Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Statistical Design Approach for a Digitally Programmable Mismatch-Tolerant High-Speed Nauta Structure Differential OTA in 65-nm CMOS

The Nauta structure differential operational transconductance amplifier (OTA) is introduced as a solution to an amplifier design in deep submicrometer CMOS. This simple high-speed inverter-based architecture uses a negative conductance dc gain enhancement technique to produce high dc gains and large unity gain frequencies. The design tradeoff is that the achievable dc gain is proportional to transistor device matching. Our analysis shows that fixed width Nauta structure OTAs have low dc gains due to variations, and thus viable Nauta OTAs need to have tuning mechanisms available to correct for mismatch. This paper presents a digitally programmable Nauta structure OTA architecture built using digital-to-transconductance converters (DTCs). These DTCs are designed to allow for flexibility in producing digital tuning solutions to the device mismatch problem using Nauta OTAs. We present a theoretical analysis of the digital Nauta OTA solution space for high dc gains and a statistical framework to estimate the likelihood of achieving certain gain specifications. Experimental results from a 65-nm CMOS prototype shows that the architecture achieves an average dc gain of greater than 60 dB in line with the minimum expected gain of 59 dB, and on-chip unity gain bandwidth is inferred above 5.8 GHz.
Energetic optimization of automotive thermal systems using mixed-integer programming and model predictive control

One of the biggest shortcomings of Electric Vehicles (EV) is related to the range of their battery. This problem can become even more crucial while using some important features of the car, such as those regarding the thermal comfort of the cabin. While highly efficient systems such as heat pumps can be used to overcome this problem, their performance can yet be optimized if combined with some other thermal actuators. To this aim, this paper proposes a Mixed-Integer optimization strategy based on Model Predictive Control (MPC). The results give substantial gains using both linear and non-linear models.
Modeling of hydrogen diffusion in n- and p-type silicon.

A model is proposed to describe the behavior of hydrogen in silicon at moderate temperatures. It is assumed that H has both a donor and an acceptor level in the band gap, and thus it can exist in the three charge states ${\mathrm{H}}^{0}$, ${\mathrm{H}}^{+}$, and ${\mathrm{H}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$. Its motion is slowed down by the formation of ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$ molecules as well as by interactions with the dopant atoms. Good simulations are obtained in both n- and p-type Si for various doping levels. The fitted diffusivity of neutral hydrogen is in agreement with the extrapolated high-temperature data.
Synaptotagmin VI and VIII and Syntaxin 2 Are Essential for the Mouse Sperm Acrosome Reaction*

The sperm acrosome is a large secretory granule that undergoes calcium-stimulated exocytosis by a mechanism analogous to neuronal secretion. In neurons the core SNARE (soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor) complex, composed of syntaxin (Stx), SNAP-25, and VAMP2, mediates vesicle fusion, whereas calcium regulation is thought to be accomplished by the synaptotagmin (Syt) family, some of which exhibit calcium-dependent binding to syntaxin and SNAP-25. Sperm express Syt VI and VIII and Stx2, which are co-localized to the acrosomal compartment where they might mediate exocytosis in response to calcium influx. Therefore, we examined the calcium dependence and isoform-specific interaction of Syt and Stx. We found that Stx2 binds to Syt I, VI, and VIII in a calcium-dependent manner with EC50 values of 175, 233, and 96 μm calcium, respectively. We also determined that the EC50 for calcium of the acrosome reaction in streptolysin O-permeabilized sperm is 87 μm, which closely coincides with the calcium sensitivity of Stx2 and Syt VIII interaction. Consistent with this is the greater potency of recombinant Syt VIII, VI, and Stx2 compared with other isoforms in inhibiting the acrosome reaction in streptolysin O-permeabilized sperm. Similarly, introduction of Syt VIII-specific antibodies was equally effective in inhibiting the acrosome fusion. Taken together, our data suggest a critical role for Syt VIII and Stx2 in membrane fusion and acrosome reaction in the sperm.
Hybrid TDOA/AOA mobile user location for wideband CDMA cellular systems

