Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A 50- to 300-MHz CMOS  $Gm\mbox{-}C$ Tracking Filter Based on Parallel Operation of Saturation and Triode Transconductors for Digital TV Tuner ICs

In this brief, a 50- to 300-MHz CMOS Gm-C tracking low-pass filter has been presented to resolve a LO harmonic-mixing problem for Advanced Television Systems Committee terrestrial and cable digital TV tuner integrated circuits. A Gm-C filter based on parallel operation of a transconductor biased in the saturation region with source degeneration and a transconductor biased in the triode region is chosen to achieve high linearity performance at the very high frequency/ultrahigh frequency bands. The cutoff frequency of the proposed filter is tunable from 50 to 300 MHz. The filter is implemented in a 0.18-μm CMOS technology and achieves a minimum input-referred noise density of 3 nV/√Hz and maximum in-band output-referred third-order intercept point of 20.7 dBm. It operates at a nominal supply voltage of 1.8 V with bias currents of 114 mA. The active die area is 1.1 mm2.
Complexation of risperidone with a taste-masking resin: Novel application of near infra-red and chemical imaging to evaluate complexes

The purpose of the study was to investigate the complexation between a weakly basic drug (risperidone) and an ion exchange resin (amberlite IRP-64) used as a taste-masking agent via two preparation methods: physical mixture and solvent evaporation. Both methods were prepared in different drug-to-resin ratios by weight (1:1, 1:2, 1:4, 1:6). Physicochemical characterizations were performed using differential scanning calorimetry, x-ray diffraction, infra-red spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, near infra-red spectroscopy, chemical imaging and drug release studies. These physicochemical techniques revealed that risperidone formed complex with the resin via the solvent evaporation method where enhanced dissolution occurred but not with the physical mixtures.
Efficient Utilization of Rare Earth Permanent-Magnet Materials and Torque Ripple Reduction in Interior Permanent-Magnet Machines

This paper proposes a new interior permanent-magnet machine (IPMM) design in which the rotor consists of several rotor segments arranged in the axial direction, aiming to improve the utilization of rare earth permanent-magnet (PM) materials and reduce the torque ripple. The proposed design is optimized to feature a <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${\text{21}}\%$</tex-math></inline-formula> reduction of rare earth PM materials and a <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">${\text{50}}\%$</tex-math></inline-formula> reduction of ripple torque ratio compared with the Camry 2007 design, which uses the conventional pole-shaping technique to suppress its torque ripple. Although the torque is reduced by <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">${\text{9}}\%$</tex-math></inline-formula> , the torque per magnet weight is improved by <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">${\text{15}}\%$</tex-math> </inline-formula>, indicating the PMs are more efficiently used in the proposed design. The designs are verified by 3-D finite element. Despite the small torque reduction, the efficiency of the proposed design is still about the same as the Camry design.
Dimensions of service quality in the virtual world: implications for extranets

The Internet has taken globalisation of the marketplace from hyperbole to present day reality. In this marketplace, information technology can be used to create and sustain competitive advantage. One such technology is the Extranet. Extranets are increasingly being used to add value in the virtual world through business-to-business information sharing and transaction handling. Yet there is limited research into perceptions of service quality when using Extranets. This paper relates the literature on service quality to the developing literature on Extranets. Five dimension of service quality from the physical world (Parasuraman, Zeithaml, and Berry, 1985) are applied to the virtual world of extranets. It is concluded that dimensions of quality in human-to-human interations may also apply to human-to-computer interactions, but that the factors which contribute to them may differ.
High-Accuracy Comparison of Lightning and Switching Impulse Calibrators

This paper summarizes the results of a comparison on two calculable impulse voltage calibrators and one commercial calibrator between Helsinki University of Technology, Finland (MIKES-TKK), Nippon Institute of Technology, Japan (NIT), and Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt, Germany (PTB). The peak voltage levels of the comparison ranged from 10 to 300 V. Both lightning and switching impulse voltage calibrators were studied using both positive and negative polarity impulses. The comparison was performed by applying impulses from the calibrators to a 12-b digitizer and then comparing the reported digitizer errors. For the switching impulse peak value, the agreement between the two calculable calibrators was better than 0.02% for all the measured voltages and better than 0.4% for the time parameters. For the lightning impulse peak value, the disagreement between the same two calibrators was smaller than 0.05% for all voltages examined and smaller than 1% for the time parameters
Frequency of the thermolabile variant C677T in the MTHFR gene and lack of association with neural tube defects in the State of Yucatan, Mexico

