Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Application of a New Iridium Complex as a Chemiluminescence Reagent for the Determination of Tryptophan

It was found that a novel iridium complex, [(dpci)_2Ir(bvbbi)](PF_6) (dpci = 3,4-diphenylcinnoline, bvbbi = N , N ′-bivinyester-^1 H ,^1′ H -[2,2’] bibenzimidazole), with Ce(IV) in the presence of sodium sulfite can induce a great chemiluminescence (CL) emission. More importantly, a rapid and sensitive CL method for the determination of tryptophan coupled with a flow-injection analysis (FIA) technique has been developed based on the inhibition effect of the tryptophan to the CL emission of [(dpci)_2Ir(bvbbi)](PF_6)-Ce(IV)-SO_3^2− system. Under the optimum conditions, the decreased CL intensity is proportional with the concentration of tryptophan in the range of 5.0 × 10^−7 to 2.0 × 10^−5 mol L^−1, and the detection limit is 8.2 × 10^−8 mol L^−1 (3 σ ). The relative standard deviation (RSD) for 11 parallel measurements of 1.0 × 10^−5 mol L^−1 tryptophan is 2.7%. The proposed method has been applied successfully for the determination of tryptophan in its pharmaceutical formulations. Moreover, the possible inhibition mechanism of tryptophan on [(dpci)_2Ir(bvbbi)](PF_6)-Ce(IV)-SO_3^2− CL system was briefly discussed.
Una cala en el lenguaje político español: análisis lingüístico de un discurso parlamentario

Despite the large amount of academic works on the study of political language, most of them have not been focused on its shape, that is, in its language, but in its rhetoric, in other words, in its effects. Nevertheless, for the last years there has been an interest on lin- guistic aspects such as metaphor, deixis, polyphony or syntax which allows to present a wideview of nowadays political language in several languages, e.g. Spanish. Based on some ideas concerning linguistic properties of political language (not only on lexical aspects, which has aroused more interest than any other), the aim of this work is to analyse the ones of a brief parliamentary speech in certain detail. The linguistic analysis is mainly descriptive, not forgetting normative or stylistic elements, and focused on lexical, syntactic and discursive aspects.
TapSix: A Palm-Worn Glove with a Low-Cost Camera Sensor that Turns a Tactile Surface into a Six-Key Chorded Keyboard by Detection Finger Taps

ABSTRACT TapSix is a one-handed wearable keyboard that enables typing in situations where using a keyboard is not possible. It detects finger taps on six virtual keys on a tactile surface while users can type without paying visual attention to their fingers. Its unique palm-worn design provides the stable view of all five fingers for the low-cost camera sensor, even when there is unusual motion in the upper limb. The captured image is processed using the proposed algorithm that both robustly detects finger taps on keys using only geometric features and measures the distance between each finger and the tactile surface. A new letter-to-tap mapping that fully utilizes the six keys in light of learnability, anatomical comfort, and algorithm accuracy is also proposed. We demonstrate the utility of TapSix in a virtual reality environment and evaluate the algorithm’s accuracy, typing performance, and user acceptance by comparing it with three commercial virtual reality interfaces.
Ischemic Stroke

Each year, more than 795,000 people in the United States suffer a stroke and by 2030, it is estimated that 4% of the U.S. population will have had a stroke. Home healthcare clinicians will be increasingly called upon to assist stroke survivors and their caregivers adjust to disability and assist the survivor during their reintegration into the community. Therapeutic modalities are changing with advanced technology. Great strides are being made in the treatment of acute stroke; particularly endovascular interventions. More patients are surviving the acute stroke event and therefore will need to learn how to live with various degrees of disability. It is important for home healthcare clinicians to understand the process from acute event to medical stabilization, and from rehabilitation to long-term adaptation.
Pilot symbol based channel estimation and capacity evaluation in FBMC and OFDM

