Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Energy Efficient Coils for Magnetic Stimulation of Peripheral Nerves

The preoccupation for improving the quality of life, for persons with different handicaps, led to extended research in the area of functional stimulation. Due to its advantages compared to electrical stimulation, magnetic stimulation of the human nervous system is now a common technique in modern medicine. A difficulty of this technique is the need for accurate focal stimulation. Another one is the low efficiency of power transfer from the coil to the tissue. To address these difficulties, coils with special geometries must be designed.
Physical performance of the Siemens MultiSPECT 3 gamma camera

We evaluated physical performance of the new Siemens MultiSPECT 3 gamma camera. The camera is a triple-headed, large detector system dedicated to multislice single photon emission tomographic (SPET) imaging over all the human body. A triangular aperture up to 60 cm in diameter and a patient couch with low gamma-ray attenuation allow all patients to be studied without exception. The patient is easily, quickly and reproducibly positioned. Collimator change is rapidly and semiautomatically performed. Camera tuning, calibration, acquisition and processing are controlled by a Macintosh Quadra 950 computer. The ICON software is easy to use (a mouse driven system) and the operator does not necessarily need to go through the manuals. The software includes useful reporting and imaging utilities but the version tested by us (vol. 3.0) also has several limitations such as no gated or dynamic SPET, no list-mode acquisition and no body outline attenuation correction. The planar sensitivity using high-resolution collimators (HR) is 380 cps MBq-1 for 99Tcm with a symmetric energy window of 15%. The radial SPET resolution is 8.5 mm full-width half-maximum (FWHM) in scatter with a rotational radius of 12.6 cm (corresponding to the radius of a brain scan) and a tangential resolution of 7.1 mm. The quality of the daily bone, brain and heart scans is superior when compared to those of a conventional single-headed gamma camera. The system allows fast and accurate SPET imaging both for clinical routine practice and for research.
The Valosin-containing Protein (VCP) Is a Target of Akt Signaling Required for Cell Survival*

The serine/threonine kinase Akt is a key mediator of cell survival and growth, but its precise mechanism of action, and more specifically, the nature of its signaling partners largely remain to be elucidated. We show, using a proteomics-based approach, that the valosin-containing protein (VCP), a member of the AAA (ATPases associated with a variety of cellular activities) family, is a target of Akt signaling. SDS-PAGE of Akt co-immunoprecipitated proteins obtained from MCF-7 breast cancer cells revealed the increase of a 97-kDa band under Akt activation. Mass spectrometry analysis allowed the identification of VCP, and we have shown a serine/threonine phosphorylation on an Akt consensus site upon activation by growth factors. Site-directed mutagenesis identified Ser-351, Ser-745, and Ser-747 as Akt phosphorylation sites on VCP. Confocal microscopy indicated a co-localization between Akt and VCP upon Akt stimulation. Interestingly, small interfering RNA against VCP induced an inhibition of the growth factor-induced activation of NF-κB and a potent pro-apoptotic effect. Together, these data identify VCP as an essential target of Akt signaling.
Husband-wife roles as a correlate of contraceptive and fertility behaviour.

Quantitative and qualitative techniques are used to explore respondents' views on contraceptive and fertility behavior in an attempt to determine the extent to which socioeconomic, cultural, and attitudinal variables influence the fertility decision-making process. 1100 female contraceptive users and non-users were sampled from Lahore and Faisalabad. The women were age 25 years and older, with at least 2 living children, and living with their husbands. Pregnant women were not included in the study. Principle Component Analysis (PCA) is used to identify meaningful underlying variables and reduce the multidimensionality of variables, while the chi-square test is used to explore the relationships between the predictor and dependent variables. Multiple linear regression is also used to establish the relative importance of each predictor variable. The comprehensive analysis found that preferences for smaller families and contraceptive use were consistently associated with modern attitudes and behavior with regard to the husband-wife relationship. Family income, husband's occupation, child mortality, and age at marriage did not help to explain reproductive behavior. Cultural setting and tradition influence to an important extent reproductive behavior independent of development in economic realities. Women's status needs to be improved in order to attain demographic-developmental goals.
The Robotarium : An open , remote-access , multi-robot laboratory

Multi-robotic testbeds are an integral part of multi-agent research, yet they are expensive to develop and operate, which obstructs access. This in turn makes them unaffordable for most but a select few researchers at wellendowed universities, slows the rate of progress of multi-agent research, and limits the number of educational multi-robot tools available to students. In this paper we propose a shared, remotely accessible multi-robot testbed the Robotarium that aims at remedying these issues and enabling researchers to remotely access a state-of-the-art multi-robot test facility. The Robotarium hosts custom-designed miniature robots that are able to recharge their batteries autonomously, enables users to remotely upload code to the robots, and allows users to run their multi-robot experiments remotely.
TESTING MODIFIED NEWTONIAN DYNAMICS WITH ROTATION CURVES OF DWARF AND LOW SURFACE BRIGHTNESS GALAXIES

