Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Fault Simulation Under The Multiple Observation Time Approach Using Backward Implications

We present an improved procedure for fault simulation under themultiple observation time approach based on state expansion.Under state expansion, an incompletely specified state reachedduring fault simulation is replaced by 2{k} states, each one assigninga different combination to k unspecified present state variables.For each expanded state, additional output values are thenimplied. As a result, a fault that cannot be identified as detectedusing conventional simulation may now be identified as detected.The procedure proposed here enhances state expansion by backwardimplications to take advantage of every present state variablevalue specified under state expansion. As a result of usingbackward implications, fewer states need to be considered afterstate expansion, fewer state expansions are potentially neededfor every fault, and the number of faults that can be efficientlyconsidered is increased. Experimental results are presented tosupport these claims.
Novel pilot-based estimators for AF relaying channels using energy harvesting

Existing channel estimators for amplify-and-forward relaying often transmit pilots to the destination node by using the relay node's own energy. This extra energy consumption discourages the relay node from taking part in relaying. We propose two new estimators for amplify-and-forward relaying channels. In these estimators, the relay node harvests energy from the pilots sent by the source node first and then uses the harvested energy to forward the pilots from the source node as well as transmit its own pilots to the destination node. Both time-switching and power-splitting harvesting strategies are considered. The mean squared error is examined. Numerical results show that these new estimators have very good performances. They also show that optimum choices of certain system parameters exist.
Graphene and its Nanocomposites for Gas Sensing Applications

Graphene, an atomically-thick 2D film of sp-hybridized carbon atoms, has shown definite promise for next generation nanoelectronic devices In particular, graphene has drawn enormous attention as active material for sensors, due to very large specific surface area, exceptional electrical conductivity, good mechanical strength, chemical manipulability, thermal/environmental stability. These factors facilitate improved sensing response in terms of low detection limit (ppb level or even molecular level recognition), high sensitivity, fast response (small response/recovery time), high selectivity and stable performance. Formation of graphene based nanocomposites is expected to further push its sensing capabilities via cooperative effect of the phases. This chapter gives a brief introduction of gas sensors followed by details of graphene and graphene nanocomposites based sensors including synthesis techniques, properties and sensing mechanism. The later section provides a comprehensive account of their sensing performance backed by exhaustive literature examples. Finally, current challenges and future perspectives have been discussed.
Encoding-Specific Effects of Social Cognition on the Neural Correlates of Subsequent Memory

To examine whether social cognition recruits distinct mental operations, we measured brain activity during social (“form an impression of this person”) and relatively nonsocial (“remember the order in which person information is presented”) orienting tasks. Extending previous research on the neural basis of social cognition, the impression formation task differentially engaged an extensive region of the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (PFC). In contrast, the nonsocial sequencing task differentially engaged the superior frontal and parietal gyri, precentral gyrus, and the caudate. In addition, we compared encoding activations for subsequently remembered (i.e., hits) to subsequently forgotten (i.e., misses) items. The brain regions in which the blood oxygenation level-dependent signal distinguished subsequent hits from subsequent misses depended on which orienting task was performed at encoding: subsequent memory was correlated with encoding activity only in the medial PFC for impression formation trials but in the right hippocampus for sequencing trials. These data inform two interrelated cognitive issues. First, results underscore the neuroanatomical distinctiveness of social cognition and suggest that previous psychological theories may have neglected important functional differences in how the human brain instantiates social and nonsocial cognitive processes. Second, by demonstrating that activity in different brain regions correlates with subsequent memory as a function of the orienting task performed at encoding, these data provide evidence of the neural basis for encoding specificity, the principle that memory is critically determined by the cognitive process engaged by the initial study episode.
Interference Avoidance and Control

The throughput of a wireless network is often limited by interference caused by multiple concurrently active nodes . The conventional approach of using a “one-transmission-at a-time” MAC protocol to combat interference leads to a significant loss of achievable throughput compared to schemes such as interference cancellation that keep all transmitte rs active simultaneously. Unfortunately, interference canc ellation incurs significant computational complexity, and cann ot be implemented with commodity hardware. In this paper, we propose a practical approach for improving the throughput of interfering nodes using variable-wid th frequency allocation. We show that variable-width channel s provide significant theoretical capacity improvements, co mparable to interference cancellation for infrastructure n etworks. We design an algorithm that reduces interference by assigning orthogonal variable-width channels to transmit ters. We evaluate a prototype implementation of this algorithm on an outdoor wireless network with ten long-distance links configured into point-to-point and point-to-multipo nt topologies. We observe a throughput improvement of between 30% and 110% compared to the existing fixed-width channel allocation.
Parking Navigation and Payment System using IR Sensors and RFID Technology

