Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Doppler ultrasonography as a tool for ovarian management

Doppler ultrasonography allows the characterization and measurement of blood flow, and can be used to indirectly make inference regarding the functionality of different organs, including the ovaries. Several studies highlighted the importance of an adequate blood flow for follicle development and acquisition of ovulatory potential, and for progesterone secretion by the corpus luteum. Due to some particularities of the ovarian vascular anatomy, however, different strategies had to be developed to measure the blood flow detected by Doppler imaging. Some of these approaches were successful to characterize the patterns of blood flow throughout the estrous cycle, pregnancy, and early postpartum, but require post-acquisition image processing and do not allow real time decisions to be taken. The subjective evaluation of blood flow has been alternatively used in field conditions aiming to early detect non-pregnant animals, select embryo recipients, or predict artificial insemination and in vitro fertilization outcomes. In summary, color-Doppler imaging provides important information about the function of corpus luteum and follicles, supporting clinical diagnoses and management decisions. Nonetheless, the adoption of Doppler ultrasonography as a routine exam, instead of a limited use in an individual basis, requires further development of feasible blood flow evaluation procedures and the establishment of reference values.
Small signal stability improvement of a single machine infinite bus system using SVC

FACTS (Flexible AC Transmission Systems) controllers are used to enhance power transmission capability of existing transmission corridors. Shunt FACTS controllers achieve this by improving the bus voltage profile of the system. The Static Var Compensator (SVC) is a shunt FACTS controller which is used to improve the system bus voltage profile by providing reactive power compensation. In addition, SVC firing angle modulation using a damping controller can achieve the additional objective of power oscillation damping. It is observed that SVC with only voltage controller increases the small signal stability marginally. However, when a damping controller is added, a marked increase in the system small signal stability is achieved. A damping controller can use a variety of auxiliary or supplementary signals to improve the power oscillation damping. Usually, at the SVC location, electrical power, synthesized frequency, line current etc. are used as auxiliary signals. This paper presents the small signal stability improvement of a single machine infinite bus (SMIB) system with a SVC connected at the mid-point of the transmission line. Line current signal is used as a supplementary signal for the SVC damping controller. Multiple case studies are carried out to validate the results.
Recent Progress on Stretchable Electronic Devices with Intrinsically Stretchable Components

Stretchable electronic devices with intrinsically stretchable components have significant inherent advantages, including simple fabrication processes, a high integrity of the stacked layers, and low cost in comparison with stretchable electronic devices based on non‐stretchable components. The research in this field has focused on developing new intrinsically stretchable components for conductors, semiconductors, and insulators. New methodologies and fabrication processes have been developed to fabricate stretchable devices with intrinsically stretchable components. The latest successful examples of stretchable conductors for applications in interconnections, electrodes, and piezoresistive devices are reviewed here. Stretchable conductors can be used for electrode or sensor applications depending on the electrical properties of the stretchable conductors under mechanical strain. A detailed overview of the recent progress in stretchable semiconductors, stretchable insulators, and other novel stretchable materials is also given, along with a discussion of the associated technological innovations and challenges. Stretchable electronic devices with intrinsically stretchable components such as field‐effect transistors (FETs), photodetectors, light‐emitting diodes (LEDs), electronic skins, and energy harvesters are also described and a new strategy for development of stretchable electronic devices is discussed. Conclusions and future prospects for the development of stretchable electronic devices with intrinsically stretchable components are discussed.
Phosphodiesterase Type 5 Inhibition Reverts Prostate Fibroblast-to-Myofibroblast TransDifferentiation

Phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors have been demonstrated to improve lower urinary tract symptoms secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Because BPH is primarily driven by fibroblast-to-myofibroblast trans-differentiation, this study aimed to evaluate the potential of the PDE5 inhibitor vardenafil to inhibit and reverse trans-differentation of primary human prostatic stromal cells (PrSC). Vardenafil, sodium nitroprusside, lentiviral-delivered short hairpin RNA-mediated PDE5 knockdown, sodium orthovanadate, and inhibitors of MAPK kinase, protein kinase G, Ras homolog family member (Rho) A, RhoA/Rho kinase, phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase and protein kinase B (AKT) were applied to PrSC treated with basic fibroblast growth factor (fibroblasts) or TGF 1 (myofibroblasts) in vitro, in chicken chorioallantoic membrane xenografts in vivo, and to prostatic organoids ex vivo. Fibroblast-to-myofibroblast trans-differentiation was monitored by smooth muscle cell actin and IGF binding protein 3 mRNA and protein levels. Vardenafil significantly attenuated TGF 1-induced PrSC trans-differentiation in vitro and in chorioallantoic membrane xenografts. Enhancement of nitric oxide/cyclic guanosine monophosphate signaling by vardenafil, sodium nitroprusside, or PDE5 knockdown reduced smooth muscle cell actin and IGF binding protein 3 mRNA and protein levels and restored fibroblast-like morphology in trans-differentiated myofibroblast. This reversal of trans-differentiation was not affected by MAPK kinase, protein kinase G, RhoA, or RhoA/Rho kinase inhibition, but vardenafil attenuated phospho-AKT levels in myofibroblasts. Consistently, phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase or AKT inhibition induced reversal of trans-differentiation, whereas the tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor sodium orthovanadate abrogated the effect of vardenafil. Treatment of prostatic organoids with vardenafil ex vivo reduced expression of myofibroblast markers, indicating reverse remodeling of stroma towards a desired higher fibroblast/myofibroblast ratio. Thus, enhancement of the nitric oxide/cyclic guanosine monophosphate signaling pathway by vardenafil attenuates and reverts fibroblast-to-myofibroblast trans-differentiation, hypothesizing that BPH patients might benefit from long-term therapy with PDE5 inhibitors. (Endocrinology 153: 5546–5555, 2012)
Improvement of GaN-based light-emitting diode by indium-tin-oxide transparent electrode and vertical electrode

A sapphire-etched vertical-electrode nitride semiconductor (SEVENS) light-emitting diode (LED) is fabricated by means of a selective chemical wet-etching technique. The SEVENS-LED formed on sapphire substrate exhibits excellent device performance compared to a conventional NiAu lateral-electrode (LE) GaN-based LED formed on the same sapphire substrate. The integral light-output power of SEVENS-LED is /spl sim/7 mW, which is 1.75 times stronger than that of the conventional NiAu LE-LED (/spl sim/4 mW). The external quantum efficiency of SEVENS-LED is estimated to be approximately 13%.
Generating Ontologies through Organizational Modeling

Ontologies are recognized as important component of information systems supporting business processes within and across organizations. At modeling time, they contribute identifying key elements from business processes; at development time, their structure can be translated automatically into information system’s source code; finally, at run time, through queries and reasoning, they provide proper data for decision making. Additionally, ontologies provide the basis for sharing and publishing organizational information through the Semantic Web. However, representing organizational information directly into an ontology requires specialized expertise in the ontology engineering domain, thus, ontologies are not generated using a domain language easily for the organizational domain experts. In this work, we propose the use of specialized organizational modeling techniques as starting point to model the organization, thereby, ensuring the proper definition of the organizational knowledge. Then, a mechanism is provided to automatically transform the organizational knowledge in its corresponding ontological representation. Our proposed approach is based on Model Driven Engineering ideas and it involves: a) the development of an ontology representing the metamodel of two widely used organizational modeling techniques i* and Tropos and b) the systematic transformation of i* based modeling primitives into instances of the ontology. Keywords-Organizational modeling; ontologies; organizational knowledge base; Model-Driven Engineering
Mammalian Ku86 protein prevents telomeric fusions independently of the length of TTAGGG repeats and the G‐strand overhang

