Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Efficiency and performance of embedded model predictive control for active vibration attenuation

The development of efficient solution approaches and technological advances facilitate the use of predictive control on embedded systems, even for fast systems or on computationally limited hardware platforms. The practical implementation of predictive control is, however, still often very time consuming and demands insight into the formulation and solution strategies for predictive control. Tools for automatic code generation tailored for deployment on embedded systems promise to overcome these problems and thus enable the fast and reliable implementation of predictive control. This paper exploits the efficiency and performance of automatic code generation for linear model predictive control for the embedded active vibration control of a flexible mechanical structure. μAO-MPC is used to automatically generate C code, based on a high level problem description. The resulting code is used for real-time implementation on an embedded platform. The embedded model predictive controller efficiently computes the voltage input for a piezoceramic actuator based on state estimates from a Kalman filter. The performance, computational efficiency, memory requirements, task execution timing and other properties of practical interest are examined via experiments on the embedded controller for active vibration control.
AN ADVANCED CODEBOOK BACKGROUND MODEL USING CONFIDENCE AND MEMBERSHIP FUNCTION

This paper introduces an advanced codebook model for foreground-background segmentation. The improvement is two-fold. First, to cope with changing global lumination, we develop the conventional codebook with confidence functions. Similarities of both brightness and normalized color-vector are integrated confidence-weightedly to form overall similarity. A designed codeword-update progress also contributes to the stable performance. Besides, by introducing a membership function based measurement, the threshold of overall similarity is able to adjust itself with statistical properties of the given video. It makes the model rather robust. A thorough evaluation is performed on the Wallflower dataset. Qualitative and quantitative results and comparisons with other approaches justify the model.
PRMT5 modulates the metabolic response to fasting signals

Under fasting conditions, increases in circulating glucagon maintain glucose balance by promoting hepatic gluconeogenesis. Triggering of the cAMP pathway stimulates gluconeogenic gene expression through the PKA-mediated phosphorylation of the cAMP response element binding (CREB) protein and via the dephosphorylation of the latent cytoplasmic CREB regulated transcriptional coactivator 2 (CRTC2). CREB and CRTC2 activities are increased in insulin resistance, in which they promote hyperglycemia because of constitutive induction of the gluconeogenic program. The extent to which CREB and CRTC2 are coordinately up-regulated in response to glucagon, however, remains unclear. Here we show that, following its activation, CRTC2 enhances CREB phosphorylation through an association with the protein arginine methyltransferase 5 (PRMT5). In turn, PRMT5 was found to stimulate CREB phosphorylation via increases in histone H3 Arg2 methylation that enhanced chromatin accessibility at gluconeogenic promoters. Because depletion of PRMT5 lowers hepatic glucose production and gluconeogenic gene expression, these results demonstrate how a chromatin-modifying enzyme regulates a metabolic program through epigenetic changes that impact the phosphorylation of a transcription factor in response to hormonal stimuli.
Creating a benchmark for the tray optimization problem

Previous research on the Tray Optimization Problem(TOP) focused on the creation and improvement of algorithms. Researchers had to work with limited data, or they had to create data themselves. Solutions were also evaluated solely on cost. The goal of this research is to provide an environment where TOP-instances can be generated and where solutions can be properly evaluated. In order to create new instances, characteristics of provided data sets were found by means of graphical representations and statistical test. Four different methods were used to evaluate solutions on costs and failure rates, (perturbed) historical sampling and (perturbed) historical frequencies. These methods were applied to a solution that was in use while the data was gathered, the starting solution of a genetic algorithm, and the solution of the genetic algorithm. Previous research only evaluated solutions on the costs they incur. However, this research shows that it is also important to include the failure rate under changing circumstances in this evaluation, as the reduction in cost can come at a steep increase in the rate of failure. This information is essential to make a balanced decision about the practical usefulness of a solution.
Cyclin-Dependent Kinase-Dependent Phosphorylation of Sox2 at Serine 39 Regulates Neurogenesis