The C677T variant in the MTHFR gene is considered to be an associated risk factor for neural tube defects. However, the association has not been found in some ethnic groups. In order to assess the association between neural tube defects and the C677T variant, we determined the frequency of this variant in the MTHFR gene in the State of Yucatan, Mexico, where neural tube defects are highly prevalent. The study was performed on 65 subjects with spine bifida, 60 of their mothers and 110 control subjects. The presence of the C677T variant was determined by amplification and digestion with HinF1 of each subject's DNA. Genotypic and allelic frequencies were calculated for all groups. We did not observe any statistically significant difference in the genotypic or allelic frequencies between cases and controls for any of the groups studied (p > 0.05), suggesting that the thermolabile variant C677T is not an associated risk factor neither for the development of neural tube defects nor for mothers to have affected offspring in the population from Yucatan. Interestingly, the frequency of the C677T variant (54%) obtained in the Yucatan population is one of the highest reported (p < 0.01) and confirmed the high frequency of this allele throughout Mexico.
Control Design and Implementation for High Performance Shunt Active Filters in Aircraft Power Grids

This paper presents the design and implementation of a Shunt Active Filter (SAF) for aircraft power networks using an accurate wide-band current control method based on Iterative Learning Control (ILC). The SAF control system is designed to compensate harmonic currents, with a 400 Hz supply voltage. This work introduces useful design strategies to increase the error-decay speed and improve the robustness of the SAF control system by using a hybrid P-type ILC controller. Detailed design of the hybrid P-type ILC controller and simulation results are presented. The overall system implementation is demonstrated through experimental results on a laboratory prototype.
Separate Domains of the Human Fas Ligand Dictate Self-association and Receptor Binding*

The Fas receptor rapidly induces apoptosis when activated by ligand binding or by cross-linking with anti-Fas antibody. The Fas ligand (FasL), a member of the tumor necrosis factor family of ligands, is a 40-kilodalton type II transmembrane protein which is cleaved to produce soluble ligand. Although the Fas-FasL interaction plays a critical role in peripheral T cell homeostasis and cytotoxic T lymphocyte-mediated target cell killing, the requirements for human FasL receptor binding and oligomerization have not been defined. Here we report two distinct domains of the ligand which are responsible for self-association and binding to the Fas receptor. A COOH-terminal sequence of the FasL was found to be required for binding and biological activity, as verified by deletion mutagenesis, use of the NOK-1 blocking antibody and the humanized gld FasL mutation. N-Linked glycosylation of the FasL was not required for biological activity. However, the FasL expression level was dependent upon the three N-linked glycosylation sites. Moreover, the ability of the FasL to self-associate was not dependent upon transmembrane or cytoplasmic sequences, but was localized to a 47-amino acid region in its extracellular domain. These results indicate that the FasL-Fas receptor complex depends upon independent motifs located within the extracellular domain of the FasL.
Human Recognition Methods based on Biometric Technologies

has revolutionized the Human Recognition Technology . The base and reach of human recognition system has been expanded by the innovative uses of Biometric devices . Human recognition have becomes one of the most well-off fields in the past ten years. Biometrics is the science of establishing the identity of an individual based on physical, chemical or behavioural attributes of the person; it deals with the automated recognition of individuals based on biological and behavioural characteristics. Biometrics spread its wings in a wide range of applications and found itself as a reliable source in fields such as electronic data security, ecommerce, internet access, physical access control, PDA, Government applications such as national ID card, social security, welfare- disbursement, border control, military surveillance, etc As the application areas are emerging, the implementation of biometric systems in both commercial and government sectors is increasing and therefore leading to enormous security breaches in the installed systems. Currently, the most effective means of Human Recognition is to use biometric system. So while designing biometric system, security of the system is one of the factors which have to be considered along with the increasing performance at reasonable costs. The objective of this paper is to explore the potential of fast developing Biometric systems such as fingerprints, face recognition, iris recognition for human identification. This paper discusses the main features of the biometric system: architecture, evaluation methodology used in these system and also various issues related to security of the biometric system.
Evidence-based guidelines are equivalent to a liberal computed tomography scan protocol for initial patient evaluation but are associated with decreased computed tomography scan use, cost, and radiation exposure

