Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Conformational changes, diffusion and collective behavior in monomeric kinesin-based motility

Molecular motors convert chemical energy into mechanical motion and power the transport of material within living cells; the motion of a motor is thought to be influenced by stochastic chemical state transitions of the molecule as well as intramolecular diffusion of one motor head seeking the next binding site. Existing models for the motility of single-headed monomeric motors that map the system to a simplified two-state Brownian ratchet have some predictive power, but in general are unable to elucidate the contributions of different molecular level processes to the overall effective parameters. In this work, we build a detailed molecular level model of monomeric kinesin motility that naturally incorporates conformational changes (power strokes) and biased diffusion. Our results predict that mean velocity is most sensitive to the power stroke size, while run length distribution is sensitive primarily to the strength of the microtubule bias potential with a weak dependence on power stroke that can be tuned by the strength of an applied load. In addition, we demonstrate that motor pairs attached to the same cargo can cooperatively function to increase motility in both the plus- and minus-end directions. These findings illustrate the importance of a detailed mechanochemical model for dissecting the contributions of microscopic parameters to monomeric kinesin dynamics.
A Cooperative Beamforming Scheme in MIMO Relay Broadcast Channels

We consider relay broadcast channels (RBCs) with multiple antennas at all nodes. A practical linear precoding, relaying and combining scheme is proposed. Under an overall power constraint, we derive the optimal power allocation solution in a closed form. A low complexity beamforming vector optimization algorithm is proposed to maximize the effective channel gains and improve the system performance. Simulation results are presented for various channel configurations, which show that the proposed cooperative beamforming algorithm achieves performance very close to that of the exhaustive search algorithm but with a much lower complexity, and the maximum diversity gain is always attained.
Polytopic black-box modeling of dc-dc converters

The objective of this work is to develop modular black-box converter models for system-level design and analysis that are valid in a wide variety of operating conditions. The approach used to address this problem is to divide the converter operating space into sub-spaces. For each sub-space, a linear local model is constructed from frequency response functions (FRFs) measured at the converter terminals. The FRFs are then post processed using system identification, the linear models obtained are valid as a local representation of the converter intrinsic dynamic at that operating condition. In the regions where two or more adjacent linear models overlap, an appropriate weighting is applied between them to produce an accurate approximation of the measured data. This new structure allows the characterization of converters with rich nonlinear dynamics, such as an unregulated dc-dc bus converter working near the boundary region between discontinuous and continuous conduction modes or a regulated flyback dc-dc converter. These two converters are effectively modeled with the proposed approach, and its models are presented in detail, providing an in-depth description of their implementation as well as their extensive experimental validation with laboratory prototypes.
Optimization of ARMA(p,q) Models for SISO Multipath Fading Channel Simulation with Arbitrary Correlation

An ARMA(p,q) model parameterization method is outlined and proposed for approximating the Clarke's theoretical autocorrelation function. The method uses a strategy that consists of computing the AR coefficients in a preliminary stage and then, in a subsequent stage, computing the MA coefficients. In the first stage it considers a "redesigned" least squares modified Yule Walker equations estimator for determining the AR coefficients, and in the second stage it uses the Durbin's method for computing the MA coefficients. An ARMA(7,6) model and an ARMA(14,13) model are obtained for approximating the Clarke's theoretical correlation statistics considering a nominal discrete-time maximum Doppler frequency of f_D=0.05. The accuracy of the fitting provided with the two obtained ARMA(p,q) models is compared with results from the literature. Both the ARMA(7,6) and the ARMA(14,13) models provide very good fitting.
An Image Processing Tool to Support Gestational Age Determination

The FootScanAge is a non-invasive, more accurate novel approach to automatically estimate the gestational age of newborns. This task is performed by the computational analysis of the features from the newborn plantar surface. The FootScanAge system is composed by two main tools: (1) image processing and (2) data mining. In this paper, we present the image processing tool that extract features of the plantar surface by applying image processing techniques developed to work on the footprint of the newborns, which present some singular characteristics. We included the results that support the determination of an adequate gestational age score by using the data mining tool
Model reference adaptive impedance control in Cartesian coordinates for physical human–robot interaction

