Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Initialization and self‐organized optimization of recurrent neural network connectivity

Reservoir computing (RC) is a recent paradigm in the field of recurrent neural networks. Networks in RC have a sparsely and randomly connected fixed hidden layer, and only output connections are trained. RC networks have recently received increased attention as a mathematical model for generic neural microcircuits to investigate and explain computations in neocortical columns. Applied to specific tasks, their fixed random connectivity, however, leads to significant variation in performance. Few problem‐specific optimization procedures are known, which would be important for engineering applications, but also in order to understand how networks in biology are shaped to be optimally adapted to requirements of their environment. We study a general network initialization method using permutation matrices and derive a new unsupervised learning rule based on intrinsic plasticity (IP). The IP‐based learning uses only local learning, and its aim is to improve network performance in a self‐organized way. Using three different benchmarks, we show that networks with permutation matrices for the reservoir connectivity have much more persistent memory than the other methods but are also able to perform highly nonlinear mappings. We also show that IP‐based on sigmoid transfer functions is limited concerning the output distributions that can be achieved.
Speeding up 2 D-Warping for Pose-Invariant Face Recognition

Recently, state-of-the-art recognition accuracies for pose-invariant face recognition have been achieved by using 2D-Warping methods in a nearest-neighbor framework. However, the main drawback of these methods is the high computational complexity. In this paper we address this issue. We use a simple and fast method to get a rough estimate of a 2D-Warping. This estimate can then be used to apply an image dependent warprange on the 2D-Warping algorithm, limit the possible poses or preselect the most likely classes. By this method we are able significantly reduce the runtime of a recently proposed 2D-Warping algorithm without sacrificing recognition accuracy.
A Decrease in miR-150 Regulates the Malignancy of Pancreatic Cancer by Targeting c-Myb and MUC4

Objectives Pancreatic cancer is an aggressive cancer with high mortality. Conventional treatments have little impact on its progression. Limited research investigating the role of oncogene miR-150 specifically in pancreatic cancer has been published. The purpose of this study was to determine the tumorigenesis of miR-150 in pancreatic cancer. Methods One hundred six pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas were analyzed together with their adjacent benign pancreatic tissues. The associations of miR-150, c-Myb, and MUC4 expression with survival rates were determined. Functional studies on miR-150 in pancreatic cancer were used to assess its effect on proliferation and malignancy in several pancreatic cell lines. Results miR-150 expression was significantly down-regulated in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma tissues compared with adjacent benign pancreatic tissues. Patients with low miR-150 expression had significantly higher mortality rates than those with high miR-150 expression. The in vitro and in vivo assays of pancreatic cancer cells showed that miR-150 overexpression leads to reduced cell growth, clonogenicity, migration, invasion, modular cell cycles, and induced apoptosis. Moreover, miR-150 expression was inversely correlated with c-Myb and MUC4 activities in pancreatic tissue, cell lines, and nude mouse model. Conclusions miR-150 is an important suppressor of pancreatic ductal carcinoma and acts as a regulator of c-Myb and MUC4 in aggressive progress.
Neuropsin (OPN5)-mediated photoentrainment of local circadian oscillators in mammalian retina and cornea

Significance The behavioral circadian rhythms of mammals are synchronized to light/dark cycles through rods, cones, and melanopsin (OPN4)-expressing, intrinsically photosensitive ganglion cells in the retina. The molecular circadian rhythms in the mammalian retina are themselves synchronized to light/dark signals. We show here that this retinal photoentrainment, in an ex vivo setting, requires neuropsin (OPN5), an orphan opsin in mammals. Remarkably, the circadian clocks in the cornea are also photoentrained ex vivo in an OPN5-dependent manner. The molecular circadian clocks in the mammalian retina are locally synchronized by environmental light cycles independent of the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) in the brain. Unexpectedly, this entrainment does not require rods, cones, or melanopsin (OPN4), possibly suggesting the involvement of another retinal photopigment. Here, we show that the ex vivo mouse retinal rhythm is most sensitive to short-wavelength light but that this photoentrainment requires neither the short-wavelength–sensitive cone pigment [S-pigment or cone opsin (OPN1SW)] nor encephalopsin (OPN3). However, retinas lacking neuropsin (OPN5) fail to photoentrain, even though other visual functions appear largely normal. Initial evidence suggests that OPN5 is expressed in select retinal ganglion cells. Remarkably, the mouse corneal circadian rhythm is also photoentrainable ex vivo, and this photoentrainment likewise requires OPN5. Our findings reveal a light-sensing function for mammalian OPN5, until now an orphan opsin.
A mobile cache model with semantic locality

