Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Freestanding Whispering-Gallery Mode microdisk resonator

This article proposes a high-Q value Whispering-Gallery Mode (WGM) microdisk resonator, which is surrounded by photonic crystal with square lattice. Finite element method (FEM) is performed to model the microdisk resonator, and an ultrahigh quality factor (Q) value of 1.37×108 can be achieved at the wavelength of 1435.4nm. The proposed microdisk resonator is realized on a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrate. These structures of the device are defined by electron beam lithography, and then transferred into silicon layer by ion beam etching. The buried oxide layer is removed to generate freestanding photonic crystal and suspended microdisk.
GPU-SW Sequence Alignment server

We present a complete sequence homology search server based on the hybrid CPU/GPU implementation of the Smith Waterman algorithm for sequence alignment. We discuss system architecture, division of the tasks between CPU and GPU in the hybrid design, the scalability issues and hardware requirements. The performance of the server is compared with the state-ofthe-art sequence analysis servers. Bioinformatics Sequence analysis GPU CUDA
Use of the sensory nerve stimulator to accelerate healing of a venous leg ulcer with sensory nerve dysfunction: a case study

A new therapy using sensory nerve stimulation [International Patent Application Number PCT/AU2004/001079: ‘nerve function and tissue healing’ (Khalil, Z)] has been developed in our vascular physiology laboratory. This treatment has been found to improve the deficient sensory nerve function and associated deficient wound healing of older persons to levels seen in young people. An 82‐year‐old man with a small but persistent venous leg ulcer for 18 months, despite apparently appropriate wound dressings and compression therapy, was seen in a specialist wound management service. The patient's sensory and microvascular function was assessed in great detail using the vascular physiology laboratory techniques, and he was provided the sensory nerve stimulation therapy in addition to conventional therapy. His wound healed after 4 weeks. We report the case here. Prior to nerve stimulation therapy, cutaneous sensation, microvascular blood flow and oxygen tension were found to be reduced near the ulcer when compared with the opposite, non ulcerated leg. After therapy, oxygen tension and microvascular blood flow had improved. This case provides further evidence that sensory nerve stimulation therapy at the stipulated parameters improves wound healing. The observation that sensory nerve function improved provides support for the notion that improvement in healing is mediated by improved nerve function.
APPLICATION OF GENETIC ALGORITHMS ON SHIP CONTROL SYSTEMS

Artificial intelligence based ship control systems such as fuzzy logic, neural networks and genetic algorithms. Nowadays, Genetic algorithms (GAs) are being used in a widespread way in optimization problems. In this paper, the course keeping autopilot using genetic algorithm is applied to stabilize the yaw motion of the containership. The simulation and optimization of the ship control systems with genetic algorithm have been obtained by running computer software programmed. Simulation results indicate that the autopilot system with genetic algorithm is able to obtain good performance in cases of rough sea conditions.
Identification of a Heterogeneous Nuclear Ribonucleoprotein-recognition Region in the HIV Rev Protein*

The Rev protein is a key regulator of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) gene expression. Rev is primarily known as an adaptor protein for nuclear export of HIV RNAs. However, Rev also contributes to numerous other processes by less well known mechanisms. Understanding the functional nature of Rev requires extensive knowledge of its cellular interaction partners. Here we demonstrate that Rev interacts with members of a large family of multifunctional host cell factors called hnRNPs. Rev employs amino acids 9–14 for specific binding to the heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoproteins (hnRNP) A1, Q, K, R, and U. In addition, Rev interacts with hnRNP E1 and E2 by a different mechanism. The set of hnRNPs recognized by the N terminus of Rev feature RGG boxes. Exemplary testing of hnRNP A1 revealed a critical role of arginine residues within the RGG box for interaction with Rev. Finally, we demonstrate that expression levels of hnRNP A1, Q, K, R, and U influence HIV-1 production by persistently infected astrocytes, linking these hnRNPs to HIV replication. The novel interaction of HIV-1 Rev with functionally diverse hnRNPs lends further support to the idea that Rev is a multifunctional protein and may be involved in coupling HIV replication to diverse cellular processes and promoting virus-host cell interactions.
Web Archiving Inconsistency: A Research Agenda