In this paper, a nonlinear model reference adaptive impedance controller is proposed and tested. The controller provides asymptotic tracking of a reference impedance model for the robot end-effector in Cartesian coordinates applicable to rehabilitation robotics or any other human–robot interactions such as haptic systems. The controller uses the parameters of a desired stable reference model which is the target impedance for the robot’s end-effector. It also considers uncertainties in the model parameters of the robot. The asymptotic tracking is proven using Lyapunov stability theorem. Moreover, the adaptation law is proposed in joint space for reducing the complexity of its calculations; however, the controller and the stability proof are all presented in Cartesian coordinates. Using simulations and experiments on a two DOFs robot, the effectiveness of the proposed controller is investigated. Graphical Abstract
Mitochondrial-targeted Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3 (STAT3) Protects against Ischemia-induced Changes in the Electron Transport Chain and the Generation of Reactive Oxygen Species*

Expression of the STAT3 transcription factor in the heart is cardioprotective and decreases the levels of reactive oxygen species. Recent studies indicate that a pool of STAT3 resides in the mitochondria where it is necessary for the maximal activity of complexes I and II of the electron transport chain. However, it has not been explored whether mitochondrial STAT3 modulates cardiac function under conditions of stress. Transgenic mice with cardiomyocyte-specific overexpression of mitochondria-targeted STAT3 with a mutation in the DNA-binding domain (MLS-STAT3E) were generated. We evaluated the role of mitochondrial STAT3 in the preservation of mitochondrial function during ischemia. Under conditions of ischemia heart mitochondria expressing MLS-STAT3E exhibited modest decreases in basal activities of complexes I and II of the electron transport chain. In contrast to WT hearts, complex I-dependent respiratory rates were protected against ischemic damage in MLS-STAT3E hearts. MLS-STAT3E prevented the release of cytochrome c into the cytosol during ischemia. In contrast to WT mitochondria, ischemia did not augment reactive oxygen species production in MLS-STAT3E mitochondria likely due to an MLS-STAT3E-mediated partial blockade of electron transport through complex I. Given the caveat of STAT3 overexpression, these results suggest a novel protective mechanism mediated by mitochondrial STAT3 that is independent of its canonical activity as a nuclear transcription factor.
Exact recursive updating of uncertainty sets for discrete-time plants with a lag

In [7] there are new results concerning the poly-topic set of possible states of a linear discrete-time SISO system subject to bounded disturbances from measurements corrupted by bounded noise. Using these results we construct an algorithm which, for the special case of a plant with a lag, recursively updates these polytopic sets when new measurements arrive.
Adipose tissue mitochondrial dysfunction triggers a lipodystrophic syndrome with insulin resistance, hepatosteatosis, and cardiovascular complications

Mitochondrial dysfunction in adipose tissue occurs in obesity, type 2 diabetes, and some forms of lipodystrophy, but whether this dysfunction contributes to or is the result of these disorders is unknown. To investigate the physiological consequences of severe mitochondrial impairment in adipose tissue, we generated mice deficient in mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM) in adipocytes by using mice carrying adiponectin‐Cre and TFAM floxed alleles. These adiponectin TFAM‐knockout (adipo‐TFAM‐KO) mice had a 75–81% reduction in TFAM in the subcutaneous and intra‐abdominal white adipose tissue (WAT) and interscapular brown adipose tissue (BAT), causing decreased expression and enzymatic activity of proteins in complexes I, III, and IV of the electron transport chain (ETC). This mitochondrial dysfunction led to adipocyte death and inflammation in WAT and a whitening of BAT. As a result, adipo‐TFAM‐KO mice were resistant to weight gain, but exhibited insulin resistance on both normal chow and high‐fat diets. These lipodystrophic mice also developed hypertension, cardiac hypertrophy, and cardiac dysfunction. Thus, isolated mitochondrial dysfunction in adipose tissue can lead a syndrome of lipodystrophy with metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular complications. —Vernochet, C. , Damilano, F. , Mourier, A. , Bezy, O. , Mori, M. A. , Smyth, G. , Rosenzweig, A. , Larsson, N. ‐G. , Kahn, C. R. Adipose tissue mitochondrial dysfunction triggers a lipodystrophic syndrome with insulin resistance, hepatosteatosis, and cardiovascular complications. FASEB J. 28, 4408–4419 (2014). www.fasebj. org
Individual values and household finances