Restricted by wireless communication technology and mobile computing environment, it is difficult to improve the efficiency of the programs that resided in mobile end. To solve this problem, the cache mechanism is a major and effective method. In this paper, we propose an application-oriented semantic cache model. It establishes a semantic-associated rules base according to the knowledge of application domains, makes use of the semantic locality for data pre-fetching, and adopts a two-level LRU algorithm for cache replacement. Several experiments demonstrate that the semantic-driven cache model can achieve higher hit ratio than traditional cache models.
Designing peer-to-peer systems for business-to-business environments

This paper describes the design of a peer-to-peer system integrated in a larger framework for the automatic content production, formatting, distribution and delivery over multiple platforms called AXMEDIS (E.U. IST-2-511299). One of the goals of the project is the reduction of costs and, among the others, the adoption of a collaborative environment based on a virtual database as an abstraction of a multitude of objects shared in a large network of content producers/distributors/aggregators. The peculiar properties of this system are the automation of P2P related operations, the professional query user interface based on Dublin Core and available rights of target objects, and the preemptive exclusion of uncertified participants.
An Approach to Software Design Reuse Using Case-Based Reasoning and WordNet

Reusing the knowledge gathered in the design phase of software development is an important issue for any software company. It enables software developers to work faster and make fewer mistakes, which decreases the development time due to the increased efficiency of the development team. In order to accomplish design knowledge reuse, we have developed an intelligent CASE tool that supports software design. Our system uses Case-Based Reasoning and WordNet, providing a framework for storage and reuse of design knowledge. This chapter presents our approach, which exploits a knowledge base and several reasoning mechanisms that reuse the stored knowledge.
Typing of Enterococcus species by DNA restriction fragment analysis

Enterococci are a frequent cause of hospital-acquired infection, being associated with urinary tract infections, wound sepsis, bacteremia, and endocarditis. The source of infection is usually thought to be endogenous, but some evidence points to cross-infection between patients. A better understanding of the epidemiology of enterococci has been limited by the lack of a good discriminatory typing system. This report describes the application of two DNA-based typing methods to Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium: comparison of restriction fragments from total DNA by conventional electrophoresis and comparison of restriction fragments hybridizing to an rRNA gene probe (ribotyping). Comparison of restriction fragments (from SstI digestion) by conventional electrophoresis was simple and highly discriminatory. The results of analysis of blood culture isolates and of repeat isolates from individual patients are reported. Ribotyping (with BscI digestion) was more applicable at the level of species discrimination.
Assessment of maximal handgrip strength: how many attempts are needed?

Handgrip strength (HGS) is used to identify individuals with low muscle strength (dynapenia). The influence of the number of attempts on maximal HGS is not yet known and may differ depending on age and health status. This study aimed to assess how many attempts of HGS are required to obtain maximal HGS.
The biology and behavior of Triatoma barberi (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) in Mexico. I. Blood meal sources and infection with Trypanosoma cruzi.

