Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Numerical characterization of electrical stresses on dielectric grease of rolling bearings in induction motors fed by PWM inverters

Pulsewidth modulated (PWM) inverters are one of the major causes of motor bearing failure in inverter-motor drive systems. The new switching devices, such as the IGBT's, characterized by high switching frequencies and faster switching times, on one side have increased the efficiency, performance and controllability of adjustable speed drives but, on the other side, have brought some relevant drawbacks. In fact, the output voltage from the inverter is not purely sinusoidal and, in particular, steep front pulses can be generated in correspondence to the commutations of switching devices. The presence of high frequency harmonics causes an uneven voltage distribution along motor windings, producing critical stresses on the motor electrical insulation; furthermore the steep pulses can excite the capacitive coupling between the stator and the rotor, resulting in shaft voltages. The latter may cause the breakdown of the lubricating film in the bearings, and the associated electric discharge machining (EDM) currents can damage the bearing and reduce its lifetime. For design purposes it seems of major importance to predict the electrical stresses on the lubricating film of rolling bearings. The present paper is dedicated to the presentation of results of numerical simulations carried out on a traction motor obtained by implementing a Multiconductor Transmission Line (MTL) model of the overall system composed of the power voltage, the feeding cable, the motor stator winding, the rotor shaft and the bearings. The influence on the shaft voltages of parameters like the amplitude and slew rate (dV/dt) of the applied voltage, the cable length, is discussed.
Macrophage migration inhibitory factor plays a permissive role in the maintenance of cardiac contractile function under starvation through regulation of autophagy.

AIMS The cytokine macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) protects the heart through AMPK activation. Autophagy, a conserved pathway for bulk degradation of intracellular proteins and organelles, helps preserve and recycle energy and nutrients for cells to survive under starvation. This study was designed to examine the role of MIF in cardiac homeostasis and autophagy regulation following an acute starvation challenge. METHODS AND RESULTS Wild-type (WT) and MIF knockout mice were starved for 48 h. Echocardiographic data revealed little effect of starvation on cardiac geometry, contractile and intracellular Ca²⁺ properties. MIF deficiency unmasked an increase in left ventricular end-systolic diameter, a drop in fractional shortening associated with cardiomyocyte contractile and intracellular Ca²⁺ anomalies following starvation. Interestingly, the unfavourable effect of MIF deficiency was associated with interruption of starvation-induced autophagy. Furthermore, restoration of autophagy using rapamycin partially protected against starvation-induced cardiomyocyte contractile defects. In our in vitro model of starvation, neonatal mouse cardiomyocytes from WT and MIF-/- mice and H9C2 cells were treated with serum free-glucose free DMEM for 2 h. MIF depletion dramatically attenuated starvation-induced autophagic vacuole formation in neonatal mouse cardiomyocytes and exacerbated starvation-induced cell death in H9C2 cells. CONCLUSION In summary, these results indicate that MIF plays a permissive role in the maintenance of cardiac contractile function under starvation by regulation of autophagy.
Copper-resistant enteric bacteria from United Kingdom and Australian piggeries

Thirty-three enteric isolates from Australian (Escherichia coli only) and United Kingdom (U.K.) (Salmonella sp., Citrobacter spp., and E. coli) piggeries were characterized with respect to their copper resistance. The copper resistance phenotypes of four new Australian E. coli isolates were comparable with that of the previously studied E. coli K-12 strain ED8739(pRJ1004), in that the resistance level in rich media was high (up to 18 mM CuSO4) and resistance was inducible. Copper resistance was transferable by conjugation from the new Australian isolates to E. coli K-12 recipients. DNA similarity between the new Australian isolates and the pco copper resistance determinant located on plasmid pRJ1004 was strong as measured by DNA-DNA hybridization; however, the copper resistance plasmids were nonidentical as indicated by the presence of restriction fragment length polymorphisms between the plasmids. DNA-DNA hybridization and polymerase chain reaction analysis demonstrated DNA homology between the pco determinant and DNA from the U.K.E. coli, Salmonella sp. , and Citrobacter freundii isolates. However, the copper resistance level and inducibility were variable among the U.K. strains. Of the U.K. E. coli isolates, 1 demonstrated a high level of copper resistance, 4 exhibited intermediate resistance, and 16 showed a low level of copper resistance; all of these resistances were expressed constitutively. A single U.K. C. freundii isolate, had a high level of copper resistance, inducible by subtoxic levels of copper. Transconjugants from one E. coli and one C. freundii donor, with E. coli K-12 strain UB1637 as a recipient, showed copper resistance levels and inducibility of resistance which differed from that expressed from plasmid pRJ1004. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Surfactant‐Free Shape Control of Gold Nanoparticles Enabled by Unified Theoretical Framework of Nanocrystal Synthesis

