Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A computationally efficient 'doubly-steered' approximation to the Frost beamformer for use with short observation times

It is demonstrated that it is possible to approach the performance of a Frost (1972) beamformer but with significantly less computational effort by pre-steering in only few primary directions equi-spaced in sin( theta ) terms, and using linear constraints to perform secondary steering about the primary directions. Various issues concerning the number of taps, the dimension of the constraint space statistical stability and time-bandwidth product are discussed. Results are shown using both simulated and real towed array data. <<ETX>>
Behavioral Models of Input/Output Buffers Including Core Noise Coupling

This paper addresses the generation of enhanced models of the input/output buffers of digital integrated circuits. The proposed models overcome the current limitations of the state-of-the-art models and can be obtained from device port transient responses only. They can be effectively implemented as SPICE subcircuits in any commercial tool for signal integrity or core noise simulations.
Wine, Diet, Antioxidant Defenses, and Oxidative Damage

Abstract: Oxidative stress is a central mechanism for the pathogenesis of ischemic heart disease and atherogenesis, for cancer and other chronic diseases in general, and it also plays a major role in the aging process. Dietary antioxidants constitute a large group of compounds that differ in mechanism of action, bioavailability and side effects. A systematic analysis of the role of the various antioxidants in chronic diseases is hampered by the difficulty of employing death or clinical events as end points in intervention studies. Therefore, valid markers for oxidative stress, which show dose response and are sensitive to changes in dietary supply of antioxidants, are potentially of great value when trying to establish healthy dietary patterns, or when one component, like red wine, is evaluated specifically. To evaluate potential oxidative stress markers we have studied the effect of different diets plus wine supplementation on antioxidant defenses and oxidative damage. In three experimental series, four groups of young male university students, one of older men and other of older women, 20‐24 volunteers each, received Mediterranean or occidental (high‐fat) diets alone or supplemented with red wine, white wine, or fruits and vegetables. Measurements included, leukocyte DNA 8‐OH‐deoxyguanosine (8OHdG), plasma 7β‐hydroxycholesterol, TBARS and well‐characterized antioxidants, and plasma and urine polyphenol antioxidants. In all experimental groups that received red wine, consumption resulted in marked decrease in 8OHdG. The changes observed in 8OHdG correlate positively with the other markers of oxidative damage, and shows a clear inverse correlation with the plasma level of well established antioxidants and with measurements of total antioxidant capacity. Urinary total polyphenol content as well as the sum of some specific plasma species also correlate inversely with 8OHdG. In conclusion, the results identify 8OHdG as a very promising general marker of oxidative stress in nutrition intervention studies in humans, and red wine shows a remarkable protective effect.
Impact on patients’ health status following early identification of a COPD exacerbation

The current study aimed to assess the impact on patient health status during an acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD). A total of 421 COPD patients were enrolled in a multicentre, single-arm study with a 6-month observational follow-up period. Patients received two inhalations of Symbicort 200 Turbuhaler® twice a day. Patients were assessed before the run-in period, at baseline and at 1, 3 and 6 months. Patients were instructed to report a change in respiratory symptoms lasting >24 h. This defined an AECOPD. In addition to the initial call, the St George’s Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), COPD Control Questionnaire (CCQ), Medical Research Council (MRC) dyspnoea scale and activities of daily living (ADL) were completed at 5–7 and 12–14 days. A group of 176 patients reported at least one AECOPD. Exacerbations were associated with statistically significant mean changes (worsening) in the SGRQ activity and impact domains at onset (mean±sd 12.1±18.1 and 14.0±15.2), during the first (9.8±19.0 and 9.4±16.6) and second weeks (3.1±15.5 and 3.3±14.7). Clinically significant deterioration in SGRQ impact scores was shown in 71% of patients following early identification, with 55 and 37% during the first and second weeks of an AECOPD, respectively. Acute exacerbation severely impacts on health status. The current study provides valuable information on the change in health status during an acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease that can be utilised for future trials that evaluate therapeutic intervention.
A Corrupção em uma Abordagem Econômico- Contábil e o Auxílio da Auditoria como Ferramenta de Combate

