Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Effect of Allylic Sulfide-Mediated IrreversibleAddition-Fragment Chain Transfer on the EmulsionPolymerization Kinetics of Styrene

The effect of the irreversible addition-fragment chain transfer agent, butyl(2-phenylallyl)sulfane (BPAS), on the course of the emulsion polymerization of styrene and on the product molecular weight was investigated. The emulsion polymerizations were performed using various amounts of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) as the surfactant and potassium peroxodisulfate (KPS) as the initiator. The relationships between the rates of polymerization (\(R_{p} \)) and the number of particles per volume (\(N_{c} \)) with respect to the concentrations of KPS, SDS, and BPAS were found to be \(R_{p} \propto \left\lbrack KPS \right\rbrack^{0.29} \), \(N_{c} \propto \left\lbrack KPS \right\rbrack^{0.26} \),\(R_{p} \propto \left\lbrack SDS \right\rbrack^{0.68} \), \(N_{c} \propto \left\lbrack SDS \right\rbrack^{0.72} \), and \(R_{p} \propto \left\lbrack BPAS \right\rbrack^{- 0.73} \) . The obtained relationships can be attributed to the exit of the leaving group radicals on BPAS from the polymer particles. The experimental values of the average number of radicals per particle (\(\overset{\_}{n} \)) were strongly dependent on the BPAS concentration and were in good agreement with the theoretical values (\({\overset{\_}{n}}_{theo} \)) from model calculations. The number-average molecular weight (\(\overset{\_}{M_{n}} \)) can be controlled by BPAS over nearly the entire conversion range, which is also in agreement with the mathematical model. In addition, the transfer rate coefficient (\(k_{tr} \)) of BPAS can be estimated as 326 L/mol/s at 70 \(^\circ\)C. Moreover, similar good results were found for the tested redox reactions at 30 \(^\circ\)C.
Depth Texture Synthesis for Realistic Architectural Modeling

Large scenes such as building facades and other architectural constructions often contain repeating elements like identical windows, brick patterns, etc. In this paper, we present a novel approach that improves the resolution and geometry of 3D meshes of large scenes with such repeating elements. By leveraging structure from motion reconstruction and an off-the-shelf depth sensor, our approach captures a small sample of the scene in high resolution and automatically extends that information to similar regions of the scene. Using RGB and SfM depth information as a guide and simple geometric primitives as canvas, our approach extends the high resolution mesh by exploiting powerful, image-based texture synthesis approaches. The final results improves on standard SfM reconstruction with higher detail. Our approach benefits from reduced manual labor as opposed to full RGBD reconstruction, and can be done much more cheaply than with LiDAR-based solutions.
A qualitative study of workplace intercultural communication tensions in dyadic face-to-face and computer-mediated interactions

We present findings from a qualitative study with 28 participants of the dyadic intercultural communication tensions professionals experience in Face-to-Face (FTF) and Computer-Mediated Communication (CMC) workplace interactions. We identify four categories of intercultural communication tensions that emerged most frequently in our dataset including range of emotional expression, level of formality, "fixed" versus flexible appointments and task versus social-orientation. We discuss how these tensions manifested in FTF and CMC media and unravel the ways media supports or hinders intercultural communication. We present the adaptations participants made to mitigate such tensions and offer implications for design. Our findings demonstrate that the most frequently occurring intercultural communication tensions manifested in both FTF and CMC, regardless of the medium used. This indicates that cultural communication challenges will persist no matter the medium, highlighting the opportunity for technologies to better support workplace intercultural communication.
Detection of Aluminum-doped Zinc-Oxide thin films as electrode for radio frequency tissue fusion

Radio-frequency (RF) tissue fusion means sealing tissue between a knife and an electrode (monoploar) or two electrodes (biopolar) delivering RF currents. Even the mechanism of adhesion is poorly understood, RF modification is correlated to thermal damage. In this paper, a multimodal monitoring system with Aluminum-doped Zinc-Oxide (AZO) thin films glass as electrode is proposed and chicken bowel is chosen as tissue to be fused, thermocouple, impedance test module, video cassette recorder and burst pressure test module can record the whole process and test the result. It was capable of acquiring temperature of electrode, impedance of tissue, while the whole process of tissue modification been visible. As tissue being fused, burst pressure can be measured. Results show the process of RF tissue fusion, and transparent conductive films are capable of being a new kind of electrode in electrosurgery.
Keratin-Dependent, Epithelial Resistance to Tumor Necrosis Factor-Induced Apoptosis

