Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Adhesion to Er:YAG laser and bur prepared root and crown dentine.

BACKGROUND The purpose of this study was to evaluate the bond strengths between dentine and resin composite obtained after Er:YAG laser treatment of crown or root dentine used together with self-etch and total-etch adhesive systems. METHODS One etch-and-rinse adhesive (Single Bond, 3M, USA) and one self-etch system (Clearfil SE Bond, Kuraray, Japan) were applied to root and crown dentine prepared with a regular bur in a turbine or with an Er:YAG laser. The shear bond strength was determined after thermocycling and statistically analysed using independent t-tests. RESULTS Crown sites bonded using Clearfil SE Bond and Single Bond adhesives yielded bond strengths similar to that of root dentine sites (p > 0.05). Clearfil SE Bond was stronger in both the lased and non-lased groups (p < 0.05). The lowest bond strength was obtained when Single Bond without acid etching was used on Er:YAG ablated dentine. When total-etch adhesive was used, there were significant differences (p < 0.05) between the laser-ablated and laser-ablated/acid-etched and bur-cut/acid-etched groups. CONCLUSIONS Er:YAG laser irradiation of root and crown dentine conducted prior to the adhesive protocol adversely affected adhesion and decreased bond strength compared with traditional preparation.
Geosmithia morbida sp. nov., a new phytopathogenic species living in symbiosis with the walnut twig beetle (Pityophthorus juglandis) on Juglans in USA

Widespread morbidity and mortality of Juglans nigra has occurred in the western USA over the past decade. Tree mortality is the result of aggressive feeding by the walnut twig beetle (Pityophthorus juglandis) and subsequent canker development around beetle galleries caused by a filamentous ascomycete in genus Geosmithia (Ascomycota: Hypocreales). Thirty-seven Geosmithia strains collected from J. californica, J. hindsii, J. major and J. nigra in seven USA states (AZ, CA, CO, ID, OR, UT, WA) were compared with morphological and molecular methods (ITS rDNA sequences). Strains had common characteristics including yellowish conidia en masse, growth at 37 C and absence of growth on Czapek-Dox agar and belonged to a single species described here as G. morbida. Whereas Geosmithia are common saprobes associated with bark beetles attacking hardwoods and conifers worldwide, G. morbida is the first species documented as a plant pathogen.
A Cooperative Metabolic Syndrome Estimation With High Precision Sensing Unit

In this letter, we discuss a sensor-integrated system model for metabolic syndrome prediction with workflow system. This model measures not only a cell temperature variation using invasive method but also controlling simulation for metabolic syndrome prediction. To identify the system realization, we discuss the schemes for predicting metabolic syndrome from measurement of mitochondrial activity by using high precision sensors and integrated simulation model of human energetic under high performance workflow computing environment. To predict metabolic syndrome, we built a sensor-integrated chamber that had network interface to deliver analysis results of human cells, annotation data from public hospital, and metabolic data. Using the proposed system, we showed the possibility to evaluate the functionality of human mitochondria and analyze energy metabolism.
Average patient walking activity approaches 2 million cycles per year: pedometers under-record walking activity.

A two-dimensional accelerometer worn on the ankle (step activity monitor [SAM]; Prosthetic Research Study, Seattle, WA) has been proved to be highly accurate for assessing walking activity. The walking activity of 33 patients with well-functioning total hip arthroplasties was measured continuously during daily life, simultaneously with a pedometer and a SAM. The SAM recorded an average of 1.9 million cycles/y. The pedometer under-recorded an average of 34% cycles per day compared with the SAM (P=.0007), but the 2 measures were highly correlated (r=0.66; P=.001). No difference was seen in the number of gait cycles per day between men and women. The previously reported difference in average walking activity between men and women is due to greater under-recording of the pedometer in women, especially those with a body mass index > or =27. The pedometer is more reliable in quantifying the walking activity of men, less obese women, and patients with >1 million gait cycles/y.
Object recognition modular system implementation in a service robotics context

