Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Maps: An integrated system for protein sequence annotation using support vector machine

Abstract An Integrated environment for biological data is valuable to the function annotation of protein sequences. In this paper, we present a protein sequence annotation system, named MAPS (Multiple Annotation for Protein Sequences), which provides a mechanism to extract multiple annotations from various types of biological data including SwissProt keywords, InterPro signatures and GO terms. Furthermore, MAPS can automatically eliminate the annotation errors generated by a pre‐trained SVM classifier. It assigns an annotation to the protein sequence at question by considering not only a single similar protein but also all similar proteins with the annotation. In other words, we take account of the evolutionary information of the protein of interest to reduce the error annotations inferred from weak sequence similarities and from sequence identities in non‐functional segments. The experimental results show that the error annotations can be eliminated effectively while keeping high accuracy for different types of annotations.
Learning Transfer: A Review of the Research in Adult Education and Training

Millions of dollars are spent every year on continuing education and training, yet some estimate that less than 10% of this expenditure pays off in improved performance at work. How to ensure for the transfer of learning from the classroom to the workplace has challenged adult educators and trainers for decades. This article reviews the empirical research since 1990 on learning transfer. Research findings with regard to participant characteristics, program content and design, and work environment are reviewed. Based on the research, three recommendations congruent with adult education and adult learning theory are presented: (a) that the learner be included in the planning of the educational program, (b) that strategies for transfer be built into the program design, and (c) that a supportive work environment be fostered to enable transfer. The article concludes with recommendations for future research on learning transfer. Whether it be in the community, in professional settings, or in business and industry, educators who plan and implement programs for adults hope that what is taught is learned and that this learning transfers beyond the classroom. However, business and industry, which spends billions of dollars each year on training, estimates that only about 10% of this expenditure results in the transfer of knowledge, skills, and behaviors (Awoniyi, Griego, & Morgan, 2002). This estimate has prompted much attention to investigating which factors facilitate or hinder transfer; the result has been a voluminous literature on learning Sharan B. Merriam is Professor of Adult Education at The University of Georgia, Athens, GA. Brendan Leahy is Leadership Development Specialist at the Fanning Institute for Leadership, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA. PAACE Journal of Lifelong Learning, Vol. 14, 2005, 1-24. 1
Evidence for thermal boundary resistance effects on superconducting radiofrequency cavity performances

The majority of the literature on superconducting cavities for particle accelerators concentrates on the interaction of a radiofrequency (RF) electromagnetic field with a superconductor cooled in liquid helium, generally either at a fixed temperature of 4.2 K or 1.8 K, basing the analysis of experimental results on the assumption that the superconductor is at the same temperature as the infinite reservoir of liquid helium. Only a limited number of papers have extended their analysis to the more complex overall system composed of an RF field, a superconductor and liquid helium. Only a few papers have analyzed, for example, the problem of the Kapitza resistance, i.e. the thermal boundary resistance between the superconductor and the superfluid helium. Among them, the general conclusion is that the Kapitza resistance, one of the most controversial and less understood topics in physics, is generally negligible, or not relevant for the performance enhancement of cavities. In our work presented here, studying the performance of 6 GHz niobium (Nb) test cavities, we have discovered and studied a new effect consisting of an abrupt change in the surface resistance versus temperature at the superfluid helium lambda transition Tλ. This abrupt change (or ‘jump’) clearly appears when the RF measurement of a cavity is performed at constant power rather than at a constant field. We have correlated this jump to a change in the thermal exchange regime across the lambda transition, and, through a simple thermal model and further reasonable assumptions, we have calculated the thermal boundary resistance between niobium and liquid helium in the temperature range between 4.2 K and 1.8 K. We find that the absolute values of the thermal resistance both above and below the lambda point are fully compatible with the data reported in the literature for heat transfer to pool boiling helium I (HeI) above Tλ and for the Kapitza interface resistance (below Tλ) between a polished metal surface and superfluid HeII. Finally, based on the well-documented evidence that the surface status of metal to liquid helium influences the heat exchange towards the fluid, and specifically the Kapitza resistance below Tλ, we have tested an anodization process external to the cavity, comparing the performances of the cavity before and after external anodization. The tests were done without breaking the vacuum inside the cavity or modifying the inner superconducting layer in any way, and were repeated on different samples. The results show that when the cavity is externally anodized, both the Q-factor and the maximum accelerating field increase. Again, when the oxide layer is removed, the Q-factor shifts towards a lower level and the maximum accelerating field is also reduced.
Non-algebraic domain growth in binary alloys with quenched disorder