Ku86 together with Ku70, DNA‐PKcs, XRCC4 and DNA ligase IV forms a complex involved in repairing DNA double‐strand breaks (DSB) in mammals. Yeast Ku has an essential role at the telomere; in particular, Ku deficiency leads to telomere shortening, loss of telomere clustering, loss of telomeric silencing and deregulation of the telomeric G‐overhang. In mammals, Ku proteins associate to telomeric repeats; however, the possible role of Ku in regulating telomere length has not yet been addressed. We have measured telomere length in different cell types from wild‐type and Ku86‐deficient mice. In contrast to yeast, Ku86 deficiency does not result in telomere shortening or deregulation of the G‐strand overhang. Interestingly, Ku86−/− cells show telomeric fusions with long telomeres (>81 kb) at the fusion point. These results indicate that mammalian Ku86 plays a fundamental role at the telomere by preventing telomeric fusions independently of the length of TTAGGG repeats and the integrity of the G‐strand overhang.
Air Nicotine and Saliva Cotinine as Indicators of Workplace Passive Smoking Exposure and Risk 1

We model nicotine from environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) in office air and salivary cotinine in nonsmoking U.S. workers. We estimate that: an average salivary cotinine level of 0.4 ng/ml corresponds to an increased lifetime mortality risk of 1/1000 for lung cancer, and 1/100 for heart disease; >95% of ETS‐exposed office workers exceed OSHA's significant risk level for heart disease mortality, and 60% exceed significant risk for lung cancer mortality; 4000 heart disease deaths and 400 lung cancer deaths occur annually among office workers from passive smoking in the workplace, at the current 28% prevalence of unrestricted smoking in the office workplace.
The characterization of two specific drug binding sites on human serum albumin.

The binding of a number of fluorescent probe molecules to human serum albumin (HSA) has been studied. Small changes in the amino acid moiety of the dansylamino acids resulted in large changes in the binding of these compounds to HSA. It is suggested that electrostatic and dipolar forces play a role in the specificity and binding affinity of such compounds. Fluorescent probes which had one tight binding site were used for drug displacement studies. Changes in probe fluorescence were shown, by equilibrium dialysis and by fluorescence titrations, to be a result of competitive displacement by drugs. The pattern of displacement of probes by drugs enabled the identification of two specific drug binding sites. The relative affinity of drugs for these binding sites was measured by their ability to displace fluorescent probes specific for the sites. The method provides a rapid and simple means for detecting potential drug interactions based on competition for protein binding sites.
Preparation of Chitosan Scaffolds for Tissue Engineering using Freeze drying Technology

FREEZE-DRYING METHOD Porous chitosan scaffold formulation was fabricated using freezedrying method. Briefly chitosan was dissolved in 0.2 M glacial acetic acid and solution was stored for 1 day at room temperature. After 1 day, solution was poured into stainless steel mould and mould was stored in deep freezer at – 70C for 5 days. After 5 days, mould was placed in lyophiliser (Martin Christ alpha 1-2 LD plus, Germany) for 3 days. In the lyophiliser, preparation faced three phases. The first phase was freezing phase sample was exposed upto (40C, vacuum 6.4mbar) for 10 min. The second phase was warm up vacuum pump phase sample was exposed upto (15C, vacuum 1.4mbar) for 20 min. The third phase was main drying phase sample was exposed upto (30C, vacuum 0.98 mbar) for 3 days and after 3 days, blank porous chitosan scaffold was prepared [2].
Development of a test of speech intelligibility in noise using sentence materials with controlled word predictability.

This paper describes a test of everyday speech reception, in which a listener’s utilization of the linguistic‐situational information of speech is assessed, and is compared with the utilization of acoustic‐phonetic information. The test items are sentences which are presented in babble‐type noise, and the listener response is the final word in the sentence (the key word) which is always a monosyllabic noun. Two types of sentences are used: high‐predictability items for which the key word is somewhat predictable from the context, and low‐predictability items for which the final word cannot be predicted from the context. Both types are included in several 50‐item forms of the test, which are balanced for intelligibility, key‐word familiarity and predictability, phonetic content, and length. Performance of normally hearing listeners for various signal‐to‐noise ratios shows significantly different functions for low‐ and high‐predictability items. The potential applications of this test, particularly in the assessment of speech reception in the hearing impaired, are discussed.
TH1 and TH2 T-cell subsets are differentially activated by macrophages and B cells in murine leishmaniasis

