Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Urban Pedestrian Navigation Using Smartphone-Based Dead Reckoning and 3-D Map-Aided GNSS

This paper focuses on the pedestrian navigation in highly urbanized area, where a current smartphone and a commercial global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver perform poorly because of the reflection and blockage of GNSS signal by buildings and foliage. A 3-D map-aided pedestrian positioning method is previously developed to mitigate and correct the multipath GNSS signal. However, it still suffers from the low availability due to the insufficient number of satellites. We develop a smartphone-based pedestrian dead reckoning (PDR) algorithm, which is carried in the pedestrian's trousers. This PDR is capable of not only providing continues solutions but also indicating the pedestrian motions. A closedloop Kalman filter with adaptive tuning is proposed to integrate the 3-D map-aided GNSS method with the smartphone-based PDR system. According to the experiment results, the proposed integration system can achieve ~1.5and 5.5-m of positioning errors in a middle-class and deep urban canyon, respectively.
Ingenieurs Sans Frontieres in France: From Humanitarian Ideals to Engineering Ethics

This paper discusses about the French non-governmental organization (NGO) "Ingenieurs Sans Fronfieres" (ISF) which was the first institutional endeavor of humanitarian engineering in France. The group's manifold difficulties and a profound identity crisis have prompted significant debates in the organization about humanitarian ethics and the role of technology in society. These debates, in turn, have led to an original approach towards engineering ethics and a wider concern about the social responsibility of engineers, as embodied in the concept of the "citizen engineer".
τ Binds and Organizes Escherichia coli Replication Proteins through Distinct Domains

The τ and γ proteins of the DNA polymerase III holoenzyme DnaX complex are products of the dnaX gene with γ being a truncated version of τ arising from ribosomal frameshifting. τ is comprised of five structural domains, the first three of which are shared by γ (Gao, D., and McHenry, C. (2001)J. Biol. Chem. 276, 4433–4453). In the absence of the other holoenzyme subunits, DnaX exists as a tetramer. Association of δ, δ′, χ, and ψ with domain III of DnaX4 results in a DnaX complex with a stoichiometry of DnaX3δδ′χψ. To identify which domain facilitates DnaX self-association, we examined the properties of purified biotin-tagged DnaX fusion proteins containing domains I-II or III-V. Unlike domain I-II, treatment of domain III-V, γ, and τ with the chemical cross-linking reagent BS3 resulted in the appearance of high molecular weight intramolecular cross-linked protein. Gel filtration of domains I-II and III-V demonstrated that domain I-II was monomeric, and domain III-V was an oligomer. Biotin-tagged domain III-V, and not domain I-II, was able to form a mixed DnaX complex by recruiting τ, δ, δ′, χ, and ψ onto streptavidin-agarose beads. Thus, domain III not only contains the δ, δ′, χ, and ψ binding interface, but also the region that enables DnaX to oligomerize.
Experimental identification of induction motor broken bar characteristic frequencies using a programmable power source

The introduction of Voltage Source Inverter fed motors has produced significant changes in the field of diagnostics being necessary further research to overcome various challenges. To enhance the diagnosis of motor faults it is advisable to consider as many fault signatures as possible, so, in this paper it is analyzed the detection of broken bars using the spectra around harmonics introduced by the power supply. Since the harmonic content of the voltage waveform and the amplitude of the harmonics depend on the voltage supply, in order to establish diagnosis criteria that are independent of the voltage supply, an induction motor has been tested being supplied by a Programmable Power Source, which has allowed to completely control the harmonic content of the input voltage waveform. The results are discussed and some guidelines for condition monitoring are suggested.
Cloning and characterization of novel cyclotides genes from South American plants

