Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A 100-Gbps 4-Lane Transceiver for 47-dB Loss Copper Cable in 28-nm CMOS

A 103.13-Gbps 4-lane transceiver for copper cable applications was fabricated in 28-nm CMOS technology. The transceiver can transmit 103.13-Gbps data through 4-lane 47-dB-loss channels. To achieve this result, ISI should be suppressed; equalization allocation of a four-tap FFE, a CTLE with a low-frequency equalizer and a DFE is optimized with the proposed tap-based auto equalization. In addition, SNR degradation should be suppressed as much as possible to receive a small signal through a large loss channel. Here, a sub-mV dynamic DC offset canceller and a DFE with a bias controlled tap slicer are proposed. The DC offset canceller reduces DC offset of the CTLE to less than 1 mV. The DFE with a bias controlled tap slicer has an input sensitivity finer than 1.2 mV0p, which improves the SNR at the slicer’s input and reduces the dead zone of CDR phase detector to less than 1.7 ps. The transceiver consumes 403 mW from a 0.9 V and 1.5 V supply per lane, which includes 1/4 of the power consumption of the PLL and 1/8th the power consumption of the common block.
Reducing the local Scour around Bridge Piers by Using Semi-conical Piers

The main aim of this study is to find a practical shape of bridge pier being a local scour countermeasure. Therefore, the semi-conical piers have been selected to make their usage applicable in the field. These piers have small side slope angles and rectangular cross-section. Also, the secondary aim is to increase the efficiency of the above countermeasure. So, the first experimental set has been performed using a vertical cylindrical pier (its side slope angle = 0) and three semi-conical piers with different side slope angles (2.860, 5.70 & 8.50). The results show that increasing the side slope angle leads to increase the Reduction Percentage of Scour Depth and Volume (RPSDV). The values of RPSDV are (18.33, 21.66, 25) & (40.2, 54.9, 60), respectively. Also, the second set has been done and consists of the three semi-conical piers that their leading edge are integrated or modified with devices. These devices are: openings, up-stream ladder, and curved face. The values of RPSDV are improved using these devices compared with the semi-conical pier without device. The RPSDV are (3.3, 26.7, 37.8) & (1, 53, 68), respectively. Received: March revised: April accepted: 1 June . ElAlfy,K.S. , Prof. of Hydraulics, Mansoura University, Dean of Mansoura High Institute of Eng. And Technology. Shamaa,M.T. , Associ. Prof. of Hydraulics, Mansoura University, Irrigation and Hydraulics Dept. Al-tameemi,H.H. , P.h. D. Student, Mansoura University, Irrigation and Hydraulics Dept.
The Deficient Carbohydrate Metabolic Pathways and the Incomplete Tricarboxylic Acid Cycle in an Obligately Autotrophic Hydrogen-oxidizing Bacterium

The activities of enzymes of carbohydrate metabolism, enzymes of the tricarboxylic acid cycle and some related enzymes were measured in cell-free extracts of strain TK-6, an extremely thermophilic, obligately autotrophic, aerobic hydrogen-oxidizing bacterium. Activities of phosphofructokinase, aldolase, pyruvate kinase, 6-phosphogluconate dehydrase and 2-keto-3-deoxy-6-phosphogluconate aldolase, key enzymes of the Embden-Meyerhof and the Entner-Doudoroff pathways were not found in the extracts. All of the tricarboxylic acid cycle enzymes except α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase, and reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide oxidase were present. These metabolic defects are considered to be one of the reasons for the obligate autotrophy of strain TK-6.
Using Rhythm Network to Enhance Courses Engineering in E-Learning Environments

Abstract We present the leading experiment that helps designing the Rhythm Network. The model diverges from typical time graphs and is not explicitly helpful for longitudinal studies. However, the objective is to design sequences of events, inserted into a graph depending on their place on a timeline. This experiment shows how the model can help engineering courses in an e-learning environment. Rhythm is fundamental in many contexts. It says a lot about the quality of teaching and learning. The feature might give important insight on how learners interact with knowledge.
Unsupervised Spatial-Temporal Model Based on Region Alignment for Person Re-identification