ABSTRACT Sox2 is known to be important for neuron formation, but the precise mechanism through which it activates a neurogenic program and how this differs from its well-established function in self-renewal of stem cells remain elusive. In this study, we identified a highly conserved cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk) phosphorylation site on serine 39 (S39) in Sox2. In neural stem cells (NSCs), phosphorylation of S39 enhances the ability of Sox2 to negatively regulate neuronal differentiation, while loss of phosphorylation is necessary for chromatin retention of a truncated form of Sox2 generated during neurogenesis. We further demonstrated that nonphosphorylated cleaved Sox2 specifically induces the expression of proneural genes and promotes neurogenic commitment in vivo. Our present study sheds light on how the level of Cdk kinase activity directly regulates Sox2 to tip the balance between self-renewal and differentiation in NSCs.
Positive Feedback Regulation of Type I IFN Production by the IFN-Inducible DNA Sensor cGAS

Rapid and robust induction of type I IFN (IFN-I) is a critical event in host antiviral innate immune response. It has been well demonstrated that cyclic GMP-AMP (cGAMP) synthase (cGAS) plays an important role in sensing cytosolic DNA and triggering STING dependent signaling to induce IFN-I. However, it is largely unknown how cGAS itself is regulated during pathogen infection and IFN-I production. In this study, we show that pattern recognition receptor (PRR) ligands, including lipid A, LPS, poly(I:C), poly(dA:dT), and cGAMP, induce cGAS expression in an IFN-I–dependent manner in both mouse and human macrophages. Further experiments indicated that cGAS is an IFN-stimulated gene (ISG), and two adjacent IFN-sensitive response elements (ISREs) in the promoter region of cGAS mediate the induction of cGAS by IFN-I. Additionally, we show that optimal production of IFN-β triggered by poly (dA:dT) or HSV-1 requires IFNAR signaling. Knockdown of the constitutively expressed DNA sensor DDX41 attenuates poly(dA:dT)-triggered IFN-β production and cGAS induction. By analyzing the dynamic expression of poly(dA:dT)-induced IFN-β and cGAS transcripts, we have found that induction of IFN-β is earlier than cGAS. Furthermore, we have provided evidence that induction of cGAS by IFN-I meditates the subsequent positive feedback regulation of DNA-triggered IFN-I production. Thus, our study not only provides a novel mechanism of modulating cGAS expression, but also adds another layer of regulation in DNA-triggered IFN-I production by induction of cGAS.
The cell cycle and cancer.

The process of replicating DNA and dividing a cell can be described as a series of coordinated events that compose a “cell division cycle,” illustrated for mammalian cells in Fig. 1 (see legend for details). At least two types of cell cycle control mechanisms are recognized: a cascade of protein phosphorylations that relay a cell from one stage to the next and a set of checkpoints that monitor completion of critical events and delay progression to the next stage if necessary. The first type of control involves a highly regulated kinase family (2). Kinase activation generally requires association with a second subunit that is transiently expressed at the appropriate period of the cell cycle; the periodic “cyclin” subunit associates with its partner “cyclin-dependent kinase” (CDK) to create an active complex with unique substrate specificity. Regulatory phosphorylation and dephosphorylation fine-tune the activity of CDK–cyclin complexes, ensuring well-delineated transitions between cell cycle stages. In the future, additional molecular definition of the cell cycle may lead to a more intricate progression than indicated in Fig. 1.
The Volatility of Long-Term Bond Returns: Persistent Interest Shocks and Time-Varying Risk Premiums

