Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cytolocalization of the PhoP response regulator in Salmonella enterica: modulation by extracellular Mg2+ and by the SCV environment

The PhoP/PhoQ two‐component system plays an essential role regulating numerous virulence phenotypes in Salmonella enterica. Previous work showed that PhoQ, the sensor protein, switches between the kinase‐ and the phosphatase‐dominant state in response to environmental Mg2+ availability. This switch defines the PhoP phosphorylation status and, as a result, the transcriptional activity of this regulator. In this work, using the FlAsH labelling technique, we examine PhoP cytolocalization in response to extracellular Mg2+ limitation in vitro and to the Salmonella‐containing vacuole (SCV) environment in macrophage cells. We demonstrate that in these PhoP/PhoQ‐inducing environments PhoP displays preferential localization to one cell pole, while being homogeneously distributed in the bacterial cytoplasm in repressing conditions. Polar localization is lost in the absence of PhoQ or when a non‐phosphorylatable PhoPD52A mutant is expressed. However, when PhoP transcriptional activation is achieved in a Mg2+‐ and PhoQ‐independent manner, PhoP regains asymmetric polar localization. In addition, we show that, in the analysed conditions, PhoQ cellular distribution does not parallel PhoP location pattern. These findings reveal that PhoP cellular location is dynamic and conditioned by its environmentally defined transcriptional status, showing a new insight in the PhoP/PhoQ system mechanism.
Probabilistic models for melodic sequences

Structure is one of the fundamentals of music, yet the complexity arising from the vast number of possible variations of musical elements such as rhythm, melody, harmony, key, texture and form, along with their combinations, makes music modelling a particularly challenging task for machine learning. The research presented in this thesis focuses on the problem of learning a generative model for melody directly from musical sequences belonging to the same genre. Our goal is to develop probabilistic models that can automatically capture the complex statistical dependencies evident in music without the need to incorporate significant domain-specific knowledge. At all stages we avoid making assumptions explicit to music and consider models that can can be readily applied in different music genres and can easily be adapted for other sequential data domains. We develop the Dirichlet Variable-Length Markov Model (Dirichlet-VMM), a Bayesian formulation of the Variable-Length Markov Model (VMM), where smoothing is performed in a systematic probabilistic manner. The model is a general-purpose, dictionary-based predictor with a formal smoothing technique and is shown to perform significantly better than the standard VMM in melody modelling. Motivated by the ability of the Restricted Boltzmann Machine (RBM) to extract high quality latent features in an unsupervised manner, we next develop the TimeConvolutional Restricted Boltzmann Machine (TC-RBM), a novel adaptation of the Convolutional RBM for modelling sequential data. We show that the TC-RBM learns descriptive musical features such as chords, octaves and typical melody movement patterns. To deal with the non-stationarity of music, we develop the Variable-gram Topic model, which employs the Dirichlet-VMM for the parametrisation of the topic distributions. The Dirichlet-VMM models the local temporal structure, while the latent topics represent different music regimes. The model does not make any assumptions explicit to music, but it is particularly suitable in this context, as it couples the latent topic formalism with an expressive model of contextual information.
Inverse Watkins–Johnson Topology-Based Inverter

A Z-source inverter (ZSI) uses an L-C impedance network between the source and the voltage source inverter (VSI). It has the property of stepping down or stepping up the input voltage, as a result, the output can be either higher or lower than the input voltage as per requirement. This topology also possesses robust electromagnetic interference noise immunity, which is achieved by allowing shoot through of the inverter leg switches. This letter proposes an inverter circuit based on the inverse Watkins-Johnson (IWJ) topology that can achieve similar advantages as that of a ZSI. The proposed circuit requires two switches and one pair of an LC filter apart from the VSI. The systematic development of this inverter topology is described starting from the basic IWJ circuit. Steady-state analysis and implementation of the proposed topology are also described. The pulse width modulation control strategy of the inverter is explained. An experimental prototype is used to validate the proposed circuit.
Infrared Transfer of Electrophysiologic Signals During Magnetic Resonance Imaging