Nas duas ultimas decadas, as noticias e denuncias sobre casos de corrupcao e, consequentemente, os estudos sobre este assunto, aumentaram consideravelmente. A corrupcao, embora, em grande parte, referir-se ao setor publico, e um fenomeno que nao isenta o setor privado e as organizacoes nao governamentais. A relevância e a contemporaneidade do presente assunto ocorrem devido aos reflexos nas mais diferentes esferas da sociedade, visto que, a corrupcao provoca diversos maleficios para uma nacao, dificultando o seu progresso. Este estudo buscou, por meio de uma revisao bibliografica, analisar o tema corrupcao. Para tal, inicialmente, procurou-se apresentar alguma interrelacao entre as ciencias contabil e economica, e, em seguida, uma analise da corrupcao sob os enfoques dessas duas ciencias. Foram destacados alguns dos esforcos e dos projetos mundiais elaborados com o proposito de reprimir a corrupcao. Por fim, enfatizou-se o papel preponderante da Auditoria como ferramenta util no combate a corrupcao; a Lei Sarbanes-Oxley e o desen-volvimento de sistemas informatizados sao exemplos de esforcos da Auditoria no sentido de estar mais bem preparada para atender a essas novas demandas. Com o presente estudo, chegou-se a conclusao que uma aprofundada auditoria, contendo sofisticados observadores organizacionais, e nao apenas auditores contabeis tradicionais, torna-se uma ferramenta eficaz e necessaria para o auxilio ao combate do supracitado fenomeno.
Australian School of Business Working Paper

We consider a directed search environment where capacity constrained sellers reach uncoordinated buyers through costly advertising while buyers observed all prices probabilistically. We show that: (i) the equilibrium advertising intensity has an inverted U-shape in market tightness, (ii) the equilibrium advertising intensity is higher under an auction mechanism than under posted pricing, and (iii) the equilibrium price and measure of informed buyers may be positively correlated even in large markets. JEL Classification: E52, E63.
Learning and grounding haptic affordances using demonstration and human-guided exploration

We present a system for learning haptic affordance models of complex manipulation skills. The goal of a haptic affordance model is to improve task completion by characterizing the feel of a particular object-action pair. We use learning from demonstration to provide the robot with an example of a successful interaction with a given object. We then use environmental scaffolding and a wrist-mounted force/torque (F/T) sensor to collect grounded examples (successes and unsuccessful “near misses”) of the haptic data for the object-action pair. From this, we build one “success” Hidden Markov Model (HMM) and one “near-miss” HMM for each object-action pair. We evaluate this approach with five different actions on seven different objects to learn two specific affordances (open-able and scoop-able). We show that by building a library of object-action pairs for each affordance, we can successfully monitor a trajectory of haptic data to determine if the robot finds an affordance.
The Escherichia coli polB gene, which encodes DNA polymerase II, is regulated by the SOS system

The dinA (damage inducible) gene was previously identified as one of the SOS genes with no known function; it was mapped near the leuB gene, where the polB gene encoding DNA polymerase II was also mapped. We cloned the chromosomal fragment carrying the dinA region from the ordered Escherichia coli genomic library and mapped the dinA promoter precisely on the physical map of the chromosome. The cells that harbored multicopy plasmids with the dinA region expressed very high levels of DNA polymerase activity, which was sensitive to N-ethylmaleimide, an inhibitor of DNA polymerase II. Expression of the polymerase activity encoded by the dinA locus was regulated by SOS system, and the dinA promoter was the promoter of the gene encoding the DNA polymerase. From these data we conclude that the polB gene is identical to the dinA gene and is regulated by the SOS system. The product of the polB (dinA) gene was identified as an 80-kDa protein by the maxicell method.
Three Dimensional Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship of 5H-Pyrido[4,3-b]indol-4-carboxamide JAK2 Inhibitors

Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) is an intracellular nonreceptor tyrosine kinase that belongs to the JAK family of kinases, which play an important role in survival, proliferation, and differentiation of a variety of cells. JAK2 inhibitors are potential drugs for the treatment of myeloproliferative neoplasms. The three dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationships have been studied on a series of JAK2 inhibitors by comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA), and comparative molecular similarity indices analysis (CoMSIA). The CoMFA model had a cross-validated coefficient q2 of 0.633, and the relation non-cross-validated coefficient r2 of 0.976. The F value is 225.030. The contributions of steric and electrostatic fields to the activity are 55.2% and 44.8%, respectively. For the CoMSIA study, the q2, r2, and F values of the model are 0.614, 0.929, and 88.771, respectively. The contributions of steric, electrostatic, hydrophobic, hydrogen bond donor, and hydrogen bond donor fields to the activity are 27.3%, 23.9%, 16.4%, 21.7%, and 10.7%, respectively. The CoMFA and CoMSIA models showed strong predictive ability, and the 3D contour plots give the basis on the structure modification of JAK2 inhibitors.
Analysis of the Photonic Bandgaps for Gyrotron Devices

The global bandgaps of photonic crystal are theoretically analyzed in this paper. The electromagnetic-wave propagation characteristics of photonic bandgap (PBG) structures, which is used in the the millimeter-wave, submillimeter-wave, and terahertz regime vacuum electronic devices and accelerators, were numerically simulated using the finite-element method software high-frequency structural simulator. The dispersion curves of the lattices in different rod radius to-rod spacing ratios and the global bandgaps for the general 2-D PBG structures formed by triangular and square arrays of metal rods were simulated. A mode map that shows the relationship between the structures and the contained modes was plotted and a 220-GHz metallic PBG resonator operating in TE04 mode was designed for a gyrotron device to verify the theoretical and numerical simulations, and a comparison of mode density and quality factor between the PBG resonator and the equivalent cylindrical resonator has been carried out.
Hierarchical Risk Assessment of Transmission System Considering the Influence of Active Distribution Network

In traditional distribution system, power flow was unidirectional; thus loads were usually aggregated into the substation as an equivalent constant bus in the original risk analysis of transmission system. Detail structures of the distribution system were absolutely ignored. However, distribution system is transformed from passive to active nowadays with more and more distributed generations (DGs) being integrated into it. So, distribution system not only can be considered as loads but also can be considered as virtual power plants to supply power to local loads and even to send power back to the transmission system sometimes. In this paper, a hierarchical method is presented to evaluate the impact of role changing of the distribution system in power system risk assessment. In the study, DGs can supply critical loads in distribution system through re-dispatching after some contingency happens. Discrete probability model is employed to simulate the intermittent output of DGs. Available supply capacity (ASC) is used as a general constraint to guarantee the security level of distribution system that needs high reliability. Also, an iterative calculation between transmission system and distribution network is adopted to derive the risk indices with considering detail structures of the active distribution network. Further, impact of some factors on system risk calculation, such as DGs' capacities, dispersions, locations, and component outage probabilities, are discussed. Finally, correctness and effectiveness of the proposed method are validated by a modified IEEE RTS and RBTS system.
Nitrogen metabolite signalling involves the C‐terminus and the GATA domain of the Aspergillus transcription factor AREA and the 3′ untranslated region of its mRNA.

AREA is a GATA transcription factor which mediates nitrogen metabolite repression in Aspergillus nidulans in response to intracellular glutamine levels. We have identified and localized three elements important to modulation of AREA function: a region of 13 residues within the DNA‐binding GATA domain which forms a putative extended loop structure, the 12 C‐terminal residues, and sequences within a 218 nucleotide region of the 3′ UTR. The 12 C‐terminal residues are also required for transcriptional activation at a subset of loci under areA control. Specific deletions within the 3′ UTR and the C‐terminus cause similar levels of derepression and the mutations are additive, implicating two principal signal transduction pathways. The contribution of the 3′ UTR to AREA modulation is effected at the level of transcript stability such that the areA mRNA is at least five times more stable under nitrogen‐derepressing conditions than it is under repressing growth conditions.
The secretion pathway of IgA protease‐type proteins in gram‐negative bacteria

