Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Use of tear enzyme activities to assess the corneal response to contact lens wear

Abstract A non‐invasive biochemical method for assessing the effects of contact lens wear on the in vivo corneal epithelium is described. A fluorometric technique is used to measure the activities of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and malate dehydrogenase (MDH) in human tear fluid. In view of the corneal epithelial origin of these enzymes, changes in their activity can indicate the severity of environmental stresses on the corneal epithelium. Following short‐term wear of contact lenses, LDH and MDH activities are altered so that the tear LDH/MDH ratio is elevated. The magnitude and time course of this elevation are influenced by contact lens type, fit and duration of wear. This technique can yield more specific measures of the corneal response to contact lens wear than previous techniques.
Allergic disease and Staphylococcus aureus carriage in adolescents in the Arctic region of Norway

Allergic diseases are common chronic diseases in children and adolescents, but limited epidemiological data are available during transition into adulthood. Nasal Staphylococcus aureus carriage has been linked to increased prevalence of allergic disease. The objective of this study was to define the prevalence of allergic diseases in adolescents above the Arctic Circle in Northern Norway and to study the associations of S. aureus carriage with allergic diseases.
Cluster variation method, Padé approximants, and critical behavior.

In the present paper we show how nonclassical, quite accurate, critical exponents can be extracted in a very simple way from the Pad\'e analysis of the results obtained by mean-field-like approximation schemes, and in particular by the cluster variation method. We study the critical behavior of the Ising model on several lattices (quadratic, triangular, simple cubic and face centered cubic) and two problems of surface critical behavior. Both unbiased and biased approximants are used, and results are in very good agreement with the exact or numerical ones.
A planar orthomode transducer

The planar orthomode transducer (OMT) described in this paper couples two microstrip inputs to two orthogonal modes in a square waveguide. One microstripline feeds a 180/spl deg/ hybrid that in turn excites two waveguide probes. A second microstrip directly feeds a third waveguide probe. Mode symmetry provides isolation between the two feeds. All circuitry and probes are fabricated on a single substrate to minimize fabrication cost. An experimental prototype has 30 to 40 dB isolation at millimeter wave frequencies. The low cost and small size of this structure make it appropriate for use in commercial communications applications.
H ∞ filtering for Markovian jump linear systems

The problem of H X filtering for continuous-time linear systems with Markovian jump is investigated. It was assumed that the jumping parameter was available. This paper develops necessary and sufficient conditions for designing a Markovian jump linear filter that ensures a prescribed bound on the L 2 -induced gain from the noise signals to the estimation error. The main result is tailored via linear matrix inequalities.
Modified Non-Local Means De-noising With Patch and Edge Patch Based Dictionaries

Digital image processing remains a challenging domainnbsp of programming. nbspAll nbspdigital nbspimagesnbsp contain nbspsomenbsp degreenbsp of noise. nbspOften nbsptimes nbspthis nbspnoise nbspis nbspintroduced nbspbynbsp the nbspcamera when a picture is taken. Image denoising algorithms attempt to remove this noise from the image. In this paper the method for image denoising based on the nonlocal means (NL-means) algorithm has been implemented and results have been developednbsp nbspusingnbspnbsp matlabnbsp nbspcoding.nbsp nbspThenbspnbsp algorithm,nbsp nbspcalled nonlocal means (NLM), uses concept of Self-Similarity. Also images taken from the digital media like digital camera and the image taken from the internet have been compared. The image that is taken from the internet has got aligned pixel than the image taken from digital media. Experimental results are given to demonstrate the superior denoising performance of thenbspnbspnbsp nbspNL-means denoising technique over various image denoising benchmarks.
Immersive Simulation to Train Urban Infantry Combat