ABSTRACT We create individual cultural values measures for households and show that this is an important determinant of their financial behaviour. To date, personal cultural values have only been indirectly measured through religion and trust. But these are, at best, an approximation of true cultural values. Applying a holistic framework from the World Values Survey (WVS), we create individual measures of cultural values, and show that the self-expression values of this framework are positively associated with households’ financial decisions. Examining the individual cultural values that make up the WVS model, we further show that happiness, trust, and playing an active role in society, are individually important determinants of household financial decision-making. Our study shows that cultural values can be brought from a generalized national level to the individual level in order to improve our understanding of household financial decision-making.
A Comparative Study on Undergraduate Students' Academic Motivation and Academic Self-Concept

The purpose of this study was to investigate Turkish and American undergraduate students' academic motivation and academic self-concept scores regarding the years that they spent in university. The analysis was based on 566 (284 Turkish, 282 American) undergraduate students where, Academic Motivation Scale and Academic Self-Concept Scale were used as measuring instruments. The results showed that there was a statistical significant effect of nationality and number of years spent in university on undergraduate students' intrinsic motivation, extrinsic motivation, and self-concept scores. Turkish students had higher intrinsic scores whereas American students had higher extrinsic scores and more positive academic-self concept compared to Turkish partners. Regarding grade level, senior students from both cultures had higher intrinsic motivation and academic self-concept scores compared to other grade levels. In terms of extrinsic motivation, there is steady decline in American students' scores as grade level increases. On the other hand, Turkish undergraduates' extrinsic scores decrease in the second year but increase in the third and fourth year of university education. Results were discussed by taking into consideration the social and cultural differences between two nations. El propósito de este trabajo fue investigar en postgraduados turcos y americanos la motivación y el autoconcepto académicos, en relación con los años invertidos en la universidad. Se registraron las puntuaciones de una muestra de 566 estudiantes postgraduados (284 turcos y 282 americanos) en una Escala de motivación académica y otra Escala de autoconcepto académico. Los resultados indicaron un efecto estadísticamente significativo entre la nacionalidad y el número de años invertidos en la universidad para las puntuaciones de motivación intrínseca, extrínseca y autoconcepto. Los estudiantes turcos puntuaban más alto en motivación intrínseca mientras que los americanos puntuaban más alto en extrínseca y mostraron un autoconcepto más positivo que los estudiantes turcos. En relación con el nivel de estudios, los estudiantes licenciados de ambas culturas puntuaban más alto en motivación intrínseca y en autoconcepto académico que los estudiantes diplomados. En cuanto a la motivación extrínseca, los estudiantes americanos mostraron un descenso en sus puntuaciones a medida que aumentaba el nivel de estudios. Por otro lado, las puntuaciones extrínsecas de los postgraduados turcos disminuía en la segunda mitad del año aunque incrementaba entre el tercer y cuarto año de estudios universitarios. Los resultados se discutieron teniendo en cuenta las diferencias socioculturales de ambas naciones.
Anesthesia for In Utero Repair of Myelomeningocele