The pathogenic, Gram‐negative bacteria, Neisseria gon‐orrhoeae, Neisseria meningitidis and Haemophilus influenzae, secrete immunoglobulin A1 proteases into their extracellular surroundings. An extraordinary feature in the secretory pathway of these putative virulence factors is a self‐directed outer membrane transport step allowing the proteins to be secreted autonomously, even from foreign Gram‐negative host cells like Escherichia coli. Here we summarize recent achievements in the understanding of IgA protease outer membrane translocation.
Artificial Symbiogenesis

Symbiosis is the phenomenon in which organisms of different species live together in close association, resulting in a raised level of fitness for one or more of the organisms. Symbiogenesis is the name given to the process by which symbiotic partners combine and unify—forming endosymbioses and then potentially transferring genetic material—giving rise to new morphologies and physiologies evolutionarily more advanced than their constituents. In this article we begin by using the NKC model of coevolution to examine endosymbiosis and its effect on the evolutionary performance of the partners involved. We are then able to suggest the conditions under which endosymbioses are more likely to occur and why; we find they emerge between organisms within a window of their respective chaotic gas regimes and hence that the association represents a more stable state for the partners. The conditions under which gene transfer is more likely to represent an advantage for such endosymbionts are then examined within the same model. We find that, providing a suitable pathway exists, such a process can lead to a more efficient genetic configuration for the symbionts within a window that overlaps that in which endosymbioses occur. Finally, the results are used as grounds for implementing symbiogenesis within artificial evolutionary multiagent systems.
[An experimental study for fixation of CO2 in stack gases using microalgae cultivation].

To obtain a microalgae growing well in the condition of stack gases and to find a good method of fixing greenhouse gases, the ZY-1 strain identified as a species of Chlorella genus was isolated from soil-water mixture samples collected from a paddy field after an enrichment culture using the reproduced stack gases containing 15% of CO2 and 2% of O2. The results showed that the range of CO2 concentration for the optimum growth of the ZY-1 strain was 10-15%. The ZY-1 strain had its maximum growth when the CO2 concentration was 10%. Under a broad range of physically conditions including 0.25-0.75 L.min-1 of air flowing rate, 25-30 degrees C of temperature and pH 4-6, the ZY-1 strain had a steady growth. The optimum cultural condition with 0.397% of the CO2 utilization efficiency was seemed to be 10% of CO2, 25 degrees C and pH 5.0. It is feasible to fix greenhouse gases using the stack gases combined with the ZY-1 strain.
Imaging of Peripheral Cholangiocarcinoma With Low‐Mechanical Index Contrast‐Enhanced Sonography and SonoVue

Objective. The purpose of this study was to investigate the imaging findings of peripheral cholangiocarcinoma with low‐mechanical index (MI) contrast‐enhanced sonography. Methods. Eighteen nodules of peripheral cholangiocarcinoma proved by pathologic examination in 18 patients were evaluated with contrast‐enhanced sonography. A low‐MI real‐time contrast‐enhanced sonographic mode (ie, contrast pulse sequencing) and a sulfur hexafluoride‐filled microbubble contrast agent (SonoVue [BR1]; Bracco SpA, Milan, Italy) were used. Results. On contrast‐enhanced sonographic images, all 18 nodules (100%) of peripheral cholangiocarcinoma showed inhomogeneous enhancement during the arterial phase, and the emergence of nodule enhancement was earlier in 3 nodules (16.7%), simultaneous in 13 (72.2%), and later in 2 (11.1%), respectively, when compared with the adjacent liver tissue. During the arterial phase, 8 nodules (44.4%) showed irregular peripheral rimlike hyperenhancement, 2 (11.1%) showed inhomogeneous hyperenhancement, and 8 (44.4%) showed inhomogeneous hypoenhancement. In portal and late phases, all 18 nodules (100%) showed hypoenhancement. When contrast‐enhanced sonography was added for analysis, the confidence levels of the investigators were improved in 15 (83.3%) of 18 nodules, and 17 (94.4%) of 18 peripheral cholangiocarcinomas were correctly characterized. Conclusions. The imaging findings of peripheral cholangiocarcinoma had some characteristics on low‐MI contrast‐enhanced sonography. Knowledge of these characteristics might be beneficial for improving the diagnostic performance of sonography in evaluating this entity.
Auto-synchronisation et combinaison cohérente de lasers à fibre :

