovani that catalyses the last step in ascorbate biosynthesis pathway. Vitamin C (l‐ascorbic acid) is implicated in several crucial physiological processes. To elucidate the biological role of d‐arabinono‐γ‐lactone oxidase in Leishmania, we made L. donovani ALO null mutant (ΔALO) by double targeted gene replacement. This mutant lacked ALO activity, showed transient growth defect and reduced ascorbate levels. ΔALO grown in ascorbate depleted media further enhanced growth defect with no detectable levels of ascorbate, implying that parasites have the ability to scavenge ascorbate. ΔALO mutants showed reduced survival in mouse macrophages and are impaired in their infectivity in vivo. Furthermore, the ΔALO mutant induced production of pro‐inflammatory cytokines gamma interferon (IFN‐gamma), interleukin‐12 (IL‐12) and tumour necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) by infected mouse macrophages. These mutants were susceptible to oxidative stresses in vitro as revealed by the decreased survival inside macrophages by increased production of reactive oxygen or nitrogen species. Complementation of the ΔALO mutants restored the phenotypic effects in these parasites. Our description of ALO null mutant parasite that triggers pro‐inflammatory host responses provides a novel platform for targeting ALO in anti‐parasitic strategies.
WENO schemes for hyperbolic systems of conservation laws

We present a family of high-order, essentially non-oscillatory, central schemes for approximating solutions of hyperbolic Systems of conservation laws These schemes are based on a new centered version of the Weighed Essentially Non-Oscillatory (WENO) reconstruction of point-values from cell-averages, which is then followed by an accurate approximation of the fiuxes viaa. natural contmuous extension of Runge-Kutta solvers We explicitly construct the third and fourth-order scheme and demonstrate their high-resolution properties m several numerical tests Resumé. Nous présentons une famille de schémas centrés ENO d'ordre élevé pour des solutions approchées de systèmes hyperboliques de lois de conservation Ces schémas reposent sur une nouvelle version centrée de la reconstruction ENO à poids (WENO) des valeurs ponctuelles à partir des moyennes sur les cellules, ce qui conduit à une approximation précise des flux grâce à une extension naturelle continue des solveurs Runge-Kutta Nous construisons explicitement les schémas d'ordre trois et quatre et nous provons leurs propriétés de haute précision à travers des essais numériques AMS Subject Classification. 65M10, 65M05. Received April 7, 1998 Revised July 1, 1998
Communication Networks and Performance of Four New Delhi City Parks

Urban green spaces are very important for human wellbeing and environmental sustainability. The efficiency of managing urban green spaces often depends on communication and integration of information. We performed a social network analysis survey for assessing the communication structure among the staff in four New Delhi city parks. We were interested in the relationship between three topological properties of the social networks (centre of gravity, MaxS, compactness) and three network-independent attributes of their performance (average satisfaction, visitor’s median expected improvements, number of species identified). The presence of a dynamic leader, improved communication and flow of information down the hierarchical chain and lastly, maximization of interaction and strengthening of relationships of the co-workers are three network properties that emerge as very important for a well-performing park. Through this study, we demonstrate the ability of social network analysis to provide simple, yet powerful, insights that can assist in improving the management of urban green spaces.
Escalating IT-projects: A text-analysis of risk-framing effects of managers

Despite significant research in the area, many IT projects fail to realize their targets with regards to time, budget or functionality. Resources continue to be committed to projects even though information is available which indicates that they are no longer viable. Prospect theory explains that these decisions can result from the risk preferences of individuals. A framing effect occurs when specific words are used, or attributes are emphasized, which influence these risk preferences. This research uses text analysis to determine which types of framing are applied by project managers when discussing a project. This information is used to gain insight into their so-called ‘project frame’ which helps to predict their decision making behavior. The findings demonstrate that the three main types of framing are indeed applied during conversations and that these can be linked to either a positive or a negative project frame.
A multi-pitch tracking algorithm for noisy speech

We present a robust algorithm for multi-pitch tracking of noisy speech. Our approach integrates an improved channel and peak selection method, a new integration method for extracting periodicity information across different frequency channels, and a hidden Markov model (HMM) for forming continuous pitch tracks, and as a result, our algorithm can reliably track single and double pitch tracks in a noisy environment. The proposed algorithm is evaluated on a database of speech utterances mixed with various interferences and the results show that our algorithm outperforms existing algorithms significantly.
Phosphodiesterase in Dictyostelium discoideum and the Chemotactic Response to Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate

A phosphodiesterase with a low Michaelis constant for cyclic adenosine monophosphate was found in the membrane fraction of the cellular slime mold. This activity was highest during the aggregation stage. Enzyme with similar properties was also secreted by the cells. Dithiothreitol inhibited both enzymes and potentiated the cellular response to cyclic adenosine monophosphate.
Hot horizontal branch stars in NGC 288 – effects of diffusion and stratification on their atmospheric parameters

Context. NGC 288 is a globular cluster with a well-developed blue horizontal branch (HB) covering the u-jump that indicates the onset of diffusion. It is therefore well suited to study the effects of diffusion in blue HB stars. Aims. We compare observed abundances with predictions from stellar evolution models calculated with diffusion and from stratified atmospheric models. We verify the effect of using stratified model spectra to derive atmospheric parameters. In addition, we investigate the nature of the overluminous blue HB stars around the u-jump. Methods. We defined a new photometric index sz from uvby measurements that is gravity-sensitive between 8000 K and 12 000 K. Using medium-resolution spectra and Stromgren photometry, we determined atmospheric parameters (Teff ,l ogg) and abundances for the blue HB stars. We used both homogeneous and stratified model spectra for our spectroscopic analyses. Results. The atmospheric parameters and masses of the hot HB stars in NGC 288 show a behaviour seen also in other clusters for temperatures between 9000 K and 14 000 K. Outside this temperature range, however, they instead follow the results found for such stars in ω Cen. The abundances derived from our observations are for most elements (except He and P) within the abundance range expected from evolutionary models that include the effects of atomic diffusion and assume a surface mixed mass of 10 −7 M� . T he abundances predicted by stratified model atmospheres are generally significantly more extreme than observed, except for Mg. When effective temperatures, surface gravities, and masses are determined with stratified model spectra, the hotter stars agree better with canonical evolutionary predictions. Conclusions. Our results show definite promise towards solving the long-standing problem of surface gravity and mass discrepancies for hot HB stars, but much work is still needed to arrive at a self-consistent solution.
Speech-To-Text Conversion (STT) System Using Hidden Markov Model (HMM)

Speech is an easiest way to communicate with each other. Speech processing is widely used in many applications like security devices, household appliances, cellular phones, ATM machines and computers. The human computer interface has been developed to communicate or interact conveniently for one who is suffering from some kind of disabilities. Speech-to-Text Conversion (STT) systems have a lot of benefits for the deaf or dumb people and find their applications in our daily lives. In the same way, the aim of the system is to convert the input speech signals into the text output for the deaf or dumb students in the educational fields. This paper presents an approach to extract features by using Mel Frequency Cepstral Coefficients (MFCC) from the speech signals of isolated spoken words. And, Hidden Markov Model (HMM) method is applied to train and test the audio files to get the recognized spoken word. The speech database is created by using MATLAB.Then, the original speech signals are preprocessed and these speech samples are extracted to the feature vectors which are used as the observation sequences of the Hidden Markov Model (HMM) recognizer. The feature vectors are analyzed in the HMM depending on the number of states.
Design and implement of training simulation system for marine electric propulsion system

At the background of the development of a marine electric propulsion system(EPS) training simulation system, the components and operation condition of the EPS are introduced. The design and implement of hardware and software are presented. Mathematical models of the main equipments which suit for real-time simulation are established, and the method of getting equipment parameters without original product data is proposed. At last, the conclusion is that this scheme is quite suitable for mid-sized systems for its feasibility of programming and developing.
An efficient algorithm for optimizing DCT quantization

We describe the RD-OPT algorithm for DCT quantization optimization, which can be used as an efficient tool for near-optimal rate control in DCT-based compression techniques, such as JPEG and MPEG. RD-OPT measures DCT coefficient statistics for the given image data to construct rate/distortion-specific quantization tables with nearly optimal tradeoffs.
4-[(E)-({4-[(4-Aminophenyl)sulfonyl]phenyl}imino)methyl]phenol ethanol monosolvate

