Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Eyeboard++: an enhanced eye gaze-based text entry system in Hindi

Of late, eye gaze has become an important modality of text entry in large and small display digital devices. Despite many tools being developed, issues like minimizing dwell time and visual search time, enhancing accuracy of composed text, eye-controlled mouse movement stability etc. are yet to be addressed. Moreover, eye typing interfaces having a large number of keys suffer from many problems like selecting wrong characters, more character searching time etc. Some linguistic issues often decline in minimizing dwell time incurred for character by character based eye typing task. The aforementioned issues are prominently evolved in case of Indian languages for its many language related issues. In this paper, we propose a gaze-based text entry system EyeBoard++ for Hindi, national language of India which minimizes dwell time by introducing word completion and word prediction methodologies side by side mitigates visual search time by highlighting next probable characters. Performance evaluation shows that proposed interface achieves text entry rate on an average 9.63 words per minute. As designed, the proposed interface can effortlessly be suited in medium-sized display devices like Tablet PC, PDA etc. The proposed interface design approach, in fact, provides a solution to deal with complexity in Indian languages and can be extended to many other languages in the world. Also, the developed system can be used by the people with motor disabilities.
Realization of yoyo operation called long-sleeper by robot arms

This study aims to realize highly-skilled human motions by robot arms, and yoyo operations are considered as one of the motions. This paper tries to realize a fundamental sequential yoyo operation called “long-sleeper”, throwing a yoyo down, idling, and pulling back. A servo controller is necessary to let the robot arm track desired trajectory. To design the servo controller, mathematical models of the yoyo and the robot arm are derived by Projection method, and the servo controller is given by consisting of a coordinate transformation and linear feedback control. The effectiveness of the proposed model and control system is verified through numerical simulations. As a result, the long-sleeper is realized by the arm robot.
Ubiquitin-specific Protease 20 Regulates the Reciprocal Functions of β-Arrestin2 in Toll-like Receptor 4-promoted Nuclear Factor κB (NFκB) Activation*

Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) promotes vascular inflammatory disorders such as neointimal hyperplasia and atherosclerosis. TLR4 triggers NFκB signaling through the ubiquitin ligase TRAF6 (tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 6). TRAF6 activity can be impeded by deubiquitinating enzymes like ubiquitin-specific protease 20 (USP20), which can reverse TRAF6 autoubiquitination, and by association with the multifunctional adaptor protein β-arrestin2. Although β-arrestin2 effects on TRAF6 suggest an anti-inflammatory role, physiologic β-arrestin2 promotes inflammation in atherosclerosis and neointimal hyperplasia. We hypothesized that anti- and proinflammatory dimensions of β-arrestin2 activity could be dictated by β-arrestin2's ubiquitination status, which has been linked with its ability to scaffold and localize activated ERK1/2 to signalosomes. With purified proteins and in intact cells, our protein interaction studies showed that TRAF6/USP20 association and subsequent USP20-mediated TRAF6 deubiquitination were β-arrestin2-dependent. Generation of transgenic mice with smooth muscle cell-specific expression of either USP20 or its catalytically inactive mutant revealed anti-inflammatory effects of USP20 in vivo and in vitro. Carotid endothelial denudation showed that antagonizing smooth muscle cell USP20 activity increased NFκB activation and neointimal hyperplasia. We found that β-arrestin2 ubiquitination was promoted by TLR4 and reversed by USP20. The association of USP20 with β-arrestin2 was augmented when β-arrestin2 ubiquitination was prevented and reduced when β-arrestin2 ubiquitination was rendered constitutive. Constitutive β-arrestin2 ubiquitination also augmented NFκB activation. We infer that pro- and anti-inflammatory activities of β-arrestin2 are determined by β-arrestin2 ubiquitination and that changes in USP20 expression and/or activity can therefore regulate inflammatory responses, at least in part, by defining the ubiquitination status of β-arrestin2.
Similarity-Based Handwriting Copybook Style Identification