from amplifiers located near magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners to peripheral sites can introduce noise or severely distort scanned images. Image noise arises through electromagnetic radiation from cables induced by external sources, and from signals induced in cables by the changing magnetic fields of the scanner. Conversely, the magnetic field changes during scanning can induce significant artifactual signals in amplifier cables, and thus the physiologic signals, making acquisition of electroencephalographic (EEG), electrocardiographic (ECG), electromyographic (EMG) and respiratory signals difficult. Functional MRI provides a unique means to visualize widely-distributed neural activation, and is rapidly becoming a desirable procedure for assessment of brain activation during state-related challenges. Since acquisition of EEG and other physiological signals is essential for identification of sleep state, procedures which reduce artifact in images and electrophysiological signals are necessary. We earlier (Parker et al., 1999) developed optically-coupled amplifiers to acquire physiologic signals during MRI. The amplifier output used multiple optic fiber cables that required a break in scanner room shielding to reach the external recording devices. The multiple cables also created clutter within the confines of recording areas. Infrared transmission of physiologic signals offers a means to avoid electromagnetic interference on the signals from the magnetic field of scanners, and minimizes the potential for artifacts to return from external devices to affect scanned images. Procedures for infrared transmission of physiologic signals have been developed for circumstances where signals must be obtained from freely moving animals (De Simoni et al., 1990), or from ambulatory children (Yeung, 1998). The technique is sufficiently robust to even allow transmission of signals from subcutaneous sources (Inoue et al., 1998). H o w e v e r, most such devices must be constructed from elementary electronic components, requiring significant knowledge of circuitry. Alternatively, commercial devices are available at high cost. We developed a device, based on low-cost commercial audio components, that can be easily constructed for infrared transfer of signals from physiological amplifiers in an MRI scanner through a shielded observation window to receivers located outside the scanner room. This device provides relative immunity from changing magnetic fields, minimizes interference to the MR images, and can transfer four signals.
A Combined Coefficient Segmentation and Block Processing Algorithm for Low Power Implementation of FIR Digital Filters

A combined coefficient segmentation and block processing algorithm for low power implementation of FIR digital filters is described in this paper. The algorithm processes data and coefficients in blocks of fixed sizes. During the manipulation of each block, coefficients are segmented into two primitive components. The accumulative effect of processing a sequence of blocks and segmentation results in up to 80% reduction in power consumption in the multiplier circuit compared to conventional filtering. The paper describes the implementation of the algorithm, its constituent components, and the power evaluation environment developed. Simulations are performed using eight practical digital filter examples with various filter orders and data/coefficient wordlengths. In addition, the algorithm is compared with conventional filtering implementations and those using block processing and coefficient segmentation algorithms alone.
Text Normalization and Phonetic Analysis Modules for Macedonian TTS synthesis

The paper presents the Text Normalization and Phonetic Analysis Modules that are part of the frontend of the text-to-speech (TTS) system “Speak Macedonian”. First, the architecture of the frontend of the TTS system “Speak Macedonian” is shortly presented, followed by a detailed look into the two modules. For each of the modules a short summary is given of the tasks and developed solutions, found in literature. In following, the tasks specific to the orthography and orthoepy of the standard Macedonian language, as well as the designed algorithms, are presented in some detail. At the end, the results are shortly discussed and deemed as adequate for the task at hand, and directions for further improvement are pointed out.
Investigation of Fatigue and Compression Strength for the PMMA Reinforced by Different System for Denture Applications

