Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Linking technological system architecture and purchasing categories

Though the link between technological system architectures and buyer-supplier relationships has been actively studied, no comprehensive framework connecting system structures and component purchasing categories exists. We examine the technological dependency structures of such systems by adopting the buyer’s viewpoint as system assembler and integrator. We articulate how system dependencies relate to switching costs and needs for investments and technological expertise in buyer-supplier relationships. By examining the extents and directions of indirect and direct dependencies at the technological systems level, we are able to identify the purchasing category to which each component is most likely to belong. We demonstrate our theoretical framework using an empirical example of a technological system from the energy industry.
1 V OTA Using Current Driven Bulk Circuits

We show how the MOST threshold voltage can be reduced simply by forcing a constant current through the transistor bulk terminal. We characterize two versions of the resulting current driven bulk device by simulations, and conclude that this is a good method for improving circuit performance when the voltage supply is very low. Finally we show how the technique can be used to implement a 1 V folded cascode OTA with compatible input and output voltage ranges.
An MPC scheme for routing problem in baggage handling systems: A linear programming approach

This paper considers the routing problem of DCVs in state-of-the-art baggage handling systems. In previous work, this problem was considered within the framework of model predictive control, where the optimization problem was recast as a mixed integer linear programming problem. We make two significant improvements with respect to this previous work. We show that by choosing an alternative model, the optimization problem can be recast as a linear programming problem, which has significant computational advantages. Furthermore, we use a new cost function that reflects the control objectives in a better way. This leads to a computationally efficient routing controller.
Human Implications of Technology

The relationship between technology and society is characterized by feedback. Technological determinists and social determinists perspectives are offer informative but narrow insights into either side of the process. Innovative individuals can generate new technologies that alter the lives, practices, and even ways of thinking in a society. Societies alter technologies as they adopt them, often yielding results far from the hopes or fears of the original designers. Design for values, also called value sensitive design, are methods that explicitly address the human element. sAs the example of usability in security illustrates, a designer who is cognizant of human implications of a design can produce a more effective technological solution.
The OASIS® HLB μElution plate as a one‐step platform for manual high‐throughput in‐gel digestion of proteins and peptide desalting

Separation or prefractionation of proteins by gel electrophoresis, followed by in‐gel proteolytic digest and analysis by MS is a typical standard application in proteomics. For many laboratories, it is not cost‐effective to use a robot with all its drawbacks. On the other hand, manual digest is time consuming and not free of error if many samples are processed at the same time. The OASIS® HLB μElution plate allows the handling of 96 samples for protein in‐gel digest and peptide desalting in a semiautomatic way. Using multichannel pipettes, solutions are added quickly, and with the use of the positive pressure‐96 stand all solutions are removed simultaneously. In this article, a complete and detailed protocol for the use of the OASIS® HLB μElution plate is introduced and its effectiveness is shown with 2D‐ and 1D‐gel samples.
Soluble fibronectin induces chemokine gene expression in renal tubular epithelial cells.

BACKGROUND Increasing proteinuria in kidney disease is associated with an increased risk of renal failure. Urinary proteins such as albumin induce inflammatory signaling and gene expression in tubular epithelial cells (TECs). Fibronectin is an extracellular matrix protein that can exist in soluble form and is excreted in the urine of patients with glomerular disease. METHODS To explore the impact of soluble fibronectin on tubular epithelium, murine TECs were stimulated with soluble fibronectin and chemokine mRNA was determined by RNase protection assay. RESULTS Fibronectin induced the expression of inflammatory chemokine genes, including monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) (CCL2) and macrophage inflammatory protein-2 (MIP-2) within 2 hours in a dose-dependent manner. Phosphorylation of Src family tyrosine kinases was also increased in TECs following exposure to fibronectin. Src tyrosine kinases were involved in the fibronectin activation of MCP-1 since the Src inhibitors SU6656 and PP2 effectively reduced the induction of this chemokine. Fibronectin also induced the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK1/2) within minutes in TECs. The ERK kinase (MEK1/2) inhibitor U0126 inhibited the fibronectin induction of MCP-1 mRNA suggesting that ERK1/2 was also involved in this inflammatory pathway. Furthermore, fibronectin also induced phosphorylation of IkappaBalpha within 20 minutes in TECs. The nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) inhibitors N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) and pyrrolidinecarbodithioic acid (PDTC) effectively blocked fibronectin induction of MCP-1 mRNA. CONCLUSION Soluble fibronectin activates MCP-1 gene expression in TECs via Src tyrosine kinases, ERK1/2 and NF-kappaB. These data provide further support to the concept that proteinuria per se contributes to the tubulointerstitial injury observed in glomerular disease.
How demographic differences influence customer satisfaction with the public service delivery in Fiji