Handwriting originates from a particular copybook style such as Palmer or Zaner-Bloser that one learns in childhood. Since questioned document examination plays an important investigative and forensic role in many types of crime, it is important to develop a system that helps objectively identify a questioned document’s handwriting style. Here, we propose a computer vision system that can assist a document examiner in the identification of a writer’s handwriting style and therefore the origin or nationality of an unknown writer of a questioned document. We collected 33 Roman alphabet copybook styles from 18 countries. Each character in a questioned document is segmented and matched against all of the 33 handwriting copybook styles. The more characters present in the questioned document, the higher the accuracy observed.
Generation with Free Replicability in DEA

The evaluation of efficiency scores in data envelopment analysis is based on the construction of artificial decision making units subject to some assumptions, usually requiring convexity of the production possibility set. This demands divisibility in input and output, which is not always possible. The so-called free replicability model, proposed by Henry Tulkens, permits input and output to enter in only discrete amounts. The model is of a mixed integer programming type, for which the number of variables, here corresponding to the decision making units, may be critical in order to reach an optimal solution. We suggest to use column generation techniques to include only those decision making units that may contribute to the creation of an optimal solution.
Processing of the precursor of protamine P2 in mouse. Peptide mapping and N-terminal sequence analysis of intermediates.

Protamine P2, the major basic chromosomal protein of mouse spermatozoa, is synthesized as a precursor almost twice as long as the mature protein, its extra length arising from an N-terminal extension of 44 amino acid residues. This precursor is integrated into chromatin of spermatids, and the extension is processed during chromatin condensation in the haploid cells. We have studied processing in the mouse and have identified two intermediates generated by proteolytic cleavage of the precursor. H.p.l.c. separated protamine P2 from four other spermatid proteins, including the precursor and three proteins known to possess physiological characteristics expected of processing intermediates. Peptide mapping indicated that all of these proteins were structurally similar. Two major proteins were further purified by PAGE, transferred to poly(vinylidene difluoride) membranes and submitted to automated N-terminal sequence analysis. Both sequences were found within the deduced sequence of the precursor extension. The N-terminus of the larger intermediate, PP2C, was Gly-12, whereas the N-terminus of the smaller, PP2D, was His-21. Both processing sites involved a peptide bond in which the carbonyl function was contributed by an acidic amino acid.
A Knowledge-Based User Interface to Optimize Curriculum Utility in an E-Learning System

The Internet and the World Wide Web in particular provide a unique platform to connect learners with educational resources. Educational material in hypermedia formed in a Web-based educational system makes learning a task-driven process, motivating learners to explore alternative navigational paths through the domain knowledge and from different resources around the globe. Many researchers have focused on developing e-learning systems with personalized learning mechanisms to assist on-line Web-based learning and to adaptively provide learning paths. Although most personalized systems consider learner preferences, interests and browsing behaviors when providing personalized curriculum sequencing services, these systems usually neglect to consider whether learner ability and the difficulty level of the recommended curriculums are matched to each other. Therefore, the authors proposed approach is based on an integer program IP to optimize user curriculum accompanying with fuzzy logic approach which analyze the effective criteria by linguistic variables in a knowledge based system. The effectiveness of the proposed framework is shown by numerical illustrations which are inferenced from the designed user interface.
Fast iterative algorithms for solving the minimization of curvature-related functionals in surface fairing

A number of successful variational models for processing planar images have recently been generalized to three-dimensional (3D) surface processing. With this new dimensionality, the amount of numerical computations to solve the minimization of such new 3D formulations naturally grows up dramatically. Though the need of computationally fast and efficient numerical algorithms able to process high resolution surfaces is high, much less work has been done in this area. Recently, a two-step algorithm for the fast solution of the total curvature model was introduced in Tasdizen, Whitaker, Burchard and Osher [Geometric surface processing via normal maps, ACM Trans. Graph. 22(4) (2003), pp. 1012–1033]. In this paper, we generalize and modify this algorithm to the solution of analogues of the mean curvature model of Droske and Martin Rumpf [A level set formulation for Willmore flow, Interfaces Free Bound. 6(3) (2004), pp. 361–378] and the Gaussian curvature model of Elsey and Esedoḡlu [Analogue of the total variation denoising model in the context of geometry processing, Multiscale Model. Simul. 7(4) (2009), pp. 1549–1573]. Numerical experiments are shown to illustrate the good performance of the algorithms and test results.
An improved association rule algorithm based on trie and inverted index

