Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Design of a novel asymmetrical piezoelectric actuated microgripper for micromanipulation

In high precision micromanipulation task, microgripper is an important tool which directly affects the quality and efficiency of micro-object manipulation. This paper presents the design of a novel asymmetrical microgripper with just one jaw movable, which is driven by a stack piezoelectric ceramic actuator (SPCA). The main body of microgripper is compact flexure-based mechanical structure with a three-stage amplification which consists of a leverage mechanism, a bridge type mechanism and a parallelogram leverage mechanism. Based on the three-stage amplification, large and robust jaw displacements and parallel jaw grasping can be realized. The kinematic, static and dynamic analyses of the developed microgripper are carried out based on both Pseudo-rigid-body (PRB) model and finite element analysis (FEA). The results show that the microgripper exhibits good performance.
Studies on the mosquitoes of North Arcot District, Madras State, India. 5. Breeding places of the Culex vishnui group of species.

Culex vishnui larvae were most common in fallow rice fields, Culex pseudovishnui and Culex tritaeniorhynchus larvae in planted rice fields. Large numbers of C. tritaeniorhynchus were also found in wells, ponds and ditches. In ploughed, flooded fallow fields and in fields with young paddy, C. vishnui larvae were dominant. By the time the paddy reached about . 3 m (1 ft) high, C. pseudovishnui and C. tritaeniorhynchus began to replace C. vishnui . No statistically significant differences could be demonstrated between numbers of larvae from the edges of fields and from the interiors, but individual fields showed larvae to be concentrated in the area of the field furthest from water inlets.
The fingerstroke-level model strikes back: a modified keystroke-level model in developing a gaming ui for 4g networks

With the 4G mobile technology, LG U+ established a new business model, inter-network mirroring game service, that allows PC and mobile game users to play against each other. However, due to an unsolicited input command design for touch-sensitive UIs, it is hard to adjust competitive levels between them. The traditional Keystroke-Level Model (KLM) was not applicable to predict the task performance in the touch-sensitive user interface. This case study thus proposed Fingerstroke Level Model (FLM), and analyzed the inter-network mirroring game - 'Freestyle II"' with FLM. The empirical study confirmed the effectiveness and efficiency of FLM, and suggested how HCI methods can improve the design of mobile gaming user interface.
Sulfhydryls-a new factor in frost resistance. II. Relation between sulfhydryls & relative resistance of 15 wheat varieties.

An increase in SH content was shown to occur during the frost hardening of several herbaceous plants (2). To test this relationship further, SH was measured in a series of wheat varieties grading in hardiness from very hardy to very tender. The field-determined hardiness of these 15 varieties is shown in table I together with the hardiness determined by tests in a freezing chamber.
A Wideband F-Shaped Microstrip Antenna

In this letter, we propose a wideband F-shaped microstrip antenna. The proposed antenna is compact with a dimension of 18 × 22× 1 mm3, which is a benefit for the miniaturization of the antenna system. The electromagnetic properties of the antenna are analyzed with the software CST Microwave Studio, and the measurements are performed by using a vector network analyzer. By means of a structural parameters optimization, a 15–19 GHz frequency range for a reflection coefficient less than −10 dB is obtained. In addition, an antenna array is designed and fabricated. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed antenna array has a good performance in generating an orbital angular momentum beam.
The effects of mediums of instruction on educational- and labor market outcomes: Evidence from Malaysia

We examine the effects of having English as a medium of instruction on labor market outcomes later in life. We exploit an exogenous variation in mediums of instruction induced by the government of Malaysia’s decision to discontinue English-medium public schools and phase them out with Malay-medium public schools in 1970, which fits a fuzzy regression discontinuity design. We find some evidence that having English as a medium of instruction improves labor market outcomes. We explore some mechanisms through which mediums of instruction matter: We find having English as a medium of instruction improves English proficiency, especially reading and writing skills, and increases educational attainment, which in turn increase earnings and improve employability. The evidence is, however, rather weak, if we use robust data-driven inferences in the regression discontinuity design.
Significant mixed layer nitrification in a natural iron‐fertilized bloom of the Southern Ocean

Nitrification, the microbially mediated oxidation of ammonium into nitrate, is generally expected to be low in the Southern Ocean mixed layer. This paradigm assumes that nitrate is mainly provided through vertical mixing and assimilated during the vegetative season, supporting the concept that nitrate uptake is equivalent to the new primary production (i.e., primary production which is potentially available for export). Here we show that nitrification is significant (~40–80% of the seasonal nitrate uptake) in the naturally iron‐fertilized bloom over the southeast Kerguelen Plateau. Hence, a large fraction of the nitrate‐based primary production is regenerated, instead of being exported. It appears that nitrate assimilation (light dependent) and nitrification (partly light inhibited) are spatially separated between the upper and lower parts, respectively, of the deep surface mixed layers. These deep mixed layers, extending well below the euphotic layer, allow nitrifiers to compete with phytoplankton for the assimilation of ammonium. The high contributions of nitrification to nitrate uptake are in agreement with both low export efficiency (i.e., the percentage of primary production that is exported) and low seasonal nitrate drawdown despite high nitrate assimilation.
Visual Encoding and Decoding of the Human Brain Based on Shared Features

