Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Investigation on Characteristic Variation of the FBG Spectrum with Crack Propagation in Aluminum Plate Structures

In order to monitor the crack tip propagation of aluminum alloy, this study investigates the variation of the spectrum characteristics of a fiber Bragg grating (FBG), combined with an analysis of the spectrum simulation. The results identify the location of the subordinate peak as significantly associated with the strain distribution along the grating, corresponding to the different plastic zones ahead of the crack tip with various crack lengths. FBG sensors could observe monotonic and cyclic plastic zones ahead of the crack tip, with the quadratic strain distribution along the grating at the crack tip-FBG distance of 1.2 and 0.7 mm, respectively. FBG sensors could examine the process zones ahead of the crack tip with the cubic strain distribution along the grating at the crack tip-FBG distance of 0.5 mm. The spectrum oscillation occurs as the crack approaches the FBG where the highly heterogeneous strain is distributed. Another idea is to use a finite element method (FEM), together with a T-matrix method, to analyze the reflection intensity spectra of FBG sensors for various crack sizes. The described crack propagation detection system may apply in structural health monitoring.
Platformless DC Collection and Transmission for Offshore Wind

This paper presents the concepts of platformless DC connections of offshore wind power plants. First, the paper describes the feasible wind turbine drivetrain arrangements capable of producing sufficiently high DC voltage. Then, electrical system designs are proposed with consideration of balanced preferences between the DC wind turbine and the DC collection and transmission system. After that, the potential economic benefits of platformless DC connections are analyzed, showing CapEX reduction up to 28-25% in many cases based on cost data in the literature when compared to the AC collection and transmission solutions used today. Control concepts of such DC offshore wind farm system are also briefly introduced. The paper concludes that the platformless DC connection solution is a feasible and attractive alternative to reduce cost of offshore wind integration.
C-reactive Protein –717A>G and –286C>T>A Gene Polymorphism and Ischemic Stroke

Background:Inflammation plays a pivotal role in the formation and progression of ischemic stroke. Recently, more and more epidemiological studies have focused on the association between C-reactive protein (CRP) −717A > G and −286C > T > A genetic polymorphisms and ischemic stroke. However, the findings of these researches are not conclusive. Methods:We performed a meta-analysis to determine whether these two polymorphisms are associated with the risk of ischemic stroke. Eligible studies were identified from the database of PubMed, Medline, Embase, Web of Science, CNKI, Weipu, and Wanfang. We calculated odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to assess the strength of the association. Results:Four articles were included in our study, including 1926 cases and 2678 controls for −717A > G polymorphism, 652 cases and 1103 controls for −286C > T > A polymorphism. The results of meta-analysis showed that single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) −717A > G was not significantly associated with the risk of ischemic stroke (GG vs. AA, OR = 1.12, 95% CI = 0.83–1.50, P = 0.207; GG + GA vs. AA, OR = 1.04, 95% CI = 0.93–1.17, P = 0.533; GG vs. GA + AA, OR = 1.10, 95% CI = 0.82–1.47, P = 0.220). Meta-analysis of SNP − 286C > T > A also demonstrated no statistical evidence of a significant association with the risk of ischemic stroke (AA vs. CC, OR = 0.86, 95% CI = 0.59–1.25, P = 0.348; AA vs. CC, OR = 0.92, 95% CI = 0.80–1.06, P = 0.609; AA vs. CC, OR = 0.89, 95% CI = 0.62–1.30, P = 0.374). Conclusions:This meta-analysis demonstrated little evidence to support a role of CRP gene −717A > G, −286C > T > A polymorphisms in ischemic stroke predisposition. However, to draw comprehensive and more reliable conclusions, further larger studies are needed to validate the association between CRP gene polymorphisms and ischemic stroke in various ethnic groups.
Genome-Wide Analysis of Hydrogen Peroxide-Regulated Gene Expression in Arabidopsis Reveals a High Light-Induced Transcriptional Cluster Involved in Anthocyanin Biosynthesis1[w]

In plants, reactive oxygen species and, more particularly, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) play a dual role as toxic by-products of normal cell metabolism and as regulatory molecules in stress perception and signal transduction. Peroxisomal catalases are an important sink for photorespiratory H2O2. Using ATH1 Affymetrix microarrays, expression profiles were compared between control and catalase-deficient Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) plants. Reduced catalase levels already provoked differences in nuclear gene expression under ambient growth conditions, and these effects were amplified by high light exposure in a sun simulator for 3 and 8 h. This genome-wide expression analysis allowed us to reveal the expression characteristics of complete pathways and functional categories during H2O2 stress. In total, 349 transcripts were significantly up-regulated by high light in catalase-deficient plants and 88 were down-regulated. From this data set, H2O2 was inferred to play a key role in the transcriptional up-regulation of small heat shock proteins during high light stress. In addition, several transcription factors and candidate regulatory genes involved in H2O2 transcriptional gene networks were identified. Comparisons with other publicly available transcriptome data sets of abiotically stressed Arabidopsis revealed an important intersection with H2O2-deregulated genes, positioning elevated H2O2 levels as an important signal within abiotic stress-induced gene expression. Finally, analysis of transcriptional changes in a combination of a genetic (catalase deficiency) and an environmental (high light) perturbation identified a transcriptional cluster that was strongly and rapidly induced by high light in control plants, but impaired in catalase-deficient plants. This cluster comprises the complete known anthocyanin regulatory and biosynthetic pathway, together with genes encoding unknown proteins.
Testing paleogeographic controls on a Neoproterozoic snowball Earth

