Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Nonequilibrium quantum thermodynamics in Coulomb crystals

We present an in-depth study of the non-equilibrium statistics of the irreversible work produced during sudden quenches in proximity to the structural linear-zigzag transition of ion Coulomb crystals in 1+1 dimensions. By employing both an analytical approach based on a harmonic expansion and numerical simulations, we show the divergence of the average irreversible work in proximity to the transition. We show that the non-analytic behaviour of the work fluctuations can be characterized in terms of the critical exponents of the quantum Ising chain. Due to the technological advancements in trapped ion experiments, our results can be readily verified.
Two-factor mutual authentication with key agreement in wireless sensor networks

Wireless sensor networks WSNs are getting popular for their deployment in unattended environments, where a registered user can log in to the network and access data collected from the desired sensor. Because of limited resources and computation power in sensor nodes, an authentication protocol should be simple and efficient. M.L. Das proposed a two-factor authentication scheme for WSNs. Because his scheme uses only one-way hash function and XOR operation, it is well suited for resource-constrained environments. Because of some flaws in Das's scheme, several improved schemes have been introduced. In this paper, we show that Das's scheme and its derivatives not only have security imperfections but also do not provide key agreement. To overcome their security shortcomings, we propose a novel user authentication scheme with key agreement for WSN. We furnish security analysis of the proposed protocol to show its robustness to various attacks as well as analyze its performance to determine its efficiency. We provide protocol analysis and verification of the proposed protocol. Compared with the existing schemes, it is more robust and offers better security. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Measuring the pH environment of DNA delivered using nonviral vectors: implications for lysosomal trafficking.

The degradation of DNA in lysosomes represents a major obstacle to efficient nonviral gene delivery. The rational design of vectors that overcome this obstacle requires a better understanding of the lysosomal barrier to gene delivery, which in turn requires a means to investigate this intermediate step. To this end, we developed a technique to measure the pH environment of delivered DNA, from which the degree to which vectors avoided trafficking to acidic Iysosomes could be determined. The measured average pH of DNA delivered using poly-L-lysine (PLL) polyplexes was 4.5, suggesting that PLL polyplexes were trafficked to acidic lysosomes. Other vectors could avoid or buffer the pH of Iysosomes as DNA delivered using Lipofectamine Plus, polyethylenimine (PEI), linear polyethylenimine (LPEI), and two degradable poly(beta-amino ester)s (poly-1 and poly-2) had average pH values of 7.1, 5.9, 5.0, 6.7, and 6.4, respectively.
Differential blockage of charge movement components in frog cut twitch fibres by nifedipine.

1. The effect of nifedipine on charge movement was studied in cut twitch fibres of Rana temporaria with a double Vaseline‐gap voltage‐clamp technique. The steady‐state charge‐voltage (Q‐V) plot, in the absence or presence of nifedipine, was separated into Q beta and Q gamma components by fitting with a sum of two Boltzmann distribution functions. 2. When a fibre was held at ‐90 mV, low concentrations (around 20 nM) of nifedipine suppressed a large fraction of Q beta than Q gamma. Higher concentrations of nifedipine suppressed Q gamma more effectively than Q beta, but even 2 microM‐nifedipine did not suppress Q beta and Q gamma completely. Ten micromolar was required for complete suppression of Q gamma. Nifedipine thus suppressed Q beta and Q gamma with different dose dependencies. 3. When the holding potential was changed to ‐70 mV, some Q beta and Q gamma were inactivated. Low concentrations (around 20 nM) of nifedipine still suppressed a larger fraction of the mobile Q beta than the mobile Q gamma. Higher concentrations of nifedipine also suppressed Q gamma more effectively than Q beta, but 2 microM‐nifedipine was sufficient to suppress Q gamma completely. Hence, at this slightly depolarized holding potential, nifedipine also suppressed Q beta and Q gamma with different dose dependencies. 4. A portion of Q beta appeared to be resistant to the action of nifedipine. At ‐70 mV, the blockage of the nifedipine‐sensitive portion of Q beta appeared to saturate at 2 microM of the drug. At ‐90 mV, the nifedipine‐resistant portion of Q beta was more difficult to identify, because the blockage of the nifedipine‐sensitive portion of Q beta did not saturate at 2 microM. 5. Based on double‐reciprocal plots for the dose‐response relationships, the half‐blocking concentration of nifedipine for Q beta was found to be 14‐19 nM at ‐90 mV and less than 13 nM at ‐70 mV, whereas that for Q gamma was approximately 1.6 microM at ‐90 mV and 120 nM at ‐70 mV. Thus, nifedipine suppressed Q gamma in a voltage‐dependent manner, but its suppression of Q beta was much less voltage dependent. 6. It was demonstrated that the enhancement in the blockage of charge movement by maintained depolarization could not be achieved by depolarizing pulses lasting up to hundreds of milliseconds. 7. The difference in the half‐blocking concentrations of nifedipine for Q beta and Q gamma implies that Q beta and Q gamma cannot be tightly coupled.
Metabolism of alkyl amines by the filamentous fungus Aspergillus versicolor

