Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Special Issue: Grids and Web Services for e‐Science

This editorial describes four papers that summarize key Grid technology capabilities to support distributed e‐Science applications. These papers discuss the Condor system supporting computing communities, the OGSA‐DAI service interfaces for databases, the WS‐I+ Grid Service profile and finally WS‐GAF (the Web Service Grid Application Framework). We discuss the confluence of mainstream IT industry development and the very latest science and computer science research and urge the communities to reach consensus rapidly. Agreement on a set of core Web Service standards is essential to allow developers to build Grids and distributed business and science applications with some assurance that their investment will not be obviated by the changing Web Service frameworks. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Supercontinuum Generation in an Ytterbium-Doped Fiber Amplifier With Cascaded Double-Clad Passive Fiber Tapers

Supercontinuum (SC) generation directly from an Ytterbium-doped fiber amplifier (YDFA) has many advantages such as high output power, low splicing loss, and high optical to optical conversion efficiency. However, the output spectrum can only extend to longer wavelength. We report a method to further extend the spectral range of SC generated in an YDFA at short wavelength direction by using cascaded double-clad passive fiber tapers. A 750 ps seed pulse at 1060 nm is amplified to 15.9 W and spectrally broadened from 1000 to 1600 nm in an YDFA system. Using this broadband source to pump cascaded double-clad passive fiber tapers, a 14.1 W SC source is obtained, covering 630 to 2000 nm, which is in an all-fiber and low-cost structure. It is found that, in fiber tapers, especially at the taper waist, the frequency shift rate of solitons increases significantly, and those red-shifted solitons are group-velocity matched to dispersive waves even in the red wavelength region. To our best knowledge, this is the first time there has been generation in tapered double-clad passive fiber.
The Balkan endemic plant Nepeta rtanjensis (Lamiaceae): Phenolic composition, antioxidant activity and antigenotoxic effects on human lymphocytes treated with triiodothyronine in vitro.

The success of antioxidant therapy in hyperthyroidism implies that disease is mediated by oxidative stress, which is known as one of the causing agents of ageing, degenerative diseases, and cancer. The main objective of our study was to determine possible protective effects of methanolic extract of N. rtanjensis in triiodothyronine (T3)-induced DNA breaks of human lymphocytes under in vitro conditions, based upon plant antioxidant capacity related to its phytochemical profile, mainly its polyphenolic complex. The total phenolic and flavonoid content and the antioxidant activity using in vitro 1,1-dyphenyl-2- picrylhydrazyl reagent (DPPH) was determined in methanolic extracts of plant leaves and flowers. The phenolic compound content of 62.73±1.80mg of GaA/g, exhibited solid antioxidant activity (IC50= 112.59±0.95μg/ml). The antigenotoxic activity of 0.2, 0.5 and 1.0mg/ml N. rtanjensis methanol extracts mixture with 100µM of T3 was studied in human lymphocytes in vitro using the Comet assay. It is supposed that the antigenotoxicity of N. rtanjensis methanol extracts was caused by high presence of chlorogenic acid, rosmarinic acid and rutin, all known as efficient antioxidant bioactive compounds, which were determined by ultrahigh-pressure liquid chromatograph with MS/MS Mass Spectroscopy (UHPLC/-HESI-MS / MS).
Stator inter-turn fault detection of an induction motor using neuro-fuzzy techniques

Motivated by the superior performances of neural networks and neuro-fuzzy approaches to fault detection of a single phase induction motor, this paper studies the applicability these two approaches for detection of stator inter-turn faults in a three phase induction motor. Firstly, the paper develops an adaptive neural fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) detection strategy and then compares its performance with that of using a multi layer perceptron neural network (MLP NN) applied to stator inter-turn fault detection of a three phase induction motor. The fault location process is based on the monitoring the three phase shifts between the line current and the phase voltage of the induction machine.
Evidence that response inhibition is a primary deficit in ADHD

