Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
What motivates students to use Podcasting?

Podcasting which is one of the technologies that was found for personal entertainment or for information usage, has become one of the fastest growing technologies over the past several years (Shim, Shropshire, Park, Harris, and Campbell, 2007). Currently it is used for many different subjects, from music to technology, news to foreign languages, politics to education (Lazzari, 2009). This study attempts to identify and empirically assess the motivational factors, intrinsic and extrinsic, that drive users to adopt podcast. The Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) is employed as the base model for this study and it is modified by adding motivational factors that affect the adoption of podcast. The model is tested via a survey that was developed for the aim of this study. The structural equation modeling was used to test the relationships and the results revealed that intrinsic motivational factors have a big effect on podcast adoption.
Moderation of iodoacetate-induced experimental osteoarthritis in rats by matrix metalloproteinase inhibitors.

OBJECTIVE To determine the effect of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) inhibitors in mono-iodoacetate-induced arthritis in rats. DESIGN The ability of compounds to inhibit MMPs in vitro was assessed kinetically using a quenched fluorescent substrate. Rats were injected with iodoacetate intraarticularly in one knee joint and damage to the tibial plateau was evaluated from digitized images captured using an image analyser and by histology. Collagenase and gelatinase activity in cartilage from iodoacetate injected knees were evaluated using(3)H-rat type I collagen and gelatin zymography, respectively. RESULTS Collagenase and gelatinase activity significantly increased in the knee cartilage of rats injected with iodoacetate with peak activity by day 7. Three MMP inhibitors were examined for their efficacy in the rat iodoacetate-induced arthritis model. Significant (P< 0.05) inhibition of cartilage damage was observed in animals treated orally with 35 mg/kg b.i. d. of the three different MMP inhibitors. Inhibition of cartilage damage by the MMP inhibitors ranged from 36-42%. CONCLUSION MMP inhibitors are partially protective against cartilage and subchondral bone damage induced by iodoacetate. These results support an important role for MMPs in mediating the joint damage in this model of arthritis.
Nutritional factors and pancreatic cancer in the francophone community in montréal, Canada

In a population‐based case‐control study of dietary risk factors for pancreatic cancer, a total of 179 cases and 239 controls were interviewed between 1984 and 1988. This study demonstrated an increased risk of pancreas cancer associated with high levels of reported energy intake. After adjustment for age, sex, response status, lifetime cigarette consumption and energy intake, there appeared to be an association with total fat intake (odds ratio in highest quartile relative to lowest quartile 2.24 [95% Confidence Interval (0.74, 6.73)] and, particularly, saturated fat [OR = 4.32, 95% CI(1.39,13.7)]. Although dietary cholesterol intake appeared to increase risk and a number of many micro‐nutrients were apparently associated with reductions of risk, none were statistically significant. The results are consistent with a role of nutritional factors in the etiology of pancreatic cancer. The magnitude of the risks involved emphasizes the necessity for larger studies of this topic.
Hippocampal shape and cognitive performance in amnestic mild cognitive impairment

Previous studies have carried out hippocampal shape analysis of amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) patients using automated segmentation techniques. However, the relationships between hippocampal deformations and various episodic memory impairments were not clear. The aim of this study was to investigate hippocampal shape changes and their relationships with various episodic memory impairments in aMCI. Hippocampal volumes and deformations were compared between the aMCI and the controls. In addition, we explored the correlation pattern between hippocampal deformations and cognitive dysfunctions in aMCI using a comprehensive neuropsychological battery. Patients with aMCI exhibited significant hippocampal deformations in the right cornu ammonis 1 (CA1) and subiculum areas compared with healthy individuals. Significant correlations were observed between constructional recall scores and the right CA1 and subiculum areas in aMCI. Verbal delayed recall scores were also significantly correlated with the left CA1 and subiculum areas in aMCI. This study was the first to explore the relationships between hippocampal deformations and various types of cognitive performances in aMCI. These structural changes in the hippocampal CA1 and subiculum areas might be at the core of underlying neurobiological mechanisms of hippocampal dysfunction and their relevance to verbal and visuospatial delayed recall in aMCI.
Tyrosine Residue in the TRPV1 Vanilloid Binding Pocket Regulates Deactivation Kinetics*