Using a convolutional neural network to build visual encoding and decoding models of the human brain is a good starting point for the study on relationship between deep learning and human visual cognitive mechanism. However, related studies have not fully considered their differences. In this paper, we assume that only a portion of neural network features is directly related to human brain signals, which we call shared features. In the encoding process, we extract shared features from the lower and higher layers of the neural network, and then build a non-negative sparse map to predict brain activities. In the decoding process, we use back-propagation to reconstruct visual stimuli, and use dictionary learning and a deep image prior to improve the robustness and accuracy of the algorithm. Experiments on a public fMRI dataset confirm the rationality of the encoding models, and comparing with a recently proposed method, our reconstruction results obtain significantly higher accuracy.
Immunoregulatory T-cell pathways.

Towards the end of the 18th and the beginning of the 19th century an alteration occurred in Western thinking that allowed radical changes in many fields of study, including the life sciences. Prior to this time, the study of nature was predominantly hermeneutic, concerned with classification and interpretation of "signs" that would show one the relationship of a plant or animal to its place in the universe (for example, its role in a medical cure). This perception of the order of reality persisted through the 18th century, until a new view emerged, in which underlying causes and pro­ cesses were examined. Thus, nature and life moved into the abstraction; the word biology was coined in 1800 by Burdach and extended in 1802 to the study of living bodies by Treviranus and again by Lamark. It was also at this time (1803) that the germ theory of disease first appeared (Med. J. IX, 484). In 1826, Fidele Bretonneau concluded that diseases are specific, devel­ oping through specific reproducing agents. Agostino Bassi (1836) isolated a parasitic fungus as the causative agent in a silkworm disease, and John Snow (1849) postulated similar agents operative in the communication of cholera. Pasteur began his studies in fermentation in 1854, which led to those studies that, together with those of Koch, resulted in the acceptance of the germ theory. Thus, disease came to be understood as an invasion of a healthy body by an infectious agent. Our understanding of immunology is firmly based upon this view. Al­ though Pasteur generalized the vaccination procedure of Jenner to include
Continuous versus bolus intragastric tube feeding for preterm and low birth weight infants with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease.

BACKGROUND Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease is a particularly common condition in preterm and low birth weight infants. These infants are also more likely to have excessive regurgitation, as they do not have a fully developed antireflux mechanism. Preterm and low birth weight infants who are unable to suck oral feeds are required to be fed via an intragastric tube for varying lengths of time. Intragastric tube feeding can be delivered by the intermittent bolus or continuous feeding method. Use of continuous or intermittent bolus intragastric feeding may have a positive or negative effect on the incidence or severity of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease. OBJECTIVES To determine whether continuous or intermittent bolus intragastric tube feeding reduces the number of episodes and the duration of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) in preterm and low birth weight infants.We intended to perform subgroup analyses for gestational age; birth weight; age in days from birth at full enteral feeding via intragastric tube (breast vs bottle); frequency of intermittent bolus feed; and type of medication for treatment of GORD (only if medication prescribed and given similarly to both intervention groups). SEARCH METHODS We used the standard search strategy of the Cochrane Neonatal Group as described in The Cochrane Library (www.thecochranelibrary.com) to search for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) in the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (2013, Issue 9), MEDLINE (1966 to September 2013), EMBASE (1980 to September 2013) and the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) (1982 to September 2013). We also searched previous reviews, including cross-references, abstracts and conference and symposia proceedings of the Perinatal Society of Australia and New Zealand and the Pediatric Academic Societies (American Pediatric Society/Society for Pediatric Research and European Society for Paediatric Research) from 1990 to 2012. SELECTION CRITERIA Published and unpublished RCTs and quasi-RCTs were eligible for inclusion in this review, as were cluster-randomised and cross-over randomised trials that compared the effects of continuous versus intermittent bolus intragastric tube feeding on gastro-oesophageal reflux disease in preterm and low birth weight infants. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Two review authors independently assessed study eligibility and quality. MAIN RESULTS We found no trials that met the inclusion criteria for this review. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS We did not identify any randomised trials that evaluated the effects of continuous versus intermittent bolus intragastric tube feeding on gastro-oesophageal reflux disease in preterm and low birth weight infants. Well-designed and adequately powered trials are needed.
Chemical Genetics Reveal the Novel Transmembrane Protein BIL4, Which Mediates Plant Cell Elongation in Brassinosteroid Signaling