This study has used quantitative modelling to examine how respondent specific factors could affect customer's service satisfaction determine the quality of service they receive. Results reveal that in terms of poor services, Government Health services are given the lowest rating. Other government services, transportation sector and service stations are also rated as poor services providers. Interestingly, attributes such as cost efficiency, gender and ethnic discrimination, security and availability of parking space are the key factors that affect customer satisfaction. The advanced probit model analysis reveals that the age, gender and ethnicity may also factor into the equation of service delivery.
Artificial Noise-Aided Physical Layer Security in Underlay Cognitive Massive MIMO Systems with Pilot Contamination

In this paper, a secure communication model for cognitive multi-user massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems with underlay spectrum sharing is investigated. A secondary (cognitive) multi-user massive MIMO system is operated by using underlay spectrum sharing within a primary (licensed) multi-user massive MIMO system. A passive multi-antenna eavesdropper is assumed to be eavesdropping upon either the primary or secondary confidential transmissions. To this end, a physical layer security strategy is provisioned for the primary and secondary transmissions via artificial noise (AN) generation at the primary base-station (PBS) and zero-forcing precoders. Specifically, the precoders are constructed by using the channel estimates with pilot contamination. In order to degrade the interception of confidential transmissions at the eavesdropper, the AN sequences are transmitted at the PBS by exploiting the excess degrees-of-freedom offered by its massive antenna array and by using random AN shaping matrices. The channel estimates at the PBS and secondary base-station (SBS) are obtained by using non-orthogonal pilot sequences transmitted by the primary user nodes (PUs) and secondary user nodes (SUs), respectively. Hence, these channel estimates are affected by intra-cell pilot contamination. In this context, the detrimental effects of intra-cell pilot contamination and channel estimation errors for physical layer secure communication are investigated. For this system set-up, the average and asymptotic achievable secrecy rate expressions are derived in closed-form. Specifically, these performance metrics are studied for imperfect channel state information (CSI) and for perfect CSI, and thereby, the secrecy rate degradation due to inaccurate channel knowledge and intra-cell pilot contamination is quantified. Our analysis reveals that a physical layer secure communication can be provisioned for both primary and secondary massive MIMO systems even with the channel estimation errors and pilot contamination.
Pleiotropy and Heterogeneity in the Expression of Bone Strength‐Related Phenotypes in Extended Pedigrees

Genetic analysis in 3535 relative pairs from extended multigenerational families of African heritage showed that volumetric BMD is a highly heritable polygenic trait that is under compartment‐specific genetic regulation. The majority of the phenotypic variation in bone size and volumetric BMD also seems to be strongly influenced by distinct genes for each trait.
3 Axis Capacitive Tactile Sensor

A capacitive tactile sensor that can detect both the applied vertical and horizontal contact forces is proposed. The sensor is built on a flexible material (rubber), in which conductive materials are deposited forming four separate capacitors. The overall result is a thin sensor with increasing mechanical flexibility and robustness, charac- terized by simple structure and manufacture. The sensor structure and characteristics are described. Simulations and experiments were conducted in order to examine the change in the four capacitances and the deformation in elements implemented in the rubber medium. The obtained results demonstrate the effectiveness of the achieved tactile sensor. I. INTRODUCTION
Predictive Off-Policy Policy Evaluation for Nonstationary Decision Problems, with Applications to Digital Marketing

In this paper we consider the problem of evaluating one digital marketing policy (or more generally, a policy for an MDP with unknown transition and reward functions) using data collected from the execution of a different policy. We call this problem off-policy policy evaluation. Existing methods for off-policy policy evaluation assume that the transition and reward functions of the MDP are stationary — an assumption that is typically false, particularly for digital marketing applications. This means that existing off-policy policy evaluation methods are reactive to nonstationarity, in that they slowly correct for changes after they occur. We argue that off-policy policy evaluation for nonstationary MDPs can be phrased as a time series prediction problem, which results in predictive methods that can anticipate changes before they happen. We therefore propose a synthesis of existing off-policy policy evaluation methods with existing time series prediction methods, which we show results in a drastic reduction of mean squared error when evaluating policies using real digital marketing data set.
Identification of an erythroid ATP‐dependent aminophospholipid transporter

The asymmetric distribution of amino‐containing phospholipids in plasma membranes is essential for the function and survival of mammalian cells. Phosphatidylserine (PS) is restricted to the inner leaflet of plasma membranes by an ATP‐dependent transport process. Exposure of PS on the surface of cells serves as a binding site for haemostatic factors, triggers cell–cell interaction and recognition by macrophages and phospholipases. Exposure of PS on the red cell surface plays a significant role in sickle cell pathology. We report the identification of two different isoforms of the aminophospholipid translocase, Atp8a1, or flippase, in the murine red blood cell membrane.
Active Infrared Technique for Landmine Detection: Numeri cal and Experimental Results

Landmines are an open problem in many countries of the world. They cause injuries and death and no technique proposed to date guarantees fast and 100% reliable detection alone. To this purpose, at the Humanitarian Demining Laboratory of "La Sapienza" University of Rome, several solutions are being studied. In this paper, numerical simulations of a prototype thermal detection system are reported, and results compared to experimental results. COMSOL simulation allowed complete understanding of physical mechanisms involved, and parametric simulation was used for design and optimization of the system.
Does Longer Copyright Protection Help or Hurt Scientific Knowledge Creation?

