Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Slimformer—Self-Limiting Transformer Pre-Prototype and Pilot Plant Design, Construction, and Tests

The current limiting or self-limiting transformer, (CLT) is a multifunctional device, which combines the functions of a power transformer with the functions of a current limiter. The investigated SLIMFormer consists of a room temperature primary winding and a secondary high temperature superconductor (HTS) winding (BSCCO 2223) divided into two parts located on different limbs and up to 4 HTS ring (BSCCO 2212). The primary winding is connected to the electrical network, the secondary winding is intended to supply an HTS cable. As a result the SLIMFormer is an inductive terminal between the room temperature network and a projected HTS cable. For investigation of the SLIMFormer a 100 kVA rating experimental device (pilot plant) was designed, built and tested. The design and optimization aspects as well as the construction of the pilot plant will be presented. The present work is based on the previous 20 kVA SLIMFormer pre-prototype device which was tested at Lab of DEPE BME. The SLIMFormer was investigated experimentally for both sudden short circuit and steady-state (transformer) operational modes. The activation currents were determined for both operational modes with the rated secondary winding turn ratio. SLIMFormer work is being performed as part of an EC funded project, project name: acronym SLIMFormer.
Influence of Diallyl disulphide on Hepatic Gluconeogenesis suppression by CREB Binding protein phosphorylation

Diabetes is an important human ailment affecting many lives in different countries. Diallyl disulfide (DADS), the antidiabetic compound found in garlic, acts as a therapeutic agent in diabetes mellitus condition. This research aimed to investigate the role of DADS on the gluconeogenic mechanism in the liver tissue and the potential involvement of CREB in glucose homeostasis in a Wistar rat model. The alteration in the body weight, liver weight and glycogen content in diabetic rats were prevented by this therapeutic compound: the cAMP-responsive element-binding protein (CREB), an important transcriptional regulator of the gluconeogenic mechanism. The glucose uptake potential was studied by the expression of CREB protein in DADS treated diabetic rats using the western blotting technique. A high level of hepatic CREB protein expression was noted in diabetic status in the chronic hyperglycemic model which was reversed by DADS. The antihyperglycemic effect of DADS was almost similar to that of known antidiabetic drug metformin. The therapeutic action of DADS on diabetic status is due to the control of the glycemic imbalance in liver tissue.
Gentamicin concentrations in synovial fluid obtained from the tarsocrural joints of horses after implantation of gentamicin-impregnated collagen sponges.

OBJECTIVE To determine synovial fluid gentamicin concentrations and evaluate adverse effects on the synovial membrane and articular cartilage of tarsocrural joints after implantation of a gentamicin-impregnated collagen sponge. ANIMALS 6 healthy adult mares. PROCEDURES A purified bovine type I collagen sponge impregnated with 130 mg of gentamicin was implanted in the plantarolateral pouch of 1 tarsocrural joint of each horse, with the contralateral joint used as a sham-operated control joint. Gentamicin concentrations in synovial fluid and serum were determined for 120 hours after implantation by use of a fluorescence polarization immunoassay. Synovial membrane and cartilage specimens were collected 120 hours after implantation and evaluated histologically. RESULTS Median peak synovial fluid gentamicin concentration of 168.9 microg/mL (range, 115.6 to 332 microg/mL) was achieved 3 hours after implantation. Synovial fluid gentamicin concentrations were < 4 microg/mL by 48 hours. Major histologic differences were not observed in the synovial membrane between control joints and joints implanted with gentamicin-impregnated sponges. Safranin-O fast green stain was not reduced in cartilage specimens obtained from treated joints, compared with those from control joints. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Implantation of a gentamicin-impregnated collagen sponge in the tarsocrural joint of horses resulted in rapid release of gentamicin, with peak concentrations > 20 times the minimum inhibitory concentration reported for common pathogens that infect horses. A rapid decrease in synovial fluid gentamicin concentrations was detected. The purified bovine type I collagen sponges did not elicit substantial inflammation in the synovial membrane or cause mechanical trauma to the articular cartilage.
Biological properties of a hepatocyte growth factor from rat platelets

