Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A PARALLEL COLLISION DETECTION ALGORITHM BASED ON HYBRID BOUNDING VOLUME HIERARCHY

A collapsible insulation displacement terminal, responsive to an actuating force directed along the length of a wire received in the terminal, includes a metallic body with a pair of side portions positionable on opposite sides of an insulation covered wire. Each side portion includes a weakened intermediate region with an aperture defined therein. When the terminal is compressed by a force applied generally parallel to the length of the wire, the intermediate regions collapse inwardly of the terminal body toward one another. In the process, a contact edge defined by the apertures severs the insulation covering the wire and produces an electrical connection between the central core of the wire and the terminal. The positions of the intermediate regions of the side portions may be offset with respect to one another so that the two intermediate portions do not interfere with one another during their inward severing action. The terminal may be adapted for use with a coaxial cable wherein the intermediate portions produce an electrical connection only with the shielding conductor of the cable. A dielectric housing for the terminal may include pre-assembled sealing means through which the wire is inserted prior to application of the collapsing force to the terminal.
The metabotropic glutamate receptors: structure, activation mechanism and pharmacology.

The metabotropic glutamate receptors are G-protein coupled receptors (GPCR) involved in the regulation of many synapses, including most glutamatergic fast excitatory synapses. Eight subtypes have been identified that can be classified into three groups. The molecular characterization of these receptors revealed proteins much more complex than any other GPCRs. They are composed of a Venus Flytrap (VFT) module where glutamate binds, connected to a heptahelical domain responsible for G-protein coupling. Recent data including the structure of the VFT module determined with and without glutamate, indicate that these receptors function as dimers. Moreover a number of intracellular proteins can regulate their targeting and transduction mechanism. Such structural features of mGlu receptors offer multiple possibilities for synthetic compounds to modulate their activity. In addition to agonists and competitive antagonists acting at the glutamate binding site, a number of non-competitive antagonists with inverse agonist activity, and positive allosteric modulators have been discovered. These later compounds share specific properties that make them good candidates for therapeutic applications. First, their non-amino acid structure makes them pass more easily the blood brain barrier. Second, they are much more selective than any other compound identified so far, being the first subtype selective molecules. Third, for the negative modulators, their non competitive mechanism of action makes them relatively unaffected by high concentrations of glutamate that may be present in disease states (e.g. stroke, epilepsy, neuropathic pain, etc.). Fourth, like the benzodiazepines acting at the GABA(A) receptors, the positive modulators offer a new way to increase the activity of these receptors in vivo, with a low risk of inducing their desensitization. The present review article focuses on the specific structural features of these receptors and highlights the various possibilities these offer for drug development.
A Stagger-Tuned Transimpedance Amplifier

A new transimpedance amplifier (TIA) design procedure using stagger tuning with inverted transformer coils is described in this paper. A broadband TIA, realized using the proposed staggered design technique that enhances the transimpedance limit and the bandwidth while only adding small passband gain ripple, was implemented in a 0.13-μm standard CMOS process. The TIA achieves a 3-dB bandwidth of 33 GHz with a 150 fF photodiode capacitance. The TIA transimpedance gain is 43.8 dBQ with ±8 ps group-delay variation over the entire bandwidth. The circuit occupies an active area of 250 μm × 260 μm and consumes 9 mW from a 2 V supply. Despite operating with much larger photodiode capacitance, the TIA achieves the highest figure of merit, and occupies smaller area while consuming the least amount of power among previously published TIAs designed for the same data rate in similar technologies.
Developmental Changes in Natural Viewing Behavior: Bottom-Up and Top-Down Differences between Children, Young Adults and Older Adults

Despite the growing interest in fixation selection under natural conditions, there is a major gap in the literature concerning its developmental aspects. Early in life, bottom-up processes, such as local image feature – color, luminance contrast etc. – guided viewing, might be prominent but later overshadowed by more top-down processing. Moreover, with decline in visual functioning in old age, bottom-up processing is known to suffer. Here we recorded eye movements of 7- to 9-year-old children, 19- to 27-year-old adults, and older adults above 72 years of age while they viewed natural and complex images before performing a patch-recognition task. Task performance displayed the classical inverted U-shape, with young adults outperforming the other age groups. Fixation discrimination performance of local feature values dropped with age. Whereas children displayed the highest feature values at fixated points, suggesting a bottom-up mechanism, older adult viewing behavior was less feature-dependent, reminiscent of a top-down strategy. Importantly, we observed a double dissociation between children and elderly regarding the effects of active viewing on feature-related viewing: Explorativeness correlated with feature-related viewing negatively in young age, and positively in older adults. The results indicate that, with age, bottom-up fixation selection loses strength and/or the role of top-down processes becomes more important. Older adults who increase their feature-related viewing by being more explorative make use of this low-level information and perform better in the task. The present study thus reveals an important developmental change in natural and task-guided viewing.
A long-term follow-up of workers exposed to beryllium

