Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The design of shape interactions using motion constraints

In this paper we examine an approach to the visualization, analysis and design of functional shape interactions represented as motion constraints in configuration space. A graphical constraint representation, together with a set of computational tools we have developed, permits a designer to visualize and directly manipulate motion constraints in order to achieve desired functional properties. The resulting system has been implemented and applied to the analysis and design of a set of orienting, fixturing and assembly devices for the automated assembly of planar parts. <<ETX>>
Alix, Making a Link between Apoptosis-Linked Gene-2, the Endosomal Sorting Complexes Required for Transport, and Neuronal Death In Vivo

Alix/apoptosis-linked gene-2 (ALG-2)-interacting protein X is an adaptor protein involved in the regulation of the endolysosomal system through binding to endophilins and to endosomal sorting complexes required for transport (ESCRT) proteins, TSG101 and CHMP4b. It was first characterized as an interactor of ALG-2, a calcium-binding protein necessary for cell death, and several observations suggest a role for Alix in controlling cell death. We used electroporation in the chick embryo to test whether overexpressed wild-type or mutated Alix proteins influence cell death in vivo. We show that Alix overexpression is sufficient to induce cell death of neuroepithelial cells. This effect is strictly dependent on its capacity to bind to ALG-2. On the other hand, expression of Alix mutants lacking the ALG-2 or the CHMP4b binding sites prevents early programmed cell death in cervical motoneurons at day 4.5 of chick embryo development. This protection afforded by Alix mutants was abolished after deletion of the TSG101, but not of the endophilin, binding sites. Our results suggest that the interaction of the ALG-2/Alix complex with ESCRT proteins is necessary for naturally occurring death of motoneurons. Therefore, Alix represents a molecular link between the endolysosomal system and the cell death machinery.
Module packing based on the BSG-structure and IC layout applications

A new method of packing the rectangles is proposed with applications to integrated circuit (IC) layout design. A special work-sheet, called the bounded-sliceline grid, is introduced. It consists of special segments that dissect the plane into rooms to which binary relations "right-of" and "above" are associated such that any two rooms are uniquely in either relation. A packing is obtained through an assignment of the modules into the rooms followed by a compaction procedure. Changing the assignments by swapping the contents of two rooms, a simulated annealing strategy is implemented to search for a good packing. Empirical results show that hundreds of rectangles are packed with a quite good quality in area efficiency. A wide adaptability is demonstrated specific to IC layout design. Ideas to handle a multilayer, nonrectangular chips with L-shaped modules are suggested.
Promoter mapping and selection of operator mutants by using insertion of bacteriophage Mu in the argECBH divergent operon of Escherichia coli K-12

The analysis of a large number of Arg mutants obtained by inserting phage Mu in the argECBH cluster of genes confirmed the "facing" arrangement proposed earlier for the promoters of argE (argEp) and argCBH (argCBHp) and clarified remaining ambiguities regarding the localization of argEp. Casadaban and Cohen's Mu d lac phages (M. Casadaban and S. N. Cohen, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 76:4530-4533, 1979) were used to construct strains where either an intact or a truncated lacZ gene was fused to argC or argB. Several operator-constitutive mutations could be selected for in such strains; the mutations affected both arms of the cluster, thereby defining one common operator region for both directions of transcription.
Incidence and risk factors of HCV and HIV infections in a cohort of intravenous drug users in the North and East of France

In order to evaluate the incidence and risk factors of infection by hepatitis C virus (HCV) among injecting drug users (IDUs), we conducted a prospective cohort study of HCV- and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-negative IDUs in the North and East of France. A total of 231 HCV and HIV IDUs who had injected drugs at least once in their lifetime were followed up every 3 months over a 12-month period. Serum anti-HCV and anti-HIV were tested at inclusion in the study and at the end of the follow-up. Data on injecting practices were collected at inclusion and at each visit. Of the 231 participants included, 165 (71·4%) underwent a final HCV and HIV serum test. The incidence was nil for HIV infection and 9/100 person-years (95% CI 4·6–13·4) for HCV infection. In a multivariable analysis, we found that syringe and cotton sharing were the only independent predictive factors of HCV seroconversion.
Electronic transport properties of graphene doped by gallium