Cyclotides are multifunctional plant cyclic peptides containing 28‐37 amino acid residues and a pattern of three disulfide bridges, forming a motif known as the cyclic cystine knot. Due to their high biotechnological potential, the sequencing and characterization of cyclotide genes are crucial not only for cloning and establishing heterologous expression strategies, but also to understand local plant evolution in the context of host‐pathogen relationships. Here, two species from the Brazilian Cerrado, Palicourea rigida (Rubiaceae) and Pombalia lanata (A.St.‐Hil.) Paula‐Souza (Violaceae), were used for cloning and characterizing novel cyclotide genes. Using 3′ and 5′ RACE PCR and sequencing, two full cDNAs, named parigidin‐br2 (P. rigida) and hyla‐br1 (P. lanata), were isolated and shown to have similar genetic structures to other cyclotides. Both contained the conserved ER‐signal domain, N‐terminal prodomain, mature cyclotide domain and a C‐terminal region. Genomic sequencing of parigidin‐br2 revealed two different gene copies: one intronless allele and one presenting a rare 131‐bp intron. In contrast, genomic sequencing of hyla‐br1 revealed an intronless gene—a common characteristic of members of the Violaceae family. Parigidin‐br2 5′ and 3′ UTRs showed the presence of 12 putative candidate sites for binding of regulatory proteins, suggesting that the flanking and intronic regions of the parigidin‐br2 gene must play important roles in transcriptional rates and in the regulation of temporal and spatial gene expression. The high degree of genetic similarity and structural organization among the cyclotide genes isolated in the present study from the Brazilian Cerrado and other well‐characterized plant cyclotides may contribute to a better understanding of cyclotide evolution.
Generating Hard Instances for MaxSAT

MaxSAT solvers have made tremendous progress in terms of performance in recent years. However, there has not been parallel progress in the generation of challenging benchmarks for studying the scaling behavior of solvers, and comparing their performance. Most experimental investigations only include, besides the standard MaxkSAT instances, the sets of individual instances submitted to the MaxSAT evaluations held so far. The problem with many of the latter instances is that they are becoming easy for modern solvers, and do not allow to analyse the scaling behavior. To cope with that problem, we propose several newgenerators of MaxSAT instances, which produce pure random instances as well as more realistic, structured instances.Moreover, we report on an experimental investigation with the aim of analysing the behavior of some of the fastest MaxSAT solvers when solving instances produced with the new generators. Our empirical results provide a new testbed of challenging benchmarks, as well as insights into the hardness nature of MaxSAT.
To be (routine) or not to be (routine), that is the question: a cross-country task-based answer†

This work proposes a new measure of the routine content of occupations and sectors for 20 OECD countries, based on information about the sequence and flexibility of the tasks performed on the job. A negative but weak association emerges between routineness and skill intensity, which suggests the importance of both technological and organizational considerations in the measure of routine intensity. Between 2000 and 2010, employment mainly grew in non-routine occupations, especially in market services, while manufacturing shed routine and non-routine jobs. Changes in shares of employment by routine quartile are dominated by within-effects.
DNA-DNA hybridization study of Bradyrhizobium st ra i n s

DNA-DNA hybridizations were performed between Bradyrhizobium strains, isolated mainly from Faidherbia albida and Aeschynomene species, as well as Bradyrhizobium reference strains. Results indicated that the genus Bradyrhizobium consists of at least 11 genospecies, I to XI. The genospecies formed four subgeneric groups that were more closely related to each other (>40% DNA hybridization) than to other genospecies (~40% DNA hybridization) : (i) genospecies I (Bradyrhizobium japonicum), 111 (Bradyrhizobium liaoningense), IV and V; (i¡) genospecies VI and VIII; (iii) genospecies VI1 and IX; and (iv) genospecies II (Bradyrhizobium elkania, X and XI. Photosynthetic Aeschynomene isolates were found to belong to at least two distinct genospecies in one subgeneric group. DNA-DNA hybridization data are compared with data from amplified fragment length polymorphism analysis and 165-235 rDNA spacer sequence analysis.
Development of the venous pole of the heart in the frog Xenopus laevis: A morphological study with special focus on the development of the venoatrial connections

