Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Method for Simultaneous Determination of AV and R and Applications

A method for the simultaneous determination of the interstellar extinction (AV) and of the ratio of total to selective extinction (R), derived from the 1989 Cardelli, Clayton, & Mathis fitting of the interstellar extinction law, is presented and applied to a set of 1900 color excesses derived from observations of stars in UBVRIJHKL. The method is used to study the stability of AV and R within selected regions in Perseus, Scorpius, Monoceros, Orion, Sagittarius, Ophiuchus, Carina, and Serpens. Analysis shows that R is approximately constant and peculiar to each sector, with mean values that vary from 3.2 in Perseus to 5.6 in Ophiuchus. These results are similar to published values by Aiello et al., He et al., Vrba & Rydgren, O'Donnell, and Cardelli, Clayton, & Mathis.
Reduced intracellular SAM can increase the expression of met gene under the SAM-MetJ mechanism in Escherichia coli

S-adenosylmethionine(SAM) is synthesized from methionine by SAM synthetase. In E. coli this enzyme is encoded by metK . Since metK is an essential gene and SAM cannot cross bacterial cell membranes, it is difficult to study the role of SAM directly in vivo. We introduced the SAM transporter gene from Rickettsia (kindly provided by Dr. D. O. Wood) to study the effect of exogenous supply of SAM on expression of genes of methionine biosynthesis in E. coli strains carrying a deletion of metK . Such strains could not make their own SAM but could transport SAM provided in the medium. The effect of growth with SAM, and SAM starvation on expression of the genes encoding most of enzymes in methionine biosynthesis, metA, metB, metC, metE, metF, metK, metR, was studied by means of reporter gene constructs using their promoters fused to lacZ . The Beta-Galactosidase coded by lacZ will reflect the met genes' expression in the SAM including medium or non-SAM medium. By using the above system, the effect of SAM on regulating met genes was studied. The result showed that in rich medium depleting the SAM supply of the E metK strain dramatically induced metB and metR (both 19.2 fold). The other genes were little affected. During growth in minimal medium with methionine and glucose, depleting the SAM pool had a much greater effect, inducing all the genes tested 10 fold to 100 fold. Moreover, there is no significant increase for all met genes in metJ deletion strain. These results support the in vitro model of MetJ-SAM repressor complex binding met gene promoters to block their transcription. Furthermore, result of studying a metJ deficient mutant MNR6 implies that the truncated MetJ in MNR6 retains a considerable function. All these studies give one step further to understand the mechanism of regulating met gene expression by MetJ-SAM complex in vivo.
ARRANGEMENT OF CELL-WALL CONSTITUENTS IN CHEMICALLY TREATED NORWAY SPRUCE TRACHEIDS

The cell-wall of tracheids in conifer wood has evolved to provide both water conduction and mechanical strength to the standing tree. However, its structure at the nanometer level is not yet accepted beyond doubt, and little is known about the interactions between the cell-wall components. In the present study, the fracture pattern of the S2 layer of Norway spruce tracheids was observed by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) after pretreatment of the cell wall with various alkali solutions, acetic and nitric acid, and ASAM delignification. The resulting cell-wall arrangements were also studied in ultra-thin sections of unfractured samples with transmission electron microscopy (TEM). In the case of untreated samples (reference), radial fracture patterns—perpendicular to the compound middle lamella—were regularly observed. A treatment with 10% and 18% NaOH or 24% KOH at room temperature—associated with a slight decrease of glucomannan—resulted in the disappearance of these radial fracture formations. As the severity of the alkali treatment increased and acid and ASAM delignification was applied, concentric alignments in the cell wall became more and more discernable. The increasing loss of hemicelluloses and lignin therefore led to distinct changes in the fragmentation patterns of the cell walls. In addition, reduction in strength and stiffness were determined for all chemically treated cell walls. It is concluded that even slight changes in cell-wall constitution influence the interactions of the cell-wall components and thus fracture mechanics and ultrastructural appearance of wood cell walls.
Scalable Data Analytics for Ensemble Learning by Suhas R Aithal Thesis Director :