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is a cytokine produced by macrophages and T lymphocytes that acts through two distinct receptors, TNFR1 (60 kD, CD120a) and TNFR2 (80 kD, CD120b), to affect cellular proliferation, differentiation, survival, and cell death. In addition to its proinflammatory actions in mucosal tissue, TNF is important for liver regeneration. Keratin 8 (K8) and keratin 18 (K18) form intermediate filaments characteristic of liver and other single cell layered, internal epithelia and their derivative cancers. K8-deficient (K8−) mice, which escape embryonic lethality, develop inflammatory colorectal hyperplasia, mild liver abnormalities, and tolerate hepatectomy poorly. We show that normal and malignant epithelial cells deficient in K8 and K18 are ∼100 times more sensitive to TNF-induced death. K8 and K18 both bind the cytoplasmic domain of TNFR2 and moderate TNF-induced, Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) intracellular signaling and NFκB activation. Furthermore, K8− and K18− mice are much more sensitive to TNF dependent, apoptotic liver damage induced by the injection of concanavalin A. This moderation of the effects of TNF may be the fundamental function of K8 and K18 common to liver regeneration, inflammatory bowel disease, hepatotoxin sensitivity, and the diagnostic, persistent expression of these keratins in many carcinomas.
A Latent Model to Detect Multiple Clusters of Varying Sizes

Summary This article develops a latent model and likelihood‐based inference to detect temporal clustering of events. The model mimics typical processes generating the observed data. We apply model selection techniques to determine the number of clusters, and develop likelihood inference and a Monte Carlo expectation–maximization algorithm to estimate model parameters, detect clusters, and identify cluster locations. Our method differs from the classical scan statistic in that we can simultaneously detect multiple clusters of varying sizes. We illustrate the methodology with two real data applications and evaluate its efficiency through simulation studies. For the typical data‐generating process, our methodology is more efficient than a competing procedure that relies on least squares.
Availability of Micro-Tom mutant library combined with TILLING in molecular breeding of tomato fruit shelf-life

Novel mutant alleles of an ethylene receptor Solanum lycopersicum ETHYLENE RESPONSE1 (SlETR1) gene, Sletr1-1 and Sletr1-2, were isolated from the Micro-Tom mutant library by TILLING in our previous study. They displayed different levels of impaired fruit ripening phenotype, suggesting that these alleles could be a valuable breeding material for improving shelf life of tomato fruit. To conduct practical use of the Sletr1 alleles in tomato breeding, genetic complementation analysis by transformation of genes carrying each allele is required. In this study, we generated and characterized transgenic lines over-expressing Sletr1-1 and Sletr1-2. All transgenic lines displayed ethylene insensitive phenotype and ripening inhibition, indicating that Sletr1-1 and Sletr1-2 associate with the ethylene insensitive phenotype. The level of ethylene sensitivity in the seedling was different between Sletr1-1 and Sletr1-2 transgenic lines, whereas no apparent difference was observed in fruit ripening phenotype. These results suggested that it is difficult to fine-tune the extent of ripening by transgenic approach even if the weaker allele (Sletr1-2) was used. Our present and previous studies indicate that the Micro-Tom mutant library combined with TILLING could be an efficient tool for exploring genetic variations of important agronomic traits in tomato breeding.
Surveying Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) success factors in governmental organizations in Middle East

Implementing enterprise resource planning (ERP) is an important factor for organizations to consider. However, ERP software is too expensive and the failure rate of implementation is high. ERP software selection is an important step because it affects of all aspects of an organizations production and service methodology. It is obvious that ERP selection is becoming increasingly more difficult as new competitors emerge. In this paper, we will look at success factors of ERP implementation then we will survey the mentioned factors in the Ministry of commerce in Iran.
An approach for loosely coupled discrete event simulation models and animation components