This paper proposes a mobile user location scheme for wideband code-division multiple-access (CDMA) wireless communication systems. To achieve high location accuracy and low cost of the mobile receiver, the location scheme combines the time difference of arrival (TDOA) measurements from the forward link pilot signals with the angle of arrival (AOA) measurement from the reverse link pilot signal. High chip rates in wideband CDMA systems facilitate accurate TDOA measurements, and a smart antenna used at the home base station (BS) can provide accurate AOA measurement in a macrocell environment. A two-step least square location estimator is developed based on a linear form of the AOA equation in the small error region. Numerical results demonstrate that the proposed hybrid TDOA/AOA location scheme gives a much higher location accuracy than TDOA only location, when the number of base stations is small and/or when the TDOA measurements have a relatively poor accuracy.
Widespread pain hypersensitivity and facilitated temporal summation of deep tissue pain in whiplash associated disorder: an explorative study of women.

OBJECTIVE Widespread deep tissue pain hyperalgesia was evaluated in women with chronic whiplash associated disorder (n = 25) and controls (n = 10) using computerized cuff pressure algometry and hypertonic saline infusion. METHODS A pneumatic double-chamber cuff was placed around: (i) the arm and (ii) the leg. Cuff inflation rate was constant and the pain intensity was registered continuously on a visual analogue scale (VAS); thresholds of detection and tolerance were extracted. For assessment of spatial summation the protocol was repeated with a single-chamber cuff inflated around the leg. Temporal summation of pain was assessed from the leg with constant cuff pressure stimulation at 2 different pressure intensities for 10 min. Hypertonic saline was infused in the tibialis anterior muscle. RESULTS Cuff pressure pain thresholds were lower in subjects with whiplash associated disorder compared with controls (p < 0.05). Tonic pressure stimulation evoked higher maximal VAS and larger areas under the VAS curve in subjects with whiplash associated disorder compared with controls (p < 0.05). The pain threshold and tolerance were higher during single cuff than double cuff stimulation. The area under the VAS curve after intramuscular saline infusion was larger in whiplash associated disorder (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION The results indicated widespread hyperalgesia in chronic whiplash associated disorder and facilitated temporal summation outside the primary pain area, suggesting involvement of central sensitization.
An Automated Inner Dimensional Measurement System Based on a Laser Displacement Sensor for Long-Stepped Pipes

A novel measurement prototype based on a mobile vehicle that carries a laser scanning sensor is proposed. The prototype is intended for the automated measurement of the interior 3D geometry of large-diameter long-stepped pipes. The laser displacement sensor, which has a small measurement range, is mounted on an extended arm of known length. It is scanned to improve the measurement accuracy for large-sized pipes. A fixing mechanism based on two sections is designed to ensure that the stepped pipe is concentric with the axis of rotation of the system. Data are acquired in a cylindrical coordinate system and fitted in a circle to determine diameter. Systematic errors covering arm length, tilt, and offset errors are analyzed and calibrated. The proposed system is applied to sample parts and the results are discussed to verify its effectiveness. This technique measures a diameter of 600 mm with an uncertainty of 0.02 mm at a 95% confidence probability. A repeatability test is performed to examine precision, which is 1.1 μm. A laser tracker is used to verify the measurement accuracy of the system, which is evaluated as 9 μm within a diameter of 600 mm.
Rule based approach for text segmentation on Indonesian news article using named entity distribution

Finding good paragraph structure or text segmentation is important in computational linguistic research mainly in areas such as information retrieval, question answering and summarization. We proposed text segmentation by subtopic movement detection based on lexical and named entity distribution. Main contributions of this research are the usage of named entity (with reference resolution) and voting method in measuring text segment similarity, and also redefining rules on the text boundary identification for Indonesian news article. The experiments were done on 52 articles from Indonesian online news. The experimental results achieved 76,8%-79,55% accuracy compared to 60,37%-60,83% on the baseline of other research.
Quantitative Statistical Analysis of cis-Regulatory Sequences in ABA/VP1- and CBF/DREB1-Regulated Genes of Arabidopsis1[w]

