Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Octapod spider-gait-walking robot implementation using nano processor

Many researchers have developed intelligent monitoring systems for the detection purposes in various environmental conditions. The environment conditions are critical in most of the cases where it is unsafe for the humans to get access. In such cases, the walking robots are usually sent for monitoring purposes. Among those intelligent monitoring robots, octapod is the focus of this research as it can be made compact and flexible. This paper focuses on the design and hardware implementation of octapod robotic system which is power effective. The Octapod has eight legs along with the sensors attached to it. The robotic system is designed using single chip microcontroller ATMEGA 328.6. The channel generates the pulse width modulated signal automatically when it is sensed, the controls the steering gears takes place, so that it can make the Octapod robot walk. The Arduino platform is used for the operation of robot. The movement operation is implemented with DC micro servo closed loop control with angular position and angular velocity feedback. The wireless module is used for communication purpose. The location of the Octapod is identified using the MATLAB programming tool box. The robot locomotion is implemented experimentally similar to spider movement. It is controlled automatically and manually by MATLAB GUI. Results are experimentally verified. The robot walks successfully.
Discrete wavelet transform and probabilistic neural network based algorithm for classification of fault on transmission systems

This paper presents the development of an algorithm based on discrete wavelet transform (DWT) and probabilistic neural network (PNN) for classifying the power system faults. The proposed technique consists of a preprocessing unit based on discrete wavelet transform in combination with PNN. The DWT acts as extractor of distinctive features in the input current signal, which are collected at source end. The information is then fed into PNN for classifying the faults. It can be used for off-line process using the data stored in the digital recording apparatus. Extensive simulation studies carried out using MATLAB show that the proposed algorithm not only provides an accepted degree of accuracy in fault classification under different fault conditions but it is also reliable, fast and computationally efficient tool.
Common Polymorphisms in the GSK3β Gene May Contribute to the Pathogenesis of Alzheimer Disease

Objective: Although it is well known that GSK3β participates in the proliferation and survival of various tumor cells, its role in diseases of the central nervous system has been sparsely documented. In the past few years, studies regarding the relationship between GSK3β rs334558 T>C and rs6438552 C>T polymorphisms and Alzheimer disease (AD) risk have yielded contradictory results. As such, this meta-analysis seeks to satisfy the need to further investigate this relationship. Methods: In this research, published studies regarding the association of GSK3β rs6438552 and rs334558 mutation with AD risk was systematically assessed. Studies were retrieved from MEDLINE, Science Citation Index, the Cochrane Library, PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, Current Contents Index, Chinese Biomedical, Chinese Journal Full-Text, and Weipu Journal. Pooled odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated for allele contrast and homozygous, heterozygous, dominant, and recessive genetic model comparisons. Results: It was found that GSK3β rs334558 T>C and rs6438552 C>T polymorphisms were correlated with susceptibility to AD under 4 genetic models (all P < .05). In country-stratified subgroups, the results showed increased risk of developing AD in rs334558 T>C polymorphism among Chinese and Spain populations in majority groups. GSK3β rs6438552 C>T polymorphism was correlated with increased the risk of developing AD only in Australian populations. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that there exists a significant association between GSK3β rs334558 T>C polymorphism and increased susceptibility of AD. Moreover, future updated studies with stratified case–control population are warranted for validation studies.
Onset of chaos in the generalized Ginzburg-Landau equation.

Study of chaos in the generalized Ginzburg-Landau equation (GLE) $$ {\text{iu}}_{\text{t}} + {\text{u}}_{{\text{xx}}} + 2\left| {\text{u}} \right|^{\text{2}} {\text{u}} = {\text{i}} \in _1 {\text{u}} - {\text{i}} \in _3 \left| {\text{u}} \right|^2 {\text{u}} + {\text{i}} \in _2 u_{{\text{xx}}} $$ (1) is a subject of great current interest, see, e.g., Refs. 1–6. We will consider Eq. (1) with the periodic boundary condition $$ {\text{u(x)}} = {\text{u(x}} + 2\pi /{\text{k}}). $$ (2)
Panobinostat treatment depletes EZH2 and DNMT1 levels and enhances decitabine mediated de-repression of JunB and loss of survival of human acute leukemia cells