A variety of monoalkyl-substituted amines were able to act as nitrogen sources for heterotrophically growing cultures of Aspergillus versicolor. Only amines whose alkyl chains were at least five carbon atoms long were capable of supporting significant growth in the absence of a separate carbon substrate. However, biomass yields were significantly higher during growth on glucose-amine than on glucose-ammonia, indicating that some energy-generating dissimilation of the amine to CO2 took place.
RELATION BETWEEN IMITATIVE AND CREATIVE MATHEMATICAL REASONING WHEN SOLVING PHYSICS TASKS

This on-going pilot study is based on a framework that distinguishes between creative mathematical reasoning (CR) and imitative reasoning (IR) (Lithner, 2008). The former one refers to a reasoning that is anchored in intrinsic mathematical properties and that includes some novelty to the reasoner. If instead the anchoring is in surface properties and the reasoning consists of remembering an answer or following a process step by step, it is IR. The authors overall hypothesis is “how students reason mathematically when solving tasks in physics might have an impact on their learning of physics (as the reasoning has on their mathematical learning (Lithner, 2008))”. As an approach to this hypothesis, the framework was used in a previous study by the author to categorise tasks from ten Swedish national physic tests with respect to the kind of reasoning required for solutions.
Good girls and boys: findings from a cross-sectional survey on adolescent rights, relationships, and sexuality in an urban informal settlement in India

Abstract Around 20% of India’s population are adolescents aged 10–19 years. Our objective was to strengthen program interventions on gender equity, health, and participation by gauging adolescents’ levels of understanding and opinions. In a cross-sectional survey, we interviewed 2005 adolescents on their opinions on rights, friendship and sex, sexual refusal and coercion, and communication with family, using a two-stage probability proportional to size sample. Opinions on gender allocations were generally equitable, although females supported clothing proscriptions. Premarital sex, multiple partners, masturbation and non-heterosexual partnerships were frowned upon. Few respondents said that they felt pressure to be sexually active, 79% said that sexual coercion was a form of violence, but 14% of older adolescents said that it would be unreasonable to refuse sex. Our interviews described young people negotiating the terrain between perceived normative expectations and contemporary aspirations, showing limited manoeuvring within assumed gender roles in which family control was prominent.
Production and modification of Mu (G-) phage particles in E. coli K12 and Erwinia.

We studied the amount of Mu(G+) and Mu(G−) phages in different Mu lysates prepared either upon induction or upon infection of E. coli and Erwinia strains. We also looked at the level of expression of the modification function ( mom ) by Mu(G−) phages, both after induction and after infection of E. coli and Erwinia . The expression of mom seems to be regulated in the same manner in E. coli and in the strain of Erwinia carotovora tested. The proportion of both types of Mu(G+) and Mu(G−) phages in induced lysates is very variable and we found growth conditions favouring the production of Mu(G−) particles. This should extend the use of Mu as a genetic tool and as a generalized transducing phage to many enterobacteria.
Design, construction, and optimization of a novel, modular, and scalable incubation chamber for continuous viral inactivation

