Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of the Diffusion Equation for Modeling Reverberant Electromagnetic Fields

Determination of the distribution of electromagnetic energy inside electrically large enclosed spaces is important in many electromagnetic compatibility applications, such as certification of aircraft and equipment shielding enclosures. The field inside such enclosed environments contains a dominant diffuse component due to multiple randomizing reflections from the enclosing surfaces. The power balance technique has been widely applied to the analysis of such problems; however, it is unable to account for the inhomogeneities in the field that arise when the absorption in the walls and contents of the enclosure is significant. In this paper, we show how a diffusion equation approach can be applied to modeling diffuse electromagnetic fields and evaluate its potential for use in electromagnetic compatibility applications. Two canonical examples were investigated: a loaded cavity and two cavities coupled by a large aperture. The predictions of the diffusion model were compared to measurement data and found to be in good agreement. The diffusion model has a very low computational cost compared to other applicable techniques, such as full-wave simulation and ray-tracing, offering the potential for a radical increase in the efficiency of the solution high frequency electromagnetic shielding problems with complex topologies.
Leaf development: a cellular perspective

Through its photosynthetic capacity the leaf provides the basis for growth of the whole plant. In order to improve crops for higher productivity and resistance for future climate scenarios, it is important to obtain a mechanistic understanding of leaf growth and development and the effect of genetic and environmental factors on the process. Cells are both the basic building blocks of the leaf and the regulatory units that integrate genetic and environmental information into the developmental program. Therefore, to fundamentally understand leaf development, one needs to be able to reconstruct the developmental pathway of individual cells (and their progeny) from the stem cell niche to their final position in the mature leaf. To build the basis for such understanding, we review current knowledge on the spatial and temporal regulation mechanisms operating on cells, contributing to the formation of a leaf. We focus on the molecular networks that control exit from stem cell fate, leaf initiation, polarity, cytoplasmic growth, cell division, endoreduplication, transition between division and expansion, expansion and differentiation and their regulation by intercellular signaling molecules, including plant hormones, sugars, peptides, proteins, and microRNAs. We discuss to what extent the knowledge available in the literature is suitable to be applied in systems biology approaches to model the process of leaf growth, in order to better understand and predict leaf growth starting with the model species Arabidopsis thaliana.
Familial Clustering of Major Depression and Anxiety Disorders in Australian and Dutch Twins and Siblings

Abstract The aim of this study was to investigate familial influences and their dependence on sex for panic disorder and/or agoraphobia, social phobia, generalized anxiety disorder and major depression. Data from Australian (N = 2287) and Dutch (N = 1185) twins and siblings who were selected for a linkage study and participated in clinical interviews to obtain lifetime Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed.; DSM-IV) diagnoses were used. In a liability model, tetrachoric correlations were estimated in sibling pairs and sex differences between sibling correlations were tested. For each diagnosis, the sibling correlations could be constrained to be equal across the Australian and Dutch samples. With the exception of panic disorder and/or agoraphobia, all sibling correlations were the same for brother, sister and opposite-sex sibling pairs and were around . 20. For panic disorder and/or agoraphobia, the correlation was . 23 in brother and sister pairs, but absent in opposite-sex sibling pairs. From these results it can be concluded that upper heritability estimates, based on twice the correlations in the sibling pairs, vary between 36% (major depression) and 50% (social phobia). Furthermore, different genetic risk factors appear to contribute to the vulnerability for panic disorder and/or agoraphobia in men and women. No other sex differences were found.
Effective strategy to compute forwarding tables for infiniBand networks

InfiniBand is very likely to become the facto standard for communication between processing nodes and I/O devices as well as for interprocessor communication. The InifiniBand Architecture (IBA) defines a switch-based network with point-to-point links that support any topology defined by the user. Routing in IBA is distributed based on forwarding tables, and only considers the packet destination ID for routing within subnets. Up*/down* routing is the simplest and most popular routing algorithm for irregular topologies. Unfortunately, up*/down* routing cannot be used in IBA switches because it may leads to deadlock. In this paper we address this issue, proposing an easy-to-implement strategy to complete up*/down* forwarding tables for IBA switches that guarantees deadlock freedom, and is effective whatever the methodology applied to compute up*/down* routing tables. Preliminary evaluation results modeling an InfiniBand network at register transfer level show that the proposed strategy allows up*/down* routing algorithms to be implemented on InfiniBand networks with minimal performance degradation.
Using FLIM-FRET to Measure Conformational Changes of Transglutaminase Type 2 in Live Cells