Animation techniques are used during simulation studies for verifying and validating the model, and for communication purposes to external parties. Including animation in a simulation model, often results in models that contain many references to animation specific code. Moreover, in the specific case of discrete event simulation, challenges arise due to the difference in time-bases with animation techniques that mostly have a discrete notion of time. Typical approaches to developing animation for simulation models provide tightly coupled simulation and animation components that are fine-tuned to provide acceptable results. Apart of the disadvantage of having entangled model and animation code, this also has the disadvantage of reduced flexibility that one would desire in order to be able to use other animation techniques: for instance going from 2D to 3D with modern visualization libraries. In this paper, we will present our approach for loosely coupled discrete event simulation models and animation components.
A Group-Based Intrusion Detection Scheme in Wireless Sensor Networks

Wireless sensor networks are susceptible to many types of attacks because of their constrained capacity, such as limitation in computation power, memory and battery lifetime. In this paper, we propose a group- based intrusion detection scheme that meets the efficient, lightweight and flexible requirements by partitioning the sensor networks into many groups in which the sensors in each group are physically close to each other and are equipped with the same sensing capability. Our intrusion detection algorithm takes into consideration of multiple attributes of the sensor nodes simultaneously to detect malicious attackers precisely. We show through experiments with real data that our algorithm can decrease the false alarm rate and increase the detection accuracy rate compared with existing intrusion detection schemes while lowering the power consumption.
Thrombomodulin Prolongs Thrombin-Induced Extracellular Signal—Regulated Kinase Phosphorylation and Nuclear Retention in Endothelial Cells

On endothelial cells, thrombin binds to thrombomodulin (TM), an integral membrane-bound glycoprotein, and to protease-activated receptors (PARs). Thrombin binding to TM modulates endothelial cell and smooth muscle cell proliferation mediated through PAR1. We studied the phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of extracellular signal–regulated kinases (ERKs) 1 and 2 in human umbilical vein endothelial cells activated by thrombin. Thrombin and thrombin receptor–activating peptide (TRAP)-induced DNA synthesis were significantly inhibited by PD98059, an inhibitor of ERK phosphorylation. Immunoblots of phosphorylated ERKs (pERKs) and immunocytochemical studies of pERK localization revealed differences in the signal generated by thrombin and TRAP. After a short activation (15 minutes), the phosphorylation and the intracellular localization of pERKs were the same with the 2 agonists. After 4 hours, however, pERKs were visualized in the nuclei of thrombin-activated cells but barely detectable in TRAP-activated cells. Moreover, after 4 hours, the pERKs were visualized in the nuclei of cells stimulated by TRAP in the presence of a thrombin mutant that bound to TM, whereas they were around the nuclei in cells stimulated by thrombin in the presence of a monoclonal antibody preventing thrombin binding to TM. The results demonstrate that ERKs are involved in human umbilical vein endothelial cell DNA synthesis mediated by PAR agonists, that the duration of pERK nuclear retention is in inverse ratio to the mitogenic response, and that in addition to its role in the regulation of blood coagulation, TM acts as a thrombin receptor that modulates the duration of pERK nuclear retention and cell proliferation in response to thrombin.
Spectral formation in a radiative shock: application to anomalous X-ray pulsars and soft gamma-ray repeaters