BACKGROUND We hypothesized that trauma patient evaluations using evidence-based treatment guidelines (evidence-based group [EBG]), which include serial examinations and limited computed tomography (CT) scans in an established trauma center, would be associated with equivalent outcomes but with decreased CT scan usage, decreased cost, and less radiation exposure compared with a liberal CT scan approach (conventional group [CONV]). METHODS Fifteen evidence-based treatment guidelines were developed using published literature and in collaboration with other institutional departments. These were implemented on July 1, 2010. Prospectively collected data during a 4-month period were compared with a similar period in 2008 when CONV was used. RESULTS In 2010 (EBG), there were 611 patients compared with 612 in 2008 (CONV). Their average Injury Severity Score was 11.93 versus 8.77 (p < 0.0001), and the total CT scans were 757 and 1194, respectively (p < 0.001). The average APACHE II and hospital length of stay did not significantly vary. No missed or delayed injuries were identified. Estimated CT scan charges were $1,842,534 versus $2,935,024. The average number of scans per patient were 1.2 (EBG) versus 1.9 (CONV). Regarding radiation dosimetry, the estimated average computed tomography dose index (CTDI) per patient were 36.7 versus 53.31 mGy, and the estimated average dose-length product per patient were 889.91 versus 1364.11 mGy·cm. CONCLUSION EBG, including serial examinations, provided equivalent diagnostic data to CONV for initial workup but reduced CT scan usage, CT scan charges, and average radiation exposure per patient. This strategy may be beneficial in institutions where serial monitoring can be assiduously provided. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Case management study, level IV.
Leaf Width, NrDNA And cpDNA its Sequence Variation Within Central European Bulbocodium Vernum and B. Versicolor (Colchicaceae) Populations: Are There Really Two Taxa?

The taxonomy of the genus Bulbocodiimi , in which two European species, a smaller eastern (B. versicolor) and a more robust western (B. vernum) are included, has been controversial since the description of the eastern species in 1821. Nuclear encoded ribosomal DNA ITS1 and the entire chloroplast DNA ITS were sequenced from several European populations, from France to the Ukraine, and the leaf width of mature living individuals was measured and analysed by ANOVA and Tukey-test. Although the studied DNA regions proved to be invariable, leaf width shows extreme variability. We found no correlation between the leaf size of the individuals and the geographical position of the populations, and in addition, the sequenced DNA regions showed total uniformity. Thus, our results do not support the division of the genus Bulbocodiimi into two taxa, at least in the sampled area. The formerly described size variants can be treated taxonomically at the forma level.
The positive effects of patent performance, R&D capability, and employee productivity on firm performance

This paper explores the influences of patent performance, R&D capability, and employee productivity upon firm performance. This study uses patent intensity, revealed technology advantage in the most important technological field (RTAMIT), and average output per employee as the proxy variables of patent performance, R&D capability, and employee productivity in the American chemical industry. The results indicate that patent intensity, RTAMIT, and average output per employee of firms are positively associated with their performance. This study verifies that patent performance, R&D capability, and employee productivity positively affect firm performance.
HIV stigma intervention in a low-HIV prevalence setting: a pilot study in an Egyptian healthcare facility