Transglutaminase type 2 (TG2) is a ubiquitously expressed member of the transglutaminase family, capable of mediating a transamidation reaction between a variety of protein substrates. TG2 also has a unique role as a G-protein with GTPase activity. In response to GDP/GTP binding and increases in intracellular calcium levels, TG2 can undergo a large conformational change that reciprocally modulates the enzymatic activities of TG2. We have generated a TG2 biosensor that allows for quantitative assessment of TG2 conformational changes in live cells using Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET), as measured by fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM). Quantifying FRET efficiency with this biosensor provides a robust assay to quickly measure the effects of cell stress, changes in calcium levels, point mutations and chemical inhibitors on the conformation and localization of TG2 in living cells. The TG2 FRET biosensor was validated using established TG2 conformational point mutants, as well as cell stress events known to elevate intracellular calcium levels. We demonstrate in live cells that inhibitors of TG2 transamidation activity can differentially influence the conformation of the enzyme. The irreversible inhibitor of TG2, NC9, forces the enzyme into an open conformation, whereas the reversible inhibitor CP4d traps TG2 in the closed conformation. Thus, this biosensor provides new mechanistic insights into the action of two TG2 inhibitors and defines two new classes based on ability to alter TG2 conformation in addition to inhibiting transamidation activity. Future applications of this biosensor could be to discover small molecules that specifically alter TG2 conformation to affect GDP/GTP or calcium binding.
Region-based temporally consistent video post-processing

We study the problem of temporally consistent video post-processing. Previous post-processing algorithms usually either fail to keep high fidelity or fail to keep temporal consistency of output videos. In this paper, we observe experimentally that many image/video enhancement algorithms enforce a spatially consistent prior on the enhancement. More precisely, within a local region, the enhancement is consistent, i.e., pixels with the same RGB values will get the same enhancement values. Using this prior, we segment each frame into several regions and temporally-spatially adjust the enhancement of regions of different frames, taking into account fidelity, temporal consistency and spatial consistency. User study, objective measurement and visual quality comparisons are conducted. The experimental results demonstrate that our output videos can keep high fidelity and temporal consistency at the same time.
The social determinants of the imprisonment - Offending cycle in New Zealand; and means of intervention into the cycle

Persistent offenders have been a feature of the criminal justice system in New Zealand, at least during the period between 1923 and 1985, and these persistent offenders have been part of an underclass excluded from or marginal to participation in paid work and the dominant consumption patterns of society. Persistent offenders have also subscribed to a predatory moral and normative order. This thesis sets out to explain the existence of the predatory underclass, its value system and the prospects for its integration within the mainstream of society. A theory of social regulation is developed which proceeds through a critique of the works of Durkheim and Merton. The theory draws a distinction between primary and secondary levels of regulation, and relies upon the work of the 'regulation school' developed in France. The theory postulates that the offending of persistent offenders is the product of two social mechanisms, the exclusion tendency and the predatory potential of society. The exclusion tendency is the product of the way in which production and consumption are socially organised in capitalist societies. Production and consumption are linked through participation in paid work. The predatory potential on the other hand is a ref lection of the extent to which persons are able to engage in the consumption norms of society without making a legitimate contribution to the consumption needs of society. Primary and secondary regulatory forces are analysed from 1923 to 1985 in order to specify the way in which the exclusion tendency and the predatory potential have interacted. Major changes in the way in which the two
A Discriminative Approach for Wavelet Denoising

This paper suggests a discriminative approach for wavelet denoising where a set of mapping functions (MFs) are applied to the transform coefficients in an attempt to produce a noise free image. As opposed to the descriptive approaches, modeling image or noise priors is not required here and the MFs are learned directly from an ensemble of example images using least-squares fitting. The suggested scheme generates a novel set of MFs that are essentially different from the traditional soft/hard thresholding in the over-complete case. These MFs are demonstrated to obtain comparable performance to the state-of-the-art denoising approaches. Additionally, this framework enables a seamless customization of the shrinkage operation to a new set of restoration problems that were not addressed previously with shrinkage techniques, such as deblurring, JPEG artifact removal, and various types of additive noise that are not necessarily Gaussian white noise.
An investigation into competency for working with personality disorder and team climate in the probation service

Personality disorder (PD) is highly prevalent in offender samples and is an aggravating factor for risk assessment. Working with PD may be particularly challenging and requires specific staff competencies. However little is currently known about probation staff's competency for working with this group. Self report methodologies were used to investigate probation staff's competency for working with PD, their team climate and the relationship between the two factors. Probation staff’s competency was not found to be significantly different to a sample of voluntary sector housing workers. No significant difference was found between probation public protection unit (PPU) and non-PPU staff or between qualified and unqualified staff. Two facets of team climate were associated with improved competency for working with PD, but probation staff obtained low scores for one of these facets (team vision). There is a need for staff competency development in this field. A model for improved service delivery is proposed.
A Novel Sensor-Assisted RFID-Based Indoor Tracking System for the Elderly Living Alone

