Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Optical method for resolution enhancement in photodiode array Fourier transform spectroscopy.

In this paper, we propose a method for optically improving the resolving power of the photodiode array Fourier transform spectrometer [ T. Okamoto S. Kawata S. Minami , Appl. Opt.23, 269 ( 1984)] rather than using mathematical superresolution techniques. The spatial frequency of the interferogram is modulated by the dispersing element added to the triangular common path interferometer so that the spectral resolution is enhanced in the effective spectral range. Since the modification of the method is only the addition of the dispersing optical element to the original optical setup, the advantages of the simple, stable, and easy optical alignment and the large optical throughput with the photodiode array Fourier transform spectroscopy are maintained. Experimental results demonstrate the resolution enhancement by the proposed method with the emission spectra of a low pressure mercury lamp and a cadmium lamp.
Exchange Rate and Trade Balance of Bangladesh: Causality and Cointegration Analysis

We investigate the interrelationship between the monthly trade balance and exchange rate data of Bangladesh. We find the existence of cointegration between these two variables. Error correction model reveals that the speed of adjustment coefficient of the trade balance equation corrects about 13% of any deviation from the long-run path within a month with a unidirectional causality running from exchange rate to trade balance. While the speed of adjustment coefficient of the exchange rate equation corrects only 0.003% within a month. This is somewhat slow and statistically insignificant. Journal of Business and Technology (Dhaka) Vol.9(2) 2014; 15-25
Novel Immediate-Early Protein IE19 of Human Cytomegalovirus Activates the Origin Recognition Complex I Promoter in a Cooperative Manner with IE72

ABSTRACT The major immediate-early (MIE) gene of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) expresses IE86, IE72, IE55, and IE18 mRNA by differential splicing. Reverse transcription-PCR with IE72-specific primers generated an 0.65-kb cDNA from HCMV-infected fibroblast RNA, which does not correspond to any known MIE cDNA. Nucleotide sequencing revealed that the 0.65-kb cDNA is from exons 1, 2, and 3 and part of exon 4, indicating that it is derived from a novel alternatively spliced mRNA of the MIE gene. The cDNA encodes a 172-amino-acid polypeptide, termed IE19, which corresponds to an IE72 variant with an internal deletion from Val86 to Pro404 and appears as a band at 38 kDa on a sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel. IE19 mRNA was expressed at a low level in the immediate-early, early, and late period of viral infection. IE19 was localized in nuclei, and a transient-expression assay revealed that IE19 enhances IE72-dependent activation of the HsOrc1 promoter, which is identified here as an IE72 target promoter. Another MIE protein, IE86, activated the same promoter but only weakly compared to IE72, and coexpression of IE19 did not alter the IE86-mediated transcriptional activation. In addition, IE19 did not enhance the IE72-dependent activation of the HCMV UL54 promoter. These results suggest that IE19 is a transcriptional coactivator that works with IE72.
HNF1B controls proximal-intermediate nephron segment identity in vertebrates by regulating Notch signalling components and Irx1/2

The nephron is a highly specialised segmented structure that provides essential filtration and resorption renal functions. It arises by formation of a polarised renal vesicle that differentiates into a comma-shaped body and then a regionalised S-shaped body (SSB), with the main prospective segments mapped to discrete domains. The regulatory circuits involved in initial nephron patterning are poorly understood. We report here that HNF1B, a transcription factor known to be involved in ureteric bud branching and initiation of nephrogenesis, has an additional role in segment fate acquisition. Hnf1b conditional inactivation in murine nephron progenitors results in rudimentary nephrons comprising a glomerulus connected to the collecting system by a short tubule displaying distal fates. Renal vesicles develop and polarise normally but fail to progress to correctly patterned SSBs. Major defects are evident at late SSBs, with altered morphology, reduction of a proximo-medial subdomain and increased apoptosis. This is preceded by strong downregulation of the Notch pathway components Lfng, Dll1 and Jag1 and the Irx1/2 factors, which are potential regulators of proximal and Henle's loop segment fates. Moreover, HNF1B is recruited to the regulatory sequences of most of these genes. Overexpression of a HNF1B dominant-negative construct in Xenopus embryos causes downregulation specifically of proximal and intermediate pronephric segment markers. These results show that HNF1B is required for the acquisition of a proximo-intermediate segment fate in vertebrates, thus uncovering a previously unappreciated function of a novel SSB subcompartment in global nephron segmentation and further differentiation.
MENTOR : An Emotional Tutoring Model for Distance Learning MENTOR ’ s Application in the Field of Didactics of Informatics

