Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Camel Single-domain Antibodies as Modular Building Units in Bispecific and Bivalent Antibody Constructs*

Single-domain antibodies against various antigens are isolated from the unique heavy-chain antibodies of immunized camels and llamas. These minimal sized binders are very robust and bind the antigen with high affinity in a monomeric state. We evaluated the feasibility to produce soluble, functional bispecific and bivalent antibodies in Escherichia coli with camel single-domain antibody fragments as building blocks. Two single-domain antibody fragments were tethered by the structural upper hinge of a natural antibody to generate bispecific molecules. This linker was chosen for its protease resistance in serum and its natural flexibility to reorient the upstream and downstream located domains. The expression levels, ease of purification, and the solubility of the recombinant proteins were comparable with those of the constituent monomers. The individual moieties fully retain the binding capacity and the binding characteristics within the recombinant bispecific constructs. The easy generation steps and the biophysical properties of these bispecific and bivalent constructs based on camel single-domain antibody fragments makes them particularly attractive for use in therapeutic or diagnostic programs.
Stability analysis of 2-D digital filters with saturation arithmetic: an LMI approach

An improved LMI-based criterion for the nonexistence of overflow oscillations in two-dimensional (2-D) digital filters described by the Roesser model employing saturation arithmetic is presented. The criterion makes use of the structural properties (as prevailing in the system under consideration) of the saturation nonlinearities in a greater detail than the usual sector restriction [0,1].
Online adaptation of performance maps for centrifugal gas compressors

This paper investigates the adaptation of different performance maps of centrifugal compressors driven by dual-shaft gas turbines during operation. First the estimation of compressor, gas turbine and combined efficiency are considered. Obtaining performance maps is mainly based on fitting an empirical model to the history of past data together with the understanding of how much new information is contained in newly collected data samples. This amounts to solving a least-squares problem which is formulated as a quadratic program using various constraints. Comparing the actual efficiency to the predicted efficiency by evaluating the previously fitted model, the algorithm decides whether the actual model is accurate enough or a model update is needed. The necessity of having an online model update comes from the fact that the efficiency maps can change due to several factors such as fouling. The algorithm is tested using industrial data from a gas compression station with five gas turbine-driven compressors. The results show the need of online adaptation and that it is possible to accurately predict the different efficiencies using the presented method without excessive model updates. The access to online updated performance maps allows to understand how well the system is performing and gives the opportunity to monitor the efficiency of a specific unit. It is possible to use the adapted performance maps for load sharing optimization with time-varying optimization models.
A Text Clustering Algorithm Hybriding Invasive Weed Optimization with K-Means

Invasive Weed Optimization (IWO) is an optimization algorithm with powerful explorative and exploitive capability. K-MEANS method is a clustering algorithm sensitive to the initial point selection and easy to fall into local optimum. In order to improve the performance of traditional K-MEANS, in this paper, a clustering algorithm framework hybirding IWO with K-MEANS is argued. This paper mainly focus on dicussing different manner of combining those two algorithms, we try two methods and apply them to the Chinese text clustering. To our knowledge, such applications of IWO-KMEANS hasn't been reported in other literatures. The experimental results shows that compared with the traditional K-MEANS algorithm, as well as the Differential Evolution optimization based K-MEANS(DE-KMEANS) algorithm, employing IWO optimization to select cluster center outperforms all aforementioned methods.
Quantitative Palynology Informing Conservation Ecology in the Bohemian/Bavarian Forests of Central Europe

In 1927, the first pollen diagram was published from the Bohemian/Bavarian Forest region of Central Europe, providing one of the first qualitative views of the long-term vegetation development in the region. Since then significant methodological advances in quantitative approaches such as pollen influx and pollen-based vegetation models (e.g., Landscape Reconstruction Algorithm, LRA) have contributed to enhance our understanding of temporal and spatial ecology. These types of quantitative reconstructions are fundamental for conservation and restoration ecology because they provide long-term perspectives on ecosystem functioning. In the Bohemian/Bavarian Forests, forest managers have a goal to restore the original forest composition at mid-elevation forests, yet they rely on natural potential vegetation maps that do not take into account long-term vegetation dynamics. Here we reconstruct the Holocene history of forest composition and discuss the implications the LRA has for regional forest management and conservation. Two newly analyzed pollen records from Prášilské jezero and Rachelsee were compared to 10 regional peat bogs/mires and two other regional lakes to reconstruct total land-cover abundance at both the regional- and local-scales. The results demonstrate that spruce has been the dominant canopy cover across the region for the past 9,000 years at both high- (>900 m) and mid-elevations (>700–900 m). At the regional-scale inferred from lake records, spruce has comprised an average of ~50% of the total forest canopy; whereas at the more local-scale at mid-elevations, spruce formed ~59%. Beech established ~6,000 cal. years BP while fir established later around 5,500 cal. years BP. Beech and fir growing at mid-elevations reached a maximum land-cover abundance of 24% and 13% roughly 1,000 years ago. Over the past 500 years spruce has comprised ~47% land-cover, while beech and fir comprised ~8% and <5% at mid-elevations. This approach argues for the “natural” development of spruce and fir locally in zones where the paleoecology indicates the persistence of these species for millennia. Contrasting local and regional reconstructions of forest canopy cover points to a patchwork mosaic with local variability in the dominant taxa. Incorporation of paleoecological data in dialogues about biodiversity and ecosystem management is an approach that has wider utility.
DepartureAirport Time DepartureLocation ArrivalLocation Location Date DepartureStation IOConcept TransportationLocation EntertainmentLocation Airport Station Transportation Car Flight Train MassTransit Bus Date Location Entertainment ObjectConcept TransportationLocation EntertainmentLocation Airport

