Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Assessment of a Haptic Virtual Assembly System that uses Physics-based Interactions

Assembly is one of the most extensively studied manual processes in manufacturing. Using design for assembly (DFA) methodologies relative times of real-world assembly tasks such as manipulation and insertion can be quantified. However, it is unclear if similar values can be reflected in a virtual assembly system? This question forms the rationale for the peg-in-hole assembly task addressed in this study. Although almost simplistic in nature, assembling a peg into a hole addresses three fundamental states in an assembly process -picking, placing and motion within an environment. The objective here is to investigate assembly performance in the virtual environment using a force feedback haptic device benchmarked against previously quantified data. Inclusive, is a kinematic evaluation of task performance for peg-in-hole manipulation based on geometric and force conditions.
Biotechnology: An Introduction to Recombinant DNA Technology and Product Availability

Exciting advances in biotechnology have led to the development of innovative biological products to improve health care. In this review article, the major techniques of product development and manufacturing in biotechnology are discussed, with a focus on recombinant DNA technology. In addition, monoclonal antibody, nucleotide blockade, polymerase chain reaction, antisense, and gene therapy technologies will be defined briefly. For recombinant-DNA technology, the issues of gene isolation, gene cloning, protein expression, scale-up (manufacturing), and quality assurance are addressed. The 16 approved products and the research pipeline are characterized. In addition, major usage issues for biological products are noted. This review serves as an introduction to the science and applications of biotechnology present and future.
Identification of a new Schistosoma mansoni SMYB1 partner: putative roles in RNA metabolism

SUMMARY SMYB1 is a Schistosoma mansoni protein highly similar to members of the Y-box binding protein family. Similar to other homologues, SMYB1 is able to bind double- and single-stranded DNA, as well as RNA molecules. The characterization of proteins involved in the regulation of gene expression in S. mansoni is of great importance for the understanding of molecular events that control morphological and physiological changes in this parasite. Here we demonstrate that SMYB1 is located in the cytoplasm of cells from different life-cycle stages of S. mansoni, suggesting that this protein is probably acting in mRNA metabolism in the cytoplasm and corroborating previous findings from our group that showed its ability to bind RNA. Protein–protein interactions are important events in all biological processes, since most proteins execute their functions through large supramolecular structures. Yeast two-hybrid screenings using SMYB1 as bait identified a partner in S. mansoni similar to the SmD3 protein of Drosophila melanogaster (SmRNP), which is important in the assembly of small nuclear ribonucleoprotein complexes. Also, pull-down assays were conducted using immobilized GST-SMYB1 proteins and confirmed the SMYB1-SmRNP interaction. The interaction of SMYB1 with a protein involved in mRNA processing suggests that it may act in processes such as turnover, transport and stabilization of RNA molecules.
Simulation of the Fire in the Working of Coal Mine Using the Fire Dynamics Simulator Software

Fire simulation in the working of coal mine using the Fire Dynamic Simulator software package was carried out. The most probable scenario of the fire growth associated with the combustion of the conveyor belt in the conveyor working of coal mine was determined. An approach was chosen basing on the simulation of gas-phase combustion taking into account the internal processes occurring in the material by setting specific rate of solid material combustion. The main analytical dependencies for simulation were formulated, on the basis of which a computer model was developed. Large Eddy Simulation (LES) method was used to describe the turbulent flow during a fire. The Deardorff subgrid model is used to calculate turbulent viscosity. The combustion model is an infinitely fast reaction model. The thermal radiation model involves solving the radiation transfer equation basing on the control volume method. The influence of the ventilation flow rate on the fire propagation rate during the process of the model verification is analyzed. Maximum speed of fire propagation is reached-0.017 m/s at the speed of ventilation flow from 1.5 to 3 m/s. During the simulation, the influence of the inlet airflow rate on the concentration of CO and CO2 was revealed. In addition, the inlet air velocity significantly affects the temperature and heat dissipation power. The maximum values of temperature and power ranged from 420 to 670° c and from 2 to 9 MW, respectively. The duration of the growth fire stage, depending on the inlet airflow rate, varies from 300 s to 600 s.
Rat Insulin-Receptor Kinase Activity Correlates With In Vivo Insulin Action