Gold nanoparticles have unique properties that are highly dependent on their shape and size. Synthetic methods that enable precise control over nanoparticle morphology currently require shape‐directing agents such as surfactants or polymers that force growth in a particular direction by adsorbing to specific crystal facets. These auxiliary reagents passivate the nanoparticles' surface, and thus decrease their performance in applications like catalysis and surface‐enhanced Raman scattering. Here, a surfactant‐ and polymer‐free approach to achieving high‐performance gold nanoparticles is reported. A theoretical framework to elucidate the growth mechanism of nanoparticles in surfactant‐free media is developed and it is applied to identify strategies for shape‐controlled syntheses. Using the results of the analyses, a simple, green‐chemistry synthesis of the four most commonly used morphologies: nanostars, nanospheres, nanorods, and nanoplates is designed. The nanoparticles synthesized by this method outperform analogous particles with surfactant and polymer coatings in both catalysis and surface‐enhanced Raman scattering.
Technological Progress and Self-Reinforcing Degree Inflation in the Canadian Labor Market

This paper develops a multi-sector job search model with college eduction as noisy signals on workers' qualification for skilled tasks to analyze the underlying channel of 'degree-inflation,' measured by the proportion of highly educated workforce employed at unskilled positions (i.e., cross-skill matches). It demonstrates that the recent information and communication technology progress without corresponding improvement of workers' qualification, generates a considerable mass of cross-skill matches, which crowds out the unskilled workforce and suppress unskilled wages. As a result, the college premium remains substantial and the college enrollment rate is self-reinforced. The numerical experiments based on the Canadian data from early 1980s to 2000s suggest that without degree inflation, the unskilled, skilled, and overall wages in the Canadian labor market would be higher by (upto) 46, 43, and 56 percent, respectively, in early 2000s. For this extent, resolving the degree inflation problem, for example, through improving the quality of higher education, would induce substantial welfare gains to not only skilled workers but also unskilled workers.
P2X7 Receptor and APOE Polymorphisms and Survival from Heart Failure: A Prospective Study in Frail Patients in a Geriatric Unit

Heart failure (HF) is one of the most frequent cause of hospitalization in elderly and often coexists with concurrent geriatric syndromes, like cognitive disturbances; various pathophysiological mechanisms are shared by HF and cognitive decline, notably a substrate of low-grade inflammation. We investigated whether SNPs in the purinergic receptor (P2X7R) and apolipoprotein (APO) E genes, both involved in a series of inflammatory responses, are associated to HF or cognitive impairment and are able to predict post-discharge mortality in the elderly. We prospectively analyzed 198 patients (age 85 ± 8 years, predominantly females) admitted to a Geriatric unit for acute HF, whose diagnosis was based on clinical signs, brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) values and ecocardiography in uncertain diagnosis (BNP values between 100 and 400 pg/mL); cognitive performance was assesed by Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire (SPMSQ). In all the participants, SNPs rs208294 and rs3751143 for P2X7R gene and rs429558 and rs7412 for APOE gene were assessed. Information on all-cause mortality was adjudicated by medical records review 36 months after discharge. We found no relationship between P2X7R and APOE polymorphisms and 36-month post-discharge mortality; a better outcome for overall survival was observed in patients with BNP values below the median (281 pg/mL) (p=0.002) persisting after adjustment for renal function and age, and in those with cognitive impairment (p<0.001). Patients harboring APOE-ε4 genotype showed higher BNP concentrations than noncarriers (1289.9 ± 226.9 vs 580.5 ± 90.2 pg/mL respectively,p=0.004), whereas none of the studied SNPs were associated to impairment in cognitive performance. In conclusion, neither P2X7R or APOE genotype seem to predict long-term mortality in elderly patients. Interestingly, APOE-ε4 genotype was associated to higher BNP values, suggesting a putative interaction between genetic and biochemical markers in identifying people at risk for HF.
Age-Related Changes in Murine Corneal Nerves

