Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Novel Implantable Glaucoma Valve Using Ferrofluid

Purpose To present a novel design of an implantable glaucoma valve based on ferrofluidic nanoparticles and to compare it with a well-established FDA approved valve. Setting Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary, Boston, USA. Methods A glaucoma valve was designed using soft lithography techniques utilizing a water-immiscible magnetic fluid (ferrofluid) as a pressure-sensitive barrier to aqueous flow. Two rare earth micro magnets were used to calibrate the opening and closing pressure. In-vitro flow measurements were performed to characterize the valve and to compare it to Ahmed™ glaucoma valve. The reliability and predictability of the new valve was verified by pressure/flow measurements over a period of three months and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis over a period of eight weeks. In vivo assessment was performed in three rabbits. Results In the in vitro experiments, the opening and closing pressures of the valve were 10 and 7 mmHg, respectively. The measured flow/pressure response was linearly proportional and reproducible over a period of three months (1.8 µl/min at 12 mmHg; 4.3 µl/min at 16 mmHg; 7.6 µl/min at 21 mmHg). X-ray diffraction analysis did not show oxidization of the ferrofluid when exposed to water or air. Preliminary in vivo results suggest that the valve is biocompatible and can control the intraocular pressure in rabbits. Conclusions The proposed valve utilizes ferrofluid as passive, tunable constriction element to provide highly predictable opening and closing pressures while maintaining ocular tone. The ferrofluid maintained its magnetic properties in the aqueous environment and provided linear flow to pressure response. Our in-vitro tests showed reliable and reproducible results over a study period of three months. Preliminary in-vivo results were very promising and currently more thorough investigation of this device is underway.
A Comparative Study of Bottom-Up and Top-Down Approaches to Speaker Diarization

This paper presents a theoretical framework to analyze the relative merits of the two most general, dominant approaches to speaker diarization involving bottom-up and top-down hierarchical clustering. We present an original qualitative comparison which argues how the two approaches are likely to exhibit different behavior in speaker inventory optimization and model training: bottom-up approaches will capture comparatively purer models and will thus be more sensitive to nuisance variation such as that related to the speech content; top-down approaches, in contrast, will produce less discriminative speaker models but, importantly, models which are potentially better normalized against nuisance variation. We report experiments conducted on two standard, single-channel NIST RT evaluation datasets which validate our hypotheses. Results show that competitive performance can be achieved with both bottom-up and top-down approaches (average DERs of 21% and 22%), and that neither approach is superior. Speaker purification, which aims to improve speaker discrimination, gives more consistent improvements with the top-down system than with the bottom-up system (average DERs of 19% and 25%), thereby confirming that the top-down system is less discriminative and that the bottom-up system is less stable. Finally, we report a new combination strategy that exploits the merits of the two approaches. Combination delivers an average DER of 17% and confirms the intrinsic complementary of the two approaches.
Oxygen therapy at low flow causes oxidative stress in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: Prevention by N-acetyl cysteine

Exposure to high oxygen concentration produces toxicity by free radical release. We aimed to study: whether stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients present an unbalance in the blood redox status; the effect of oxygen administration on blood redox balance; the efficacy of N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) treatment against the oxidative stress-induced by oxygen administration and whether it is dose-related. To this, 45 stable state III COPD patients were recruited and reduced glutathione (GSH) and oxidised glutathione (GSSG) in erythrocytes and thiol proteins (P-SH) and carbonyl proteins (PC) in both erythrocytes and plasma were evaluated. All COPD patients underwent 2 l/m oxygen for 18 h and NAC at 1200 or 1800 mg/day or placebo for 48 h starting with oxygen administration. Blood samples were collected at basal conditions, after 8 and 18 h of oxygen administration and 24 h after oxygen withdrawal. Results: COPD patients present an unstable redox equilibrium mainly due to plasma sulphydryl protein depletion. Oxygen administration oxidize erythrocyte GSH, decrease P-SH and increase PC levels in both plasma and erythrocytes. NAC administration counteract the oxidative stress and at the highest dose completely prevent protein oxidation. In conclusion, stable state III COPD patients present an unstable redox balance; long term low flow oxygen administration induces systemic oxidative stress, which is prevented by NAC treatment.
Parallelizing Simulated Annealing-Based Placement Using GPGPU

Simulated annealing has became the de facto standard for FPGA placement engines since it provides high quality solutions and is robust under a wide range of objective functions. However, this method will soon become prohibitive due to its sequential nature and since the performance of single-core processor has stagnated. General purpose computing on graphics processing units (GPGPU) offers a promising solution to improve runtime with only commodity hardware. In this work, we develop a highly parallel approach to simulated annealing-based placement using GPGPU. We identify the challenges posed by the GPU architecture and describe effective solutions. An average speedup of about 10x was achieved over conventional placement within 3% of wirelength.
Actin-based spindle positioning: new insights from female gametes