Recently published results suggest that prenatal repair of fetal myelomeningocele is a potentially preferable alternative when compared to postnatal repair. In this article, the pathology of myelomeningocele, unique physiologic considerations, perioperative anesthetic management, and ethical considerations of open fetal surgery for prenatal myelomeningocele repair are discussed. Open fetal surgeries have many unique anesthetic issues such as inducing profound uterine relaxation, vigilance for maternal or fetal blood loss, fetal monitoring, and possible fetal resuscitation. Postoperative management, including the requirement for postoperative tocolysis and maternal analgesia, are also reviewed. The success of intrauterine myelomeningocele repair relies on a well-coordinated multidisciplinary approach. Fetal surgery is an important topic for anesthesiologists to understand, as the number of fetal procedures is likely to increase as new fetal treatment centers are opened across the United States.
Immunochemical Detection of Advanced Glycation End Products in Renal Cortex From STZ-Induced Diabetic Rat

To reassess the accumulation of advanced glycation end products in diabetic renal cortex, we used a newly developed enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to measure AGEs in renal cortex from STZ-induced diabetic and age-matched control rats. Kidneys and aortas were obtained from rats after 5 and 20 wk of STZ injection. At 5 wk of diabetes, the mean AGE content in collagenase-digested materials of renal cortex was > 16-fold higher in diabetic animals compared with controls (1044.4 ± 151.8 vs. 64.3 ± 5.7 arbitrary units, P < 0.01). At 20 wk of diabetes, it was > 45-fold higher in diabetic compared with control animals (3841.0 ± 1077.3 vs. 83.8 ± 12.8 AUs, P < 0.01). These increases were surprisingly large compared with the < 1.5-fold increase in the fluorescence levels both after 5 and 20 wk of diabetes. In control animals, neither the AGE content nor the fluorescence level increased during this period. Moreover, at 20 wk of diabetes, the AGE content was 39-fold higher in renal cortex compared with aorta. This study provided the first immunochemical evidence that collagenase-digested materials of renal cortex, as well as aorta, contained AGE products and that these products were present in much higher levels in diabetic animals than in control animals. With duration of diabetes, the AGE contents increased significantly both in renal cortex and aorta. The excessive accumulation of AGEs was most apparent in the diabetic kidney. These findings suggest that the actual level of AGEs, in particular, in diabetic renal cortex is much higher than previously anticipated, and a newly developed enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay may be a powerful tool for investigating the role of the advanced Maillard reaction in the development of diabetic nephropathy.
Quality management system for web-based collaboration in mold & die industry

Mold and die are frequently used to manufacture the same products rapidly in a great quantity. The qualities of the products, especially the appearance and the functionality of the inner parts of the products, are mostly determined by the quality of the molds which are used to manufacture them. In that sense, It is very important to improve the quality of the molds in order to improve the quality of the products, but it is very difficult to control the quality of the molds because the molds were generally made by the collaboration of many companies. This problem lead to the need of effective collaboration naturally, and this paper deals with the construction and application of the web-based quality control system of molds. In order to control the quality of the molds, we construct the quality information DB for, management of the standard of the product quality and quality element by the buyer's guideline, and the quality element management system of molds and the inspection system was constructed. By using this quality management system, the quality standard and quality information could be shared by collaborating companies and applied to inspection, and consequently, the qualities of the molds were improved.
Relationship to Perpetrator, Disclosure, Social Reactions, and PTSD Symptoms in Child Sexual Abuse Survivors

ABSTRACT This research examined victim relationship to the perpetrator, disclosure characteristics, social reactions, and PTSD in adult survivors' of child sexual abuse (CSA) identified in a convenience sample of 733 college students. Results indicated that relationship to the perpetrator was related to CSA characteristics and outcomes. More negative reactions such as disbelief were observed for those victimized by relatives compared with acquaintance and stranger victims, especially for those disclosing in childhood. Victims of relatives had more PTSD symptoms if they delayed disclosure, received more negative reactions in childhood, and engaged in self-blame at the time of the abuse. Results are discussed in the context of Freyd's (1996) betrayal trauma theory, in order to better understand the traumatic impact of CSA.
Spatial Analysis of China Province-level Maternal Mortality

