Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Amplified vibrational circular dichroism

We investigate the space dependence of VCD signal-ampliﬁcation due to low-lying electronically excited states by VCD studies on synthetic ferrocene-linked peptides. Electrochemical switching of the redox state of ferrocene covalently bound to a peptide-like bio-functionality enables us to induce an ampliﬁcation of the VCD signal intensity of vibrational modes along the peptide backbone. Investigation of the distance dependence of the ampliﬁcation indicates a localized character of the enhancement. These results demonstrate that incorporation of a redox-switchable unit like ferrocene provides a powerful means to probe locally - and at user-deﬁned locations - the structure of large systems.
Deepcomics: saliency estimation for comics

A key requirement for training deep learning saliency models is large training eye tracking datasets. Despite the fact that the accessibility of eye tracking technology has greatly increased, collecting eye tracking data on a large scale for very specific content types is cumbersome, such as comic images, which are different from natural images such as photographs because text and pictorial content is integrated. In this paper, we show that a deep network trained on visual categories where the gaze deployment is similar to comics outperforms existing models and models trained with visual categories for which the gaze deployment is dramatically different from comics. Further, we find that it is better to use a computationally generated dataset on visual category close to comics one than real eye tracking data of a visual category that has different gaze deployment. These findings hold implications for the transference of deep networks to different domains.
Common-Resolution Convolution Kernels for Space- and Ground-Based Telescopes

Multiwavelength study of extended astronomical objects requires combining images from instruments with differing point-spread functions (PSFs). We describe the construction of convolution kernels that allow one to generate (multiwavelength) images with a common PSF, thus preserving the colors of the astronomical sources. We generate convolution kernels for the cameras of Spitzer, Herschel Space Observatory, Galaxy Evolution Explorer (GALEX), Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE), ground-based optical telescopes (Moffat functions and sum of Gaussians), and Gaussian PSFs. Kernels for other telescopes including IRAS, AKARI, and Planck, are currently being constructed. These kernels allow the study of the spectral energy distribution (SED) of extended objects, preserving the characteristic SED in each pixel. The convolution kernels and the IDL packages used to construct and use them are made publicly available.
A visual comparison of gaze behavior from pedestrians and cyclists

In this paper, we contribute an eye tracking study conducted with pedestrians and cyclists. We apply a visual analytics-based method to inspect pedestrians' and cyclists' gaze behavior as well as video recordings and accelerometer data. This method using multi-modal data allows us to explore patterns and extract common eye movement strategies. Our results are that participants paid most attention to the path itself; advertisements do not distract participants; participants focus more on pedestrians than on cyclists; pedestrians perform more shoulder checks than cyclists do; and we extracted common gaze sequences. Such an experiment in a real-world traffic environment allows us to understand realistic behavior of pedestrians and cyclists better.
Development of a neuronal motor prosthesis for the restoration of movement in paralyzed people

Recent advances in neuroscience opened the possibility of prosthetic control through brain signals measured from the cerebral cortex. Besides the electroencephalogram (EEG) and intracortically measured single-cell activities, a possible control signal is the electrocorticogram (ECoG). Here we present an integrated approach towards the development of a human neural prosthetic control system based on ECoG-signals. In our approach we study movement encoding in human patients undergoing diagnostic ECoG-measurements. The results are used to develop prosthetic control algorithms and optimized high-resolution ECoG-electrodes.
Genetic-based fuzzy model for inverse kinematics solution of robotic manipulators

A genetic-based method for the generation and adjustment of membership functions of fuzzy Jacobian sets for inverse kinematics solution of robotic manipulators is presented. The method produces an optimal membership function arrangement for the fuzzy Jacobian set. A simulation environment is developed which enables one to apply different parameters for flexible application of operators in the genetic algorithm during the process. Comparison results of the proposed approach and the available technique show that this method provides better results than the available one.
Dynamics of an idiostyle of a Russian suicidal blogger