The role of antigen-presenting cells in the differential expansion of TH1 and TH2 T cells in murine leishmaniasis was investigated. In general, macrophages preferentially induced gamma interferon and interleukin-2 secretion by syngeneic Leishmania-specific T cells, whereas B cells were more efficient in activating interleukin 4 production. B cells from susceptible BALB/c mice were better in inducing TH2 responses than B cells from resistant C57BL/6 mice, whereas macrophages from C57BL/6 mice were superior to BALB/c macrophages in inducing TH1 responses.
HUMAN RELIABILITY ANALYSIS FOR INLAND WATERWAY NAVIGATION 1 SAFETY BY A BAYESIAN NETWORK APPROACH 2 3

1 Inland waterway transport (IWT) is an important part of waterway transport. Prevention and 2 reduction of inland waterway traffic accidents is always the most central issue of developing IWT. 3 And human errors contribute the most for ship accidents. As a dynamic process, the ship accident 4 results from a series of factors which are related in a complicated manner. This paper presents a 5 general method for developing a Bayesian Network to model the human reliability analysis of 6 inland waterway ship accidents. The qualitative part of the BN is structured based on three expert 7 group. The quantitative part is based on correlation analysis of human related factors from 123 8 accident investigation reports. The Bayesian inference using GeNIe software shows that improper 9 shift and poor lookout have a significant effect on the probability of ship accidents. The main 10 causation factors could be found out and analyzed through BN probabilistic reasoning, thus the 11 proposed BN model provides effective suggestions for decision making about inland waterway 12 safety related issues. 13 14 keywords: Inland Waterway Transport, Navigation Safety, Bayesian Network, Expert Elicitation, 15 EM Algorithm 16 17
Innovative Personality-based Digital Services

Since the advent of social media, human-internet interaction has changed dramatically towards greater individual characteristic-based services. Since personality traits are the most stable behavioral dispositions of an individual, it is surprising that the digital service industry has not focused its attention on personality-based services. Consequently the value creation potential of personality-based services is currently largely ignored. That is why in this paper I demonstrate that social media data contains fruitful information about a user’s personality which in turn can be used for novel personality-based services, e.g. in marketing and recruiting.
AC-DC transfer standard measurements with a Josephson arbitrary waveform synthesizer at 200 mV

Thermal voltage converters and transfer standards are critical components in AC electrical metrology. In order to improve the low-voltage (<; 1 V) calibration of such transfer standards at NIST, we have developed an AC Josephson voltage standard (ACJVS) capable of an rms output of 200 mV from a single Josephson array. Such voltages are possible because the array operates in the n = 2 quantum voltage state. Using this ACJVS, we synthesized dc and sinusoidal waveforms spanning the range 1 kHz to 100 kHz and measured ac-dc differences with a commercial transfer standard. The results are in good agreement with prior measurements of this particular transfer standard, using an earlier, lower-voltage ACJVS.
Prediction-Based Synchronized Human Motion Imitation by a Humanoid Robot

Abstract In this paper we propose a framework of realtime whole-body human motion imitation for humanoid robots. The approach starts with a kinematic mapping in combination with a balancing algorithm in order to ensure the dynamic constraints during different stance phases. In order to compensate for time delays in the imitation, which emerge from the required weight transfer before stance changes, we apply a machine learning approach based on Hidden Markov Models and Gaussian Regression. Once locomotion primitives are learned from demonstrations, the robot can recognize human´s current locomotion state and predict future trajectories. The proposed approaches are implemented and evaluated using a small humanoid robot NAO. Zusammenfassung Im vorliegenden Beitrag stellen wir ein System für die Imitation menschlicher Gesamtkörperbewegungen durch einen humanoiden Roboter vor. Wir beginnen mit einer kinematischen Abbildung in Kombination mit einem Abgleich-Algorithmus, um die dynamische Stabilität während unterschiedlicher Standphasen sicherzustellen. Um Zeitverzögerungen zu minimieren, die durch erforderliche Gewichtsverlagerungen vor einer Haltungsänderung entstehen, wenden wir eine Methode des maschinellen Lernens an, die auf HMMs und Gauß-Regression beruht. Nachdem die Bewegungs-Primitive aus Demonstrationen gelernt wurden, kann der Roboter den aktuellen Bewegungszustand des Menschen erkennen und zukünftige Trajektorien vorhersagen. Die vorgeschlagenen Verfahren werden auf einem kleinen humanoiden NAO-Roboter implementiert und evaluiert.
An Operational Semantics for the Parallel Language Eden