OF THE THESIS Scalable Data Analytics for Ensemble Learning by Suhas R Aithal Thesis Director: Manish Parashar Data Anlaytic techniques have enhanced human ability to solve a lot of data related problems. It has opened a window through which an analyst can devise techniques to solve a given problem by just looking at the related data alone. Such techniques may not be directly visible to the programmer. Machine learning in short is programming computers to generate such algorithm to solve a given problem using example data or past experience. Numerous models or functions can be developed which fits a distribution of data points. The magnitude and breadth of this data plays a major role in determining which model fits best. In the current world, data is growing at an alarming rate both in terms of size and the information it conveys. Analytics on large-scale data requires very high execution time with limited resources. Implementing such techniques to generate different models on a single machine becomes tedious and time consuming. Implementing the same on a distributed network is a possible solution which is highly interesting and challenging. Data Analytic Algorithms, to create these models, should be carefully chosen on the basis of reliability and data integrity and at the same time should be easily distributable. The range of algorithms should be wide enough to incorporate the same analytics on all the data with required performance. An analysis of various metrics such as measure of scalability, accuracy, execution time helps classify individual algorithm’s impact on the required performance. The above
Prediction of strain localization during sheet metal forming using bifurcation analysis and Gurson-type damage

The strain localization phenomenon that may occur during sheet metal forming represents a major cause of defective parts produced in the industry. Several instability criteria have been developed in the literature to predict the occurrence of these instabilities. The proposed work aims to couple a Gurson-type model to the Rice’s localization criterion. The implementation of the modeling is achieved via a user subroutine (Umat) in Abaqus/std using a Runge-Kutta explicit integration scheme. Finally, we show the effectiveness of the proposed coupling for the prediction of the formability of stretched metal sheets.
Embryonically induced β-catenin haploinsufficiency attenuates postnatal heart development and causes violation of foetal genes program

The β-catenin role in myocardium remodeling and hypertrophy development is the subject of numerous and controversial investigations. Aim. To investigate the significance of cardiac ablation of β-catenin for heart development using conditional knockout approach. Methods. Standard histological techniques (HEand MT-staining) and quantitative RT-PCR were used. Results. Our data demonstrate that β-catenin haploinsufficiency in heart provokes upregulation of foetal genes program without visible morphological abnormalities comparing to control groups of animals of the same age. Conclusions. Our data demonstrate that experimental conditions in this study provoke the delay in the development and growth of adult heart without visible morphological abnormalities.
THE EXTINCTION OF SOME SOUTH AMERICAN CAMELIDS: THE CASE OF Lama (Vicugna) gracilis

Lama (Vicugna) gracilis (Gervais and Ameghino, 1881) is a Camelidae that inhabited the low plains of Argentina and Uruguay during the Pleistocene and early Ho- locene. Considering that Lama gracilis was a vicariant of L. vicugna in the low plains, sympatry cases between Lama guanicoe and Lama vicugna are analyzed to test the hy- pothesis that considers the competence for the same resource as the cause of extinction of Lama gracilis. It is concluded that the reduced populations of L. gracilis were forced to extinction especially by hunting pressure of paleoindian groups.
Rotating Variable-Thickness Inhomogeneous Cylinders: Part I—Analytical Elastic Solutions

In this paper, an analytical solution for the rotation problem of an inhomogeneous hollow cylinder with variable thickness under plane strain assumption is developed. The present cylinder is made of a fiber-reinforced viscoelastic inhomogeneous orthotropic material. The thickness of the cylinder is taken as parabolic function in the radial direction. The elastic properties varies in the same manner as the thickness of the cylinder while the density varies according to an exponential law form. The inner and outer surfaces of the cylinder are considered to have combinations of free and clamped boundary conditions. Analytical solutions are given according to different types of the hollow cylinders. An extension of the present solutions to the viscoelastic ones and some applications are investigated in Part II.
Disentangling Transdisciplinarity: An Analysis of Knowledge Integration in Problem-Oriented Research