The population of elderly people is increasing rapidly in many developed nations. Providing safe and comfortable care to aging people is an important social goal. Moreover, obtaining correct activity and location information for an elderly person is an important research goal. This work proposes a novel intelligent RFID-based indoor tracking system for elderly people living alone. The proposed system uses environment information for inhabitants and received signal strength of an RFID reader to estimate the probable location of an inhabitant. The proposed system then coordinates with the wireless sensor node of a three-axis accelerometer and uses a genetic algorithm to compute the location of the inhabitant. The proposed system also uses context and gait information to improve inhabitant-tracking accuracy. Experiment results show that the accuracy of the proposed system is better than that of existing RFID-based systems.
SCOLS-FuM: A Hybrid Fuzzy Modeling Method for Telecommunications Time-Series Forecasting

An application of fuzzy modeling to the problem of telecommunications time-series pre- diction is proposed in this paper. The model building process is a two-stage sequential algorithm, based on Subtractive Clustering (SC) and the Orthogonal Least Squares (OLS) techniques. Par- ticularly, the SC is first employed to partition the input space and determine the number of fuzzy rules and the premise parameters. In the sequel, an orthogonal estimator determines the input terms which should be included in the consequent part of each fuzzy rule and calculate their parame- ters. A comparative analysis with well-established forecasting models is conducted on real world telecommunications data, where the characteristics of the proposed forecaster are highlighted. During the last two decades, telecommunications services have become an emerging in- dustry. Since the primary motive for telecommunications service provision is profit, charg- ing and billing, along with the reduction of unnecessary cost, are vital in this business. Carriers must rely on data to monitor, analyze and optimize their systems in order to map future trends and usage patterns, so forecasting can be a valuable aid for managers, since it can be used for infrastructure optimization and planning, as well as network traffic man- agement. Therefore creating reasonably accurate forecasts of the call volume by making use of historical data can be considered as a significant and a challenging issue. In this perspective, a case of a large University is investigated in the present work. Due to the continuous increase of the faculty members and staff, new telephone numbers are added daily, and an increasing demand for outgoing trunks exists. It is obvious that the changes in call volume are vital to the planning of future installations. The University holds an extended database which includes information such as the call origin, the area code and exchange, and the duration of each telephone call. The database is mainly used to determine the total number, as well as the number of the national, the international and the mobile calls per employee per month. It is noticed that the call classification, into
Adaptive integral back-stepping controller design for ROV with disturbance observer

The problem focusing on heading motion control of remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV) is studied and adaptive integral back-stepping controller with nonlinear disturbance observer (NDO) is proposed in this paper. Taking advantage of the ability that nonlinear disturbance observer can estimate uncertainties and external disturbance exactly, combined back-stepping method, we can greatly reduce the influence of parameter uncertainties and external disturbances on the ROV system; meanwhile, in order to enhance the robust performance of the system, integral terms are added into the feedback loop; finally, adaptive item is added in order to estimate residual uncertainties and interference. Design process of the controller for ROV is described in detail; using Lyapunov stability criterion, global asymptotic stability and tracking error convergence are proved. Simulation experiments have shown that the controller can overcome and estimate factors such as external disturbance and model uncertainties, the system is able to track the desired trajectory accurately and has good robust performance.
Exposure to nickel compounds and smoking in relation to incidence of lung and nasal cancer among nickel refinery workers.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the relation between occupational hazards among nickel refinery workers and their exposure to different forms of nickel over time and the interaction between smoking and total exposure to nickel. METHODS: The cohort consisted of 379 workers with first employment 1916-40 and at least three years of employment and 4385 workers with at least one year of employment 1946-83. Data on smoking (ever or never) were available for almost 95% of the cohort. Two analyses were used, indirect standardisation from observed and expected numbers and Poisson regression. RESULTS: During the follow up 1953-93, 203 new cases of lung cancer were observed v 68 expected (standardised incidence ratio (SIR) 3.0, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 2.6-3.4) and 32 cases of nasal cancer were observed v 1.8 expected (SIR 18.0, 95% CI 12-25). The Poisson regression analysis showed an excess risk of lung cancer in association with exposure to soluble forms of nickel, with a threefold increase in relative risk (RR) (P < 0.001) and a multiplicative effect of smoking and exposure to nickel. The RRs were 1.1 (95% CI 0.2-5.1) for exposed workers who had never smoked and 5.1 (95% CI 1.3-20.5) for exposed workers who smoked. CONCLUSION: It is not possible to state with certainty which specific nickel compounds are carcinogenic, but a significant excess risk was found for workers exposed to soluble nickel alone or in combination with other forms of nickel. The present study suggests a multiplicative effect of smoking and nickel exposure.
Black (and Brown) Bodies Out of Place: Towards a Theoretical Understanding of Systematic Voter Suppression in the United States