We have developed a simple quantitative computational approach for objective analysis of cis-regulatory sequences in promoters of coregulated genes. The program, designated MotifFinder, identifies oligo sequences that are overrepresented in promoters of coregulated genes. We used this approach to analyze promoter sequences of Viviparous1 (VP1)/abscisic acid (ABA)-regulated genes and cold-regulated genes, respectively, of Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). We detected significantly enriched sequences in up-regulated genes but not in down-regulated genes. This result suggests that gene activation but not repression is mediated by specific and common sequence elements in promoters. The enriched motifs include several known cis-regulatory sequences as well as previously unidentified motifs. With respect to known cis-elements, we dissected the flanking nucleotides of the core sequences of Sph element, ABA response elements (ABREs), and the C repeat/dehydration-responsive element. This analysis identified the motif variants that may correlate with qualitative and quantitative differences in gene expression. While both VP1 and cold responses are mediated in part by ABA signaling via ABREs, these responses correlate with unique ABRE variants distinguished by nucleotides flanking the ACGT core. ABRE and Sph motifs are tightly associated uniquely in the coregulated set of genes showing a strict dependence on VP1 and ABA signaling. Finally, analysis of distribution of the enriched sequences revealed a striking concentration of enriched motifs in a proximal 200-base region of VP1/ABA and cold-regulated promoters. Overall, each class of coregulated genes possesses a discrete set of the enriched motifs with unique distributions in their promoters that may account for the specificity of gene regulation.
Carbon and Boron Nitride Nanotube Fabricated Supercapacitors

CARBON AND BORON NITRIDE NANOTUBE FABRICATED SUPERCAPACITORS Derek Christian Demuth Old Dominion University, 2016 Director: Dr. Gon Namkoong The fabrication of supercapacitor devices consisting of boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) has great theoretical capabilities of high specific capacitance, energy density, and power density. Various methods of dispersion and deposition are utilized to optimize such supercapacitors with BNNTs and CNTs, and also to produce devices with only CNTs to use as a benchmark. In addition to capacitance measurements, BNNTs that were exposed to nitric acid were compared to fabricated devices without acid exposure. Dispersion has been accomplished through the trial of many solvents and surfactants for both CNTs and BNNTs. Deposition techniques that are utilized rely heavily on vacuum filtration and spray deposition techniques. The resultants of fabrication have been tested with capacitance voltage measurements and transmission electron microscopic images are used to analyze solutions. The highest specific capacitance was found in a fabricated device without including BNNTs, as a device fabricated from CNTs as the electrode, a polymer electrolyte, a dielectric separator of nafion, and foil contacts, had a specific capacitance of 0.51 mF/g. This device also had 0.13 Wh/kg for energy density, and 3.02 kW/kg for power density. However, despite this measurement of highest specific capacitance achieved without using BNNTs, a device made of only CNTs, BNNTs, foil contacts, and electrolyte, had the highest energy density of 0.15 Wh/kg and power density of 4.29 kW/kg. This device also had one of the highest measured specific capacitances of 0.27 mF/g. The CNTs and BNNTs were chosen to be used together because of costs and availability and their ideal structures for use as an electrode and a separator, respectively. Both materials have lattice structures that can be rolled into tubes to create bonds and also strengthen the material between walls. The porous structures also allow an electrolyte to seep into the pores to promote charge separation. Carbon is an ideal electrode and boron nitride has high dielectric properties suited for a capacitor separator. The devices showed consistent capacitance characteristics with higher power density than energy density. The techniques used for fabrication, measurement, and further optimization are mentioned throughout this paper. Cleaning BNNTs in nitric acid proved to promote better physical and electrical properties for the resultant solutions and devices.
Poor Response to Periodontal Treatment May Predict Future Cardiovascular Disease