The distribution of continents during the Neoproterozoic has been hypothesized to play an important role in the initiation of an ice‐covered Earth. In this study, the influence of paleogeography on the Neoproterozoic climate is evaluated using a fully coupled ocean‐atmosphere general circulation model (FOAM). Three simulations were completed with different continental distributions. Each simulation included a reduced solar luminosity (93% of present‐day) and low atmospheric CO2 (140 ppmv). Model results indicate that a low‐latitude concentration of continents leads to lower tropical temperatures, through reduced receipt of shortwave radiation and a smaller tropical greenhouse effect, but does not significantly affect high‐latitude temperatures or sea‐ice extent. In contrast, the presence of snow‐covered, mid‐ and high‐latitude continents increases the sensible heat transport over the ocean, giving rise to sea‐surface cooling, deep‐water formation, and an advanced sea‐ice margin. Nonetheless, an ice‐covered Earth is not simulated in these experiments.
A Dataset for Assessing Machine Translation Evaluation Metrics

We describe a dataset containing 16,000 translations produced by four machine translation systems and manually annotated for quality by professional translators. This dataset can be used in a range of tasks assessing machine translation evaluation metrics, from basic correlation analysis to training and test of machine learning-based metrics. By providing a standard dataset for such tasks, we hope to encourage the development of better MT evaluation metrics.
The main phase of the Hercynian orogeny in the Pyrenees is a dextral transpression

Abstract Synthesis of several recent structural studies in the Pyrenees points to a syntectonic emplacement of granitic plutons, more or less early during the D2 main phase of the Hercynian orogenesis. A dextral E-W component of simple shear is demonstrated for D2, which was previously considered as a pure N-S compression. This component is recorded in the granites by large shear bands and sigmoidal features, and in the country rocks by asymmetrical strain shadows of foliation trajectories in map view and by systematically dextral sense of shear in xz sections. The compressive component of D2, well known in the country rocks where it induced a strong flattening related to ubiquitous upright isoclinal tight folds, was also observed in the granites. There, we documented a reverse movement within magmatic or solid-state shear bands. The addition of all these data constrains a new interpretation for the D2 main Hercynian phase in the whole Pyrenees: this phase was a dextral transpression.
PPARγ induces growth inhibition and apoptosis through upregulation of insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-3 in gastric cancer cells

Peroxisome proliferator activator receptor-gamma (PPARγ) is a ligand-activated transcriptional factor involved in the carcinogenesis of various cancers. Insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) is a tumor suppressor gene that has anti-apoptotic activity. The purpose of this study was to investigate the anticancer mechanism of PPARγ with respect to IGFBP-3. PPARγ was overexpressed in SNU-668 gastric cancer cells using an adenovirus gene transfer system. The cells in which PPARγ was overexpressed exhibited growth inhibition, induction of apoptosis, and a significant increase in IGFBP-3 expression. We investigated the underlying molecular mechanisms of PPARγ in SNU-668 cells using an IGFBP-3 promoter/luciferase reporter system. Luciferase activity was increased up to 15-fold in PPARγ transfected cells, suggesting that PPARγ may directly interact with IGFBP-3 promoter to induce its expression. Deletion analysis of the IGFBP-3 promoter showed that luciferase activity was markedly reduced in cells without putative p53-binding sites (-Δ1755, -Δ1795). This suggests that the critical PPARγ-response region is located within the p53-binding region of the IGFBP-3 promoter. We further demonstrated an increase in PPARγ-induced luciferase activity even in cells treated with siRNA to silence p53 expression. Taken together, these data suggest that PPARγ exhibits its anticancer effect by increasing IGFBP-3 expression, and that IGFBP-3 is a significant tumor suppressor.
Regulation of integrin trafficking, cell adhesion, and cell migration by WASH and the Arp2/3 complex