Objective:To explore the spatial distribution patterns of province-level prenatal mortality in China; compare the im-pact of different social and economic development factors on maternal mortality.Methods:Determining the spatial correlation of prov-ince-level prenatal mortality based on Moran's I index; using the spatial models for related variables testing.Results:There was astrong positive correlation in province-level prenatal mortality of China; the result of spatial measurement inspection showed that fac-tors of regional economic and health resources under the effects of spatial interaction had great significance on maternal mortality.Conclusion:Because China's provincial-level mortality rate had strong positive spatial autocorrelation, the further promotion of re-gional economic development and the level of medical service could not only reduce the regional mortality level, but also would pro-mote the reduction of adjacent area mortality level.
Aripiprazole in the treatment of patients with alcohol dependence: a double-blind, comparison trial vs. Naltrexone

Abstract Substantial evidence suggests that both partial dopamine agents and mixed 5-HT1A/2A receptor drugs independently show significant efficacy in reducing alcohol use in both animals and humans. Aripiprazole, which acts as a dopamine/5-HT system stabilizer, approaches the optimal characteristics sought in medication to be considered for testing in the treatment of alcohol dependence. In this randomised, double-blind, confrontation trial with naltrexone, we aimed to investigate the efficacy of aripiprazole on alcohol-drinking indices. Craving and psychiatric symptom improvements were the secondary end points. Seventy-five alcohol dependent subjects were detoxified and were subsequently randomised into two groups, receiving 50 mg of naltrexone and 5–15 mg of aripiprazole, respectively. Craving (Visual Analogue Scale; Obsessive and Compulsive Drinking Scale) and withdrawal (Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment) rating scales were applied; psychiatric symptoms were evaluated through the Symptom Check List 90–Revised. The number of subjects remained alcohol free for the entire study period (16 weeks) and the number of subjects relapsed were not significantly different in the two groups. The survival function showed that patients treated with aripiprazole remained abstinent from any alcohol amount for a longer time with respect to those treated with naltrexone. As for craving scores, patients treated with naltrexone showed a better outcome. Results from this study globally place aripiprazole at the same range of efficacy of naltrexone, one of the approved drugs used in alcohol relapse prevention. If it could be demonstrated in placebo-controlled trials that aripiprazole is efficacious in decreasing alcohol use, lessening craving, and attenuating psychopathological symptom severity, we will have gained a powerful agent for the treatment of alcohol-dependent subjects.
Seeking a valid gold standard for an innovative, dialect-neutral language test.

PURPOSE In this study, the authors explored alternative gold standards to validate an innovative, dialect-neutral language assessment. METHOD Participants were 78 African American children, ages 5;0 (years;months) to 6;11. Twenty participants had previously been identified as having language impairment. The Diagnostic Evaluation of Language Variation-Norm Referenced (DELV-NR; Seymour, Roeper, & J. de Villiers, 2005) was administered, and concurrent language samples (LSs) were collected. Using LS profiles as the gold standard, sensitivity, specificity, and other measures of diagnostic accuracy were compared for diagnoses made from the DELV-NR and participants' clinical status prior to recruitment. In a second analysis, the authors used results from the first analysis to make evidence-based adjustments in the estimates of DELV-NR diagnostic accuracy. RESULTS Accuracy of the DELV-NR relative to LS profiles was greater than that of prior diagnoses, indicating that the DELV-NR was an improvement over preexisting diagnoses for this group. Specificity met conventional standards, but sensitivity was somewhat low. Reanalysis using the positive and negative predictive power of the preexisting diagnosis in a discrepant-resolution procedure revealed that estimates for sensitivity and specificity for the DELV-NR were . 85 and . 93, respectively. CONCLUSION The authors found that, even after making allowances for the imperfection of available gold standards, clinical decisions made with the DELV-NR achieved high values on conventional measures of diagnostic accuracy.