Dwarf and low surface brightness (LSB) galaxies are ideal objects to test modified Newtonian dynamics (MOND), because in most of these galaxies the accelerations fall below the threshold where MOND supposedly applies. We have selected from the literature a sample of 27 dwarf and LSB galaxies. MOND is successful in explaining the general shape of the observed rotation curves for roughly three quarters of the galaxies in the sample presented here. However, for the remaining quarter, MOND does not adequately explain the observed rotation curves. Considering the uncertainties in distances and inclinations for the galaxies in our sample, a small fraction of poor MOND predictions is expected and is not necessarily a problem for MOND. We have also made fits taking the MOND acceleration constant, a0, as a free parameter in order to identify any systematic trends. We find that there appears to be a correlation between central surface brightness and the best-fit value of a0, in the sense that lower surface brightness galaxies tend to have lower a0. However, this correlation depends strongly on a small number of galaxies whose rotation curves might be uncertain due to either bars or warps. Without these galaxies, there is less evidence of a trend, but the average value we find for a0 ≈ 0.7 × 10−8 cm s−2 is somewhat lower than derived from previous studies. Such lower fitted values of a0 could occur if external gravitational fields are important.
Barrier Proteins Remodel and Modify Chromatin To Restrict Silenced Domains

ABSTRACT Transcriptionally active and inactive domains are frequently found adjacent to one another in the eukaryotic nucleus. To better understand the underlying mechanisms by which domains maintain opposing transcription patterns, we performed a systematic genomewide screen for proteins that may block the spread of silencing in yeast. This analysis identified numerous proteins with efficient silencing blocking activities, and some of these have previously been shown to be involved in chromatin dynamics. We isolated subunits of Swi/Snf, mediator, and TFIID, as well as subunits of the Sas-I, SAGA, NuA3, NuA4, Spt10p, Rad6p, and Dot1p complexes, as barrier proteins. We demonstrate that histone acetylation and chromatin remodeling occurred at the barrier and correlated with a block to the spread of silencing. Our data suggest that multiple overlapping mechanisms were involved in delimiting silenced and active domains in vivo.
Suppression of Transforming Growth Factor‐β Signaling Delays Cellular Senescence and Preserves the Function of Endothelial Cells Derived from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells

Transplantation of vascular cells derived from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) offers an attractive noninvasive method for repairing the ischemic tissues and for preventing the progression of vascular diseases. Here, we found that in a serum‐free condition, the proliferation rate of hPSC‐derived endothelial cells is quickly decreased, accompanied with an increased cellular senescence, resulting in impaired gene expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and impaired vessel forming capability in vitro and in vivo. To overcome the limited expansion of hPSC‐derived endothelial cells, we screened small molecules for specific signaling pathways and found that inhibition of transforming growth factor‐β (TGF‐β) signaling significantly retarded cellular senescence and increased a proliferative index of hPSC‐derived endothelial cells. Inhibition of TGF‐β signaling extended the life span of hPSC‐derived endothelial and improved endothelial functions, including vascular network formation on Matrigel, acetylated low‐density lipoprotein uptake, and eNOS expression. Exogenous transforming growth factor‐β1 increased the gene expression of cyclin‐dependent kinase inhibitors, p15Ink4b, p16Ink4a, and p21CIP1, in endothelial cells. Conversely, inhibition of TGF‐β reduced the gene expression of p15Ink4b, p16Ink4a, and p21CIP1. Our findings demonstrate that the senescence of newly generated endothelial cells from hPSCs is mediated by TGF‐β signaling, and manipulation of TGF‐β signaling offers a potential target to prevent vascular aging. Stem Cells Translational Medicine 2017;6:589–600
Magnetic Vortices Induced by a Monopole Tip

A ferromagnetic monolayer with an easy-plane anisotropy scanned by a magnetic tip that is moved with constant velocity ν is studied using atomistic computer simulations. The spin dynamics are treated using the Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert equation. To study the influence of the tip's field, it is modeled by a monopole field instead of a dipole field, which is a common near-field approximation of a scanning probe microscopy cantilever. The magnetic structures induced by the moving tip are analyzed with respect to the strength of the coupling as well as the scanning velocity, and the energy dissipation is calculated. The results agree with calculations in a continuum model using Thiele's equation, as well as with earlier results obtained from simulations using a dipolar tip. The quantitative influence of the field is illustrated using energetic arguments.
Impact analysis of preventing cross site scripting and SQL injection attacks on web application