This paper presents pilot symbol aided channel estimation in Filter Bank Multicarrier (FBMC). FBMC has been employed widespread in communication applications because of its good spectral behaviors. Unlike Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing, FBMC structure avoids imaginary interference. So that auxiliary symbols are employed and decrease peak to power ratio and improve achievable capacity. OFDM and FBMC are compared about achievable of channel estimation with pilot symbols. The achievable capacity is increased with linear precoding by interference cancellation. Using two or three auxiliary pilot symbols instead of one is purposed and achievable capacity via Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) is compared. OFDM and FBMC with coding and auxiliary symbols are discussed about capacity and numerical results are realized in Matlab.
Universal Switched-Capacitor Converter for DC-DC, AC-DC, and DC-AC Applications

There exist many types and configurations of switched-capacitor converters. However, they are mainly designed for specific applications such as DC-DC or DC-AC (multilevel converters) power conversions. Consequently, they are inapplicable in situations that require multi-applications. A better alternative would be to develop SC converters that are of multi-functions. Different types of power conversions can be achieved by a generalized SC converter, and is possible to fabricate the proposed converter into an IC package. The manufacturing cost can be further reduced through a mass production process. Nevertheless, fundamental studies and clarifications on the feasibility of the idea are still required as relevant literature are not reported. In this work, a preliminary study on a universal SC converter is presented. By programming the control sequence of power switches, the proposed converter is capable of achieving DC-DC, AC-DC, and DC-AC power conversions, while having the properties of bi-directional power flow and variable conversion ratios. The detailed explanations of its circuit operations, control methodology, and basic design procedures, are discussed. Experimental results are included to verify the feasibility of the proposed converter for low voltage applications.
New Hexagonal Three-Phase Voltage-Source Converter Topology for High-Power Applications

This paper presents a voltage-source converter (VSC) topology for high-power applications. This topology combines three three-phase converters with isolated dc buses. The proposed topology can be implemented by using two-level or multilevel three-phase converters. In this paper, three three-level neutral-point-clamped (3L-NPC) converters have been combined. Two zero-sequence blocking transformers (ZSBTs) are used to interconnect the three converters. In order to validate the good performance of the proposed VSC topology, two modulation techniques are implemented: phase-shifted carrier pulsewidth modulation (PSCPWM) and selective harmonic elimination (SHE) modulation. The VSC topology has been simulated in the simulation tool Saber, and the results have been validated experimentally in a test bench of 60 kVA.
Differences in Baseline Characteristics and Outcomes at 1- and 2-Year Follow-up of Cancer Survivors Accrued via Self-Referral versus Cancer Registry in the FRESH START Diet and Exercise Trial

Participant accrual to research studies is a challenge; oftentimes, advertisements are used to supplement cases ascertained through clinic caseloads and cancer registries. It is unknown, however, if cases ascertained through these two sources differ. In this study, we compared self-referred (n = 209) and registry-ascertained (n = 334) participants enrolled in FRESH START, a randomized controlled trial promoting a healthy diet and increased exercise among breast and prostate cancer survivors. The two groups were compared on baseline characteristics, adherence, attrition, and outcomes by study arm. Compared with participants enrolled from registries, self-referrals were significantly younger (54.1 ± 10.4 versus 58.7 ± 10.7 years), more likely to have later-stage disease and to have received chemotherapy (40% versus 19%), and more likely to report “fighting spirit” coping styles (50% versus 30%), lower quality-of-life (88.2 ± 15.1 versus 92.0 ± 12.9), fewer comorbid conditions (1.87 ± 1.60 versus 2.24 ± 1.78), and lower consumption of five or more daily servings of fruits and vegetables (35% versus 45%; P values <0.05). Although no differences in behavior change were observed between self-referred and registry-ascertained cases assigned to the tailored intervention arm, this was not the case within the attention control arm. Among those who received the attention control intervention of standardized materials in the public domain, self-referred versus registry-ascertained participants showed significantly greater increases in exercise at 1-year follow-up and significantly greater increases in fruit and vegetable consumption at both 1- and 2-year follow-up (P values <0.05). Several differences exist between self-referred and registry-ascertained participants, including motivation to respond to standardized educational materials, which appears significantly greater in self-referred populations. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2008;17(5):1288–94)
A β-Tubulin Mutation Selectively Uncouples Nuclear Division and Cytokinesis in Tetrahymena thermophila