Abstract : The key component in developing an effective virtual infantry training simulator is the user interface. Our goal is to develop interfaces that give users close to the same ability to move and coordinate actions as they have in the real world. We have developed two interfaces. Gaiter is a highly realistic body-driven interface in which the user walks in place to walk through the virtual world. With Gaiter, the user can naturally intermix a range of natural and gestural actions. An experiment comparing Gaiter with less realistic interfaces shows that a control technique that mimics a user's natural actions, while beneficial, does not immediately provide all the capabilities of natural motion. These results, along with a Marine Corps interest in lower cost, more deployable systems, have led us to develop a new virtual locomotion control. Pointman is a device-driven interface that uses a conventional dual joystick gamepad. Unlike the control mappings of a conventional game pad, Pointman allows the user to specify direction of movement independently from the heading of the upper body, allowing the user to execute realistic tactical infantry movements such as pie-ing the corner. Pointman can also be used for teleoperation of remotely piloted vehicles, providing added separation over the vehicle's motion and view. Both interfaces derive from an analysis of action and effect that highlights the importance of providing open loop control.
Identifying High-Dimensional Biomarkers for Personalized Medicine via Variable Importance Ranking

We apply robust classification algorithms to high-dimensional genomic data to find biomarkers, by analyzing variable importance, that enable a better diagnosis of disease, an earlier intervention, or a more effective assignment of therapies. The goal is to use variable importance ranking to isolate a set of important genes that can be used to classify life-threatening diseases with respect to prognosis or type to maximize efficacy or minimize toxicity in personalized treatment of such diseases. A ranking method and present several other methods to select a set of important genes to use as genomic biomarkers is proposed, and the performance of the selection procedures in patient classification by cross-validation is evaluated. The various selection algorithms are applied to published high-dimensional genomic data sets using several well-known classification methods. For each data set, a set of genes selected on the basis of variable importance that performed the best in classification is reported. That classification algorithm with the proposed ranking method is shown to be competitive with other selection methods for discovering genomic biomarkers underlying both adverse and efficacious outcomes for improving individualized treatment of patients for life-threatening diseases.
The Mitotic Checkpoint Protein hBUB3 and the mRNA Export Factor hRAE1 Interact with GLE2p-binding Sequence (GLEBS)-containing Proteins*

The mRNA export factor RAE1 (also called GLE2) and the mitotic checkpoint protein BUB3 share extensive sequence homology in yeast as well as higher eukaryotes, although the biological relevance of their similarity is unclear. Previous work in HeLa cells has shown that human (h)RAE1 binds the nuclear pore complex protein hNUP98 via a short NUP98 motif called GLEBS (forGLE2p-binding sequence). Here we report that the two known binding partners of hBUB3, the mitotic checkpoint proteins hBUB1 and hBUBR1, both carry a region with remarkable similarity to the GLEBS motif of hNUP98. We show that the GLEBS-like motifs of mouse (m)BUB1 and mBUBR1 are sufficient for mBUB3 binding. mBUB3 lacks affinity for the hNUP98 GLEBS, demonstrating its binding specificity for GLEBS motifs of mitotic checkpoint proteins. Interestingly, mRAE1 does not exclusively bind to the GLEBS motif of hNUP98 and can cross-interact with the mBUB1 GLEBS. We show that full-length RAE1 and BUB1 proteins interact in mammalian cells and accumulate both at the kinetochores of prometaphase chromosomes. Our findings demonstrate that GLEBS motifs reside in mammalian nucleoporins and mitotic checkpoint proteins and apparently serve as specific binding sites for either BUB3, RAE1, or both.
Equilibrium sites and electronic structure of interstitial hydrogen in Si.