Vanilloids are pain evoking molecules that serve as ligands of the “heat and capsaicin receptor” TRPV1. Binding of either endogenous or exogenous vanilloids evokes channel and subsequent neuronal activation, leading to pain sensation. Despite its pivotal physiological role, the molecular basis of TRPV1 activation and deactivation is not fully understood. The highly conserved tyrosine in position 511 (Tyr511) of the rat TRPV1 (rTRPV1) was the first residue to be identified as a necessary participant in the vanilloid-mediated response. rTRPV1 cryo-EM structures implicated rotation of this residue in the vanilloids bound state. Therefore, we hypothesize that the rTRPV1 Tyr511 residue entraps vanilloids in their binding site, prolonging channel activity. To test our hypothesis, we generated an array of rTRPV1 mutants, containing the whole spectrum of Tyr511 substitutions, and tested their response to both exo- and endovanilloids. Our data show that only substitutions of Tyr511 to aromatic amino acids were able to mimic, albeit partially, the vanilloid-evoked activation pattern of the wt receptor. Although these substitutions reduced the channel sensitivity to vanilloids, a maximal open-channel lifetime could be achieved. Moreover, whereas their current activation rate remains intact, receptors with Tyr511 substitutions exhibited a faster current deactivation. Our findings therefore suggest that the duration of channel activity evoked by vanilloids is regulated by the interaction between Tyr511 and the agonist. To conclude, we suggest that Tyr511-mediated anchoring of vanilloids in their binding pocket is pivotal for TRPV1 activation and subsequent pain sensation.
Bioactive products formed in humans from fish oils1[S]

Resolvins, maresins, and protectins can be formed from fish oils. These specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs) have been implicated in the resolution of inflammation. Synthetic versions of such SPMs exert anti-inflammatory effects in vitro and when administered to animal models. However, their importance as endogenous products formed in sufficient amounts to exert anti-inflammatory actions in vivo remains speculative. We biased our ability to detect SPMs formed in healthy volunteers by supplementing fish oil in doses shown previously to influence blood pressure and platelet aggregation under placebo-controlled conditions. Additionally, we sought to determine the relative formation of SPMs during an acute inflammatory response and its resolution, evoked in healthy volunteers by bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Bioactive lipids, enzymatic epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs), and free radical-catalyzed prostanoids [isoprostanes (iPs)] formed from arachidonic acid and the fish oils, served as comparators. Despite the clear shift from ω-6 to ω-3 EETs and iPs, we failed to detect a consistent signal, in most cases, of SPM formation in urine or plasma in response to fish oil, and in all cases in response to LPS on a background of fish oil. Our results question the relevance of these SPMs to the putative anti-inflammatory effects of fish oils in humans.
Preliminary evaluation of porous metal surfaced titanium for orthopedic implants.

Recent results indicate varying degrees of bone ingrowth into porous metal and ceramic bodies. Such homogeneously porous ceramic and metal implants generally possess inadequate mechanical properties, limiting their application to low stress or nonstructural applications. An experiment was performed wherein titanium porous coatings were applied to a wrought titanium bone implant. These surfaces were achieved by plasma spraying of titanium hydride powder, depositing a mixture of wellbonded titanium-titanium oxide with pore diameters varying from . 002 to . 005 in. Implant specimens were placed in sheep femora for periods of 14 and 26 weeks. No adverse affects were noted. Interface shear strengths were determined by torque tests which indicated approximately a twenty-fold increase over similar tests performed on uncoated control specimens.
Food insecurity and household eating patterns among vulnerable American-Indian families: associations with caregiver and food consumption characteristics

Abstract Objective To identify factors associated with food insecurity and household eating patterns among American-Indian families with young children. Design Cross-sectional survey among households with young children that were receiving emergency food services. We collected information on food insecurity levels, household eating patterns, experiences with commercial and community food sources and demographics, and used multivariate regression techniques to examine associations among these variables. Setting Four Southwestern American-Indian reservation communities. Subjects A total of 425 parents/caregivers of young children completed the survey. Results Twenty-nine per cent of children and 45 % of adults from households participating in the survey were classified as ‘food insecure’. Larger household size was associated with increased food insecurity and worse eating patterns. Older respondents were more likely than younger respondents to have children with food insecurity (relative risk = 2·19, P < 0·001) and less likely to have healthy foods available at home (relative risk = 0·45, P < 0·01). Consumption of food from food banks, gas station/convenience stores or fast-food restaurants was not associated with food insecurity levels. Respondents with transportation barriers were 1·46 times more likely to be adult food insecure than respondents without transportation barriers (P < 0·001). High food costs were significantly associated with greater likelihoods of adult (relative risk = 1·47, P < 0·001) and child (relative risk = 1·65, P < 0·001) food insecurity. Conclusions Interventions for American-Indian communities must address challenges such as expense and limited transportation to accessing healthy food. Results indicate a need for services targeted to older caregivers and larger households. Implications for innovative approaches to promoting nutrition among American-Indian communities, including mobile groceries and community gardening programmes, are discussed.
Motor and learning dysfunction during postnatal development in mice defective in dopamine neuronal transmission