In this work we present the effect of low dose gallium (Ga) deposition (<4 ML) performed in UHV (10−7 Pa) on the electronic doping and charge carrier scattering in graphene grown by chemical vapor deposition. In situ graphene transport measurements performed with a graphene field-effect transistor structure show that at low Ga coverages a graphene layer tends to be strongly n-doped with an efficiency of 0.64 electrons per one Ga atom, while the further deposition and Ga cluster formation results in removing electrons from graphene (less n-doping). The experimental results are supported by the density functional theory calculations and explained as a consequence of distinct interaction between graphene and Ga atoms in case of individual atoms, layers, or clusters.
Enhanced Flat-Top Band-Rejection Filter Based on Reflective Helical Long-Period Fiber Gratings

A simple and robust method to produce a flat-top band-rejection filter with a strongly enhanced rejection depth is proposed and first demonstrated in experiment, which is realized based on the utilization of two consecutively cascaded helical long-period fiber gratings and work in the reflective direction. As a result of the proposed method, a flat-top filter with a rejection depth larger than 34 dB and a bandwidth of ~15 nm at 2 dB has been successfully obtained.
Compensation of Integrated Resonant and Time Delay System by Using Wave Compensator

Recently, teleoperated robots have been researched for working in ultimate environment actively. Developing performance of teleoperated robots, it will be possible for human to work in such a ultimate environment with safety. However, in the actual case, a flexible mechanism caused by the mechanical constraint such as weight saving of robot, using gear, and so on, induces vibration. Moreover, a communication delay causes vibration, too. In addition, in the worst case, the delay makes the control system unstable. Therefore, in this paper, for suppressing the vibration, compensation of integrated resonant and time-delay systems by using a wave compensator is proposed. In the proposal, there are two important control structures. Firstly, a reflected wave in the resonant system is eliminated by a reflected wave rejection. A transfer function of wave equation without the reflected wave is represented as a time delay. Therefore, a resonant system without a reflected wave can be regarded as an equivalent time-delay system. Next, it is defined that an effect of time delay from resonant and communication systems is caused by a time-delay disturbance. Then, vibrations from resonant and communication delays are simultaneously suppressed by the wave compensator. Finally, the validity of the proposal is verified by simulation and experimental results.
Assessing the Value of Weekly Full Blood Counts in Patients with Gynecological Cancers Receiving Weekly Carboplatin/Paclitaxel Chemotherapy

Background: Dose dense carboplatin and paclitaxel regimens are increasingly being used to treat advanced serous gynaecological malignancies (ovary and uterus) in the adjuvant and relapse setting. The purpose of this study was to quantify the incidence of neutropenia and thrombocytopenia in patients receiving weekly Carboplatin and Paclitaxel (wCP) or Carboplatin q21 with weekly Paclitaxel (CwP) and more specifically the incidence of clinically significant myelosuppression – neutropenic sepsis or thrombocytopenia requiring intervention such as platelet transfusion. Our overall aim being to determine if routine blood counts are really necessary on days 8 and 15 of a wCP 21/28 day cycle or CwP 21 day cycle. Results: We analysed haematological data for 56 patients, 24 of whom had wCP and received 179 planned infusions and 32 of whom had CwP and received 407 planned infusions. The incidence of >G3 neutropenia in the group receiving wCP was 2.8% (5/179), the incidence of >G3 thrombocytopenia was 1.8% (3/179). Patients receiving CwP had an incidence of >G3 neutropenia and >G3 thrombocytopenia of 0.7% (3/407). Notably, there was only one case of febrile neutropenia, incidence of 0.2% (1/407). Conclusion: Gynaecological patients receiving either wCP or CwP regimens do not require routine full blood counts on day 8 and 15. This allows a more cost effective and efficient route of chemotherapy delivery for both patients and staff.
Loss of Otx2 in the Adult Retina Disrupts Retinal Pigment Epithelium Function, Causing Photoreceptor Degeneration