The present study examined response inhibition in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD; n = 58) and controls (n = 84) using three go/no-go tests—one with high working memory demand (cognitive), one with low working memory demand (simple), and one with rewards and response costs (motivation linked) in which emphasis was on reward for responding to “go” stimuli. Results of a repeated measure analysis of variance showed a significant effect of diagnosis for errors of commission for the simple, cognitive, and motivation-linked go/no-go tests, such that children with ADHD made significantly more errors than controls. Furthermore, a significant effect of test was noted across groups, such that both children in the ADHD and control groups performed worse on the cognitive and motivation-linked tests than they did on the simple test. The diagnosis by test interaction was not significant, suggesting that ADHD participants showed a similar degree of impairment to that of controls, regardless of the degree of working memory load or feedback provided in the test. In children with ADHD, response inhibition appears to be a primary deficit that is observed even when executive function demands of tasks are minimal. Although increasing working memory demand appears to impede response inhibition, this effect is similar in ADHD and typically developing children.
Research on condition assessment method based on projection one-class classifier

In order to solve the problem that the anomalous samples are scarce and the model is susceptible to abnormal data, this paper introduces the idea of kernel trick in the process of constructing the projection classifier and constructs three kinds of projection one-class classifiers: Projection Support Vector Data Description (PSVDD), Projection K-means (PK-means) and Projection K-centers (PK-centers) by means of the Feature Vector Selection and Projection (FVSP). In order to further improve the performance of the condition assessment model, this paper uses the method of ensemble learning and evidence theory with PSVDD, PK-means and PK-center and puts forward a new assessment index: Health Index (HI). Finally, the fatigue life experiment of rolling bearing is carried out to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Accuracy assessment of fluoroscopy-transesophageal echocardiography registration

This study assesses the accuracy of a new transesophageal (TEE) ultrasound (US) fluoroscopy registration technique designed to guide percutaneous aortic valve replacement. In this minimally invasive procedure, a valve is inserted into the aortic annulus via a catheter. Navigation and positioning of the valve is guided primarily by intra-operative fluoroscopy. Poor anatomical visualization of the aortic root region can result in incorrect positioning, leading to heart valve embolization, obstruction of the coronary ostia and acute kidney injury. The use of TEE US images to augment intra-operative fluoroscopy provides significant improvements to image-guidance. Registration is achieved using an image-based TEE probe tracking technique and US calibration. TEE probe tracking is accomplished using a single-perspective pose estimation algorithm. Pose estimation from a single image allows registration to be achieved using only images collected in standard OR workflow. Accuracy of this registration technique is assessed using three models: a point target phantom, a cadaveric porcine heart with implanted fiducials, and in-vivo porcine images. Results demonstrate that registration can be achieved with an RMS error of less than 1.5mm, which is within the clinical accuracy requirements of 5mm. US-fluoroscopy registration based on single-perspective pose estimation demonstrates promise as a method for providing guidance to percutaneous aortic valve replacement procedures. Future work will focus on real-time implementation and a visualization system that can be used in the operating room.
Robust Regularized ZF in decentralized Broadcast Channel with correlated CSI T

We consider in this work the Distributed CSI (DCSI) broadcast channel setting, in which the various TXs design elements of the precoder based on their individual estimates of the global multi-user channel matrix. Previous works relative to the D-CSI setting assume the estimation errors to be uncorrelated. In contrast, we generalize this model by allowing for correlation between the errors. This extended model then bridges the gap between the distributed and the centralized setting as choosing correlation coefficients equal to one corresponds to a centralized setting. In addition, we allow in our analysis for the TXs to use different regularization coefficients. Building upon random matrix theory tools, we are then able to obtain a deterministic equivalent for the rate achieved in the large system limit. In spite of the extreme generality of the setting studied, the expressions obtained remain easy to compute. Building upon the expression obtained, it becomes then possible to optimize the choice of the regularization coefficients at the different TXs. Interestingly, it is not always optimal to use the same regularization coefficient at each TX. We call this scheme where each TX applies the optimal regularization coefficient ”D-CSI regularized ZF” and we show by numerical simulations that it allows to reduce the impact of the distributed CSI configuration.
Effect of dimethyl-4,4'-dimethoxy-5,6,5',6'-dimethylenedioxybiphenyl-2,2'- dicarboxylate (DDB) on chemical-induced liver injury.

