Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Materials and methods Patients with ischemic stroke 374 Patients of atherothrombotic stroke

Objective: CD36 is involved in oxidant stress, hyperlipidemia, and thrombosis in the pathology of stroke. CD 36 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were reported to be associated with abnormalities of serum FA, triglyceride level and to increase risk of metabolic syndrome, coronary artery disease and type 2 diabetes. Based on these finding we hypothesized that CD36 is an important candidate gene of stroke; therefore, we set out a casecontrol study to explore the association of CD36 SNPs with ischemic stroke. Methods: We enrolled 374 patients with atherothrombotic stroke as cases and 1,013 people without stroke as controls. CD36 rs3211842, rs3211870, rs1761667, rs9784998, and rs10499859 loci were detected by PCR-ligase detection reaction. Results: Only rs1761667 (P=0.042) and rs10499859 (P=0.038) polymorphisms were associated with cases of ischemic stroke. Under a dominant genetic model, logistic regression analysis revealed a 1.34-fold increased risk (95% CI 1.05-1.72) of ischemic stroke with rs1761667 A than non-A carriers (P=0.020); the adjusted odds ratio (AOR) was 1.38 (95% CI 1.06-1.78) after adjusting for the covariates age, gender, body mass index (BMI), cigarette smoking, hypertension, and diabetes. For rs10499859, the risk was increased 1.36-fold for G than non-G carriers (P=0.016), and the AOR was 1.39 (95% CI 1.08-1.81) (P=0.012). The 5 SNPs were in strong linkage disequilibrium. CD36 SNPs may have no association with plasma lipid levels and thromboxane B2 (TXB2) expression. Conclusion: CD36 rs1761667 and rs10499859 may indicate genetic susceptibility to ischemic stroke among Chinese Han.
A novel analytical approach to the prediction of respiratory diaphragm motion based on external torso volume change

An analytical approach to predict respiratory diaphragm motion should have advantages over a correlation-based method, which cannot adapt to breathing pattern changes without re-calibration for a changing correlation and/or linear coefficient. To quantitatively calculate the diaphragm motion, a new expandable ‘piston’ respiratory (EPR) model was proposed and tested using 4DCT torso images of 14 patients. The EPR model allows two orthogonal lung motions (with a few volumetric constraints): (1) the lungs expand (ΔVEXP) with the same anterior height variation as the thoracic surface, and (2) the lungs extend (ΔVEXT) with the same inferior distance as the volumetrically equivalent ‘piston’ diaphragm. A volume conservation rule (VCR) established previously (Li et al 2009 Phys. Med. Biol. 54 1963–78) was applied to link the external torso volume change (TVC) to internal lung volume change (LVC) via lung air volume change (AVC). As the diaphragm moves inferiorly, the vacant space above the diaphragm inside the rib cage should be filled by lung tissue with a volume equal to ΔVEXT (=LVC–ΔVEXP), while the volume of non-lung tissues in the thoracic cavity should conserve. It was found that ΔVEXP accounted for 3–24% of the LVC in these patients. The volumetric shape of the rib cage, characterized by the variation of cavity volume per slice over the piston motion range, deviated from a hollow cylinder by −1.1% to 6.0%, and correction was made iteratively if the variation is >3%. The predictions based on the LVC and TVC (with a conversion factor) were compared with measured diaphragm displacements (averaged from six pivot points), showing excellent agreements (0.2 ± 0.7 mm and 0.2 ± 1.2 mm, respectively), which are within clinically acceptable tolerance. Assuming motion synchronization between the piston and points of interest along the diaphragm, point motion was estimated but at higher uncertainty (∼10% ± 4%). This analytical approach provides a patient-independent technique to calculate the patient-specific diaphragm motion, using the anatomical and respiratory volumetric constraints.
Enhancement of calibrated stereo vision depth map estimation for autostereoscopic viewing