In the present search, attempts are made to develop the properties of PMMA resin that used for upper and lower prosthesis complete denture, by addition two different types of particles, which included: nano-hydroxyapatite (nHA) particles and micro-zirconia (ZrO 2) particles that added with different volume fractions of (1%, 2% and 3%) to poly methyl methacrylate (PMMA) cold cured resin as new fluid resin as a matrix. Also woven glass fiber kind (E-glass) and woven Kevlar fiber kind (49), it were added with a fixed volume fraction of (5%) to PMMA composites. In this work the composite prosthetic dentures specimens preparation was done by using (Hand Lay-Up) method as six groups which includes: the first group consists of PMMA resin reinforced by nHA particles, the second group consists of PMMA resin reinforced by ZrO 2 particles, the third group consists of (PMMA-nHA) and glass fiber layer as laminated composite , the fourth group consists of (PMMA-ZrO 2) and glass fiber layer, the fifth group consists of (PMMA-nHA) and Kevlar fiber layer and the sixth group consists of (PMMA-ZrO 2) and Kevlar fiber layer. The compression test result shows that the values of compression strength increased with increasing the volume fraction of (nHA and ZrO 2) particles for all groups' specimens. And the results showed the (PMMA-ZrO 2) composite has greater values for compression strength. As well as the results shows that the maximum value of compression strength for hybrid laminated composite is obtained in hybrid laminated composite materials for fourth groups' specimens (PMMA-ZrO 2-5% Glass Fiber). Whereas the values of fatigue strength of hybrid laminated composite (PMMA-5% Kevlar fiber-3% nHA), it was higher than the fatigue strength of hybrid laminated composite (PMMA-5% Glass fiber-3% nHA) and the base material (Pure PMMA). The fatigue strength values at (10 6 ) loading Cycle for these specimens were (52, 38 and 15 MPa) respectively.
Estimating the willingness to pay for community health prepayment schemes in rural area : A case study of the use of contingent valuation surveys in centre Cameroon

Measure of willingness to prepay were conducted using a bidding game techniques on 471 rural households in the center region of Cameroon. Our statistical results shows that: 21% of the respondents were willing to prepay at mean CFA F 4800/person/year with a mean of 5995 while 31% were willing to prepay CFA F 6000/person/year with a mean of 6025, 9% the amount of CFA F 7200/person/year and 39% CFA F 8400/person/year. The analysis of the whole sample suggests that the mean value of the willingness to prepay is equal to CFA F 7230/person/year with a median of CFA F 6000/person/year. In a second step analysis, our econometric results based on ordered probit model of willingness to prepay determinants suggest that some attributes such as the level of revenue, the gender, the habit of frequenting the health service center, the associative experience, the household health status, due to the respondents and, attributes such as the availability of the basic drugs at the health service center and the regular or periodical attendance of the physician at the health service center due to the health service centers have a significant impact on the willingness to prepay value. The results of this study suggest that it is possible to do a contingent valuation survey among a very poor population and obtain reasonable, consistent answers. There does not appear to be a major problem with starting point bias. From this research we cannot, of course, judge whether individuals in the villages would in fact pay the amounts they indicated in the survey if the NGOs tried to collect the money. Nevertheless, we believe that the preliminary results of this research strongly suggest that contingent valuation surveys are feasible method for estimating individuals willingness to prepay for improved health accessibility in rural Cameroon. This has important policy implications for rural health prepayment scheme projects because it seems to show that going into a village and conducting a relatively simple survey can yield reliable information on the populations willingness to prepay for improved health care accessibility in the rural area. The implication of these preliminary research findings are not, however, limited to the rural health sector. Our research suggests that contingent valuation surveys may prove to be a viable method of collecting information on individuals willingness to prepay or pay for a wide range of public infrastructure projects and public services in developing countries.
Mechanisms of Macrolide Resistance in Clinical Pneumococcal Isolates in France

ABSTRACT The genetic basis of macrolide resistance was investigated in a collection of 48 genotypically unrelated clinical isolates ofStreptococcus pneumoniae obtained between 1987 and 1997 in France. All strains were resistant to erythromycin, clindamycin, and streptogramin B, exhibiting a macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin B resistance phenotype, and harbored the erm(B) gene. None of the strains carried the mef(A) or erm(A) subclass erm(TR) gene.
Antitrypanosomal Activity of a New Triazine Derivative, SIPI 1029, In Vitro and in Model Infections