ABSTRACT Purpose: The aim of this study is to determine age-related morphological changes in the corneal subbasal nerve plexus (SNP) in two inbred mouse strains. Materials and methods: The corneal SNP was investigated by in vivo confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) in 0.5-, 1-, 1.5-, and 2-year-old C57BL/6J mice and in 0.5- and 1-year-old BALB/c mice (n = 4 per age category and strain; 10 images per mouse). Fixed corneal samples from C57BL/6J mice were also analyzed after PGP9.5 staining. Nerve fiber density (NFD) was determined using the semi-automated NeuronJ program. In addition, a new custom-designed, fully automated computerized technique based on oriented multiscale matched filtering was tested to objectify and accelerate image analysis. Results: C57BL/6J mice showed low NFD (11.7 ± 0.5 mm/mm2). Aging from 0.5 to 1, 1.5, and 2 years resulted in significant reductions in subbasal NFD by 34%, 49%, and 66%, respectively. The decline in nerve fibers revealed by in vivo CLSM together with NeuronJ quantification was confirmed by ex vivo immunohistochemical analyses. Subbasal NFD in BALB/c mice (30.0 ± 1.4 mm/mm2) was 3-fold higher than in C57BL/6J mice. Aging from 0.5 to 1 year resulted in a significant 17% reduction in NFD. With the automated approach, NFD of 22.6 ± 2.9 mm/mm2 and a 45% reduction during aging was determined from the same images. Conclusions: An age-related reduction in subbasal corneal nerve fibers was observed. The differing extent of reduction in the two mouse strains may be accounted for by genetic factors. Automated NFD quantification of corneal nerve fibers in mice appears to be a useful, reliable, objective, and time-saving tool.
HumorHawk at SemEval-2017 Task 6: Mixing Meaning and Sound for Humor Recognition

This paper describes the winning system for SemEval-2017 Task 6: #HashtagWars: Learning a Sense of Humor. Humor detection has up until now been predominantly addressed using feature-based approaches. Our system utilizes recurrent deep learning methods with dense embeddings to predict humorous tweets from the @midnight show #HashtagWars. In order to include both meaning and sound in the analysis, GloVe embeddings are combined with a novel phonetic representation to serve as input to an LSTM component. The output is combined with a character-based CNN model, and an XGBoost component in an ensemble model which achieves 0.675 accuracy on the evaluation data.
A differential evolution based feature selection approach using an improved filter criterion

In filter feature selection, mutual information approaches have recently gained a high popularity among researchers. In these approaches, mutual information is commonly used to measure two components: the mutual relevance between each feature and the class labels, and the mutual redundancy between each pair of features. Despite their popularity, it has been pointed in the literature that such feature selection approaches may not fairly estimate the redundancy in high dimensional problems. To alleviate this problem, this paper proposes a new criterion, which uses the concepts of ReliefF instead of the mutual redundancy. Using the proposed criterion, a new differential evolution based filter feature selection approach is developed. The performance comparisons and analysis are conducted by comparing it with the most well-known mutual information feature selection (MIFS) criterion based on maximum-relevance and minimum-redundancy on the differential evolution framework. The results show that performing feature selection using the proposed criterion can generally achieve better classification performance and smaller feature subset size.
Assessing Individual Income Growth

We develop methods for describing distributions of income growth across individuals and for comparing changes in growth distributions over time. The methods include graphical devices (‘income growth profiles’) and dominance conditions, and also summary indices, together with associated methods of estimation and inference. Taking an explicitly longitudinal perspective, our approach illuminates clearly who are the gainers and the losers, and also provides distributionally‐sensitive assessments — ones that allow the income growth for different individuals to be weighted differently. Our empirical application shows that the pattern of income growth in Britain over the period 1992–6 was less pro‐poor than that for 1998–2002, and not significantly different from the pattern for 2001–5.
A new class of Multi-band filters based on the same phase extension scheme