ABSTRACT The ciliated protozoan Tetrahymena thermophila contains two distinct nuclei within a single cell—the mitotic micronucleus and the amitotic macronucleus. Although microtubules are required for proper division of both nuclei, macronuclear chromosomes lack centromeres and the role of microtubules in macronuclear division has not been established. Here we describe nuclear division defects in cells expressing a mutant β-tubulin allele that confers hypersensitivity to the microtubule-stabilizing drug paclitaxel. Macronuclear division is profoundly affected by the btu1-1 (K350M) mutation, producing cells with widely variable DNA contents, including cells that lack macronuclei entirely. Protein expressed by the btu1-1 allele is dominant over wild-type protein expressed by the BTU2 locus. Normal macronuclear division is restored when the btu1-1 allele is inactivated by targeted disruption or expressed as a truncated protein. Immunofluorescence studies reveal elongated microtubular structures that surround macronuclei that fail to migrate to the cleavage furrows. In contrast, other cytoplasmic microtubule-dependent processes, such as cytokinesis, cortical patterning, and oral apparatus assembly, appear to be unaffected in the mutant. Micronuclear division is also perturbed in the K350M mutant, producing nuclei with elongated early-anaphase spindle configurations that persist well after the initiation of cytokinesis. The K350M mutation affects tubulin dynamics, as the macronuclear division defect is exacerbated by three treatments that promote microtubule polymerization: (i) elevated temperatures, (ii) sublethal concentrations of paclitaxel, and (iii) high concentrations of dimethyl sulfoxide. Inhibition of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase) with 3-methyladenine or wortmannin also induces amacronucleate cell formation in a btu1-1-dependent manner. Conversely, the myosin light chain kinase inhibitor ML-7 has no effect on nuclear division in the btu1-1 mutant strain. These findings provide new insights into microtubule dynamics and link the evolutionarily conserved PI 3-kinase signaling pathway to nuclear migration and/or division in Tetrahymena.
Comparative Protein Expression in Different Strains of the Bloom-forming Cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa*

Toxin production in algal blooms presents a significant problem for the water industry. Of particular concern is microcystin, a potent hepatotoxin produced by the unicellular freshwater species Microcystis aeruginosa. In this study, the proteomes of six toxic and nontoxic strains of M. aeruginosa were analyzed to gain further knowledge in elucidating the role of microcystin production in this microorganism. This represents the first comparative proteomic study in a cyanobacterial species. A large diversity in the protein expression profiles of each strain was observed, with a significant proportion of the identified proteins appearing to be strain-specific. In total, 475 proteins were identified reproducibly and of these, 82 comprised the core proteome of M. aeruginosa. The expression of several hypothetical and unknown proteins, including four possible operons was confirmed. Surprisingly, no proteins were found to be produced only by toxic or nontoxic strains. Quantitative proteome analysis using the label-free normalized spectrum abundance factor approach revealed nine proteins that were differentially expressed between toxic and nontoxic strains. These proteins participate in carbon-nitrogen metabolism and redox balance maintenance and point to an involvement of the global nitrogen regulator NtcA in toxicity. In addition, the switching of a previously inactive toxin-producing strain to microcystin synthesis is reported.
Effects of changes in electricity price on electricity demand and resulting effects on manufacturing output