Abstract We develop an almost affine term-structure model with a closed-form solution for factor loadings in which the spot rate and the risk price are fractionally integrated processes with different integration orders. This model is used to explain two stylized facts. First, predictability of longterm excess bond returns requires sufficient volatility and persistence in the risk price. Second, the large volatility of long-term bond returns requires persistence in the spot rate. Decomposing long-term bond returns, we find that the expectations component from the level factor is more volatile than returns themselves and that the risk premium correlates negatively with level-factor innovations.
Oxidative Damage to Nuclear DNA in Hyperthyroid Rat Liver: Inability of Vitamin C to Prevent the Damage

The effects of hyperthyroidism on oxidative DNA damage in liver tissue and modification by vitamin C supplementation were investigated in rats. Animals were rendered hyperthyroid by administration of l-thyroxine (0.4 mg/100 g food) for 25 d. In the plasma samples, T3, T4, and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) were measured by radioimmunoassay and ascorbate spectrophotometrically. Oxidative damage to hepatic nuclear DNA was determined by measuring deoxy-guanosine (dG) and 8-oxodG by high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detector electrochemical detection (HPLC-DAD-ECD). In hyperthyroidism, 8-oxodG/ (105 dG) levels were significantly higher and plasma vitamin C levels lower than in control rats. The results of this experimental study show that oxidative damage to hepatic nuclear DNA increases in the hyperthyroid state and that vitamin C was not effective in preventing this damage.
Bodily labializing lateral incisors: 3D analysis using finite element method

Abstract Aim. Among all tooth types and movements, bodily labializing the upper lateral incisors is a challenging one. The main goal of this study is to introduce and analyze a method to labialize palatally erupted lateral incisors. Materials and methods. Five three dimensional finite element models were designed in SolidWorks 2010 of a segment of maxilla containing the upper left anterior teeth (with the lateral incisor in palatal position), their brackets, their PDLs, the spongy and cortical bone. A segment of 0.016 wire passing through the central incisor and canine brackets (bypassing the lateral incisor bracket) and a designed hook in the lateral incisor bracket (which comprises an inventory approach/design to treat a palatally erupted tooth). The hook and vertical bypassed segment height were 8, 10, 11.5 (stage 1), 9.5 (stage 2) and 9.45 mm (stage 3). Two equal forces (0.15 N each) were applied. Tooth displacements were recorded. Results. A hook length of 8 mm resulted in a tipping movement (apical = −7.78 × 10−5 mm; incisal = 3.8 × 104 mm). The other two caused root movement. Stage 2 (hook = 9.5 mm) resulted in root movement (−1.4 × 10−4 mm in incisal; 1.58 × 104 mm in apical area). Hook length = 9.45 produced bodily movement (incisal = 7.1 × 105 mm; apical = 6.9 × 105 mm). Conclusion. A definite length of the hook was shown to produce bodily movement. This definite length of hook in combination with the same length of bypassed wire can be applied to produce bodily movement of the lateral incisor. An intrusive component can also be added.
On Compressive Ensemble Induced Regularisation: How Close is the Finite Ensemble Precision Matrix to the Infinite Ensemble?

Averaging ensembles of randomly oriented low-dimensional projections of a singular covariance represent a novel and attractive means to obtain a well-conditioned inverse, which only needs access to random projections of the data. However, theoretical analyses so far have only been done at convergence, implying good properties for ‘large-enough’ ensembles. But how large is ‘large enough’? Here we bound the expected difference in spectral norm between the finite ensemble precision matrix and the infinite ensemble, and based on this we give an estimate of the required ensemble size to guarantee the approximation error of the finite ensemble is below a given tolerance. Under mild assumptions, we find that for any given tolerance, the ensemble only needs to grow linearly in the original data dimension. A technical ingredient of our analysis is to upper bound the spectral norm of a matrix-variate T, which we then employ in conjunction with specific results from random matrix theory regarding the estimation of the covariance of random matrices.
Miniaturization of a Rectangular Microstrip Patch Antenna Loaded with Metamaterial