ABSTRACT This pilot study is the first to evaluate stigma-reduction intervention in a healthcare setting in Egypt and in the Middle East and North Africa region. It also contributes to knowledge on how to address stigma in low-HIV prevalence settings. A quasi-experimental study design was used to evaluate the effect of anti-HIV stigma intervention in one hospital in Egypt. A control hospital was selected and matched to the intervention hospital by type, size and location. The intervention focused on HIV-related stigma, infection control and medical ethics. Stigma was measured at baseline and at three months post-intervention. A standardized, 10-point scale was developed to measure stigmatizing attitudes and fear-based stigma among participants. Comparisons of overall and job-stratified stigma scores were made across the intervention and control hospitals, before and after the intervention, using two-sample t-test and multivariate regression analysis. Mean stigma scores did not reveal significant differences between the intervention and control hospitals at baseline. After intervention, the overall value-based and fear-based stigma scores were significantly lower in the intervention hospital compared to the control hospital (2.1 and 1.1 compared to 3.8 and 3.2, respectively; p < .001). Context-specific and culturally appropriate HIV stigma-reduction interventions in low-HIV prevalence settings can reduce fear-based and value-based stigma among physicians and nurses.
: Control, Optimisation and Calculus of Variations

In this paper we analyze several concepts of solution to discontinuous ODEs in relation to feedbacks generated by optimal syntheses. Optimal trajectories are called Strati(cid:12)ed Solutions in case of regular synthesis in the sense of Boltyanskii{Brunovsky. We introduce a concept of solution called Krasowskii Cone Robust that characterizes optimal trajectories for minimum time on the plane and for general problems under suitable assumptions.
Arabidopsis semidwarfs evolved from independent mutations in GA20ox1, ortholog to green revolution dwarf alleles in rice and barley

Significance Semidwarf accessions occur at low frequency across the distribution range of Arabidopsis thaliana and are mainly mutants of the GA5 (GA20ox1) gene, mutations of which originate from wild-type alleles still present in the regions where the mutants were found. We identified the causal mutations by allelism tests and sequencing and performed a detailed population genetics analysis of this variation. Using Fay and Wu’s H statistics, we obtained indications for local selection of the dwarf alleles. Mutants of functional orthologs of this gene have been selected as the so-called “green revolution genes” in rice and barley, thus indicating that Arabidopsis natural variation can be a source for the identification of useful genes for plant breeding. Understanding the genetic bases of natural variation for developmental and stress-related traits is a major goal of current plant biology. Variation in plant hormone levels and signaling might underlie such phenotypic variation occurring even within the same species. Here we report the genetic and molecular basis of semidwarf individuals found in natural Arabidopsis thaliana populations. Allelism tests demonstrate that independent loss-of-function mutations at GA locus 5 (GA5), which encodes gibberellin 20-oxidase 1 (GA20ox1) involved in the last steps of gibberellin biosynthesis, are found in different populations from southern, western, and northern Europe; central Asia; and Japan. Sequencing of GA5 identified 21 different loss-of-function alleles causing semidwarfness without any obvious general tradeoff affecting plant performance traits. GA5 shows signatures of purifying selection, whereas GA5 loss-of-function alleles can also exhibit patterns of positive selection in specific populations as shown by Fay and Wu’s H statistics. These results suggest that antagonistic pleiotropy might underlie the occurrence of GA5 loss-of-function mutations in nature. Furthermore, because GA5 is the ortholog of rice SD1 and barley Sdw1/Denso green revolution genes, this study illustrates the occurrence of conserved adaptive evolution between wild A.thaliana and domesticated plants.
LARP-1 promotes oogenesis by repressing fem-3 in the C. elegans germline

LA-related protein 1 (LARP-1) belongs to an RNA-binding protein family containing a LA motif. Here, we identify LARP-1 as a regulator of sex determination. In C. elegans hermaphrodites, a complex regulatory network regulates the switch from sperm to oocyte production. We find that simultaneous depletion of larp-1 and the Nanos homologue nos-3 results in germline masculinization. This phenotype is accompanied by a strong reduction of the levels of TRA-1, a GLI-family transcription factor that promotes oogenesis. TRA-1 levels are regulated by CBCFEM-1, a ubiquitin ligase consisting of the FEM proteins, FEM-1, FEM-2 and FEM-3 and the cullin CUL-2. We show that both the masculinization phenotype and the reduction of TRA-1 levels observed in nos-3;larp-1 mutants require fem-3 activity, suggesting that nos-3 and larp-1 regulate the sperm-oocyte switch by inhibiting the fem genes. Consistently, fem-3 mRNA levels are increased in larp-1 mutants. By contrast, levels of fem-3 mRNA are not affected in nos-3 mutants. Therefore, our data indicate that LARP-1 and NOS-3 promote oogenesis by regulating fem-3 expression through distinct mechanisms.
Optical property of the fabricated Si1−xGex nanowires