Steroid hormones are conserved between animals and plants as signaling molecules to control growth and development. Plant steroid hormones, brassinosteroids (BRs), appear to play an important role in plant cell elongation. BRs bind to leucine-rich repeat kinase BRASSINOSTEROID-INSENSITIVE 1 (BRI1) localized to the plasma membrane, activate transcription factors in collaboration with cytosolic kinases and phosphatases, and regulate BR-responsive gene expression, but the details regarding the BR signaling pathway from perception to nuclear events remain unknown. In this study we used chemical genetics to identify an evolutionarily conserved transmembrane protein, Brz-insensitive-long hypocotyls 4 (BIL4), and demonstrated its role as a critical component of plant cell elongation occurring upon BR signaling. A dominant mutation, bil4-1D, showed cell elongation in the presence of the BR-specific inhibitor Brz. Brz suppresses expression of the BIL4 gene in wild-type plants, and overexpression of BIL4 in bil4-1D suppresses the BR deficiency caused by Brz. Our results indicate that BIL4 mediates cell elongation on BR signaling.
STRATEGIC EXPERIMENTATION WITH ASYMMETRIC INFORMATION

I study strategic experimentation, with one player initially being better informed about the state of nature than the other. Players are otherwise symmetric, and observe past experimentation decisions and outcomes. I construct an equilibrium in which a mutual encouragement effect arises: as the public information becomes discouraging, the informed player’s high effort continuously brings in good news, encouraging the uninformed player to experiment; in return, the uninformed player’s experimentation pattern yields an increasing reward, encouraging the informed player to experiment. Due to this effect, players’ total effort can increase over time, and the uninformed player may grow increasingly optimistic, despite the discouraging public information. Moreover, creating information asymmetry improves total welfare if the informed player’s initial signal is sufficiently precise.
Bilevel planning of active distribution networks considering demand-side management and DG penetration

The integration of large-scale distributed generations (DGs) in power grids has enabled the movement of the traditional distribution network toward the active distribution network. However, this transition poses new challenges to the planning of distribution network frameworks under active management mode. The proposed work addressed these challenges by proposing a bilevel planning model of active distribution network frameworks with DGs that considers demand-side management. In the bilevel model, considering the influence of DG penetration level and the installed capacity of wind turbine generator and photovoltaic generator on the planning of distribution network, the upper distribution network planning model is established by taking lowest annual comprehensive cost as the upper-level objective. Then, the lower level model optimized DG curtailment and interruptible load shedding by accounting for the uncertainty of load and the intermittent DG output of wind farms and photovoltaic generators. The above models were solved through an improved pertheno-genetic algorithm and prime-dual interior point method. Finally, case studies were conducted on a 29-bus distribution network. Simulation results showed that by considering demand-side management, the network framework scheme and node voltage of the distribution network improved and the annual comprehensive cost decreased. By adjusting the DG penetration and installment capacity proportion of the wind turbine generator , the network planning scheme can be further optimized to minimize the annual comprehensive cost.
Workplace ethics as an instrument to expedite supply chain management in Bahrain

Article history: Received October 5, 2018 Accepted November 25 2018 Available online November 25 2018 Ethics plays an essential role for the success of all business units. These days, it is not sufficient to boost the performance of supply chain companies just by focusing on financial figures but we need to consider the ethical dimensions, particularly at an organizational level. It is evident from the prior investigations that the performance of the supply chain industry in most of the Arab countries has not gained reasonable growth. Most of the Arab countries are facing issues for development good supply chain management in various departments. Bahrain maintains a low performance in the supply chain compared with other Arab countries such as Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia. The logistics index of Bahrain has been decreasing in recent years. Therefore, to address this problem, the objective of this study is to examine the role of workplace ethics in supply chain management among supply chain companies of Bahrain. The study considers three dimensions of ethics, namely; organization culture ethics, leadership ethics, and training ethics. Employees on the managerial positions are selected as the respondents. These respondents are selected from the supply chain companies of Bahrain. Questionnaires are distributed among these employees to collect the data. By using the structural equation modeling, data are analyzed through PLS. The results conclude that workplace ethics has significant contribution in supply chain management. Better implementation of workplace ethics always contributes positively on supply chain management. ensee Growing Science, Canada by the authors; lic 9 © 201
Comparative analysis of reference gene stability in human mesenchymal stromal cells during osteogenic differentiation