Scaling web applications usually boils down to a tradeoff between consistency and latency. Very large web operations typically favor low latency, hence purposefully sacrifice strict consistency in the sense of serializability. By definition, the breakdown of serializability may cause the web applications to disseminate, albeit ephemerally, inaccurate and even contradictory information. If captured and preserved in the web archives as historical records, such information will degrade the overall archival quality. Despite its near omnipresent in the popular web, such relaxation in data consistency is not widely reported nor thoroughly studied by the web archiving community.
Human CD8+ T Cells Specific forMycobacterium tuberculosis Secreted Antigens in Tuberculosis Patients and Healthy BCG-Vaccinated Controls in The Gambia

ABSTRACT Intracellular flow cytometry analysis of perforin production by CD8+ T cells showed levels were greatly reduced in tuberculosis (TB) patients compared to healthy controls. Reduced cytotoxic-T-lymphocyte activity was also obtained with CD8+T cells from TB patients compared to healthy controls in The Gambia. A change in antigen recognition was noted between the two groups of donors: in addition to recognition of Ag85A and Ag85B, as seen in healthy donors, a prominent ESAT-6 response was found in TB patients.
Comparison of rapid testing methods for enzyme production with the germ tube method for presumptive identification of Candida albicans

The observation of germ tube production as a method for the presumptive identification of Candida albicans has been in use for many years. Methods have recently been developed for detecting the production of the enzymes L-proline aminopeptidase and beta-galactosaminidase by yeast isolates grown in culture. Both enzymes are produced by C. albicans; other yeasts may produce either L-proline aminopeptidase or beta-galactosaminidase but not both enzymes. One hundred thirty-three clinical yeast isolates, including 55 C. albicans, 27 Candida tropicalis, 22 Torulopsis (Candida) glabrata, and 29 other yeast isolates were tested by the germ tube production method and three tests for enzyme production, with the API 20C method used as a "gold standard. " All three enzymatic methods evaluated provided more objective and rapid nonmicroscopic alternatives to the germ tube test and may be used to accurately distinguish C. albicans from other yeasts.
Cooling vests with phase change material packs: the effects of temperature gradient, mass and covering area

Phase change material (PCM) absorbs or releases latent heat when it changes phases, making thermal-regulated clothing possible. The objective of this study was to quantify the relationships between PCM cooling rate and temperature gradient, mass and covering area on a thermal manikin in a climatic chamber. Three melting temperatures (24, 28, 32°C) of the PCMs, different mass, covering areas and two manikin temperatures (34 and 38°C) were used. The results showed that the cooling rate of the PCM vests tested is positively correlated with the temperature gradient between the thermal manikin and the melting temperature of the PCMs. The required temperature gradient is suggested to be greater than 6°C when PCM vests are used in hot climates. With the same temperature gradient, the cooling rate is mainly determined by the covering area. The duration of the cooling effect is dependent on PCM mass and the latent heat. Statement of Relevance: The study of factors affecting the cooling rate of personal cooling equipment incorporated with PCM helps to understand cooling mechanisms. The results suggest climatic conditions, the required temperature gradient, PCM mass and covering area should be taken into account when choosing personal PCM cooling equipment.
Adaptive Sensorless Control of PMSGs-Based Offshore Wind Farm and VSC-HVdc Stations

This paper proposes sensorless control strategies for an offshore wind farm (OWF) and voltage source converter high voltage direct current (VSC-HVdc) stations. The extended Kalman filter provides an estimation of the speeds and rotor positions of permanent magnet synchronous generators (PMSGs) of OWF, the dc voltage at dc-bus and the dc voltages of the both VSC-HVdc stations. The OWF, composed of 150 variable speed wind turbines based on PMSGs, is considered in this paper, where each generator is connected in series by its own ac-dc converter to dc-bus. Only one dc-ac inverter converts the dc-bus voltage to a proper ac voltage of wind farm ac-bus. The HVdc transmission system based on a three-level neutral point clamped VSC is used for the interconnection between the OWF and the onshore grid via two dc cables. Detailed modeling and control strategies are developed for each individual component of the system. Simulation results show the effectiveness of the proposed method to manage the desired HVdc system operation.
Sudden deaths in psychiatric patients.