In an accompanying communication we demonstrated that about half of the potency of rat serum to stimulate DNA synthesis in cultured adult rat hepatocytes resides in a polypetidelike substance from the platelets. A lysate of rat platelets was able to restore the potency of platelet‐poor rat serum, whereas a lysate of human platelets inhibited thymidine incorporation by the hepatocytes. Moreover, addition to these cultures of either highly purified human platelet‐derived growth factor (PDGF) or human platelet factor 4 (PF‐4) failed to influence DNA synthesis either alone or in the presence of rat or human platelet‐poor serum, which is required for expression of PDGF activity. Unlike the human platelet factors, rat platelet lysate (RPL) was moderately active by itself and was augmented equally well by platelet‐poor serum from either source. At concentrations below 5%, platelet‐poor serum from hypophysectomized rats was as potent as that from normal rats in augmenting RPL activity. This suggests that, unlike PDGF, which is not activated by hypophysectomized rat serum, the hepatotrophic component of RPL does not require the presence of exogenous somatomedins for activity, but interacts instead with other plasma constituents or with somatomedins produced by the hepatocytes in vitro. Rat platelets do, however, appear to contain PDGF or its rat equivalent in addition to the hepatocyte growth factor, since if they are heated to 100°C for 10 min, their ability to stimulate nuclear labeling in confluent BALB/c 3T3 cells is not impaired, while their ability to stimulate DNA synthesis in rat hepatocytes is destroyed. These studies indicate that the hepatocyte growth factor from rat platelets differs from PDGF in its biological as well as physical characteristics, but that rat platelets also contain PDGF or an equivalent substance.
ISIAA 2017: 1st international workshop on investigating social interactions with artificial agents (workshop summary)

The workshop “Investigating Social Interactions With Artificial Agents” organized within the “International Conference on Multimodal Interactions 2017” attempts to bring together researchers from different fields sharing a similar interest in human interactions with other agents. If interdisciplinarity is necessary to address the question of the “Turing Test”, namely “can an artificial conversational artificial agent be perceived as human”, it is also a very promising new way to investigate social interactions in the first place. Biology is represented by social cognitive neuroscience, aiming to describe the physiology of human social behaviors. Linguistics, from humanities, attempts to characterize a specifically human behavior and language. Social Signal Processing is a recent approach to analyze automatically, using advanced Information Technologies, the behaviors pertaining to natural human interactions. Finally, from Artificial Intelligence, the development of artificial agents, conversational and/or embodied, onscreen or physically attempts to recreate non-human socially interactive agents for a multitude of applications.
Distinct short‐lived and long‐lived antibody‐producing cell populations

This report analyzes the life span of Ig‐containing cells (IgCC) in different sites of antibody production. The experimental approach was based upon the observations that most IgCC are derived from proliferating precursors while IgCC themselves are mainly nondividing end cells. Rats were given a continuous infusion of [3H] thymidine via an osmotic pump inserted in the peritoneal cavity. At intervals of 1,3, 5 or 10 days after starting infusions, tissues were taken and analyzed by a combination of immunohistology and autoradiography to identify the proportions of IgCC which had gone through S phase of the cell cycle during the period of infusion. After 3 days infusion the median and (range) percent‐labeled IgCC in the medullary cords of mesenteric and cervical lymph nodes and the red pulp of the spleen were, respectively, 88 (81–90), 75 (66–77) and 88 (82–93). Conversely that for IgCC in bone marrow was only 13 (11–17) and that in the lamina propria of the jejunum 47 (33–68). The rate of increase in labeling of bone marrow IgCC with length of infusion was approximately linear. Extrapolation of this slope suggests that bone marrow IgCC have a life span in excess of 3 weeks. The slopes of increase in IgCC labeled with time for lymph nodes and spleen were clearly biphasic suggesting that while most IgCC in these tissues have a life span of less than 3 days, there is also a minor population of long‐lived IgCC. The lamina propria appears to have approximately equal proportions of long and short‐lived IgCC. The life span of IgCC, with the exception of IgMCC, appears to be a feature of the site of antibody production rather than the Ig class produced. Almost all IgM‐containing cells were found to be short lived.
Recognition of distinct target sites by a unique Labial/Extradenticle/Homothorax complex

Hox genes encode evolutionarily conserved transcriptional regulators, which define regional identities along the anteroposterior axis of multicellular animals. In Drosophila, Hox proteins bind to target DNA sequences in association with the Extradenticle (Exd) and Homothorax (Hth) co-factors. The current model of Hox-binding selectivity proposes that the nucleotide sequence identity defines the Hox protein engaged in the trimeric complex, implying that distinct Hox/Exd/Hth complexes select different binding sites and that a given Hox/Exd/Hth complex recognizes a consensus DNA sequence. Here, we report that the regulation of a newly identified Lab target gene does not rely on the previously established consensus Lab/Exd/Hth-binding site, but on a strongly divergent sequence. Thus Lab, and most probably other Hox proteins, selects different DNA sequences in regulating downstream target genes. These observations have implications with regard to the current model of Hox-binding selectivity.
A high-efficiency good linearity 21 to 26.5 GHz fully integrated power amplifier using 0.18 μm CMOS technology