The Constitution of the United States empowers the Congress to pass copyright laws to promote knowledge creation in the society and more specifically scientific knowledge. Many interesting economic studies have been conducted on copyright law, but very little research has been done to study the impact of the law on knowledge creation. In this paper we develop and analyze an agent-based model to investigate the impact of copyright on the creation and discovery of new knowledge. The model suggests that, for the most part, the extension of the copyright term hinders scholars in producing new knowledge. Furthermore, extending the copyright term tends to harm everyone, including scholars who have access to all published articles in the research field. However, we also identify situations where extending copyright term promotes rather than hinders knowledge creation. Additionally, scholars that publish copyrighted materials tend to out-perform those who do not creating a potential tension between individual incentives and the public good.
Effects of intravenous nicorandil on the mid-term prognosis of patients with acute heart failure syndrome.

BACKGROUND Acute heart failure syndrome (AHFS) remains a major clinical challenge because of its poor prognosis. Nicorandil, a hybrid compound of a potassium-channel opener and nitric oxide donor, has been reported to improve the prognosis of ischemic heart disease. We sought to evaluate the effect of intravenous nicorandil on the mid-term prognosis of AHFS. METHODS AND RESULTS A total of 402 consecutive patients who were hospitalized for AHFS were divided into 2 groups according to the use of intravenous nicorandil: 78 patients in the Nicorandil group and 324 patients in the Control group. During the 180-day follow-up, death or rehospitalization for heart failure occurred in 7 patients in the Nicorandil group (9.0%) and in 75 patients (23.2%) in the Control group. Event-free survival rates were significantly higher in the Nicorandil group than in the Control group (P=0.006). Multivariate Cox hazard analysis revealed that age (hazard ratio (HR)=1.066, P<0.0001), systolic blood pressure (HR=0.983, P=0.0023), New York Heart Association class III/IV (HR=6.550, P<0.0001), log creatinine (HR=3.866, P=0.0106), and use of intravenous nicorandil (HR=0.179, P<0.0001) were significant predictive factors for the occurrence of death or rehospitalization for heart failure. CONCLUSIONS Intravenous nicorandil treatment from the urgent phase of AHFS may improve the prognosis.
INFLUENCE OF TOURISM ON RHESUS MONKEY(MACACA MULATTA)POPULATATION INCREASING AT NANWAN RESERVE

The tourists who visited Nanwan Reserve for rhesus monkey averagely increasedwith 69.8%from1984 to l989.We found that the rhesus reproductive rate declined,and the dead rate of infants increased since Nanwan open for tourism in 1985.Semi-do-mestic rhesus group of artificial feeding delayed the time of fission group,so it will makepopulation increasing rate of rhesus monkey to down. There were no obvious effect inreproductive season of rhesus to artificial feeding in tropic area. It is suggested that themanagement measure to tourism should be improved for that rhesus monkey populationincreasing.
A DC-link voltage balancing strategy based on controllable neutral current injected for T-type three-level active power filter

By the way of establishment of mathematical model for three-phase four-wire T-type three-level Active Power Filter (APF), the relation of DC-link voltage difference, the neutral current and the duty-ratio of each bridge arms are revealed. Consequently, a control strategy of DC-link voltage balancing is proposed with the controllable neutral current injection, which is easier to be realized and more accurate compared with conventional ones. To deal with the unbalanced load operation, a separated-phase control strategy is also proposed. Results of simulation verify that by using the proposed control strategy the capacitors voltage difference can be suppressed well, while the compensation effect of APF is almost not affected compared with the popular ones and it is suitable for unbalanced load condition.
A study on practical methods to decrease short circuit level in transmission grids

Increased generation capacity along with entrance of new power plants to the grid has caused increase in the level of short circuit in transmission grid substations. In this paper, methods for decreasing fault current used theoretically and practically are gathered briefly first. Then, short circuit level is studied in transmission substations at Azerbaijan regional electricity company region in 2014 to introduce practical methods to decrease fault current. Short circuit level of mentioned transmission grid is analyzed using DIgSILENT and appropriate methods are proposed to decrease fault current.
Regulation of dihydrofolate reductase gene transcription in methotrexate‐resistant mouse fibroblasts