BACKGROUND Studies using death certificates have indicated an excess of sudden cardiac deaths among users of antipsychotic drugs compared to the general population, but they may have underestimated the presence of other known causes of sudden and unexpected death. OBJECTIVE To assess the causes and risk factors for sudden death discovered by contemporaneous investigation of all deaths occurring over a 26-year period (1984-2009) in adults (119,500 patient-years) receiving care in one large psychiatric hospital in New York. METHOD Circumstances of death, psychiatric diagnoses, psychotropic drugs, and past medical history were extracted from the root cause analyses of sudden, unexpected deaths. After cases involving suicide, homicide, and drug overdoses were excluded, the remaining explained and unexplained cases of sudden death were compared regarding clinical variables and the utilization of antipsychotics. RESULTS One hundred cases of sudden death were identified. The death remained unexplained in 52 cases. The incidence of unexplained sudden death per 100,000 patient-years increased from 7 (95% CI, 3.7-19.4) in 1984-1998 to 125 (95% CI, 88.9-175.1) in 2005-2009. Explained and unexplained cases were similar regarding psychiatric diagnoses and use of all psychotropic classes, including first- and second-generation antipsychotics. Dyslipidemia (P = .012), diabetes (P = .054), and comorbid dyslipidemia and diabetes (P = .006) were more common in the unexplained group. CONCLUSIONS In a consecutive cohort of psychiatric patients, the unexplained sudden deaths were not associated with higher utilization of first- or second-generation antipsychotics. The role of diabetes and dyslipidemia as risk factors for sudden death in psychiatric patients requires careful longitudinal studies.
Variable output, soft-switching DC/DC converter for VLSI dynamic voltage scaling power supply applications

The implementation of a low-voltage zero-voltage-switching quasi-square-wave (ZVS-QSW) buck converter capable of meeting the future challenges of low-voltage VRMs is presented. By eliminating switching losses, high-efficiency operation at switching frequencies beyond 1 MHz is achieved. The design uses novel high-speed dead-time-locked-loops with fast dead-time error rejection to ensure zero-voltage-switching under dynamic loads and variable output conditions. The ZVS-QSW converter, which was implemented in a mixed-signal 0.18 m CMOS process, has a measured efficiency of 82% at 5 MHz with a 1.4 V output. The ZVS-QSW converter is intended to supply the next generation VLSI chips with a variable supply voltage for dynamic voltage scaling (DVS) applications. DVS refers to the real-time scaling of the supply voltage to the VLSI chip to minimize dynamic power consumption, while satisfying a variable target clock frequency. Several DVS strategies are examined, and it is shown that DVS can be applied to the ZVS-QSW converter using a dual-mode configuration. An experimental DVS test-bench was developed using a state-of-the-art Xilinx CPLD capable of operating from 1.35 V to 1.8 V. The PID controlled DVS system achieves the maximum V/sub DD/ transition in 22 /spl mu/s.
The Transition from Internet to Mobile Mapping

Although the wireless Internet is a natural and inevitable progression from the wired Internet, the two developed much differently. The wired Internet was based on existing personal computer and workstation technology that had begun in the early 1980s. Over 1.3 billion computers were already in use when the World Wide Web was introduced a decade later. The browser software was free and no additional hardware was required—beside the use of a modem for connection purposes. The Web was quickly applied for all sorts of information delivery and its use expanded rapidly. In contrast, the development of the mobile Internet is hindered by a number of factors, not the least of which was the development of a wireless infrastructure. To fund its development, commercial companies devised new services that would generate revenue. One such revenue scheme was Location Based Services (LBS), a model for informing the mobile phone user where they are currently located and what services are available in the surrounding area. For a variety of reasons, LBS has not grown as quickly as had been predicted. While one might blame the small display, there are many reasons examined here why the wireless Internet and LBS have not expanded more rapidly.
A Q-methodology study of parental understandings of infant immunisation: Implications for health-care advice