In the title compound, C19H16N2O3S·C2H6O, the 4-hydroxybenzylidene group is oriented at dihedral angles of 73.17 (7) and 77.06 (7)° with respect to the aniline groups. The sulfonyl group make dihedral angles of 44.89 (13) and 59.16 (12)° with the adjacent aniline groups. In the crystal, a two-dimensional polymeric network parallel to (010) is formed by N—H⋯O, O—H⋯N and O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds. There also exist π–π interactions with a distance of 3.5976 (18) Å between the centroids of hydroxyphenyl rings.
Crosslinguistic priming in interactive reference: evidence for conceptual alignment in speech production

Bilingual participants offer a unique opportunity to study how concepts and their relations are stored in the brain. We focus on this in the context of the spoken production of referring expressions. Previous work on reference in interaction showed that speakers adapt their descriptions to those produced earlier in the interaction. For example, when participants hear a description that contains a dispreferred attribute (such as orientation in “the chair seen from the side”), they were more likely to use that attribute in future references. The adaptation found here is claimed to take place at the conceptual level (i.e., participants adapt to the attribute “orientation” and not to the value “seen from the side”). However, so far, convincing evidence of this claim has been lacking, because it has proven difﬁcult to rule out adaptation at the lexical or syntactic level. A crosslinguistic study was set up to provide evidence for conceptual adaptation. In our study, Spanish/Dutch bilinguals listened to Spanish descriptions that all used postmodiﬁers and referred in Dutch using premodiﬁers. The results showed that, even without syntactic or lexical cues, speakers adapted their Dutch descriptions with the (Spanish) attributes they had listened to, providing evidence for adaptation at the conceptual level.
The leakage current as a diagnostic tool for outdoor insulation

In order to reduce pollution effects, utilities perform costly maintenance jobs that become very excessive and sometimes ineffective because they are not applied on time. To make a more efficient use of human and material resources, it is necessary the use of diagnostic tools. In Mexico, since 1994, the national utility CFE uses monitoring systems for detecting the leakage current in power lines for the diagnosis of outdoor insulation. The leakage current magnitude which causes an insulator flashover due to contamination depends on its shape, material and design. However, insulator flashover occurs around the same leakage current magnitude. Based on laboratory experiments and on field experiences, the Electrical Research Institute (IIE) has classified the leakage current magnitude in five ranges. In the same way, IIE establishes five flashover risk levels that represent some maintenance action that, the user must perform. It is clear that, insulators with different shapes will have different risk levels for the same range of leakage current. Therefore, for the most common insulators used in Mexico, a relationship between the leakage current ranges and flashover risk levels was established. When the leakage current is continuously monitored, it is possible to generate an alarm about the probability of a dangerous flashover risk level; it is also possible to recommend the necessary maintenance actions. This paper summarizes the field and laboratory experiences obtained with the measurement of the leakage currents. Flashover risk levels with maintenance actions associated are also proposed. This classification could be used in the diagnostic of outdoor insulators in power lines.
The Romantic Relationships of Young Adults with Elevated Callous-Unemotional Traits

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A very high resolution DAC at 1kHz for space applications

In this paper a 24-bit Digital to Analog Converter using the ΣΔ modulation suitable for space applications is presented. This converter operates in the frequency range of 0.1 mHz up to 1kHz It features a current steering output stage consisting of 32 differential current sources. The device includes an I2C protocol which allows the selection of the Oversampling, Ratio of the converter to be either x128 or x256 for a 12 kHz or 6 kHz sampling ratio respectively. This circuit can be used either as a stand alone device or embedded into an ASIC as an IP core.
Schistosoma mansoni: localization of the 28 kDa secreted protease in cercaria

Summary Monospecific rabbit antibodies were utilized to localize the 28 kDa serine protease which is released from transforming schistosomula of Schistosoma mansoni in cercariae and freshly transformed schistosomula. This protease exerts two postulated activities, degradation of connective tissue proteins thus promoting skin penetration and release of the cercarial glycocalyx leading to accelerated schistosomular transformation. Upon immunogold labelling of cercarial cryosections, the 28 kDa protease was found stored in both the preacetabular and postacetabular glands. This enzyme was also detected in the cercarial glycocalyx by immunogold and immunofluorescence labelling and by its proteolytic activity. Following transformation and shedding of the glycocalyx, the same 28 kDa protease was found on the surface membrane of transformed schistosomula which are resistant to immune damage. It is suggested that the 28 kDa membrane protease which cleaves in vitro the complement proteins C3, C3b and C9, may promote in vivo immunoresistance of S. mansoni.
Doping evolution of the chemical potential , spin-correlation gap , and charge dynamics of Nd 2 −