ABSTRACT Asymmetric divisions are essential in metazoan development, where they promote the emergence of cell lineages. The mitotic spindle has astral microtubules that contact the cortex, which act as a sensor of cell geometry and as an integrator to orient cell division. Recent advances in live imaging revealed novel pools and roles of F-actin in somatic cells and in oocytes. In somatic cells, cytoplasmic F-actin is involved in spindle architecture and positioning. In starfish and mouse oocytes, newly discovered meshes of F-actin control chromosome gathering and spindle positioning. Because oocytes lack centrosomes and astral microtubules, F-actin networks are key players in the positioning of spindles by transmitting forces over long distances. Oocytes also achieve highly asymmetric divisions, and thus are excellent models to study the roles of these newly discovered F-actin networks in spindle positioning. Moreover, recent studies in mammalian oocytes provide a further understanding of the organisation of F-actin networks and their biophysical properties. In this Commentary, we present examples of the role of F-actin in spindle positioning and asymmetric divisions, with an emphasis on the most up-to-date studies from mammalian oocytes. We also address specific technical issues in the field, namely live imaging of F-actin networks and stress the need for interdisciplinary approaches.
The Application and Research of the Double Difference Method about Regional and Telseismic Earthquake

The paper rests on the basic principle of the double difference method, through using Kennett and Engdahl(1991)’s IASPEI Earth model which can be used in computation theoretical travel time in the condition of regional and telseismic earthquake . We have developed a double difference program which can be used in the regional and teleseismic earthquake. And utilizes this program to relocate the Jiashi Ms 6.8 earthquake sequence in Xinjiang province on 24/2/2,003, obtained a quite good result.
Nanomechanical and Electromechanical Characterization on Zinc Oxide Nanobelt Using Atomic Force Microscopy

ZnO nanobelts are a group of quasi-one-dimensional nanostructures that have a unique rectangle-like cross section, with typical widths of several hundred nanometers, width-to-thickness ratios of 1 to 10, and lengths of tens to hundreds of micron meters. They are the promising candidates for nanoscale ultrahigh frequency resonator, nanosensors and nanoactuators due to their well-defined geometry, prefect single crystallinity and excellent piezoelectric properties. In this study, we revealed the following unique nanomechanical and electromechanical properties of a single ZnO nanobelt using Atomic Force Microscopy. (i) Elastic modulus, hardness and fracture toughness of the ZnO nanobelt are much smaller than its bulk counterpart. (ii) Strong photoinduced elastic effect is observed in ZnO nanobelt, while there is no effect in its bulk counterpart. (iii) The effective piezoelectric coefficient, d33, of ZnO nanobelt is frequency dependent and much higher than that of its bulk counterpart. These unique properties cannot be accounted for using macroscale theory such as continuum mechanics, while they may be related to surface effects thanks to the high surface to volume ratio of ZnO nanobelt. One of the consequences of our findings is that these properties are fundamental to the real applications and may be universal phenomena in quasi-one-dimensional semiconducting nanostructures, which are becoming building blocks of MEMS (Micro Electromechanical Systems) and NEMS (Nano Electromechanical Systems).
Average capacity of MIMO/FSO systems with equal gain combining over log-normal channels

Atmospheric turbulence is one of the major challenges in free-space optical (FSO) systems. The use of multiple receivers and multiple transmitters provides an effective approach to mitigate the fading effect caused by the atmospheric turbulence. In this paper we extract the closed form expression for the average capacity of the multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) FSO channel. Equal gain combining spatial diversity technique in the log-normal turbulence regime is considered. Our analytical derivations are constructed based on the Wilkilson approximation to the sum of log-normal random variables. The derived capacity expressions quantify the advantages of spatial diversity techniques.
Annular Augmentation Sampling

The exponentially large sample space of general binary probabilistic models renders intractable standard operations such as exact marginalization, inference, and normalization. Typically, researchers deal with these distributions via deterministic approximations, the class of belief propagation methods being a prominent example. Comparatively, Markov Chain Monte Carlo methods have been significantly less used in this domain. In this work, we introduce an auxiliary variable MCMC scheme that samples from an annular augmented space, translating to a great circle path around the hypercube of the binary sample space. This annular augmentation sampler explores the sample space more effectively than coordinate-wise samplers and has no tunable parameters, leading to substantial performance gains in estimating quantities of interest in large binary models. We extend the method to incorporate into the sampler any existing mean-field approximation (such as from belief propagation), leading to further performance improvements. Empirically, we consider a range of large Ising models and an application to risk factors for heart disease.
Modified LTSE-VAD Algorithm for Applications Requiring Reduced Silence Frame Misclassification