The authors present detailed numerical results from a computationally efficient cell dynamical system model of domain growth in binary alloys with quenched disorder. Their numerical results suggest that the domain growth law for the disordered case is compatible with (R)(t) approximately (1nt)x, where x has a weak dependence on the disorder amplitude. However, it is possible that their simulations do not access the true asymptotic regime. They also find that the scaled structure factor for the disordered case is independent of the amplitude of disorder and is the same as that for the pure system.
Ab-initio calculation of band structure and linear optical properties of SbSI in para- and ferroelectric phases

An ab-initio pseudopotential calculation has been performed by using density functional methods within the local density approximation (LDA) to investigate the band structure and optical properties of the ferroelectric-semiconductor SbSI in the para- and ferroelectric phases. It has been shown that SbSI has an indirect gap in both phases (1.45 eV and 1.49 eV in the para- and ferroelectric phases respectively) and that the smallest direct gap is at the S point of the Brillouin zone (1.56 eV and 1.58 eV in the para- and ferroelectric phases respectively). Furthermore, it is shown that first-order phase transition, from the paraelectric phase to the ferroelectric phase (the transiton temperature is about 22 °C), does not change the nature of the band gap. Moreover, the linear frequency dependent dielectric function, including self-energy effects, has been calculated along the c-polar axis in the para- and ferroelectric phases.
Effect of Gait Alteration on Fatigability during Walking in Adult Women with High Body Fat Composition

Background and Objective: The risk factors for injury due to alterations in gait efficiency and fatigability during walking are a rising concern. Therefore, the aims of this study were to characterize the changes in gait pattern and performance fatigability among adult women with a high body fat percentage and to study the association between the gait pattern and performance fatigability during walking. Materials and Methods: A total of 160 adult women were enrolled in the study and were divided into two groups: a high-body-fat percentage group (HBF; n = 80; fat% = 42.49 ± 3.51) and a comparison group with a normal body fat percentage (NBF; n = 80; fat% = 29.68 ± 4.30). The 10 min walking test (10-MWT) was used to measure performance fatigability. Treadmill-based gait analysis was used for the acquisition of gait parameters. The correlation between the variables was examined using Pearson’s correlation coefficient. Forward stepwise linear regression was carried out to examine the association between all independent variables, and performance fatigability was adjusted for age and height. The level of statistical significant was set at p-value < 0.05 in all analyses. Results: The mean performance fatigability during the 10-MWT was reported to be high (1.4 ± 0.13) among the participants with HBF, as compared with a fatigability of 1.25 ± 0.11 in the NBF group. The data analysis of the spatial parameters indicated that stride length and step length were statistically smaller in the participants with HBF, as compared with the NBF group. The effects of average maximum force, speed, cadence, step length, and stride length explained the variation in the performance fatigability by 61% (p = 0.007). Conclusion: The findings of this study showed that gait alteration due to excess body fat induced a reduction in performance, as reflected by the high fatigability performance during walking. The study demonstrated a significant association between the severity of performance fatigability and spatial gait parameters.
Travel Demand Management Implications during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Case Study of Tehran

The COVID-19 pandemic has had an unprecedented impact on the transportation sector, with changes expected to last for a long time. Following the reopening phases, increased use of private vehicles and continued avoidance of exposure to the infectious virus in public transportation exacerbated urban traffic and environmental problems. The paper aims to evaluate the impact of travel demand management strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic in Tehran, Iran. That city provided a unique case study because of its high COVID-19 contagion and death rates, traffic congestion, and lack of government restriction plans, which are common in developing countries. Four scenarios combining various travel demand management strategies were considered during the pandemic. The findings highlight the importance of considering the tradeoffs between different performance measures when selecting a suitable travel demand management strategy. Depending on the goals that decision-makers have set, the strategies may not be additive. While teleworking, e-learning, and rescheduling working hours all help reduce traffic congestion, the pricing strategy contributes significantly to meeting environmental and health goals. The findings also highlight the nonlinear pattern of change associated with each strategy.
The US Political Economy of Climate Change: Impacts of the “Fracking” Boom on State-Level Climate Policies