In this paper, we describe a new algorithm to enhance the calibrated stereo camera based depth map (disparity) estimation to view the 3D scene content on autostereoscopic displays. There are various similarity measure methods for calculating the disparity between a block in the first image and the corresponding block in the second image that is most similar to the block in the first image. This process is also called template matching. In the case of rectified stereo images, the template matching algorithm compares the template block from the first image against all blocks along the epipolar line in the second image assuming that all the corresponding pixels of the template block displaced by the same amount. The proposed algorithm employs the same principle, but differs with its similarity measure algorithm which is noise robust as well as intensity-wise shift and scale invariant. A comparative evaluation between the normalized cross-correlation based similarity measure and the proposed algorithm are given in the paper.
Aerial Radio-Based Telemetry for Tracking Wildlife

This paper considers the problem of choosing measurement locations of an aerial robot in an online manner in order to localize an animal with a radio collar. The aerial robot has a commercial, low-cost directional antenna and USB receiver to capture the signal. It uses its own movement to obtain a bearing measurement. The uncertainty in these measurements is assumed to be bounded and represented as wedges. The measurements are then merged by intersecting the wedges. The localization uncertainty is quantified by the area of the resulting intersection. The goal is to reduce the localization uncertainty to a value below a given threshold in minimum time. We present an online strategy to choose measurement locations during execution based on previous readings and analyze its performance with competitive analysis. The time required to localize a target is upper-bounded by the function of measurement noise, desired localization uncertainty and minimum step length. We also validate the strategy in extensive simulations and show its applicability through field experiments over a 5 hectare area using an autonomous aerial robot equipped with a directional antenna.
Ride-through capability improvement of 30kW DFIG-based wind turbine under unsymmetrical voltage dip

This paper addresses the use of resonant control to improve the grid ride-through capability of Doubly Fed Induction Generators (DFIG) under unbalanced grid conditions. DFIG is very sensitive to grid disturbances as its stator circuit is directly connected to the grid. Voltage sags can be harmful to the wind energy conversion systems (WECS) as they induce high voltages and high currents in the rotor circuit. It is important that wind energy systems continue operating during grid disturbances in order to guarantee grid stability. Electric system operators worldwide are introducing minimum requirements for the connection of wind energy systems to the grid. In this regard, this paper presents the insertion of resonant control to the classical PI control strategy in order to improve the ride-through capability during unbalanced voltage dips. The study was carried out in a 30kW WECS laboratory bench. Simulation results using MATLAB/Simulink and experimental results show the control performance.
Highly efficient surface enhanced Raman scattering using microstructured optical fibers with enhanced plasmonic interactions

Microstructured optical fibers "MOFs" represent a promising platform technology for fully integrated photonic-plasmonic devices. In this paper, we experimentally investigate the properties of two MOF templates impregnated with silver nanoparticles via a high pressure chemical deposition technique. By comparing fiber templates with different air filling fractions, we have quantified the importance of an increased field-particle overlap for improved surface enhanced Raman scattering sensitivity for the next generation of optical fiber sensors.
Habitat Selection by Swainson's Warblers Breeding in Loblolly Pine Plantations in Southeastern Louisiana

Abstract Although Swainson's warbler (Limnothlypis swainsonii) is typically associated with bottomland hardwood forests, they also breed in even-age pine (Pinus spp.) plantations. We used mist nets and point counts from 1998–2000 to survey intensively managed even-age loblolly pine (P. taeda) plantations of different age classes and management histories to determine breeding status and stand structure preferences of Swainson's warbler in southeastern Louisiana, USA. We detected Swainson's warblers in 23 of 124 sampled loblolly pine stands. We also confirmed breeding in 7–24-year-old pine stands. We found Swainson's warblers in pine stands that had well-developed canopy closure, abundant understory vegetation, and sparse live ground cover. Floristic differences between hardwood and pine breeding habitats demonstrate that Swainson's warblers do not require specific vegetation composition, although they discriminate within habitats based on physical structure of vegetation. Although management of Swainson's warblers has generally been directed at bottomland hardwood forests, widespread use of pine plantations may offer additional management opportunities for this species of concern.
Stripmap autofocus of short range Ku-band synthetic aperture radar data