This paper presents the design and implementation of a 21–26.5 GHz broadband, two stages CMOS power amplifier (PA) for quasi-millimeter wave band wireless communication systems. The proposed PA is designed using staggered tuning method [1], which is employed for the first time in quasi-millimeter wave band. Moreover, source and load-pull simulation, in addition to, impedance analysis are employed to optimize the input, output, and inter-stage impedance matching circuits for maximum power added efficiency (PAE) and better linearity. The measurement results on a chip fabricated using 0.18 μm CMOS technology shows a power gain of 10.2 ± 0.8 dB, a maximum PAE and output gain compression point (Pout1dB) of 10.5 dBm and 18 %, respectively, at 24 GHz while consuming 42 mW only. In addition, the PA achieved excellent low measured group delay variations of 75 ± 22 ps.
Influence of Titanium Coating on the Biocompatibility of a Heavyweight Polypropylene Mesh

Introduction: In light of the fact that, to date, no information is available about titanium relative to its application in prosthetic material employed for hernial repair, the aim of the present work was to evaluate the fundamental possibilities of titanium-coated polypropylene meshes. Materials and Methods: In experiments with animals, two groups, each containing 11 pigs, received either a heavyweight polypropylene mesh (Atrium®) or an identical but titanium-coated mesh (titanium-coated Atrium) implanted into the left groin using the totally endoscopic extraperitoneal patchplasty technique. Results: A significant difference in the shrinkage behavior between conventional Atrium and titanium-coated Atrium was found (14.9 vs. 8.8%, p < 0.05). Furthermore, the partial volume of the inflammatory infiltrate also proved to be smaller with the titanium-coated mesh (14.9 vs. 12.4%). In addition, Ki-67 expression was lower in the group implanted with titanium-coated mesh (21.0 vs. 15.0%). No difference was observed with regard to the apoptosis index (7.6 vs. 6.5). Conclusions: Heavyweight titanium-coated polypropylene meshes induce a less pronounced foreign body reaction in comparison with identical meshes with no titanium coating, which, since the amount of material implanted is identical, must be attributed solely to the titanium coating.
Tensions between Theory and Practice: Challenges and Issues in Teacher Transition in Classroom

A change in perspectives For the last ten years there has been an emphasis on educational reform that aims to achieve a conceptual shift in the practice of teachers from traditional to innovative methods in Pakistan. This new practice views a teacher as a facilitator, where facilitation is seen in terms of supporting and developing students’ thinking capabilities, i.e., to promote teaching, that is in accordance with the child’s psychological and social perspectives of learning (adopted from Earnest, 1990; Cobb et al , 1991; Jaworski, 1994). The teacher educators believe that characteristics for teaching should be in accordance to a child’s psychological and social perspectives of learning in the classroom. Therefore, a teacher in mathematics classroom is expected to set tasks for the students and analyse outcomes of the tasks in order to understand how students construct meanings, listen to the other students, understand their level of thinking, and help them to achieve a common agreement of a concept. For example, Cobb et al (1991) describe the teacher’s role as follows:
Empowering Potential: A Theory of Wellness Motivation

Data were collected from 29 individuals who were attempting to initiate and sustain programs of cardiac risk factor modification. Data were analyzed through the technique of constant comparative analysis. Empowering potential, the basic social process identified from the data, explained individual motivation to initiate and sustain cardiovascular health behavior. Empowering potential was a continuous process of individual growth and development which facilitated the emergence of new and positive health patterns. Within the process of empowering potential, individuals use a variety of strategies which guide the initiation and maintenance of health-related change. The process of empowering potential consists of three stages: appraising readiness, changing, and integrating change. Two categories occurred throughout the process of empowering potential: imaging and social support systems. These findings provide a better understanding of how motivated action is initiated and reinitiated over time.
U1 snRNP-Dependent Function of TIAR in the Regulation of Alternative RNA Processing of the Human Calcitonin/CGRP Pre-mRNA

ABSTRACT Alternative RNA processing of human calcitonin/CGRP pre-mRNA is regulated by an intronic enhancer element. Previous studies have demonstrated that multiple sequence motifs within the enhancer and a number of trans-acting factors play critical roles in the regulation. Here, we report the identification of TIAR as a novel player in the regulation of human calcitonin/CGRP alternative RNA processing. TIAR binds to the U tract sequence motif downstream of a pseudo 5′ splice site within the previously characterized intron enhancer element. Binding of TIAR promotes inclusion of the alternative 3′-terminal exon located more than 200 nucleotides upstream from the U tract. In cells that preferentially include this exon, overexpression of a mutant TIAR that lacks the RNA binding domains suppressed inclusion of this exon. In this report, we also demonstrate an unusual novel interaction between U6 snRNA and the pseudo 5′ splice site, which was shown previously to bind U1 snRNA. Interestingly, TIAR binding to the U tract sequence depends on the interaction of not only U1 but also U6 snRNA with the pseudo 5′ splice site. Conversely, TIAR binding promotes U6 snRNA binding to its target. The synergistic relationship between TIAR and U6 snRNA strongly suggests a novel role of U6 snRNP in regulated alternative RNA processing.
The Impact of News Articles and Corporate Disclosure on Credit Risk Valuation