Over 800000 people die of suicide each year. It is es-timated that by the year 2020, this figure will have in-creased to 1.5 million. It is considered to be one of the major causes of mortality during adolescence. Thus there is a growing need for methods of identifying su-icidal individuals. Language analysis is known to be a valuable psychodiagnostic tool, however the material for such an analysis is not easy to obtain. Currently as the Internet communications are developing, there is an opportunity to study texts of suicidal individuals. Such an analysis can provide a useful insight into the peculiarities of suicidal thinking, which can be used to further develop methods for diagnosing the risk of suicidal behavior. The paper analyzes the dynamics of a number of linguistic parameters of an idiostyle of a Russian-language blogger who died by suicide. For the first time such an analysis has been conducted using the material of Russian online texts. For text processing, the LIWC program is used. A correlation analysis was performed to identify the relationship between LIWC variables and number of days prior to suicide. Data visualization, as well as comparison with the results of related studies was performed.
PMU based SCADA enhancement in smart power grid

Phasor Measurement Unit (PMU) is an instrument that has been developed for improving the protection first and then control and monitoring system in smart power grid. This advanced technology may be used to provide high-speed and coherent real-time information about the power system that is not obtainable in conventional supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems. This research work deals with the study of the conventional SCADA system that is based on RTU's and proposes how to integrate this technology PMU in SCADA system for improving its performance. To validate the present work, the performance of developed SCADA system is tested by power system Simulink model under different conditions. The obtained simulation results are satisfactory.
The zinc transporter ZIPT-7.1 regulates sperm activation in nematodes

Sperm activation is a fascinating example of cell differentiation, in which immotile spermatids undergo a rapid and dramatic transition to become mature, motile sperm. Because the sperm nucleus is transcriptionally silent, this transition does not involve transcriptional changes. Although Caenorhabditis elegans is a leading model for studies of sperm activation, the mechanisms by which signaling pathways induce this transformation remain poorly characterized. Here we show that a conserved transmembrane zinc transporter, ZIPT-7.1, regulates the induction of sperm activation in Caenorhabditis nematodes. The zipt-7.1 mutant hermaphrodites cannot self-fertilize, and males reproduce poorly, because mutant spermatids are defective in responding to activating signals. The zipt-7.1 gene is expressed in the germ line and functions in germ cells to promote sperm activation. When expressed in mammalian cells, ZIPT-7.1 mediates zinc transport with high specificity and is predominantly located on internal membranes. Finally, genetic epistasis places zipt-7.1 at the end of the spe-8 sperm activation pathway, and ZIPT-7.1 binds SPE-4, a presenilin that regulates sperm activation. Based on these results, we propose a new model for sperm activation. In spermatids, inactive ZIPT-7.1 is localized to the membranous organelles, which contain higher levels of zinc than the cytoplasm. When sperm activation is triggered, ZIPT-7.1 activity increases, releasing zinc from internal stores. The resulting increase in cytoplasmic zinc promotes the phenotypic changes characteristic of activation. Thus, zinc signaling is a key step in the signal transduction process that mediates sperm activation, and we have identified a zinc transporter that is central to this activation process.
Changes in the expression of prostaglandin family members in bovine corpus luteum during the estrous cycle and pregnancy