An autofocus scheme for stripmap synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data using dominant scatterers is given. The focus of the paper is on assessing the performance on real data from an experimental Ku-band gated frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) system. The measurements are performed from a rooftop rail of 33 m length. An inertial navigation system consisting of a satellite navigation receiver and an inertial measurement unit (IMU) produces input to a post processing software. The satellite receiver only gives centimeter relative accuracy, while including the IMU data we get millimeter relative accuracy. The result when applying the millimeter accuracy navigation data serves as a reference for the proposed autofocus scheme. A time domain backprojection is applied to the data, with the centimeter accuracy navigation data as input. At Ku-band this will not be sufficient to get focused SAR images. Dominant scatterers are chosen from the partly focused image, and spatial filters are applied to the image before an inverse wavenumber algorithm is applied to get clean range profiles. The phase history of the clean range profiles are then used in the autofocus algorithm. The result from the autofocus scheme is compared to the image produced when including the IMU data in the navigation post processing software.
Evaluation of multi MPPT thermoelectric generator system

A large scale Thermoelectric Generator System (TEG) has temperature distribution for both heat source and heat sink, leading mismatch power loss. The insertion of power conditioner witch has impedance matching ability between TEG and a load has a potential to recover the mismatch power loss of the system effectively. The practical maximum power point tracking (MPPT) conditioner for TEG with the size of 30times60 mm2, which can be used up to 30 W has been developed. The power conditioner is composed of Buck-Boost converter, internal power supply, and microcontroller. The microcontroller controls the virtual conductance of the load to match the internal conductance of the connected thermoelectric modules. The effect of MPPT power conditioner insertion is evaluated using the experimental TEG system, which composed of four thermoelectric module (TEM) strings. We confirmed each MPPT power conditioner connected in parallel maintains optimum operating condition. The results suggest that introducing MPPT power conditioner has a potential to reduce mismatch power loss and improve load matching ability of TEG system.
Using Autoregressive Models of Wavelet Bases in the Design of Mental Task-Based BCIs

A powerful tool for analyzing the characteristics of the signal in the frequency domain as well as in the time domain is wavelet analysis. To analyze the signal, it can be decomposed into some levels successively by wavelet transform. At each level, decomposition yields two types of components: the approximations component which is the low-frequency high-scale portion of the signal, and the details component which is the high-frequency low-scale portion. The resultant approximations component is decomposed repetitively after each level. This is usually referred to as wavelet decomposition. Fig. 1.a shows a signal decomposed into three levels by wavelet decomposition.
enetic relationships between Spanish Assaf ( Assaf . E ) and Spanish ative dairy sheep breeds

At present, the Assaf is the main dairy sheep in Spain. The Spanish Assaf (Assaf.E) was formed by male-mediated absorption of native Spanish sheep. Here we assess the genetic relationships among the Assaf.E and major native Spanish dairy breeds using microsatellites to contribute to the knowledge of the formation and within-population genetic variability of the breed. Blood samples from 44 unrelated Assaf.E individuals from 23 different Assaf.E flocks spread throughout 6 different Spanish provinces were obtained and genotyped using 14 microsatellites. Up to 312 additional samples belonging to the Awassi and Milchschaf sheep breeds and to six native Spanish dairy sheep breeds (Castellana, Churra, Latxa, Manchega, and Rubia de El Molar) as well as samples from Merino individuals to be used as the outgroup were also analysed observed (Ho) and expected (He) heterozygosity, rarefacted number of alleles per locus and distances based on molecular coancestry information were computed. Probabilities of assignment of the Assaf.E individuals to native Spanish dairy sheep breeds and cryptic genetic structure in the whole dataset were also assessed. It can be concluded that the Assaf.E breed has low genetic variability and high genetic distance with respect native Spanish dairy sheep breeds. From our results, the formation of the Assaf.E breed basically occurred via the absorption of individuals belonging to the Entrefino type, particularly to the Castellana and Manchega populations. Furthermore, Churra individuals may have participated in the formation of the Assaf.E breed at an early oducti moment of the intr
A stopband-enhanced UWB bandpass filter using short-/open- stubs embedded ring resonator