Because of the rapid growth in worldwide information, efficiency of association rules mining has been concerned for several years. In this paper, based on the original Apriori algorithm, an improved algorithm TIIA (Trie-Inverted-Index-Apriori) is proposed. TIIA adopts trie and inverted index structure to store the whole transactions with one scanning of transactions, generate frequent itemsets rapidly and also directly find frequent k itemsets. Experiments demonstrate that TIIA outperforms the original Apriori.
SeaModem: A low-cost underwater acoustic modem for shallow water communication

SeaModem is a low-cost underwater acoustic modem developed by AppliCon, a spin-off of the University of Calabria, for shallow water communications. In its default configuration, it operates in the 25-35 KHz frequency range and offers a wide range of selectable features including selectable 2-4-8 FSK modulation tones, error detection and correction algorithms via CRC and Viterbi, selectable power transmission up to 40 W, one-way and two-way range calculation capabilities, network capabilities allowing communications among a maximum of 15 modems in the same area and a host interface via a configurable UART. The paper contains a detailed description of the system and the results of several tests are also provided.
Use of Adeno‐Associated and Herpes Simplex Viral Vectors for In Vivo Neuronal Expression in Mice

Adeno‐associated viruses and the herpes simplex virus are the two most widely used vectors for the in vivo expression of exogenous genes. Advances in the development of these vectors have enabled remarkable temporal and spatial control of gene expression. This unit provides methods for storing, delivering, and verifying expression of adeno‐associated and herpes simplex viruses in the adult mouse brain. It also describes important considerations for experiments using in vivo expression of these viral vectors, including serotype and promoter selection, as well as timing of expression. Additional protocols are provided that describe methods for preliminary experiments to determine the appropriate conditions for in vivo delivery. © 2015 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Engineering‐Aligned 3D Neural Circuit in Microfluidic Device

The brain is one of the most important and complex organs in the human body. Although various neural network models have been proposed for in vitro 3D neuronal networks, it has been difficult to mimic functional and structural complexity of the in vitro neural circuit. Here, a microfluidic model of a simplified 3D neural circuit is reported. First, the microfluidic device is filled with Matrigel and continuous flow is delivered across the device during gelation. The fluidic flow aligns the extracellular matrix (ECM) components along the flow direction. Following the alignment of ECM fibers, neurites of primary rat cortical neurons are grown into the Matrigel at the average speed of 250 μm d−1 and form axon bundles approximately 1500 μm in length at 6 days in vitro (DIV). Additionally, neural networks are developed from presynaptic to postsynaptic neurons at 14 DIV. The establishment of aligned 3D neural circuits is confirmed with the immunostaining of PSD‐95 and synaptophysin and the observation of calcium signal transmission.
Dietary Conjugated Linoleic Acid Does Not Adversely Affect Bone Mass in Obese fa/fa or Lean Zucker Rats

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) elevates body ash in healthy animals. The objective of the present study was to determine if single or mixed CLA isomers improve bone mass in an obese and hyperinsulinemic state. Male (n = 120) lean and obese fa/fa Zucker rats (age, 6 weeks) were randomized to 8 weeks on a control diet or to 0.4% (w/w) cis-9, trans-11 CLA (Group 1); 0.4% (w/w) trans-10, cis-12 CLA (Group 2); 0.4% (w/w) cis-9, trans-11 CLA and 0.4% (w/w) trans-10, cis-12 CLA (Group 3); 0.4% (w/w) cis-9, trans-11 CLA, 0.4% (w/w) trans-10, cis-12 CLA, and traces of other CLA isomers (Group 4); and 0.4% (w/w) cis-9, trans-11 CLA, 0.4% (w/w) trans-10, cis-12 CLA, and 0.3% (w/w) other CLA isomers (Group 5). Bone area (BA), bone mineral content (BMC), and bone mineral density (BMD) of the whole body, spine, and femur were measured at baseline (6 weeks) and at 14 weeks of age. Effects of genotype, diet, and genotype × diet interactions were assessed using factorial analysis of variance. At 6 and 14 weeks, whole-body BA and BMC were lower in lean rats compared with fa/fa rats. Similarly, at 14 weeks, fa/fa rats had a higher spine and femur BMD despite a lower femur weight. The fa/fa rats in Groups 4 and 5 had higher adjusted whole-body BMC compared with Group 3, but not with Group 1, Group 2, or the control. In lean rats, Group 3 had a greater adjusted whole-body BMC than Groups 1 and 2, but not Group 4, Group 5, or the control. Thus, commercially available CLA mixtures and single CLA isomers do not affect bone mass in a hyperinsulinemic, obese state.
D-Σ digital control for a three-level T-type grid-connected inverter

