Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Behaviour problems and relationships with family and peers during adolescence.

This study examines the relationship between (a) characteristics of adolescents' social networks, personal resources, and environmental risks; and (b) adolescents' behaviour problems. A socio-ecological perspective was used to determine whether social support and perceived conflict operate as risk or protective factors. Three samples of adolescents were studied: 63 adolescents in residential care; 29 in day treatment; and 63 who had had no contact with professional care. Interrelations were explored by means of structural equation modelling. Social support in family and peer group may operate as a risk factor or a protective factor depending on other risk factors in these subsystems. Perceived conflict is related to behaviour problems, although the influence differs depending on environmental risk factors and the type of behaviour problems.
Tetracycline-Regulated Suppression of Amber Codons in Mammalian Cells

ABSTRACT As an approach to inducible suppression of nonsense mutations in mammalian cells, we described recently an amber suppression system in mammalian cells dependent on coexpression of Escherichia coli glutaminyl-tRNA synthetase (GlnRS) along with the E. coli glutamine-inserting amber suppressor tRNA. Here, we report on tetracycline-regulated expression of the E. coli GlnRS gene and, thereby, tetracycline-regulated suppression of amber codons in mammalian HeLa and COS-1 cells. The E. coli GlnRS coding sequence attached to a minimal mammalian cell promoter was placed downstream of seven tandem tetracycline operator sequences. Cotransfection of HeLa cell lines expressing a tetracycline transactivator protein, carrying a tetracycline repressor domain linked to part of a herpesvirus VP16 activation domain, with the E. coli GlnRS gene and the E. coli glutamine-inserting amber suppressor tRNA gene resulted in suppression of the amber codon in a reporter chloramphenicol acetyltransferase gene. The tetracycline transactivator-mediated expression of E. coli GlnRS was essentially completely blocked in HeLa or COS-1 cells grown in the presence of tetracycline. Concomitantly, both aminoacylation of the suppressor tRNA and suppression of the amber codon were reduced significantly in the presence of tetracycline.
Automatic workflow composition in the geospatial domain: an application on sea-level rise impacts analysis

The geospatial domain has recently seen a trend towards migrating data analysis software processes from predefined static systems to purpose-specific compositions of existing services, often in the form of workflows. However, the technicalities involved in a correct and adequate workflow design and service composition frequently impose great challenges on researchers working in the geospatial application domain, especially if they are not IT experts or trained programmers. The PROPHETS plugin of the jABC workflow modeling framework facilitates synthesis-based (semi-) automatic composition of services into workflows and can thus help to reduce the amount of technical knowledge that is required for this task. In this paper, we show how it can be applied for the design of workflows for analyzing the impacts of sea-level rise. We also address the preceding domain modeling, which comprises the design of adequate services and the provisioning of semantic meta-information about the services in terms of service interface descriptions, as well as ontology models for the classification of the types and services in the domain.
Pachinko Allocation Model with Image Local Features for Image Retrieval Tasks

Pachinko Allocation Model, Latent Dirichlet Allocation and other topic models are popular tools used in text modeling and also increasingly in image processing field, especially for object recognition and image retrieval tasks. We present in this paper the experiment on which we are working under the domain of image indexing and retrieval. This experiment consists on using Pachinko Allocation Model (PAM) with local image features extracted by Scale Invariant Feature Transform (SIFT) technique in content-image retrieval task. The experiment is a part from our work which focuses on the use of Pachinko Allocation Model with local, global, and a fusion of local/global features of images in image indexing and retrieval field.
Query Size Estimation by Adaptive Sampling

Abstract We present an adaptive, random sampling algorithm for estimating the size of general queries. The algorithm can be used for any query D over a database D such that (1) for some n, the answer to L can be partitioned into n disjoint subsets L 1, L 2, . , L n, and (2) for 1 ≤ i ≤ n, the size of L i, is bounded by some function b(D, L ), and (3) there is some algorithm by which we can compute the size of L i, where i is chosen randomly. We consider the performance of the algorithm on three special cases of the algorithm: join queries, transitive closure queries, and general recursive Datalog queries.
Development and psychometric evaluation of the Chronic Kidney Disease Screening Index