Tyrosine kinase activity of skeletal muscle-derived insulin receptors isolated from rats that had undergone euglycemic clamps at various insulin infusion rates was examined. Receptors were isolated under conditions designed to preserve their in vivo phosphorylation state, and their kinase activity toward histone was measured in the absence of in vitro exposure to insulin. Results showed that significant activation of the insulin-receptor kinase occurred after exposure in vivo to mean serum insulin concentrations as low as 34 ± 3.5 μU/ml and that maximal activation was achieved by insulin levels ≤2000 μU/ml. There was a highly significant correlation between receptor kinase activity and serum insulin concentration in the physiologic range (r = .92, P < .0001) and between kinase activity and glucose utilization rate (r = .74, P < .0001). These findings further support a role for the insulin-receptor kinase in insulin action in vivo, and this model provides a novel method for the study of the effect of factors known to influence insulin action on the insulin-receptor kinase under physiologic conditions.
Improvement of the mu-law proportionate NLMS algorithm

The MPNLMS algorithm is preferred to identify the sparse impulse responses. In this paper, we present two strategies to improve it. We first establish a convergence criterion for it, which is suitable to achieve faster convergence speed in various environments with different noise level. Then we propose a new segment function to refine its original definition to improve the computation efficient SPNLMS algorithm. Simulation results verify the effectiveness of the proposed approaches.
Space-time-frequency decorrelating decision-feedback multiuser detector over fast-fading multipath channels for synchronous DS-CDMA systems

RAKE receivers suffer degradation in performance under fast fading due to errors in channel state estimation. The wide-sense stationary uncorrelated scatterer channel model lends itself to time-frequency canonical representation, and provides additional diversity in the frequency axis. Using the joint spatial-multipath-Doppler diversity model based on this canonical representation, we propose a nonlinear space-time-frequency decorrelating decision-feedback multiuser detector for synchronous CDMA which utilizes decisions of the stronger users when forming the decisions for the weaker ones. Simulation results based on realistic fast-fading assumptions demonstrate that the proposed decorrelating decision-feedback multiuser detector promises substantially improved bit-error-rate Performance compared to space-time-frequency decorrelating multiuser detector for the weaker users, while the error probability of the weakest user approaches the single-user bound as the interferers grow stronger. The proposed detector exhibits strong resistance to the near-far effect for all users and the time-complexity-per-bit is linear in the number of users.
Environmental-structural factors significantly associated with consistent condom use among female sex workers in the Dominican Republic

Objective: To examine the influence of environmental-structural factors in promoting consistent condom use (CCU) among female sex workers (FSW) and their regular paying partners in the Dominican Republic. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 288 FSW recruited from 41 sex establishments in Santo Domingo from March to June 1998. Sex workers were asked about their sexual behavior, self-efficacy at negotiating safe sex, perceived intimacy with their most recent regular paying partner, and the physical, social and policy environment of the establishment where they worked. Factor and reliability analysis were utilized to develop aggregate measures for self-efficacy (Cronbach's Alpha 0.60), intimacy (Cronbach's Alpha 0.80), and environmental-structural support (Cronbach's Alpha 0.72). Results: Controlling for sociodemographic characteristics of participants in multivariate analyses, environmental-structural support for condom use and HIV/sexually transmitted infection (STI) prevention was a significant predictor of CCU (OR 2.16; CI 1.18–3.97) among FSW and their regular paying partners. Safe sex self-efficacy (OR 2.80; CI 1.31–5.97) and low perceived intimacy with the most recent regular paying partner (OR 7.20; CI 3.49–14.83) were also significantly associated with CCU in multivariate analysis. Conclusion: Environmental-structural support for condom use and HIV/STI prevention is a significant predictor of CCU among FSW in the context of regular paying partnerships. Environmental-structural factors, in addition to relational and individual cognitive factors, should be assessed and addressed by behaviorally guided theory, research and interventions related to HIV/STI prevention and female sex work.
Sex Differences in Pelvic and Hip Flexibility in Men and Women Matched for Sit-and-Reach Score