Context. In the fallback disk model for the persistent emission of anomalous X-ray pulsars (AXPs) and soft gamma-ray repeaters (SGRs), the hard X-ray emission arises from bulk- and thermal Comptonization of bremsstrahlung photons, which are generated in the accretion column. The relatively low X-ray luminosity of these sources implies a moderate transverse optical depth to electron scattering, with photons executing a small number of shock crossings before escaping sideways. Aims. We explore the range of spectral shapes that can be obtained with this model and characterize the most important parameter dependencies. Methods. We use a Monte Carlo code to study the crisscrossing of photons in a radiative shock in an accretion column and compute the resulting spectrum. Results. As expected, high-energy power-law X-ray spectra are produced in radiative shocks with photon-number spectral index Γ > 0.5. We find that the required transverse optical depth is 1 < τ⊥ < 7. Such spectra are observed in low-luminosity X-ray pulsars. Conclusions. We demonstrate here with a simple model that Compton upscattering in the radiative shock in the accretion column can produce hard X-ray spectra similar to those seen in the persistent and transient emission of AXPs and SGRs. In particular, one can obtain a high-energy power-law spectrum, with photon-number spectral-index Γ ∼ 1 and a cutoff at 100−200 keV, with a transverse Thomson optical depth of ∼5, which is shown to be typical in AXPs/SGRs.
IL-10-Producing B Cells Are Induced Early in HIV-1 Infection and Suppress HIV-1-Specific T Cell Responses

A rare subset of IL-10-producing B cells, named regulatory B cells (Bregs), suppresses adaptive immune responses and inflammation in mice. In this study, we examined the role of IL-10-producing B cells in HIV-1 infection. Compared to uninfected controls, IL-10-producing B cell frequencies were elevated in both blood and sigmoid colon during the early and chronic phase of untreated HIV-1 infection. Ex vivo IL-10-producing B cell frequency in early HIV-1 infection directly correlated with viral load. IL-10-producing B cells from HIV-1 infected individuals were enriched in CD19+TIM-1+ B cells and were enriched for specificity to trimeric HIV-1 envelope protein. Anti-retroviral therapy was associated with reduced IL-10-producing B cell frequencies. Treatment of B cells from healthy donors with microbial metabolites and Toll-like receptor (TLR) agonists could induce an IL-10 producing phenotype, suggesting that the elevated bacterial translocation characteristic of HIV-1 infection may promote IL-10-producing B cell development. Similar to regulatory B cells found in mice, IL-10-producing B cells from HIV-1-infected individuals suppressed HIV-1-specific T cell responses in vitro, and this suppression is IL-10-dependent. Also, ex vivo IL-10-producing B cell frequency inversely correlated with contemporaneous ex vivo HIV-1-specific T cell responses. Our findings show that IL-10-producing B cells are induced early in HIV-1 infection, can be HIV-1 specific, and are able to inhibit effective anti-HIV-1 T cell responses. HIV-1 may dysregulate B cells toward Bregs as an immune evasion strategy.
Constituyentes psicoactivos del cannabis y sus implicaciones clínicas: una revisión sistemática

Objective This systematic review aims to summarize current evidence on which naturally present cannabinoids contribute to cannabis psychoactivity, considering their reported concentrations and pharmacodynamics in humans. Design Following PRISMA guidelines, papers published before March 2016 in Medline, Scopus-Elsevier, Scopus, ISI-Web of Knowledge and COCHRANE, and fulfilling established a-priori selection criteria have been included. Results In 40 original papers, three naturally present cannabinoids (∆-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol, ∆-8-Tetrahydrocannabinol and Cannabinol) and one human metabolite (11-OH-THC) had clinical relevance. Of these, the metabolite produces the greatest psychoactive effects. Cannabidiol (CBD) is not psychoactive but plays a modulating role on cannabis psychoactive effects. The proportion of 9-THC in plant material is higher (up to 40%) than in other cannabinoids (up to 9%). Pharmacodynamic reports vary due to differences in methodological aspects (doses, administration route and volunteers’ previous experience with cannabis). Conclusions Findings reveal that 9-THC contributes the most to cannabis psychoactivity. Due to lower psychoactive potency and smaller proportions in plant material, other psychoactive cannabinoids have a weak influence on cannabis final effects. Current lack of standard methodology hinders homogenized research on cannabis health effects. Working on a standard cannabis unit considering 9-THC is recommended.
Visual detection and species classification of orchid flowers