The equilibrium sites and electronic structure of interstitial hydrogen or muonium in Si clusters are calculated using the approximate ab initio method of partial retention of diatomic differential overlap and ab initio Hartree-Fock with minimum, expanded and polarized basis sets. The clusters range in size from ${\mathrm{Si}}_{2}$${\mathrm{H}}_{6}$ to ${\mathrm{Si}}_{44}$${\mathrm{H}}_{42}$. The interstitial sites considered include the tetrahedral, hexagonal, antibonding and bond-centered sites, as well as more exotic locations such as the C, the M, and the ``umbrella'' sites (which is similar to an antibonding site, but in a distorted environment). Lattice relaxations and distortions are included up to second-nearest neighbors. Basis-set effects are discussed. The most stable site is the relaxed bond-centered site, which is the location of anomalous muonium. The associated energy level is deep in the gap. In contrast to diamond, bond-centered hydrogen in Si vibrates primarily along the bond. The tetrahedral interstitial site is the only other minimum of the energy. It is not deep enough to localize a proton which probably diffuses along 〈111〉 directions. The energy level associated with interstitial H at the tetrahedral site is below the top of the valence band.
Learning and knowledge transfer in partnering: an empirical case study

This study is based upon a longitudinal research project undertaken between 1994 and 1999 from one partnering case study. At the outset both parties did not anticipate the significance of the learning which would take place within and between the companies. The structure of the paper is as follows; first an overview of the companies involved provides the context of the study. A review of literature considers the resource‐based theory of strategy development, organizational learning and teamwork in the partnering context. Description of the methodology applied leads to discussion of the results in the light of the literature. Findings suggest that the inter‐organization project teams are the mechanisms by which knowledge is converted into new joint capabilities. Finally implications for theory and practitioners are considered as well as avenues for future research.
Eye tracking and gaze interface design for pervasive displays

Eye tracking for pervasive displays in everyday computing is an emerging area in research. There is an increasing number of pervasive displays in our surroundings, such as large displays in public spaces, digital boards in offices and smart televisions at home. Gaze is an attractive input modality for these displays, as people naturally look at objects of interest and use their eyes to seek information. Existing research has applied eye tracking in a variety of fields, but tends to be in constrained environments for lab applications. This thesis investigates how to enable robust gaze sensing in pervasive contexts and how eye tracking can be applied for pervasive displays that we encounter in our daily life. To answer these questions, we identify the technical and design challenges posed by using gaze for pervasive displays. Firstly, in out-of-lab environments, interactions are usually spontaneous where users and systems are unaware of each other beforehand. This poses the technical problem that gaze sensing should not need prior user training and should be robust in unconstrained environments. We develop novel vision-based systems that require only off-the-shelf RGB cameras to address this issue. Secondly, in pervasive contexts, users are usually unaware of gaze interactivity iii of pervasive displays and the technical restrictions of gaze sensing systems. However, there is little knowledge about how to enable people to use gaze interactive systems in daily life. Thus, we design novel interfaces that allow novice users to interact with contents on pervasive displays, and we study the usage of our systems through field deployments. We demonstrate that people can walk up to a gaze interactive system and start to use it immediately without human assistance. Lastly, pervasive displays could also support multiuser co-located collaborations. We explore the use of gaze for collaborative tasks. Our results show that sharing gaze information on shared displays can ease communications and improve collaboration. Although we demonstrate benefits of using gaze for pervasive displays, open challenges remain in enabling gaze interaction in everyday computing and require further investigations. Our research provides a foundation for the rapidly growing field of eye tracking for pervasive displays.
The improvement of intertie transient stability on the basis of wide area measurement system data

Potential capabilities of excitation and frequency control based on voltage phasor measurements are investigated to enhance transient stability of 330 kV long-distance transmission system between Kola nuclear power plant and Kirishi state district power plant at North-West part of Russia. The procedure of transient stability margin calculation is used for finding optimal settings of excitation and governing control with voltage phasor feedbacks. It is shown that application of angle control with supporting of GPS/GLONASS synchronization is technically reasonable facility to improve intertie transient stability level.
How disordered is my protein and what is its disorder for? A guide through the “dark side” of the protein universe