In this paper, a current control is studied based on D-Σ digital control to improve the grid-connected performance for a three-level T-type inverter. The control principle is analyzed in accordance with the single-phase equivalent circuit of the three-level T-type inverter. The influence of the neutral-point voltage on both output current error and modulation signal is discussed, and the relationship expression is deduced. Finally, a simulation circuit of 5kVA three-level T-type grid-connected inverter is built, which proves the effectiveness of D-Σ digital control, and verifies that the control has excellent dynamic and static performances.
Human TRPC5 channel activated by a multiplicity of signals in a single cell

Here we explore the activation mechanisms of human TRPC5, a putative cationic channel that was cloned from a region of the X chromosome associated with mental retardation. No basal activity was evident but activity was induced by carbachol stimulation of muscarinic receptors independently of Ca2+ release. This is ‘receptor activation’, as described for mouse TRPC5. In addition, and in the absence of receptor stimulation, extracellular gadolinium (0.1 mm) activated TRPC5, an effect that was mimicked by 5–20 mm extracellular Ca2+ with intracellular Ca2+ buffered. We refer to this as ‘external ionic activation’. TRPC5 was also activated by modest elevation of [Ca2+]i in the absence of GTP –‘calcium activation’. A putative fourth activation mechanism is a signal from depleted intracellular Ca2+ stores. Consistent with this idea, human TRPC5 was activated by a standard store‐depletion/Ca2+ re‐entry protocol, an effect that was difficult to explain by calcium activation. Multiplicity of TRPC5 activation was demonstrated in single cells and thus not dependent on heterogeneity of expression levels or cellular context. Therefore, human TRPC5 is activated by a range of stimuli, avoiding dependence on a single critical activator as in many other ion channels. One of these stimuli would seem to be a change in Ca2+ handling by the endoplasmic reticulum.
Automatic sentential vowel stress labelling

There is general agreement that sentential syllable vowel stres! (called prominence by some authors) in American English is marked by pitch rise falls, energy, and duration. None of these cues by themselves is sufficient, instead combinations of these cues are used by talkers to signal stress in continuous speech. After studying the stress marking strategies of 15 talkers of American English, an algorithm was devised which Iabels vowels with three Ievels of stress. The algorithm is based on combinations of pitch rise falls, relative energy and duration. The pitch is determined automatieally in all voiced regions in the sentence. Then the regions are characterised as having rising pitch, falling pitch or steady pitch. Sequences of three regions are examined to find the pitch rise fall patterns which signal stress. The energy in the band 0· 2500 Hz is determined throughout the utterance. All the energy measurements are made relative to the maximum energy in the sentence. If the energy of the vowel is within 11 db of the maximum it is considered energy stressed. The duration is determined from band Iabels in the present implementation. Duration is corrected for prepausal effects. If two out of three cues are present, then the vowel is Iabeiied stressed. If the vowel has the highest energy, Iongest duration, and highest pitch then it is labeled as highly stressed. If the vowel has very low energy relative to the loudest sound in the sentence, then it is labeled unstressed no matter what the other two cues indicate. The algorithm was tested on 125 sentences of American English and found to perform very weil. The pitch stress was the most difficult. Detailed analysis of the results show that approximately 85 % of the syllables are correctly stress labelled.
Bioconcentration of methylmercury in microzooplankton in a temperate river