The PRC2 complex protein EZH2 is a histone methyltransferase that is known to bind and recruit DNMT1 to the DNA to modulate DNA methylation. Here, we determined that the pan-HDAC inhibitor panobinostat (LBH589) treatment depletes DNMT1 and EZH2 protein levels, disrupts the interaction of DNMT1 with EZH2, as well as de-represses JunB in human acute leukemia cells. Similar to treatment with the hsp90 inhibitor 17-DMAG, treatment with panobinostat also inhibited the chaperone association of heat shock protein 90 with DNMT1 and EZH2, which promoted the proteasomal degradation of DNMT1 and EZH2. Unlike treatment with the DNA methyltransferase inhibitor decitabine, which demethylates JunB promoter DNA, panobinostat treatment mediated chromatin alterations in the JunB promoter. Combined treatment with panobinostat and decitabine caused greater attenuation of DNMT1 and EZH2 levels than either agent alone, which was accompanied by more JunB de-repression and loss of clonogenic survival of K562 cells. Co-treatment with panobinostat and decitabine also caused more loss of viability of primary AML but not normal CD34+ bone marrow progenitor cells. Collectively, these findings indicate that co-treatment with panobinostat and decitabine targets multiple epigenetic mechanisms to de-repress JunB and exerts antileukemia activity against human acute myeloid leukemia cells.
Making Moves Matter: Experimental Evidence on Incentivizing Bureaucrats Through Performance-Based Transfers

Postings are often used by bureaucracies, especially in emerging economies, in an attempt to reward or punish their staff. Yet we know little about whether, and how, this type of mechanism can help incentivize performance. Using postings to induce performance is challenging, as heterogeneity in preferences over which postings are desirable non-trivially impacts the effectiveness of such schemes. We propose and examine the properties of a mechanism, which we term a performance-ranked serial dictatorship, in which individuals sequentially choose their desired location, with their rank in the sequence based on their performance. We then evaluate the effectiveness of this mechanism using a two-year field experiment with over 500 property tax inspectors in Punjab, Pakistan. We first show that the mechanism is effective: being randomized into the performance-ranked serial dictatorship leads inspectors to increase the growth rate of tax revenue by between 44 and 80 percent. We then use our model, combined with preferences collected at baseline from all tax inspectors, to characterize which inspectors face the highest marginal incentives under the scheme. We find empirically that these inspectors do in fact increase performance more under this mechanism. We estimate the cost from disruption caused by transfers to be small, but show that applying the scheme too frequently can reduce performance. On net the results suggest that bureaucracies have tremendous potential to improve performance by periodically using postings as an incentive, particularly when preferences over locations have a substantial common component.
Representing 2D digital images through a normalized measure of redundancy

This paper presents a representational model in which spatial information is analyzed by multiple filters, each of which is sensitive to patterns that contain spatial frequencies in a restricted range. The model bases its responses on only those filters sensitive to significant structures in the image. Spatial structures are described at their best scales as given by a novel normalized redundancy approach based on the intrinsic redundancy of natural scenes.
An overview of using academic analytics to predict and improve students' achievement: A proposed proactive intelligent intervention

This paper presents a literature review on the use of a large array of data about students and courses that was collected by institutions and learning analytics to improve students success and retention. Academic analytics is getting notable attention, because it assists educational institutions in improving student achievement and success, increasing student retention, and reduce the load of liability and accountability. The purpose of this paper is to provide a brief overview of how academic analytics has been used in educational institutions, what tools are available, and how institution can predict student performance and achievement. In addition, the study will discuss its applications, goals, examples, and why instructors want to make use of academic analytics. Finally, this paper will propose an intelligent recommendation intervention to improve students' achievement that will be based on two outcomes; performance as measured by final grade, and students' information data such as attendance, prerequisite subject, English and Mathematics marks, and suggests the use of Artificial Neural Network and Decision Tree for predictive modeling.
Interference Aware Real-Time Flows Scheduling in Cluster Based Wireless Sensor Networks