La montee en puissance dans les lasers ou amplificateurs a fibres unimodales s’accompagne d’effets non lineaires, lies au fort confinement spatio-temporel du champ dans le guide, qui sont souvent prejudiciables a l’amplification. L’objectif de la these est d’etudier l’amplification en parallele dans les fibres optiques et la recombinaison des champs issus de ces differents amplificateurs. Deux architectures ont ete etudiees : Une premiere configuration interferometrique exploite un filtrage du spectre de frequences temporelles emis par le laser ramifie pour realiser la sommation coherente des champs sur la voie commune de l’interferometre laser. Les regimes de fonctionnement continu, declenche et a synchronisation de modes ont ete etudies. Une seconde architecture laser realise par filtrage spatial interne au resonateur un verrouillage des phases de l’ensemble des amplificateurs disposes en parallele. Les multiples emissions cophasees sont alors combinees en champ lointain.
Classificação supervisionada de padrões utilizando floresta de caminhos otimos

Padroes sao geralmente representados por vetores de atributos obtidos atraves de amostras em uma base de dados, a qual pode estar totalmente, parcialmente ou nao rotulada. Dependendo da quantidade de informacao disponivel dessa base de dados, podemos aplicar tres tipos de tecnicas para identificacao desses padroes: supervisionadas, semisupervisionadas ou nao-supervisionadas. No presente trabalho, estudamos tecnicas supervisionadas, as quais caracterizam-se pelo total conhecimento dos rotulos das amostras da base de dados. Propusemos tambem um novo metodo para classificacao supervisionada de padroes baseada em Floresta de Caminhos Otimos (OPF - Optimum-Path Forest), a qual modela o problema de reconhecimento de padroes como sendo um grafo, onde os nos sao as amostras e os arcos definidos por uma relacao de adjacencia. Amostras mais relevantes (prototipos) sao identificadas e um processo de competicao entre elas e iniciado, as quais tentam oferecer caminhos de custo otimo para as demais amostras da base de dados. Apresentamos aqui duas abordagens, as quais diferem na relacao de adjacencia, funcao de custo de caminho e maneira de identificar os prototipos. A primeira delas utiliza como relacao de adjacencia o grafo completo e identifica os prototipos nas regioes de fronteira entre as classes, os quais oferecem caminhos de custo otimo que sao computados como sendo o valor do maior peso de arco do caminho entre esses prototipos e as demais amostras da base de dados, sendo o peso do arco entre duas amostras dado pela distância entre seus vetores de caracteristicas. O algoritmo OPF tenta minimizar esses custos para todas as amostras. A outra abordagem utiliza como relacao de adjacencia um grafo k-nn e identifica os prototipos como sendo os maximos de uma funcao de densidade de probabilidade, a qual e computada utilizando os pesos dos arcos. O valor do custo do caminho e dado pelo menor valor de densidade ao longo do caminho. Neste caso, o algoritmo OPF tenta agora maximizar esses custos. Apresentamos tambem um algoritmo de aprendizado generico, o qual ensina o classificador atraves de seus erros em um conjunto de validacao, trocando amostras classificadas incorretamente por outras selecionadas atraves de certas restricoes. Esse processo e repetido at´e um criterio de erro ser estabelecido. Comparacoes com os classificadores SVM, ANN-MLP, k-NN e BC foram feitas, tendo o OPF demonstrado ser similar ao SVM, porem bem mais rapido, e superior aos restantes Abstract