Web applications provide immeasurable large facilities to the users. The usability and popularity of web applications have expanded. This has caused various types of attacks over them. SQL injection and XSS (Cross Site Scripting) attacks are very famous to exploit the web applications. To sneak into the web application database, one can use SQL injection attack that may cause database alteration or imparting vital details while XSS is one more threat in which malicious user tricks the input data given that may steer to the modification in webpage viewing or redirection of user to attacker's working space. The proposed Intrusion Detection System is a container based approach that is based on a mapping model. In this, a request to query mapping is applied to recognise and prevent such class of attacks. The container based approach to identify two different client requests have been used. The impact measurement of this container based approach on the web server is calculated using http_load and autobench tool. The web application performance measurement based on various parameters such as average page time, pages per second, memory and processing time for container based approach has been carried out and compared with the existing approach.
Invasomes-novel Vesicular Carriers for Enhanced Skin Permeation

Invasomes are the liposomal vesicles embodying small amounts of ethanol and terpenes or terpene mixtures, which act as potential carriers with increased skin penetration. Invasomes have higher penetration rate through the skin as compared to liposomes and ethosomes. Invasomes provide a number of advantages including improving the drug′s efficacy, enhancing patient compliance and comfort. This article reviews various aspects of invasomes including their preparation, characterization, potential advantages in drug delivery. Enhanced delivery of drugs through the skin and cellular membranes by means of an invasomal carrier opens numerous challenges and opportunities for research and future development of novel improved therapies.
Phosphorylation of Moesin by Rho-associated Kinase (Rho-kinase) Plays a Crucial Role in the Formation of Microvilli-like Structures*

Rho-associated kinase (Rho-kinase), which is activated by the small GTPase Rho, phosphorylates moesin at Thr558 in vitro. Here, using a site- and phosphorylation state-specific antibody, we found that the expression of dominant active RhoA in COS7 cells induced moesin phosphorylation and the formation of microvilli-like structures at apical membranes where the Thr558-phosphorylated moesin accumulated, whereas the expression of dominant negative Rho-kinase inhibited both of these processes. The expression of dominant active Rho-kinase also induced moesin phosphorylation. When COS7 cells expressing moesin or moesinT558A (substitution of Thr by Ala) were cultured under serum-depleted conditions, there were few microvilli-like structures, whereas microvilli-like structures remained in the cells expressing moesinT558D (substitution of Thr by Asp). The expression of moesinT558A inhibited the dominant active RhoA-induced formation of microvilli-like structures. These results indicate that Rho-kinase regulates moesin phosphorylation downstream of Rho in vivo and that the phosphorylation of moesin by Rho-kinase plays a crucial role in the formation of microvilli-like structures.
FGF17b and FGF18 have different midbrain regulatory properties from FGF8b or activated FGF receptors

Early patterning of the vertebrate midbrain and cerebellum is regulated by a mid/hindbrain organizer that produces three fibroblast growth factors (FGF8, FGF17 and FGF18). The mechanism by which each FGF contributes to patterning the midbrain, and induces a cerebellum in rhombomere 1 (r1) is not clear. We and others have found that FGF8b can transform the midbrain into a cerebellum fate, whereas FGF8a can promote midbrain development. In this study we used a chick electroporation assay and in vitro mouse brain explant experiments to compare the activity of FGF17b and FGF18 to FGF8a and FGF8b. First, FGF8b is the only protein that can induce the r1 gene Gbx2 and strongly activate the pathway inhibitors Spry1/2, as well as repress the midbrain gene Otx2. Consistent with previous studies that indicated high level FGF signaling is required to induce these gene expression changes, electroporation of activated FGFRs produce similar gene expression changes to FGF8b. Second, FGF8b extends the organizer along the junction between the induced Gbx2 domain and the remaining Otx2 region in the midbrain, correlating with cerebellum development. By contrast, FGF17b and FGF18 mimic FGF8a by causing expansion of the midbrain and upregulating midbrain gene expression. This result is consistent with Fgf17 and Fgf18 being expressed in the midbrain and not just in r1 as Fgf8 is. Third, analysis of gene expression in mouse brain explants with beads soaked in FGF8b or FGF17b showed that the distinct activities of FGF17b and FGF8b are not due to differences in the amount of FGF17b protein produced in vivo. Finally, brain explants were used to define a positive feedback loop involving FGF8b mediated upregulation of Fgf18, and two negative feedback loops that include repression of Fgfr2/3 and direct induction of Spry1/2. As Fgf17 and Fgf18 are co-expressed with Fgf8 in many tissues, our studies have broad implications for how these FGFs differentially control development.
An immune genetic algorithm based approach for distribution system reconfiguration