Within the discourse promoting transdisciplinary research (TDR), also referred to as Mode 2 science, it is often claimed that scientifically coping with urgent life-world problems calls for interdisciplinary participatory research (or TDR), and that this represents a new mode of knowledge production. Although we look upon TDR as a fertile innovation, we have epistemological and methodological concerns in treating TDR as a (singular) new mode of knowledge production. Hence, our paper attempts to contribute to clarifying the meaning of TDR from an epistemological and methodological perspective. We develop a conceptual scheme for the analysis of knowledge production in problem-oriented research, which is subsequently applied to an empirical analysis of 16 transdisciplinary research projects. In our analysis, we focus upon forms of knowledge integration and participation. The results indicate that, from an epistemological point of view, TDR does not represent a specific mode of knowledge production, but a rather heterogeneous conglomeration of different research activities. In order to evaluate the epistemic potential of TDR, we conclude that it would be wise to disentangle it methodologically into various types of research objectives and related research instruments.
Vertical linkages, agglomeration and the organization of production in European regions.

En aquest treball es realitza una prova per a determinar la presencia d'economies de localitzacio degudes a encadenaments input-output entre empreses verticalment relacionades localitzades en la mateixa regio. Per a allo, s'estima, per dualitat, una funcio de costos quadratica utilitzant un pannell per a diferents sectors industrials a nivell regional europeu al periode 1985-1995. Les economies verticals es deriven del concepte d'economies de gamma i s'associen a als avantatges regionals de tenir en la proximitat proveidors de bens intermitjos especialitzats. Es proven varies especificacions econometriques i els resultats indiquen que les condicions necessaries per a l'existencia d'economies de la desintegracio vertical es compleixen, aixi com les condicions suficients per a alguns sectors, mostrant que les deseconomies verticals son mes fortes en les industries geograficament concentrades. Aquests efectes no son generals ja que tambe es manifesten oportunitats per a guanys d'eficiencia de la produccio verticalment integrada per a alguns sectors en varies regions.
Beam physics at LHC

The design of the Large Hadron Collider incorporates the accumulated knowledge obtained from previous generations of hadron colliders. Among the well known effects limiting machine performance are intrabeam scattering, the beam-beam interaction and stability against collective motion. Simulations and recent experiments in the SPS have shown that the electron cloud effect observed in the B-factories will be present both in the LHC and in its injector. All of these phenomena are discussed together with the measure taken in the machine design to overcome them.
The Infrared Physics of Bad Theories

We study the complete moduli space of vacua of 3d N = 4 N=4 U ( N ) U(N) SQCD theories with N f Nf fundamentals, building on the algebraic description of the Coulomb branch, and deduce the low energy physics in any vacuum from the local geometry of the moduli space. We confirm previous claims for good and ugly SQCD theories, and show that bad theories flow to the same interacting fixed points as good theories with additional free twisted hypermultiplets. A Seiberg-like duality proposed for bad theories with N ≤ N f ≤ 2 N − 2 N≤Nf≤2N−2 is ruled out: the spaces of vacua of the putative dual theories are different. However such bad theories have a distinguished vacuum, which preserves all the global symmetries, whose infrared physics is that of the proposed dual. We finally explain previous results on sphere partition functions and elucidate the relation between the UV and IR R R-symmetry in this symmetric vacuum.
Defining the public support: what can determine acceptability of road safety measures by a general public?