This study used Q-methodology to explore systematically parental judgements about infant immunisation. A total of 45 parents completed a 31-statement Q-sort. Data were collected after vaccination in general practitioner practices or a private day nursery. Q factor analysis revealed four distinct viewpoints: a duty to immunise based on medical benefits, child-orientated protection based on parental belief, concern and distress and surprise at non-compliance. Additionally, there was a common view among parents that they did not regret immunising their children. Implications of these results are discussed in terms of health-care policy and future research.
Effect of Temperatures and Storage Periods on Fertilizing and Hatching of Short-Term Preserved Scaly Carp (Cyprinus carpio) Eggs

Preserved fish eggs can be used in many applications including artificial propagation and genetic studies. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of different temperatures and storage periods on fertilization and hatching success of short-term preserved scaly carp (Cyprinus carpio) eggs. Eggs were kept in 4 ml ovarian fluid in 10-cm petri dishes that were stored in a refrigerator at 4°C, 8°C, or 12oC for 30, 60, or 90 min. The stored eggs were fertilized by adding 200 µl milt to each petri dish. The highest fertilization (98%) and hatching (80%) rates were obtained with eggs stored for 30 min at 8oC and 12oC respectively, indicating that this combination was best for short-term preservation of scaly carp eggs.
NeemAzal T/S - toxicity to early-life stages of common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.)

In the European Union, the use of the insecticide NeemAzal T/S (standardised variant 1% of the active ingredient azadirachtin) is authorised in organic agriculture. The objective of this study was to determine the toxic effects of NeemAzal T/S at concentrations of 3, 10, 30, and 60 mg/l on the morphometric and condition characteristics, mortality, hatching, and histopathology of early-life stages of common carp ( Cyprinus carpio L.) as a non-target aquatic organism, as well as related effects of NeemAzal T/S on selected indices of oxidative stress in the same organism. The embryo-larval toxicity test was performed according to OECD Guidelines 210 (Fish, Early-life Stage Toxicity Test). NeemAzal T/S exposure induced slow hatching on the first day and increased cumu - lative mortality in groups exposed to the insecticide. No effect on morphometric or condition characteristics was observed after 31 days of exposure. Histopathological changes of the gills were found at the highest concentration of 60 mg/l of NeemAzal T/S. Exposure at 30 mg/l was associated with significantly ( < 0.01) increased glutathione peroxidase and glutathione S-transferase ( P < 0.05) activities compared to the control group. The content of oxi - dised lipids was significantly higher ( P < 0.05) in the 3, 10, and 30 mg/l experimental groups than in the controls. NeemAzal T/S exerted a significant negative influence on histopathological parameters in the embryo and larvae of common carp, as well as on the indices of oxidative stress in the same organism .
Identification of transcriptional regulatory elements in human mitochondrial DNA by linker substitution analysis

Human mitochondrial DNA contains two major promoters, one for transcription of each strand of the helix. Previous mapping and mutagenesis data have localized these regulatory elements and have suggested regions important to their function. In order to define, at high resolution, the sequences critical for accurate and efficient transcriptional initiation, a linker substitution analysis of the entire promoter region was performed. Each promoter was shown to consist of approximately 50 base pairs comprising two functionally distinct elements. These and previous data strongly support a mode of transcription initiation requiring minimal sequences surrounding the initiation sites that are likely interactive with core polymerase and upstream regulatory domains capable of binding a transcription factor that modulates the efficiency of transcription initiation. Furthermore, in at least one case, this upstream regulatory domain is capable of operating bidirectionally.
Packed U Cells Multilevel Converter Topology: Theoretical Study and Experimental Validation