As a demand on composite Web services increases, there is a growing interest in a convenient access to them. This paper proposes a natural language interface to Web services, which can be used even by a novice user who does not know Web service technologies. Given a user‟s natural language request to a composite service, the proposed method generates an abstract workflow, which describes the constituent tasks and their transitions in a composite service. Specifically, the proposed method constructs a sophisticated abstract workflow from complex sentences with phrases and control constructs. Experimental results with a variety of natural language requests show that the proposed method successfully extracts abstract workflows, resulting in an accuracy of 95.2%. Keyword: Natural language interface, Web service, composite service, ontology
Simulation of Manipulator Control Model Based on Improved Differential Evolution Algorithm

The goal of trajectory tracking control of the manipulator is to make the joints of the manipulator cooperate with each other through a certain control algorithm, and finally make the end effector reach the desired target position according to the pre-designed path, so as to complete the corresponding required tasks. For different fields, such as aerospace, power grid, agriculture, etc., the trajectory optimization requirements of the manipulator are also very different, which leads to different degrees of adjustment of the end pose of the manipulator. Industrial manipulator is a complex system with high nonlinearity, strong coupling and uncertain model, and its motion process is often repetitive. In this paper, a manipulator control model based on improved differential evolution (DE) algorithm is proposed, and the simulation experiment is compared with the standard PID algorithm. The simulation results show that this model can get a recall rate of 95.83%, and the error is obviously reduced compared with the traditional algorithm. Compared with PID algorithm, the tracking trajectory, optimal trajectory and ideal trajectory of the improved DE algorithm are more similar with less error.
A Transgenic Model of Central Nervous System Autoimmunity Mediated by CD4+ and CD8+ T and B Cells

Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is a widely used model of multiple sclerosis. In NOD mice, EAE develops as a relapsing–remitting disease that transitions to a chronic progressive disease, making the NOD model the only mouse model that recapitulates the full clinical disease course observed in most multiple sclerosis patients. We have generated a TCR transgenic mouse that expresses the α- and β-chains of a myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) 35–55–reactive TCR (1C6) on the NOD background. 1C6 TCR transgenic mice spontaneously generate both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells that recognize MOG and produce proinflammatory cytokines, allowing for the first time to our knowledge the simultaneous examination of myelin-reactive CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in the same host. 1C6 CD8+ T cells alone can induce optic neuritis and mild EAE with delayed onset; however, 1C6 CD4+ T cells alone induce severe EAE and predominate in driving disease when both cell types are present. When 1C6 mice are crossed with mice bearing an IgH specific for MOG, the mice develop spontaneous EAE with high incidence, but surprisingly the disease pattern does not resemble the neuromyelitis optica-like disease observed in mice bearing CD4+ T cells and B cells reactive to MOG on the C57BL/6 background. Collectively, our data show that although myelin-reactive CD8+ T cells contribute to disease, disease is primarily driven by myelin-reactive CD4+ T cells and that the coexistence of myelin-reactive T and B cells does not necessarily result in a distinct pathological phenotype.
Modeling dynamic location update strategies for PCS networks

Location management, accomplished through the backbone network and wireless links, is an important issue in a personal communication system (PCS). In this paper, we present a unified model to assess three dynamic location update strategies, including the distance-based, movement-based and time-based schemes, based on a seven-state Markovian mobility model on a two-dimensional hexagonal cellular topology. In our analysis, performance measures of each strategy can be evaluated efficiently.
Weighted Fuzzy Interpolative Reasoning Based on Weighted Increment Transformation and Weighted Ratio Transformation Techniques