ABSTRACT A recently developed diaminotriazine derivative [O,O′-bis(1,2-dihydro-2,2-tetramethylene-4,6-diamino-S-triazin-1-yl)-1,6-hexanediol dihydrochloride; T-46; SIPI 1029] was examined for activity against African trypanosomes in in vitro and in vivo model systems. In vitro, SIPI 1029 was 50% inhibitory for growth of bloodstream trypomastigotes of four strains of Trypanosoma brucei brucei and Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense at 0.15 to 2.15 nM (50% inhibitory concentrations). In in vivo mouse laboratory models of T. b. rhodesiense clinical isolate infections, SIPI 1029 was curative for 12 of 13 isolates at ≤10 mg/kg of body weight/day for 3 days. In eight infections, a single dose was ≥60% curative, and in six of these, a dose of ≤5 mg/kg was sufficient for ≥60% cure rates. A number of these isolates were resistant to the standard trypanocide melarsoprol (Arsobal) and/or the diamidines diminazene aceturate (Berenil) and pentamidine. SIPI 1029 was also curative in combination withdl-α-difluoromethylornithine (Ornidyl) in a T. b. brucei central nervous system model infection. Some evidence of toxicity was found in dosage regimens of 10 mg/kg/day for 2 or 3 days in which deaths were observed in 6 of 65 animals given this dosage regimen. The activity of SIPI 1029 in this study indicates that this class of compounds (diaminotriazines) should be explored as leads for new human and veterinary trypanocides.
Experiential Learning : the Hong Kong-Netherlands Project

As we prepare for the world of the future, it becomes imperative that we give students the experience of working in multi-cultural distributed teams. In order to gain experience in this area, a project between ten teams of students from the City University of Hong Kong and the Eindhoven University of Technology was initiated. A variety of group support technologies, primarily GroupSystems, were used to provide support for the teams as they learned to work together. This paper documents experiences from the Hong Kong – Netherlands project. Data collected on the process are reported and discussed. Student response was enthusiastic with high levels of perceived learning. Lessons learned underscored the importance of focus on team building preceding project initiation.
Na2S-carbon nanotube fabric electrodes for room-temperature sodium-sulfur batteries.

A unique sodium sulfide (Na2S) cathode is developed, which will allow the use of sodium-free anodes for room-temperature sodium-sulfur (Na-S) batteries. To overcome the "inert" nature of the Na2S, a special cathode structure is developed by spreading the multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT)-wrapped Na2S particles onto MWCNT fabrics. Spectroscopic and electrochemical analyses reveal a series of polysulfide intermediates involved in the charge/discharge of the cell. The Na-S battery prepared in full discharge state with the Na2S/MWCNT cathode provides a remarkable capacity of 500 A h kg(-1) (based on sulfur mass) after 50 cycles.
Print Advertisements for Alzheimer’s Disease Drugs

Purpose: We examined print advertisements for Alzheimer’s disease drugs published in journals and magazines between January 2008 and February 2012, using an informational versus transformational theoretical framework to identify objective and persuasive features. Methods: In 29 unique advertisements, we used qualitative methods to code and interpret identifying information, charts, benefit and side effect language, and persuasive appeals embedded in graphics and narratives. Results: Most elements contained a mixture of informational and transformational features. Charts were used infrequently, but when they did appear the accompanying text often exaggerated the data. Benefit statements covered an array of symptoms, drug properties, and caregiver issues. Side effect statements often used positive persuasive appeals. Graphics and narrative features emphasized positive emotions and outcomes. Implications: We found subtle and sophisticated attempts both to educate and to persuade readers. It is important for consumers and prescribing physicians to read print advertisements critically so that they can make informed treatment choices.
Vision system for Command and Fault detection

This article concerns the development of algorithms treating the problems of luminosity in the industrial vision. Also this paper participates to have another look to the industrial equipments by exchanging the classic sensors by the vision system. The fault detection in the industrial environment has real problem which is the luminosity, and that depends on the location of the system. In fact, the vision systems are very sensitive to the luminosity variation and the dazzling event. To solve this problem, the vision systems are black and white (named also gray scale image) and have a complex system of lighting. The solution advanced in this paper is the treatment of coloured image (YCbCr) instead of gray scale image. By basing the treatment on the coloured image, the system will be less sensitive and very precise. The algorithms will eliminate the luminosity effect and continue to localize and identify faults. The profit of this method is to calculate in several plans (Cb and Cr) the information needed to command and to the fault detection algorithms
POMDP solving: what rewards do you really expect at execution?