Abstract Objective: Public understanding of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is important to ensure informed participation in CKD prevention programs. This study aimed to develop and to test the psychometric profile of the CKD Screening Index that measures patient’s knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding CKD prevention and early detection. Methods: A cross-sectional design was implemented and a total of 740 Jordanian patients recognized at risk for CKD were recruited by convenience sampling from out-patient departments. Development and psychometric validation of the CKD Screening Index were conducted in four phases: (1) item generation, (2) pilot study, (3) preliminary psychometric validation study to examine factor structure, and (4) final psychometric validation with 740 participants. Results: On factor analysis, 24 items categorical knowledge items loaded into one factor and yielded a Guttman Split-Half Coefficient of 0.80. In a separate factor analysis, 15 items were loaded on two attitude factors (Cronbach alpha coefficient = 0.69), and nine items loaded on two practice factors (Cronbach alpha coefficient = 0.68). The CKD Screening Index associated significantly and negatively with depressed and anxious patients compared to their counterparts. Practice implications: This promising CKD Screening Index can be used for an early identification of patients at risk for CKD, thus, allowing the development of interventions to raise these patients’ awareness. Future studies are needed on other populations with different cultural background to support reliability and validity of this new instrument.
Complementary Proteome and Transcriptome Profiling in Phosphate-deficient Arabidopsis Roots Reveals Multiple Levels of Gene Regulation*

Phosphate (Pi) deficiency impairs plant growth and productivity in many agricultural ecosystems, causing severe reductions in crop yield. To uncover novel aspects in acclimation to Pi starvation, we investigated the correlation between Pi deficiency-induced changes in transcriptome and proteome profiles in Arabidopsis roots. Using exhaustive tandem mass spectrometry-based shotgun proteomics and whole-genome RNA sequencing to generate a nearly complete catalog of expressed mRNAs and proteins, we reliably identified 13,298 proteins and 24,591 transcripts, subsets of 356 proteins and 3106 mRNAs were differentially expressed during Pi deficiency. Most dramatic changes were noticed for genes involved in Pi acquisition and in processes that either liberate Pi or bypass Pi/ATP-consuming metabolic steps, for example during membrane lipid remodeling and glycolytic carbon flux. The concordance between the abundance of mRNA and its encoded protein was generally high for highly up-regulated genes, but the analysis also revealed numerous discordant changes in mRNA/protein pairs, indicative of divergent regulation of transcription and post-transcriptional processes. In particular, a decreased abundance of proteins upon Pi deficiency was not closely correlated with changes in the corresponding mRNAs. In several cases, up-regulation of gene activity was observed solely at the protein level, adding novel aspects to key processes in the adaptation to Pi deficiency. We conclude that integrated measurement and interpretation of changes in protein and transcript abundance are mandatory for generating a complete inventory of the components that are critical in the response to environmental stimuli.
Deriving occlusions in static scenes from observations of interactions with a moving figure

Many applications in computer vision are based on a single static camera observing a scene which is static except for one or more figures (people, vehicles, etc.) moving through it. In these applications it is useful to understand whether the moving figure is partially occluded by some static element of the scene. Such partial occlusions, when undetected, confuse the analysis of the figure's pose and activity. We present an algorithm that uses only the information provided by moving figures to simply and efficiently derive the position of static occluding bodies. Once these occlusions are obtained, we demonstrate successful reasoning about the occlusion status of future figures within the same scene. The occlusion positions from multiple views of the same scene are used to extract an estimate of the three-dimensional position and shape of the occlusion. Experimental results validating the method are included.
A Diagnostic Space Vector-Based Index for Rotor Electrical Fault Detection in Wound-Rotor Induction Machines Under Speed Transient

This paper investigates a new approach for the detection of rotor electrical faults in three-phase wound-rotor induction machines. The method is assessed in a wind energy conversion system, where the rotor side of the wound-rotor induction machine is supplied by a static converter for the control of active and reactive power flows from the generator to the electrical grid. Here, a diagnostic space vector is presented that sensibly improves the rotor fault detection in wound-rotor induction machine by combining the spectral signatures of both rotor current and voltage space vectors. The dc component of this diagnostic space vector, that is equal to zero in healthy conditions and different from zero under rotor asymmetry, is adopted as rotor fault index. The main advantages of the proposed technique are the implementation simplicity and the capability to operate even during speed transients. The technique is also validated by means of simulation and laboratory scale experimental tests.
Selenocysteine-containing thioredoxin reductase in C. elegans.