Photoreceptors are specialized neurons of the retina that receive nursing from the adjacent retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). Frequent in the elderly, photoreceptor loss can originate from primary dysfunction of either cell type. Despite intense interest in the etiology of these diseases, early molecular actors of late-onset photoreceptor degeneration remain elusive, mostly because of the lack of dedicated models. Conditional Otx2 ablation in the adult mouse retina elicits photoreceptor degeneration, providing a new model of late-onset neuronal disease. Here, we use this model to identify the earliest events after Otx2 ablation. Electroretinography and gene expression analyses suggest a nonautonomous, RPE-dependent origin for photoreceptor degeneration. This is confirmed by RPE-specific ablation of Otx2, which results in similar photoreceptor degeneration. In contrast, constitutive Otx2 expression in RPE cells prevents degeneration of photoreceptors in Otx2-ablated retinas. We use chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by massive sequencing (ChIP-seq) analysis to identify the molecular network controlled in vivo by Otx2 in RPE cells. We uncover four RPE-specific functions coordinated by Otx2 that underpin the cognate photoreceptor degeneration. Many direct Otx2 target genes are associated with human retinopathies, emphasizing the significance of the model. Importantly, we report a secondary genetic response after Otx2 ablation, which largely precedes apoptosis of photoreceptors, involving inflammation and stress genes. These findings thus provide novel general markers for clinical detection and prevention of neuronal cell death.
Variation in life-history traits and their plasticities to elevational transplantation among seed families suggests potential for adaptative evolution of 15 tropical plant species to climate change.

UNLABELLED • PREMISE OF THE STUDY Because not all plant species will be able to move in response to global warming, adaptive evolution matters largely for plant persistence. As prerequisites for adaptive evolution, genetic variation in and selection on phenotypic traits are needed, but these aspects have not been studied in tropical species. We studied how plants respond to transplantation to different elevations on Mt. Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, and whether there is quantitative genetic (among-seed family) variation in and selection on life-history traits and their phenotypic plasticity to the different environments. • METHODS We reciprocally transplanted seed families of 15 common tropical, herbaceous species of the montane and savanna vegetation zone at Mt. Kilimanjaro to a watered experimental garden in the montane (1450 m) and in the savanna (880 m) zone at the mountain's slope and measured performance, reproductive, and phenological traits. • RESULTS Plants generally performed worse in the savanna garden, indicating that the savanna climate was more stressful and thus that plants may suffer from future climate warming. We found significant quantitative genetic variation in all measured performance and reproductive traits in both gardens and for several measures of phenotypic plasticity in response to elevational transplantation. Moreover, we found positive selection on traits at low and intermediate trait values levelling to neutral or negative selection at high values. • CONCLUSIONS We conclude that common plants at Mt. Kilimanjaro express quantitative genetic variation in fitness-relevant traits and in their plasticities, suggesting potential to adapt evolutionarily to future climate warming and increased temperature variability.
Design of an active device for controlling lateral stability of fast mobile robot

SUMMARY Motivated by the trade-off between speed and stability for off-road navigation, a novel active anti-roll system has been developed in the context of a multidisciplinary project which aims at developing a high-speed and agile autonomous off-road rover. This paper presents the design, simulation and experimental validation of an active anti-roll system and its associated control. The proposed system possess the advantage of having a modular design that can be installed on any off-road chassis with independent suspensions. The proposed system controls directly the roll angle of the rover which is usually uncontrollable in conventional vehicles, hence improving off-road stability while maneuverings at high speed over uneven terrain. Furthermore, the control of the proposed active anti-roll system is based on a model predictive control (MPC) for the roll dynamics, which minimizes the load transfer during cornering and the energy consumed by the actuators. The control model is based on a dynamic model of the rover and on a stability criteria defined by the lateral load transfer (LLT). Moreover, this paper presents, simulation results from the high fidelity virtual platform modeled in MSC.Adams ®, as well as, results from recent field tests demonstrating the effectiveness of a hydraulic active anti-roll system mounted on, an especially developed experimental platform, SPIDO ROBOT while cornering at a high speed reaching 8 m/s.
SloMo: An implicit cross-layer mechanism for a better experience on mobile networks