ABSTRACT The relationship of features of beryllium disease to the estimated exposure to beryllium has been investigated over a 30-year period at a factory manufacturing beryllium products. The factory opened in 1952. Of the 146 men who had worked there for more than six months up to 1963, 89% were seen at that time and were followed up in 1973. The nine who continued to work in the factory and those who were engaged subsequently were examined in 1977. On each occasion a clinical interview, occupational history, chest radiograph, and assessment of lung function were carried out. The findings of the main survey were related to the beryllium content of the dust measured by mass spectrometry for 1952-60 when over 3000 determinations were made. In no part of the plant did the estimated average daily exposure exceed 2 μg m-3, and only 9% of individual determinations exceeded this level. Twenty determinations exceeded 25 μg m-3. During the period under review, four men developed the clinical, radiographic, and physiological features of beryllium disease. Two men acquired abnormal chest radiographs consistent with beryllium disease but without other features, and one developed probable beryllium disease despite the diagnosis not being confirmed at necropsy. The affected men were all exposed to beryllium oxide or hydroxide but in a wide range of estimated doses. In six the changes developed after exposure had ceased; trigger factors including patch testing may have contributed to their illness. Seventeen men recalled episodes of brief exposure to high concentrations of dust, two developed pneumonitis from which they recovered completely, and one developed chronic beryllium disease after a further 23 years' exposure. In subjects without clinical or radiographic evidence of disease no convincing evidence was obtained for any association between the lung function and the estimated exposure to beryllium.
Study on Aircraft Recognition in High Spatial Resolution Remote Sensing Image Based on Skeleton Characteristics Analysis

Aircraft recognition automatically is an important research content in target recognition. Improving aircraft recognition precision can accurately realize the regional dynamics, and make correct decision-making support. This paper researches on recognition of aircraft in high spatial resolution remote sensing imagery based on edge detection technology, extraction skeleton technology based on Constrained Delaunay Triangulation, and target recognition technology based on Geometric Features Parameter and Network Measurement.
Regional distribution, developmental changes, and cellular localization of CNTF-mRNA and protein in the rat brain

Ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) is a potent survival molecule for a variety of embryonic neurons in culture. The developmental expression of CNTF occurs clearly after the time period of the physiological cell death of CNTF-responsive neurons. This, together with the sites of expression, excludes CNTF as a target-derived neuronal survival factor, at least in rodents. However, CNTF also participates in the induction of type 2 astrocyte differentiation in vitro. Here we demonstrate that the time course of the expression of CNTF-mRNA and protein in the rat optic nerve (as evaluated by quantitative Northern blot analysis and biological activity, respectively) is compatible with such a glial differentiation function of CNTF in vivo. We also show that the type 2 astrocyte-inducing activity previously demonstrated in optic nerve extract can be precipitated by an antiserum against CNTF. Immunohistochemical analysis of astrocytes in vitro and in vivo demonstrates that the expression of CNTF is confined to a subpopulation of type 1 astrocytes. The olfactory bulb of adult rats has comparably high levels of CNTF to the optic nerve, and here again, CNTF- immunoreactivity is localized in a subpopulation of astrocytes. However, the postnatal expression of CNTF in the olfactory bulb occurs later than in the optic nerve. In other brain regions both CNTF-mRNA and protein levels are much lower.
“Did You Call Me?” 5-Month-Old Infants Own Name Guides Their Attention

An infant's own name is a unique social cue. Infants are sensitive to their own name by 4 months of age, but whether they use their names as a social cue is unknown. Electroencephalogram (EEG) was measured as infants heard their own name or stranger's names and while looking at novel objects. Event related brain potentials (ERPs) in response to names revealed that infants differentiate their own name from stranger names from the first phoneme. The amplitude of the ERPs to objects indicated that infants attended more to objects after hearing their own names compared to another name. Thus, by 5 months of age infants not only detect their name, but also use it as a social cue to guide their attention to events and objects in the world.
The Role of Nonconserved Residues of Archaeoglobus fulgidus Ferritin on Its Unique Structure and Biophysical Properties*