For the real-time scheduling in wireless sensor networks, Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) under cluster architecture is usually considered as reasonable as well as scalable approach. Under this architecture, several type of inferences should be taken into account to allocate time slot. For this goal, we have already proposed a new real-time scheduling algorithm. But, it has several assumptions and constraints so their deployment is limited to some specific real scenarios. In this paper, we additionally concern the interference of a node which belongs to two clusters concurrently. Token based scheduling algorithm between two cluster heads is proposed to solve this problem. Token is given to each cluster head consequently so order of slot allocation is achieved automatically. Finally, simulation results are given to prove that more flows are delivered within the deadline than previous work due to avoidance of inter-cluster interference in efficient way.
SAUR39, a Small Auxin-Up RNA Gene, Acts as a Negative Regulator of Auxin Synthesis and Transport in Rice1[W]

The phytohormone auxin plays a critical role for plant growth by regulating the expression of a set of genes. One large auxin-responsive gene family of this type is the small auxin-up RNA (SAUR) genes, although their function is largely unknown. The expression of the rice (Oryza sativa) SAUR39 gene showed rapid induction by transient change in different environmental factors, including auxin, nitrogen, salinity, cytokinin, and anoxia. Transgenic rice plants overexpressing the SAUR39 gene resulted in lower shoot and root growth, altered shoot morphology, smaller vascular tissue, and lower yield compared with wild-type plants. The SAUR39 gene was expressed at higher levels in older leaves, unlike auxin biosynthesis, which occurs largely in the meristematic region. The transgenic plants had a lower auxin level and a reduced polar auxin transport as well as the down-regulation of some putative auxin biosynthesis and transporter genes. Biochemical analysis also revealed that transgenic plants had lower chlorophyll content, higher levels of anthocyanin, abscisic acid, sugar, and starch, and faster leaf senescence compared with wild-type plants at the vegetative stage. Most of these phenomena have been shown to be negatively correlated with auxin level and transport. Transcript profiling revealed that metabolic perturbations in overexpresser plants were largely due to transcriptional changes of genes involved in photosynthesis, senescence, chlorophyll production, anthocyanin accumulation, sugar synthesis, and transport. The lower growth and yield of overexpresser plants was largely recovered by exogenous auxin application. Taken together, the results suggest that SAUR39 acts as a negative regulator for auxin synthesis and transport.
Dihydroceramide desaturase knockdown impacts sphingolipids and apoptosis after photodamage in human head and neck squamous carcinoma cells.

BACKGROUND Dihydroceramide desaturase 1 (DES) is the enzyme responsible for converting dihydroceramide into ceramide in the de novo sphingolipid biosynthesis pathway. Dihydroceramide can inhibit ceramide channel formation to interfere with apoptosis. We have shown that following ceramide synthase knockdown, photodynamic therapy (PDT), a cancer treatment modality, is associated with decreased levels of ceramides and dihydroceramides in cells that are resistant to apoptosis. AIM Here we investigated the effect of DES knockdown on the sphingolipid profile and apoptosis in human head and neck squamous carcinoma cells after PDT with the silicon phthalocyanine Pc 4. MATERIALS AND METHODS Following siRNA transfection and PDT treatment, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction for quantification of DES mRNA, immunoblotting for protein expression, mass spectrometry for sphingolipid analysis, spectrofluorometry for caspase 3-like (DEVDase) activity, flow cytometry for apoptosis detection, and trypan blue assay for cell viability evaluation, were performed. RESULTS Down-regulation of DES led to a substantial increase in levels of dihydroceramides without affecting ceramide levels. PDT-induced accumulation of individual dihydroceramides and global ceramides was increased by DES knockdown. Concomitantly, mitochondrial depolarization, DEVDase activation, late-apoptosis and cell death were attenuated by DES knockdown. Early apoptosis, however, was enhanced. CONCLUSION Our findings support the following: (i) dihydroceramide reduces pro-apoptotic effects of ceramide; (ii) cells adapt to DES knockdown to become more sensitive to ceramide and early-apoptosis; (iii) DES is a potential molecular target for regulating apoptotic resistance to PDT.
3D Descriptor for an Oriented-human Classification from Complete Point Cloud