Congestion in today's mobile networks is mainly managed by end to end congestion control algorithms such as TCP. However, in spite of its many merits, TCP does not cope well with the high variability inherent to radio links and customer experience may sometimes be poor as TCP reveals unable to rapidly grasp such a fluctuating bandwidth. To remedy this problem, we introduce in this paper a new proposal called SloMo. Contrary to existing mechanisms, SloMo does not rely on protocol analysis and may be applied to encrypted traffic. SloMo is particularly easy to implement and deploy, robust to encryption, and its performance evaluation is quite encouraging.
Multiple‐reaction monitoring for multiplex detection of three bacterial toxins using liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry

Clostridium perfringens epsilon toxin, staphylococcal enterotoxin B and shiga toxin are implicated in a number of diseases and food‐borne intoxications and are considered potential agents for bioterrorism and warfare. Artificially generated aerosol is the likely mode of delivery of these for nefarious uses, potentially capable of causing mass destruction to human and animal health by inhalation of toxic bioaerosol. Multiplex and unambiguous detection of these agents is of paramount importance for emergency response in a biothreat scenario and for food safety. Multiple‐reaction monitoring (MRM) assay for simultaneous monitoring of the three toxins is reported here using reverse‐phase high‐performance liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization‐tandem mass spectrometry. Three different peptides with two fragment ions each were considered for quantification and confirmation. One of the three MRM transitions from each toxin, which exhibited the best sensitivity, was selected for multiplexing of the assay. Simulating a biothreat scenario wherein the bioaerosol is collected in 10 ml of buffer, the multiplex assay was tested with blind samples with one or more of the three toxins even in the presence of interfering Escherichia coli lysate proteins.
Efficacy of six neonicotinoid insecticides alone and in combination with deltamethrin and piperonyl butoxide against pyrethroid-resistant Aedes aegypti and Anopheles gambiae (Diptera: Culicidae).

BACKGROUND In this study, carried out on pyrethroid-resistant Aedes aegypti and Anopheles gambiae, different combinations containing pyrethroid deltamethrin, piperonyl butoxide (PBO) synergist and six neonicotinoid insecticides (acetamiprid, nitenpyram, thiamethoxam, clothianidin, imidacloprid and thiacloprid) were tested. The bioassays were carried out by tarsal contact on impregnated paper on Ae. aegypti and with impregnated pieces of netting on An. gambiae. RESULTS The combination of deltamethrin and PBO was synergistic against pyrethroid-resistant Ae. aegypti (LHP) and An. gambiae (VKPR) strains, with 43 and 57% mortality respectively, versus 17 and 12% with deltamethrin alone. On LHP Ae. aegypti, the deltamethrin + PBO + neonicotinoid mixtures generated insecticide efficacies that were either greater (group 1) or lower (group 2) than the deltamethrin + PBO mixture. The tricomponent mixtures made with thiamethoxam, nitenpyram and thiacloprid (70.7, 64.9 and 55.9% mortality respectively) belong to group 1. Group 2 consists of mixtures made with imidacloprid, clothianidin and acetamiprid (28.9, 32.9 and 34.3% mortality respectively). The nettings impregnated with the three tricomponent mixtures of group 1 confirmed the excellent efficacy of these mixtures against An. gambiae VKPR (87-89% mortality). CONCLUSION Deltamethrin + PBO + neonicotinoid (group 1) mixtures induce interesting, efficient synergies, most valuable for the management of mosquito resistance to insecticides.
RADIATION HARDENED MIXED-SIGNAL IP WITH DARE TECHNOLOGY

