Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Proposal of a New High Step-Up Converter for UPS Applications

This paper proposes the use of a voltage doubler rectifier as the output stage of an interleaved boost converter with coupled inductors. The obtained voltage gain is twice that of traditional boost converters due to the doubler stage, as coupled inductors provide additional voltage gain, although voltage stress across the switches is not increased. The resulting topology is adequate for battery sourced systems which require low current ripple and high voltage gain e.g. UPS's and audio amplifiers. Additionally, it can be used to obtain symmetrical power supply. Theoretical analysis and experimental results from a 1 kW prototype are shown
An LC Quadrature VCO Using Capacitive Source Degeneration Coupling to Eliminate Bi-Modal Oscillation

A phase shift technique using capacitive source degeneration (CSD) is presented for LC quadrature voltage-controlled oscillators (QVCO), where capacitively degenerated differential pairs are used to couple the LC tanks to implement a phase-shifted transconductance and negative input resistance to compensate resonator losses, and to minimize the flicker noise contributions. The CSD technique not only introduces excess phase shift to eliminate undesired bi-modal oscillation, but inherently provides a large coupling ratio to improve quadrature phase accuracy. Compared to existing phase-shift LC-QVCOs, the proposed CSD-QVCO presents excellent phase accuracy and power efficiency. A prototype of the QVCO was fabricated in TSMC 0.18-μm CMOS technology. The measured phase noise is -120 dBc/Hz at 3-MHz offset from 5-GHz carrier, with a power consumption of 6.4 mW from a 1.2-V supply.
Combining Disparate Information for Machine Learning.

Combining Disparate Information for Machine Learning by Ko-Jen Hsiao Chair: Alfred O. Hero This thesis considers information fusion for four different types of machine learning problems: anomaly detection, information retrieval, collaborative filtering and structure learning for time series, and focuses on a common theme – the benefit to combining disparate information resulting in improved algorithm performance. In this dissertation, several new algorithms and applications to real-world datasets are presented. In Chapter II, a novel approach called Pareto Depth Analysis (PDA) is proposed for combining different dissimilarity metrics for anomaly detection. PDA is applied to video-based anomaly detection of pedestrian trajectories. Following a similar idea, in Chapter III we propose to use a similar Pareto Front method for a multiple-query information retrieval problem when different queries represent different semantic concepts. Pareto Front information retrieval is applied to multiple query image retrieval. In Chapter IV, we extend a recently proposed collaborative retrieval approach to incorporate complementary social network information, an approach we call Social Collaborative Retrieval (SCR). SCR is applied to a music recommendation system that combines both user history and friendship network information to improve recall and weighted recall performance. In Chapter V, we propose a framework that combines time series data at different time scales and offsets
Image segmentation by Jensen-Shannon divergence. Application to measurement of interfacial tension

We present an entropic edge-detection method based on the Jensen-Shannon divergence, applied to grey level histograms obtained by sliding a window over an image. For every pixel in the image, we calculate the elements of a divergence matrix and a direction matrix, via spline approximation. Based on these estimated matrices, a new technique for thinning and linking unconnected edge pixels is also described. The global method is found to be an excellent technique for image segmentation. For example, it is very robust against noise, and it is specially appropriate in the interfacial tension measures obtained by means of contour images of liquid drops. Results show that the global method described give a better performance than other existing methods used in this field.
How to Identify Tomorrow's Most Active Social Commerce Contributors? Inviting Starlets to the Reviewer Hall of Fame

Social commerce contributors share their experiences of products and services, which is appreciated by consumers and online retailers. Since such user generated content is especially valuable for online retailers, they incentivize the most active contributors to provide further product reviews. Our paper aims to explore the question of which user characteristics can be used to identify contributors of valuable contents. This is especially relevant for newly registered users who have not extensively contributed yet. Drawing upon the literature on social information processing, signaling and communication theory, we explore how individual user characteristics published in the personal user profiles are associated with the actual contribution activity. Therefore, we analyze more than 30,000 user profiles from amazon.com. We find that information disclosure, emotiveness and problem-orientation are related to the contribution activity. Consequently, our results advance the understanding of who are the most active contributors and provide new implications for theory and practice.
A Case of Cutaneous Myiasis Caused by Wohlfahrtia magnifica

Myiasis is caused by the invasion of tissues or organs of man or animals by dipterous larvae. The disease is infrequent in Turkey; it is observed particularly in people with some predisposing factors. A 46‐year‐old male farmer with nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome (NBCCS) presented with the complaint of a blood‐tinged discharge and pain in the left frontal‐temporal region for three days. Physical examination revealed live maggots in the ulcerous wound resulting from basal cell carcinoma. The larvae were removed with forceps, and the wound was locally dressed with povidone‐iodine. The maggots were identified as the third instar larvae of Wohlfahrtia magnifica.
Inhibition of Trypanosoma brucei Gene Expression by RNA Interference Using an Integratable Vector with Opposing T7 Promoters*