Person re-identification(re-ID) refers to find a specific pedestrian across disjoint camera views. Recently, person re-ID rely on supervised learning to train network by labeled information. Resulting poor generalization in real-world environment because of the lack of pedestrian labels. At the same time, person images are easily affected by background, illumination and pose variations. And these factors make it difficult to extract discriminative features to distinguish different pedestrians. In order to resolve this research problem, we proposing an unsupervised learning alignment method called Region Alignment of Spatial-Temporal Fusion(RASTF) which joints global features with local aligned features to get more discriminative features. Local features are aligned by calculating the shortest distances between regions. Our proposed framework integrates a novel region alignment method in unsupervised network and the experiment results indicate that can outperform the state-of-the-art unsupervised methods.
Conducting pathways in north temperate deciduous broadleaved trees

The interspecific variation of dye ascent in the stems of 44 broadleaved deciduous species growing in Japan was studied using freeze-dried samples after dye injection. The dye ascending pattern differed both within and between ring-porous and diffuse-porous species. In large earlywood vessels of all ring-porous species, the dye ascended only in the outermost annual ring, and the inner annual rings had lost their water transport function. The dye ascending pattern within the inner annual rings in the ring-porous species was categorized into three types: i) the dye ascended both in the many latewood vessels throughout the latewood and small earlywood vessels; ii) the dye ascended in the many vessels throughout the latewood; and iii) the dye ascended mainly in the late latewood vessels. In diffuse-porous species, the dye ascending pattern within the annual rings also was categorized into three types: i) the dye ascended throughout the annual rings; ii) the dye ascended mainly in the earlywood vessels; and iii) the dye ascended mainly in the latewood vessels. Xylem water distribution was also examined by cryo-SEM in three ring-porous and three diffuse-porous species that had different dye ascending patterns. The water distribution pattern within annual rings was correlated with the dye ascending pattern except for one diffuseporous species (Salix gracilistyla). In this case, water was distributed in the whole region of the annual rings although dye was mainly distributed in the earlywood. These results showed that the functional area of water transport within annual rings differed among ring-porous species and diffuse-porous species.
The mitochondrial genome of Cavia aperea

Abstract Cavia aperea is a wild guinea pig found throughout South America. The previously published mitochondrial sequence for C. aperea was highly divergent from the C. porcellus sequence and contained stop codons within open reading frames. Here we resequenced the mitochondrial genomes of C. aperea and C. porcellus. Both sequences reflect gene organization typical for mammalian mitochondrial DNA. Our C. aperea mtDNA sequence shows that all of the open reading frames are intact, but confirms the strikingly low level of sequence identity (92.7%) with the closely related C. porcellus mtDNA.
Exploring the Impact Variables of Team Learning

This research focuses on the dilemma of students’ group learning in class and tries to find its solution. The factors of team leadership style, group rewards/punishments justice, team heterogeneity are used to explore the impact on team self-efficacy and learning effectiveness. Through advertising management courses, the students' responses of these research variables are examined in the beginning, middle and end term. The results can be applied in the course design for student group learning.
Assimilatory Capacity Effects on Soybean Yield Components and Pod Number

Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr. ] yield is more restricted by assimilatory capacity (source strength) during the reproductive (R1 to R7) compared with vegetative period (emergence to R1). Although pod number (per unit ground area) is recognized as an important factor affecting yield, the period in which this yield component is source restricted has not been clearly identified. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine this period by identifying yield components through which source strength affects pod number and finding when these yield components are determined. Field studies were conducted during 1991 and 1992 with «Centennial» soybean at Baton Rouge, LA, on a Mhoon silty clay soil (fine-silty, mixed, nonacid, thermic Typic Fluvaquent). Treatments were partial defoliations designed to create light interception differences during R1 to R7. Yield was reduced 23% by defoliation. Harvest index, which was 0.59 for the control, ranged from 0.56 to 0.60 for the defoliation treatments. Source strength influenced pod number (per unit ground area) through branch dry matter, branch number, branch node number, and pods per reproductive node on the whole plant. Pods per reproductive node were regulated by pod initiation (pods at least 0.5 cm long) and/or abortion of initiated pods. Determination of final pod number occurred at 10 to 12 d after R5. In conclusion, pod number was source restricted from R1 to 10 to 12 d after R5. Stresses that restrict source strength during this period should be avoided to optimize pod number and yield
Short-milking-tube infrared temperature as a subclinical mastitis detection tool in tropical dairy farms