Recent trends show the growing need for more analog and mixed-signal IP to enhance the intelligence and reduce the cost of satellites. This paper presents the current state of the imec DARE solution with a focus on the strong increase in mixed-signal and analog IP blocks. In addition, the DARE solution is being extended to high-voltage technology targeting a similar mixed-signal IP offering in a different foundry technology. First the recent improvements and additions to the DARE library are presented. Secondly radiation test results on technology level are presented showing the extensive level of analogue characterization of the DARE solution. The mixed-signal expansion is illustrated with a software controlled SOC ASIC project. This ASIC contains, amongst others, improved, hardened PLL and ADC blocks. These blocks will be discussed together with the under-radiation simulation approach. DARE+ ACTIVITY The Design Against Radiation Effects (DARE) library is being further developed in the ESA activity DARE+. The focus of this follow-up activity is to strengthen the existing, mainly digitally oriented, UMC 180nm based offering and expand it with Mixed-Mode capabilities. Developments are ongoing to add a set of integrated clock gating cells, a Dual Port SRAM Compiler, improve the single event (SE) behavior of the existing Phase Locked Loop (PLL), extend the common mode input range of the available LVDS Receiver and improve the reliability and mixed-mode performance of the IO cells. All the library cells are re-characterized with the Mixed-Mode transistor models. Table 1 lists the DARE+ library activities. DARE+ increases the analog content with a bandgap design and a linear voltage regulator. These analog circuits have been designed up to now with the standard provided transistor models and with the experience of good analog designers. However for advanced high-speed and high-accuracy designs an improved model is required. The Analog Design Kit (ADK) currently models the basic geometry effects of the Enclosed Layout Transistor (ELT), but it’s the goal to also model Total Ionizing Dose (TID) effects for the analog components in the technology and further increase the simulation accuracy of analog transistor parameters. Table 2gives an overview of the selected analog components and the relevant analog parameters that are (possibly) influenced by TID.
Differential Contributions of NADPH-Cytochrome P450 Oxidoreductase FAD Binding Site Residues to Flavin Binding and Catalysis*

Transfer of reducing equivalents from NADPH to the cytochromes P450 is mediated by NADPH-cytochrome P450 oxidoreductase, which contains stoichiometric amounts of tightly bound FMN and FAD. Hydrogen bonding and van der Waals interactions between FAD and amino acid residues in the FAD binding site of the reductase serve to regulate both flavin binding and reactivity. The precise orientation of key residues (Arg454, Tyr456, Cys472, Gly488, Thr491, and Trp677) has been defined by x-ray crystallography (Wang, M., Roberts, D. L., Paschke, R., Shea, T. M., Masters, B. S., Kim, J.-J. P. (1997) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 94, 8411–8416). The current study examines the relative contributions of these residues to FAD binding and catalysis by site-directed mutagenesis and kinetic analysis. Mutation of either Tyr456, which makes van der Waals contact with the FAD isoalloxazine ring and also hydrogen-bonds to the ribityl 4′-hydroxyl, or Arg454, which bonds to the FAD pyrophosphate, decreases the affinity for FAD 8000- and 25,000-fold, respectively, with corresponding decreases in cytochrome creductase activity. In contrast, substitution of Thr491, which also interacts with the pyrophosphate grouping, had a relatively modest effect on both FAD binding (100-fold decrease) and catalytic activity (2-fold decrease), while the G488L mutant exhibited, respectively, 800- and 50-fold decreases in FAD binding and catalytic activity. Enzymic activity of each of these mutants could be restored by addition of FAD. Kinetic properties and the FMN content of these mutants were not affected by these substitutions, with the exception of a 3-fold increase in Y456SK m cyt c and a 70% decrease in R454E FMN content, suggesting that the FMN- and FAD-binding domains are largely, but not completely, independent. Even though Trp677 is stacked against the re-face of FAD, suggesting an important role in FAD binding, deletion of both Trp677 and the carboxyl-terminal Ser678decreased catalytic activity 50-fold without affecting FAD content.
Accuracy analysis of a new reference-free digital temperature sensor in CMOS

A CMOS digital temperature measurement technique is reported, which doesn't require an explicit reference voltage during temperature to digital conversion. Instead, one of the inputs from the sensor core serves as the reference. After eliminating the need to use an external reference, we observe at least twofold increase in temperature estimation accuracy compared to the reference based traditional approach. Designed in 65nm CMOS, the digital sensor consume a total power of 220μν and an area of 0.25mm2, and achieves a ±3σ accuracy of 1°C after curvature correction and room temperature trim.