This paper presents an object recognition modular system implementation that allows a humanoid robot to recognize and manipulate objects in a service robotics context. The system consists of three modules: I) Object recognition, II) Object manipulation and III) Humanoid-robot interaction. The Object recognition uses A-KAZE descriptor and Growing Cell Structure (GCS) artificial neural network (ANN) to learn and recognize objects in a faster way and without extra computer resources needed. The Object manipulation allows to detect an object, estimate the 3D position and lift it up with out information about the objects properties. The Humanoid-robot interaction allows an user to ask for an object learned to search only with a label. The validation of the modular system is in two ways: 1) the object recognition module implementation with an own data base (10 objects, 10 images) obtaining results up to 90% and 2) through NAO robot simulation in Webots obtaining results about 71% of correct classification.
Wireless Positioning and Tracking for Internet of Things in GPS-denied Environments

OF THE DISSERTATION WIRELESS POSITIONING AND TRACKING FOR INTERNET OF THINGS IN GPS-DENIED ENVIRONMENTS by Bekir Sait Ciftler Florida International University, 2017 Miami, Florida Professor Ismail Guvenc, Major Professor Wireless positioning and tracking have long been a critical technology for various applications such as indoor/outdoor navigation, surveillance, tracking of assets and employees, and guided tours, among others. Proliferation of Internet of Things (IoT) devices, the evolution of smart cities, and vulnerabilities of traditional localization technologies to cyber-attacks such as jamming and spoofing of GPS necessitate development of novel radio frequency (RF) localization and tracking technologies that are accurate, energy-efficient, robust, scalable, non-invasive and secure. The main challenges that are considered in this research work are obtaining fundamental limits of localization accuracy using received signal strength (RSS) information with directional antennas, and use of burst and intermittent measurements for localization. In this dissertation, we consider various RSS-based techniques that rely on existing wireless infrastructures to obtain location information of corresponding IoT devices. In the first approach, we present a detailed study on localization accuracy of UHF RF IDentification (RFID) systems considering realistic radiation pattern of directional antennas. Radiation patterns of antennas and antenna arrays may significantly affect RSS in wireless networks. The sensitivity of tag antennas and receiver antennas play a crucial role. In this research, we obtain the fundamental limits of localization accuracy considering radiation patterns and sensitivity of the antennas
The Role of Information Systems for Entrepreneurship Education and Enterprise in Developing Countries

Information systems are the key elements of the country's competitiveness and growth. Our research investigates the role of information systems for entrepreneurship education in developing countries on the example of the Azerbaijan education system and Internet banking. The information systems role in entrepreneurship education was determined with the help of online questionnaire. As a result of the study, it was found out that about 29% of higher entrepreneurship education institutions use IT technologies and e-learning principles in the learning process. The analysis of the effectiveness of information systems in the educational process showed that in faculties where more than 50% of IT is implemented, student performance increased by 5% (p<0.001). This demonstrates the positive role of information systems in the entrepreneurship learning process and the need to expand their introduction into higher education institutions. It was also shown that one of the problems connected with introducing e-learning is that teachers are not ready for the new changes. The analysis of the spread and introduction of Internet banking in developing countries showed that the number of online payment users from 2012 to 2018 increased by 57%. This indicates a positive trend of using e-banking. But at the same time, the classical banking system for making payments remains more relevant. The number of payments in bank branches is 43% more. The main problems of e-banking in developing countries are the lack of credit, the low security level and the lack of personal contact between the client and the bank employee. The research provides perceptive directions and gaps in research related to the information systems in the field of education and Internet banking. It will be useful for evaluating and adoption of state strategy in the development of information systems.
Community Cancer Screening:Reducing Health Disparities among Native Americans in Rural, Tribal Communities