The capillary precipitin test technique was used to analyze the blood meals of 519 Triatoma barberi collected from village households in Magdalena Apazco, Oaxaca, Mexico. The gut contents of 85% reacted to 1 or more of 22 different anti, sera. Feedings from rodents accounted for 70% of all identified blood meals, followed by feedings from man (36%), cat (13%), dog (12%), bovid (11%), chicken (9%) and turkey (6%). Nymph and adult blood meals showed similar patterns in both number and source of host identifications, Multiple blood meals, from 2 to 6 different hosts, were found in 48% of all bugs with identified feedings and were encountered more frequently in adults (.53%) than in nymphs (45%), Of 362 bugs examined for Trypanosoma cruzi . 72% were infected, The percentage of in, fection increased with successive instar and was significantly higher in adults than in nymphal instat's combined, There was no correlation between host source and T. cruzi infection rates in bugs. Common usage of ceiling spaces in houses by both bugs and rodents, a predominant number of identified blood meals from rats and mice, and a high rate of T. cruzi infection in bugs are evidence of a strong link between this domiciliary species of triatomine and peridomestic rodents in Mexico.
A 2.89-μW clockless wireless dry-electrode ECG SoC for wearable sensors

This paper presents a clockless fully-integrated wireless electrocardiogram (ECG) system-on-chip (SoC) for wearable ECG sensor. The clockless implementation is enabled by the combination of event-driven ADC and impulse-radio ultra-wideband transmitter, leading to an order of magnitude reduction in power. A DC-coupled analog front-end with a novel baseline stabilizer boosts the input impedance to several GΩ, which minimizes the impact of motion artifacts and facilities the dry-electrode based ECG recording. An on-chip antenna increases the system integration level and makes flexible patch possible. Implemented in 0.13 μm CMOS technology, the entire system consumes 2.89 μW under 1.2 V supply when transmitting raw ECG data.
EFFECT OF PIOGLITAZONE ON HEPATIC ULTRA-STRUCTURE AND METABOLIC CHANGES INDUCED BY A HIGH SUCROSE DIET IN RATS

Pioglitazone (Pio) is a PPAR-γ agonist insulin sensitizer has anti-inflammatory a ctivity. Our novel aspect was to investigate its hepatic anti-inflammatory ac tivity at the level of ultra-structure and enzymati c changes in a high sucrose diet animal model. Forty male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into four equal groups: Control; control Pio; high sucrose diet; hi gh sucrose diet Pio treated groups. Fourteen weeks later, serum glucose, insulin, lipogram, gamma glutamyle transferase, alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, fetuin-A and ad iponectin levels were measured. Hepatic tissue homogenate levels of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6 and myeloperoxidase activity were d etermined. Microscopic and ultra-structure hepatic changes wer e conducted in all animal groups. Administration of Pio in HS+Pio group reduced significantly the hepatic i nflammatory markers and the hepatic enzymes compared with HS group. Both light and electron microscopic examination revealed a great improvement of the hepatic tissue with Pio treatment. This study s uggested that Pio treatment in obesity; in addition to insulin sensitizing activity; could protect the liv er from the development of hepatic inflammation ind uced by a high sucrose diet not only at the enzymatic bu t also at ultra-structure levels.
Detection and classification of material attributes-a practical application of wavelet analysis

We describe a method for classifying material properties from measurements of the Barkhausen effect, which originates from a fast magnetization of ferromagnetic materials using alternating currents. We use wavelet analysis to develop a tool box for evaluating Barkhausen measurements. The described wavelet techniques allow detection of extremely weak signals in the Barkhausen noise voltage. By using a statistical classification rule, we show that the detected structures are directly related to material properties.
High-$Q$ Solenoid Inductors With a CMOS-Compatible Concave-Suspending MEMS Process