Mice lacking expression of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), the first and rate‐limiting enzyme of the catecholamine biosynthetic pathway, in dopaminergic neuronal cell types were generated by a transgenic rescue approach to clarify the role of dopamine signaling during postnatal development. Introduction of the TH transgene directed by the dopamine β‐hydroxylase gene promoter into TH knockout mice restored noradrenaline and adrenaline synthesis, preventing perinatal lethality and cardiac dysfunction in the knockout mice. Lack of TH expression in the cells that normally express the dopaminergic phenotype resulted in a marked reduction of dopamine accumulation in the tissues, which led to multiple behavioral abnormalities at the juvenile stage. These abnormalities were characterized by a reduction in spontaneous locomotor activity, blockade of methamphetamine‐induced hyperactivity, cataleptic behavior, and defects in active avoidance learning. In contrast, development of the pituitary gland as well as production and secretion of the pituitary peptide hormones dependent on hypothalamic dopaminergic control were normally maintained, despite defective dopamine synthesis. These results demonstrate that dopamine neurotransmission is essential for controlling spontaneous and voluntary movement and associative learning during postnatal development through the nigrostriatal and mesocorticolimbic pathways. J. Neurosci. Res. 54: 450–464, 1998. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Speed-enhanced integrated optical sensor with area-reduced regulated-voltage up-converter

The bandwidth of the photodiode in an optoelectronic integrated sensor circuit with a single 5-V supply is increased from 20 to 770 MHz by an on-chip voltage up-converter. A shunt-regulator is implemented to keep the die area small and to best exploit the breakdown voltages of available devices. Rise and fall times below 0.49 ns are achieved enabling operation at data rates in excess of 1 Gbit/s. A possible receiver sensitivity of -22.5 dBm results for a wavelength of 670 nm with an additional external capacitor of 10 nF. Without an external capacitor, a sensitivity of -22.15 dBm is obtained.
An automatic cooperative retransmission MAC protocol in Wireless Local Area Networks

Existing solutions for cooperation in wireless networks either require simultaneous transmission of source and relay nodes or impose major modifications to original MAC protocols. In this paper, a new efficient retransmission MAC protocol is proposed for IEEE 802.11 based cooperation communications, with minimum modifications to the DCF scheme. Throughput and access delay performance of the proposed protocols is analyzed in error-prone and highly temporally correlated channels. Numerical results show that significant benefits can be achieved with our cooperative protocol, compared with the legacy schemes.
A Multi-Asset Option Approximation for General Stochastic Processes

We derived a model-free analytical approximation of the price of a multi-asset option defined over an arbitrary multivariate process, applying a semi-parametric expansion of the unknown risk-neutral density with the moments. The analytical expansion termed as the Multivariate Generalised Edgeworth Expansion (MGEE) is an infinite series over the derivatives of the known continuous time density. The expected value of the density expansion is calculated to approximate the option price. The expansion could be used to enhance a Monte Carlo pricing methodology incorporating the information about moments of the risk-neutral distribution. The numerical efficiency of the approximation is tested over a jump diffusion density. For the known density, we tested the multivariate lognormal (MVLN), even though arbitrary densities could be used, and we provided its derivatives until the fourth-order. The MGEE relates two densities and isolates the effects of multivariate moments over the opt ion prices. Results show that a calibrated approximation provides a good fit when the difference between the moments of the risk-neutral density and the auxiliary density are small relative to the density function of the former, and the uncalibrated approximation has immediate implications over risk management and hedging theory. The possibility to select the auxiliary density provides an advantage over classical Gram-Charlier A, B and C series approximations. The density approximation and the methodology can be applied to other fields of finance like asset pricing, econometrics, and areas of statistical nature
Some experiments on learning stable network oscillations

The authors focus on limit cycle experiments with neural nets, showing that it is possible for standard sigmoidal unit networks to learn stable, collective oscillations involving tens of units. The authors also model a biological network oscillator, showing that recurrent networks can help gain useful insights into the biological system. The R. Williams and D. Zipser (1989) learning algorithm was used with the teacher-forcing technique during the learning phase
Cost objective PLM and CE

Concurrent engineering taking into account product life-cycle factors seems to be one of the industrial challenges of the next years. Cost estimation and management are two main strategic tasks that imply the possibility of managing costs at the earliest stages of product development. This is why it is indispensable to let people from economics and from industrial engineering collaborates in order to find the best solution for enterprise progress for economical factors mastering. The objective of this paper is to present who we try to adapt costing methods in a PLM and CE point of view to the new industrial context and configuration in order to give pertinent decision aid for product and process choices. A very important factor is related to cost management problems when developing new products. A case study is introduced that presents how product development actors have referenced elements to product life-cycle costs and impacts, how they have an idea bout economical indicators when taking decisions during the progression of the project of product development.
Impulse breakdown voltages of ester-based transformer oils determined by using different test methods