Abstract Mier, CM and Shapiro, BS. Sex differences in pelvic and hip flexibility in men and women matched for sit-and reach score. J Strength Cond Res 27(4): 1031–1035, 2013—The purpose of this study was to test sex differences in sagittal plane thoracic (T), lumbar (L), and pelvic (P) angles measured during the sit-and-reach (SR) test and hip joint angle during a passive straight leg raise (SLR) test in men and women matched for SR scores. Thirty-five men and 35 women performed a standard SR and SLR test. Among the 70 subjects, 25 male and female pairs were identified using <5% difference in the SR score as the pairing criterion. Both SR and SLR tests were videotaped and subsequently analyzed using a computer software angle tool to measure T, L, and P angles during the SR test and hip joint angle during the SLR test. In paired men (M) and women (W), P angle (M: 96.6 ± 9.4° vs. W: 104.7 ± 12.4°) and hip joint angle (M: 87.1 ± 10.5° vs. W: 100.4 ± 12.1°) were lower and L angle (M: 26.3 ± 10.8° vs. W: 21.1 ± 7.6°) was greater in men. There was no difference in the T angle (53.3 ± 11.6° vs. 51.2 ± 11.4°) between men and women. Correlation coefficient indicated that the SR score was moderately associated with the P angle in both men (r = 0.82) and women (r = 0.83), whereas the traditional criterion measure for hip flexibility, SLR hip joint angle, demonstrated a relatively low correlation to SR scores in both men (r = 0.60) and women (r = 0.56). These data indicate that the SR score does not distinguish spine and pelvic flexibility differences in men and women and does not adequately assess hip flexibility.
Low cost RF front end realization for an experimental Passive Direction Finding testbed

This paper presents the realization of a low cost generic multi-channel RF front end to be integrated in a testbed suitable for Passive Direction Finding architectures and algorithms prototyping. Experimentations involving two well-known algorithms for Angle Of Arrival estimation, conventional beamforming and baseline interferometry, have been conducted. The realized RF front end and National Instruments hardware with LabVIEW programming tool have been used for RF signal conditioning and digital signal processing respectively. The testbed setup and the front end realization steps are explained. The experimental results of the two algorithms are given for test signals of arbitrary frequencies and angles of arrival to demonstrate the utility of the RF front end and the successful implementation of both algorithms.
Number : WUCSE-2005-44 2005-09-23 Decentralized Utilization Control in Distributed Real-Time Systems

Many real-time systems must control their CPU utilizations in order to meet end-to-end deadlines and prevent overload. Utilization control is particularly challenging in distributed real-time systems with highly unpredictable workloads and a large number of end-to-end tasks and processors. This paper presents the Decentralized End-to-end Utilization CONtrol (DEUCON) algorithm that can dynamically enforce desired utilizations on multiple processors in such systems. In contrast to centralized control schemes adopted in earlier work, DEUCON features a novel decentralized control structure that only requires localized coordination among neighbor processors. DEUCON is systematically designed based on recent advances in distributed model predictive control theory. Both control-theoretic analysis and simulations show that DEUCON can provide robust utilization guarantees and maintain global system stability despite severe variations in task execution times. Furthermore, DEUCON can effectively distribute the computation and communication cost to different processors and tolerate considerable communication delay between local controllers. Our results indicate that DEUCON can provide scalable and robust utilization control for large-scale distributed real-time systems executing in unpredictable environments.
Constitutive IL-10 Expression by Lung Inflammatory Cells and Risk for Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia

Expression of IL-10 is decreased in lungs of preterm infants. We determined the constitutive and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced IL-10 synthesis by lung inflammatory cells from preterm and term infants and examined their relationship to gestational age and/or incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). A total of 37 infants; preterm neonates at gestational ages of 23–27 wk (group 1); 28–34 wk (group 2), and four full-term infants with meconium aspiration (group 3) were enrolled. One sample of lung inflammatory cells, obtained during postnatal d 1–3, and another during postnatal d 4–7 were cultured in vitro in presence or absence of 100 μg/mL of LPS. Secreted IL-10 was measured by ELISA. A positive relationship was found between gestational age and LPS-induced, but not constitutive IL-10 production within 1–3 d of life; group 1 on d 1–3 had a significant number of IL-10 nonresponders compared with group 2. All term neonates in group 3 had positive LPS-induced IL-10 response. Thus, in utero maturation of IL-10 gene expression is due to acquisition of inducibility. In contrast, constitutive IL-10 production within d 1–3 of life correlated with, and predicted the incidence of BPD in the highly vulnerable very premature infants.
A Quasi-Static Model of Silicon Substrate Effects in Graphene Field Effect Transistors