Increasing road safety is one of the main goals in traffic policy. Different kinds of measures can be taken to increase road safety. (Sustainable) road safety measures can be divided into infrastructure measures, which make road infrastructure and traffic situations more understandable and transparent for road users; vehicle technologies, like intelligent transport systems that increases the safety of drivers and passengers; information, education and enforcement of road users. Engineering, education and enforcement, also known as the 3E's, are considered as an integrated approach of road safety policy. These measures consider mostly adaptation of or guidance in road user behaviour. However, traffic behavioural change implies acceptance of traffic policies and/or regulations. Nowadays new technologies, like intelligent transport systems (ITS), could create alternative solutions for a better road safety. But how sure can we be that (new) traffic rules will be accepted by the people especially if technologies, like ITS, would be implemented? Or could there be a 'carrying capacity' by the general public on road safety policy? Measuring the carrying capacity on road safety defines the degree of acceptance or intentions people have to adapt or not to adapt to the desired behaviour. This will indicate the exploration of the social and personal factors in relation to mobility and safety, which determine the level of acceptance on road safety measures. The social factors indicate how mobility, especially road safety, is approached in society. For example, if road unsafety is recognized as a problem in society, acceptance of road safety measures will be more possible. The personal factors stand for the individuals' personality, attitudes and (actual) behaviour in relation to mobility. In today's applied traffic behaviour studies - like studies on advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) - this approach of acceptance is mostly not measured, or limited. Most of the existing studies only give some indications of the drivers' perception on their behaviour. If there are issues that can indicate acceptance, it is mostly measured in relation with potential benefits for the driver (e.g. will you use device X, if your insurance will be cheaper? ). Defining the actual carrying capacity can reveal relevant determinants why some road safety measures will or will not be accepted. This can be helpful in the creation of more realistic procedures for implementation of road safety measures. Therefore in this paper, a theoretical framework will be described, based on sociological and psychological approaches and other (held) acceptance studies on road safety measures. This theoretical framework can be used as basis for a practical model towards measuring the carrying capacity. For the covering abstract see ITRD E135582.
The Relationship between Meat Color (CIE L* and a*), Myoglobin Content, and Their Influence on Muscle Fiber Characteristics and Pork Quality

This study examined the relationship between meat color and myoglobin content, and evaluated their influence on muscle fiber characteristics and overall pork quality. Four groups of pigs were classified by lightness (CIE L ) and redness (CIE a ): HH, high lightness and high redness; HL, high lightness and low redness; LH, low lightness and high redness; LL, low lightness and low redness. Myoglobin content ranged from 1.2 mg/g to 2.1 mg/g, and was highest in the LH group and lowest in the LL group (p<0.05). Myoglobin content correlated significantly with redness (CIE a ) (r = 0.45, p<0.01). Fiber compositions of type I and IIA were closely related to lightness and redness. Pork with higher sizes of type IIA and IIB fibers had lower lightness and redness, respectively, which was tougher than the other pork. Pork having the highest lightness and lowest redness, often considered “pale”, has higher values in drip loss than the other classes of pork tested.
The Multiple Roles of Tyrosinase-Related Protein-2/L- Dopachrome Tautomerase in Melanoma: Biomarker, Therapeutic Target, and Molecular Driver in Tumor Progression

Cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM), which is ranked as the 8th most common can- cers in the US, makes 4–7% of skin cancers but it causes approximately 80% of skin cancer deaths. CMM is characterized by insidious and fast progression, heterogenic evo- lution, and significant resistance to numerous therapeutic strategies. CMM is the result of the uncontrolled proliferation of melanocytes, the cells which reside in the basal layer of the epidermis. The most efficient therapy is the surgical removal if the lesion is in an early stage. For metastatic melanomas, there are different strategies, extremely rarely leading to total cure. Tyrosinase-related protein-2 (TRP2) or L-Dopachrome tautomerase (L-DCT) is a member of Tyrosinase-related protein family known for many years for its enzymatic activity in the distal steps of melanogenesis. The modern DCT image is focusing more on processes and mechanisms related to cell development and response to environmental and therapeutic stressors in normal and transformed cell phenotypes. This chapter provides an extended, updated biological status of TRP2/L-DCT encom- passing the structural and functional particularities within melanoma molecularity, in the attempt to get new insights into the complex mechanisms of this neoplasm and raise the interest for DCT unexplored yet potential in melanoma diagnosis/prognosis and therapy. RPE lysate, kDa DCT doublet by melanoma cell lines [37, 38 of anti-DCT data for endogenous DCT, cell lysates, histopathological specimens from cell lines or neoplasms in which DCT is not expected to be expressed such as A431-epidermoid carcinoma (Sigma-Atlas); NBT-II-Nara bladder tumor cells, WEHI-231 B cell line, CTLL-2-cytotoxic lymphocyte (Santa Cruz), human liver cancer tissue lysate, K562 (leukemia) lysate, K-562-chronic myelo-genic leukemia, A549-lung carcinoma, HeLa-cervical cancer (Abcam); MCF7 cells-breast cancer, HL-60 cells-caucasian promyelocytic leukemia (Proteintech Group); human cervical cancer tissue (OriGene). Most of them show in WB analysis bands of approximately 50 kDa or/and 30 kDa. Two hypotheses can explain these data: (1) the 50/30 kDa bands are not DCT contaminants detected to antibodies cross-reactivity. these antibodies have been raised against different DCT sequences, by differ ent technologies, in laboratories. many of these antibodies do not show data on these cells having “DCT gene” downregulated or amplified specific primers for DCT mRNA), false-positive results in clinic; (2) the 50/30 kDa in cells DCT
An applied paradigm for simple analysis of the lower limb kinematic chain in explosive movements: an example using the fencing foil attacking lunge