This paper presents a new class of Multi-band filters based on same phase extension scheme, in which each channel is dedicated to selected band and center frequency by using the scheme of same phase extension. The equivalent circuit is the combination of multi-inline networks connected with two manifold waveguides, the structure of which has the same phase extension. The advantage of this method is that each in line network represents an individual channel. A dual-mode tri-band filter is measured and described.
D-lysine reduction of indium-111 octreotide and yttrium-90 octreotide renal uptake.

UNLABELLED Indium-111-DTPA-octreotide (111In-DTPAOC) is used successfully for imaging somatostatin receptor-positive lesions. A new and promising application is its use in peptide-receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT). For the latter purpose, [DOTA0,D-Phe1,Tyr3]octreotide (DOTATOC), which is suitable for stable radiolabeling with 90Y, is probably even more promising. Significant renal uptake of these octreotide analogs exists, however, reducing the scintigraphic sensitivity for detection of small tumors in the perirenal region and limiting the possibilities for PRRT. We showed that the renal uptake of 111In-DTPAOC could be reduced to about 50% of control by L-lysine administration in vivo in rats. This study compares the effects of several doses and different methods of administration of D- and L-lysine, in addition to time-related effects of D-lysine, on kidney uptake of 111In-DTPAOC and 90Y-DOTATOC. METHODS Male Wistar rats (200-250 g) were given 111In-DTPAOC (0.2 MBq, 0.5 microg-0.5 mg intravenously, intraperitoneally or orally) in the presence or absence of D- or L-lysine. At 1, 4 or 24 hr, the rats were killed, and the organs were isolated and counted for radioactivity. In different experiments, male Wistar rats (200-250 g) were given 90Y-DOTATOC (1 MBq, 0.5 microg intravenously) in the presence or absence of D-lysine. At 24 hr, the rats were killed, and the organs were isolated and counted for radioactivity. RESULTS Administration of D- or L-lysine in a single intravenous dose of 400 mg/kg, resulted in more than 50% inhibition of kidney uptake of 111In-DTPAOC at all time points tested, independently of the mass of 111In-DTPAOC used. Higher or repeated doses of lysine did not give a significantly higher percentage inhibition. D-lysine, given orally in a dose of 400 mg/kg at 30 or 15 min before 111In-DTPAOC injection, resulted in 30% and 20% inhibition of kidney uptake, respectively. L-lysine, given orally 30 min before 111In-DTPAOC administration, resulted in 30% inhibition as well. Inhibition of kidney uptake of 111In-DTPAOC by L-lysine after intraperitoneal administration was 40%. After L-lysine administration, 111In-DTPAOC was decreased in the kidneys and in somatostatin receptor-positive organs such as the pancreas and adrenal glands. In contrast, D-lysine did not have a significant effect on uptake in octreotide receptor-positive organs. Renal uptake of 90Y-DOTATOC was reduced by 65% by intravenous D-lysine, whereas radioactivity in blood, pancreas and adrenal glands was not affected. CONCLUSION D-lysine may be preferred to L-lysine for reduction of renal uptake of radioactivity during scintigraphy and PRRT because of its lower toxicity and because it should not interfere with the natural amino acid metabolic balance.
Argonaute 2 Binds Directly to tRNA Genes and Promotes Gene Repression in cis

ABSTRACT To further our understanding of the RNAi machinery within the human nucleus, we analyzed the chromatin and RNA binding of Argonaute 2 (AGO2) within human cancer cell lines. Our data indicated that AGO2 binds directly to nascent tRNA and 5S rRNA, and to the genomic loci from which these RNAs are transcribed, in a small RNA- and DICER-independent manner. AGO2 chromatin binding was not observed at non-TFIIIC-dependent RNA polymerase III (Pol III) genes or at extra-TFIIIC (ETC) sites, indicating that the interaction is specific for TFIIIC-dependent Pol III genes. A genome-wide analysis indicated that loss of AGO2 caused a global increase in mRNA expression level among genes that flank AGO2-bound tRNA genes. This effect was shown to be distinct from that of the disruption of DICER, DROSHA, or CTCF. We propose that AGO2 binding to tRNA genes has a novel and important regulatory role in human cells.
Synergistic effect of beneficial rhizosphere microflora in biocontrol and plant growth promotion