The functional parallel language Eden — suitable for the description of parallel and concurrent algorithms in a distributed setting — is an extension of Haskell with a set of coordination features. In this paper we present a formal operational semantics for the kernel of Eden, or more precisely, for a λ-calculus widened with explicit parallelism and potentially infinite communication channels. Eden overrides the lazy nature of Haskell on behalf of parallelism. This interplay between laziness and eagerness is accurately described by the semantics proposed here, which is based on Launchbury's natural semantics for lazy evaluation, and is expressed through a two-level transition system: a lower level for the local and independent evaluation of each process, and an upper one for the coordination between all the parallel processes in the system. As processes are created either under demand or in a speculative way, different scheduling strategies are possible — ranging from a minimal one that only allows the main thread to evolve, to a maximal one that evolves in parallel every active binding.
Robust nonlinear control design for an IPMC by using ABC-based operator approach

In this paper, a robust nonlinear control design for ionic polymer metal composite (IPMC) with uncertainties is proposed by using artificial bee colony based-operator approach. In detail, first, for a nonlinear IPMC dynamic model with uncertainties, a robust control system based on operator based robust right coprime factorization (RRCF) approach is presented. Second, considering the unknown uncertain plant that generates limitations in obtaining so-called universal condition, a proportional integral (PI) controller is designed to realize tracking control for the proposed robust stable system. Moreover, an artificial bee colony (ABC) algorithm is used to obtain on line the control parameters (Kp, Ki) of PI controller. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed control system is confirmed by simulation results.
Design and Conduct of an Internet-Based Preconception Cohort Study in North America: Pregnancy Study Online.

BACKGROUND We launched the Boston University Pregnancy Study Online (PRESTO) to assess the feasibility of carrying out an Internet-based preconception cohort study in the US and Canada. METHODS We recruited female participants age 21-45 and their male partners through Internet advertisements, word of mouth, and flyers. Female participants were randomised with 50% probability to receive a subscription to FertilityFriend.com (FF), a web-based programme that collects real-time data on menstrual characteristics. We compared recruitment methods within PRESTO, assessed the cost-efficiency of PRESTO relative to its Danish counterpart (Snart-Gravid), and validated retrospectively reported date of last menstrual period (LMP) against the FF data. RESULTS After 99 weeks of recruitment (2013-15), 2421 women enrolled; 1384 (57%) invited their male partners to participate, of whom 693 (50%) enrolled. Baseline characteristics were balanced across randomisation groups. Cohort retention was similar among those randomised vs. not randomised to FF (84% vs. 81%). At study enrollment, 56%, 22%, and 22% couples had been trying to conceive for < 3, 3-5, and ≥ 6 months, respectively. The cost per subject enrolled was $146 (2013 US$), which was similar to our companion Danish study and half that of a traditional cohort study. Among FF users who conceived, > 97% reported their LMP on the PRESTO questionnaire within 1 day of the LMP recorded via FF. CONCLUSIONS Use of the Internet as a method of recruitment and follow-up in a North American preconception cohort study was feasible and cost-effective.
Title Observation of capillary flow in human skin during tissue compressionusing CCD video-microscopy

Recent technological advances of the CCD video-camera have made microscopes more compact and greatly improved their sensitivity. We newly designed a compact capillaroscopy which was composed with a CCD video-probe equipped a contact-type objective lens and illuminator. In the present study, we evaluated usefulness of the instrument for a bed-side human capillaroscopy to observe the capillary flow in various dermal regions. The influences of tissue compression on the dermal capillary blood flow were also investigated to confirm the utility for clinical applications. Our capillaroscopy visualized the nutritional capillary blood flow in almost all parts of skin surface. Our observations showed that a level of vertical stress similar to arterial pressure was required to stop the capillary flow. From these demonstrations the present CCD video-probe based capillaroscopy would be useful for clinical applications as a bed-side human capillaroscopy.