The heart of lung‐breathing vertebrates normally shows an asymmetric arrangement of its venoatrial connections along the left‐right (L‐R) body axis. The systemic venous tributaries empty into the right atrium while the pulmonary venous tributaries empty into the left atrium. The ways by which this asymmetry evolves from the originally symmetrically arranged embryonic venous heart pole are poorly defined. Here we document the development of the venous heart pole in Xenopus laevis (stages 40–46). We show that, prior to the appearance of the mouth of the common pulmonary vein (MCPV), the systemic venous tributaries empty into a bilaterally symmetric chamber (sinus venosus) that is demarcated from the developing atriums by a circular ridge of tissue (sinu‐atrial ridge). A solitary MCPV appears during stage 41. From the time point of its first appearance onwards, the MCPV lies cranial to the sinu‐atrial ridge and to the left of the developing interatrial septum and body midline. L‐R lineage analysis shows that the interatrial septum and MCPV both derive from the left body half. The CPV, therefore, opens from the beginning into the future left atrium. The definitive venoatrial connections are established by the formation of a septal complex that divides the lumen of the venous heart pole into systemic and pulmonary venous flow pathways. This complex arises from the anlage of the interatrial septum and the left half of the sinu‐atrial ridge. Developmental Dynamics 240:1518–1527, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Risk factors for short- and long-term mortality in liver transplant recipients with MELD score ≥30.

BACKGROUND After introduction of MELD-based allocation in Germany, decreased waiting list mortality and increased mortality after transplantation have been reported. MATERIAL AND METHODS This study compares relevant outcome parameters in patients with high MELD ≥30 versus lower MELD scores in a retrospective analysis including 454 consecutively performed liver transplantations in adults (age >16 years) at Hannover Medical School between 01/01/2007 and 31/12/2012 and a follow-up until 31/12/2013. Multivariable risk-adjusted models were applied to identify independent risk factors for 90-day and long-term mortality. RESULTS MELD score ≥30 (n=117; 26.1%) was an independent risk factor for 90-day mortality (p=0.004, odds ratio: 3.045, 95% CI 1.439-6.498) and long-term mortality (p=0.016, hazard ratio: 1.620, 95% CI 1.095-2.396) and was associated with significantly longer hospital and intensive care unit stays (p<0.001), and death occurred in more cases earlier after transplantation (90-day mortality 21.6% vs. 13.0%; p=0.029). Portal vein thrombosis at transplantation was significantly associated with 90-day mortality after transplantation in patients with MELD scores ≥30 (p=0.041), but this was not the case for patients with MELD scores <30, although portal vein thrombosis was equally frequent in individuals of both groups (3.0% vs. 3.4%, p=0.824). CONCLUSIONS Results of this study suggest that liver transplant recipients with portal vein thrombosis at transplantation should be transplanted before reaching a MELD score ≥30.
DISCRIMINATIVE POWER OF NUCLEAR rDNA SEQUENCES FOR THE DNA TAXONOMY OF THE DINOFLAGELLATE GENUS PERIDINIUM (DINOPHYCEAE) 1

The genus Peridinium Ehrenb. comprises a group of highly diversified dinoflagellates. Their morphological taxonomy has been established over the last century. Here, we examined relationships within the genus Peridinium, including Peridinium bipes F. Stein sensu lato, based on a molecular phylogeny derived from nuclear rDNA sequences. Extensive rDNA analyses of nine selected Peridinium species showed that intraspecies genetic variation was considerably low, but interspecies genetic divergence was high (>1.5% dissimilarity in the nearly complete 18S sequence; >4.4% in the 28S rDNA D1/D2). The 18S and 28S rDNA Bayesian tree topologies showed that Peridinium species grouped according to their taxonomic positions and certain morphological characters (e.g., epithecal plate formula). Of these groups, the quinquecorne group (plate formula of 3′, 2a, 7″) diverged first, followed by the umbonatum group (4′, 2a, 7″) and polonicum group (4′, 1a, 7″). Peridinium species with a plate formula of 4′, 3a, 7″ diverged last. Thus, 18S and 28S rDNA D1/D2 sequences are informative about relationships among Peridinium species. Statistical analyses revealed that the 28S rDNA D1/D2 region had a significantly higher genetic divergence than the 18S rDNA region, suggesting that the former as DNA markers may be more suitable for sequence‐based delimitation of Peridinium. The rDNA sequences had sufficient discriminative power to separate P. bipes f. occultaum (Er. Lindem.) M. Lefèvre and P. bipes f. globosum Er. Lindem. into two distinct species, even though these taxa are morphologically only marginally discriminated by spines on antapical plates and the shape of red bodies during the generation of cysts. Our results suggest that 28S rDNA can be used for all Peridinium species to make species‐level taxonomic distinctions, allowing improved taxonomic classification of Peridinium.
An inexact sample average approximation approach for the stochastic connected facility location problem