In this paper, we present a new weighted fuzzy interpolative reasoning method for sparse fuzzy rule-based systems. The proposed method uses weighted increment transformation and weighted ratio transformation techniques to handle weighted fuzzy interpolative reasoning in sparse fuzzy rule-based systems. It allows each variable that appears in the antecedent parts of fuzzy rules to associate with a weight between zero and one. Moreover, we also propose an algorithm that automatically tunes the optimal weights of the antecedent variables appearing in the antecedent parts of fuzzy rules. We also apply the proposed weighted fuzzy interpolative reasoning method to handle the truck backer-upper control problem. The proposed weighted fuzzy interpolative reasoning method performs better than the ones obtained by the traditional fuzzy inference system (2000), Huang and Shen's method (2008), and Chen and Ko's method (2008). The proposed method provides us with a useful way to deal with weighted fuzzy interpolative reasoning in sparse fuzzy rule-based systems.
Fabrication and characterization of micro-structures created by direct laser writing in multi-layered chalcogenide glasses

Arsenic trisulfide (As2S3) is a chalcogenide (ChG) material with excellent infrared (IR) transparency (620 nm to 11 μm), low phonon energies, and large nonlinear refractive indices. These properties directly relate to commercial and industrial applications including sensors, photonic waveguides, and acousto-optics. Multi-photon exposure can be used to photopattern thermally deposited As2S3 ChG glassy films of molecular clusters. Immersing the photo-patterned cross-linked material into a polar-solvent removes the unexposed material leaving behind a structure that is a negative-tone replica of the photo-pattern. Nano-structure arrays that were photo-patterned in single-layered As2S3 films through multi-photon direct laser writing (DLW) resulted in the production of nano-beads as a consequence of a standing wave effect. To overcome this effect, an anti-reflective (AR) layer of arsenic triselenide (As2Se3) was thermally deposited between the silicon substrate and the As2S3 layer, creating a multi-layered film. The chemical composition of the unexposed and photo-exposed multi-layered film was examined through Raman spectroscopy. Nano-structure arrays were photopatterned in the multi-layered film and the resulting structure, morphology, and chemical composition were characterized, compared to results from the single-layered film, and correlated with the conditions of the thermal deposition, patterned irradiation, and etch processing.
A mix route algorithm for mix-net in wireless mobile ad hoc networks

Providing anonymous connection service in mobile ad hoc networks is a challenging task. In addition to security concerns, performance concerns must be addressed properly as well. Chaum's mix method (Comms. of the ACM, vol.24(2), p.84-88, 1981) can effectively thwart an adversary's attempt at tracing packet routes and can hide the source and/or destination of packets. However, applying the mix method in ad hoc networks may cause significant performance degradation due to its non-adaptive mix route selection algorithm. We propose a dynamic mix routing algorithm to find topology-dependent mix routes for anonymous connections. Its effectiveness in improving network performance is validated by simulation results. We also address the potential degradation of anonymity due to dynamic mix routing.
Modelling multi-topic information propagation in online social networks based on resource competition

Understanding information propagation in online social networks is important in many practical applications and is of great interest to many researchers. The challenge with the existing propagation models lies in the requirement of complete network structure, topic-dependent model parameters and topic isolated spread assumption, etc. In this paper, we study the characteristics of multi-topic information propagation based on the data collected from Sina Weibo, one of the most popular microblogging services in China. We find that the daily total amount of user resources is finite and users’ attention transfers from one topic to another. This shows evidence on the competitions between multiple dynamical topics. According to these empirical observations, we develop a competition-based multi-topic information propagation model without social network structure. This model is built based on general mechanisms of resource competitions, i.e. attracting and distracting users’ attention, and considers the interactions of multiple topics. Simulation results show that the model can effectively produce topics with temporal popularity similar to the real data. The impact of model parameters is also analysed. It is found that topic arrival rate reflects the strength of competitions, and topic fitness is significant in modelling the small scale topic propagation.
A Method for Modeling Health Informatics Capacity in Patient Journeys Supported by Interprofessional Teams

Neonatal intensive care is one of the most complex areas of healthcare, as a result, information flow within this unit must be as efficient as possible. This paper presents initial research findings based on the use of the patient journey modeling technique known as PaJMa to audit the current state of health informatics within NICUs in Canada and internationally. In this paper, a case study from an Ontario NICU is utilized and their "Investigations" process is modeled using PaJMa.
Stationary-phase-inducible "gearbox" promoters: differential effects of katF mutations and role of sigma 70