In this study, we investigate how qualitative information in newspapers and corporate filings affects credit risk valuation in the credit default swap (CDS) market. We adopted news coverage and news sentiment to quantify text information from news articles and quantified the qualitative risk disclosures of individual firms in their corporate filings (i.e., Form 10-K and 10-Q). Our empirical study, based on 13years of CDS data, provides several conclusions. First, more news coverage and negative news sentiment increase credit risk. Second, a higher overall volume of risk factor disclosure in corporate public filings is linked to a higher credit risk for debt issuers. Moreover, financial risk has the strongest effect among the five types of risk disclosures we considered. Overall, our results suggest that text information from newspapers and corporate filings contains incremental informational content for firms’ credit risk evaluations. These two information sources play distinctive roles in signaling issuers’ future credit conditions.
Jolts, Surges, Brownouts, and Blackouts: Shocks to Stable Energy Policies

Many analyses of policy change argue that substantial changes result when seemingly stable systems are shocked by unplanned issues or events. Yet, while many potentially important shocks may occur, only a handful have a dramatic effect. We build on several compelling arguments to differentiate between different kinds of potential shocks. We examine these differences by comparing shocks within different energy sectors inside the U.S. We use systematic analyses of media coverage, congressional hearings, and policy outputs to show a distinct differentiation of impact from shocks. This research relates to broad theories of policy change, discussions of energy policy, and comparisons of similar policies over time.
An approach for integrating complementary-alternative medicine into primary care.

BACKGROUND Despite family practitioners frequently being requested to assist their patients with advice on or referrals to complementary-alternative medicine (CAM), there is an absence both of evidence about the efficacy of nearly all specific treatments or modalities and of guidelines to assist with the integration of conventional and CAM therapies. OBJECTIVE The aim of this article is to suggest a comprehensive and rational, best-evidence strategy for integrating CAM by primary care practitioners into primary care, within the context of the limitations of the current knowledge base and the local milieu. METHODS The suggested approach was developed by a combination of literature review, key informant interviews, focus groups, educational presentations for family practice residents and practitioners, and field testing. An iterative model was utilized whereby more refined drafts of the suggested approach were subjected to later discussants and groups, as well as further field testing. Drafts of the strategy were utilized in consultations of patients requesting advice on alternative medicine in a primary care setting and in a CAM clinic. RESULTS Both family physicians and CAM practitioners provided useful comments and recommendations throughout the process. These can be categorized in terms of knowledge, attitudes and skills. Our strategy suggests that patients requesting advice on the use and integration of CAM modalities as part of their health care should be evaluated initially by their primary care physician. The physician's responsibilities are to evaluate the appropriateness of that use, and to maintain contact, monitoring outcomes. Advice on referrals should be based on the safety of the method in question, current knowledge on indications and contraindications of that modality, and familiarity and an open dialogue with the specific therapist. CONCLUSIONS Given patients' demands and utilization of CAM therapies, despite the lack of evidence, there is an increasing need to address how CAM therapies can be integrated into conventional medical systems. These suggestions should respond to patient's expectations and needs, but at the same time maintain accepted standards of medical and scientific principles of practice.
Information retrieval for e-discovery

Discovery, the process under which parties to legal cases must reveal documents relevant to the disputed issues is a core aspect of trials in the United States, and a lesser but important factor in other countries. Discovery on documents stored in computerized systems (known variously as electronic discovery, e-discovery, e-disco, EDD, and ED) is increasingly the major factor in discovery, and has become a multi-billion dollar industry. I will discuss the basics of e-discovery, the scale and diversity of the materials involved, and the economics of identifying and reviewing potentially responsive material. I will then focus on three major IR areas of interest: search, supervised machine learning (including text classification and relevance feedback), and interface support for manual relevance assessment. For each, I will discuss technologies currently used in e-discovery, the evaluation methods applicable to measuring effectiveness, and existing research results not yet seeing commercial practice. I will also outline research directions that, if successfully pursued, would potentially be of great interest in e-discovery applications. A particular focus will be on areas where researchers can make progress without access to operational e-discovery environments or "realistic" test collections. Connections will be drawn with the use of IR in related tasks, such as enterprise search, criminal investigations, intelligence analysis, historical research, truth and reconciliation commissions, and freedom of information (open records or sunshine law) requests.