The sample average approximation (SAA) approach is a widely used technique, based on Monte‐Carlo simulation, often applied to large‐scale stochastic optimization problems. In this approach, a set of sample average problems with multiple copies of sampled scenarios are generated and solved exactly. In other words, there is an implicit assumption that the sample average problems are solvable to optimality. In some instances, however, the sample average problems might be NP‐hard problems, often difficult or impractical to solve to optimality. In this article, we broaden the scope of the SAA approach and show that even without solving the sample problems to optimality, by combining a heuristic and a lower bounding approach, high‐quality solutions with tight confidence bounds on the optimal solution value can be obtained. We demonstrate this “inexact SAA approach” on two problems. First, we apply it to the Stochastic Connected Facility Location (SConFL) problem, the motivating application for this article, that arises in the design of telecommunications networks. As an additional application, we also use it for the Stochastic Uncapacitated Facility Location (SUFL) problem. Our computational results demonstrate the effectiveness of the inexact SAA approach. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. NETWORKS, Vol. 70(1), 19–33 2017
The Influence of Immunosuppressive Drugs on T- and B-cell Apoptosis via p53-Mediated Pathway In Vitro and In Vivo

Background. This study was designed to assess the effects of calcineurin and inosine-5-monophosphate-dehydrogenase inhibitors on p53-mediated-apoptosis in T- and B-cells in vitro and in human heart-transplanted recipients (HTx-R). Methods. For in vitro experiments, peripheral blood from healthy volunteers was collected and treated either with 1 &mgr;M cyclosporin A (CsA; n=6), 10 &mgr;M mycophenolic acid (MPA; n=6) or 100 nM tacrolimus (TRL; n=6). For the second part, peripheral blood was collected from HTx-R undergoing CsA-MPA (n=11) or TRL-MPA (n=11) therapy before (0 hr) and after (2 hr) acute drug application and from healthy volunteers (n=11) without drug therapy. Whole blood (part 1+2) was stimulated (24 hr) with eight different concentrations of actinomycin-D (0–800 nM), an apoptosis inductor acting via p53-pathway. Apoptotic lymphocytes were measured by TUNEL and expression of Annexin-V using FACS. Drug effects were calculated by taking the effects of actinomycin-D as baseline values. Results. In vitro drug treatment with CsA, MPA, and TRL significantly (P<0.05) decreased the apoptotic effect of actinomycin-D in T-cells in a noncompetitive manner. In HTx-R undergoing drug therapy, there was a similar antiapoptotic effect observed in both T- and B-cells (P<0.05). Differences between 0 hr and 2 hr after acute drug application did not exist. Apoptosis induced by actinomycin-D can be completely blocked by caspase-inhibitor zVAD-FMK. Conclusion. Our results suggest that, in vitro and in HTx-R, an inhibition of calcineurin and inosine-5-monophosphate-dehydrogenase by CsA, TRL, or MPA lead to an inhibition of T-and B-cell apoptosis via p53-pathway. This assay may be helpful to provide insights into mechanisms of immunosuppressive drugs in regulation of apoptosis in lymphocytes.
The identification and evaluation of two different color variations of tea.