Native Americans have higher cancer morbidity and mortality rates than non-Native Americans and cancer screening rates are lower. This qualitative case study used community-based participatory research principles to identify individual, family, community, and environmental factors that positively influenced screening rates in a rural, Native American community. Over a two-year period, 90 people participated in 11 focus groups to inform the evaluation of the Standing Rock Reservation Men’s and Women’s Health Days Program. Focus group interviews were digitally recorded, transcribed, and saved into NVivo for analysis. Categories and themes were developed using a modified grounded theory approach, leading to a comprehensive model that allowed coding of all comments. The evaluation confirmed that many components of the screening were valuable, such as the advantages of holistic, culturally appropriate approaches within a social setting. Individual experience with cancer and other chronic diseases, family experience with cancer and family support, and friends and exposure to toxins in the community influenced participation in cancer screening. Collaboration between organizations, intensive outreach and recruitment, multiple services provided in one location, consistency of staff, incentives, and the opportunity to socialize and share a meal increased participation. Barriers to screening, such as transportation, changing funding and criteria for screenings, reductions in other services, and unpleasant screening procedures, have required ongoing patience and problem solving on the part of the community team to ensure that high rate of screenings continue. These findings led to recommendations for program development in the target community and other similar communities nationally.
Operating characteristic analysis of induction machine with open phase fault under back-to-back voltage-fed SPWM frequency converter power supply

On the basis of establishing mathematical model of induction machine, the simplifying assumption of two-dimensional plane finite element model was proposed, and Dirichlet and main boundary conditions were defined. The speed governing of induction machine was realized using back-to-back voltage-fed frequency converter. The continuous output direct voltage value of three-phase non-controlled rectifier circuit was calculated, and the parameter setting of carrier signal and modulating wave signal in SPWM inverter circuit was explained. The operation status model of induction machine with open phase fault was proposed based equivalent circuit method and field-circuit coupled method. We analyzed the relation between open phase fault and rated operating phase current, the rotation change, and the variations of torque and magnetic linkage. Through comparison, it can be known that the simulation results of field-circuit coupled method were more accurate, and the curve was more smooth. Although the simulation duration of field-circuit coupled method was longer, it provided theoretical basis for motor fault diagnosis and play an guiding role for operation analysis of induction machine.
Valuation of Health Risks

Many public policies and individual actions have consequences for population health. To understand whether a (costly) policy undertaken to improve population health is a wise use of resources, analysts can use economic evaluation methods to assess the costs and benefits. To do this, it is necessary to evaluate the costs and benefits using the same metric, and for convenience, a monetary measure is commonly used. It is well established that money measures of a reduction in health risks can be theoretically derived using the willingness-to-pay concept. However, because a market price for health risks is not available, analysts have to rely on analytical techniques to estimate the willingness to pay using revealed- or stated-preference methods. Revealed-preference methods infer willingness to pay based on individuals’ actual behavior in markets related to health risks, and they include such approaches as hedonic pricing techniques. Stated-preference methods use a hypothetical market scenario in which respondents make trade-offs between wealth and health risks. Using, for example, a random utility framework, it is possible to directly estimate individuals’ willingness to pay by analyzing the trade-offs they make in the hypothetical scenario. Stated-preference methods are commonly applied using contingent valuation or discrete choice experiment techniques. Despite criticism and the shortcomings of both the revealed- and stated-preference methods, substantial progress has been made since the 1990s in using both approaches to estimate the willingness to pay for health-risk reductions.
Discovery and Characterization of the First Archaeal Dihydromethanopterin Reductase, an Iron-Sulfur Flavoprotein from Methanosarcina mazei