The aim of this dissertation is to present the MENTOR (Modelling EmotioNal TutORing) which is an emotional learning model that uses an Affective Module in order to recognize the affective state of the student during his interaction with the educational environment and thereafter to provide him with a suitable learning strategy constructing in this way an affective learning path. MENTOR constitutes of three main components, the Emotional Component, the Teacher Component and the Visualisation Component and its main purpose is to motivate appropriately the student in order to accomplish his learning goals. The basic concern of MENTOR is to retain the student’s emotional state positive during the learning process. To achieve this, it recognises the emotions of the students and takes them under consideration to provide them with the suitable learning strategy. This kind of strategy is based both on the cognitive abilities and the affective preferences of the student and is stored in the student’s model. The student model supplies the educational system with necessary information with the aim to adapt itself successfully to the student’s needs.
Latency-optimization synthesis with module selection for digital microfluidic biochips

Digital microfluidic biochip (DMFB) is one of the latest developments in bioelectronics. It can replace traditional bulky equipment to facilitate biochemical assays and save the labor cost. Latency optimization is a common optimization objective of synthesis on DMFBs for assay time reduction. It is helpful for latency minimization if an operation can freely select one from a set of functional modules with various area-latency tradeoffs. In this paper, we propose an efficient latency-optimization synthesis algorithm with module selection capability, LOSMOS, for DMFBs. Experimental results show that LOSMOS outperforms several existing state-of-the-art synthesis algorithms and an ILP-based method without module selection.
An Indoor-Walk-Guide Simulator using a Haptic Interface

By combining 3D shape modeler (a program which can generate 3D shapes in graphics in a computer) and haptic-sensable devices, we are developing a touch-sensable system to help a blind person understand 3D shapes. Here we report a pathway simulator which simulates a guiding of a pathway through haptic recognition. If we could indicate a pathway by haptic means to the user, i.e., if we simulate resisting force that is caused by sliding of a long cane along the pathway and sensed in his palm, we believe it might give him an on-site feeling of the pathway. The purpose of this haptic pathway simulator is to help a user with his making a mental map of the pathway. So in the simulator we provide guiding information of the surroundings of the user along the pathway by haptic means.
Effects of tumor necrosis factor-α inhibitors in mothers and daughters concordant for HLA-B27-positive ankylosing spondylitis.

OBJECTIVES Pharmacogenomics is considered as the new frontier to predict the response to treatments and it can also be based on the comparison of family members being treated for the same condition. No data are available on the impact of anti-tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α therapies in members of the same family with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). METHODS We describe three mother-daughter couples concordant for AS and HLA-B27, both treated with TNF-α inhibitors, for whom the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI), and Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score (ASDAS)-CRP were evaluated during a follow-up of 24 months. RESULTS All patients manifested improvements of all scores, but the daughters had a more prominent effect achieving faster complete disease remission. CONCLUSIONS We hypothesise that longer standing chronic inflammation and older age may cause a less prompt and effective response to treatment in SA when compared with their genetically related controls.
Reliability and Factorial Validity of Agility Tests for Soccer Players