RNA interference is a powerful method for inhibition of gene expression in Trypanosoma brucei(Ngo, H., Tschudi, C., Gull, K., and Ullu, E. (1998) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 95, 14687–14692). Here we describe a vector (pZJM) for in vivo tetracycline-inducible synthesis of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) in stably transformed cells. The dsRNA is synthesized from opposing T7 promoters. We tested the vector with genes involved in processes such as kinetoplast DNA replication, mitochondrial mRNA synthesis, glycosyl phosphatidylinositol biosynthesis, glycosome biogenesis, and polyamine biosynthesis. In most cases the induction of dsRNA caused specific and dramatic loss of the appropriate mRNA, and in many cases there was growth inhibition or cell death. One striking phenotype was the loss of kinetoplast DNA after interference with expression of a topoisomerase II. The gene being analyzed by this procedure need not even be fully sequenced. In fact, many of the genes we tested were derived from partial sequences in the T. brucei genome data base that were identified by homology with known proteins. It takes as little as 3 weeks from identification of a gene sequence in the data base to the appearance of a phenotype.
Experimental study on superior mobility in [110]-oriented UTB SOI pMOSFETs

The superior mobility in [110]-oriented ultrathin body (UTB) pMOSFETs with silicon-on-insulator (SOI) thickness (t/sub SOI/) ranging from 32 down to 2.3 nm is experimentally examined for the first time. It is shown that the mobility in [110] UTB pMOSFETs, which is much higher than the universal curve in conventional (100) pMOSFETs, is not degraded until t/sub SOI/ is thinned to 3 nm. Scattering mechanisms in [110] UTB pMOSFETs are discussed on the basis of the temperature dependence of the mobility. The high mobility in the UTB regime in [110] pMOSFET is attributed to subband modulation by carrier confinement and heavier hole effective mass normal to the channel surface.
Atypical rectosigmoid histology in children with newly diagnosed ulcerative colitis.

BACKGROUND In the untreated patient with inflammatory colitis, rectal sparing or patchy rectal inflammation is generally considered a sign of Crohn's disease (CD), rather than ulcerative colitis (UC). METHODS The initial endoscopic rectosigmoid mucosal biopsies obtained at disease onset from 12 untreated children with UC who ultimately required surgery were blindly reviewed (randomly mixed with another 62 specimens obtained from children with CD or treated UC). Biopsies were classified as typical UC if there was diffuse, active inflammation and severe crypt destruction or distortion. Those with patchy, active inflammation and only mild crypt changes were classified as CD. Because all 12 subjects had ultimately been proven to have UC by examination of a subtotal colectomy specimen, for the purposes of this report biopsies read as either normal or CD were both considered evidence of atypical UC with rectal sparing. RESULTS Five of 12 subjects (seven biopsies) had atypical histology. Mild, patchy inflammation was seen in six rectal or sigmoid biopsies, whereas one rectal biopsy was normal. The remaining seven subjects (10 biopsies) had diffuse inflammation. Two of five subjects with atypical biopsies had an endoscopically normal rectosigmoid, one had patchy inflammation, and the remaining two had diffuse endoscopic changes. All seven subjects with typical UC histology had diffuse endoscopic changes. Subjects with atypical findings could not be differentiated by age, duration, or types of symptoms at presentation, years of disease at colectomy, or indications for colectomy. CONCLUSIONS Patchy or absent inflammation of the rectum and sigmoid can be present in untreated children with UC at disease onset. Because such children may be mistakenly diagnosed as having CD, these data must be considered when treatments or clinical research protocols are designed to include children with colitis.
Clinical monitoring of the effect of fluorides on long-existing white spot lesions

The aim of this examiner-blind, clinical monitoring was to observe long-existing white spot lesions over a period of 6[A1] months and to evaluate the effectiveness of fluoridated toothpastes on these lesions. Thirty-nine subjects with at least one lesion participated in the study. They were randomly divided into two groups (n=20 and n=19) and instructed to brush their teeth either with toothpaste containing sodium fluoride (1500 ppm) (group 1) or with toothpaste containing amine fluoride (1250 ppm) (group 2). Lesions were measured with quantitative light-induced fluorescence (QLF) and alterations were quantified by ▵Q as fluorescence loss integrated over the lesion area (%×mm2). All QLF images were taken by one examiner at baseline (▵Q1) and follow-up visits after 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 weeks, and after 4, 5, and 6 months (▵Q10). The results showed a slight but not significant progression of ▵Q (%×mm2) in group 1 ((p>0.05; t-test), ▵Q1 −20.31 (±41.06); ▵Q10 −26.2 (±47.69)) and in group 2 ((p>0.05), ▵Q1 −22.28 (±43.86); ▵Q10 −26.39 (±46.4)). The results indicated no significant differences regarding the influence of the fluoridated toothpastes (p>0.05). It can be concluded that within 6 months the long-existing white spot lesions are stable concerning fluorescence loss over the lesion area. Moreover, fluoride does not seem to have any effect on long-existing white spot lesions.
Multi-domain real-time simulation of a hybrid bus