N. L. Wang,1 G. Li,1 Dong Wu,1 X. H. Chen,2 C. H. Wang,2 and H. Ding3 1Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100080, People’s Republic of China 2Hefei National Laboratory for Physics Science at Microscale and Department of Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, People’s Republic of China 3Department of Physics, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts 02467, USA Received 12 October 2004; revised manuscript received 22 February 2006; published 1 May 2006
Inducible chromatin priming is associated with the establishment of immunological memory in T cells

Immunological memory is a defining feature of vertebrate physiology, allowing rapid responses to repeat infections. However, the molecular mechanisms required for its establishment and maintenance remain poorly understood. Here, we demonstrated that the first steps in the acquisition of T‐cell memory occurred during the initial activation phase of naïve T cells by an antigenic stimulus. This event initiated extensive chromatin remodeling that reprogrammed immune response genes toward a stably maintained primed state, prior to terminal differentiation. Activation induced the transcription factors NFAT and AP‐1 which created thousands of new DNase I‐hypersensitive sites (DHSs), enabling ETS‐1 and RUNX1 recruitment to previously inaccessible sites. Significantly, these DHSs remained stable long after activation ceased, were preserved following replication, and were maintained in memory‐phenotype cells. We show that primed DHSs maintain regions of active chromatin in the vicinity of inducible genes and enhancers that regulate immune responses. We suggest that this priming mechanism may contribute to immunological memory in T cells by facilitating the induction of nearby inducible regulatory elements in previously activated T cells.
A step toward practical deployment of the content-centric networking architecture

Content-Centric Networking (CCN) is a promising candidate for the future Internet architecture. Its pivot is to change the host-centric model of the current Internet to a content-centric model. Under the new model, anyone can cache contents and serve them to anyone else. Thus, user latency, redundant traffic and server load are all reduced. Although CCN is widely acknowledged in the research community, practical implementation and deployment of the idea are still scarce. In this paper, we propose a practical instantiation of the CCN architecture. In contrast to the clean-slate approach, we leverage existing infrastructures to build a working system at minimum cost. We believe that our scheme reaps most of the benefits of CCN without an overhaul of the Internet and can serve as an initial step toward the deployment of a whole new CCN-based Internet architecture.
Broadband Noise Control Using Predictive Techniques

Predictive controllers have found applications in a wide range of industrial processes. Two types of such controllers are generalized predictive control and deadbeat control. Recently, deadbeat control has been augmented to include an extended horizon. This modification, named deadbeat predictive control, retains the advantage of guaranteed stability and offers a novel way of control weighting. This paper presents an application of both predictive control techniques to vibration suppression of plate modes. Several system identification routines are presented. Both algorithms are outlined and shown to be useful in the suppression of plate vibrations. Experimental results are given and the algorithms are shown to be applicable to non- minimal phase systems.
Ballistic Spin Injection from Fe(001) into ZnSe and GaAs

We consider the spin injection from Fe into ZnSe and GaAs in the ballistic limit. By means of the ab initio screened Korringa-Kohn-Rostoker method we calculate the ground-state properties of epitaxial Fe‖ZnSe(001) and Fe‖GaAs(001) heterostructures. Three injection processes are considered: injection of hot electrons and injection of "thermal" electrons with and without an interface barrier. The calculation of the conductance by the Landauer formula shows that these interfaces act like a nearly ideal spin filter, with spin polarization as high as 99%. This can be traced back to the symmetry of the band structure of Fe for normal incidence.
An Empirical Analysis of School Choice Under Uncertainty

Uncertainty about admission chances and constraints on the number of application choices are two integral aspects of most coordinated school assignment systems. And yet, there is sparse empirical evidence on the behavioral and welfare consequences of these features. This paper builds and estimates a model of optimal portfolio choice to quantify the effects of constrained choice and uncertainty. Using the Marginal Improvement Algorithm proposed by Chade and Smith (2006), our strategy allows us to handle cases with large numbers of students and schools and to recover underlying structural parameters. An application based on administrative data from Ghana finds that total welfare is a concave function of the number of ranked choices – expanding the number of choices from 1 to 2 increases total welfare by 26% and reduces the number of unassigned students by approximately 18%. Allowing students to submit an unrestricted number of choices generates three times as much total welfare as allowing for a single choice.