This paper presents micromachined solenoid inductors that are fabricated in a standard CMOS silicon substrate (with a resistivity of 1-8 Omega . cm). The solenoid is concavely embedded in a silicon cavity with the silicon wafer surface remaining a plane, and mechanically suspended to form an air gap from the bottom of the silicon cavity. In addition to facilitating flip-chip packaging, this so-called "concave-suspending" technique effectively depresses the substrate effects including eddy current and capacitive coupling between the coil and the substrate, therefore contributing to both high Q -factor and high resonant frequency of the inductors for high-performance radio-frequency (RF)/microwave integrated circuit applications. Various inductors with different solenoid layouts, e.g., several shapes of curved solenoids, have been successfully fabricated by using a post-CMOS microelectromechanical systems process that employs copper electroplating, tetra-methyl-ammonium hydroxide (TMAH) + iso- propanol etching and compensation control for convex-corner undercutting, photoresist spray coating, XeF2 gaseous etching, and other steps. A lumped circuit model that accounts for inter- turn fringing capacitance, capacitance between the coil and the substrate, substrate ohmic loss and substrate capacitance, etc., is derived for the solenoid inductors. The accuracy of the model is confirmed by the testing results and can be used for optimal design of the inductors. By S-parameter testing, various types of inductors with different solenoid layouts have been evaluated. The solenoid inductors generally exhibit improved RF performance in Q-factor and self-resonance frequency compared to their conventional counterparts.
On the tunneling component of charge pumping current in ultrathin gate oxide MOSFETs

A simple method is described for separating the charge pumping current from the parasitic tunneling component in a charge pumping measurement performed on MOS transistors with ultrathin (<2 nm) gate oxide thickness. The method is presented here for a two-level charge pumping signal and can be used to significantly increase the accuracy of the technique to extract interface trap parameters in tunnel MOS devices.
Single influenza virus infection reveals the difference between G1 and S/G2/M cell

Using optical tweezers for trapping and infection of influenza virus influenza virus binds selectively G1 phase cell. This result encouraged us to dissolve the difference between G1- and S/G2/M-phage cells. At the beginning, we tried to analyze the sialic acid content of both G1-and S/G2/M-phase cells. Because it had been shown that influenza virus attached to the sialic acid on the cell membrane. Obviously the sialic acid content was different between both cells. Next the membrane stiffness and lipid composition were analyzed. The result of membrane stiffness showed that the membrane stiffness of G1-phase cell was increased than S/G2/M-phase cell. The result of lipid composition assay showed that the expression of Gb3, Gb4, and GlcCer was higher in S/G2/M-phase cells than in G1-phase cells.
Identification of extracellular δ‐catenin accumulation for prostate cancer detection

Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in men, and early detection is essential to reduce mortality and increase survival. δ‐Catenin is a unique β‐catenin superfamily protein primarily expressed in the brain but is upregulated in human prostatic adenocarcinomas. Despite its close correlation with the disease, it is unclear whether δ‐catenin presents the potential in prostate cancer screening because it is an intracellular protein. In this study, we investigated the hypothesis of δ‐catenin accumulation in the urine of prostate cancer patients and its potential pathways of excretion into extracellular milieu.
A physical approach for the observation of oil spills in SAR images

In this paper, a physical approach to support oil spills observation over synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images is presented. Electromagnetic model is based on an enhanced damping model that takes into account oil viscoelastic properties and wind speed. As a matter of fact, a multisensor approach is considered and a constant false alarm rate (CFAR) filter is used to minimize speckle effect. A set of experiments is presented and discussed. They show that oil spill processing is effective over single-look SAR images using mean input data.
Gender Differentials in Poverty-Mortality Well-Being

This paper explores the application of a life table approach to the analysis of poverty. After reviewing trends in gender differentials in poverty and mortality, we investigate an indicator of poverty-mortality well-being. The rationale for this approach is that to some extent poverty and mortality are causally interrelated phenomena which are both fundamental to well-being. The empirical results indicate that females are expected to live more years in poverty than are males, but females are expected to live more years in nonpoverty as well. Although the gender differential in poverty rates has increased to the disadvantage of females, and although most of the greater poverty of females cannot be attributed to their greater longevity, the gender differential in poverty-mortality well-being has nonetheless not deteriorated to the disadvantage of women in recent decades.
A practical approach to the design of robust speed controllers for machine drives

This paper presents a practical approach to the robust speed control of electrical drives. The approach is based on sliding mode control (SMC), but it is shown how sampling time, system noise, actuation limit, and antiwindup integrator reduce the control to an online maximum-gain selection constrained by system noise. The paper proposes a trajectory-reference compensator and fuzzy gain interpolator to fully exploit the system actuation while avoiding chattering and remaining within specified noise limits, only the SMC switching line needs to be selected; the remaining control design is systematic and, thus, should be of interest to drive engineers in industry. Experimental results on a vector-controlled AC motor drive rig with variable-inertia loads are presented to verify the approach.
Light-Triggered RNA Annealing by an RNA Chaperone.

