Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Experimental evaluation of zero-power levitation control by transfer function approach for a 4-pole hybrid electromagnet

The objective of this paper is to present a new zero-power controller design scheme by means of a transfer function approach for a voltage excited 4-pole hybrid electromagnet. Furthermore, Manabe's canonical form is integrated into determining process of the gains of controller polynomials. Accordingly, validity of the proposed approach is verified through numerical and experimental studies over an experimental test bench.
The Impact of Brexit on FDI Flows to the UK

Ever since the Brits voted to leave the European Union (EU), many wonder what the consequences are going to be. The purpose of this paper is to quantify the impact of Brexit on the foreign direct investment (FDI) flows to the UK, using longitudinal data covering 13 years and 34 partner countries. It does so by using the gravity equation developed by Tinbergen (1962). We create a dummy variable representing EU membership which equals 1 if both host and partner country are a member of the EU and vice versa. We find that EU membership significantly increases inward FDI flows with 86.5%. Therefore, we project this to be the loss to the UK when Brexit happens.
Insulin Estimation and Prediction: A Review of the Estimation and Prediction of Subcutaneous Insulin Pharmacokinetics in Closed-Loop Glucose Control

Patients affected by type 1 diabetes (T1D) suffer from lack of insulin secretion by the pancreas, due to the autoimmune destruction of the insulinproducing beta cells. This translates into elevated plasma glucose concentration with deleterious effects in the cardiovascular system, leading to serious long-term complications. With the improvement of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) technology, a significant amount of research has been focused in the last decade on the development of an artificial pancreas (AP), that is, a closed-loop glucose control system that automatically dispenses insulin. The AP is now closer to reality [1]. An AP system was first approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2016 [2]. The system still requires user intervention at mealtime, as currently done in openloop insulin pump therapy, to administer an insulin bolus based on carbohydrate counting (a hybrid closed-loop system).
Time domain field synthesis with 3D symmetric condensed node TLM

A novel time domain field synthesis approach based on 3D symmetric condensed node TLM will be described. The field distribution on the designable boundary parts is determined through a traditional TLM analysis of a starting geometry. Designable parameters are associated with a set of characteristic frequencies of the structure. The desirable values of these frequencies are determined using design specifications in the form of an equivalent lumped element circuit. A synthesis phase is then carried out for each parameter, during which the associated boundary parts are replaced by matched sinusoidal sources with the desirable value of the associated characteristic frequency. The designable parameter value is determined by observing the envelope of the standing electric/magnetic field pattern.
Mutations in Translation Initiation Factors Lead to Increased Rates of Deadenylation and Decapping of mRNAs inSaccharomyces cerevisiae

ABSTRACT The turnover of most mRNAs in Saccharomyces cerevisiaebegins with deadenylation followed by decapping and 5′→3′ exonucleolytic digestion. An important question involves the mechanisms that allow particular mRNAs to exhibit different rates of both deadenylation and decapping. Since the cap structure plays a critical role in the assembly of translation initiation factors, we hypothesized that the status of the cytoplasmic cap binding complex would affect the rate of decapping. To test this hypothesis, we examined mRNA decay rates in yeast strains that were defective in several translation initiation factors that are part of the cap binding complex. These experiments yielded three significant observations. First, any mutation known to inhibit translation initiation also increased the rate of decapping. Second, decapping still occurred only after deadenylation, suggesting that the ability of the poly(A) tail to inhibit decapping does not require efficient translation of the transcript. Third, mutants with defects in translation initiation factors also showed an increase in the rate of deadenylation, suggesting that the rate of deadenylation may be controlled primarily by the translation status of the transcript. These results argue that the nature of the translation initiation complex is a critical factor in determining the mRNA half-life. This view also implies that some cis-acting sequences that modulate mRNA decay rate do so by affecting the translation status of the transcript.
Role of type 2 deiodinase in response to acute lung injury (ALI) in mice

Thyroid hormone (TH) metabolism, mediated by deiodinase types 1, 2, and 3 (D1, D2, and D3) is profoundly affected by acute illness. We examined the role of TH metabolism during ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI) in mice. Mice exposed to VILI recapitulated the serum TH findings of acute illness, namely a decrease in 3,5,3′-triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroid-stimulating hormone and an increase in reverse T3. Both D2 immunoreactivity and D2 enzymatic activity were increased significantly. D1 and D3 activity did not change. Using D2 knockout (D2KO) mice, we determined whether the increase in D2 was an adaptive response. Although similar changes in serum TH levels were observed in D2KO and WT mice, D2KO mice exhibited greater susceptibility to VILI than WT mice, as evidenced by poorer alveoli integrity and quantified by lung chemokine and cytokine mRNA induction. These data suggest that an increase in lung D2 is protective against VILI. Similar findings of increased inflammatory markers were found in hypothyroid WT mice exposed to VILI compared with euthyroid mice, indicating that the lungs were functionally hypothyroid. Treatment of D2KO mice with T3 reversed many of the lung chemokine and cytokine profiles seen in response to VILI, demonstrating a role for T3 in the treatment of lung injury. We conclude that TH metabolism in the lung is linked to the response to inflammatory injury and speculate that D2 exerts its protective effect by making more TH available to the injured lung tissue.
Gente Joven: meeting needs.