Investigations of the fundamental properties of graphene have leveraged the versatility of the CMOS fabrication platform early on by using oxidized semiconductor substrates with a highly doped back gate to behave as a metal gate down to cryogenic temperatures. For future applications at room temperature and co-integration with standard silicon circuits, standard substrates should be considered and modeled. Therefore, we investigate the impact of using standard lightly doped silicon as a back gate by building upon existing drift-diffusion models for the 3-terminal monolayer graphene field effect transistor. Typical measurements of the back-gate transfer characteristics exhibit a kink/plateau around 0 V. This effect is explained by the proposed model and corresponds to a loss of gate control occurring during the formation of the depletion layer in the substrate. The impact is increased at low temperature, for thin oxides or under transient conditions.
Performance analysis of grid connected solar photo-voltaic system under grid abnormal conditions

This work deals with a single phase single stage multifunctional grid interfaced solar photovoltaic (SPV) system. The single stage topology utilized in the grid connected PV system has the advantages of high efficiency and low cost compared with the two stage topology the primary function of the grid connected inverter in a single stage SPV system is to supply active power into load and grid. The added functions to the grid connected inverter are compensation for reactive power requirements and mitigation of the harmonics produced by the nonlinear loads connected at the point of grid connection. A hill climbing MPPT controller is used for tracking the maximum power from photovoltaic array under grid abnormal conditions. The PV array is connected to voltage source converter (VSC) through DC link. The MPPT controller estimates reference PV voltage and corresponding PV power. A PLL-less control [3] is used for control of multifunctional VSC. The voltage source converter (VSC) controller uses the load and PV forward terms for fast dynamic response. The performance of the SPV system is analyzed under grid abnormal conditions (sudden sag and swell). The simulation studies are performed on MATLAB/SIMULINK.
c-Met and Its Ligand Hepatocyte Growth Factor/Scatter Factor Regulate Mature B Cell Survival in a Pathway Induced by CD74

The signals regulating the survival of mature splenic B cells have become a major focus in recent studies of B cell immunology. Durable B cell persistence in the periphery is dependent on survival signals that are transduced by cell surface receptors. In this study, we describe a novel biological mechanism involved in mature B cell homeostasis, the hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF)/c-Met pathway. We demonstrate that c-Met activation by HGF leads to a survival cascade, whereas its blockade results in induction of mature B cell death. Our results emphasize a unique and critical function for c-Met signaling in the previously described macrophage migration inhibitory factor/CD74-induced survival pathway. Macrophage migration inhibitory factor recruits c-Met to the CD74/CD44 complex and thereby enables the induction of a signaling cascade within the cell. This signal results in HGF secretion, which stimulates the survival of the mature B cell population in an autocrine manner. Thus, the CD74–HGF/c-Met axis defines a novel physiologic survival pathway in mature B cells, resulting in the control of the humoral immune response.
Optimal dispatching and scheduling for both periodic and aperiodic jobs in cluster

Presents dispatching and scheduling algorithms for both periodic and aperiodic jobs on a cluster of computers. A cluster system consists of one front-end node, called dispatcher and multiple back-end nodes, called schedulers. By rigorous theoretical analysis, these algorithms are optimal in the sense that each aperiodic job can achieve the shortest response time in the cluster while maintaining the schedulability of periodic jobs. The aperiodic jobs, which have no deadline requirement, are partitioned into phases and assigned deadlines by the dispatcher With the deadlines the aperiodic jobs can be scheduled uniformly under EDF together with periodic jobs. Based on extensive simulation studies, we have that the algorithms proposed in the paper can achieve great performance improvement. We also work out the workload zone in which the response time of aperiodic jobs in the cluster with N schedulers is the same as the ideal bound of response time in the corresponding M/M/N model.
0 THE PERFORMANCE OF HETEROSKEDASTICITY AND AUTOCORRELATION ROBUST TESTS : A MONTE CARLO STUDY WITH AN APPLICATION TO THE THREE-FACTOR FAMA-FRENCH ASSET PRICING MODEL

