Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Distribution and function of splash, an achaete‐scute homolog in the adult olfactory organ of the Caribbean spiny lobster Panulirus argus

achaete‐scute complex (ASC) genes, which encode basic helix‐loop‐helix transcription factors, regulate embryonic and adult neurogenesis in many animals. In adult arthropods, including crustaceans, ASC homologs have been identified but rarely functionally characterized. We took advantage of the recently identified crustacean homolog, splash (spiny lobster achaete scute homolog), in the olfactory organ of the Caribbean spiny lobster Panulirus argus to examine its role in adult neurogenesis. We tested the hypothesis that splash is associated with but not restricted to sensory neuron formation in the olfactory organ, the antennular lateral flagellum (LF), of adult spiny lobsters. We demonstrated splash labeling in epithelial cells across LF developmental zones (i.e., proliferation and mature zones), in auxiliary cells surrounding dendrites of olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs), and in immature and mature ORNs, but not in granulocytes or chromatophores. Since ORN proliferation varies with molt stage, we examined splash expression across molt stages and found that molt stage affected splash expression in the ORN mature zone but not in the proliferation zone. In vivo incorporation of bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) showed no correlation in the cellular pattern of splash expression and BrdU labeling. The intensity of splash labeling was dramatically enhanced in the proliferation zones following LF damage, suggesting enhanced splash expression during repair and/or regeneration. We conclude that splash is not closely associated with the formation of sensory neurons under normal physiological conditions, and we propose that splash is involved in repair and regeneration. We also propose that splash has additional roles other than neurogenesis in adult crustaceans. © Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol 71: 316–335, 2011
Consumption Inequality

M uch of the debate over the rising levels of inequality in the United States and other developed countries is phrased in terms of income, or in terms of components of income like wages and earnings. But for economists, a basic utility function of individuals typically refers to consumption and leisure, not income. The distinction between income and consumption could make a meaningful difference in thinking about inequality if the distribution of consumption at a given point in time is less wide than that of income, or if its evolution over time is smoother than that of income. Consumption can differ from income if consumers borrow or save, or if they receive transfers from other family members or the government in response to income shocks. The joint analysis of consumption and income inequality can be informative in several ways. It can show the presence (or lack) of such consumption-smoothing mechanisms. It can shed light on the nature of income shocks, and in particular the extent to which they should be understood as temporary (which may be easier to smooth out for consumption Consumption Inequality
Γ-convergence of graph Ginzburg-Landau functionals July 8 , 2012

We study Γ-convergence of graph based Ginzburg-Landau functionals, both the limit for zero diffusive interface parameter ε→ 0 and the limit for infinite nodes in the graph m→∞. For general graphs we prove that in the limit ε→ 0 the graph cut objective function is recovered. We show that the continuum limit of this objective function on 4-regular graphs is related to the total variation seminorm and compare it with the limit of the discretized Ginzburg-Landau functional. For both functionals we also study the simultaneous limit ε → 0 and m → ∞, by expressing ε as a power of m and taking m → ∞. Finally we investigate the continuum limit for a nonlocal means type functional on a completely connected graph. AMS Subject Classifications: 35R02, 35Q56
Metabolism of inositol phosphates in ATP-stimulated vascular endothelial cells.