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are one of the most frequently used cell sources for tissue engineering strategies. Cultivation of osteogenic MSCs is a prerequisite for cell‐based concepts that aim at bone regeneration. Quantitative real time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR) analysis is a commonly used method for the examination of mRNA expression levels. However, data on suitable reference genes for osteogenically cultivated MSCs is scarce. Hence, the aim of the study was to compare the regulation of different potential reference genes in osteogenically stimulated MSCs. Human MSCs were isolated from bone marrow aspirates of N = 6 hematologically healthy individuals, expanded by polystyrene‐adherence, and maintained with and without osteogenic supplements for 14 days. Cellular proliferation and osteogenic differentiation were assessed by total DNA quantification, cell‐specific alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and by qualitative staining for ALP and alizarin red, respectively. mRNA expression levels of N = 32 potential reference genes were quantified using the human Endogenous Control TaqMan® assays. mRNA expression stability was calculated using geNorm. The combined use of the most stable reference genes and DNA‐damage‐inducible alpha, Pumilio homolog 1, and large ribosomal protein P0 significantly improved gene expression accuracy as compared to the use of the commonly used reference genes beta actin and glyceraldehyde‐3‐phosphate dehydrogenase during qRT‐PCR‐based target gene expression analysis of osteogenically stimulated MSCs. © 2013 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog. , 29:1034–1042, 2013
H-point phonon in molybdenum: Superlinearized augmented-plane-wave calculations.

Local-density-approximation calculations of the {ital H}-point phonon frequency of molybdenum were carried out using a new superlinearized augmented-plane-wave basis. The calculated frequency is in quite good agreement with experiment. This indicates that the effect of the many-body renormalization of the electronic states near the Fermi energy on this frequency is smaller than previously suggested. The superlinearized basis and its use to circumvent computational difficulties associated with extended semicore states such as the 4{ital p} state of molybdenum is described.
Energy Consumption of Low Power Wide Area Networks

The market for low power devices is on the rise, as we move towards a more autonomous world by the day. A new type of wireless technology, Low Power Wide Area (LPWA), has been developed to ensure a longer battery lifetime combined with longer range. The increased interest in LPWA devices, which mostly consist of different types of sensors, leads to an increased amount of devices deployed on the field. The use of LPWA will allow for tens of thousands of sensors to connect to a single base station. There are two types of LPWA technologies available, those based on cellular technology and others that use proprietary technologies. The focus of the thesis will be on NarrowBand-IoT (NB-IoT), as well as LTE Cat M1 (enhanced Machine-Type Communication (eMTC)) and their respective energy consumption. Both technologies are standardized by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) and are based on Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology. The beginning of the thesis will give an overview of Internet Of Things (IoT), energy consumption in computer systems and LPWA networks in general. In the last chapters, an experiment is done on the energy consumption of both NB-IoT and eMTC, together with the power saving features Power Saving Mode (PSM) and extended Discontinuous Reception (eDRX).
In-hospital mortality after resection of biliary tract cancer in the United States.

OBJECTIVE To assess perioperative mortality following resection of biliary tract cancer within the U.S. BACKGROUND Resection remains the only curative treatment for biliary tract cancer. However, current data on operative mortality after surgical resections for biliary tract cancer are limited to small and single-center studies. METHODS Using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample 1998-2006, a cohort of patient-discharges was assembled with a diagnosis of biliary tract cancer, including intrahepatic bile duct, extrahepatic bile duct, and gall bladder cancers. Patients undergoing resection, including hepatic resection, bile duct resection, pancreaticoduodenectomy, and cholecystectomy, were retained. The primary outcome measure was in-hospital mortality. Categorical variables were analyzed by chi-square. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify independent predictors of in-hospital mortality following resection. RESULTS 31 870 patient-discharges occurred for the diagnosis of biliary tract cancer, including 36.2% intrahepatic ductal, 26.7% extrahepatic ductal, and 31.1% gall bladder. Of the total, 18.6% underwent resection: mean age was 69.3 years (median 70.0); 60.8% were female; 73.7% were white. Overall inpatient surgical mortality was 5.6%. Independently predictive factors of mortality included patient age >/=50 (vs. <50; age 50-59 odds ratio [OR] 5.51, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.70-17.93; age 60-69 OR 7.25, 95% CI 2.29-22.96; age >/= 70 OR 9.03, 95% CI 2.86-28.56), the presence of identified comorbidities (congestive heart failure, OR 3.67, 95% CI 2.61-5.16; renal failure, OR 4.72, 95% CI 2.97-7.49), and admission designated as emergent (vs. elective; OR 1.82, 95% CI 1.39-2.37). CONCLUSION Increased in-hospital mortality for patients undergoing biliary tract cancer resection corresponded to age, comorbidity, hospital volume, and emergent admission. Further study is warranted to utilize these observations in promoting early detection, diagnosis, and elective resection.