Many countries are interested in reducing electricity consumption in connection with that the electricity demand has been increasing in recent years. Price control is often used as a method of controlling electricity demand in the short-term. However, even if price control causes to decrease in electricity use, the decrease in electricity demand results in a decrease in economic activity as electricity use plays a role in one of input factors. In this respect, this research analyze how changes in electricity price influence electricity demand, and how subsequent changes in electricity demand change production of manufacturing output, focusing particularly on how these relationships change over space. In this paper, we use the simultaneous equation based on Generalized spatial two-stage least squares model (GS2SLS) to examine the interrelationship among electricity demand, economic output, and electricity price. By assessing these relationships in one modeling framework, we evaluate electricity-price scenarios to help policymakers about electricity price decisions.
The impact of taxes and regulations on firm births and deaths in state border counties

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the influence of the institutional environment on firm birth and death rates. It is hypothesized that high taxation levels, large government size, high levels of unionization and high minimum wages will be associated with relatively low firm birth and death rates. Design/methodology/approach – This study makes use of a set of custom tabulations from the US Census Bureau that contain data on county-level firm births and deaths. To account for differences in state policies, matched contiguous counties located on state borders are used to calculate matched birth and death ratios. Findings – In the sample of eastern US state border counties, state taxation levels and minimum wages had no significant relationship with firm birth rates, but there was a negative relationship between state union densities and firm birth rates. Both state education and public welfare expenditures were marginally negatively related to firm birth rates. State public welfare expenditu.
An Experiment on Cognitive Remediation of Word-Reading Difficulty

Cognitive remediation of decoding deficit was attempted by following a theoretically based program. The theory identifies four major cognitive processes: Planning, Attention, Simultaneous, and Successive (PASS) processing. The PASS Remedial Program (PREP) provides 10 structured tasks that are aimed at developing internalized strategies for mainly successive processes (6 tasks) and simultaneous processes (4 tasks); deficits in either of the two may lead to poor decoding. Through its “global process” training and curriculum-related “bridging” training, PREP facilitates application of internalized strategies arrived at inductively for learning word decoding and spelling; it does not provide direct teaching of rules or exercises. To test the efficacy of PREP, we divided 51 children with decoding difficulties in Grade 4 into two groups: PREP (both global and bridging) and no treatment. In the second part of the study, children from the no-treatment group received either the global or the bridging part of PREP. The relative efficacy of training was tested by pre- and posttests of performance on a standard word-decoding test (the WRMT-R), as well as on some cognitive tests (e.g., the CAS). The largest improvement in word decoding occurred for the PREP combined global and bridging treatment. The mechanism through which PREP improves word reading is discussed, as is the use of PREP for children at risk of developing dyslexia.
Quantile regression with interval data

Abstract This paper investigates the identification of quantiles and quantile regression parameters when observations are set valued. We define the identification set of quantiles of random sets in a way that extends the definition of quantiles for regular random variables. We then give sharp characterization of this set by extending concepts from random set theory. Applying the identification set of quantiles and its sharpness to parametric quantile regression models yields the identification set of the parameters and its sharpness. We apply our methods to data on localized environmental benefits and their impact on house values.
A unified approach of control performance evaluation and PID controller design in industrial process systems

In the challenge to manufacture high quality products it is necessary to regularly monitor performance of control loops that. regulate the quality variables of interest. This paper describes a unified approach of the control performance and the PID controller design which are based on the above control strategy. According to the proposed approach, the control performance is first monitored regularly. If the performance exceeds a user-defined threshold, the system identification is initiated and PID parameters are subsequently updated for the new model. Optimal PID parameters are calculated based on the LQG trade-off curve obtained for the re-identified process model. The behavior of the proposed scheme is evaluated by applying for real chemical processes.
Temporal complexity within a translational control element in the nanos mRNA