The use of real-time simulation for integration-testing of multiple controllers for complex mechatronic systems has become standard practice. Complex mechatronic systems are comprised of several subsystems that require multi-domain modeling, for example, mechanical, hydraulic and electrical subsystems interacting with each other. Hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing is commonly used to ensure that the controllers for these subsystems perform reliably and optimally. However, different modeling tools may be used to develop HIL simulation models for each domain. In this paper, multi-domain real-time simulation on an OPAL-RT platform using two well-known modeling software packages, namely AMESim and Simulink, is described, using a hybrid-bus as a case-study.
Interaction of HLA‐DR and CD74 at the cell surface of antigen‐presenting cells by single particle image analysis

Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II‐associated antigen presentation involves an array of interacting molecules. CD74, the cell surface isoform of the MHC class II‐associated invariant chain, is one such molecule; its role remains poorly defined. To address this, we have employed a high‐resolution single‐particle imaging method for quantifying the colocalization of CD74 with human leukocyte antigen (HLA)‐DR molecules on human fibroblast cells known for their capacity to function as antigen‐presenting cells. We have also examined whether the colocalization induces internalization of HLA‐DR using HA307‐319, a “universal” peptide that binds specifically to the peptide‐binding groove of all HLA‐DR molecules, irrespective of their alleles. We have determined that 25 ± 1.3% of CD74 and 17 ± 0.3% of HLA‐DR are colocalized, and the association of CD74 with HLA‐DR and the internalization of HLA‐DR are both inhibited by HA307‐319. A similar inhibition of HLA‐DR internalization was observed in freshly isolated monocyte‐derived dendritic cells. A key role of CD74 is to translocate HLA‐DR molecules to early endosomes for reloading with peptides prior to recycling to the cell surface. We conclude that CD74 regulates the balance of peptide‐occupied and peptide‐free forms of MHC class II at the cell surface. —Karakikes, I. , Morrison, I. E. G. , O'Toole, P., Metodieva, G. , Navarrete, C. V. , Gomez, J., Miranda‐Sayago, J. M. , Cherry, R. J., Metodiev, M. , Fernandez, N. Interaction of HLA‐DR and CD74 at the cell surface of antigen‐presenting cells by single‐particle image analysis. FASEB J. 26, 4886–4896 (2012). www.fasebj. org
Induction of Yersinia enterocolitica Stress Proteins by Phagocytosis with Macrophage

Yersinia enterocolitica is a facultative intracellular pathogen which invades to epithelial cells and survives in phagocytes. Since the internal environment of phagocytes should be stressful conditions for the phagocytosed Yersinia, the bacteria should respond to protect themselves from otherwise lethal results. We analyzed the stress‐induced proteins which possibly contribute to survival of Yersinia within the phagocytes. Y. enterocolitica was radiolabeled during the growth in macrophage‐like J774‐1 cells, and the bacterial proteins were analyzed by two‐dimensional gel electrophoresis. At least 16 proteins were selectively induced in response to phagocytosis, and several out of 16 proteins were also induced by heat shock at 42 C or oxidative stresses in vitro. Of those, two major stress proteins were identified to be homologues of DnaK and CRPA by immunoblotting analysis. These results have indicated that Y. enterocolitica exhibits a global stress response to the hostile environment in the phagocytosed macrophage.
PDGF‐BB induces vascular smooth muscle cell expression of high molecular weight FGF‐2, which accumulates in the nucleus

Basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF‐2) and platelet‐derived growth factor (PDGF) are implicated in vascular remodeling secondary to injury. Both growth factors control vascular endothelial and smooth muscle cell proliferation, migration, and survival through overlapping intracellular signaling pathways. In vascular smooth muscle cells PDGF‐BB induces FGF‐2 expression. However, the effect of PDGF on the different forms of FGF‐2 has not been elucidated. Here, we report that treatment of vascular aortic smooth muscle cells with PDGF‐BB rapidly induces expression of 20.5 and 21 kDa, high molecular weight (HMW) FGF‐2 that accumulates in the nucleus and nucleolus. Conversely, PDGF treatment has little or no effect on 18 kDa, low‐molecular weight FGF‐2 expression. PDGF‐BB‐induced upregulation of HMW FGF‐2 expression is controlled by sustained activation of extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (ERK)‐1/2 and is abolished by actinomycin D. These data describe a novel interaction between PDGF‐BB and FGF‐2, and indicate that the nuclear forms of FGF‐2 may mediate the effect of PDGF activity on vascular smooth muscle cells. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Keyword search over probabilistic XML data