WASH is a nucleation‐promoting factor for the Arp2/3 complex that is implicated in multiple endocytic trafficking pathways including receptor recycling, cargo degradation, and retromer‐mediated receptor retrieval. We sought to examine whether WASH plays an important role in trafficking of specialized cargo molecules such as integrins, for which trafficking is highly regulated during cell migration. We observed that subdomains of early/sorting endosomes associated with dynamic WASH and filamentous actin, and α5‐integrins trafficked through this population of endosomes. Depletion of WASH caused accumulation of α5‐integrins in intracellular compartments, reduction of α5‐integrin localization at focal adhesions, and reduction in focal adhesion number. Transport of α5‐integrins from internal endocytic structures to focal adhesions was disrupted upon WASH depletion or Arp2/3 complex inhibition. Furthermore, WASH‐depleted cells displayed greatly reduced affinity for specific extracellular matrix proteins including fibronectin and impaired cell spreading ability. Interestingly, the reduced adhesion capacity of WASH‐depleted cells resulted in their migrating more rapidly than control cells in wound healing assays. Our results define a requirement for WASH, Arp2/3 complex, and actin in specialized trafficking of integrins. These findings highlight a role for actin dynamics in influencing cell adhesion and migration via endocytic trafficking of integrins, in addition to the well‐established role of actin in plasma membrane dynamics and contractility. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc
Appearance-preserving manipulation of hand-drawn graphs

We describe a sketching system that allows users to create and manipulate directed graphs, such as those depicting state diagrams, using pen-input alone. The system exactly preserves the user's strokes, which may be entered in any order, and depicts them with a chalk texture to evoke a blackboard metaphor. The system automatically interprets the geometry of the sketch, distinguishing vertices, edges, and arrow heads, then tacitly imparts the intended graph semantics based on the two-dimensional placement of these elements. Once drawn, the user can manipulate the directed graph gesturally using the pen. The system responds to vertices or edges being picked and dragged by adjusting all adjacent edges appropriately. The original appearance of the hand-drawn vertices and edges is maintained even while their shapes are continually morphed in response to rearrangement of these elements. All edges exhibit shape memory, which is the proclivity to return to their original hand-drawn shape despite repeated stretching and compression.
Improving adaptation in web-based educational hypermedia by means of knowledge discovery

Most adaptive web-based hypermedia systems adapt presentation of the content and/or navigation using predefined set of rules. Considering different behavior and preferences of each user it may be hard to generalize and construct all appropriate rules in advance. This problem is more noticeable in educational adaptive hypermedia systems, where adaptation to individual learning style of a student is important for the student to effectively assess particular domain. In this paper we present techniques for data mining, which can be used to discover knowledge about students' behavior during learning, as well as techniques, which take advantage of such knowledge to recommend students lessons they should study next. We also describe a process of recommendation based on knowledge discovery and present an architecture of a web-based system, which uses proposed approach to improve adaptation. Proposed architecture is independent of actual adaptive hypermedia system used.
SPARSE CURVED 2 D ARRAYS IN ULTRASOUND

For implementing 3D imaging in cardiac ultrasound 2D phase steered arrays have been proposed. But due to the large channel count needed it is desirable to lower the number of active elements without loss in imaging quality. In this work we will present a technique for lowering the sidelobe levels several dB for a special class of sparsed arrays.
Incremental Graph Pattern Matching: Data Structures and Initial Experiments

Despite the large variety of existing graph transformation tools, the implementation of their pattern matching engine typically follows the same principle. First a matching occurrence of the left-hand side of the graph transformation rule is searched by some graph pattern matching algorithm. Then potential negative application conditions are checked that might eliminate the previous occurrence. However, when a new transformation step is started, all the information on previous matchings is lost, and the complex graph pattern matching phase is restarted from scratch each time. In the paper, we present the foundational data structures and initial experiments for an incremental graph pattern matching engine which keeps track of existing matchings in an incremental way to reduce the execution time of graph pattern matching.
The South African National Seismograph Network

Seismic monitoring in South Africa prior to 1970 was through sporadic deployment of seismographs by various institutions. The first was a Wiechert seismograph installed at Union Observatory in Johannesburg in 1910 to monitor mining-related earthquakes (Gane 1939). Table 1, after Wright and Fernandez (2003), shows in brief the monitoring status in South Africa for the period 1910 to 1981. Following the devastating magnitude 6.3 earthquake in Western Cape Province during September 1969, the Geological Survey (now the Council for Geoscience) deployed seven seismographs in South Africa and heralded the start of organized seismic monitoring in the country and the establishment of the South African National Seismograph Network (SANSN). The network expanded during the following years to a maximum of 27 stations in 1997. The SANSN remained analog until 1991 when a number of digital seismographs were installed either in parallel with existing analog equipment or as new stations. Data communication with digital stations was facilitated through dial-up landlines (Fernandez et al. 1991). With the advent of Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) in South Africa, a limited number of stations were equipped with dial-up cellular modems. The SANSN was modernized during 2003 through a government grant that facilitated the purchase and installation of three-component extended short-period (30 s) and broadband (100 s) sensors. This marked a turning point for the SANSN because prior to the upgrade the network largely consisted of vertical-component short-period sensors. View this table: TABLE 1 Seismic Instrumentation Deployed in South Africa During the Period 1910 to 1981 (after Wright and Fernandez 2003 ) The lessons learned from the delay in waveform data transfer after the magnitude 5.3 earthquake in Stilfontein (Klerksdorp gold mines) on 9 March 2005 (see figure 1 for damage to a building in the central business district of Stilfontein and figure 2 for a seismogram of the …
Crustal structure beneath Long Valley Caldera from modeling of teleseismic P wave polarizations and Ps converted waves