Periodontal disease has been associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD), but whether the response to the treatment of periodontal disease affects this association has not been investigated in any large prospective study. Periodontal data obtained at baseline and 1 y after treatment were available in 5,297 individuals with remaining teeth who were treated at a specialized clinic for periodontal disease. Poor response to treatment was defined as having >10% sites with probing pocket depth >4 mm deep and bleeding on probing at ≥20% of the sites 1 y after active treatment. Fatal/nonfatal incidence rate of CVD (composite end point of myocardial infarction, stroke, and heart failure) was obtained from the Swedish cause-of-death and hospital discharge registers. Poisson regression analysis was performed to analyze future risk of CVD. During a median follow-up of 16.8 y (89,719 person-years at risk), those individuals who did not respond well to treatment (13.8% of the sample) had an increased incidence of CVD (n = 870) when compared with responders (23.6 vs. 15.3%, P < 0.001). When adjusting for calendar time, age, sex, educational level, smoking, and baseline values for bleeding on probing, probing pocket depth >4 mm, and number of teeth, the incidence rate ratio for CVD among poor responders was 1.28 (95% CI, 1.07 to 1.53; P = 0.007) as opposed to good responders. The incidence rate ratio among poor responders increased to 1.39 (95% CI, 1.13 to 1.73; P = 0.002) for those with the most remaining teeth. Individuals who did not respond well to periodontal treatment had an increased risk for future CVD, indicating that successful periodontal treatment might influence progression of subclinical CVD.
Modeling and performance analysis of large solar photo-voltaic generation on voltage stability and inter-area oscillations

The behavior of Solar Photo-Voltaic Generation (SPVG) in the grid is defined by the way its output active and reactive power are controlled; the reactive power can be controlled directly as a preset value or indirectly through controlling the voltage magnitude at the point of common coupling (PCC). Therefore, two basic modeling approaches are considered in the present work: constant reactive power and constant voltage magnitude models, for an infinite-capacitor SPVG. Based on these models, studies of the effect on the system's voltage and angle stability of integrating SPVG into the grid are presented and discussed for the IEEE 14-bus benchmark system. The analyses are performed at the transmission system level and from the system operator's perspective. Therefore, voltage stability studies are carried out using PV curves, small-perturbation stability studies are performed based on eigenvalue analyses of the linearized system modes, and time domain studies are carried out to examine the overall performance of the system in the case of contingencies. From the results and studies presented, it is shown that SPVG in PV-control mode does not negatively affect the stability of the system, and it may actually improve it.
MAGNETICALLY ACTUATED PHYSICAL IMPINGEMENT FOR ELUTION OF ARTIFICIAL MUCOUS FROM A SWAB

iii Acknowledgement. vi Table of contents. viii List of Figures. xii List of Tables. xvi List of Abbreviations and Symbols. xvii Chapter 1: Introduction. 1 1.1 Motivation. 1 1.2 Organization. 3 1.3 Contributions. 5 Chapter 2: Literature review. 6 2.
International Journal of Parallel Implementation of Big Data Pre-Processing Algorithms for Sentiment Analysis of Social Networking Data

Sentiment or Emotion analysis of social networking data involves a lot of data pre-processing. Due to the huge volume, the highly unstructured nature of the data and the enormous rate at which it is being generated, p arallel implementations of preprocessing algorithms becomes important. Pre-proces sing includes string to vector conversion, elimination of trivial words and symbol s if any, frequency mapping etc. In this work we implement and compare parallel algorit hms for pre-processing of social networking data (Twitter feeds) based on GPGPU (NVi dia CUDA C) and Hadoop Map Reduce Architectures. The effectiveness of various t ols from the Unix Command Line to the GPGPUs and Hadoop Map-Reduce has been discus sed in detail. This work compare and contrast the benefits and drawbacks of GPGPU and Hadoop Map-Reduce and conclude by projecting the effectiveness and dr awbacks of using parallel algorithms for effective and timely pre-processing of data.
THE ACUTE EFFECTS OF PRIOR DYNAMIC RESISTANCE EXERCISE USING DIFFERENT LOADS ON SUBSEQUENT UPPER‐BODY EXPLOSIVE PERFORMANCE IN RESISTANCE‐TRAINED MEN