We designed, built or 3D printed, and screened tubular reactors that minimize axial dispersion to serve as incubation chambers for continuous virus inactivation of biological products. Empirical residence time distribution data were used to derive each tubular design's volume equivalent to a theoretical plate (VETP) values at a various process flow rates. One design, the Jig in a Box (JIB), yielded the lowest VETP, indicating optimal radial mixing and minimal axial dispersion. A minimum residence time (MRT) approach was employed, where the MRT is the minimum time the product spends in the tubular reactor. This incubation time is typically 60 minutes in a batch process. We provide recommendations for combinations of flow rates and device dimensions for operation of the JIB connected in series that will meet a 60‐min MRT. The results show that under a wide range of flow rates and corresponding volumes, it takes 75 ± 3 min for 99% of the product to exit the reactor while meeting the 60‐min MRT criterion and fulfilling the constraint of keeping a differential pressure drop under 5 psi. Under these conditions, the VETP increases slightly from 3 to 5 mL though the number of theoretical plates stays constant at about 1326 ± 88. We also demonstrated that the final design volume was only 6% ± 1% larger than the ideal plug flow volume. Using such a device would enable continuous viral inactivation in a truly continuous process or in the effluent of a batch chromatography column. Viral inactivation studies would be required to validate such a design. © 2017 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog. , 33:954–965, 2017
PHYTOSOME: A NOVEL REVOLUTION IN HERBAL DRUGS

Herbal drugs comprises of a vast array of active contents which furnishes us with a number of applications. But due to high polarity and poor lipophilicity the active contents are poorly absorbed resulting in poor bioavailability. These problem can be overcomed by formulating a suitable novel preparation of the herbal extract.Phytosomes are one of the novel drug delivery system containing hydrophilic bioactive phytoconstituents of herbs surround and bound by phospholipids.This phyto-phospholipid complex resembles a little cell which exhibit better pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profile than the conventional herbal extract resulting in better bioavailability. This article highlights recent information, commercial preparation of phytosomes as well as the various other novel approaches for delivery of herbal constituents.
Expression of doublecortin reveals articular chondrocyte lineage in mouse embryonic limbs

The doublecortin (Dcx) gene encodes a microtubule‐binding protein that was originally found in immature neurons. In this study, we used two mouse strains that express reporter genes (LacZ and enhanced green fluorescence protein, respectively) driven by the endogenous Dcx promoter. We found that Dcx was expressed in the mesenchymal cells in the mouse embryonic limb buds. A population of the mesenchymal cells continued Dcx expression after they differentiated into joint interzone cells and then articular chondrocytes. In contrast, the endochondral chondrocytes lost Dcx expression when the mesenchymal cells differentiated into endochondral chondrocytes. These data support a concept that the articular and endochondral chondrocytes originate from the same mesenchymal cells that express Dcx. In contrast to the notion that articular chondrocytes are derived from de‐differentiated endochondral chondrocytes, our findings demonstrate that the lineages of articular and endochondral chondrocytes bifurcate at the stage of endochondral chondrogenesis. genesis 49:75–82, 2011. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Generating human-usable textual notations for information models

Existing techniques for the transfer of information in and out of model-based repositories, and in particular the XMI format, are designed for expedient machine processing, and have significant drawbacks for human users. The article describes a system that automatically generates a producer and consumer for a human-usable textual notation corresponding to a given information model. This HUTN system is based on the Meta-Object Facility, an OMG standard for the definition of information models and the subsequent mapping of these models to CORBA interfaces. The primary design goal of the system is human usability, and this is achieved through consideration of the successes and failures of common programming languages. The system uses an abstract base syntax that is applied to all models, and allows for user alteration of the language through the provision of several language customisations.
Supplementary Material for : Active Pictorial Structures Epameinondas Antonakos