354 Abstract—In this paper a novel structure of metamaterial is proposed in order to miniaturize a rectangular microstrip patch antenna. The metamaterial is composed of two nested split octagons which are located on a 10 mm 10 mm Rogers RT/duroid 5880 with 0.7874 mm thickness and dielectric constant of 2.2. A 3×5 array of such metamaterials is placed on the patch antenna substrate. By using this metamaterial in the antenna structure, the dimension of this proposed antenna is reduced compared to a simple microstrip patch antenna. Simulation results for return loss and radiation pattern of both proposed and conventional antenna are shown and compared. The size of the proposed patch antenna is considerably smaller than the wavelength of the operation frequency compared with the conventional patch antenna.
Rules versus Discretion in the Protection of Intellectual Property ?

I study the effect of government patent policy on innovation, profits, and welfare. The framework is a multi-country dynamic model where governments strategically choose their patent policy each period and the strategic interactions between countries are regulated by international trade. Differences in country patent policies can be explained by variation in education, wages, market size, and bilateral trade. I find the inability of government to commit to its patent policy results in less innovation, profits, and welfare. Trade can help government commit, but it also leads to weaker protection as countries do not internalize the effects of their policy on others.
Hemisphere lens-loaded Vivaldi antenna for time domain microwave imaging of concealed objects

Abstract The hemisphere lens-loaded Vivaldi antenna for the microwave imaging applications is designed and tested in this paper. The proposed antenna is designed to work in the wide frequency band of 1–14 GHz, and is fabricated on the FR-4 substrate. The directivity of the proposed Vivaldi antenna is enhanced using a hemispherical shape dielectric lens, which is fixed on the end-fire direction of the antenna. The proposed antenna is well suited for the microwave imaging applications because of the wide frequency range and high directivity. The design of the antenna is carried out using the CST microwave studio, and various parameters such as the return loss, the radiation pattern, the directivity, and input impedance are optimized. The maximum improvement of 4.19 dB in the directivity is observed with the designed hemisphere lens. The antenna design is validated by fabricating and testing it in an anechoic environment. Finally, the designed antenna is utilized to establish a setup for measuring the scattering coefficients of various objects and structures in the frequency band of 1–14 GHz. The two-dimensional (2D) microwave images of these objects are successfully obtained in terms of the measured wide band scattering data using a novel time domain inverse scattering approach, which shows the applicability of the proposed antenna.
Multi-pad hydrostatic bearing oil film temperature characteristics under different working mediums

Multi-pad hydrostatic bearing is widely used in heavy NC equipment, because lubricating oil can reduce friction on the surface of the two movements, so it is very important to choose the correct lubricating oil. The essay records the temperature change statistics of oil slick of HL-15, HL-22, HL-32> HL-46> HL-68 when the external load is 40t and rotation speed is 20r/min, then using GAMBIT2.3. 16 meshing and setting boundary conditions. The results of FLUENT6.3. 26 simulation are given to explore on the distribution characteristics of temperature field in five kinds of working mediums. It can easily be deduced that using different lubricating oil the temperature rise is different. In other words, the viscosity of the lubricating oil is the decisive factor, the higher viscosity, the higher temperature.
Human hair cortisol analysis: comparison of the internationally-reported ELISA methods.

PURPOSE Recently, hair cortisol has become a topic of global interest as a biomarker of chronic stress. Different research groups have been using different methods for extraction and analysis, making it difficult to compare results across studies. A critical examination of the reported analytical methods is important to facilitate standardization and allow for a uniform interpretation. METHODS This study qualitatively compared four published procedures from laboratories in Germany, the Netherlands, USA and Canada. Multiple aspects of their procedures were compared. RESULTS A major difference among the laboratories was the ELISA kit used: the Canadian laboratory used the kit from ALPCO Diagnostics (Salem, MA, USA), the American laboratory used the kit from DRG International (Springfield, NJ, USA), the German laboratory used the kit from DRG Instruments GmbH (Marburg, Germany), or IBL (Hamburg, Germany), and the Dutch used the kit from Salimetrics (Suffolk, UK). In addition, there are noted differences in hair mass used as well as washing and extraction procedures. The range of hair cortisol levels determined in healthy volunteers by the four groups was within 2.3-fold: Koren, 46.1 pg/mg; Van Rossum, 29.72 pg/mg; Kirschbaum, 20 pg/mg and Laudenslager ~ 27 pg/mg. CONCLUSIONS The relative similarities in hair cortisol values in volunteers among the four laboratories should facilitate a quality assurance exchange program, as a necessary step toward clinical use of this novel test.
Moving object detection for video surveillance based on improved ViBe