The optical characteristics of the fabricated Si1−xGex nanowires (SGNWs) with different compositions have been researched. Firstly, the SGNWs have been fabricated by Vapor Liquid Solid (VLS) mechanism by using Ni as a catalyst under the temperature of 1000°C, and the length and the compositions of the SGNWs could be tuned by controlling the growth time and the mole ratios of SiCl4:GeCl4 respectively. Secondly, the total reflection and the transmission of the fabricated SGNWs have been measured by the Varian Cary 5000 UV/VIS/NIR spectrophotometer in a wavelength range of 300–2000 nm for explaining the color changes of the samples. At last, we give some discussions and the explanations about the experimental results.
Influence of Dietary Zinc Oxide and Copper Sulfate on the Gastrointestinal Ecosystem in Newly Weaned Piglets

ABSTRACT Dietary doses of 2,500 ppm ZnO-Zn reduced bacterial activity (ATP accumulation) in digesta from the gastrointestinal tracts of newly weaned piglets compared to that in animals receiving 100 ppm ZnO-Zn. The amounts of lactic acid bacteria (MRS counts) and lactobacilli (Rogosa counts) were reduced, whereas coliforms (MacConkey counts) and enterococci (Slanetz counts, red colonies) were more numerous in animals receiving the high ZnO dose. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing, the colonies on MRS were dominated by three phylotypes, tentatively identified as Lactobacillus amylovorus (OTU171), Lactobacillus reuteri (OTU173), and Streptococcus alactolyticus (OTU180). The colonies on Rogosa plates were dominated by the two Lactobacillus phylotypes only. Terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis supported the observations of three phylotypes of lactic acid bacteria dominating in piglets receiving the low ZnO dose and of coliforms and enterococci dominating in piglets receiving the high ZnO dose. Dietary doses of 175 ppm CuSO4-Cu also reduced MRS and Rogosa counts of stomach contents, but for these animals, the numbers of coliforms were reduced in the cecum and the colon. The influence of ZnO on the gastrointestinal microbiota resembles the working mechanism suggested for some growth-promoting antibiotics, namely, the suppression of gram-positive commensals rather than potentially pathogenic gram-negative organisms. Reduced fermentation of digestible nutrients in the proximal part of the gastrointestinal tract may render more energy available for the host animal and contribute to the growth-promoting effect of high dietary ZnO doses. Dietary CuSO4 inhibited the coliforms and thus potential pathogens as well, but overall the observed effect of CuSO4 was limited compared to that of ZnO.
The yeast Cln3 protein is an unstable activator of Cdc28

The Cln3 cyclin homolog of Saccharomyces cerevisiae functions to promote cell cycle START for only a short time following its synthesis. Cln3 protein is highly unstable and is stabilized by C-terminal truncation. Cln3 binds to Cdc28, a protein kinase catalytic subunit essential for cell cycle START, and Cln3 instability requires Cdc28 activity. The long functional lifetime and the hyperactivity of C-terminally truncated Cln3 (Cln3-2) relative to those of full-length Cln3 are affected by mutations in CDC28: the functional lifetime of Cln3-2 is drastically reduced by the cdc28-13 mutation at the permissive temperature, and the cdc28-4 mutation at the permissive temperature completely blocks the function of Cln3-2 while only partially reducing the function of full-length Cln3. Thus, sequences in the C-terminal third of Cln3 might help stabilize functional Cdc28-Cln3 association, as well as decreasing the lifetime of the Cln3 protein. These and other results strongly support the idea that Cln proteins function to activate Cdc28 at START.