Partially Observable Markov Decision Processes have gained an increasing interest in many research communities, due to sensible improvements of their optimization algorithms and of computers capabilities. Yet, most research focus on optimizing either average accumulated rewards (AI planning) or direct entropy (active perception), whereas none of them matches the rewards actually gathered at execution. Indeed, the first optimization criterion linearly averages over all belief states, so that it does not gain best information from different observations, while the second one totally discards rewards. Thus, motivated by simple demonstrative examples, we study an additive combination of these two criteria to get the best of reward gathering and information acquisition at execution. We then compare our criterion with classical ones, and highlight the need to consider new hybrid non-linear criteria, on a realistic multi-target recognition and tracking mission.
Effect of high-oil corn on growth performance, diet digestibility, and energy content of finishing diets fed to beef cattle.

Sixty crossbred beef steers (initial BW = 412 kg) were used in a 83-d finishing study to determine the effect of feeding dry rolled high-oil corn on performance and total-tract digestibility of finishing diets. Steers were allotted by weight to the following dietary treatments: 1) control corn (C; 82% normal corn, 12% triticale silage), 2) high-oil corn (HO; 82% high-oil corn, 12% silage), and 3) high-oil corn formulated to be isocaloric to C (ISO; 74% high-oil corn, 20% silage). Total lipid content was 4.9% (DM basis) for normal corn and 7.0% for high-oil corn. Steers were individually fed using electronic gates. Quantity of feed offered and refused was recorded daily. Fecal samples were collected on d 63 to 66 of the trial to determine digestibility. Chromic oxide was fed as an indigestible marker for 7 d before fecal collection began. Planned contrasts of HO vs C and ISO vs C were used to assess treatment differences. Dry matter intake was greater for steers fed C vs HO (P < 0.01) or C vs ISO (P < 0.01), but daily gain and feed efficiency were not affected (P > 0.05) by treatments. Digestibility of DM, OM, starch, and GE was greater (P < 0.05) for the HO diet than the C diet, but lipid digestibility did not differ among treatments (P > 0.05). The combined effect of greater GE content and digestibility resulted in greater (P < 0.01) DE content for the HO than for the C diet. Calculated DE of the corn was 8.3% greater (3.74 Mcal/kg; P < 0.01) for the HO diet and 6.5% greater (3.67 Mcal/kg; P < 0.01) for the ISO diet than the corn in the C diet (3.25 Mcal/kg). Dry matter and GE digestibility did not differ (P > 0.05) between the C and ISO diets. Steers consuming ISO had greater (P < 0.05) starch digestibility than steers fed the C diet. Although HO had higher DE, DE intake was similar (P > 0.05) for HO and C due to lower DMI for HO. These results indicate that available energy is greater from high-oil corn than from typical corn, but depressed voluntary feed intake prevented performance improvements and resulted in equal energy intakes between high-oil corn and typical corn diets.
Developing a Rational Approach to Tobacco Use Treatment in Pulmonary Practice: A Review of the Biological Basis of Nicotine Addiction

The toll of tobacco use on a pulmonary practice is severe. Physicians, patients, and their families experience frustration, hopelessness, and even anger when confronted with a seemingly irrational decision to keep smoking despite morbid lung disease. This paper examines the biological basis of this behavior and seeks to integrate this insight into a rational approach to the problem in practice. Smoking is reexamined within the framework of an irrational compulsion to seek nicotine, despite a rational desire to stop. Control over the compulsion to smoke is established as an important clinical outcome, and the rationale for treating tobacco dependence as a chronic illness is examined. Finally, practical insights into managing ambivalence, including an aggressive pharmacotherapeutic approach based on the neurobiology, are presented.