Abstract In the face of the intensifying global climate crisis, the US has failed to implement comprehensive policies to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. During the 2000s, the shale oil and gas extraction (i.e., “fracking”) revolution highlighted the American energy economy. Is the fracking boom partially to blame for US lagging on climate policy? Political economy theory suggests that economic resources are primary drivers of policy outcomes. In this paper, I originally evaluate that claim in the context of the American states, the governments most powerful to mitigate emissions while the federal government faces gridlock. I first introduce an original measure of one state-level climate policy: adoption of the low-emission vehicle (LEV) policy from 1991 to 2015. I then frame the US fracking boom of the mid-to-late 2000s as a natural experiment, employing a difference-in-difference design to compare the effects of fracking on two climate policies across the American states – LEV and renewable electricity policy. Results yield evidence of a causal impact of the fracking boom on state LEV adoption and more suggestive evidence of an impact on renewable electricity mandates. I conclude by arguing that efforts to evaluate the influence of business on policy should account for “structural power” mechanisms.
Rate‐dependent variability in English and Japanese complex vowel F2 transitions

Are the effects of changes in speech rate on F2 transition slopes in languages with and without unitary diphthongs explicable in terms of general phonetic and physiological principles? Five American English diphthongs and four Japanese vowel sequences were recorded, spoken at three different tempos by eight and seven speakers, respectively. LPC spectra were computed at 10‐ms intervals, and the resulting F2 contours were analyzed by a computer program designed to objectively define and measure steady‐state and transitional portions of the vowel. Contrary to the claims of Gay [J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 44, 1570–1573 (1968)], speech rate was found to significantly affect two measures of transition slope in English, with slope decreasing as speech rate increased. Individual diphthong populations in both languages displayed high correlations between a transition, slope and its F2 range, indicating that rate adjustment is not simply a matter of target undershoot at faster speeds. Japanese showed less rate‐dependent variability, suggesting that temporal reorganization for different speech rates is affected by language‐specific structures. [Work supported by NIH. ]
Development of machine tool communication method and its edge middleware for cyber-physical manufacturing systems

ABSTRACT By enabling the fusion of cyber and physical world, Cyber-physical systems (CPSs) have emerged as a key technology of the fourth industrial revolution – Industry 4.0. One of the major challenges for developing manufacturing CPSs is establishing communication between physical resources and Internet/cloud-hosted applications. Recently, MTConnect has become a widely popular communication method for monitoring machine tools in cyber manufacturing. However, it does not allow remote operations of machine tools over the Internet, which is essential in many manufacturing CPSs. This paper presents an Internet-scale service-oriented communication method named Machine Tool Communication (MTComm), which provides capabilities of both monitoring and operating heterogeneous machine tools over the Internet. MTComm allows machine tools to exchange manufacturing services and associated information in XML format through RESTful web services. This paper describes design and development of MTComm components, ontology, and methodology of data acquisition and direct operation through five types of services. To reduce communication latency and improve performance, three optimization strategies were developed and used in an edge-based middleware. Experiments were conducted in a testbed with five machines at different stages of MTComm development and results demonstrated excellent feasibility for efficiently monitoring and operating heterogeneous machine tools in a scalable cyber-physical manufacturing environment.
Characterization and deployment of large-format fully depleted back-illuminated p-channel CCDs for precision astronomy

We present new characterization results for a large format, 15 um pixel pitch, 2kx4k format, p-channel CCD fabricated on high resistivity silicon at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. The fully-depleted device is 300 um thick and backside illuminated utilizing 4-side buttable packaging. We report on measurements of standard operating characteristics including charge transfer efficiency, readout noise, cosmetics performance, dark current, and well depth. We have also made preliminary measurements of the device's X-Ray energy resolution and tests of device linearity.
Water Use Efficiency and Economic Evaluation of the Hydroponic versus Conventional Cultivation Systems for Green Fodder Production in Saudi Arabia

The current study is aimed to assess water use efficiency and evaluate economic viability of hydroponic and conventional production of barley green fodder by keeping in view the water scarcity challenges in Saudi Arabia. A hydroponic system and open field experimental plot was used to evaluate the water use efficiency for different irrigation regimes. Economic indicators for both production systems are estimated and compared to accomplish economic assessment. Estimated indicators include returns from inputs and net profit; benefit-cost ratio; break-even levels of prices, production, and yield; returns over variable cost; and returns on investment. Results indicated that the yield of barley green fodder produced under hydroponic conditions overtopped the yield under conventional cultivation. Under hydroponic and conventional conditions, WUE was decreased with increasing the harvesting date. However, WUE for the hydroponic technique was much higher than the conventional one. The returns and net profits supported the conventional cultivation methods, where lower dry matter content coupled with higher fixed and variable costs incurred by the hydroponic technique outweighed returns leading to economic loss. Cost-benefit ratios, returns over investment, and break-even prices and yield suggested that growing barley fodder under the hydroponic technique is economically not suitable for small-scale farming. However, regarding water conservation, hydroponic barley cultivation showed superiority over conventional field cultivation. Further research on the adoption of hydroponic fodder cultivation is highly recommended for water-scarce arid regions, such as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Singular Perturbation of a Finite Horizon Problem with State-Space Constraints