The LTSE-VAD is one of the best known algorithms for voice activity detection. In this paper we present a modified version of this algorithm, that makes the VAD decision not taking into account account the estimated background noise level, but the signal to noise ratio (SNR). This makes the algorithm robust not only to noise level changes, but also to signal level changes. We compare the modified algorithm with the original one, and with three other standard VAD systems. The results show that the modified version gets the lowest silence misclassification rate, while maintaining a reasonably low speech misclassification rate. As a result, this algorithm is more suitable for identification tasks, such as speaker or emotion recognition, where silence misclassification can be very harmful. A series of automatic emotion identification experiments are also carried out, proving that the modified version of the algorithm helps increasing the correct emotion classification rate.
Hardware efficient auto-tuned linear-gain based minimum deviation digital controller for indirect energy transfer converters

This paper introduces a robust, hardware-efficient auto-tuned digital controller applicable to various hard switching dc-dc converters, including indirect energy transfesr topologies. Unlike existing fast transient controllers for indirect energy transfer converters, the controller achieves fast transient response and practically minimum deviation of the output voltage without depending on information about converter parameters, i.e. inductor and output capacitor values. This is achieved by utilizing an auto-tuned non-linear controller that, based on the load-step information during a transient, finds the switching sequence for the converter to ramp up/down the inductor current to its new steady state average value in a single on/off switching action. Experimental results obtained from a 1.5 V to 3.3 V, 1A, 500 kHz boost prototype verify response with practically minimum output voltage deviation and demonstrate a more than 50% reduction of both output voltage deviation and recovery time compared to a voltage mode, fast PID-based controller.
Baseline and Stress‐Induced Plasma Corticosterone during Long‐Distance Migration in the Bar‐Tailed Godwit, Limosa lapponica

The specific roles of corticosterone in promotion of avian migration remain unclear even though this glucocorticosteroid is elevated in many migrating bird species. In general, glucocorticosteroids promote metabolic homeostasis and may elicit effects on feeding and locomotion. Because the migratory stages of refueling and flight are characterized by distinct behaviors and physiology, the determination of corticosterone levels during each stage should help identify potential processes in which corticosterone is involved. We measured baseline levels of corticosterone in bar‐tailed godwits (Limosa lapponica) during two distinct stages of migration: (1) immediately after arrival at a false stopover site just short of the Wadden Sea and (2) throughout the subsequent 4‐wk refueling period on the Wadden Sea. Plasma corticosterone was higher in arriving than in refueling birds. In addition, corticosterone increased with size‐corrected body mass during the refueling phase, suggesting that corticosterone rises as birds prepare to reinitiate flight. Therefore, elevated corticosterone appears associated with migratory flight and may participate in processes characterizing this stage. We also performed a capture stress protocol in all birds and found that corticosterone increased in both arriving and refueling godwits. Therefore, the normal course of migration may be typified by corticosterone concentrations that are lower than those associated with stressful and life‐threatening episodes.
Extensional Rheological Investigation of Biodegradable Polylactide‐Nanographite Platelet Composites via Constitutive Equation Modeling

The focus of this research is on linear and nonlinear melt rheological investigations of polylactide (PLA) and nanographite platelet (NGP) based bionanocomposites. The linear steady and dynamic shear viscoelastic behaviors of the samples is analyzed to study the effects of NGP filler contents on the rheological properties of the composites at terminal and zero-shear viscosity regions whilst the nonlinear shear behaviors are investigated to predict and validate the extensional rheological properties of neat PLA and PLA/NGP composites. Uniaxial extensional measurements are performed to probe the impacts of nanofiller contents along with extensional strain rates on linear viscoelastic envelope (LVE) and nonlinear elongational strain hardening behaviors of the samples. The modeling of strain-hardening behavior of neat PLA and its composites is accomplished by means of analyzing their dynamic moduli, steady shear viscosity, relaxation spectrum and damping function based on Papanastasiou-Scriven-Macosko-Luo-Tanner (PSMLT) form of Kaye-Bernstein-Kearsley-Zapas (K-BKZ) constitutive equation.
English to Japanese spoken lecture translation system by using DNN-HMM and phrase-based SMT

This paper presents our scheme to translate spoken English lectures into Japanese that consists of an English automatic speech recognition system (ASR) that utilizes a deep neural network (DNN) and an English to Japanese phrase-based statistical machine translation system (SMT). We utilized an existing Wall Street Journal corpus for our acoustic model and adapted it with MIT OpenCourseWare lectures whose transcriptions we also utilized to create our language model. For the parallel corpus of our SMT system, we used TED Talks and Japanese News Article Alignment Data. Our ASR system achieved a word error rate (WER) of 21.0%, and our SMT system achieved a 3-gram base bilingual evaluation understudy (BLEU) of 16.8 for text input and 14.6 for speech input, respectively. These scores outperformed our previous system : WER = 32.1% and BLEU = 11.0.
Reward, salience, and attentional networks are activated by religious experience in devout Mormons