To meet the sexual and reproductive health needs of adolescents, the Mexican family planning association MEXFAM established the Gente Joven (young people) project in 1986. Rather than expending scarce resources on setting up youth centers, Gente Joven was introduced at sites where young people are already assembled--schools, recreation centers, meeting points for street gangs. To date, the program has reached hundreds of thousands of young people in every state and large town in Mexico; in addition, thousands of teachers have been trained to take sexuality education to schools throughout the country. Preliminary surveys of adolescents identified 5 major subjects about which sex education was most in demand: communication within the family, anatomy and the physiology of the reproductive organs, premarital sex decision making, sexually transmitted diseases, and family planning and pregnancy. The sex education module is implemented in 4 2-hour sessions. Young people have been involved not only in designing the curriculum, but also in preparing the print materials, films, and videos used in the schools. Emphasized is the importance of overcoming gender inequalities and promoting reciprocal relationships between the sexes. Despite some attempts by pro-life groups to close down the program, Gente Joven has become one of the most popular, effective MEXFAM activities and is at the cutting edge of social change in Mexico.
Modified EZW coding for the M-band wavelet transform and its application to image compression

This paper describes the extension of the embedded zero wavelet tree coding technique (J.M. Shapiro, 1993) to the M-band wavelet transform. Through this scheme, we improve the efficiency of the embedded zero wavelet tree coding, that finds extensive application as a variable bit-rate coder. To prove the efficacy, we compare the compression ratio and the PSNR obtained by a traditional 2-band wavelet based coder, with those obtained with the M-band wavelet based EZW coder. One additional point discussed in this paper, is the performance of a traditional 2-level quantization in EZW against an M-adaptive coder. We see the advantages and disadvantages in going in for an M-adaptive coder and conclude based on the PSNR and compression ratio obtained at various bit-rates. The variable bit-rate is emulated as multiple scans. Hence graphs plot the compression ratio or the PSNR against the number of scans. An important inference drawn from this paper is that, M-band wavelet transform with M=Odd, exhibits special properties, as a result of which the EZW scheme performs much more efficiently with them
A simple technique for fat biopsy of PBB-exposed individuals.

A simple nonsurgical technique of obtaining fat samples by aspiration from the gluteal prominence was developed by Hirsh in 1960 and has been in use in our Nutrition Clinic at the Mount Sinai Hospital for several years. We have modified it for field use and the analysis of fat-soluble hydrocarbon residues. All the materials which will contain the fat sample to be analyzed are washed with acetone and pesticide residue-free hexane, and a 15 gauge needle and 33 cc syringe are sterilized. Aspiration of fat from the lateral gluteal prominence is accomplished under local xylocaine anesthetic. The anesthetic also serves as the vehicle into which the fat is broken by the shearing action of the 15 gauge needle. Fat particles are sucked into the syringe by a constant vacuum kept on the syringe during lateral movement of the needle under (and parallel to) the skin within the gluteal fat pad; 200--500 ml of fat can be obtained for hydrocarbon residue analysis. The only complications have been some mild hematomas at the site of the aspiration. The method avoids surgical biopsy and sutures and takes about 7--8 min. ImagesFIGURE 1. AFIGURE 1. BFIGURE 2.FIGURE 3.
A probabilistic approach to spatio-spectral filters optimization in Brain-Computer Interface

EEG-based motor imagery classification has been widely studied for Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs) due to its asynchronous and continuous elicitation and its great potential to many applications. Many research groups have devoted their efforts to either the frequency band selection or optimal spatial filters learning via the Common Spatial Pattern (CSP) algorithm. However, since the spectral filtering and the spatial filtering are generally operated in order in a motor imagery classification system the optimization of the spatial filters and the spectral filters should be considered simultaneously in a unified framework. In this paper, we propose a novel probabilistic approach for the spatio-spectral filters optimization in an EEG-based BCI with a particle-filter algorithm and mutual information between feature vectors and class labels. There are two main contributions of the proposed method. The one is that it finds the optimal frequency bands that maximally discriminate the feature vectors of two classes in terms of an information theoretic approach. The other is that we construct a spectrally-weighted label decision rule by linearly combining the outputs from multiple SVMs, one for each frequency band, with the weight of the corresponding frequency band. From our experiments with two publicly available dataset, we confirm that the proposed method outperforms the other competing methods.
Sickle Cell Trait in Sports