THE PERFORMANCE OF HETEROSKEDASTICITY AND AUTOCORRELATION ROBUST TESTS: A MONTE CARLO STUDY WITH AN APPLICATION TO THE THREE-FACTOR FAMA-FRENCH ASSET PRICING MODEL Surajit Ray and N. E. Savin a Bear Stearns Asset Management, 60 East 42nd Street, Suite 2544, New York, NY 10165 Department of Economics, Tippie College of Business, University of Iowa, 108 John Pappajohn Bus. Bldg. , Iowa City, IA 52242-1000 March 23, 2007
Diabetes mellitus and ischemic stroke in the young

Objective: To compare risk factors, stroke characteristics, and long-term prognosis between nondiabetic young ischemic stroke patients and similar patients having either type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D) or type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) to provide information for patient management, counseling, and future research in these patient groups. Methods: Our database comprised 1,008 consecutive patients aged 15 to 49 with first-ever ischemic stroke from 1994 to 2007. Primary outcome measures were 1) nonfatal or fatal recurrent ischemic stroke and 2) composite vascular endpoint (myocardial infarction, any stroke, revascularization, or vascular death). Results: Compared with nondiabetic stroke patients (n = 904), patients with T1D (44) or T2D (60) were more likely to have hypertension and stroke attributable to small-vessel disease (SVD). In addition, when compared with nondiabetic patients, those with T1D more frequently had coronary heart disease and peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and those with T2D more often had obesity, PAD, history of TIA, and stroke attributable to large-artery atherosclerosis, and T2D patients were also more likely to be older and male than were the nondiabetic patients. Mean follow-up in survivors was 9.0 (±3.8) years. Cumulative recurrent ischemic stroke rate at 10 years was 40.9% for T1D (14 events), 29.7% for T2D (15), and 12.0% for nondiabetic patients (94). Corresponding rates for the composite vascular endpoint were 65.1% for T1D (25), 46.9% for T2D (28), and 19.3% for nondiabetic patients (153). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that ischemic stroke patients with T1D or T2D exhibit a distinct risk-factor and etiologic profile and a worse vascular prognosis than do nondiabetic patients.
Metabolism, pharmacokinetics and excretion of the GABAA receptor partial agonist [14C]CP-409,092 in rats

The metabolism and excretion of a GABAA partial agonist developed for the treatment of anxiety, CP-409,092; 4-oxo-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-1H-indole-3-carboxylic acid (4-methylaminomethyl-phenyl)-amide, were studied in rats following intravenous and oral administration of a single doses of [14C]CP-409,092. The pharmacokinetics of CP-409,092 following single intravenous and oral doses of 4 and 15 mg kg−1, respectively, were characterized by high clearance of 169 ± 18 ml min−1 kg−1, a volume of distribution of 8.99 ± 1.46 l kg−1, and an oral bioavailability of 2.9% ± 3%. Following oral administration of 100 mg kg−1 [14C]CP-409,092, the total recovery was 89.1% ± 3.2% for male rats and 89.3% ± 0.58% for female rats. Approximately 87% of the radioactivity recovered in urine and faeces were excreted in the first 48 h. A substantial portion of the radioactivity was measured in the faeces as unchanged drug, suggesting poor absorption and/or biliary excretion. There were no significant gender-related quantitative/qualitative differences in the excretion of metabolites in urine or faeces. The major metabolic pathways of CP-409,092 were hydroxylation(s) at the oxo-tetrahydro-indole moiety and oxidative deamination to form an aldehyde intermediate and subsequent oxidation to form the benzoic acid. The minor metabolic pathways included N-demethylation and subsequent N-acetylation and oxidation. The present work demonstrates that oxidative deamination at the benzylic amine of CP-409,092 and subsequent oxidation to form the acid metabolite seem to play an important role in the metabolism of the drug, and they contribute to its oral clearance and low exposure.