Increasing interests on ester-based oils as potential alternatives to mineral oil, stimulate researches of oil properties and facilitate cross comparison among various studies. Lightning impulse breakdown voltage, one of the most important oil property parameters, is regarded as the criterion for large power transformer insulation design. In this paper, three different testing methods including rising-voltage method (refer to ASTM and IEC Standards), up-and-down method and multiple-level method, were employed to determine the lightning impulse breakdown voltage of two ester-based oils, Midel 7131 as synthetic ester and FR3 as natural ester. Meanwhile, mineral oil Gemini X was also tested as the baseline for benchmarking. The results clearly indicated that test methods have significant influence on breakdown voltage measurement values. Nevertheless, mineral oil showed higher lightning impulse breakdown voltage than ester-based oils irrespective of the testing methods being employed.
Graph Learning for Multiview Clustering

Most existing graph-based clustering methods need a predefined graph and their clustering performance highly depends on the quality of the graph. Aiming to improve the multiview clustering performance, a graph learning-based method is proposed to improve the quality of the graph. Initial graphs are learned from data points of different views, and the initial graphs are further optimized with a rank constraint on the Laplacian matrix. Then, these optimized graphs are integrated into a global graph with a well-designed optimization procedure. The global graph is learned by the optimization procedure with the same rank constraint on its Laplacian matrix. Because of the rank constraint, the cluster indicators are obtained directly by the global graph without performing any graph cut technique and the $k$ -means clustering. Experiments are conducted on several benchmark datasets to verify the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed graph learning-based multiview clustering algorithm comparing to the state-of-the-art methods.
MATE Transporter-Dependent Export of Hydroxycinnamic Acid Amides[OPEN]

A MATE transporter is required and sufficient for export of hydroxycinnamic acid amides, which act as antimicrobial compounds on the plant surface. The ability of Arabidopsis thaliana to successfully prevent colonization by Phytophthora infestans, the causal agent of late blight disease of potato (Solanum tuberosum), depends on multilayered defense responses. To address the role of surface-localized secondary metabolites for entry control, droplets of a P. infestans zoospore suspension, incubated on Arabidopsis leaves, were subjected to untargeted metabolite profiling. The hydroxycinnamic acid amide coumaroylagmatine was among the metabolites secreted into the inoculum. In vitro assays revealed an inhibitory activity of coumaroylagmatine on P. infestans spore germination. Mutant analyses suggested a requirement of the p-coumaroyl-CoA:agmatine N4-p-coumaroyl transferase ACT for the biosynthesis and of the MATE transporter DTX18 for the extracellular accumulation of coumaroylagmatine. The host plant potato is not able to efficiently secrete coumaroylagmatine. This inability is overcome in transgenic potato plants expressing the two Arabidopsis genes ACT and DTX18. These plants secrete agmatine and putrescine conjugates to high levels, indicating that DTX18 is a hydroxycinnamic acid amide transporter with a distinct specificity. The export of hydroxycinnamic acid amides correlates with a decreased ability of P. infestans spores to germinate, suggesting a contribution of secreted antimicrobial compounds to pathogen defense at the leaf surface.
Joint probabilistic forecasting of wind speed and temperature using Bayesian model averaging

Ensembles of forecasts are typically employed to account for the forecast uncertainties inherent in predictions of future weather states. However, biases and dispersion errors often present in forecast ensembles require statistical post‐processing. Univariate post‐processing models such as Bayesian model averaging (BMA) have been successfully applied for various weather quantities. Nonetheless, BMA and many other standard post‐processing procedures are designed for a single weather variable, thus ignoring possible dependencies among weather quantities. In line with recently upcoming research to develop multivariate post‐processing procedures, for example, BMA for bivariate wind vectors, or flexible procedures applicable for multiple weather quantities of different types, a bivariate BMA model for joint calibration of wind speed and temperature forecasts is proposed on the basis of the bivariate truncated normal distribution. It extends the univariate truncated normal BMA model designed for post‐processing ensemble forecast of wind speed by adding a normally distributed temperature component with a covariance structure representing the dependency among the two weather quantities.
Using Improved Power Electronics Modeling and Turbine Control to Improve Wind Turbine Reliability

Improving offshore wind turbine reliability is a key industry goal to improve the availability of this renewable energy generation source. The semiconductor devices in the wind turbine power converter are traditionally considered as the most sensitive and important components to achieve this and managing their thermomechanical stressing is vital, since this is one of their principal long-term aging mechanisms. Conventional deterministic reliability prediction methods used in industrial applications are not suitable for wind turbine applications, due to the stochastic nature of the wind speed. This paper develops an electrothermal model of the power devices, which is integrated with a wind turbine system model for the investigation of power converter thermal cycling under various operating conditions. The model has been developed to eliminate the problems of pulse width modulation switching, substantially reducing simulation time. The model is used to improve the current controller tuning method to reduce thermal stresses suffered by the converter during a grid fault. The model is finally used to design a control method to alleviate a key problem of the doubly fed induction generator-severe thermal cycling caused during operation near synchronous speed.