Sporis, G, Jukic, I, Milanovic, L, and Vucetic, V. Reliability and factorial validity of agility tests for soccer players. J Strength Cond Res 24(3): 679-686, 2010-The purpose of this study was to evaluate the reliability and factorial validity of agility tests used in soccer. One hundred fifty (n = 150), elite, male, junior soccer players, members of the First Junior League Team, volunteered to participate in the study. The slalom test (ST) sprint 4 × 5 m (S4 × 5) and sprint 9-3-6-3-6-9 m with 180° turns (S180°) tests had a greater reliability coefficient (α = 0.992, 0.979, and 0.976), whereas the within-subject variation ranged between 2.9 and 5.6%. The mentioned 6 agility tests resulted in the extraction of 2 significant components. The S4×5 test had the lowest correlation coefficient with the first component (r = 0.38), whereas the correlation coefficients of the other 5 agility tests were higher than 0.63. The T-test (TT) showed statistically significant differences between the defenders and midfielders (p < 0.05) and between the defenders and attackers (p < 0.05). Statistical significant differences were determined between the attackers and defenders in the sprint 9-3-6-3-9 m with backward and forward running (SBF) and p < 0.05. It can be concluded that of the 6 agility tests used in this study, the SBF, TT, and S180° are the most reliable and valid tests for estimating the agility of soccer players. According to the results of the study, the TT proved to be the most appropriate for estimating the agility of defenders, the SBF, and S180° for estimating the agility of midfielders, whereas the S4 × 5 test can be used for estimating the agility of attackers.
Title Value of micro-CT for monitoring spinal microvascular changesafter chronic spinal cord compression

Neurological degeneration can occur after compression of the spinal cord. It is widely accepted that spinal cord compression leads to ischemic lesions and ultimately neurological dysfunction due to a narrowed spinal canal. Therefore, an in-depth understanding of the pathogenesis of spinal cord compression injury is required to help develop effective clinical interventions. In the present study, we propose a new method of quantitative 3D micro-CT to observe microvascular events in a chronic spinal cord compression rat model. A total of 36 rats were divided into two groups: sham control group (n = 12) and compressive spinal cord injury group (n = 24). Rats were scarified at four weeks after surgery. In each group, CD34 micro-vessel immunohistochemical staining was performed in half of the animals, while micro-CT scanning was performed in the other half. Microvessel density (MVD) was measured after immunohistochemical staining, while the OPEN ACCESS Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2014, 15 12062 vascular index (VI) was measured in 3D micro-CT. In comparison with sham control, abnormal somatosensory evoked potentials (SEP) can be seen in all 24 cases of the compression group, and VI shows the amount of microvessels reduced consistently and significantly (p < 0.01). A significant correlation is also found between MVD and VI (r = 0.95, p < 0.01). These data suggest that quantitative 3D micro-CT is a sensitive and promising tool for investigating microvascular changes during chronic compressive spinal cord injury.
Fatigue and other variables during adjuvant chemotherapy for colon and rectal cancer.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES To examine patterns of fatigue and other variables (sleep quality, sleep-wake variables, activity and rest, circadian rhythms, quality of life [QOL], blood counts, and demographic and medical variables) during colon and rectal cancer adjuvant chemotherapy, as well as feasibility of the study. DESIGN Longitudinal, descriptive feasibility study. SETTING Two oncology clinics in the midwestern region of the United States. SAMPLE From April 2006-December 2008, 27% of screened subjects (n = 21) enrolled and 14 completed the study. Participants were middle aged, partnered, and employed and had postsecondary education. METHODS Measurements completed during the first week of three two-week cycles (chemotherapy 1-3) and at six weeks (before chemotherapy 4) were the Piper Fatigue Scale, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, wrist actigraphy, Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Colon, blood counts, and demographic and medical data form. Analysis included descriptive statistics and repeated-measures analysis of variance. MAIN RESEARCH VARIABLES Fatigue, sleep quality, sleep-wake variables, activity-rest, circadian activity rhythms, and QOL. FINDINGS Fatigue was mild at baseline and rose to moderate levels during chemotherapy 1-3. Sleep quality was poor the months prior to chemotherapy 1 and chemotherapy 4. Actigraphy data revealed disturbed sleep, low daytime activity, and impaired circadian activity rhythms during the first week after chemotherapy 1-3. QOL ratings were similar to those in other cancer populations. Fatigue increased, and white blood cell counts decreased significantly over time. CONCLUSIONS During adjuvant chemotherapy, patients reported moderate fatigue and poor sleep quality; actigraphs confirmed problems with sleep maintenance as well as low daytime activity and disturbed circadian rhythms. Multiple barriers were encountered during the study. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING Clinicians should screen for fatigue and sleep-wake variables and use guidelines to select interventions.
ROSE: a Package for Binary Imbalanced Learning