Despite the proliferation of work on XML keyword search, it remains open to support keyword search over uncertain XML data. In this paper, we study the problem of ELCA-based answers over uncertain XML data, which is to retrieve subtrees taking a probability of at least a threshold to be ELCA-based answers. To answer such query efficiently, we employ a filtering-and-verification strategy which is based on a proposed probabilistic inverted index, PrIndex. Based on PrIndex, we develop tight lower and upper bounds that can prune unqualified results very rapidly. After that, we propose an efficient algorithm (PrIndex-based algorithm) that combine probability threshold pruning and probability distribution of node from leaf to root to support keyword search over probabilistic XML data. Extensive experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithms.
The polycomb group protein enhancer of zeste 2 is a novel therapeutic target for cervical cancer

Enhancer of zeste 2 (EZH2), a polycomb histone methyltransferase, is overexpressed in various cancers, including cervical cancer. Gene expression analysis revealed that increased expression of EZH2 is associated with cervical cancer progression, particularly the progression to invasive squamous cell carcinoma. Enhancer of zeste 2 is known to trimethylate lysine 27 on histone H3, leading to gene silencing that contributes to the progression of tumours into a more aggressive form of cancer. However, the specific molecular mechanisms by which EZH2 contributes to the development of cervical cancer remain largely unknown. Recently, an EZH2 inhibitor was reported to selectively inhibit trimethylated lysine 27 on histone H3 and to reactivate silenced genes in cancer cells. In this study, we found that GSK343 (a specific inhibitor of EZH2 methyltransferase) induces phenotypic reprogramming of cancer cells from mesenchymal to epithelial cells, reducing proliferation and cell motility and blocking the invasion of cervical cancer cell lines both in vitro and in vivo. Treatment with the EZH2 inhibitor led to increased levels of the epithelial marker E‐cadherin and decreased levels of mesenchymal markers such as N‐cadherin and vimentin. The observed reprogramming is associated with restrained cervical cancer progression and provides direct evidence in support of EZH2 as a therapeutic target.
Stability analysis for communication of voice terminals with packet reservation multiple access protocol with high propagation delays using state estimation

This paper addresses stability, bifurcation properties, and performance improvement of the packet reservation multiple access with hindering states (PRMA-HS) protocol, a medium access control scheme suitable for application in low earth orbit mobile satellite systems. The bistable behavior and bifurcation properties of the PRMA-HS protocol for a traffic with voice sources is investigated. A bifurcation control scheme using state estimation is proposed to increase the capacity of the PRMA-HS protocol, defined as the number of simultaneous users sharing the same communication medium. Finally, a brief discussion concerning the extension of the proposed bifurcation control to PRMA-HS protocol over a random packet error channel is also provided.
Influence of BrpA on Critical Virulence Attributes of Streptococcus mutans

ABSTRACT Streptococcus mutans, the primary etiological agent of human dental caries, has developed multiple mechanisms to colonize and form biofilms on the tooth surface. The brpA gene codes for a predicted surface-associated protein with apparent roles in biofilm formation, autolysis, and cell division. In this study, we used two models to further characterize the biofilm-forming characteristics of a BrpA-deficient mutant, strain TW14. Compared to those of the parent strain, UA159, TW14 formed long chains and sparse microcolonies on hydroxylapatite disks but failed to accumulate and form three-dimensional biofilms when grown on glucose as the carbohydrate source. The biofilm formation defect was also readily apparent by confocal laser scanning microscopy when flow cells were used to grow biofilms. When subjected to acid killing at pH 2.8 for 45 min, the survival rate of strain TW14 was more than 1 log lower than that of the wild-type strain. TW14 was at least 3 logs more susceptible to killing by 0.2% hydrogen peroxide than was UA159. The expression of more than 200 genes was found by microarray analysis to be altered in cells lacking BrpA (P < 0.01). These results suggest that the loss of BrpA can dramatically influence the transcriptome and significantly affects the regulation of acid and oxidative stress tolerance and biofilm formation in S. mutans, which are key virulence attributes of the organism.
Simulating stretching dynamics of DNA with dissipative particle dynamics

The stretching dynamics of a semiflexible chain by introducing time-independent tension is presented in this paper. Dissipative particle dynamics is used as the leading method to simulate the stretching behaviors of polymer by introducing the bead-rod or bead-spring type particles. The numerical results show us that in the low tension regime the flexibility can play an important role during the stretching process. It is also can be found that the larger tension leads to the increase of the fraction extension in the intermediate tension regime. And in the high tension regime, the fast equilibrium can be obtained.