Sickle cell trait (SCT) can pose a grave risk for some athletes. In the past decade in NCAA Division I football, no deaths have occurred from the play or practice of the game, but 16 deaths have occurred from conditioning for the game, and 10 (63%) of these deaths are tied to SCT, an excess of up to 21-fold. Research shows how and why, during intense exercise bouts, sickle cells can accumulate and "logjam" blood vessels, causing explosive rhabdomyolysis that can kill. Sickling can begin in 2 to 5 min of all-out exertion and can reach grave levels soon thereafter if the athlete struggles on or is urged on by coaches despite warning signs. Sickling collapse is an intensity syndrome that differs from other common causes of collapse. Tailored precautions can prevent sickling collapse and enable athletes with SCT to thrive. Irrationally intense conditioning for a game puts the lives of healthy athletes with SCT at risk.
Natural history of human calicivirus infection: a prospective cohort study.

We investigated the natural history of human Calicivirus infection in the community. Clinical information was obtained from 99 subjects infected with Norwalk-like viruses (NLV) and 40 subjects infected with Sapporo-like viruses (SLV) in a prospective, community-based cohort study. NLV infection was common in all age groups, whereas SLV infection was mainly restricted to children aged <5 years. Symptoms lasted for a median of 5 and 6 days for NLV and SLV infections, respectively. Disease was characterized by diarrhea during the first 5 days (87% of patients with NLV infection and 95% of patients with SLV infection) and vomiting on the first day (74% for NLV and 60% for SLV). Vomiting was less common in children aged <1 year (59% for NLV and 44% for SLV) than it was among children aged >/=1 year (>75% for NLV and >67% for SLV). Overall, NLV was detected in 26% of patients up to 3 weeks after the onset of illness. This proportion was highest (38%) for children aged <1 year. SLV shedding subsided after 14 days. These data show that the durations of disease and viral shedding of caliciviruses are longer than has been described elsewhere. Therefore, the impact of these infections may have been underestimated.
Models of signalling networks – what cell biologists can gain from them and give to them

Summary Computational models of cell signalling are perceived by many biologists to be prohibitively complicated. Why do math when you can simply do another experiment? Here, we explain how conceptual models, which have been formulated mathematically, have provided insights that directly advance experimental cell biology. In the past several years, models have influenced the way we talk about signalling networks, how we monitor them, and what we conclude when we perturb them. These insights required wet-lab experiments but would not have arisen without explicit computational modelling and quantitative analysis. Today, the best modellers are cross-trained investigators in experimental biology who work closely with collaborators but also undertake experimental work in their own laboratories. Biologists would benefit by becoming conversant in core principles of modelling in order to identify when a computational model could be a useful complement to their experiments. Although the mathematical foundations of a model are useful to appreciate its strengths and weaknesses, they are not required to test or generate a worthwhile biological hypothesis computationally.
Investigation of Multistate Foodborne Disease Outbreaks

The U.S. food supply is characterized increasingly by centralized production and wide distribution of products, and more foodborne disease outbreaks are dispersed over broad geographic areas. Such outbreaks may present as a gradual, diffuse, and initially unapparent increase in sporadic cases. Recognition and reporting by clinicians and local public health officials and the ordering of laboratory tests by clinicians continue to be cornerstones of detecting all outbreaks. New methods—such as active laboratory-based surveillance, automated algorithms for detecting increases in infection rates, and molecular subtyping—facilitate detection of diffuse outbreaks. Routines have evolved for the investigation of multistate outbreaks; they are characterized by rapid communication between local, state, and federal public health officials; timely review of epidemiologic data by expert panels; collaboration on tracebacks with food safety regulatory agencies; and communication with the public and media. Rapid, efficient investigation of multistate outbreaks may result in control of acute public health emergencies, identification and correction of hazardous food production and processing practices, and consequent improvement in food safety.
The Effects of the Tramadol Metabolite O-Desmethyl Tramadol on Muscarinic Receptor-Induced Responses in Xenopus Oocytes Expressing Cloned M1 or M3 Receptors