Many of the changes in gene expression observed when Escherichia coli cells enter stationary phase are regulated at the level of transcription initiation. A group of stationary-phase-inducible promoters, known as "gearbox" promoter, display a characteristic sequence in the -10 region which differs greatly from the consensus sequence for sigma 70-dependent promoters. Here we describe our studies on the gearbox promoters bolAp1 and mcbAp, responsible for the temporally regulated transcription of bolA and the genes involved in the synthesis of the peptide antibiotic microcin B17, respectively. Deletion analysis of mcbAp demonstrated that the stationary-phase-inducible properties of this promoter are found in a DNA fragment extending from -54 to +11 bp, surrounding the transcriptional start site, and are separable from DNA sequences responsible for the OmpR-dependent stimulation of transcription of mcbAp. In vitro transcription studies indicate that the RNA polymerase holoenzyme involved in the transcription of mcbAp contains sigma 70. In this and an accompanying paper (R. Lange and R. Hengge-Aronis, J. Bacteriol. 173: 4474-4481, 1991), experiments are described which show that the product of katF, a global regulator of stationary-phase gene expression and a putative sigma factor, is required for the expression of bolAp1 fused to the reporter gene lacZ. In contrast, mcbAp appears to be negatively regulated by katF. We discuss the implications of these results for postexponential gene expression and the role of gearbox sequences in the regulation of promoter activity.
Silicon dry etching profile control by RIE at room temperature for MEMS applications

Work is focused on the study and control of anisotropic silicon etching profiles by using conventional room temperature RIE system with SF6/O2 chemistry. The main process parameters of etching are considered in order to achieve high etching rate, high anisotropy, high aspect ratio, good selectivity, and all this achieved with good homogeneity and repeatability. High anisotropic etching profile, resulting in undercut less than 1.5 μm, aspect ratio higher than 10 and selectivity to oxide of 80 are obtained for 40 μm depth and 3.5 μm wide squared etched pillars. We determined that 29 % content of oxygen in total gas flow is optimal. Silicon and oxide etching rate and selectivity in dependence of total gas flow and gas flow ratio were investigated. Typically, silicon etching rate of 1.6 μm/min, oxide etching rate of 20 nm/min and selectivity of 80 were obtained. Due to the effect of load dependency of etching process, empirical dependence between load and etching rate was determined. Positive RIE lag is observed at etching high aspect ratio trenches. Etched trenches of 6 μm width (aspect ratio less than 7) revealed negligible influence of pressure on aspect ratio dependent etching, for etching performed at pressure 60 or 100 mtorr.
Towards an Ontology of Requirements at Runtime

The use of Requirements at Runtime (RRT) is an emerging research area. Many methodologies and frameworks that make use of requirements models during the execution of software can be found in the literature, but very few of them use ontologies to ground the models that are used at runtime. In this paper, we introduce the Runtime Requirements Ontology (RRO), a domain ontology that intends to represent the nature and context of RRT. Following a well-known Ontology Engineering method, we evaluate RRO using verification and validation techniques.
Interaction between plastid and mitochondrial retrograde signalling pathways during changes to plastid redox status

Mitochondria and chloroplasts depend upon each other; photosynthesis provides substrates for mitochondrial respiration and mitochondrial metabolism is essential for sustaining photosynthetic carbon assimilation. In addition, mitochondrial respiration protects photosynthesis against photoinhibition by dissipating excess redox equivalents from the chloroplasts. Genetic defects in mitochondrial function result in an excessive reduction and energization of the chloroplast. Thus, it is clear that the activities of mitochondria and plastids need to be coordinated, but the manner by which the organelles communicate to coordinate their activities is unknown. The regulator of alternative oxidase (rao1) mutant was isolated as a mutant unable to induce AOX1a expression in response to the inhibitor of the mitochondrial cytochrome c reductase (complex III), antimycin A. RAO1 encodes the nuclear localized cyclin-dependent kinase E1 (CDKE1). Interestingly, the rao1 mutant demonstrates a genome uncoupled phenotype also in response to redox changes in the photosynthetic electron transport chain. Thus, CDKE1 was shown to regulate both LIGHT HARVESTING COMPLEX B (LHCB) and ALTERNATIVE OXIDASE 1 (AOX1a) expression in response to retrograde signals. Our results suggest that CDKE1 is a central nuclear component integrating mitochondrial and plastid retrograde signals and plays a role in regulating energy metabolism during the response to stress.
Combined Audio and Video Analysis for Guitar Chord Identification

This paper presents a multi-modal approach to automatically identifying guitar chords using audio and video of the performer. Chord identification is typically performed by analyzing the audio, using a chroma based feature to extract pitch class information, then identifying the chord with the appropriate label. Even if this method proves perfectly accurate, stringed instruments add extra ambiguity as a single chord or melody may be played in different positions on the fretboard. Preserving this information is important, because it signifies the original fingering, and implied “easiest” way to perform the selection. This chord identification system combines analysis of audio to determine the general chord scale (i.e. A major, G minor), and video of the guitarist to determine chord voicing (i.e. open, barred, inversion), to accurately identify the guitar chord.