BACKGROUND The tea plant, Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntz, is a perennial woody plant widely cultivated for the production of a popular non-alcoholic beverage. To rapidly identify and evaluate two different color tea varieties (yellowish and purplish), the main phenotypic traits and quality components were tested in the present study. The metabolic profiles of tea shoots and leaves were also analyzed using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. RESULTS The yellowish variation had a higher active level with respect to metabolism of catechins, and the contents of luteolin and kaempferol 3-α-d-glucoside were much higher compared to in the other variations. However, the purplish variation had a low content of theanine and a high content of caffeine. The contents of quercetin and kaempferol 3-α-d-galactoside were highest in purplish leaves. Moreover, the yellowish variation had the highest total quality scores for green teas and black teas, whereas the purplish variation had the highest scores for oolong teas. CONCLUSION Both the yellowish variation and the purplish variation represent excellent breeding materials and are worthy of breeding as new tea cultivars. The yellowish variation is more suitable for making high-grade green teas or black teas, whereas the purplish variation is suitable for producing fine quality oolong teas. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.
Measurement of Values for States of Health with Linear Analog Scales

Medical decisions may be greatly influenced by the values that patients place on different states of health. Previous attempts to obtain quantitative estimates of such values have assumed the numerical values assigned to different levels of health will remain constant regardless of the context in which the measurement is made. To examine this assumption, 64 ambulatory patients ranked five scenarios describing different states of health in order of preference. One of the scenarios was ranked as worse than death by 22 percent of raters, and two scenarios were ranked as worse than death by 31 percent of raters. The states were then rated using linear analog scales, first with the anchors or endpoints of perfect health and death, then with the anchor of perfect health replaced by each of the other health states, in descending order of preference, and finally with the anchor of death replaced by each of the other health states, in ascending order of preference. The numerical values assigned to scenarios were substantially and systematically influenced by the anchors on the scale. Relative to the values assigned to health states when anchors of perfect health and death were employed, the same states were assigned systematically higher values when the anchor of death was replaced by other health states, and systematically lower values when the anchor of perfect health was replaced. These findings persisted when states considered worse than death were excluded from the rating process. These results indicate that the quantitative values assigned health states are strongly influenced by the context in which the measurement is made, and that health cannot be regarded as a continuum with death as its lower boundary.
Cytochrome P450 peroxidase/peroxygenase mediated xenobiotic metabolic activation and cytotoxicity in isolated hepatocytes.

Cytochrome P450 (P450) can utilize organic hydroperoxides and peracids to support hydroxylation and dealkylation of various P450 substrates. However, the biological significance of this P450 peroxygenase/peroxidase activity in the bioactivation of xenobiotics in intact cells has not been demonstrated. We have shown that tert-butyl hydroperoxide (tBHP) markedly enhances 3-20-fold the cytotoxicity of various aromatic hydrocarbons and their phenolic metabolites. The tBHP-enhanced hepatocyte cytotoxicity of 4-nitroanisole (4-NA) and 4-hydroxyanisole (4-HA) was also accompanied by an increase in the hepatocyte O-demethylation of 4-NA and 4-HA up to 7.5- and 21-fold, respectively. Hepatocyte GSH conjugation by 4-HA was also markedly increased by tBHP. An LC/MS analysis of the GSH conjugates identified hydroquinone-GSH and 4-methoxy-catechol:GSH conjugates as the predominant adducts. Pretreatment of hepatocytes with P450 inhibitors, e.g., phenylimidazole, prevented tBHP-enhanced 4-HA metabolism, GSH depletion, and cytotoxicity. In conclusion, hydroperoxides can therefore be used by intact cells to support the bioactivation of xenobiotics through the P450 peroxidase/peroxygenase system.
High-throughput scanning of the rat genome using interspersed repetitive sequence-PCR markers.

We report the establishment of a hybridization-based marker system for the rat genome based on the PCR amplification of interspersed repetitive sequences (IRS). Overall, 351 IRS markers were mapped within the rat genome. The IRS marker panel consists of 210 nonpolymorphic and 141 polymorphic markers that were screened for presence/absence polymorphism patterns in 38 different rat strains and substrains that are commonly used in biomedical research. The IRS marker panel was demonstrated to be useful for rapid genome screening in experimental rat crosses and high-throughput characterization of large-insert genomic library clones. Information on corresponding YAC clones is made available for this IRS marker set distributed over the whole rat genome. The two existing rat radiation hybrid maps were integrated by placing the IRS markers in both maps. The genetic and physical mapping data presented provide substantial information for ongoing positional cloning projects in the rat.