The goal of this research is to investigate the possibility of using object categorization and object classification techniques in an industrial context with a very limited set of training data. As an industrial application of the proposed techniques we investigate the case of orchid flower detection and orchid species classification in an orchid packaging plant. Due to their large variety of colors and patterns, these orchid flowers are very hard to detect with classic segmentation based techniques but form an ideal test case for object categorization techniques. Due to the limited amount of training data available, we aim at building a system with close to no false positive detections but guaranteeing that each orchid plant still returns a single flower detection. Subsequently the detected flowers are passed towards a classification system of linear binary SVM classifiers trained on visual characteristics of the flowers. To increase the classification success rate, we combined results of single flowers, using majority voting, to reach an orchid plant based classification. The complete pipeline is optimized by effectively using the industrial application specific knowledge of the setup. By implementing this approach we prove that industrial object categorization and classification with high accuracy is possible, even if only a small training dataset is available.
A tile logic-based semantics for mobile software architectures

This paper deals with the specification of dynamic reconfiguration of complex systems. We show how dynamic reconfiguration and especially components mobility, affects the ongoing behaviour of the reconfigured parts and its side effects on the system as a whole. Our approach is based on software architectural viewpoint of hierarchical systems, considered as sets of independent and interconnected components. Nevertheless, the recursive description of components structure and particularly hierarchical and compositional generation of components and system behaviour needs additional concepts. For this reason, we define a tile logic-based model, where interfaces constitute basic objects that undergo the two dimensional dynamics of reconfigurable software systems. Spatial distribution of interfaces defines system/hierarchical component structural configuration. Dynamic reconfiguration is thus regarded as a redistribution operation of these interfaces. On the other hand, tuples of interfaces values define system/hierarchical component behavioural configurations. The incremental and compositional definition of both system structure and behaviour is then obtained thanks to the horizontal composition operator of tile logic that establishes dynamic connections between components interfaces and at the same time propagates the corresponding action effects on the environment.
Risk-Averse Firms and Two-Part Tariffs under Uncertainty

This paper studies two-part tariffs with explicit consideration of cost uncertainty and risk aversion. It finds that firms charge a risk premium over expected marginal cost for each unit they sell. This pricing rule is socially optimal if and only if the modeled market is fully covered in equilibrium. A risk-averse monopoly tends to generate less aggregate net consumer surplus than a risk-neutral monopoly in partial-cover equilibrium but consumer welfare is indifferent when the market is fully covered. In oligopoly, consumer welfare increases (decreases) in the Arrow-Pratt measure of absolute risk aversion when the number of firms is relatively large (small).
The muscleblind gene participates in the organization of Z-bands and epidermal attachments of Drosophila muscles and is regulated by Dmef2.

We report the embryonic phenotype of muscleblind (mbl), a recently described Drosophila gene involved in terminal differentiation of adult ommatidia. mbl is a nuclear protein expressed late in the embryo in pharyngeal, visceral, and somatic muscles, the ventral nerve cord, and the larval photoreceptor system. All three mbl alleles studied exhibit a lethal phenotype and die as stage 17 embryos or first instar larvae. These larvae are partially paralyzed, show a characteristically contracted abdomen, and lack striation of muscles. Our analysis of the somatic musculature shows that the pattern of muscles is established correctly, and they form morphologically normal synapses. Ultrastructural analysis, however, reveals two defects in the terminal differentiation of the muscles: inability to differentiate Z-bands in the sarcomeric apparatus and reduction of extracellular tendon matrix at attachment sites to the epidermis. Failure to differentiate both structures could explain the partial paralysis and contracted abdomen phenotype. Analysis of mbl expression in embryos that are either mutant for Dmef2 or ectopically express Dmef2 places mbl downstream of Dmef2 function in the myogenic differentiation program. mbl, therefore, may act as a critical element in the execution of two Dmef2-dependent processes in the terminal differentiation of muscles.
Dynamic Pole Assignment and Schubert Calculus

The output feedback pole assignment problem is a classical problem in linear systems theory. In this paper we calculate the number of complex dynamic compensators of order $q$ assigning a given set of poles for a $q$-nondegenerate $m$-input, $p$-output system of McMillan degree $n=q(m+p-1)+mp$. As a corollary it follows that when this number is odd, the generic system can be arbitrarily pole assigned by output feedback with a real dynamic compensator of order at most $q$ if and only if $q(m+p-1)+mp\geq n$.