In the following sections, we provide additional material for the paper “Active Pictorial Structures”. Section 1 explains in more detail the differences between the proposed Active Pictorial Structures (APS) and Pictorial Structures (PS). Section 2 presents the proofs about the structure of the precision matrices of the Gaussian Markov Random Filed (GMRF) (Eqs. 10 and 12 of the main paper). Section 3 gives an analysis about the forward Gauss-Newton optimization of APS and shows that the inverse technique with fixed Jacobian and Hessian, which is used in the main paper, is much faster. Finally, Sec. 4 shows additional experimental results and conducts new experiments on different objects (human eyes and cars). An open-source implementation of APS is available within the Menpo Project [1] in http://www.menpo. org/.
Two distinct action mechanisms of immunophilin–ligand complexes for the blockade of T‐cell activation

The immunosuppressive effects of cyclosporin A (CsA) and FK506 are mediated through binding to immunophilins. Here we show that FK506–FKBP complex suppresses the activation of JNK and p38 pathways at a level upstream of mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) kinase kinase (MAPKK‐K) besides the calcineurin–NFAT pathway. A238L, a viral gene product that binds to immunophilin, also blocks activation of both pathways. In contrast, direct inhibitors of calcineurin, Cabin 1 and FR901725, suppress the activation of NFAT but not the JNK or p38 pathway. We further demonstrate that co‐expression of a constitutively active NFAT and a constitutively active MEKK1 renders the interleukin‐2 promoter in Jurkat T lymphocytes resistant to CsA and FK506, whereas Jurkat cells expressing a constitutively active NFAT alone are still sensitive to CsA or FK506. Therefore, CsA and FK506 exert their immunosuppressive effects through targeting both the calcineurin‐dependent NFAT pathway and calcineurin‐independent activation pathway for JNK and p38.
Glutamate‐Induced Increase in Intracellular Ca2+ in Cerebral Cortex Neurons Is Transient in Immature Cells but Permanent in Mature Cells

Abstract: The free cytosolic Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+],) of cultured cerebral cortex neurons was determined using a fluorescent Ca2+chelator (Fluo‐3) after exposure of the neurons to glutamate. Mature neurons (8 days in culture) responded within 45 s to 100 μM glutamate by an increase in [Ca2+]j from 75 to 340 nM, an increase that during the following 6 min of exposure reached 400 nM. This increase in [Ca2+]j could not be reversed by removal of glutamate. In the absence of extracellular CaCl2, only part of the initial, rapid, glutamate‐induced increase in [Ca2+]j was observed in these neurons. In contrast to these findings, neurons cultured for only 2 days (immature neurons) exhibited only a small (from 75 to 173 nM) increase in [Ca2+]j after exposure to 100 μM glutamate, and this rapid increase in [Ca2+]j tended to decline on prolonged exposure to glutamate. Moreover, after removal of glutamate, the increase in [Ca2+]j was fully reversible. Pharmacological characterization of the response to glutamate in mature neurons showed that the yN‐methyl‐D‐aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists phencyclidine and D‐2‐amino‐5‐phosphonovalerate blocked 75 and 90%, respectively, of the response, whereas the non‐NMDA antagonist 6‐cyano‐7‐nitroquinoxaline‐2,3‐dione had little effect.
Factors Affecting the Adoption of Online Banking An Integration of Technology Acceptance Model and Theory of Planned Behavior

Online banking has emerged as one of the most profitable e-commerce applications over the last decade. This study investigates which factors affect the adoption of Online banking in Isfahan province of Iran. We developed a theoretical model based on the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) with theory of planned behavior (TPB) model. We designed a questionnaire and used it to survey a randomly selected sample of customers of national bank of Iran. A total of 500 pieces of questionnaire papers are given out to the community randomly. However those questionnaires that not fill in properly and completely have been taken out. Hence, the actual sample used for the study is 349 respondents. We analyzed the data using Structured Equation Modeling (SEM) to evaluate the strength of the hypothesized relationships; the results provide support of the integrated TAM and TPB models and confirm its robustness in predicting customers' intention of adoption of online banking. The results indicated that the intention to use online banking is positively affected mainly by perceived behavioral control and perceived usefulness.
FACE BASED BIOMETRIC AUTHENTICATION AT IDIAP