Background: Archaeoglobus fulgidus ferritin (AfFtn) assembles with unique tetrahedral symmetry and four large pores. Results: The AfFtn K150A/R151A double mutant forms a closed octahedral assembly with reduced iron release rates relative to the tetrahedral assembly. Conclusion: The K150A/R151A substitution alters the symmetry type of the ferritin cage. Significance: The AfFtn can be modulated for tuning molecular release from the cavity. Archaeoglobus fulgidus ferritin (AfFtn) is the only tetracosameric ferritin known to form a tetrahedral cage, a structure that remains unique in structural biology. As a result of the tetrahedral (2-3) symmetry, four openings (∼45 Å in diameter) are formed in the cage. This open tetrahedral assembly contradicts the paradigm of a typical ferritin cage: a closed assembly having octahedral (4-3-2) symmetry. To investigate the molecular mechanism affecting this atypical assembly, amino acid residues Lys-150 and Arg-151 were replaced by alanine. The data presented here shed light on the role that these residues play in shaping the unique structural features and biophysical properties of the AfFtn. The x-ray crystal structure of the K150A/R151A mutant, solved at 2.1 Å resolution, indicates that replacement of these key residues flips a “symmetry switch. ” The engineered molecule no longer assembles with tetrahedral symmetry but forms a typical closed octahedral ferritin cage. Small angle x-ray scattering reveals that the overall shape and size of AfFtn and AfFtn-AA in solution are consistent with those observed in their respective crystal structures. Iron binding and release kinetics of the AfFtn and AfFtn-AA were investigated to assess the contribution of cage openings to the kinetics of iron oxidation, mineralization, or reductive iron release. Identical iron binding kinetics for AfFtn and AfFtn-AA suggest that Fe2+ ions do not utilize the triangular pores for access to the catalytic site. In contrast, relatively slow reductive iron release was observed for the closed AfFtn-AA, demonstrating involvement of the large pores in the pathway for iron release.
Inducing Bilingual Lexica From Non-Parallel Data With Earth Mover’s Distance Regularization

Being able to induce word translations from non-parallel data is often a prerequisite for cross-lingual processing in resource-scarce languages and domains. Previous endeavors typically simplify this task by imposing the one-to-one translation assumption, which is too strong to hold for natural languages. We remove this constraint by introducing the Earth Mover’s Distance into the training of bilingual word embeddings. In this way, we take advantage of its capability to handle multiple alternative word translations in a natural form of regularization. Our approach shows significant and consistent improvements across four language pairs. We also demonstrate that our approach is particularly preferable in resource-scarce settings as it only requires a minimal seed lexicon.
Specific Inhibition of Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus Replicase

ABSTRACT Compound-1453 was identified and characterized as a specific inhibitor of bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV). The concentration of compound-1453 which results in 50% protection from virus-induced cytopathic effect is ∼2.2 μM, with a therapeutic index of 60, and it is not active against a panel of RNA and DNA viruses. A time-of-addition experiment suggested that compound-1453 targets a stage of the viral life cycle after viral entry. To determine the target of compound-1453, resistant virus was generated. Resistant variants grew efficiently in the presence or absence of 33 μM compound-1453 and exhibited replication efficiency in the presence of compound-1453 approximately 1,000-fold higher than that of the wild-type (wt) virus. Functional mapping and sequence analysis of resistant cDNAs revealed a single amino acid substitution (Glu to Gly) at residue 291 in the NS5B polymerase in all eight independently generated cDNA clones. Recombinant virus containing this single mutation retained the resistance phenotype and a replication efficiency similar to that of the original isolated resistant virus. Since compound-1453 did not inhibit BVDV polymerase activity in vitro (50% inhibitory concentration > 300 μM), we developed a membrane-based assay that consisted of a BVDV RNA replicase complex isolated from virus-infected cells. Compound-1453 inhibited the activity of the wt, but not the drug-resistant, replicase in the membrane assay at concentrations similar to those observed in the viral infection assay. This work presents a novel inhibitor of a viral RNA-dependent RNA replicase.
A review on effective closely-coupled collaboration using immersive CVE's

Many teamwork tasks require a close coupling between the interactions of members of a team. For example, intention and opinion must be communicated, while synchronously manipulating shared artefacts. In face-to-face interaction this communication and manipulation is seamless. Transferring the straightforwardness of such collaboration onto remote located teams is technologically challenging. This survey paper explains why immersive collaborative virtual environments (CVE) suit such tasks. The effectiveness of application of this technology depends on a complex set of factors that determine the efficiency of collaboration. We examine these factors and their interrelationships within the framework of a taxonomy focussed on supporting closely-coupled collaboration using immersive CVEs. In particular we compare the impact of display configurations from distinct aspects within the interaction metaphors: look-in, reach-in and step-in.
A monomeric red fluorescent protein