In this paper we present a new 3D descriptor for the human classication. It is applied over a complete point cloud (i.e 360◦ view) acquired with a multi-kinect system. The proposed descriptor is derived from the Histogram of Oriented Gradient (HOG) descriptor : surface normal vectors are employed instead of gradients, 3D poins are expressed on a cylindrical space and 3D orientation quantization are computed by projecting the normal vectors on a regular polyhedron. Our descriptor is utilized through a Support Vector Machine (SVM) classifier. The SVM classifier is trained using an original database composed of data acquired by our multi-kinect system. The evaluation of the proposed 3D descriptor over a set of candidates shows very promising results. The descriptor can efficiently discriminate human from non-human candidates and provides the frontal direction of the human with a high precision. The comparison with a well known descriptor demonstrates significant improvements of results.
An integrated web GIS knowledge management system to enhance and promote knowledge on sustainable energy technologies

The objective of this research is to propose a model or an application that enhances and promotes the knowledge on sustainable energy resources in rural communities. It is expected that better knowledge on sustainable energy resources will increase the utilization of sustainable energy services. Beside effects of this matter lead to an improvement the quality of life and to bring forth economic advantages. The case study has been employed in a rural community of Thailand by using Knowledge Management System (KMS). The present KMS project on sustainable energy technologies aims at developing a network and service platform to supply an integrated solution of data management, publication and services for sharing of information on sustainable energy technologies among the stakeholders and interested communities. The main purpose of this paper is to report on the progress of this project and to introduce the Sustainable Energy Knowledge Management System for Thailand.
The empirical analysis of technical progress efficiency and risk in Chinese banking

The previous discuss on the Chinese bank efficiency always neglected the risk factors effects, and there is little research to investigate the relationship between risk and efficiency in domestic study for banking industry. This paper analyzes the technical progress efficiency of the Chinese banks during 1996 and 2006, and compares the effect differences between the risk-adjusted model and the model without risk factors. The result shows that the risk factors make a notable influence for the technical progress efficiency estimate. When take all the risk factors into account, the efficiency of technical progress for all the Chinese banks is between 7%-10% in the cost function and 3%-7% in the profit function, suggesting that all the banks can benefit from the technical progress and innovation. When omitting the risk factors, we may overestimate the level of technical efficiency by nearly 2%-4%.
SpO2/FiO2 Ratio on Hospital Admission Is an Indicator of Early Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Development Among Patients at Risk

Purpose: Oxygen saturation to fraction of inspired oxygen ratio (SpO2/FiO2) has been validated as a surrogate marker for partial pressure of oxygen to fraction of inspired oxygen ratio among mechanically ventilated patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The validity of SpO2/FiO2 measurements in predicting ARDS has not been studied. Recently, a Lung Injury Prediction Score (LIPS) has been developed to help identify patients at risk of developing ARDS. Methods: This was a secondary analysis of the LIPS-1 cohort. A multivariate logistic regression included all established variables for LIPS, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation 2, age, and comorbid conditions that could affect SpO2/FiO2. The primary outcome was development of ARDS in the hospital. The secondary outcomes included hospital mortality, hospital day of ARDS development, and hospital day of death. Results: Of the 5584 patients, we evaluated all 4646 with recorded SpO2/FiO2 values. Median SpO2/FiO2 in those who did and did not develop ARDS was 254 (100, 438) and 452 (329, 467), respectively. There was a significant association between SpO2/FiO2 and ARDS (P ≤ .001). The SpO2/FiO2 was found to be an independent predictor of ARDS in a “dose-dependent” manner; for SpO2/FiO2 < 100—odds ratios (OR) 2.49 (1.69-3.64, P < .001), for SpO2/FiO2 100 < 200—OR 1.75 (1.16-2.58, P = .007), and for SpO2/FiO2 200 < 300—OR 1.62 (1.06-2.42, P = .025). The discriminatory characteristics of the multivariable model and SpO2/FiO2 as a single variable demonstrated area under the curve (AUC) of 0.81 and AUC of 0.74, respectively. Conclusions: The SpO2/FiO2, measured within the first 6 hours after hospital admission, is an independent indicator of ARDS development among patients at risk.
FPGA-Based Reconfigurable Control for Fault-Tolerant Back-to-Back Converter Without Redundancy