The effects of orally administered dimethyl-4,4'-dimethoxy-5,6,5',6'-dimethylene-dioxybiphenyl-2,2'-d icarboxylate (DDB) on the hepatotoxicity induced by carbon tetrachloride, acetaminophen or ethanol were investigated in rats and mice. Either single or repeated DDB pretreatment (50 or 200 mg/kg) did not alter the hepatotoxicity induced by carbon tetrachloride (0.2 or 1.0 ml/kg, i.p.) in female rats as indicated by increases in the activity of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and sorbitol dehydrogenase (SDH) in serum. The hepatotoxicity of acetaminophen (350 mg/kg, i.p.) was also unaffected in male mice pretreated with DDB (50 mg/kg/d) for a week. However, DDB administration (50 mg/kg/d for 7 d) decreased the hepatic fatty degeneration induced by repeated ethanol treatment (0.75 g/kg, i.p., x2 times a day for a week) in rats as shown by the accumulation of triglycerides and cholesterol in the liver. Malondialdehyde (MDA) formation in liver homogenates was inhibited by DDB treatment. The significance of the action of DDB on alcoholic fatty liver generation in clinical settings is discussed.
Digital imaging in clinical dermatology across the UK in the year 2001

Colour photography is an important tool in the daily practice of dermatologists. Digital photography promises quicker acquisition and handling of clinical images. Despite increasing availability and falling costs, dermatologists have been slow in adopting this new technique. To establish to what degree digital photography has found its way into routine practice in dermatology departments in the UK during the year 2001, we conducted a postal survey of all dermatology departments in the UK about usage of digital cameras. A total of 65.4% of the questionnaires were returned. The responses indicated that 71% of departments in teaching hospitals vs. 56% of departments in district general hospitals (DGH) had access to a digital camera. Reasons for not having a digital camera were satisfaction with conventional photography and lack of resources. In 48% of the departments of teaching hospitals or DGH with access to a digital camera, less than 10% of all photos were taken digitally. However, 24% of departments in DGH and 22% in teaching hospitals took more than 80% of their clinical photos digitally, indicating that in many departments digital photography is still in an early phase and only occasionally used, whilst in others a change from conventional photography towards digital photography as the mainly used technique has already taken place. Overall, the main drawbacks of digital photography were poorer resolution in comparison with conventional photography, problems with storage and filing images and time required for downloading and storing images.
Anaerobic batch degradation of solid poultry slaughterhouse waste.

We studied anaerobic batch degradation of solid poultry slaughterhouse wastes with different initial waste and inoculum concentrations and waste-to-inoculum ratios and simulated the dynamics of the process with a new generation model. Our modelling results suggest that inhibited propionate degradation by long-chain fatty acids (LCFA) and inhibited hydrolysis by a high propionate concentration constituted the rate-limiting step in the waste degradation. Palmitate was the most abundant LCFA in the assays. Within 27 days of incubation, up to 0.55 to 0.67 m3 of methane (STP)/kg VS added was produced under the studied conditions. Lower waste-to-inoculum ratios exhibited a faster onset and rate of specific methane production. In all the assays, ammonification occurred within 3 to 6 days and accounted for 50 to 60% of total nitrogen.
Phosphorylation of the CCAAT Displacement Protein (CDP)/Cux Transcription Factor by Cyclin A-Cdk1 Modulates Its DNA Binding Activity in G2 *