The accumulation of InsP1, InsP2, InsP3 and InsP4 isomers was investigated in bovine aortic endothelial cells labelled with [3H]inositol and stimulated with ATP. The separation of these isomers was performed by ion-pairing reverse-phase h.p.l.c. on a mu Bondapack C18 column for the InsP3 and InsP4 isomers and by ion-exchange h.p.l.c. on a Partisil SAX column for the InsP1 and InsP2 isomers. In unstimulated endothelial cells, a large amount of material was co-eluted with InsP5 and InsP6, whereas amounts of InsP3 and InsP4 were small. The addition of ATP (100 microM) induced a striking (35-fold stimulation) and transient increase of Ins(1,4,5)P3 that was maximal around 15 s. This peak was followed by a more sustained accumulation of Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 and Ins(1,3,4)P3, but the amounts of these two metabolites accumulated in response to ATP were much smaller than that of Ins(1,4,5)P3. The increase in InsP2 isomers in response to ATP had similar characteristics: a rapid and transient accumulation of Ins(1,4)P2, followed by an increase of Ins(3,4)P2 and Ins(1,3)P2, which was more sustained but had a smaller magnitude. ATP also induced the accumulation of both Ins1P and Ins4P, but with different time courses: the level of Ins4P was maximal at 1 min (60 times the control value) and returned to baseline after 5 min, whereas the increase in Ins1P was undetectable at 1 min and reached a maximum after 5 min, which represented 240% of the basal level. These data indicate that Ins(1,4,5)P3, which is rapidly formed in aortic endothelial cells as a result of activation of P2Y receptors, is preferentially metabolized at early times (less than 1 min) by a 5-phosphatase, with the sequential formation of Ins(1,4)P2 and Ins4P. Afterwards, a small but sustained increase in the content of Ins(1,3,4)P3, Ins(1,3)P2, Ins(3,4)P2 and Ins1P was observed, reflecting the activation of the Ins(1,4,5)P3 3-kinase.
poly ( methyl methacrylate ) ( PMMA ) microfluidic flow-cells

Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) flow-cells containing microwells were deposited with different nonspecific binding blocking agents namely bovine serum albumin (BSA), cationic lipid (DOTAP) and diethylene glycol dimethyl ether (DEGDME). Water contact angle (WCA) and atomic force microscope (AFM) measurements were carried out to confirm the successful depositions of BSA, DOTAP, DEGDME onto the PMMA surfaces. Fluorescent intensity measurements were performed to evaluate the degree of non-specific adsorption of Cy5-labeled anti-IgG proteins onto plain and oxygen plasma treated (PT) PMMA flow-cells as well as PMMA flow-cells deposited with different above-mentioned blocking agents. We then employed a label-free detection method called total internal reflection ellipsometry (TIRE) to evaluate the stability of the deposited blocking agents inside the PMMA flow-cells. It was found that while DOTAP was the best agent for blocking the non-specific adsorption, it could be removed from the PMMA surfaces of the flow-cells upon rinsing with phosphate buffer saline (PBS) and later deposited back onto the Au-coated glass sensing substrate of the TIRE. The removal of the blocking agents from PMMA surfaces and their deposition onto the sensing substrate were further manifested by measuring the kinetics and the amount of adsorbed anti-a-hCG proteins. Overall, the dry DEGDME coating by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) showed very good blocking and excellent stability for subsequent assay inside the microwells. Our results could be useful when one considers what blocking agents should be used for PMMA-based microfluidic immunosensor or biosensor devices by looking at both the blocking efficiency and the stability of the blocking agent.
Relative Salt Tolerance of Four Herbaceous Perennial Ornamentals

Salt tolerant ornamental plants can be irrigated with alternative water sources that are typically saline as a sustainable practice for urban landscaping, especially in arid and semi-arid regions. However, the salt tolerance of many ornamentals is not known. An eight-week greenhouse experiment was conducted to assess the relative salt tolerance of four perennial ornamentals, ‘Angelina’ (Sedum rupestre), ‘Autumn Joy’ (S. telephium), ‘Blue Spruce’ (S. reflexum), and ‘Blue Daze’ (Evolvulus glomeratus). The plants were grown in pots with potting mix substrate and irrigated with control or saline solutions. The electrical conductivities (EC) of the saline solutions were 5.0 and 10.0 mS/cm. Data collected included relative shoot, root, and total dry weight (DW), visual score, shoot tissue concentrations of Na+, Cl−, K+, and Ca2+, and the K+/Na+ ratio. There were significant differences in treatment and varieties for all response variables, and some interactions were also significant, indicating different responses to salinity for the four varieties. Shoot, root, and total DW decreased with increasing salinity for all varieties. Visual score was highest in Autumn Joy and Blue Spruce when treated with EC5 and EC10 and lowest in Angelina and Blue Daze, the latter of which showed symptoms of moderate foliar damage including leaf necrosis, or “burn”, due to salt stress. The concentrations of Na+ and Cl− in the shoot tissue increased with increasing salinity while K+ and Ca2+ and the K+/Na+ ratio tended to decrease. Of the four varieties of herbaceous perennial ornamentals evaluated in this study, Autumn Joy and Blue Spruce were considered the most relatively salt tolerant while Angelina and Blue Daze were least tolerant.
Fast Comparator Implementation using 1 S 1 R ReRAM Crossbar Arrays