The main problem in today’s crowded parking facility is congestion and finding a vacant parking space. In this paper, a navigation method is proposed that minimizes the parking time, based on collected real-time vacancy information of parking slots. In the proposed method, a central server in the parking facility collects the information (using IR sensors) and estimates the occupancy of each parking slots. Then, the server uses this information collected in real time to calculate the best suitable parking slot for the user upon request. This path is then sent to user’s smart-phone as response by the server which will then be displayed on an android application. This leads to the introduction of an eco-friendly payment system (using RFID technology), wherein no use of paper takes place. Automatic deduction of parking charge is taken care of on the server side, from users via RFID account and notification via SMS or Email is generated.
Obesity-Related Factors in Turkish School Children

Objective. To determine the prevalence of obesity and its risk factors in Turkish children. Method. This cross-sectional survey was conducted on students including 1271 boys and 1206 girls selected from 20 secondary schools in Samsun, Turkey. A predesigned questionnaire was used to elicit the information on individual characteristics. The height and weight of students were measured in their classroom. Obesity was defined as body mass index at or above the 95th percentile for age of the sex-specific CDC growth charts. Result. The mean age was 12.8 ± 0.9 years, and the prevalence of obesity was found at 10.3%. There were higher numbers of obese students in boys than in girls (X 2 = 53.4; P < 0.001). The prevalence of obesity was 10.0% and 16.8% in public and private school students, respectively. The percentage of obese children in students who skipped breakfast was found to be higher than that in the group that consumed 3 meals a day regularly. There was no difference at time spent in sedentary behavior except watching TV, and prevalence of obesity in the group of students watching television over 3 hours per day was higher than that in their counterparts (X 2 = 13.6; P < 0.01). The time of engagement in sports was lower in obese group statistically (F = 8.9; P < 0.001). Conclusion. In order to prevent childhood obesity, monitoring children's lifestyle by parents is necessary.
Agricultural Activities of a Meadow Eliminated Plant Litter from the Periphery of a Farmland in Inner Mongolia, China

The purpose of our investigation was to clarify the effects of agriculture on the process of loss of litter at the periphery of a farmland. This study revealed the generation process of an ecologically unusual phenomenon that is observed around cropland in semi-arid regions. We hypothesized that the vegetation around a farmland cannot supply plant litter to the ground surface because the ecological structure has been changed by agricultural activities. The study was conducted at Xilingol steppe, Xilingol League, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China. Four study lines were established from the edge of an arable field to the surrounding meadow and parallel to the wind direction during the strong wind season. Key measurement for each line was set at the border between the farmland and steppe. Four study sites were set at intervals along each line. Plant litter, soil particle size distribution, plant species composition, plant volume, and species diversity were investigated. Despite using the same mowing method at the meadows of all study sites, the litter at the only periphery of the farmland completely disappeared. Soil particle size distribution in steppe, which was adjacent to the farmland, was similar to that of the farmland. Plant community structure at the periphery of the farmland was different from that of the far side from the farmland. This implies that soil scattered from the farmland affected the species composition of the steppe. Consequently, the change in plant community structure induced litter loss because of mowing. We concluded that plant litter was lost near the farmland because of the combined effects of farming and mowing. The results support our hypothesis that the vegetation around a farmland cannot supply plant litter because the ecological structure has been changed by agricultural activities.
Modulation of functionally localized right insular cortex activity using real-time fMRI-based neurofeedback