We study the singular perturbation of optimal control problems for nonlinear systems with constraints on the fast state variables and a cost functional either of Bolza type or involving the exit time of the system from a given domain. Under a controllability assumption on the fast variables, we show that these variables become controls in the limit problem. Our method consists of passing to the limit in the associated Hamilton--Jacobi--Bellman (HJB) equations by means of some tools in the theory of viscosity solutions.
TRANSPORT PROPERTIES OF A NONEQUILIBRIUM PARTIALLY IONIZED GAS.

A modified Chapman‐Enskog approach for an ionized gas is presented. The method allows the electron and heavy particle temperatures to differ while requiring all species to have the same macroscopic velocity to zero order. Expressions are obtained for the transport properties of such a gas and a complete set of self‐contained hydrodynamic equations is given. As an example, the transport properties of a fully ionized gas containing a single ion species are evaluated using the cutoff Coulomb potential. In the limit of equal electron and ion temperatures, the results are in agreement with previous results.
Topic Controlled Steganography via Graph-to-Text Generation

Generation-based linguistic steganography is a popular research area of information hiding. The text generative steganographic method based on conditional probability coding is the direction that researchers have recently paid attention to. However, in the course of our experiment, we found that the secret information hiding in the text tends to destroy the statistical distribution characteristics of the original text, which indicates that this method has the problem of the obvious reduction of text quality when the embedding rate increases
Average-consensus Problem for Networked Multi-agent Systems with Heterogeneous Time-delays

Abstract This paper deals with an average-consensus problem for networked multi-agent systems with non-uniform and asymmetric (heterogeneous) time-delays. The goal of this paper is to derive a necessary and sufficient condition for average-consensus in the form of an algebraic condition. We deal with two cases according to initial conditions: the state variables before the initial time are constant or not constant. In each case, the necessary and sufficient condition is represented by the eigenvectors of the delay-transition and/or the delay-weighted Laplacians, which are newly introduced in this paper to express the structures of the delayed networks. This is the first paper which shows the strict condition for average-consensus of networked multi-agent systems with heterogeneous time-delays. The validity of the analysis results is demonstrated by simulations with six-agent systems.
Optimization of extraction conditions for functional compounds from thinned unripe apple using β-cyclodextrin-based ultrasound-assisted extraction

ABSTRACT Unripe apples contain more functional compounds than ripe apples and thus demonstrate significant potential for use as functional food materials. In this study, the conditions for the extraction of functional compounds from unripe apples were optimized using the response surface methodology. A Box–Behnken design was used to investigate the effects of three independent variables (β-cyclodextrin concentration, extraction time, and extraction temperature) on the total polyphenol content (TPC), chlorogenic acid content (CAC), and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity (RSA). The corresponding optimal extraction conditions were found to be 40 mg/mL, 53.03 min, and 60°C for TPC; 40 mg/mL, 46.67 min, and 60°C for CAC; and 20 mg/mL, 30 min, and 40°C for DPPH RSA. The experimental values obtained under these conditions were consistent with the predicted values, indicating that the model was suitable for optimizing the extraction of functional compounds from unripe apples.
Surgical audit: statistical lessons from Nightingale and Codman

There is a long history of interest in examining and comparing surgical outcomes. The ‘epidemiological’ approach was initiated by Florence Nightingale in her suggestion for uniform surgical statistics, and she clearly predicted the problems that are associated with collecting, analysing and interpreting such data. Unfortunately those responsible for implementing and reporting her scheme appeared not to have shared her insight. The contrasting ‘clinical’ approach was championed by Ernest Codman in his search for full and honest appraisals of surgical errors. Once again, despite initial enthusiasm, others had great difficulty in following his example, although we discuss a recent instance of a reflective analysis of an individual surgeon's performance. We conclude by suggesting that a synthesis between these approaches is appropriate, but we follow others in warning of the inevitable extra‐statistical difficulties that will arise.