Translational control of gene expression plays a fundamental role in the early development of many organisms. In Drosophila, selective translation of nanos mRNA localized to the germ plasm at the posterior of the embryo, together with translational repression of nanos in the bulk cytoplasm, is essential for development of the anteroposterior body pattern. We show that both components to spatial control of nanos translation initiate during oogenesis and that translational repression is initially independent of Smaug, an embryonic repressor of nanos. Repression during oogenesis and embryogenesis are mediated by distinct stem loops within the nanos 3′ untranslated region; the Smaug-binding stem-loop acts strictly in the embryo, whereas a second stem-loop functions in the oocyte. Thus, independent regulatory modules with temporally distinct activities contribute to spatial regulation of nanos translation. We propose that nanos evolved to exploit two different stage-specific translational regulatory mechanisms.
A Macroeconomic Perspective on Evaluating Environmental Regulations

This article examines how dynamic general equilibrium models and methods that are commonly used to evaluate macroeconomic policies can also be useful for evaluating the aggregate consequences of environmental regulations. I describe two macroeconomic models of interest that differ in the extent to which they incorporate heterogeneity and microeconomic detail. I illustrate how standard methods from macroeconomics can be applied in both models by considering calculations for a hypothetical environmental regulation.
A Bio-Inspired Multi-Exposure Fusion Framework for Low-light Image Enhancement

Low-light images are not conducive to human observation and computer vision algorithms due to their low visibility. Although many image enhancement techniques have been proposed to solve this problem, existing methods inevitably introduce contrast under- and over-enhancement. Inspired by human visual system, we design a multi-exposure fusion framework for low-light image enhancement. Based on the framework, we propose a dual-exposure fusion algorithm to provide an accurate contrast and lightness enhancement. Specifically, we first design the weight matrix for image fusion using illumination estimation techniques. Then we introduce our camera response model to synthesize multi-exposure images. Next, we find the best exposure ratio so that the synthetic image is well-exposed in the regions where the original image is under-exposed. Finally, the enhanced result is obtained by fusing the input image and the synthetic image according to the weight matrix. Experiments show that our method can obtain results with less contrast and lightness distortion compared to that of several state-of-the-art methods.
Reduced cubature Kalman filtering applied to target tracking

In a recent paper, a new discrete-time Bayesian filter, named the cubature Kalman filter (CKF), was derived. To reduce the complexity of the filter, we propose in this paper to combine the CKF with the linear Kalman filter, when either the process equation or the measurement equation is linear. The resulting filter is referred to as the Reduced CKF (RCKF). It is here applied to the problem of tracking in Cartesian coordinates a moving object whose state can be modeled by a linear dynamic equation, but whose measurement equation is non linear, due to the fact that the measurements represent position measurements in polar coordinates. The simulations results show that, in terms of root Mean Square Error (RMSE), the RCKF and CKF have the same performance, but the processing time of the RCKF is lower than that of the CKF.
The Role of Neuroticism in the Maintenance of Chronic Baseline Stress Perception and Negative Affect

Abstract The influence of neuroticism on stress perception and its associated negative affect is explored in a quasi-experimental repeated measure study. The study involves manipulating the stress perception and affect of high N group (n = 24) and low N group (n = 28) three times; first, through exposure to neutral stimuli; second, through exposure to a laboratory stressor; third, through exposure to positive stimuli. The results reveal that after exposure to neutral stimuli, there is a significant difference in the baseline Perceived Stress Scores (PSS) (p = .005) and Negative Affect (NA) scores (p = .001) of the two groups. During the stress task, however, both groups show a non-significant difference in the PSS (p = .200) and NA scores (p = .367). After exposure to positive stimuli, there is a significant difference in the PSS scores (p = .001), but a non-significant difference in the NA scores (p = .661) of the two groups. When compared across three conditions, the high N group report significantly higher perceived stress (p = .002), but not significantly higher negative affect (p = .123) than the low N group. Finally for both PSS and NA scores, there is no interaction between neuroticism and any of the three treatment conditions (p = .176; p = .338, respectively). This study shows that the high N group may be at risk for health disparities due to maintaining a chronic higher baseline stress perception and negative affect state under neutral conditions, than the low N group. Implications of the study are discussed.