We have used a methotrexate‐resistant mouse 3T6 cell line (M50L3) that overproduces dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) and its mRNA by a factor of about 300 to study the regulation of DHFR hnRNA synthesis. We have previously shown that when resting (G0) M50L3 cells are serum stimuled to reenter the cell cycle, the amount and rate of synthesis of DHER and the content of DHER mRNA all begin to increase as the cells enter the S phase of the cell cycle. The increase in DHFR mRNA content is due to an increase in the rate of mRNA production. In the present study, we have used the technique of DNA‐excess filter hybridization to determine the rate of synthesis of DHFR hnRNA relative to total hnRNA at various times following serum stimulation. We found that the relative rate of DHFR hnRNA synthesis began to increase at about the same time (6 hours), and increased to about the same extent (three to fourfold by 15 hours following stimulation) as we observed previously for DHFR mRNA production. This suggests that the increase in DHFR mRNA production (and consequently DHFR gene expression) is controlled primarily, if not exclusively, at the level of transcription. We also studied the effect of addition of high concentrations of dibutyryl cAMP and theophyllne on DHFR gene transciption. We found that addition of these drugs at the time of stimulation completely blocked the increase in DHFR hnRNA synthesis as well as entry into S phase. Addition of the drugs at either 13 or 20 hours following stimulation led to a rapid decrease in DHFR hnRNA synthesis. The drugs were found to have little effect on the ability of the cells to complete S phase when they were added at 13 hours following stimulation. Our results suggest that high intracellular concentrations of cAMP may effect DHFR gene expression not only by preventing the progession of cells through the G1 phase of the cell cycle but also by affecting the rate of DHFR gene transcription in a more direct manner.
Streptococcus mutans Genotypes Isolated from Root and Coronal Caries

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the colonization profile and clonal distribution of Streptococcus mutans isolated from oral cavities that presented coronal and root caries lesions. The isolation and biochemical identification of mutans streptococci were carried out by using saliva samples, dental plaque, and tissue from the caries lesions. In order to confirm their molecular identity, S. mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus were submitted to the PCR method, using specific primers for portions of the glucosyltransferase genes (gtfB and gtfI, respectively). The AP-PCR method was used to detect the genetic polymorphism of S. mutans strains. Among the isolated and identified species, S. mutans showed a significantly greater frequency of isolation (59.2%) than the other mutans streptococci. Each of the subjects harbored two to ten genotypes of S. mutans, randomly distributed in different sites. S. mutans genotypes showed no evidence of variability in colonizing noncarious and carious surfaces within the same individual, nor evidence of etiologic differences between coronal and root caries. This study showed that no particular genotype of S. mutans is uniquely associated with the initiation and progression of caries, and that root and coronal caries can emerge in the presence of a broad spectrum of S. mutans clones.
A novel auto-zero technique for a bio-implantable blood pressure monitoring device

An auto-zero (AZ) technique to cancel offset and drift in a bio-implantable integrated circuit is discussed in this paper. The implemented circuit is designed for monitoring blood pressure of transgenic mice. Due to small available volume, the power consumption is the primary design issue. In order to reduce the power consumption, techniques at the system level as well as circuit level are used. The auto-zero technique used in this IC helps reduce the complexity of the circuit blocks; which consequently results to lower power consumption. The chip is fabricated in 0.18 mum standard CMOS technology. The simulation and measurement results of the implemented chip will be presented.
System integration of FastSPECT III, a dedicated SPECT rodent-brain imager based on BazookaSPECT detector technology

FastSPECT III is a stationary, single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imager designed specifically for imaging and studying neurological pathologies in rodent brain, including Alzheimer's and Parkinsons's disease. Twenty independent BazookaSPECT [1] gamma-ray detectors acquire projections of a spherical field of view with pinholes selected for desired resolution and sensitivity. Each BazookaSPECT detector comprises a columnar CsI(Tl) scintillator, image-intensifier, optical lens, and fast-frame-rate CCD camera. Data stream back to processing computers via firewire interfaces, and heavy use of graphics processing units (GPUs) ensures that each frame of data is processed in real time to extract the images of individual gamma-ray events. Details of the system design, imaging aperture fabrication methods, and preliminary projection images are presented.
Emotion Analysis Using Electrodermal Signals and Spiking Deep Belief Network

In this work, an attempt has been made to discriminate arousal and valence dimensions in Electrodermal Activity (EDA) signals using Spiking Deep Belief Network (SDBN). EDA signals having different arousal and valence dimensions are obtained from public online database. These signals are divided into equal parts and normalized using channel normalization. Later, signals are subjected to SDBN for event-related features and classification. A leave-one-out cross validation is used to investigate the classification performance. The result shows that the SDBN classifiers are able to discriminate the emotional states. The network yields better classification performance for emotional dimensions of arousal and valence. It appears that the proposed approach can be used to differentiate autonomic and pathological conditions.