Mammalian thioredoxin reductases contain a TGA-encoded C-terminal penultimate selenocysteine (Sec) residue, and show little homology to bacterial, yeast, and plant thioredoxin reductases. Here we show that the nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans, contains two homologs related to the mammalian thioredoxin reductase family. The gene for one of these homologs contains a cysteine codon in place of TGA, and its product, designated TR-S, was previously suggested to function as thioredoxin reductase. The other gene contains TGA and its product is designated TR-Se. This Sec-containing thioredoxin reductase lacks a canonical Sec insertion sequence element in the 3'-untranslated area of the gene. TR-Se shows greater sequence similarity to mammalian thioredoxin reductase isozymes TR1 and TR2, whereas TR-S is more similar to TR3. TR-Se was identified as a thioredoxin reductase selenoprotein by labeling C. elegans with 75Se and characterizing the resulting 75Se-labeled protein by affinity and other column chromatography and gel-electrophoresis. TR-Se was expressed in Escherichia coli as a selenoprotein when a bacterial SECIS element was introduced downstream of the Sec TGA codon. The data show that TR-Se is the major naturally occurring selenoprotein in C. elegans, and suggest an important role for selenium and the thioredoxin system in this organism.
Investigating infrared light induced electro-optical properties of graphene using terahertz spectroscopy

Graphene, two-dimensionally arranged carbon atoms in honeycomb lattices, has unique optical properties due to its linear dispersion and the massless nature of its carriers. In this paper, we concerned with the spectrum analysis of monolayer graphene film. The pump light from 808 and 1064 nm infrared semiconductor laser with tunable power from 0 to 450mW incident on the samples respectively together with THz radiation. The novel electro-optical properties induced by infrared light can be determined with high precision by THz transmissivity in this work.
Dehydrodiconiferyl Alcohol Isolated from Cucurbita moschata Shows Anti-adipogenic and Anti-lipogenic Effects in 3T3-L1 Cells and Primary Mouse Embryonic Fibroblasts*

Background: A water-soluble extract, prepared from Cucurbita moschata, has potent anti-obesity activities. Results: Dehydrodiconiferyl alcohol (DHCA), isolated from the extract, inhibited the mitotic clonal expansion by suppressing the DNA binding activity of C/EBPβ and directly inhibited the expression of the regulators of lipogenesis in 3T3-L1 and primary embryonic fibroblasts. Conclusion: DHCA may contain the anti-adipogenesis as well as anti-lipogenesis. Significance: DHCA might have potential as an anti-obesity therapeutic. A water-soluble extract from the stems of Cucurbita moschata, code named PG105, was previously found to contain strong anti-obesity activities in a high fat diet-induced obesity mouse model. One of its biological characteristics is that it inhibits 3T3-L1 adipocyte differentiation. To isolate the biologically active compound(s), conventional solvent fractionation was performed, and the various fractions were tested for anti-adipogenic activity using Oil Red O staining method. A single spot on thin layer chromatography of the chloroform fraction showed a potent anti-adipogenic activity. When purified, the structure of its major component was resolved as dehydrodiconiferyl alcohol (DHCA), a lignan, by NMR and mass spectrometry analysis. In 3T3-L1 cells, synthesized DHCA significantly reduced the expression of several adipocyte marker genes, including peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (Pparg), CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein α (Cebpa), fatty acid-binding protein 4 (Fabp4), sterol response element-binding protein-1c (Srebp1c), and stearoyl-coenzyme A desaturase-1 (Scd), and decreased lipid accumulation without affecting cell viability. DHCA also suppressed the mitotic clonal expansion of preadipocytes (an early event of adipogenesis), probably by suppressing the DNA binding activity of C/EBPβ, and lowered the production level of cyclinA and cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (Cdk2), coinciding with the decrease in DNA synthesis and cell division. In addition, DHCA directly inhibited the expression of SREBP-1c and SCD-1. Similar observations were made, using primary mouse embryonic fibroblasts. Taken together, our data indicate that DHCA may contain dual activities, affecting both adipogenesis and lipogenesis.
Seed Yield and Quality of Lowland Rice (Oryza sativa L.) as Influenced by Nitrogen from Organic and Chemical Sources