ABSTRACT The microbial production of methane by methanogenic archaea is dependent on the synthesis of the pterin-containing cofactor tetrahydromethanopterin (H4MPT). The enzyme catalyzing the last step of H4MPT biosynthesis (dihydromethanopterin reductase) has not previously been identified in methane-producing microorganisms. Previous complementation studies with the methylotrophic bacterium Methylobacterium extorquens have indicated that an uncharacterized archaeal-flavoprotein-like flavoprotein (AfpA) from Methylobacillus flagellatus or Burkholderia xenovorans can replace the activity of a phylogenetically unrelated bacterial dihydromethanopterin reductase (DmrA). We propose that MM1854, a homolog of AfpA from Methanosarcina mazei, catalyzes the last step of H4MPT biosynthesis in methane-producing microorganisms. To test this hypothesis, a six-histidine (His6)-tagged version of MM1854 was produced. Bioinformatic analysis revealed the presence of one flavin mononucleotide (FMN)-binding site and two iron-sulfur cluster sites, consistent with an oxidoreductase enzyme. Purified His6-MM1854 occurred as a homodimer of 29-kDa subunits, and the UV-visible spectrum of the purified protein showed absorbance peaks at 380 and 460 nm, characteristic of oxidized FMN. NAD(P)H was incapable of directly reducing the flavin cofactor, but dithionite eliminated the FMN peaks, indicating successful electron transfer to MM1854. An electron transfer system of NADPH, spinach NADPH-ferredoxin oxidoreductase, and ferredoxin could also reduce the FMN peaks. A newly developed assay indicated that dithiothreitol-reduced MM1854 could transfer electrons to dihydromethanopterin. This assay was also effective with a heat-stable DmrX analog from Methanocaldococcus jannaschii (MJ0208). These results provide the first biochemical evidence that MM1854 and MJ0208 function as archaeal dihydromethanopterin reductases (DmrX) and that ferredoxin may serve as an electron donor.
Evaluation of acetylcholinesterase, glutathione S-transferase and catalase activities in the land snail Helix aspersa exposed to thiamethoxam

In the present study, adult snails Helix aspersa were used to estimate the effect of a neonicotinoid insecticide, thiamethoxam on the acetylcholinesterase (AChE), glutathione S-transferase (GST) and catalase (CAT) activities after a treatment of 6 weeks. During this period, snails were exposed by ingestion and contact to fresh lettuce leaves which were soaked with an insecticide solution. The thiamethoxam test solutions were 0, 25, 50, 100 and 200 mg/L, which are lower or equal to the concentrations that are applied in field. AChE activity was concentration-dependently inhibited by thiamethoxam. Also, GST and CAT activities were induced by neonicotinoide insecticide with a dosedependent manner. The responses of these enzymes are probably related to an increase in the release of reactive oxygen species in the presence of thiamethoxam. These results suggest the neurotoxic effect of thiamethoxam on snails exposed to the lettuce contaminated with this insecticide. In same time, this compound has effects on the digestive system, in addition to this neurotoxic effect in Helix aspersa (nontarget organism).
Mutational analysis of the genome-linked protein VPg of poliovirus

Using a mutagenesis cartridge (R. J. Kuhn, H. Tada, M. F. Ypma-Wong, J. J. Dunn, B. L. Semler, and E. Wimmer, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 85:519-523, 1988), we have generated single and multiple amino acid replacement mutants, as well as a single amino acid insertion mutant in the genome-linked protein VPg of poliovirus. Moreover, we constructed three different 5-amino-acid insertion mutants that map close to the C terminus of 3A, a viral polypeptide whose coding sequence is adjacent to VPg. Transfection of HeLa cells with RNA synthesized in vitro was used to test the effect of the mutation on viral proliferation. Mutations were either lethal or nonlethal. A temperature-sensitive phenotype was not observed. The arginine at position 17 of VPg could not be exchanged with any other amino acid without loss of viability, whereas the lysine at position 20, an amino acid conserved among all known polioviruses, coxsackieviruses, and echoviruses, was replaceable with several neutral amino acids and even with glutamic acid. Replacement of poliovirus VPg with echovirus 9 VPg yielded viable virus with impaired growth properties. Our results suggest considerable flexibility in the amino acid sequence of a functional VPg. All insertions in polypeptide 3A proved to be lethal. In vitro translation of mutated viral RNAs gave patterns of proteolytic processing that in some cases was aberrant, even though the mutation was nonlethal.
Effects of Ankle Joint Effusion on Lower Leg Function