Stable DNA binding by the mammalian CCAAT displacement protein (CDP)/Cux transcription factor was previously found to be up-regulated at the G1/S transition as the result of two events, dephosphorylation by the Cdc25A phosphatase and proteolytic processing, to generate an amino-truncated isoform of 110 kDa. In S phase, CDP/Cux was shown to interact with and repress the core promoter of the p21 WAF1 gene. Here we demonstrate that DNA binding by p110 CDP/Cux is down-modulated as cells progress into G2. Accordingly, cyclin A-Cdk1 was found to bind to CDP/Cux and modulate its DNA binding activity in vitro and in vivo. Interaction with CDP/Cux required the presence of both cyclin A and a cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk)-activating kinase-activated Cdk1 and involved the Cut homeodomain and a downstream Cy motif. Phosphorylation of serines 1237 and 1270 caused inhibition of DNA binding in vitro. In cotransfection studies, cyclin A-Cdk1 inhibited CDP/Cux stable DNA binding and prevented repression of the p21 WAF1 reporter. In contrast, mutant CDP/Cux proteins in which serines 1237 and 1270 were replaced with alanines were not affected by cyclin A-Cdk1. In summary, our results suggest that the phosphorylation of CDP/Cux by cyclin A-Cdk1 contributes to down-modulate CDP/Cux activity as cells progress into the G2 phase of the cell cycle.
PATTERNS OF EVOLUTION AMONG THE ARTIODACTYLA AND PERISSODACTYLA (MAMMALIA)

Diversity changes through time of the mammalian ungulate orders Artiodactyla and Perissodactyla have been touted long and widely as exemplifying ordinal level taxonomic (and presumably ecologic) displacement (Simpson, 1953; Stanley, 1974) since, as Van Valen (1971) has pointed out, they have a nearly identical "way of life" (=adaptive zone, Simpson, 1953; plus competitive interactions, Van Valen, 1971). The controversial assumption that herbivores are food limited (cf. Hairston et al., 1960; Murdoch, 1966; Ehrlich and Birch, 1967; Slobodkin et al., 1967) is implicit to this generalization. Both orders presumably appeared in the late Paleocene, as they are well differentiated by the early Eocene (Figs. 1 and 2). While perissodactyls seem to have undergone taxonomic diversification at both generic and familial levels somewhat earlier than artiodactyls, the difference is much less than most authors suggest. Perissodactyls declined in importance after the middle Eocene, while the artiodactyls maintained a stable "dominance" from the early Oligocene until their apparently enormous Plio-Pleistocene radiation. Various deterministic hypotheses have been forwarded in explanation of this pattern. Such hypotheses usually invoke the acquisition of one or more characters (double trochleated astragalus, selenodont molars, ruminant digestion) by the artiodactyls as giving that group a relative adaptive advantage. Here I review the evolutionary histories of these two orders in search of evidence supporting these hypotheses. Further, I analyze overall patterns to detect possible correspondence to or support for the various "empirical" (Valentine, 1973) and "equilibrium" (Mark and Flessa, 1977) models of Phanerozoic diversity. All data have been compiled from Romer (1966). Current revisions might alter the data somewhat, but it is doubtful that the differences would be systematic or great. Question-marked taxa or those not designated chronostratigraphically to subepoch were ignored. The time scale used is from Harland et al. (1964).
Mechanism of resistance of an ampicillin-resistant, beta-lactamase-negative clinical isolate of Haemophilus influenzae type b to beta-lactam antibiotics

The mechanism of non-beta-lactamase-mediated beta-lactam resistance in a clinical isolate of Haemophilus influenzae type b was studied. This clinical isolate showed up to a 32-fold increase in MICs of a wide variety of beta-lactams, including moxalactam and cefotaxime, although no beta-lactamase activity was detected, even after attempted induction. Transformation of broad-spectrum beta-lactam resistance into ampicillin-susceptible H. influenzae RDnov was accomplished. Examination of the outer membrane protein profile of the resistant parent by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of Triton X-100-extracted membranes revealed an unusual major outer membrane protein band at a molecular weight of 45,000. This outer membrane protein profile did not transform with beta-lactam resistance. Permeability differences were noted between the resistant strain and the nonisogenic susceptible strain of H. influenzae, although these penetration differences were not transformed. Comparison of the penicillin-binding protein profile of a resistant transformant with that of a susceptible parent with both whole-membrane preparations and whole-cell labeling, revealed a major reduction in binding affinity to penicillin-binding proteins 3a and 3b (molecular weights, 68,000 and 65,000, respectively). Thus, alteration in penicillin-binding proteins 3a and 3b correlated with the beta-lactam resistance.
Induction of protective cytotoxic T cells to murine cytomegalovirus by using a nonapeptide and a human-compatible adjuvant (Montanide ISA 720)