A field experiment was conducted at the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) experimental farm during boro season of 2010-11 to determine the effect of nitrogen from organic and chemical sources on rice seed yield and quality. Six treatments- (i) N-control, ii) Optimum dose of nitrogen (164 kg N ha -1 ) from urea, iii) 50% N from urea and 50% N from CD (cow dung), iv) 50% N from urea and 50% N from PM (poultry manure), v) 100% N from CD and vi) 100% N from PM were compared. The experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design with four replications. Two boro varieties – BRRI dhan28 and BRRI dhan29 were used as test crops. The urea + PM treatment gave similar seed yields to that of urea in both the varieties. The PM treatment gave similar seed yield to that of urea + PM in BRRI dhan28, but BRRI dhan29 gave significantly lower seed yield in PM than the urea + PM. Sole cowdung or poultry manure application produced significantly lower seed yield than urea + PM treatment and sole urea application. The application of N from cowdung and poultry manure had no effect on rice seed quality as compared to that obtained with urea. The Agriculturists 2015; 13(1) 109-118
Demand forecast improvement based on electricity load scale and the electricity demander portfolio

Demand and supply balancing is the key technology for power management and high-efficiency planning. As the smart metering device is getting popular in the Japan, USA, and EU, the more data from smart meters can be collected for the better forecast. Demand forecasts are based on the machine learning technology. As the increase of the demanders, it is known that the forecasted error will be decreased. However, there is still a certain number of error left even though we have a large number of demanders in the demander portfolio. In this research, we found a new law between individuals demand forecast and total demand forecast. It explains the reason of limitation of the forecast is caused by non-independent covariance between the demanders. Based on this result, we presented a method to reduce possible forecast error by the management of demander portfolio. This result can serve as a guideline for the power company to acquire new demanders to keep the demand and supply balance.
Resilience in the United States Air Force: Psychometric Properties of the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC)

Results are presented for the largest study (N = 53,692) ever conducted on the 25-item Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC), a popular measure of resilience. We examined the internal consistency of the CD-RISC items and associated mean resilience levels within a sample of enlisted basic trainees in the United States Air Force. In addition, the predictive validity of the CD-RISC Total Score was examined for real-life military outcomes, including attrition from service and mental health diagnosis. The CD-RISC items demonstrated strong internal consistency. Item-level examinations of scores revealed that most trainees reported relatively high resilience. Results indicated that resilience measured at the beginning of military service is a significant predictor of (a) attrition from service and (b) obtaining a mental health diagnosis within 6 months of entry. Implications and future directions are discussed.
An entropy based method to evaluate hazardous inorganic substance balances of waste treatment systems

At present, methods to assess the environmental performance of waste treatment systems are based mainly on emission standards. Since waste treatment yields also products used for recycling and/or land filling, new additional instruments are needed to analyse and evaluate the partitioning of substances during waste treatment. It is shown that in order to fulfil the goals of European Waste Management, waste treatment systems have to concentrate hazardous inorganic substances. Based on substance flow analysis and the statistical entropy function, a method is presented to classify waste treatment systems in view of their power to concentrate or dilute substances. The method allows for the determination of the Substance Concentrating Efficiency (SCE) of waste treatment systems quantitatively. The SCE approach is applied in a case study comparing waste incineration and mechanical-biological waste processing. The results show that this new tool is useful to support decisions regarding the selection of waste treatment systems.
200 mm Wafer level graphene transfer by wafer bonding technique