The capacity for subjects to learn to volitionally control localized brain activity using neurofeedback is actively being investigated. We aimed to investigate the ability of healthy volunteers to quickly learn to use visual feedback during real-time functional MRI (rtfMRI) to modulate brain activity within their anterior right insular cortex (RIC) localized during a blink suppression task, an approach of possible interest in the use of rtfMRI to reduce urges. The RIC region of interest (RIC-ROI) was functionally localized using a blink suppression task, and blood-oxygen level dependent (BOLD) signal changes within RIC-ROI used to create a constantly updating display fed back to the subject in the scanner. Subjects were instructed to use emotional imagery to try and increase activity within RIC-ROI during four feedback training runs (FB1–FB4). A “control” run (CNTRL) before training and a “transfer” run (XSFR) after training were performed without feedback to assess for baseline abilities and learning effects. Fourteen participants completed all neurofeedback training runs. At the group-level, increased BOLD activity was seen in the anterior RIC during all the FB runs, but a significant increase in the functionally defined RIC-ROI was only attained during FB2. In atlas-defined insular cortex ROIs, significant increases were seen bilaterally during the CNTRL, FB1, FB2, and FB4 runs. Increased activity within the insular cortices did not show lateralization. Training did, however, result in a significant increase in functional connectivity between the RIC-ROI and the medial frontal gyrus when comparing FB4 to FB1. Since neurofeedback training did not lead to an increase in BOLD signal across all feedback runs, we suggest that learning to control one’s brain activity in this fashion may require longer or repeated rtfMRI training sessions.
Serum Adiponectin Is Associated with Worsened Overall Survival in a Prospective Cohort of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide. The rise in metabolic syndrome has contributed to this trend. Adipokines, such as adiponectin, are associated with prognosis in several cancers, but have not been well studied in HCC. Methods: We prospectively enrolled 140 patients with newly diagnosed or recurrent HCC with Child-Pugh (CP) class A or B cirrhosis. We examined associations between serum adipokines, clinicopathological features of HCC, and time to death. We also examined a subset of tumors with available pathology for tissue adiponectin receptor (AR) expression by immunohistochemistry. Results: The median age of subjects was 62 years; 79% were men, 59% had underlying hepatitis C, and 36% were diabetic. Adiponectin remained a significant predictor of time to death (hazard ratio 1.90; 95% confidence interval 1.05-3.45; p = 0.03) in a multivariable adjusted model that included age, alcohol history, CP class, stage, and serum E-fetoprotein level. Cytoplasmic AR expression (AR1 and AR2) in tumors trended higher in those with higher serum adiponectin levels and in those with diabetes mellitus, but the association was not statistically significant. Conclusions: In this hypothesis-generating study, we found the serum adiponectin level to be an independent predictor of overall survival in a diverse cohort of HCC patients. Impact: Understanding how adipokines affect the HCC outcome may help develop novel treatment and prevention strategies. i 2014 S. Karger AG, Basel
Regulation of limb patterning by extracellular microfibrils

To elucidate the contribution of the extracellular microfibril–elastic fiber network to vertebrate organogenesis, we generated fibrillin 2 (Fbn2)–null mice by gene targeting and identified a limb-patterning defect in the form of bilateral syndactyly. Digit fusion involves both soft and hard tissues, and is associated with reduced apoptosis at affected sites. Two lines of evidence suggest that syndactily is primarily due to defective mesenchyme differentiation, rather than reduced apoptosis of interdigital tissue. First, fusion occurs before appearance of interdigital cell death; second, interdigital tissues having incomplete separation fail to respond to apoptotic clues from implanted BMP-4 beads. Syndactyly is associated with a disorganized matrix, but with normal BMP gene expression. On the other hand, mice double heterozygous for null Fbn2 and Bmp7 alleles display the combined digit phenotype of both nullizygotes. Together, these results imply functional interaction between Fbn2-rich microfibrils and BMP-7 signaling. As such, they uncover an unexpected relationship between the insoluble matrix and soluble factors during limb patterning. We also demonstrate that the Fbn2- null mutation is allelic to the recessive shaker-with-syndactyly (sy) locus on chromosome 18.
Antimicrobial nisin acts against saliva derived multi-species biofilms without cytotoxicity to human oral cells

Objectives: Nisin is a lantibiotic widely used for the preservation of food and beverages. Recently, investigators have reported that nisin may have clinical applications for treating bacterial infections. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of ultra pure food grade Nisin ZP (>95% purity) on taxonomically diverse bacteria common to the human oral cavity and saliva derived multi-species oral biofilms, and to discern the toxicity of nisin against human cells relevant to the oral cavity. Methods: The minimum inhibitory concentrations and minimum bactericidal concentrations of taxonomically distinct oral bacteria were determined using agar and broth dilution methods. To assess the effects of nisin on biofilms, two model systems were utilized: a static and a controlled flow microfluidic system. Biofilms were inoculated with pooled human saliva and fed filter-sterilized saliva for 20–22 h at 37°C. Nisin effects on cellular apoptosis and proliferation were evaluated using acridine orange/ethidium bromide fluorescent nuclear staining and lactate dehydrogenase activity assays. Results: Nisin inhibited planktonic growth of oral bacteria at low concentrations (2.5–50 μg/ml). Nisin also retarded development of multi-species biofilms at concentrations ≥1 μg/ml. Specifically, under biofilm model conditions, nisin interfered with biofilm development and reduced biofilm biomass and thickness in a dose-dependent manner. The treatment of pre-formed biofilms with nisin resulted in dose- and time-dependent disruption of the biofilm architecture along with decreased bacterial viability. Human cells relevant to the oral cavity were unaffected by the treatment of nisin at anti-biofilm concentrations and showed no signs of apoptotic changes unless treated with much higher concentrations (>200 μg/ml). Conclusion: This work highlights the potential therapeutic value of high purity food grade nisin to inhibit the growth of oral bacteria and the development of biofilms relevant to oral diseases.
Tribological Behavior of Ti3SiC2-based Material