We present an overview of recent research at IDIAP on speech & face based biometric authentication. This paper covers usercustomised passwords, adaptation techniques, confidence measures (for use in fusion of audio & visual scores), face verification in difficult image conditions, as well as other related research issues. We also overview the open source Torch library, which has aided in the implementation of the above mentioned techniques.
Influence of abdominal pressure on respiratory and abdominal organ function

Purpose of reviewIntra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) and abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) have been realized as severe complications in the intensive care patient. Laparoscopic surgery in older and more obese patients increases the risk of IAH and ACS. Recent findingsThe incidence of IAH may be larger than thought of being approximately one-third of mechanically ventilated intensive care patients. In shock/trauma, three-fourths of all patients may suffer from IAH. Kidney and liver may dysfunction and the gut barrier may be impeded, permitting spread of inflammation to other organs. IAH and ACS have an impact on respiratory mechanics and may impede ventilation and require higher ventilation pressures than under normal conditions. Prone position and alternating (asynchronous) ventilation may moderate the IAH. In addition, surgical decompression should be considered. SummaryIn view of the frequent occurrence of IAH in intensive care, the need of better understanding of the mechanisms behind IAH is a prerequisite for better treatment. Respiratory mechanics are affected but may also indicate routes of ventilatory treatment to lower IAH.
Robust resilient controller design for uncertain discrete-time fuzzy Markovian jump delayed systems

This paper investigates the problem of robust stabilization for a class of nonlinear discrete-time Markovian jump delayed systems using the Takagi-Sugeno ( T-S ) fuzzy model approach. The time delays are assumed to be time-varying and related to the mode, especially their bounds are also mode-dependent. Our aim is to design a resilient fuzzy Markovian switched controller such that the resulting closed-loop system is robustly stochastically stable. Based on an improved Markovian switched fuzzy-basis-dependent Lyapunov functional, some delay-dependent conditions for the solvability of this problem are derived in terms of relaxed linear matrix inequalities ( LMIs ), the desired resilient fuzzy controller can be designed through solving these LMIs. A numerical example is provided to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
An integrated method for numerical computation of electric field using parametric CAD module

The purpose of this paper is to discuss on the performance of parametric CAD module that has been developed for illustrating electric field distribution over high voltage (HV) systems having either a 2-dimensional or an axi-symmetric or an asymmetric configuration. The results of the electric field computation that are presented here are for an asymmetric gas insulated system (GIS) configuration. The electric field is computed by indirect boundary element method (BEM).
The Yeast Nα-Acetyltransferase NatA Is Quantitatively Anchored to the Ribosome and Interacts with Nascent Polypeptides

ABSTRACT The majority of cytosolic proteins in eukaryotes contain a covalently linked acetyl moiety at their very N terminus. The mechanism by which the acetyl moiety is efficiently transferred to a large variety of nascent polypeptides is currently only poorly understood. Yeast Nα -acetyltransferase NatA, consisting of the known subunits Nat1p and the catalytically active Ard1p, recognizes a wide range of sequences and is thought to act cotranslationally. We found that NatA was quantitatively bound to ribosomes via Nat1p and contained a previously unrecognized third subunit, the Nα -acetyltransferase homologue Nat5p. Nat1p not only anchored Ard1p and Nat5p to the ribosome but also was in close proximity to nascent polypeptides, independent of whether they were substrates for Nα -acetylation or not. Besides Nat1p, NAC (nascent polypeptide-associated complex) and the Hsp70 homologue Ssb1/2p interact with a variety of nascent polypeptides on the yeast ribosome. A direct comparison revealed that Nat1p required longer nascent polypeptides for interaction than NAC and Ssb1/2p. Δnat1 or Δard1 deletion strains were temperature sensitive and showed derepression of silent mating type loci while Δnat5 did not display any obvious phenotype. Temperature sensitivity and derepression of silent mating type loci caused by Δnat1 or Δard1 were partially suppressed by overexpression of SSB1. The combination of data suggests that Nat1p presents the N termini of nascent polypeptides for acetylation and might serve additional roles during protein synthesis.