BackgroundInversion ankle sprains are among the most frequently encountered injuries in and outside of sport. Altered feedback from joint damage and/or edema may negatively affect dynamic stabilization, thereby increasing the patients’ susceptibility to further injury. In order to understand better how the sensorimotor system responds to the presence of ankle edema during a functional task, further examination is warranted. ObjectiveTo quantify muscle activation in the peroneal, tibialis anterior, and soleus musculature as well as to determine ankle joint peak torque, peak power, and root mean square (RMS) power during a closed kinetic chain activity following artificial ankle effusion. DesignDependent variables were compared within subjects across time intervals and between groups. SettingAll data were collected in the biomechanics laboratory. ParticipantsSubjects were 20 healthy, neurologically sound volunteers (age 21.9 ± 2.1 y, height 174.5 ± 9.3 cm, mass 79.3 ± 15.9 kg) with no lower extremity injuries. InterventionsSubjects were prepared for surface electrodes on the peroneus longus (PL), tibialis anterior (TA), soleus (Sol), and medial malleolus (ground). Anthropometric measures for the lower extremity were recorded for use by the Omnikinetic closed chain dynamometer. Measurements were taken prior to ankle effusion (baseline), immediately following effusion (post), and again at 30 minutes. Main Outcome MeasurementsTesting consisted of 6 repetitions at 35% of 1-repetition max and a constant speed of 1.5 Hz. Separate two-way MANOVAs with repeated measures on time intervals were used to detect differences between groups (effusion and control) over time for torque, power, and RMS power and for peak and average EMG. ResultsAn overall time × group interaction was detected for EMG (F4,72 = 3.878; P = 0.007) and kinetic variables (F6,70 = 5.55; P = 0.0001). Average and peak PL EMG decreased immediately following effusion (Sidak’s; P = 0.048), and average EMG remained depressed 30 minutes following effusion (Sidak’s; P = 0.02). Immediately posteffusion, a decrease in ankle torque was detected (Sidak’s; P = 0.007). No differences in TA or Sol EMG, power, or RMS power were detected (P > 0.05). ConclusionsDecreases in ankle plantarflexion torque and PL EMG indicate that a neuromuscular deficit exists in the presence of edema that could increase the susceptibility for further ankle injury.
THz spectroscopy and imaging in security applications

We compared terahertz transmission spectra of explosives measured by means of Time Domain Spectroscopy (TDS) and an Optical Parametric Oscillator-based system (OPO). Reflection spectra of pure explosives were measured in reflection configuration by means of TDS in the range 0.3-2.5THz. We also analyzed influence of the surface roughness on reflectance and phase spectra of RDX-plastic based explosives. Next, we present a thermal phantom of human body working in THz range, which was developed for testing of THz cameras. We demonstrate the possibility of improvement of the quality of the image captured by a commercially available passive THz camera.
Speech separation with EMD as front-end for noise robust co-channel speaker identification

This work deals with front end processing of co-channel speaker identification problem. A co-channel speech consists of mixture of speech signals from two speakers and one microphone. Most of the methods on speaker identification work well for noise free and single speaker environment and the performance reduces under noisy and multi speaker environment. We propose EMD (Empirical mode decomposition) based denoising at the front end along with pitch estimation to separate the co-channel speech mixture. Results show that speaker id correct rate increases after denoising and separating the speakers from the mixture using proposed method at the front end of speaker identification.
Opportunities for Combinatorial Optimization in Computational Biology

This is a survey designed for mathematical programming people who do not know molecular biology and want to learn the kinds of combinatorial optimization problems that arise. After a brief introduction to the biology, we present optimization models pertaining to sequencing, evolutionary explanations, structure prediction, and recognition. Additional biology is given in the context of the problems, including some motivation for disease diagnosis and drug discovery. Open problems are cited with an extensive bibliography, and we offer a guide to getting started in this exciting frontier.