The wear and friction properties of Ti3SiC2-based materials were studied using the pin-on-disc method. The friction coefficient of Ti3SiC2-based material was not very sensitive to normal load, the steady state value, p, increased from 0.4 to 0.5 when the normal load increased from 7.7 N to 14.7 N. The wear volume for Ti3SiC2 disc increased with increasing normal load or sliding distance in the tests. The average wear rate of Ti3SiC2-based material was 9.9X10(-5) mm(3)/Nm. The debris on the Ti3SiC2 disc was essentially made up of Ti3SiC2 and steel pin materials, while the debris on the steel sliders was generally pip material. The wear mechanism was concluded as the fracture and delamination of Ti3SiC2-based materials followed by adhesive wear of steel sliders.
Integrative Neuroscience Review Article Saccade-related Activity in the Prefrontal Cortex: Its Role in Eye Movement Control and Cognitive Functions

Prefrontal neurons exhibit saccade-related activity and pre-saccadic memory-related activity often encodes the directions of forthcoming eye movements, in line with demonstrated prefrontal contribution to flexible control of voluntary eye movements. However, many prefrontal neurons exhibit post-saccadic activity that is initiated well after the initiation of eye movement. Although post-saccadic activity has been observed in the frontal eye field, this activity is thought to be a corollary discharge from oculomotor centers, because this activity shows no directional tuning and is observed whenever the monkeys perform eye movements regardless of goal-directed or not. However, prefrontal post-saccadic activities exhibit directional tunings similar as pre-saccadic activities and show context dependency, such that post-saccadic activity is observed only when monkeys perform goal-directed saccades. Context-dependency of prefrontal post-saccadic activity suggests that this activity is not a result of corollary signals from oculomotor centers, but contributes to other functions of the prefrontal cortex. One function might be the termination of memory-related activity after a behavioral response is done. This is supported by the observation that the termination of memory-related activity coincides with the initiation of post-saccadic activity in population analyses of prefrontal activities. The termination of memory-related activity at the end of the trial ensures that the subjects can prepare to receive new and updated information. Another function might be the monitoring of behavioral performance, since the termination of memory-related activity by post-saccadic activity could be associated with informing the correctness of the response and the termination of the trial. However, further studies are needed to examine the characteristics of saccade-related activities in the prefrontal cortex and their functions in eye movement control and a variety of cognitive functions.
Distinct profiles of functional discrimination among G proteins determine the actions of G protein–coupled receptors

Screening G protein–coupling specificities reveals unexpectedly diverse signaling pathways for individual GPCRs and their ligands. Fingerprinting GPCRs G protein–coupled receptors (GPCRs) influence most aspects of physiology and are targeted by many clinically used drugs. The physiological functions of this large family of proteins are thought to be mediated by highly specific G protein interactions (see the Focus by Smrcka). Masuho et al. devised a bioluminescence-based assay in transfected cells to examine the G protein–coupling specificities of different GPCRs for 13 different G proteins, generating fingerprint-like profiles for each receptor. These assays revealed unexpected use of G proteins by certain GPCRs, biased G protein usage by a given GPCR in response to different agonists, and G protein activation by a ligand thought to be an antagonist, findings that were verified in relevant cells. Given the clinical importance of this family of receptors, assays such as this one aid in understanding the physiological effects of currently used drugs, as well as in designing better therapeutics and limiting their potential side effects. Members of the heterotrimeric guanine nucleotide–binding protein (G protein)–coupled receptor (GPCR) family play key roles in many physiological functions and are extensively exploited pharmacologically to treat diseases. Many of the diverse effects of individual GPCRs on cellular physiology are transduced by heterotrimeric G proteins, which are composed of α, β, and γ subunits. GPCRs interact with and stimulate the binding of guanosine triphosphate (GTP) to the α subunit to initiate signaling. Mammalian genomes encode 16 different G protein α subunits, each one of which has distinct properties. We developed a single-platform, optical strategy to monitor G protein activation in live cells. With this system, we profiled the coupling ability of individual GPCRs for different α subunits, simultaneously quantifying the magnitude of the signal and the rates at which the receptors activated the G proteins. We found that individual receptors engaged multiple G proteins with varying efficacy and kinetics, generating fingerprint-like profiles. Different classes of GPCR ligands, including full and partial agonists, allosteric modulators, and antagonists, distinctly affected these fingerprints to functionally bias GPCR signaling. Finally, we showed that intracellular signaling modulators further altered the G protein–coupling profiles of GPCRs, which suggests that their differential abundance may alter signaling outcomes in a cell-specific manner. These observations suggest that the diversity of the effects of GPCRs on cellular physiology may be determined by their differential engagement of multiple G proteins, coupling to which produces signals with varying signal magnitudes and activation kinetics, properties that may be exploited pharmacologically.