The construct of place has largely been under-utilized, and, therefore, under-theorized, in social science discussions regarding systematic racial oppression, but we need to consider physical space or symbolic (i.e. social/political) place in our ideas about both racial identity formation and racial relations. During the Jim Crow era, blacks were expected to ‘stay in their place’, and that place was always subservient to the position of whites. Despite advances by racial/ethnic minorities and other disadvantaged groups, vestiges of this American Jim Crow belief system still operate in society. The author contends that recent widespread voter suppression efforts commencing en masse since 2010 are not a rejection of black bodies per se but a response to perceived black (and brown) bodies out of place. The article provides a framework to help illuminate the presence of continued systematic pushback against the advances of minorities amidst a growing discourse of colorblindness.
Enzymatic Preparation of Genuine Prosapogenin, 20(S)-Ginsenoside Rh1, from Ginsenosides Re and Rg1

It was found that a lactase preparation from Penicillium sp. nearly quantitatively hydrolyzed ginsenosides Re and Rg1, which are major saponins in roots of Panax ginseng, to a minor saponin, 20(S)-ginsenoside Rh1 [6-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-20(S)-protopanaxatriol]. This is the first report on the enzymatic preparation of ginsenoside Rh1 with a high efficiency. This enzyme also readily hydrolyzed ginsenoside Rg2 to ginsenoside Rh1.
Methyl Jasmonate: Putative Mechanisms of Action on Cancer Cells Cycle, Metabolism, and Apoptosis

Methyl jasmonate (MJ), an oxylipid that induces defense-related mechanisms in plants, has been shown to be active against cancer cells both in vitro and in vivo, without affecting normal cells. Here we review most of the described MJ activities in an attempt to get an integrated view and better understanding of its multifaceted modes of action. MJ (1) arrests cell cycle, inhibiting cell growth and proliferation, (2) causes cell death through the intrinsic/extrinsic proapoptotic, p53-independent apoptotic, and nonapoptotic (necrosis) pathways, (3) detaches hexokinase from the voltage-dependent anion channel, dissociating glycolytic and mitochondrial functions, decreasing the mitochondrial membrane potential, favoring cytochrome c release and ATP depletion, activating pro-apoptotic, and inactivating antiapoptotic proteins, (4) induces reactive oxygen species mediated responses, (5) stimulates MAPK-stress signaling and redifferentiation in leukemia cells, (6) inhibits overexpressed proinflammatory enzymes in cancer cells such as aldo-keto reductase 1 and 5-lipoxygenase, and (7) inhibits cell migration and shows antiangiogenic and antimetastatic activities. Finally, MJ may act as a chemosensitizer to some chemotherapics helping to overcome drug resistant. The complete lack of toxicity to normal cells and the rapidity by which MJ causes damage to cancer cells turn MJ into a promising anticancer agent that can be used alone or in combination with other agents.
Routine Chest X-Rays after Insertion of Implantable Long-Term Venous Catheters: Necessary or Not?

Can long-term subcutaneous venous (Mediport) catheters be safely inserted without routine chest X-ray (CXR) verification? An estimated 500,000 Mediport catheters are inserted yearly in the United States, and elimination of unnecessary radiographs would result in substantial savings of increasingly limited health care resources. A total of 513 consecutive Mediport catheters were inserted by a single surgeon over a 5-year period using a standardized protocol and selective indications for follow-up CXR that included unilateral chest pain, aspiration of air, decreased breath sounds, and difficult catheter insertion. The 513 catheters were inserted in 498 patients with 271 patients (53%) undergoing postprocedure CXR. Of the 513 catheters 461 (90%) were placed by percutaneous approach to the subclavian vein. Six pneumothoraces (1.2% incidence) occurred, all in patients who met criteria for immediate CXR. The overall complication rate was 3.1 per cent and included eight instances of catheter-tip malposition (seven of the eight were successfully repositioned by vascular radiology), one mediastinal hematoma, and one chest-wall hematoma. This largest single-surgeon-reported series demonstrates that Mediport insertion can be safely accomplished with minimal complications following a standardized protocol using selective radiologic evaluation.