A class of ultra-wideband bandpass filters using short-/open-stubs embedded ring resonator is discussed. The square ring resonator is first excited by two interdigital coupled-lines at two sides to achieve a triple-mode ultra-wideband bandpass filter performance. Two short-circuited stubs are then added to the upper and bottom sides of this square ring so as to constitute a quadruplet-mode bandpass filter, thus widening the desired passband while sharpening the rejection skirts around the cutoff frequencies. Next, the four open-circuited stubs are symmetrically attached at four corners of this ring, thus further improving the upper-stopband behaviors of this filter. The predicted results of the final filter shows good in-band and out-of-band filtering performances and it was well confirmed in experiment.
2D-simulation of inverted metamorphic GaInP/GaAs/GaInAs triple junction solar cell

Two-dimensional (2D) simulation has been performed on the inverted metamorphic GaInP/GaAs/InGaAs triple-junction (TJ) solar cells based on the Crosslight APSYS with improved tunnel junction model. The APSYS simulator solves semiconductor drift-diffusion equations by finite-element method. Optic propagation in solar cell device is modeled with transfer matrix method and/or ray tracing. The carrier photo-generation is calculated using experimental absorption coefficients. SRH, Auger, radiative and surface/interface recombination are all taken into account. The 2D simulation gives detailed information on the band diagram, optical power absorption and carrier transport etc. The simulated results of one-sun I–V curve with Voc, Isc and efficiency are in good agreement with the experimental. The results are further discussed with respect to current matching, multi-sun concentration and the top contact grid spacing.
Determination of flutamide in tablets by high performance liquid chromatography

La Flutamida es un antiandrogeno potente usado para el tratameinto del cancer de prostata. Se presenta aqui un metodo simple, sensible y seguro de cromatografia de alta resolucion (HPLC) para la determinacion cuatntitativa de flutamida en comprimidos, utilizando una tecnica den fase reversa y detecttion UV a 240 nm. Se uso elucion isocratica para cuantificar al analito. Las muestras fueron cromatografiadso sobre una columna Luna C-18 y la fase movil fue buffer fosfat 0.05 M de pH 4, - acetonitrilo (50:50, v/v). El metodo resulto linear entre 2,9 y 11, 6 mg.L–1. Por encima del rango de concentraciontes ensayadas la desviacion estandar relativa intradiaria para ana- lisis duplicados en comprimidos vario del 0,44 al 0,78%. Tambien pudo comprobarse que los excipientes de los comprimidos comericales no interfieren con el metodo
Performance Study of Precoding Techniques on Generalized Spatial Modulation with Correlated Antennas

Spatial modulation (SM) reduces transceiver complexity and inter-channel interference over traditional multiple input multiple output (MIMO) systems. It has been shown recently in the literature that the use of a precoder in an SM or a generalized spatial modulation (GSM) system can significantly improve error performance. This paper investigates two issues related to precoders: 1) the use of a precoder in Alamouti-GSM systems, and 2) the effects of power constraints on the precoder design. The results in this paper show that Alamouti-GSM can improve system performance by several dB. On power constraint issues, the paper shows that there is a trade-off between limiting antenna power fluctuations and the potential gain due to precoders.
In Search of a Strategy for Making Growth More Pro-Poor in the Philippines*

Despite the large and expanding literature on pro-poor growth, quantitative studies identifying potential determinants of pro-poor growth remain scarce. This paper addresses this lacuna in the literature for the case of the Philippines. The main driver of rural poverty reduction has shifted from agricultural to non-agricultural growth in the Philippines, but agricultural investments can be still effective in areas with underdeveloped infrastructure. Non-agricultural income growth, on the other hand, can be made more pro-poor by reducing child mortality, facilitating international labor migration, investing in roads, and reducing income inequality.
Application of high-frequency short-pulsed plasma-immersion ion implantation or deposition method for dielectric materials processing using gas, metal and gas-metal plasma