ABSTRACT High-level cognitive and emotional experience arises from brain activity, but the specific brain substrates for religious and spiritual euphoria remain unclear. We demonstrate using functional magnetic resonance imaging scans in 19 devout Mormons that a recognizable feeling central to their devotional practice was reproducibly associated with activation in nucleus accumbens, ventromedial prefrontal cortex, and frontal attentional regions. Nucleus accumbens activation preceded peak spiritual feelings by 1–3 s and was replicated in four separate tasks. Attentional activation in the anterior cingulate and frontal eye fields was greater in the right hemisphere. The association of abstract ideas and brain reward circuitry may interact with frontal attentional and emotive salience processing, suggesting a mechanism whereby doctrinal concepts may come to be intrinsically rewarding and motivate behavior in religious individuals.
Differential lateralization of memory discrimination and response bias in temporal lobe epilepsy patients

Recognition memory for words and designs was assessed in epilepsy patients who underwent unilateral anterior temporal lobectomy. Memory was assessed during the intracarotid amobarbital test (IAT) performed prior to surgery and also following surgery. Memory discrimination and response bias lateralized differently. Memory discrimination, or memory accuracy, lateralized as a function of the type of material used in memory testing. Left temporal lobe lesions resulted in more impaired discrimination of verbal materials; right temporal lobe lesions resulted in more impaired discrimination of visuospatial materials. Response bias, the decision rule adopted in situations of uncertainty, was more liberal following left temporal lobe lesions for both verbal and visuospatial materials. Findings suggest that the two cerebral hemispheres are differentially specialized for encoding different types of information in long term memory, and that this impacts on decision strategies in situations of memory uncertainty. (JINS, 1998, 4, 502–511.)
Herpes Simplex Virus ICP27 Protein Directly Interacts with the Nuclear Pore Complex through Nup62, Inhibiting Host Nucleocytoplasmic Transport Pathways*

Background: Several aspects of herpes simplex virus ICP27 trafficking remain unclear. Results: We investigated if ICP27 could interact with the nuclear pore complex, finding that ICP27 directly binds the core nucleoporin Nup62. Conclusion: ICP27 association with Nup62 may provide additional binding sites at the pore for ICP27 shuttling. Significance: We propose that ICP27 competes with some transport receptors, resulting in inhibition of host pathways and supporting ICP27-mediated transport of HSV-1 mRNAs. The herpes simplex virus ICP27 protein is important for the expression and nuclear export of viral mRNAs. Although several binding sites have been mapped along the ICP27 sequence for various RNA and protein partners, including the transport receptor TAP of the host cell nuclear transport machinery, several aspects of ICP27 trafficking through the nuclear pore complex remain unclear. We investigated if ICP27 could interact directly with the nuclear pore complex itself, finding that ICP27 directly binds the core nucleoporin Nup62. This is confirmed through co-immunoprecipitation and in vitro binding assays with purified components. Mapping with ICP27 deletion and point mutants further shows that the interaction requires sequences in both the N and C termini of ICP27. Expression of wild type ICP27 protein inhibited both classical, importin α/β-dependent and transportin-dependent nuclear import. In contrast, an ICP27 point mutant that does not interact with Nup62 had no such inhibitory effect. We suggest that ICP27 association with Nup62 provides additional binding sites at the nuclear pore for ICP27 shuttling, thus supporting ICP27-mediated transport. We propose that ICP27 competes with some host cell transport receptors for binding, resulting in inhibition of those host transport pathways.
Molecular modeling of protein materials: case study of elastin

Molecular modeling of protein materials is a quickly growing area of research that has produced numerous contributions in fields ranging from structural engineering to medicine and biology. We review here the history and methods commonly employed in molecular modeling of protein materials, emphasizing the advantages for using modeling as a complement to experimental work. We then consider a case study of the protein elastin, a critically important ‘mechanical protein’ to exemplify the approach in an area where molecular modeling has made a significant impact. We outline the progression of computational modeling studies that have considerably enhanced our understanding of this important protein which endows elasticity and recoil to the tissues it is found in, including the skin, lungs, arteries and the heart. A vast collection of literature has been directed at studying the structure and function of this protein for over half a century, the first molecular dynamics study of elastin being reported in the 1980s. We review the pivotal computational works that have considerably enhanced our fundamental understanding of elastin's atomistic structure and its extraordinary qualities—focusing on two in particular: elastin's superb elasticity and the inverse temperature transition—the remarkable ability of elastin to take on a more structured conformation at higher temperatures, suggesting its effectiveness as a biomolecular switch. Our hope is to showcase these methods as both complementary and enriching to experimental approaches that have thus far dominated the study of most protein-based materials.