Abstract The ROSE package provides functions to deal with binary classification problems in the presence of imbalanced classes. Artificial balanced samples are generated according to a smoothed bootstrap approach and allow for aiding both the phases of estimation and accuracy evaluation of a binary classifier in the presence of a rare class. Functions that implement more traditional remedies for the class imbalance and different metrics to evaluate accuracy are also provided. These are estimated by holdout, bootstrap, or cross-validation methods.
Evaluation of an electrical method for detection of die attach imperfections in Smart Power Switches using transient thermal FEM simulations

A method for detection of die attach imperfections in smart power switches is evaluated using non-linear transient thermal FEM simulations and measurements. This method employs smart functions of SPS devices such as over-current and over-temperature protection. The protective thermal shut down function is triggered by the temperature of the integrated temperature sensor. The temperature rise depends on power dissipation in the device and on the thermal junction to ambient impedance which is inter alia related to the die attach imperfection. The evaluation is performed on a two channel smart power switch. Results are focused on practical relevance and sensitivity of this method to the influence of die attach thickness and die attach voids.
Product Lines of Product Lines

A Software Product Line (SPL) is a set of related programs. A SPL of a SPL (SPL), or a product line of a product line, is a fundamental scaling of product line concepts. A member of a SPL is not a program, but a SPL. The idea recurses: a SPL is a SPL of a SPL, and so on. The depth of recursion is the rank of the product line. We present an algebra to understand and build feature-based product lines of arbitrary rank that is consistent with our experiences in building several SPLs of rank two and higher.
Analysis of the dynamics of a biped robot with seven degrees of freedom

This paper studies the dynamics of a biped walking robot with seven degrees of freedom. The main features of the biped robot include variable length legs and a translatable balance weight in the body. Dynamically stable walking of the biped robot is realized by maintaining the zero moment point (ZMP), which is the virtual total ground reaction point, within the region of the supporting foot during the single-support phases. An implementation of prototype biped BR-1 and its experimental walking test results are described. On a flat plane, the biped can walk dynamically with a speed of 16 cm/second.
umanized cobra venom factor decreases myocardial schemia – reperfusion injury

Cobra venom factor (CVF) is a complement activating protein in cobra venom, which functionally resembles C3b, and has been used for decades for decomplementation of serum to investigate the role of complement in many model systems of disease. The use of CVF for clinical practice is considered impractical because of immunogenicity issues. Humanization of CVF was recently demonstrated to yield a potent CVF-like molecule. In the present study, we demonstrate that mice treated with recombinant humanTE D eywords: omplement nflammation nfarction ized CVF (HC3-1496) are protected from myocardial ischemia–reperfusion (MI/R) injuries with resultant preservation of cardiac function. Also, C3 deposition in the myocardium following MI/R was not observed following treatment with HC3-1496. HC3-1496 led to complement activation and depletion of C3, but preserved C5 titers. These data suggest, unlike CVF, HC3-1496 does not form a C5 convertase in the mouse, similar to recent studies in human sera/plasma. These results suggest that humanized CVF (HC31496) protects the ischemic myocardium from reperfusion injuries induced by complement activation ti-co
A new cross switched cascaded multilevel inverter topology with reduced number of switches