In this paper, authors propose a new power multilevel converter topology that is very competitive compared to the existing ones. It consists of packed U cells (PUC). Each U cell consists of an arrangement of two power switches and one capacitor. It offers high-energy conversion quality using a small number of capacitors and power devices and consequently, has a very low production cost. An averaged model of the topology is detailed. The operating principle of the transformerless seven-level inverter is analyzed and detailed. The multilevel sinusoidal modulation has been adapted for use with the PUC-based structure. The control strategy has been designed to reduce the harmonic contents of the load voltage. With such converters, filters' rating is considerably reduced. A comparative study is performed to highlight the advantages of the new packed U cells topology. The operation of the proposed converter topology has been verified through simulation. Experimental validation was performed using DS1103 DSP of dSpace.
A cascaded ensemble classifier for object segmentation in high resolution polarimetric SAR data

The paper proposes a novel approach to object classification and segmentation in multi-channel (e.g. polarimetric) SAR data. The classifier is intended for particularly difficult problems, where objects of interest exhibit a high degree of radiometric, polarimetric and geometric heterogeneity, both within individual object instances and across the object category as a whole. Classification is based on a non-parametric characterization of scene contents that avoids model assumptions liable to fail in this scenario. The classifier structure is based on a combination of techniques developed for related problems in computer vision: the cascade architecture helps breaking down the problem into manageable stages while random forests provide a powerful framework for learning and combining discriminative classification rules. In addition, scale space techniques explicitly introduce non-local, contextual and geometric information into the classification process. Preliminary results illustrate the potential of the proposed approach with respect to the task of building segmentation in dual-polarized TerraSAR-X data.
Inactivated and subunit vaccines to prevent shigellosis

Shigellosis remains a formidable disease globally, with children of the developing world bearing the greatest number of infections. The need for an affordable, safe and efficacious vaccine has persisted for decades. Vaccines to prevent shigellosis can be divided into living and nonliving approaches. Several nonliving Shigella vaccines are currently at different stages of development and show substantial promise. Outlined here is an overview of multiple nonliving vaccine technologies, highlighting their current status and recent advances in testing. In addition, gaps in the knowledge base regarding immune mechanisms of protection are explored.
Molecular Diagnosis and Translymphatic Chemotherapy Targeting Sentinel Lymph Nodes of Patients with Early Gastrointestinal Cancers

The sentinel lymph node (SLN) is defined as the lymph node(s) that first receives lymphatic drainage from the site of the primary tumor. Recent progress in molecular techniques has demonstrated the presence of micrometastatic tumor cells in SLNs. Quantitative real-time RT-PCR assay, which enables rapid analysis, is currently being undertaken for intraoperative molecular diagnosis of SLNs. We developed an intraoperative real-time RT-PCR assay to detect micrometastasis in SLNs for early gastric cancer. All SLNs and randomly selected non-SLNs in 96 cT1 or cT2 gastric cancer patients were biopsied intraoperatively and examined by routine hematoxylin and eosin staining, immunohistochemistry with anticytokeratin antibody (AE1/AE3), and multimarker real-time RT-PCR assay including cytokeratin (CK) 19, CK20, and carcinoembryonic antigen. All patients with histopathologically verified metastasis in their SLNs demonstrated positive results by RT-PCR assay. Forty percent of patients with histopathologically negative SLNs showed positive SLNs by RT-PCR assay. RT-PCR assay revealed that 4 patients (4%) with negative SLNs had positive non-SLNs; however, these positive non-SLNs were identified within each SLN basin. We recently developed a new drug delivery system targeting SLNs with a phospholipid polymer, using 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine conjugated with paclitaxel. Our preliminary data suggest that this novel drug delivery system may be feasible for translymphatic chemotherapy targeting SLNs of patients with cN0 early gastrointestinal cancer, who have the potential for occult metastasis in SLNs. Endoscopic resection of the primary tumor followed by translymphatic chemotherapy targeting SLNs may become a promising minimally invasive multidisciplinary therapy.