In this study, the authors present new constraints on the nature of the low-velocity zone beneath Long Valley caldera, based on the measured propagation directions of teleseismic P waves and on modeling of P to S converted waves. The low-velocity body is a large asymmetrical volume which deepens to the east, extending from depths of 7 to 30 km. It contains lower velocities than originally proposed by earlier teleseismic studies. In particular, there is a tabular feature between 7 and 11 km depth that has a reduction in velocity of about 30%. These low velocities imply a much greater percentage of melt in the crust beneath Long Valley caldera than previously estimated. Array analysis of large delayed arrivals identifies them to be Ps converted waves from the shoulders and roof of this tabular zone. These conversions bound the depth to the magma chamber roof to be within about 10 km of the surface. These results are consistent with elements from several other studies, and the authors present an integrated and improved model of crustal structure at Long Valley. The concordance of the deeper low-velocity zones with regional structural trends implies that the shallow low-velocity feature is a cupola on topmore » of an asymmetric diapiric ridge rising up from the migmatized lower crust of the Basin and Range. The authors present two contrasting interpretations of the geometry of low-velocity zones in the crust: one implies a time-invariant magma chamber and conduit system for Long Valley caldera, the other implies an evolution of that system from a simple vertical regime to its current asymmetrical geometry. 37 refs., 19 figs., 1 tab. « less
Query containment for conjunctive queries with regular expressions

The management of semistructured data has recently rccoivcd significant attention because of the need of several applications to model and query large volumes of irregular data. This paper considers the problem of query containment for a query language over semistructured data, STRUQLO, that contains the essential feature common to all such languages, namely the ability to specify regular path expressions over the data. We show hcrc that containment of STRUQLO queries is decidable. First, we give a semantic criterion for STRUQLO query containment: WC show that it suffices to check containment on only finitely many canonical databases. Second, we give a syntactic criteria for query containment, based on a notion of query mappings, which extends containment mappings for conjunctive queries. Third, wc consider a certain fragment of STRUQLO, obtained by imposing restrictions on the regular path expressions, and show that query containment for this fragment of STRUQLO is NP complete.
Molecular Cloning and Characterization of Human Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase 4*

The tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) constitute a family of proteins, of which three members have so far been described. Using the expressed sequence tag sequencing approach, we have identified a novel TIMP-related cDNA fragment and subsequently cloned a fourth human TIMP (TIMP-4) from a human heart cDNA library. The open reading frame encodes a 224-amino acid precursor including a 29-residue secretion signal. The predicted structure of the new protein shares 37% sequence identity with TIMP-1 and 51% identity with TIMP-2 and −3. The protein has a predicted isoelectric point of 7.34. The open reading frame-directed expression of TIMP-4 protein in MDA-MB-435 human breast cancer cells showed metalloproteinase inhibitory activity on reverse zymography. By Northern analysis, only the adult heart showed abundant TIMP-4 transcripts with a 1.4-kilobase predominant transcript band; very low levels of the transcripts were detected in the kidney, placenta, colon, and testes, and no transcripts were detected in the liver, brain, lung, thymus, and spleen. This unique expression pattern suggests that TIMP-4 may function in a tissue-specific fashion in extracellular matrix homeostasis.
A dense stereo matching using two-pass dynamic programming with generalized ground control points

A method for solving dense stereo matching problem is presented in this paper. First, a new generalized ground control points (GGCPs) scheme is introduced, where one or more disparity candidates for the true disparity of each pixel are assigned by local matching using the oriented spatial filters. By allowing "all" pixels to have multiple candidates for their true disparities, GGCPs not only guarantee to provide a sufficient number of starting pixels needed for guiding the subsequent matching process, but also remarkably reduce the risk of false match, improving the previous GCP-based approaches where the number of the selected control points tends to be inversely proportional to the reliability. Second, by employing a two-pass dynamic programming technique that performs optimization both along and across the scanlines, we solve the typical inter-scanline inconsistency problem. Moreover, combined with the GGCPs, the stability and efficiency of the optimization are improved significantly. Experimental results for the standard data sets show that the proposed algorithm achieves comparable results to the state-of-the-arts with much less computational cost.