Low leakage power and non-volatile storage capabilities have marked memristive devices as promising technology for future data storage. Furthermore, capability to natively realize universal Boolean operators prompted researchers to exploit it for Programmable Logic-in-Memory (PLiM), deep neural network and neuromorphic computing platforms. Proliferation of such platforms rely on efficient mapping of key computing blocks onto ReRAM crossbar arrays. Comparators are fundamental circuits forming the basis of decision logic in processing units. In this paper, we report the first study on implementation of comparators using 1S1R ReRAM crossbar array. Our major contribution is an efficient mapping of the comparator logic, with logarithmic delay and a linear number of devices in terms of the number of data width— n. Simulation studies are performed using 4-bit data signals to validate our approach.
Development of a reduced dispersion-error method for the efficient treatment of time-dependent electromagnetic wave interactions

A consistent technique for the highly accurate solution of partial differential equations (PDEs) that control the advancement of various electromagnetic field problems is presented in this paper. The new algorithm secedes from the rigid finite-differencing framework of most mainstream time-domain approaches, casting all governing PDEs into space-time form to obtain a robust temporal update process. Spatial discretization, on the other hand, is conducted by truncating the proper Fourier spectrum via a windowing operation and inversion of the ensuing filtered series. So, the proposed schemes allow the stable extraction of discrete transfer-function equivalents and decrease the overall dispersion error, as proven by various instructive applications
A Flexible 2.45-GHz Power Harvesting Wristband With Net System Output From −24.3 dBm of RF Power

This paper presents a flexible 2.45-GHz wireless power harvesting wristband that generates a net dc output from a −24.3-dBm RF input. This is the lowest reported system sensitivity for systems comprising a rectenna and impedance-matching power management. A complete system has been implemented comprising: a fabric antenna, a rectifier on rigid substrate, a contactless electrical connection between rigid and flexible subsystems, and power electronics impedance matching. Various fabric and flexible materials are electrically characterized at 2.45 GHz using the two-line and the T-resonator methods. Selected materials are used to design an all-textile antenna, which demonstrates a radiation efficiency above 62% on a phantom irrespective of location, and a stable radiation pattern. The rectifier, designed on a rigid substrate, shows a best-in-class efficiency of 33.6% at −20 dBm. A reliable, efficient, and wideband contactless connection between the fabric antenna and the rectifier is created using broadside-coupled microstrip lines, with an insertion loss below 1 dB from 1.8 to over 10 GHz. A self-powered boost converter with a quiescent current of 150 nA matches the rectenna output with a matching efficiency above 95%. The maximum end-to-end efficiency is 28.7% at −7 dBm. The wristband harvester demonstrates net positive energy harvesting from −24.3 dBm, a 7.3-dB improvement on the state of the art.
Classification of Neonatal Brain Ultrasound Scans Using Deep Convolutional Neural Networks

Neonatal neurosonography (NS) is a non-invasive medical imaging technique used to evaluate the neonatal or infant brain for abnormalities (e.g., hydrocephalus, hemorrhages, infections) using ultrasonography[1]. While ultrasound imaging of the brain is difficult in adults because of the lack of an acoustic window, neonates possess an opening at the top of the skull, specifically the anterior fontanelle, through which NS may be performed. NS provides physicians with real-time diagnostic information that can be used to guide treatment. The automatic annotation and captioning of radiological images has the potential to further aid physicians in making fast and accurate diagnoses. Recent work has shown that radiological images can be annotated by using a combination of natural language processing (NLP) analysis of the textual radiological reports and deep convolutional neural network (CNN) analysis of the images [2]. In this work, we aim to achieve similar success in classifying and/or annotating neonatal NS images. This project is composed of two parts: image classification using features from textual reports on a set of 2D NS images with supervised learning, and the automatic labeling of text reports using unsupervised learning NLP techniques. The input to the image classification task is a NS image, and the output is a binary classification of either “normal” and “not normal”. The input to the automated labeling task is a new physician’s report, and the output is a binary classification of 0 or 1 for each of 21 different keywords.
A beamforming network using a 3-dimensional dielectric lens for SDMA systems