The use of synthetic peptides representing cytotoxic T-cell (CTL) epitopes for human vaccination requires the identification of a suitable adjuvant formulation. A single immunization with Montanide ISA720/tetanus toxoid/YPHFMPTNL protected mice against murine cytomegalovirus and induced epitope-specific CTL. Such formulations will find application in peptide-based CTL anti-viral vaccines.
Study on air-to-ground missile with strap-down imaging infrared seeker against moving target

In order to solve the problem that air-to-ground missile with a strap-down seeker to strike a moving target, a method to extend attacking area was present. With measurement data of carrier aircraft, quasi-body pursuit guidance was used in midcourse to create a favorable condition for terminal guidance. In terminal guidance, proportional navigation guidance law was used to strike the target accurately. The guidance information extraction method was studied, as well as the method to design a required autopilot. Based on six-freedom trajectory model, the mathematic simulation was done. The result shows that the strategy is validate and is robustness enough. It can satisfy the requirement to strike the moving target.
Hybridized 3D-FDTD and circuit simulator for analysis of PCB via's signal integrity

In this paper, the equivalent circuit model containing two pairs of vias is established, and a hybrid method is applied, which combines the full-wave finite difference time domain (FDTD) with an S-parameter based macromodel by using the rational function approximation and circuit simulation. The electromagnetic feature of the model is described by S-parameters, result of the simulation of FDTD. The vector fitting method is adopted to perform the rational function approximation of complex pole pairs. This method is robust and can supply results precise enough for the procedure of macromodeling while the resonances on PCB under very high frequency are being considered. Based on above steps, the SPICE compatible equivalent circuit can be established and be connected with other circuit model in the same pattern. In this way, the analysis of signal integrity for a complicated interconnecting system can be performed more efficiently
Laboratory markers carbohydrate-deficient transferrin, gamma-glutamyltransferase, and mean corpuscular volume are not useful as screening tools for high-risk drinking in the general population: results from the Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP).

BACKGROUND Assessment of high-risk drinking in the general population can be problematic: questionnaire-based instruments may carry the problem of random or systematic recall bias, and the effectiveness of screening of single biomarkers has been shown to be insufficient. In this article, we analyze the alcohol intake/biomarker relationship of carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT), gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT), and erythrocyte mean corpuscular volume (MCV). Specific aims were (1) screening effectiveness comparison of GGT, CDT, and MCV in terms of sensitivity, specificity, and positive (PPVs) and negative predictive values (NPVs) and the effect of covariates on these measures; (2) the comparison of summary measures for the effectiveness of screening: the receiver characteristic curve (ROC) and the area under the ROC; and (3) to answer the question of which covariates effect which biomarkers and whether accounting for relevant covariates increases the prognostic value of biomarkers to levels that allow for application in the general population. METHODS In a representative cross-sectional health survey in northeast Germany with data collection from 1997 to 2001, 4310 men and women were asked for their recent alcohol consumption and smoking. Biomarkers were analyzed from blood samples. The effectiveness of screening of CDT, GGT, and MCV for high-risk drinking (men: >60 g/day, women: >40 g/day) was analyzed with PPV and ROC curve analysis. RESULTS For all three biomarkers, PPVs for high-risk drinking are very low (< 50%). There are some effects of covariates on screening effectiveness and on PPV, and knowledge of these covariates increases screening effectiveness, but no subgroup that had a combination of covariate levels and prevalence of high-risk drinking that led to a PPV > 50% could be found. CONCLUSIONS : Accounting for covariates in the screening procedure does not lead to a sufficient increase in PPV. Screening effectiveness of laboratory markers CDT, GGT, and MCV is insufficient for their application as screening tools for high-risk alcohol drinking in the general population. This was found using self-reported alcohol consumption as an imperfect gold standard, which is a limitation of the study, although self-reports are the standard instrument in comparable epidemiologic studies.