Biological systems are getting more relevance than chemical control of plant pathogens as they are not only eco‐friendly and economic in approach but are also involved in improving the soil consistency and maintenance of natural soil flora. Plant growth promoting rhizosphere microorganisms were isolated from three different tree rhizospheres using selective culture media. Five microorganisms were selected from each rhizosphere soil based on their efficiency and screened for their ability to promote plant growth as a consortium. Each of the developed consortium has a phosphate solubilizer, nitrogen fixer, growth hormone producer, heterotrophic member and an antagonist. The plant growth promoting ability of the microbial members present in the consortium was observed by estimating the IAA production level and also by the nitrogenase activity of the nitrogen fixers. The biocontrol potentiality of the consortium and the antagonist present in the consortium were checked by both dual plate assay and cross‐streaking technique. Consortial treatments effected very good growth promotion in Lycopersicon esculentum Mill and the treated plants also developed resistance against wilt pathogen, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici though the effect was well pronounced with consortium developed from Santalum album. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Diversity: A Principie of Human Resource Management

As more and more organizations implement diversity initiatives, personnel and human resource managers play increasingly significant roles. This arriele explores some of the challenges personnel and human resources managers face implementing diversity. It discusses strategies personnel and human resources managers are employing to address the need for diversity and suggests methods to implement diversity as a principie of human resource management (HRM). These strategies include processes such as diversity audits to identify organizational problems, aligning workforce planning with strategic plans, benchmarking personnel/human resources practices and positioning diversity as a top-level management function. The arricie also examines the benefits of flex management, partnering with management, and educating and training managers/line supervisors to effectively manage diversity.
Exploring the link between household debt and income inequality: an asymmetric approach

ABSTRACT We investigate the relationship between household debt and income inequality in the USA, allowing for asymmetry, using data over the period 1913–2008. We find evidence of an asymmetric cointegration between household debt and inequality for different regimes. Our results indicate household debt only responds to positive changes in income inequality, while there is no evidence of falling inequality significantly affecting household debt. The presence of this asymmetry provides further empirical insights into the emerging literature on household debt and inequality.
Computer-Assisted System for Diagnosis of Alzheimer Disease Using Data Base− Independent Estimation and Fluorodeoxyglucose− Positron-Emission Tomography and 3D-Stereotactic Surface Projection

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Recently, voxel-based statistical parametric images have been developed as additional diagnostic tools for AD. However these methods require the generation of a data base of healthy brain images. The purpose of this study was to produce and evaluate an automatic method using a data base−independent estimation system for the diagnosis of mild AD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively selected 66 subjects, including 33 patients with early AD and 33 age-matched healthy volunteers. Individual brain metabolic images were obtained by using FDG-PET. These were transformed by using 3D-SSP. We then produced CADDIES, which compares the parietal and sensorimotor metabolic counts by using t tests. If parietal metabolism was significantly lower than the sensorimotor metabolism, the subject was automatically diagnosed as having AD. The FDG-PET images were also analyzed by using a previous automatic diagnosis system (CAAD) that is dependent on the construction of a “normal data base” of healthy brain images. Diagnostic performance was compared between the 2 methods. RESULTS: The CADDIES demonstrated a sensitivity of 88%, specificity of 79%, and accuracy of 85%, while the CAAD system demonstrated a sensitivity of 70%, specificity of 94%, and accuracy of 82%. The area under the ROC curve of CADDIES was 0.964. The areas under ROC curves of the CAAD method in the parietal and posterior cingulate gyri were 0.843 and 0.939, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The CADDIES method demonstrated a diagnostic accuracy similar to that of the CAAD system. Our results indicate that this method can be applied to the detection of patients with early AD in routine clinical examinations, with the benefit of not requiring the generation of a normal data base.