In this paper, we describe a beamforming network we propose that is based on a 3-dimensional (3D) Luneburg lens to generate multiple beams for 2-dimensional space division multiple transmission. This will enable the development of future high-speed and large-capacity wireless systems. The proposed network can generate multiple narrow beams in both the horizontal and vertical directions by its simple one-lens configuration. We also describe an objective function we propose to maximize the area average channel capacity and derive the optimal locations of the network's input ports. To validate the network's theoretical performance, we derived the directivity and calculated the channel capacity at each location by numerical analysis. From the results, we found the optimal spacing angle between input ports is nine degrees when there are 9 × 9 input ports, 19 × 19 output ports, and 10 m × 10 m area size. Using the derived configuration enabled the area average channel capacity to be maximized to 1.8 bits/s/Hz/m2.
Reasoning with Sets to Solve Simple Word Problems Automatically

A system, Magi, is proposed, which analyses simple addition/subtraction arithmetic word problems expressed in English, represents them in the form of schemas and sets, reasons with set cardinalities and presents the ﬁnal answer in English phrases. It also provides simple explanations. This work presents a study of the features of a knowledge-based system used for solving such a task. It has been evaluated and has been found to perform better than current knowledge-based systems for similar problems.
Direct 3D Manipulation Using Vision-Based Recognition of Uninstrumented Hands

We describe a prototype of an interactive Mixed Reality application for direct spatial manipulation, based on the vision-based recognition of uninstrumented hands. In our application, we dynamically integrate both of the user’s hands into the virtual environment, effectively creating a logical 2 × 3 DoF manipulation device. Using this logical device, we were able to implement, in conjuction with hand gestures, a number of fundamental 3D manipulation operations like select, deselect, translate, rotate, and scale.
Resolution of Viable and Membrane‐Compromised Free Bacteria in Aquatic Environments by Flow Cytometry

In aquatic environments, free heterotrophic bacteria play an extremely important role because of their high biomass, wide panel of metabolisms, and ubiquity, as well as the toxicity of certain species. This unit presents a nucleic‐acid double‐staining protocol (NADS) for flow cytometry that can distinguish the fractions of viable, damaged, or membrane‐compromised cells within the free‐bacterial community. The NADS protocol is based on the simultaneous utilization of two nucleic acid stains, membrane‐permeant SYBR Green and membrane‐impermeant PI. The efficiency of the double staining is magnified by the FRET from SYBR Green to PI when both are bound to the nucleic acids. Full quenching of SYBR Green fluorescence by PI will identify cells with a compromised membrane, partial quenching will indicate cells with a slightly damaged membrane, and lack of quenching will characterize cells with an intact membrane. Samples do not require any pretreatment and this protocol can be performed almost anywhere.
A study on fatigue damage accumulation based on continuum damage mechanics

On the basis of the continuum damage mechanics, a new low cycle fatigue damage accumulation model, which takes the coupling effect of damage and strain into account, is proposed. The model has some practical values because of its clear physical meanings. With the analysis of low-cycle test data for a kind of material often used in aero engine, we know that the prediction data derived from this new model and the test data are in good agreement. Moreover, this new model is more accurate and has apparent superiority in fatigue life prediction and description of fatigue damage accumulation by comparing with the traditional linear model.
Ensuring Motion Safety of Autonomous Vehicles through Online Fail-safe Verification