Abstract A simple method to quantify the kinematic chain in a propulsive task would facilitate assessment of athlete effectiveness. The study’s aim was to assess if the kinematic chain distinguishes between skill levels. Fencers were separated into two groups based on attacking lunge ability (7 skilled; 8 novices). Rear leg 3D joint angular extension velocity magnitudes and timings, sword kinematics and rear leg kinetics were obtained in the propulsion phase of the attacking lunge. Skilled fencers obtained greater sword velocity (3.24 ± 0.24 m∙s−1 vs. 2.69 ± 0.29 m∙s−1; p = 0.02). The skilled group had a greater sequential kinematic chain of the hip, knee and ankle, demonstrated by significantly greater ankle angular velocity (9.1 ± 2.1 rad·s−1 skilled; 5.4 ± 2.9 rad·s−1 novice). Ankle plantarflexion velocity showed a strong positive correlation with horizontal peak force (r = 0.81; p < 0.01). The skilled group demonstrated greater horizontal impulse (1.85 ± 0.29 N·s·kg−1 skilled; 1.45 ± 0.32 N·s·kg−1 novice), suggesting greater effectiveness in applying the kinematic chain towards horizontal propulsion. Analysis of the kinematic chain, which was able to distinguish between skill levels in a propulsive task, is an effective and simple paradigm to assess whole limb contributions to propulsive movements.
Using organisational play to overcome organisational constraints for innovation

Faced with various organisational and environmental constraints, organisations often need to make do with whatever resources they have at hand. Using the concept of organisational play, we suggest the different roles of play that can enable organisations to overcome organisational constraints for innovation, by looking at whatever they have at hand from a ‘fresh’ and different angle. Adopting the case study method using the popular Taiwan’s ‘Lady First’ TV program, we discuss two constraints that organisations face, analyse the principles of organisational play in relation to how organisations manage those constraints, and finally exemplify how innovation is facilitated.
Beyond the Accuracy-Complexity Tradeoffs of CompositionalAnalyses using Network Calculus for Complex Networks

Achieving the accuracy-complexity tradeoffs for compositional timing analyses using Network Calculus is still a hot research topic. In this specific area, we propose in this paper an improved version of the Total Flow Analysis (TFA) algorithm, called TFA++, when taking into account the impact of the finite transmission capacity of the network links on the input and output traffic models at each network node. First, we review the existing analysis algorithms by identifying their main limitations in terms of accuracy and complexity, through a simple but representative network example. Afterwards, we define the TFA++ algorithm and we detail the main steps of the followed methodology to compute the delay upper bounds. Moreover, we conduct comparative analyses of the derived delay bounds and analysis times with the different algorithms, with respect to the network size and load. In doing this, we highlight noticeable enhancements of both metrics under TFA++, in comparison to the existing algorithms; thus the high accuracy and low complexity of TFA++. Finally, this statement has been asserted through a representative avionics case.