ABSTRACT Objective Our objective was to determine whether the infrared temperature of short-milking-tubes, as an estimator of milk temperature, differs between subclinically mastitic quarters with or without the presence of mastitis pathogens. Materials and Methods Individual mammary quarters (n = 121) with subclinical mastitis from 100 cows in 9 dairy herds in Puerto Rico were evaluated. Infrared images were taken from the short-milking-tube of each experimental quarter at 2 min after milking-unit attachment in 30-s intervals during the milking process. Relative humidity and ambient temperature were recorded at 1-min intervals using thermometer data loggers at the milking parlor during the milking process. Milk samples were collected for bacteriological analysis and SCC quantification. Molecular identification of mastitic pathogens was performed using the PathoProof Mastitis Complete-16 kit (Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., Waltham, MA). Results and Discussion The milk temperature, measured through the short-milking-tubes with an infrared camera during the milking process, was greater in mammary gland quarters with presence of mastitic pathogens relative to quarters with no pathogens detected. Hence, the use of infrared thermography might be a useful detection tool to discriminate between subclinically mastitic quarters with or without an active infection in dairy cows. Implications and Applications With more sensitive infrared thermography cameras and sophisticated systems, the infrared temperature of all mammary gland quarters can be collected simultaneously in a single image when imaging the short-milking-tubes as opposed to imaging the skin of the mammary gland, which requires several images to capture the temperature of all 4 quarters.
Application of genetic algorithm method for soil nailing parameters optimization

Soil nailing is a reinforcement technique used in constructing excavations and stabilizing slopes by reinforcing the ground in situ. The number of horizontal or inclined nails and their spacing is a key issue. The aim of this work is optimization of soil nailing parameters using genetic algorithm method. We look to obtain the optimal design and improve the parameters of soil nailing which affect stability. Analysis and parametric study of effect of algorithm configuration was carried out to search for optimum combination of the design variables to satisfy the required safety factor. The obtained results are discussed in comparison to existing literature.
Metabolic fate of newly developed nondigestible oligosaccharide, maltobionic acid, in rats and humans

Abstract Maltobionic acid (MA), formed by a gluconic acid and glucose linked by an α‐1,4 bond, may have the properties of a nondigestible oligosaccharide. The objective of this study was to elucidate the bioavailability of MA in rats and humans by observing digestion of MA by small intestinal enzymes, the fermentation of MA by gut microbiota, and the effect of adaptation following prolonged ingestion of MA. MA digestion was assessed using brush border membrane vesicles (BBMV) from rat small intestine. A within‐subject repeated measures design was used for ingestion experiments in 10 healthy female participants. After MA ingestion, postprandial plasma glucose and insulin levels, breath hydrogen excretion, and urinary MA were measured. The effect of adaptation following prolonged MA ingestion was investigated in rats. MA was minimally hydrolyzed by BBMV. Ingestion of 10 g of MA by healthy females did not elevate postprandial plasma glucose and insulin levels. Breath hydrogen and urinary MA were negligibly excreted over 8 hr following ingestion. Adaptation to prolonged MA ingestion produced no significant difference in exhaled hydrogen levels over 8 hr following administration compared with controls. MA is a new food material that is highly resistant to digestion and fermentation. It expresses the characteristics of a nondigestible oligosaccharide, including being low energy, improving the flavor of food and juice, and mineral solubilization.
Patient Outcomes With Use of Computed Tomography Angiography in Acute Ischemic Stroke and Transient Ischemic Attack: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Objectives It remains uncertain whether computed tomography angiography (CTA) in ischemic strokes and transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) benefits patient outcomes beyond those eligible for endovascular therapy. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies and randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the use of CTA against other imaging modalities for recurrent stroke, mortality, disability, emergency department (ED) revisits, or changes in management in ischemic stroke and TIA. (PROSPERO: 349590) Methods MEDLINE, Embase, and CENTRAL were searched. We included studies evaluating CTA against non-CTA imaging modalities for outcomes of interest in ischemic stroke or TIA. Two reviewers extracted data and assessed study quality. Data were pooled by the generic inverse variance method. Heterogeneity was assessed using Cochran’s Q statistic and quantified by I2. Quality of the evidence was assessed by GRADE. Results We found 12 eligible cohort studies involving 17,481 patients, and no eligible RCTs. No changes were detected in recurrent stroke, mortality, or disability when CTA was compared against pooled imaging modalities, nor compared to non-contrast computed tomography (NCCT) alone. The evidence for each outcome was graded as low quality to very low quality. Conclusions CTA use was not associated with significant reductions in recurrent stroke, mortality, or disability in ischemic stroke and TIA patient compared with other imaging modalities. More high-quality studies are needed.
β-Amyloid1–42 Binds to α7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor with High Affinity