The aim of this study was to characterize certain prostaglandin family members in the bovine corpus luteum (CL) during the estrous cycle and pregnancy. The CL tissue was assigned to the stages 1–2, 3–4, 5–7, 8–12, 13–16 and >18 days (after regression) of the estrous cycle and 1–2, 3–4, 6–7, and >8 months of pregnancy. In these samples, we investigated prostaglandin F2alpha (PTGF), prostaglandin E2 (PTGE), their receptors (PTGFR, PTGER2, and PTGER4), cyclooxygenase 2 (COX‐2), PTGF synthase (PTGFS), and PTGE synthase (PTGES). The expression of messenger RNA (mRNA) was measured by reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction, hormones by enzyme immunoassay, and localization by immunohistochemistry. The mRNA expression of COX‐2, PTGFS, and PTGES in CL during the early‐luteal phase was high followed by a continuous and significant downregulation afterward, as well as during all phases of pregnancy. The concentration of PTGF in CL tissue was high during the early‐luteal phase, decreased significantly in the mid‐luteal phase, and increased again afterward. In contrast, the concentration of PTGE increased significantly during the late‐luteal phase followed by a decrease during regression. The PTGE level increased again during late pregnancy. Immunohistochemically, the large granulose–luteal cells show strong staining for COX‐2 and PTGES during the early‐luteal stage followed by lower activity afterward. During pregnancy, most of the luteal cells were only weakly positive or negative. In conclusion, our results indicate that the examined prostaglandin family members are involved in the local mechanisms that regulate luteal function, specifically during CL formation, function, and regression and during pregnancy in the cow.
Multifaceted Engagement in Social Interaction with a Machine: The JOKER Project

This paper addresses the problem of evaluating engagement of the human participant by combining verbal and nonverbal behaviour along with contextual information. This study will be carried out through four different corpora. Four different systems designed to explore essential and complementary aspects of the JOKER system in terms of paralinguistic/linguistic inputs were used for the data collection. An annotation scheme dedicated to the labeling of verbal and non-verbal behavior have been designed. From our experiment, engagement in HRI should be multifaceted.
Chronic cough as a novel phenotype of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Background and purpose Chronic cough can be a dominant symptom of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), although its clinical impact remains unclear. The aim of our study was to identify phenotypic differences according to the presence of chronic cough or sputum and evaluate the impact of chronic cough on the risk of acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD). Methods In a nationwide COPD cohort including 1,613 COPD patients, patients with chronic cough only, those with sputum only, those with chronic bronchitis (CB), and those without cough and sputum were compared with regard to dyspnea, lung function, quality of life (QoL), and risk of AECOPD. Results The rates of chronic cough, chronic sputum, and both were 23.4%, 32.4%, and 18.2%, respectively. Compared with patients without chronic cough, those with chronic cough exhibited a lower forced expiratory volume in 1 second (% predicted) and diffusing capacity of the lungs for carbon monoxide (% predicted), more frequent AECOPD, more severe dyspnea, and worse QoL. Pulmonary function, dyspnea severity, and QoL worsened in the following order: without cough or sputum, with sputum only, with cough only, and with CB. Multivariate analyses revealed chronic cough as an independent risk factor for a lower lung function, more severe dyspnea, and a poor QoL. Moreover, the risk of future AECOPD was significantly associated with chronic cough (odds ratio 1.56, 95% CI 1.08–2.24), but not with chronic sputum. Conclusion Our results suggest that chronic cough should be considered as an important phenotype during the determination of high-risk groups of COPD patients.
Effect of W addition for Cu diffusion barrier property of electroless CoB films formed on SiO2

Electroless plated film has an excellent property of conformal deposition on dielectric under layers. For this reason, electloless plated (ELP) barrier metals such as and CoB and CoWB alloys are promising to use as a barrier layer which prohibit Cu atom diffusion into SiÜ2 and Si in Through-Silicon Via (TSV) of 3-D integration. in this study, we evaluated Cu inter-diffusion properties after annealing at 400 °C against electroless plated CoB, and CoWB barrier layers with different W content formed on thin-SiÜ2/Si substrate. We changed W-content of CoWB film by controlling plating bath composition. The CoB plated film on SiÜ2 had almost amorphous structure even after 400 °C annealing, while CoWB films showed very weak Co (002) diffraction peak which suggested Co nano-crystals existed in amorphous matrix, and this peak grew slightly after 400 °C annealing. SIMS depth profile and cross-sectional TEM analysis of the stacked films of TiN/Cu/ELP Co-alloy/thin SiÜ2 (5nm)/Si suggest that CoWB film with larger W content has better suppression effect of Cu inter-diffusion irrespective of nano-crystalline structure. It is demonstrated that ELP-CoWB having large amount of W is promising technology as a barrier layer of high aspect TSVs for 3-dimensional integration.
Resilience of Video Streaming Services to Network Impairments