O-desmethyl tramadol is one of the main metabolites of tramadol. It has been widely used clinically and has analgesic activity. Muscarinic receptors are involved in neuronal functions in the brain and autonomic nervous system, and much attention has been paid to these receptors as targets for analgesic drugs in the central nervous system. We have reported that tramadol inhibits the function of type-1 muscarinic (M1) receptors and type-3 muscarinic (M3) receptors, suggesting that muscarinic receptors are sites of action of tramadol. However, the effects of O-desmethyl tramadol on muscarinic receptor functions have not been studied in detail. In this study, we investigated the effects of O-desmethyl tramadol on M1 and M3 receptors, using the Xenopus oocyte expression system. O-desmethyl tramadol (0.1–100 &mgr;M) inhibited acetylcholine (ACh)-induced currents in oocytes expressing the M1 receptors (half-maximal inhibitory concentration [IC50] = 2 ± 0.6 &mgr;M), whereas it did not suppress ACh-induced currents in oocytes expressing the M3 receptor. Although GF109203X, a protein kinase C inhibitor, increased the ACh-induced current, it had little effect on the inhibition of ACh-induced currents by O-desmethyl tramadol in oocytes expressing M1 receptors. The inhibitory effect of O-desmethyl tramadol on M1 receptor was overcome when the concentration of ACh was increased (KD with O-desmethyl tramadol = 0.3 &mgr;M). O-desmethyl tramadol inhibited the specific binding of [3H]quinuclidinyl benzilate ([3H]QNB) to the oocytes expressed M1 receptors (IC50 = 10.1 ± 0.1 &mgr;M), whereas it did not suppress the specific binding of [3H]QNB to the oocytes expressed M3 receptors. Based on these results, O-desmethyl tramadol inhibits functions of M1 receptors but has little effect on those of M3 receptors. This study demonstrates the molecular action of O-desmethyl tramadol on the receptors and may help to explain its neural function.
Has Stock Market Volatility in the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange Returned to Pre-Asian Financial Crisis Levels?

The 1997–98 East Asian financial crisis was accompanied by high volatility in the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange (KLSE). This paper investigates whether stock return volatility has returned to pre-financial crisis levels, using the Exponential GARCH model combined with sudden changes of unconditional variance. The empirical results indicate that the KLSE had prolonged stock market volatility after the Asian financial crisis. By March 2003, stock return volatility in the KLSE was decreasing, but had still not returned to pre-financial crisis levels. Other high volatility episodes were identified during the 1985–2003 period, namely: (i) the stock market crash of October 1987; (ii) when Iraq invaded Kuwait in August 1990; and (iii) the sudden and massive capital flight of early 1994.
Retinoid signaling regulates breast cancer stem cell differentiation

The cancer stem cell (CSC) hypothesis implicates the development of new therapeutic approaches to target the CSC population. Characterization of the pathways that regulate CSCs activity will facilitate the development of targeted therapies. We recently reported that the enzymatic activity of ALDH1, as measured by the ALDELFUOR assay, can be utilized to isolate normal and malignant breast stem cells in both primary tumors and cell lines. In this study, utilizing a tumorsphere assay, we have demonstrated the role of retinoid signaling in the regulation of breast CSCs self-renewal and differentiation. Utilizing the gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) algorithm we identified gene sets and pathways associated with retinoid signaling. These pathways regulate breast CSCs biology and their inhibition may provide novel therapeutic approaches to target breast CSCs.
Wisdom at the End of Life: An Analysis of Mediating and Moderating Relations Between Wisdom and Subjective Well-Being.

OBJECTIVES Several studies have shown that wisdom, measured as an integration of cognitive, reflective, and compassionate dimensions, is positively related to subjective well-being in old age. This study investigated whether wisdom might be particularly beneficial for people at the end of life, when extrinsic means to increase well-being largely disappear, and whether the association between wisdom and well-being is mediated by mastery and purpose in life. METHODS Samples of 156 older community residents (M = 71 years) and 41 older hospice patients and nursing home residents (M = 77 years) were analyzed, using a moderated and mediated path model. RESULTS (a) Wisdom was positively related to subjective well-being in the later years, even after controlling for physical health, socioeconomic status, financial situation, social involvement, age, gender, race, and marital status. (b) The association between wisdom and well-being was significantly stronger in the nursing home and hospice sample than the community sample. (c) The relation between wisdom and well-being was partially mediated by purpose in life, both directly and via a sense of mastery. CONCLUSION Aging well at the end of life might depend to a larger extent on psychosocial growth across the life course than on present circumstances.
Enhancing customers’ brand loyalty via branded hotel apps

ABSTRACT Many hotels have launched their own branded mobile applications to develop relationships with customers. Yet, research examining the benefits of branded hotel apps on brand loyalty is scant. The current research investigates the role of branded hotel apps on brand loyalty through customer engagement and brand trust in the hotel industry, based on uses and gratifications theory. Results identified cognitive and social benefits of the branded hotel apps positively influenced customer engagement and brand trust. Hedonic benefits positively influenced customer engagement and they indirectly influenced brand trust through customer engagement. Both customer engagement and brand trust positively influenced brand loyalty. Moreover, mediation effects of customer engagement and brand trust were identified. Results highlight how branded hotel apps serve as a facilitator of brand loyalty, providing theoretical and managerial implications.