Alzheimer's disease pathology is characterized by the presence of neuritic plaques and the loss of cholinergic neurons in the brain. The underlying mechanisms leading to these events are unclear, but the 42-amino acid β-amyloid peptide (Aβ1–42) is involved. Immunohistochemical studies on human sporadic Alzheimer's disease brains demonstrate that Aβ1–42 and a neuronal pentameric cation channel, the α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7nAChR), are both present in neuritic plaques and co-localize in individual cortical neurons. Using human brain tissues and cells that overexpress either α7nAChR or amyloid precursor protein as the starting material, Aβ1–42 and α7nAChR can be co-immunoprecipitated by the respective specific antibodies, suggesting that they are tightly associated. The formation of the α7nAChR·Aβ1–42complex can be efficiently suppressed by Aβ12–28, implying that this Aβ sequence region contains the binding epitope. Receptor binding experiments show that Aβ1–42 and α7nAChR bind with high affinity, and this interaction can be inhibited by α7nAChR ligands. Human neuroblastoma cells overexpressing α7nAChR are readily killed by Aβ1–42, whereas α7nAChR agonists such as nicotine and epibatidine offered protection. Because Aβ1–42 inhibits α7nAChR-dependent calcium activation and acetylcholine release, two processes critically involved in memory and cognitive functions, and the distribution of α7nAChR correlates with neuritic plaques in Alzheimer's disease brains, we propose that interaction of the α7nAChR and Aβ1–42 is a pivotal mechanism involved in the pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease.
Otimização do layout de marcenarias no sul do espírito santo baseado em parâmetros ergonômicos e de produtividade

RESUMO ‐ Este estudo foi realizado em tres marcenarias no sul do Estado do Espirito Santo, com o objetivo de analisar o layout e propor mudancas que otimizem o funcionamento harmonico entre o local de trabalho e o trabalhador, considerando-se fatores ergonomicos, fluxo de producao e produtividade. A coleta de dados foi feita analisando-se as condicoes do ambiente de trabalho (clima, ruido, iluminacao) e aplicando uma entrevista para avaliar as condicoes gerais e de seguranca no trabalho. O layout foi avaliado por medicoes, observacao da sequencia de trabalho nas maquinas e aplicacao do software AutoCAD 2000. Os resultados indicaram que o Indice de Bulbo Umido e o Termometro de Globo estavam de acordo com a Norma Regulamentadora n° 15 (atividade moderada), sendo de 26,38 °C, em media. Os niveis medios de ruido foram de 87,48 dB (A), acima do permitido para uma jornada de 8 h diarias (NR 15). A luminosidade media, encontrada em duas marcenarias, ficou acima da faixa de iluminacao minima recomendada para esse trabalho de maquinarias (NBR 5413/92). Todas as marcenarias tinham disposicao desordenada do maquinario em razao da sequencia logica de trabalho, presenca de pilastras e residuos na area util e de passagem, piso desnivelado, falta de rampas para acesso aos galpoes, manutencao de maquinas e equipamentos de forma incorreta, falhas no telhado e ausencia de bancadas para facilitar a adocao de uma melhor postura durante o manuseio das pecas.
Venlafaxine Chiral Separation by Capillary Electrophoresis Using Cyclodextrin Derivatives as Chiral Selector and Experimental Design Method Optimization