ABSTRACT In the last 2 decades it has become increasingly evident that a large number of proteins are either fully or partially disordered. Intrinsically disordered proteins lack a stable 3D structure, are ubiquitous and fulfill essential biological functions. Their conformational heterogeneity is encoded in their amino acid sequences, thereby allowing intrinsically disordered proteins or regions to be recognized based on properties of these sequences. The identification of disordered regions facilitates the functional annotation of proteins and is instrumental for delineating boundaries of protein domains amenable to structural determination with X-ray crystallization. This article discusses a comprehensive selection of databases and methods currently employed to disseminate experimental and putative annotations of disorder, predict disorder and identify regions involved in induced folding. It also provides a set of detailed instructions that should be followed to perform computational analysis of disorder.
Low-cost, 3 Kv, Triggered, Stripline, Surface-discharge Switch

A low-cost, triggered, stripline, surface-discharge switch has been developed which is capable of rapidly switching several kA of peak current for greater than one thousand operations. It was constructed using copper-Kapton (polyimide) printed circuit technology. Switches with DC holdoffs up to 5 kV have been operated at peak currents up to 8 kA prior to failure. Two optimized switch designs have resulted from this investigation. The first uses a multilayer design while the second uses a planar design. The trigger mechanism of both switch designs was studied using photomultiplier tubes (PMT) and high speed framing cameras.
A Knowledge-Based Intelligent System for Power Customer Service Management

In this paper, a knowledge-based intelligent system for power customer service management is proposed. As the value of knowledge management and customer relationship management has been well recognized, it is essential to make optimal reuse of knowledge of customer among various functional units of the enterprise. As the power company is the industry that provides standard service, it is important to ensure that the customer service staff can access and be trained up with dynamically updated knowledge that adjusts to the changing environment of the enterprise in customer services. However, conventional way of customer service management is inadequate to achieve knowledge acquisition and diffusion, service automation and satisfaction measurement, and thus unfavorable for the continuous improvement of the customer service quality. This paper discusses the frame and process of the knowledge-based intelligent service system for power customer, and puts forward some aspects that should be noted during the period of implementation. It is verified that the proposed model provides high quality customer services with fast and efficient responses to customer demands.
["Rendez-vous" technique for palliation of neoplastic jaundice: personal experience].

INTRODUCTION "Rendez-vous" technique (RV) assume contemporaneous percutaneous transhepatic choledochal drainage (PTCD) and endoscopic (ERCP) approach to make easier biliary cannulation when it fails for anatomic, neoplastic or iatrogenic causes, in subject unresectable at presentation ("not fit for surgery"). MATERIALS AND METHODS Over a 3 years period 618 ERCP were performed in the Service of Digestive Endoscopy in Section of General and Thoracic Surgery, 59 of whom (9%) failed for non-visualization of ampulla of Vater (25%), intradiverticular ampulla (54%) or anatomic defects (21%). Were attempted 44 pre-cut: 14 failed (close biliary stricture), and we proceed to RV. RESULTS 11/14 (79%) RV were successful (successful stent insertion was defined as passage of the stent across the stricture) and 3 failure (21%) occurred in close biliary malignant obstruction even to percutaneous transhepatic approach. Only in 28% were registered minor complications (2 post-procedure fever, 1 papillary bleeding post PTE, 1 case mild acute pancreatitis). No mortality procedure related was registered and was not necessary to recur to surgery. CONCLUSIONS RV is very useful in case of difficult cannulation of biliary tree and after failure of pre-cut. US-guided PTC is easy to perform, with low incidence of complications. Every well experienced team who works on bilio-pancreatic pathologies may recurs to this technique: even if not much utilized, RV can solves complex cases of biliary stricture.
Predictive-spectral compression of dynamic 3D meshes