A new approach in the development of advanced coating deposition and ion implantation method including an application of filtered dc metal plasma and high-frequency short-pulsed negative bias voltage with a duty factor in the range 10%-99% are considered. The ion energy spectrum for different negative bias potential pulse duration (120-1100) ns was measured. The map of different methods of ion beam and plasma material treatment using high-frequency short pulse metal plasma immersion ion implantation or deposition depending on bias pulse duty factor and amplitude for Cu plasma is presented. The ion assisted coating deposition depending on samples conductivity and thickness, plasma concentration, pulse repetition rate and amplitude and duty factor has been examined.
An Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse imaging SNR upper bound with numerical validation and 1.5D ARFI transducer design

Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse (ARFI) imaging techniques have utility in a number of clinical applications, such as lesion detection or diagnosis of liver or prostate disease. In modern ultrasound systems possessing high electronic signal to noise (SNRE) levels, the major limiting factor in ARFI image signal to noise (SNRARF) performance is echo decorrelation arising from differential motion across the point spread function. In this paper, we present an analytical model for an upper bound on SNRARF beginning with previous work describing theoretical echo decorrelation and a lower bound on displacement estimation variance. Using information gained from this analysis, we propose a new optimized 1.5D ARFI transducer array design that increases the ratio of pushing to tracking beam widths, reduces echo decorrelation and increases SNRARF in comparison with conventional 1D arrays currently used for ARFI imaging. The performance of the 1D conventional and optimized 1.5D ARFI transducers are compared using a FIELD II and finite element model (FEM) numerical simulation framework. Our simulation framework confirms our analytical expression for an upper bound on SNRARF. Lesion images from our numerical simulations produce a 4.5dB contrast to noise (CNR) improvement with the proposed 1.5D ARFI array.
Pol12, the B subunit of DNA polymerase , functions in both telomere capping and length regulation

The regulation of telomerase action, and its coordination with conventional DNA replication and chromosome end “capping,” are still poorly understood. Here we describe a genetic screen in yeast for mutants with relaxed telomere length regulation, and the identification of Pol12, the B subunit of the DNA polymerase (Pol1)–primase complex, as a new factor involved in this process. Unlike many POL1 and POL12 mutations, which also cause telomere elongation, the pol12-216 mutation described here does not lead to either reduced Pol1 function, increased telomeric single-stranded DNA, or a reduction in telomeric gene silencing. Instead, and again unlike mutations affecting POL1, pol12-216 is lethal in combination with a mutation in the telomere end-binding and capping protein Stn1. Significantly, Pol12 and Stn1 interact in both two-hybrid and biochemical assays, and their synthetic-lethal interaction appears to be caused, at least in part, by a loss of telomere capping. These data reveal a novel function for Pol12 and a new connection between DNA polymerase and Stn1. We propose that Pol12, together with Stn1, plays a key role in linking telomerase action with the completion of lagging strand synthesis, and in a regulatory step required for telomere capping.
Low Bit-Rate Speech Codec Based on a Long-Term Harmonic Plus Noise Model

The long-term harmonic plus noise model (LT-HNM) for speech shows an interesting data compression, since it exploits the smooth evolution of the time trajectories of the short-term harmonic plus noise model parameters, by applying a discrete cosine model (DCM). In this paper we extend the LT-HNM to a complete low bit-rate speech coder, which is completely based on a long term approach ca. 200 ms. A Normalized Split Vector Quantization (NSVQ) is proposed to quantize the variable dimension LT-DCM vectors. The NSVQ is designed according to the properties of the DCM vectors obtained from a standard speech database. The obtained LT-HNM coder reaches a bit-rate of 1.5 kbps for 16 kHz sampled speech. The proposed coder is evaluated in terms of modeling/coding errors, bit-rate, listening quality, and intelligibility.
More Insiders, More Insider Trading: Evidence from Private Equity Buyouts

Recent takeover activity has been characterized by broader participation in acquiror financing on both debt and equity sides. We focus on private equity buyouts, and investigate whether the number of financing participants is related to the likelihood of insider trading prior to the bid announcement. Results suggest that more insiders leads to more insider trade. We study stock, option, bond, and CDS markets. Suspicious stock and options activity is associated with more equity participants, while suspicious activity in the credit markets is associated with more debt participants. The results highlight an important channel in the flow of information and may be consistent with models of limited competition among informed insiders. They are unlikely to be consistent with models of optimal regulation.