For clean and economical energy, renewable energy resources are widely used for providing electric supply to the consumers. But renewable resources produce dc supply, so multilevel inverters are required for conversion from dc to ac supply as the output voltage generated by multilevel inverters contain less harmonics as compared to conventional two level inverters. In this paper, a new asymmetrical multilevel inverter topology is proposed which generates the maximum output voltage using cross over switches. This topology requires less number of voltage sources, power electronic switches and driver circuits as compared to the conventional multilevel inverter topologies. In addition, proposed topology utilise the dc voltage sources amplitude in such a way so that all the possible levels will be generated in output voltage. The performance and operation of the proposed topology is verified using simulation in MATLAB environment. Various waveform and simulation results are presented to validate the performance of proposed topology.
Relationship Between the Incidence of Childhood IDDM and the Frequency of ICA Positivity in Nondiabetic Children in the General Population

1. Haffner SM, D'Agostino R, Saad MI; Rewers M, Mykkanen 1, Selby J, Howard G, Savage PJ, Hamman RI; Wagenknecht LE, Bergman RN: Increased insulin resistance and insulin secretion in nondiabetic African-American and Hispanics compared with non-Hispanic whites. Diabetes 45:742-748, 1996 2. Banerji MA, Lebovitz HE: Insulin-sensitive and insulin-resistant variants in NIDDM. Diabetes 38:784-792, 1989 3. Banerji MA, Lebovitz HE: Insulin action in black Americans with NIDDM. Diabetes Care 15:1295-1302, 1992 4. Banerji MA, Chaiken RL, Norin AJ, Lebovitz HE: HLA-DQ associations distinguish insulin-resistant and insulin-sensitive variants of NIDDM in black Americans. Diabetes Care 16:429-433, 1993 5. Joffe BI, Goldberg RB, Feinstein J, Kark A, Seftel HC: Adipose cell size in obese Africans: evidence against the existence of insulin resistance in some patients. J Clin Pathol 32:471-474, 1979 6. Joffe BI, Panz VR, WingJR, Raal FJ, Seftel HC: Pathogenesis of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus in the black population of southern Africa. Lancet 340:460462,1992 7. Joffe BI, Seftel HC: Diabetes mellitus in the black communities of Southern Africa. J Intern Med 235:137-142, 1994 8. Banerji MA, Chaiken RL, ? Iuey H, Tuomi T, Norin AJ, Mackay IR, Rowley MJ, Zimmet PZ, Lebovitz HE: GAD antibody negative NIDDM in adult black subjects with diabetic ketoacidosis and increased frequency of human leucocyte antigen DR3 and DR4 (Flatbush Diabetes). Diabetes 43:741-745,1994 9. Umpierrez GE, Casals MMC, Gebhart SSP, Mixon PS, Scott Clark W, Phillips LS: Diabetic ketoacidosis in obese African-Americans. Diabetes 44:790-795, 1995 10. Musey VC, Lee JK, Crawford R, Klatka MA, McAdams D, Phillips LS: Diabetes in urban African-Americans. I. Cessation of insulin therapy is the major precipitating cause of diabetic ketoacidosis. Diabetes Care 18:483-489, 1995 11. Banerji MA, Chaiken RL, Lebovitz HE: Prolongation of near-normoglycaemic remission in black NIDDM subjects with chronic low-dose sulphonylurea treatment. Diabetes 44:466-470, 1995 12. Gill GV, Huddle KR: Patterns of insulin dependence in an African diabetic clinic. QJ Med 81:829-835, 1991 13. Wing JR, Panz VR, Joffe BI, Seftel HC: Changes in glucose disposal and cellular insulin binding in obese black Southern African patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus before and after sulphonylurea therapy. Diabetic Med 10:50-55, 1993 14. Banerji MA, Lebovitz HE: Coronary heart disease risk factor profiles in black patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus: paradoxic patterns. Am J Med 91:51-58, 1991 15. Gill GV, Huddle KR: Patterns and problems of diabetes in Soweto. Cent AfrJ Med 30:189-195, 1984 16. Cooper RS, Ghali JK: Coronary heart disease: black-white differences. Cardiovasc. Clin. 21:205-225, 1991 17. Osei K, Schuster DP: Metabolic characteristics of African descendants: a comparative study of African-Americans and Ghanaian immigrants using minimal model analysis. Diabetologia 38:1103-1109,1995