When dealing with networks, performance management through conventional quality of service (QoS)-based methods becomes difficult and is often ineffective. In fact, quality emerges as an end-to-end factor, for it is particularly sensitive to the end-user perception of the overall service, i.e., the user’s quality of experience (QoE). However, the two are not independent from each other and their relationship has to be studied through metrics that go beyond the typical network parameters. To better explore the value of assessing QoE alongside QoS in high-speed, lossy networks, this paper presents an experimental methodology to understand the relation between network QoS onto service QoE, with the aim to perform a combined network-service assessment. Using video streaming services as the test-case (given their extended usage nowadays), in this paper, we provide studies on three network-impaired video-sets with the aim to provide a comprehensive evaluation of the effects of networks on video quality. First, the ReTRIeVED video set provides the means to understand the most impairing effects on networks. Furthermore, it triggered the idea to create our own sets, specialized in the most impairing conditions for 2-D and 3-D: the LIMP Video Quality Database and the 3-D-HEVC-Net Video Quality Database. Our study and methodology are meant to provide service providers with the means to pinpoint the working boundaries of their video-sets in face of different network conditions. At the same time, network operators may use our findings to predict how network control policies affect the user’s perception of the service.
Structural Gray Matter Changes in the Hippocampus and the Primary Motor Cortex on An-Hour-to-One- Day Scale Can Predict Arm-Reaching Performance Improvement

Recent studies have revealed rapid (e.g., hours to days) training-induced cortical structural changes using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Currently, there is great interest in studying how such a rapid brain structural change affects behavioral improvement. Structural reorganization contributes to memory or enhanced information processing in the brain and may increase its capability of skill learning. If the gray matter (GM) is capable of such rapid structural reorganization upon training, the extent of volume increase may characterize the learning process. To shed light on this issue, we conducted a case series study of 5-day visuomotor learning using neuroanatomical imaging, and analyzed the effect of rapid brain structural change on motor performance improvement via regression analysis. Participants performed an upper-arm reaching task under left-right mirror-reversal for five consecutive days; T1-weighted MR imaging was performed before training, after the first and fifth days, and 1 week and 1 month after training. We detected increase in GM volume on the first day (i.e., a few hours after the first training session) in the primary motor cortex (M1), primary sensory cortex (S1), and in the hippocampal areas. Notably, regression analysis revealed that individual differences in such short-term increases were associated with the learning levels after 5 days of training. These results suggest that GM structural changes are not simply a footprint of previous motor learning but have some relationship with future motor learning. In conclusion, the present study provides new insight into the role of structural changes in causing functional changes during motor learning.
Cofilin-1 phosphorylation catalyzed by ERK1/2 alters cardiac actin dynamics in dilated cardiomyopathy caused by lamin A/C gene mutation

Hyper-activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2 contributes to heart dysfunction in cardiomyopathy caused by mutations in the lamin A/C gene (LMNA cardiomyopathy). The mechanism of how this affects cardiac function is unknown. We show that active phosphorylated ERK1/2 directly binds to and catalyzes the phosphorylation of the actin depolymerizing factor cofilin-1 on Thr25. Cofilin-1 becomes active and disassembles actin filaments in a large array of cellular and animal models of LMNA cardiomyopathy. In vivo expression of cofilin-1, phosphorylated on Thr25 by endogenous ERK1/2 signaling, leads to alterations in left ventricular function and cardiac actin. These results demonstrate a novel role for cofilin-1 on actin dynamics in cardiac muscle and provide a rationale on how increased ERK1/2 signaling leads to LMNA cardiomyopathy.
From alienation to relation: Examining the modes of production in crowdsourcing