Non-coding antisense RNAs regulate bacterial genes in response to nutrition or environmental stress, and can be engineered for artificial gene control. The RNA chaperone Hfq accelerates antisense pairing between non-coding RNAs and their mRNA targets, by a mechanism still unknown. We used a photocaged guanosine derivative in an RNA oligonucleotide to temporally control Hfq catalyzed annealing. Using a fluorescent molecular beacon as a reporter, we observed RNA duplex formation within 15 s following irradiation (3 s) of photocaged RNA complexed with Hfq. The results showed that the Hfq chaperone directly stabilizes the initiation of RNA base pairs, and suggests a strategy for light-activated control of gene expression by non-coding RNAs.
Performance Evaluation of Hybrid Precoded Millimeter Wave Wireless Communication System on Color Image Transmission

In this paper, a comprehensive study has been on the suitability of implementation of hybrid precoding scheme in performance analysis of the future generation wireless communication system. The 256-by-32 multi antenna supported simulated system incorporates various types of modern and classical channel coding schemes such as Low density parity check (LDPC), Repeat and Accumulate (RA), ½-rated convolutional and non-binary Bose-Chadhuri-Hocquenghem (BCH) and Zero-Forcing (ZF) signal detection technique. With consideration of ray path geometry based mmWave MIMO fading channel and properly designed precoders and combiners and their applicability in simulation works, it is seen from computer simulation results that the presently considered simulated system outperforms in retrieving color image in LDPC channel coding and 16QAM digital modulation and Zero-Forcing (ZF) signal detection schemes.
An efficient algorithm for two-dimensional autoregressive spectrum estimation

An algorithm similar to the Burg algorithm is given for autoregressive estimation in one dimension. Coefficients of the filter used to decorrelate the signal are found recursively from lower-order filters. The coefficients needed to get the larger-sized filters can be found at each stage of the recursion from the correlations of lower-order filter outputs. Thus, the resulting estimate does not assume knowledge of ensemble averages. It offers a computational saving of 25% over the commonly used method, in which an estimate of the correlation matrix is first computed and then inverted. >
Dexamethasone upregulates the expression of the nuclear cofactor p300 and its interaction with C/EBPβ in cultured myotubes

Muscle wasting during sepsis and other catabolic conditions is, at least in part, mediated by glucocorticoids and is associated with upregulated transcription of multiple genes in the ubiquitin‐proteasome proteolytic pathway. In addition to transcription factors, nuclear cofactors, including p300, regulate gene transcription. We tested the hypothesis that glucocorticoids upregulate the expression of p300 in muscle cells. Treatment of cultured L6 myotubes, a rat skeletal muscle cell line, with dexamethasone resulted in a dose‐ and time‐dependent increase in p300 protein and mRNA levels. Surprisingly, the effect of dexamethasone on p300 levels was not inhibited by the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) antagonist RU38486 and RU38486 exerted an agonist effect on p300, increasing its expression. Co‐immunoprecipitation showed that treatment of the myotubes with dexamethasone resulted in protein–protein interaction between p300 and C/EBPβ, but not C/EBPδ. The present results suggest that glucocorticoids upregulate the expression of p300 and its interaction with C/EBPβ in skeletal muscle. Increased expression and activity of p300 may be involved in the regulation of gene transcription in glucocorticoid‐dependent muscle wasting. J. Cell. Biochem. 94: 1058–1067, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.