All coelenterate fluorescent proteins cloned to date display some form of quaternary structure, including the weak tendency of Aequorea green fluorescent protein (GFP) to dimerize, the obligate dimerization of Renilla GFP, and the obligate tetramerization of the red fluorescent protein from Discosoma (DsRed). Although the weak dimerization of Aequorea GFP has not impeded its acceptance as an indispensable tool of cell biology, the obligate tetramerization of DsRed has greatly hindered its use as a genetically encoded fusion tag. We present here the stepwise evolution of DsRed to a dimer and then either to a genetic fusion of two copies of the protein, i.e., a tandem dimer, or to a true monomer designated mRFP1 (monomeric red fluorescent protein). Each subunit interface was disrupted by insertion of arginines, which initially crippled the resulting protein, but red fluorescence could be rescued by random and directed mutagenesis totaling 17 substitutions in the dimer and 33 in mRFP1. Fusions of the gap junction protein connexin43 to mRFP1 formed fully functional junctions, whereas analogous fusions to the tetramer and dimer failed. Although mRFP1 has somewhat lower extinction coefficient, quantum yield, and photostability than DsRed, mRFP1 matures >10 times faster, so that it shows similar brightness in living cells. In addition, the excitation and emission peaks of mRFP1, 584 and 607 nm, are ≈25 nm red-shifted from DsRed, which should confer greater tissue penetration and spectral separation from autofluorescence and other fluorescent proteins.
EUV optical design for a 100-nm CD imaging system

The imaging specifications for extreme ultraviolet lithography (EUVL) projection optics parallel those of other optical lithographies. Specifications are scaled to reflect the 100 nm critical dimension for the first generation EUVL systems. The design being fabricated for the Engineering Test Stand, an EUVL alpha tool, consists of a condenser with six channels to provide an effective partial coherence factor of 0.7. The camera contains four mirrors; three of the mirrors are aspheres and the fourth is spherical. The design of the optical package has been constrained so that the angles of incidence and the variations in the angle of incidence of all rays allow for uniform multilayer coatings. The multilayers introduce a slight shift in image position and magnification. We have shown that a system aligned with visible light is also aligned at 13.4 nm. Each mirror must be fabricated with an RMS figure error of less than 0.25 nm and better than 0.2 nm RMS roughness. Optical surfaces that exceed each of these specifications individually have been fabricated. The success of EUVL requires that these specifications be met simultaneously.
Ranking individuals by group comparisons

This paper proposes new approaches to rank individuals from their group competition results. Many real-world problems are of this type. For example, ranking players from team games is important in some sports. We propose an exponential model to solve such problems. To estimate individual rankings through the proposed model we introduce two convex minimization formulas with easy and efficient solution procedures. Experiments on real bridge records and multi-class classification demonstrate the viability of the proposed model.
γ‐Secretase‐Dependent Cleavage Initiates Notch Signaling from the Plasma Membrane

Notch signaling is critical to animal development, and its dysregulation leads to human maladies ranging from birth defects to cancer. Although endocytosis is currently thought to promote signal activation by delivering activated Notch to endosome‐localized γ‐secretase, the data are controversial and the mechanisms that control Notch endocytosis remain poorly defined. Here, we investigated the relationship between Notch internalization and signaling. siRNA‐mediated depletion studies reveal that Notch endocytosis is clathrin‐dependent and requires epsin1, the adaptor protein complex (AP2) and Nedd4. Moreover, we show that epsin1 interaction with Notch is ubiquitin‐dependent. Contrary to the current model, we show that internalization defects lead to elevated γ‐secretase‐mediated Notch processing and downstream signaling. These results indicate that signal activation occurs independently of Notch endocytosis and that γ‐secretase cleaves Notch at the plasma membrane. These observations support a model where endocytosis serves to downregulate Notch in signal‐receiving cells.
Explicit Secrecy: A Policy for Taint Tracking

Taint tracking is a popular security mechanism for tracking data-flow dependencies, both in high-level languages and at the machine code level. But despite the many taint trackers in practical use, the question of what, exactly, tainting means - what security policy item bodies - remains largely unexplored. We propose explicit secrecy, a generic framework capturing the essence of explicit flows, i.e., the data flows tracked by tainting. The framework is semantic, generalizing previous syntactic approaches to formulating soundness criteria of tainting. We demonstrate the usefulness of the framework by instantiating it with both a simple high-level imperative language and an idealized RISC machine. To further understanding of what is achieved by taint tracking tools, both dynamic and static, we obtain soundness results with respect to explicit secrecy for the tainting engine cores of a collection of popular dynamic and static taint trackers.
On the estimation of some demographic characteristics on a prehistoric population from the American Southwest.

After a general discussion of some of the limitations and assumptions inherent in paleodemographic studies, a method for the estimation of average life expectancy when only deaths by age are known is described and applied to the remains from Point of Pines, a prehistoric Western Pueblo population from the American Southwest. It was found that the method was not applicable to these data in its entirety, since there were considerable differences in mortality shapes between this prehistoric group and those summarized in the U. N. Model Life Tables. It is suggested that a range of average life expectancy can be calculated when the intrinsic rates of natural increase vary, and these are given for the Point of Pines data.