In this paper, an FPGA-based fault-tolerant back-to-back converter without redundancy is studied. Before fault occurrence, the fault-tolerant converter operates like a conventional back-to-back six-leg converter, and after the fault, it becomes a five-leg converter. Design, implementation, and experimental verification of an FPGA-based reconfigurable control strategy for this converter are discussed. This reconfigurable control strategy allows the continuous operation of the converter with minimum affection from a fault in one of the semiconductor switches. A very fast detection scheme is used to detect and locate the fault. Implementation of the fault detection and of the fully digital control schemes on a single FPGA is realized, based on a suited methodology for rapid prototyping. FPGA in loop and also experimental tests are carried out, and the results are presented. These results confirm the capability of the proposed reconfigurable control and fault-tolerant structure.
The impact of comorbidity and other clinical and sociodemographic factors on health-related quality of life in Greek patients with Parkinson's disease

Objectives: This study was designed to evaluate the impact of other common self-reported comorbid disorders (hypertension, dyslipidemia, ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus, minor stroke, arthritis, low back pain or osteoporosis and depression) on health-related Quality of Life (HRQoL) of Parkinson's disease (PD) patients and to explore the association of their HRQoL with various sociodemographic and clinical factors. Methods: Data about age, gender, education, occupation, income, marital and residential status, social relations, disease duration, functional status, treatment and concomitant diseases were collected of 139 Greek patients (68 men and 71 women) with PD. Patients were consecutively recruited from the outpatient clinic of the first Neurology Department of Athens National University at Aeginition Hospital. Disease severity was assessed using the unified Parkinson's disease rating scale including Hoehn and Yahr and Schwab and England (S&E) scales. HRQoL was measured by the specific Parkinson's disease questionnaire (PDQ-39). A multivariate multiple regression model with normal errors was used for the statistical analysis. Results: The main determinants of HRQoL were low degree of independence measured by the S&E scale (F = 35.942, p < 0.001), social isolation (F = 20.508, p < 0.001), disease duration (F = 14.983, p < 0.001), sleep (F = 6.507, p = 0.013) and gastrointestinal disturbances (F = 4.643, p = 0.035) and the presence of depression (F = 6.022, p = 0.017). Conclusion: Among the other chronic comorbidities only depression was associated with a poor HRQoL in PD patients. Functional dependence and social isolation contributed most to worse HRQoL. Our findings suggest that adequate social support and management of depression, sleep and gastrointestinal disturbances could reduce the distress and improve HRQoL in patients with PD.
Mannan core branching of lipo(arabino)mannan is required for mycobacterial virulence in the context of innate immunity

The causative agent of tuberculosis (TB), Mycobacterium tuberculosis, remains an important worldwide health threat. Although TB is one of the oldest infectious diseases of man, a detailed understanding of the mycobacterial mechanisms underlying pathogenesis remains elusive. Here, we studied the role of the α(1→2) mannosyltransferase MptC in mycobacterial virulence, using the Mycobacterium marinum zebrafish infection model. Like its M. tuberculosis orthologue, disruption of M. marinum mptC (mmar_3225) results in defective elongation of mannose caps of lipoarabinomannan (LAM) and absence of α(1→2)mannose branches on the lipomannan (LM) and LAM mannan core, as determined by biochemical analysis (NMR and GC‐MS) and immunoblotting. We found that the M. marinum mptC mutant is strongly attenuated in embryonic zebrafish, which rely solely on innate immunity, whereas minor virulence defects were observed in adult zebrafish. Strikingly, complementation with the Mycobacterium smegmatis mptC orthologue, which restored mannan core branching but not cap elongation, was sufficient to fully complement the virulence defect of the mptC mutant in embryos. Altogether our data demonstrate that not LAM capping, but mannan core branching of LM/LAM plays an important role in mycobacterial pathogenesis in the context of innate immunity.