In this paper, wafer level transfer of graphene on to a dielectric substrate is demonstrated based on SiO2-SiO2 fusion bonding and de-bonding processes. The developed technique allows to transfer graphene on 200 mm wafer without any contamination; thus CMOS compatible. The experimental data verifies the successful transfer of the graphene on to another substrate with high quality and a yield value of 98% with average 3.5 kΩ/□ sheet resistance. To the best of authors knowledge, it is the first time demonstration of the graphene transfer based on SiO2-SiO2 fusion bonding and de-bonding process on 200 mm wafer level which would allow a complete integration of graphene material into a CMOS line and opens the way for new devices based on graphene material.
Interference Analysis and Management with Applications in Heterogeneous Small-cell Cognitive Radio Networks

This thesis examines interference modeling and management in small cell cognitive radio networks.A generalized unified statistical model is presented for the interference from a heterogeneous next generation network at a target receiver located at the centre of a cell. The derived model is then applied in devising a simple distributed power allocation algorithm for the next generation network nodes, and in the various performance analyses of the the coexisting systems.Cooperative communication improves the outage performance and coverage of wireless links under certain channel conditions, but is not spectrally efficient when channel conditions are favorable. A hybrid cooperation technique that can reap the diversity benefits of cooperative communication without sacrificing the multiplexing gain is proposed, and the performance of an interference temperature constrained cognitive radio network employing the proposed cooperation technique is analyzed.Next, a formulation of the power allocation problem in the cognitive interference channel is presented whereby the interference margin at the primary receivers are seen as resources to be shared optimally. A relative rate utility based power allocation algorithm that is shown to achieve favorable sum throughput is then proposed.Finally, the thesis investigates various interference coordination techniques for multi antenna cognitive radio users coexisting with multiple primary users under a restricted interference temperature constraint. Knowledge of the zero forcing beamforming techniques and the interference alignment schemes are applied to satisfy the restricted interference temperature constraint at the primary receivers while supporting significant sum rate at the secondary system.
Ply stacking sequence optimization of composite driveshaft using particle swarm optimization algorithm

In this paper an attempt has been made to optimize ply stacking sequence of single piece E-Glass/Epoxy, HM Carbon/Epoxy and Boron/Epoxy composite drive shafts using particle swarm optimization (PSOA). PSOA programme is developed using MATLAB V 7 to optimize the ply stacking sequence with an objective of weight minimization. The weight savings of the E-Glass/Epoxy, HM Carbon/Epoxy and Boron/Epoxy shaft are 51%, 87% and 85% of the steel shaft respectively. The optimum results of PSOA obtained are compared with results of genetic algorithm (GA) and found that PSOA yields better results than GA.
Few-layer black phosporous PMOSFETs with BN/AI2O3 bilayer gate dielectric: Achieving Ion=850μA/μm, gm=340μS/μm, and Rc=0.58kΩ·μm

In this paper, high-performance few-layer black phosphorus (BP) PMOSFETs have been demonstrated by using MOCVD BN and ALD Al<inf>2</inf>O<inf>3</inf> as the top-gate dielectric as well as the passivation layer. Highest Ion of 850μA/μm (V<inf>ds</inf> = −1.8 V) and g<inf>m</inf> of 340μS/μm (Vds = −0.8 V) have been achieved with the 200nm chancel length (L<inf>ch</inf>) devices. Record low contact resistance (R<inf>c</inf>) of 0. 58kΩ·μm has been obtained on BP transistors by contact engineering. The gate leakage of the BN/Al<inf>2</inf>O<inf>3</inf> bilayer gate dielectric is less than 10<sup>−12</sup>A/μm<sup>2</sup> (V<inf>g</inf> = −1V) with an EOT of 3nm. SS and hysteresis voltage as low as 70mV/dec and 0.1V have been achieved, indicating a high quality interface between BP and BN.