Venlafaxine (VFX) is a modern antidepressant from the serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) class. It is a chiral substance used in therapy as a racemate, but differences between the pharmacological properties of the two enantiomers have been reported. The current article presents the development of a simple capillary electrophoresis (CE) method for the rapid chiral separation of VFX enantiomers. A complex cyclodextrin (CD) screening at four different pH levels was carried out to establish the optimum chiral selector; carboxymethyl-β-CD (CM-β-CD) at pH 2.5 was selected for further method development. An initial “one factor at time” (OFAT) screening strategy was used to establish the influence of analytical parameters on the separation, followed by a face centered central composite design (FCCD) for the optimization process. The analytical performances of the newly developed method were verified in terms of accuracy, linearity, precision, repeatability, and sensitivity. The method was used for the determination of VFX enantiomer ratio in pharmaceutical forms. Finally, computer modelling of VFX-CD complexes was undertaken to characterize host–guest chiral recognition.
Population Structure and Linkage Disequilibrium in Six-Rowed Barley Landraces from the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

The genetic diversity, population structure, and extent of linkage disequilibrium (LD) were investigated at a genome-wide level in 255 six-rowed barley (Hordeum vulgare L. ssp. Vulgare) landraces from the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau using 1264 polymorphic diversity array technology (DArT) markers. The mean polymorphism information content (PIC) of the DArT markers ranged between 0.008 and 0.500 with an average of 0.213. Bayesian, principal coordinate analysis, and phylogenetic analysis supported that six-rowed barley landraces from this region are divided into five distinct subpopulations centered on the regions of origin of the germ-plasm. The genetic distances calculated for all the individual pairs were geographically dependent, as revealed by Mantel tests (r = 0.35, P < 0.001) and spatial autocorrelation analysis. The LD values, expressed as r(2), declined with increasing genetic distance, and the same tendency occurred on each chromosome. In general, LD values were low (9.1% of adjacent markers; P < 0.001), and mean LD values across the whole genome decayed to below the critical r(2) of 0.22 after 3.32 cM. Approximately 19.0% of marker pairs (mean r(2) = 0.586) located on the same chromosome and 4.9% of pairs (mean r(2) = 0.318) located on different chromosomes were in LD (r(2) = 0.22). Our results discerned relevant patterns of genetic diversity, population structure, and LD among members of a Qinghai-Tibet Plateau barley landraces panel proposed to be 'typical' of a target region or environment and have important implications for further studies on association mapping and practical breeding in high-altitude naked barley.
Cytochrome P-450 rotamers control mixed-function oxygenation in reconstituted membranes. Rotational diffusion studied by delayed fluorescence depolarizationd`

1. Rotational diffusion of purified rabbit-liver microsomal cytochrome P-450 LM2 in reconstituted lipid-vesicle membranes was investigated by measurement of timedependent polarized emission of delayed fluorescence.2. Cytochrome P-450 labelled with diiodofluorescein iodoacetamide exhibited strict uniaxial rotation about the normal to the membrane.3. Benzphetamine retards rotation, while reduction of the cytochrome P-450 substratecomplex accelerates rotation.4. A model is proposed in which cytochrome P-450 forms disc-shaped rotamers immersed in the bilayer membrane to a depth which is varied by substrate-induced and redox state-dependent conformational changes. The model describes a regulating mechanism of the electron transfer-controlling mixed-function oxygenation.