The purpose of this study was to determine if explosive upper-body performance could be improved when it was preceded by conditioning contraction protocols that incorporate resistance exercise. Providing that performance was enhanced, it was also the intention to determine the optimal conditioning contraction load for enhancing performance. Eight recreationally trained men completed 4 experimental sessions. Each session consisted of a warm-up, 3 bench press throws (pre), a conditioning protocol, and 3 bench press throws (post). The different conditioning protocols consisted of 5 bench press repetitions using 100, 75, or 50% of 5 repetition maximum (5RM) strength. The fourth protocol, in which no repetitions were completed, acted as a control. Participants performed each conditioning protocol on a different day, and the order in which the protocols were performed was randomized. Average power, assessed during the bench press throws, was determined for the starting segment and the end segment (point of bar release) for each throw. Comparisons in average power, for each segment of the bench press 1RM, were made between the pre- and postconditioning protocol bench press throws. None of the conditioning protocols had an effect on bench press throw performance in either of the 2 segments of the movement. The results suggest there is no performance advantage when explosive upper-body movement is preceded by resistance exercise of varying loads. Alternatively, the performance of a set of resistance exercise did not compromise explosive upper-body performance. Considering this, training methods that combine both resistance exercise and plyometric-like exercise may offer a practical and time-efficient training system.
Constitutive expression of microRNA-150 in mammary epithelium suppresses secretory activation and impairs de novo lipogenesis

Profiling of RNA from mouse mammary epithelial cells (MECs) isolated on pregnancy day (P)14 and lactation day (L)2 revealed that the majority of differentially expressed microRNA declined precipitously between late pregnancy and lactation. The decline in miR-150, which exhibited the greatest fold-decrease, was verified quantitatively and qualitatively. To test the hypothesis that the decline in miR-150 is crucial for lactation, MEC-specific constitutive miR-150 was achieved by crossing ROSA26-lox-STOP-lox-miR-150 mice with WAP-driven Cre recombinase mice. Both biological and foster pups nursed by bitransgenic dams exhibited a dramatic decrease in survival compared with offspring nursed by littermate control dams. Protein products of predicted miR-150 targets Fasn, Olah, Acaca, and Stat5B were significantly suppressed in MECs of bitransgenic mice with constitutive miR-150 expression as compared with control mice at L2. Lipid profiling revealed a significant reduction in fatty acids synthesized by the de novo pathway in L2 MECs of bitransgenic versus control mice. Collectively, these data support the hypothesis that a synchronized decrease in miRNAs, such as miR-150, at late pregnancy serves to allow translation of targets crucial for lactation. Summary: A decline in miR-150 is critical for lactation, as pups nursed by dams in which this decline is prevented exhibit a dramatic decrease in survival compared with littermate controls.
Comparative analysis of the restriction endonuclease profiles of the Dumas and Singapore strains of varicella‐zoster virus

The incidence of varicella in Singapore has been increasing since 1984. In 1991,17,930 cases were reported in a population of about 3 million. A serological survey completed in 1990 demonstrated that only 43% of the cohort had antibodies to varicella‐zoster virus (VZV), indicating inadequate herd immunity. To exclude novel VZV strains, representative VZV isolates from 9 chicken pox and 4 zoster patients were characterised by restriction endonuclease analysis. DNAs were extracted from viral isolates propagated in MRC5 human embryo lung cells and were digested separately with Bg/ll, EcoRI, Pstl, Sall, and Xbal enzymes. The cleavage profiles of these VZV strains derived from both chicken pox and zoster lesions revealed no distinct differences. This observation implies that the current upsurge of chicken pox most likely stems from closely related VZV genotypes infecting a susceptible population with insufficient herd immunity. Comparison of the restriction fragments of the Singapore and the Dumas strains revealed polymorphisms of the Sal/I‐D, SaI/l‐E, and Xbal‐l fragment lengths, which correlated with variable regions I, II, and Ill of the VZV genome, thereby representing geographically distinct genotypic variants of VZV. © 1993 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.