While crowdsourcing is increasingly used for data gathering and problem solving, the power relations in crowdsourced processes remain largely unexamined. Especially in crowdsourced public policymaking, an understanding of these processes is essential for verifying the data. For understanding the social processes behind the data and designing crowdsourcing technologies and processes suitable for public policymaking, it is important to understand power structures and relations within the crowd and between the crowd and the sourcer: Who has the power, what is being produced through crowdsourcing, and especially how and under which conditions. In this paper we develop a typology of worker relations in crowdsourcing by using Marx theory of alienation. The theory serves as a lens to compare and contrast tools for crowdengagement in public policymaking. We show how different types of crowdsourcing can be described as levels of alienation where the worker, the consumer, their relations, and products are connected in modes of production representing different ontologies. In doing so, we contribute to the body of knowledge about crowdsourcing as a specific type of computer-supported cooperative work. For the research community we introduce a critical perspective on information systems as part of a relational system, whereby both external communications and personal identities are acknowledged. For the practitioner community, namely, decision-makers, we provide a useful resource, outlining in detail the differing potentialities of crowd-engaging in CSCW.
A Modified In Situ Method to Determine Release from a Complex Drug Carrier in Particle-Rich Suspensions

Effective and compound-sparing methods to evaluate promising drug delivery systems are a prerequisite for successful selection of formulations in early development stages. The aim of the study was to develop a small-scale in situ method to determine drug release and supersaturation in highly concentrated suspensions of enabling formulations. Mesoporous magnesium carbonate (MMC), which delivers the drug in an amorphous form, was selected as a drug carrier. Five model compounds were loaded into the MMC at a 1:10 ratio using a solvent evaporation technique. The μDiss Profiler was used to study the drug release from MMC in fasted-state simulated intestinal fluid. To avoid extensive light scattering previously seen in particle-rich suspensions in the μDiss Profiler, an in-house-designed protective nylon filter was placed on the in situ UV probes. Three types of release experiments were conducted for each compound: micronized crystalline drug with MMC present, drug-loaded MMC, and drug-loaded MMC with 0.01% w/w hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose. The nylon filters effectively diminished interference with the UV absorption; however, the release profiles obtained were heavily compound dependent. For one of the compounds, changes in the UV spectra were detected during the release from the MMC, and these were consistent with degradation of the compound. To conclude, the addition of protective nylon filters to the probes of the μDiss Profiler is a useful contribution to the method, making evaluations of particle-rich suspensions feasible. The method is a valuable addition to the current ones, allowing for fast and effective evaluation of advanced drug delivery systems.
Porous Structure Properties of Andropogon gerardi Derived Carbon Materials

Various carbonaceous materials are valuable resources for thermochemical conversion processes and for production of materials of proven sorption properties, useful in environmental applications for gaseous and liquid media treatment. In both cases, the parameters of the porous structure of carbon materials are decisive in terms of their physical and mechanical properties, having direct effects on heat and mass transport as well as on sorption capacity and selectivity. The physical activation of carbon materials produced from various precursors is widely discussed in literature. In this respect, the effects of temperature and partial oxidation of carbonaceous materials with steam or carbon dioxide are mostly considered. The reports on the effects of pressure on the development of porous structures of carbon materials are, however, extremely limited, especially when biomass as a precursor is concerned. In this paper, the results of an experimental study on the effects of pressure in the range of 1–4 MPa on the specific surface area, the total pore volume, average pore diameter, and microporosity of carbon materials prepared with the use of Andropogon gerardi biomass as a precursor are presented. The tested samples were prepared at the temperature of 1000 °C under an inert gas atmosphere in the high-pressure thermogravimetric analyzer. The most developed porous structure was reported for carbon materials produced under 3 MPa. The highest volume of narrow micropores was characteristic for materials carbonized under 2 MPa.