In order to overcome the shortcoming of origin ViBe, such as background mutation caused by the changes of illumination and moving objects, and when the first frame contains a moving object, it needs a long time to eliminate Ghost Area. We present a novel moving object detection method based on improved ViBe. Firstly, the ViBe is used to detect moving objects and a background model Optimization Feedback Mechanism is proposed. Secondly, we establish a background update cycle strategy to accelerate the elimination of Ghost Area, combining with Inter-frame Difference to improve background mutation. Then a series of processing is made to optimize the detection results. Finally the improved object detection results are used as a feedback to background update process. Experimental results show that our method can extract the motion objects more accurately and the over-detection rate is low. It also has certain advantages in dealing with background mutation and noise suppression for video surveillance.
Self-efficacy and sustainable rural tourism development: local communities’ perspectives from Kuching, Sarawak

ABSTRACT The future of the tourism industry is dependent on local communities’ ability to develop and sustain tourism developments, especially in sensitive rural areas. But there is limited research on this topic to guide tourism authorities and governments. In particular, few studies have studied sustainable rural tourism development from the perspective of the local communities. Therefore, this study examines local communities’ views on their capability to achieve sustainable rural tourism development in selected rural areas in Kuching, Sarawak. Questionnaires were distributed to the local communities residing at three rural tourism destinations in Kuching, Sarawak. Interestingly, the results indicated that local communities’ self-efficacy has a positive relationship with social, cultural, economic, and environmental sustainability. Hence, this study offers theoretical and practical contributions to sustainable rural tourism development literature and the tourism industry.
Evaluation of protein spectra cluster analysis for Streptococcus spp. identification from various swine clinical samples

Traditional microbiological methods enable genus-level identification of Streptococcus spp. isolates. However, as the species of this genus show broad phenotypic variation, species-level identification or even differentiation within the genus is difficult. Herein we report the evaluation of protein spectra cluster analysis for the identification of Streptococcus species associated with disease in swine by means of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). A total of 250 S. suis–like isolates obtained from pigs with clinical signs of encephalitis, arthritis, pneumonia, metritis, and urinary or septicemic infection were studied. The isolates came from pigs in different Brazilian states from 2001 to 2014. The MALDI-TOF MS analysis identified 86% (215 of 250) as S. suis and 14% (35 of 250) as S. alactolyticus, S. dysgalactiae, S. gallinaceus, S. gallolyticus, S. gordonii, S. henryi, S. hyointestinalis, S. hyovaginalis, S. mitis, S. oralis, S. pluranimalium, and S. sanguinis. The MALDI-TOF MS identification was confirmed in 99.2% of the isolates by 16S rDNA sequencing, with MALDI-TOF MS misidentifying 2 S. pluranimalium as S. hyovaginalis. Isolates were also tested by a biochemical automated system that correctly identified all isolates of 8 of the 10 species in the database. Neither the isolates of the 3 species not in the database (S. gallinaceus, S. henryi, and S. hyovaginalis) nor the isolates of 2 species that were in the database (S. oralis and S. pluranimalium) could be identified. The topology of the protein spectra cluster analysis appears to sustain the species phylogenetic similarities, further supporting identification by MALDI-TOF MS examination as a rapid and accurate alternative to 16S rDNA sequencing.