Safety is undoubtedly the most important factor for the success of autonomous vehicles [13]. However, ensuring their safety is a challenging task since they operate in highly uncertain environments with multiple dynamic obstacles whose future motions are unknown [25, 24]. Even when trying to accurately predict and consider the most likely trajectory of obstacles, planned motions might become unsafe when obstacles deviate from the prediction, which regularly happens in real traffic. As a result of the arising uncertainties, most motion planning methods cannot exclude the possibility that the autonomous vehicle causes a collision. For instance, a residual risk of 0.1% per journey can imply one collision in 1,000 journeys. In order to solve safe motion planning, novel approaches need to be developed which 1) provably guarantee safety even if obstacles suddenly deviate from the predicted behavior and 2) are able to cope with any new occurring traffic situation and measurement uncertainties on the fly.
Some Recent Perspectives on Filtration

The filtration method for proving decidability in a focused minimal manner is a highlight of modal logic, widely used, but also posing a bit of a challenge as to its scope and what makes it tick. In this paper, we bring together a number of modern perspectives on filtration, including model-theoretic and proof-theoretic ones. We also include a few more unusual recent connections with dynamic logics of model change and logics of issues. Finally, we analyze where the filtration method fails in full first-order logic, and what is still has to say there.
Total internal reflection ellipsometry (TIRE) as a label-free detection technique for the monitoring of bioassays on a functionalized cyclo olefin polymer surface

We report a label-free optical detection technique, called total internal reflection ellipsometry (TIRE), which can be applied to study the interactions between biomolecules and a functionalized polymer surface. Zeonor (ZR), a cyclo olefin polymer (COP) with low autofluorescence, high optical transmittance and excellent chemical resistance, is a highly suitable material for optical biosensor platforms due to the ease of fabrication. It can also be modified with a range of reactive chemical groups for surface functionalization. We demonstrate the applications of TIRE in monitoring DNA hybridization assays and human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) sandwich immunoassays on the ZR surface functionalized with carboxyl groups. The obtained Y and D spectra after the binding of each layer of analyte have been fitted to a four-layer ellipsometric model to quantitatively determine the amount of analytes bound specifically to the functionalized ZR surface. Our proposed TIRE technique with very low analyte consumption and its microfluidic array format could be a useful tool for evaluating several crucial parameters in immunoassays, DNA interactions, adsorption of biomolecules to solid surfaces or assessment of the reactivity of a functionalized polymer surface toward a specific analyte.
Hybrid Genetic-FSM Technique for Detection of High-Volume DoS Attack

Insecure networks are vulnerable to cyber-attacks, which may result in catastrophic damages on the local and global scope. Nevertheless, one of the tedious tasks in detecting any type of attack in a network, including DoS attacks, is to determine the thresholds required to discover whether an attack is occurring or not. In this paper, a hybrid system that incorporates different heuristic techniques along with a Finite State Machine is proposed to detect and classify DoS attacks. In the proposed system, a Genetic Programming technique combined with a Genetic Algorithm are designed and implemented to represent the system core that evolves an optimized tree—based detection model. A Hill-Climbing technique is also employed to enhance the system by providing a reference point value for evaluating the optimized model and gaining better performance. Several experiments with different configurations are conducted to test the system performance using a synthetic dataset that mimics real-world network traffic with different features and scenarios. The developed system is compared to many state-of-art techniques with respect to several performance metrics. Additionally, a Mann-Whitney Wilcoxon test is conducted to validate the accuracy of the proposed system. The results show that the developed system succeeds in achieving higher overall performance and prove to be statistically significant.
Disciplining Role of Auditor Tenure and Mandatory Auditor Rotation

This study addresses the international debate over whether the rotation of audit firms should be mandatory. Mandatory rotation rules have been adopted by the European Union, but these rules have not been established in the United States. Proponents of the policy believe that a long-tenure auditor-client relationship leads to the auditor building an excessive economic bond with the client which may then erode auditor independence. Motivated by this claim, I build a theoretical model that compares auditor incentives to issue independent reports under regimes with and without mandatory rotation. The model demonstrates conditions under which mandatory rotation could actually impair auditor independence, contrary to the popular view.