This paper proposes a new compression algorithm for dynamic 3d meshes. In such a sequence of meshes, neighboring vertices have a strong tendency to behave similarly and the degree of dependencies between their locations in two successive frames is very large which can be efficiently exploited using a combination of PredictiveandDCT coders (PDCT). Our strategy gathers mesh vertices of similar motions into clusters, establish a local coordinate frame (LCF) for each cluster and encodes frame by frame and each cluster separately. The vertices of each cluster have small variation over a time relative to the LCF. Therefore, the location of each new vertex is well predicted from its location in the previous frame relative to the LCF of its cluster. The difference between the original and the predicted local coordinates are then transformed into frequency domain using DCT. The resulting DCT coefficients are quantized and compressed with entropy coding. The original sequence of meshes can be reconstructed from only a few non-zero DCT coefficients without significant loss in visual quality. Experimental results show that our strategy outperforms or comes close to other coders.
Bead‐based protein–protein interaction assays for the analysis of Rho GTPase signaling

Bead‐based interaction assays are excellently suited to study protein–protein interactions, as they require only minimal amounts of sample material. Miniaturized protein–protein interaction assays were designed to analyze Rho GTPase activation based on its interaction with Rho GDI or p21‐activated kinase (PAK).
Knowledge management and business performance: Does innovation matter?

Abstract The purpose of this study was to assess the mediating effect of innovation in the relationship between knowledge management and business performance of SMEs in Rwanda. The study used a cross-sectional survey design to collect the data on a sample of 250 SMEs and bootstrap method was used to carry out mediation analysis. The findings revealed that innovation fully mediates the relationship between knowledge management and business performance of SMEs. The paper contributes to scholarly debate on the mediating role of innovation on the relationship between knowledge management and business performance of SMEs by providing evidence from a developing country. The results may help business owners of SMEs to adopt innovation as a conduit for knowledge management to boost their business performance.
A Multi-level Framework for Memory-Based Translation Aid Tools

The deployment of learning and matching techniques in the area of machine translation, first advocated in the early 80s (Nagao 84) proposed as "Translation by Analogy" and the return of statistical methods in the early 90's (Brown et al. 93) have given rise to much discussion as to the architecture and constituency of modern machine translation systems. Bilingual text processing and in particular text alignment with the resulting exploitation of information extracted from thus derived examples has turned into a new wave in machine translation (MT).
The plasmid replicator AMA1 in Aspergillus nidulans is an inverted duplication of a low‐copy‐number dispersed genomic repeat

The AMA1 sequence was isolated from a genomic library of Aspergillus nidulans on the basis of its ability to enhance transformation frequency and generate phenotypically unstable transformants in this fungus. These properties were previously shown to be the result of extrachromosomal replication of AMA1‐bearing plasmids. Here we demonstrate that AMA1 is an inverted duplication of a sequence which has other isolated genomic copies. These sequences (mobile Aspergillus transformation enhancers, or MATEs) share a high degree of sequence similarity and exhibit some features characteristic of mobile elements, including a potential Met‐tRNA priming site, similar to that found in retrotransposons of the Ty‐copia group. The nucleotide sequence does not encode any extended polypeptides but contains ARS‐consensus matches and a multiply repeated ‘Spe’ motif, which may be described as a symmetrically duplicated topoisomerase I recognition site. This motif was shown to be a target for illegitimate recombination events. The mobility of members of the MATE family is inferred from the observation that their chromosomal locations are highly variable between wild Aspergillus isolates. The inverted duplication AMA1 is present in laboratory strains derived from the Glasgow isolate but not in other wild isolates tested. This indicates that the inverted duplication AMA1 is of recent evolutionary origin and probably does not exert any conserved function in the chromosome. We discuss possible connections between structural features of AMA1 and its ability to promote extrachromosomal plasmid replication.
N-(2-Oxo-2-phenylacetyl)benzamide

In the title compound, C15H11NO3, the two essentially planar benzaldehyde groups [maximum deviations = 0.0487 (12) and 0.0205 (10) Å] are inclined at a dihedral angle of 72.64 (6)° with respect to each other. The bridging C—C—N—C torsion angle is 22.58 (18)°. In the crystal, intermolecular bifurcated acceptor N—H⋯O and C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds link inversion-related molecules into dimers incorporating R 1 2(7) and R 2 2(8) ring motifs. The crystal structure is further stabilized by weak intermolecular C—H⋯π interactions.