In this paper, a bio-immune mechanism based genetic algorithm (GA) optimization approach for the reconfiguration of distribution system is proposed. Some mathematical methods such as memorial property, diversity and self-adaptive feature of the natural immune system are introduced which prevent premature problem of GA effectively and acquire global optimum with high speed during the iterative procedure. Moreover, a coding strategy, representing distribution system features, is adopted which codes the switches of the tie switch-decided loop in the same chromosome. The improved coding strategy can effectively prohibit invalid solution, reduce search space and accelerate speed. A 33-bus distribution system is tested and the corresponding results demonstrate the effectiveness and feasibility of the proposed method for application.
Nucleolar scaffold protein, WDR46, determines the granular compartmental localization of nucleolin and DDX21

The nuclear scaffold is an insoluble nuclear structure that contributes to the inner nuclear organization. In this study, we showed that one of the nuclear scaffold proteins, WDR46, plays a role as a fundamental scaffold component of the nucleolar structure. WDR46 is a highly insoluble nucleolar protein, and its subcellular localization is dependent on neither DNA nor RNA. The N‐ and C‐terminal regions of WDR46 are predicted to be intrinsically disordered, and both regions are critical for the nucleolar localization of WDR46 and the association with its binding partners. When WDR46 was knocked down, two of its binding partners, nucleolin and DDX21 (involved in 18S rRNA processing), were mislocalized from the granular component to the edges of the nucleoli, whereas other binding partners, NOP2 and EBP2 (involved in 28S rRNA processing), were not affected. This is because the proper recruitment of nucleolin and DDX21 to the nucleoli in daughter cells after cell division is ensured by WDR46. These findings suggest a structural role for WDR46 in organizing the 18S ribosomal RNA processing machinery. This role of WDR46 is enabled by its interaction property via intrinsically disordered regions.
The Marijuana Screening Inventory (MSI-X): Concurrent, Convergent and Discriminant Validity with Multiple Measures

This study evaluates the concurrent, convergent and discriminant validity between the MSI-X and five other instruments completed by 107 adults. Pearson correlation analysis with follow-up t-tests found concurrent validity between the MSI-X, Drug Abuse Screening Test (DAST-20), five Substance Abuse Subtle Screening Inventory (SASSI-3) subscales, a Diagnostic Statistical Manual (DSM) IV-TR Guided Marijuana Inventory, and two Addiction Severity Index variables. As evidence of MSI-X discriminant validity, no correlations were found with three alcohol measures. Convergent validity, determined by t-test associations between MSI-X total problems with SASSI-3 substance dependence scores, supported the MSI-X ≥6 scoring cutoff. Overall, the findings support MSI-X concurrent, convergent and discriminant validity.
Personality correlates of music preferences in the Czech Republic

This study examines the structure of music preferences in the sample of participants from the Czech Republic (n=521), differences in structure of music preferences among various age groups and the associations between these preferences and certain personality characteristics. The exploratory factor analysis revealed five music preference dimensions. Further analysis addressed the question how music preferences are related to personality characteristics. Preferences for these music dimensions were related to personality dimension of Big-Five personality model. The data confirmed prior research conducted in the United States and revealed certain dissimilarities based on cultural differences.
A unified framework for multiple arrays on a robot and application to sound localization

The auditory system of humanoid robots has recently gained significant attention in the research community. This system enables interaction with the surroundings via microphone arrays embodied into the robot. Typically, a single array topology is designed which may limit the performance of the auditory system. In a recent paper, a system with two array types has been studied: the first consists of sensors distributed over the robot's head, and the second is a body-mounted robomorphic array. These arrays have only been studied separately without exploiting their performance as a single array. In this work, a unified framework has been developed for the two arrays in the spherical harmonics domain, and an initial investigation of direction of arrival estimation (DOA) with the unified framework is presented. The simulation study shows that the unified framework outperforms DOA estimation with the individual arrays, mainly at the low frequency range.
Detect Incorrect Triples in Knowledge Base Based on Triple Confidence Evaluation

The knowledge base is an important form of data storage and organization in the fields of knowledge service, and it is the basis of knowledge representation learning. The accuracy of the contents in the knowledge base determines the effectiveness of knowledge service applications. This study proposes a generic computational methodology to evaluate the confidence level of triples in knowledge bases and detect potentially incorrect ones for further verification. In our methodology, the confidence of a triple is evaluated based on weighted feature words that are able to characterize the subject-object relation embedded in the triple, and the feature words are extracted from a corpus of natural language sentences using statistical and natural language processing techniques. Based on the calculated confidence values of triples, incorrect triples are detected using machine-learning-based classification. An experiment on a data set of industry applications has been conducted to demonstrate the workflow of evaluating triple confidence and detecting in-correct triples using our methodology.