To understand the bioconcentration of methylmercury (MeHg) at the base of the riverine food chain, we determined levels of dissolved organic carbon, microseston, Hg, and MeHg in surface water in relation to the microzooplankton MeHg from Yeongsan River. The spatial distribution of unfiltered Hg (0.29–3.1 ng/L) and dissolved Hg (0.15–0.74 ng/L) closely followed the microseston distribution. The spatial distribution of unfiltered MeHg (0.0078–0.077 ng/L) and dissolved MeHg (0.0069–0.018 ng/L) increased with increasing distance from the river mouth and appeared to arise from the shallow wetlands surrounding the upper riverbanks and then to be transported downstream. The logarithm of the MeHg bioconcentration factor for microzooplankton ranged from 5.3 to 6.0 (5.7 ± 0.18), and for microseston ranged from 4.0 to 5.4 (4.9 ± 0.35). Linear correlation statistics comparing microzooplankton MeHg and river water characteristics revealed that microzooplankton MeHg concentration was most significantly correlated with unfiltered MeHg (r = 0.83) and particulate MeHg (r = 0.80) levels. This result suggests that MeHg in unfiltered river water, which is relatively easy to determine, can be used as a surrogate for MeHg in microzooplankton that may influence MeHg levels in higher‐trophic‐level organisms. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 2011;30:2860–2867. © 2011 SETAC
Extension of the experimental electron density analysis to metastable states: a case example of the spin crossover complex Fe(btr)2(NCS)2.H2O.

An experimental electron density (ED) analysis of the spin crossover coordination complex Fe(btr)(2)(NCS)(2). H(2)O has been performed in the ground low-spin (LS) state and in the metastable thermally quenched high-spin (HS) state at 15 K by fitting a multipolar model to high-resolution X-ray diffraction measurements. The ED has been quantitatively analyzed using the quantum theory of atoms in molecules. This is the first time the ED distribution of a molecular metastable state has been experimentally investigated. The electron deformation densities and derived Fe 3d orbital populations are characteristic of LS (t(2g)(6) e(g)(0)) and HS (t(2g)(4) e(g)(2)) electron configurations and indicate significant sigma donation to the Fe d(x)2(-)(y)2 and d(z)2 atomic orbitals. The Fe-N(NCS) and Fe-N(btr) coordination interactions are characterized using the laplacian distribution of the ED, the molecular electrostatic potential, and the fragment charges obtained by integration over the topological atomic basins. A combination of electrostatic and covalent contributions to these interactions is pointed out. Interlayer interactions are evidenced by the presence of bond critical points in N.H hydrogen bonds involving the non-coordinated water molecule. Systematic differences in the atomic displacement parameters between the LS and HS states have been described and rationalized in terms of modifications of bond force constants.
Regulation of bone sialoprotein (BSP) gene transcription by lipopolysaccharide

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is a major mediator of inflammatory responses in periodontal disease that inhibits bone formation and stimulates bone resorption. To determine the molecular mechanisms involved in the suppression of bone formation, we have analyzed the effects of LPS on BSP gene expression. Bone sialoprotein (BSP) is a mineralized tissue‐specific protein that appears to function in the initial mineralization of bone. Treatment of osteoblast‐like ROS 17/2.8 cells with LPS (1 µg/ml) for 12 h caused a marked reduction in BSP mRNA levels. The addition of antioxidant N‐acetylcysteine (NAC; 20 mM) 30 min prior to stimulation with LPS attenuated the inhibition of BSP mRNA levels. Transient transfection analyses, using chimeric constructs of the rat BSP gene promoter linked to a luciferase reporter gene, revealed that LPS (1 µg/ml) suppressed expression of luciferase construct, encompassing BSP promoter nucleotides −108 to +60, transfected into ROS17/2.8 cells. The effects of LPS were inhibited by protein kinase A (PKA) inhibitor, H89 and the tyrosine kinase inhibitor, herbimycin A (HA). Introduction of 2 bp mutations in the inverted CCAAT box (ATTGG; nts −50 and −46), a cAMP response element (CRE; nts −75 to −68), a FGF response element (FRE; nts −92 to −85), and a pituitary specific transcription factor binding element (Pit‐1; nts −111 to −105) showed that the LPS effects were mediated by the CRE and FRE. Whereas the FRE and 3′‐FRE DNA‐protein complexes were decreased by LPS, CRE DNA‐protein complex did not change after LPS treatment. These studies, therefore, show that LPS suppresses BSP gene transcription through PKA and tyrosine kinase‐dependent pathways and that the LPS effects are mediated through CRE and FRE elements in the proximal BSP gene promoter. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.