Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
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Access control is one of the fundamental security mechanisms of IT systems. Most existing access control schemes rely on a centralized party to manage and enforce access control policies. As blockchain technologies, especially permissioned networks, ﬁnd more applicability beyond cryptocurrencies in enterprise solutions is expected that the security requirements will increase. Therefore, it is necessary to develop an access control system that works in a decentralized environment without compromising the unique features of a blockchain. A straightforward method to support access control is to deploy a ﬁrewall in front of the enterprise blockchain application. However, this approach does not take advantage of the desirable features of blockchain. In order to address these concerns, we propose a novel blockchain based access control scheme, which keeps the decentralization feature for access control related operations. The newly proposed system also provides the capability to protect user’s privacy by leveraging ring signature. We implement a prototype of the scheme using Hyperledger Fabric, and assess its performance to show that it is practical for real world applications.
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Infrared thermography is a non‑destructive technique that can be exploited in many fields including polymer composite investigation. Based on emissivity and thermal diffusivity variation; components, defects, and curing state of the composite can be identified. However, manual processing of thermal images that may contain significant artifacts, is prone to erroneous component and property determination. In this study, thermal images of different graphite/graphene‑based polymer composites fabricated by hand, planetary, and batch mixing techniques were analyzed through an automatic machine learning model. Filler size, shape, and location can be identified in polymer composites and thus, the dispersion of different samples was quantified with a resolution of ~ 20 µm despite having artifacts in the thermal image. Thermal diffusivity comparison of three mixing techniques was performed for 40% graphite in the elastomer. Batch mixing demonstrated superior dispersion than planetary and hand mixing as the dispersion index (DI) for batch mixing was 0.07 while planetary and hand mixing showed 0.0865 and 0.163 respectively. Curing was investigated for a polymer with different fillers (PDMS took 500 s while PDMS‑Graphene and PDMS Graphite Powder took 800 s to cure), and a thermal characteristic curve was generated to compare the composite quality. Therefore, the above‑mentioned methods with machine learning algorithms can be a great tool to analyze composite both quantitatively and qualitatively.
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In this paper, we study a class of fractional Schr¨odinger equations involving logarithmic and critical non-linearities on an unbounded domain, and show that such an equation with positive or sign-changing weight potentials admits at least one positive ground state solution and the associated energy is positive (or negative). By applying the Nehari manifold method and Ljusternik–Schnirelmann category, we investigate how the weight potential aﬀects the multiplicity of positive solutions, and obtain the relationship between the number of positive solutions and the category of some sets related to the weight potential
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We find that Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) actions (especially rate cuts) narrowed corporate credit spreads during the pre-crisis period of 2002-2007. During the 2008 crisis period, we find that both conventional cuts and quantitative easing decreased spreads. But FOMC inactions caused significant widening of spreads. The effects are especially large for speculative-grade and short-maturity bonds. Overall, the policy uncertainty during the crisis and macroeconomic theories during the pre-crisis period help to explain why FOMC announcements impacted credit spreads. The Fed’s actions targeted at promoting growth and/or providing systemic liquidity were especially noted by the corporate bond market.
Senescence : An Aging based Character Simulation Framework

Rajasekaran, Suren Deepak. M.S., Purdue University, May 2014. Senescence: An Aging based Character Simulation Framework. Major Professor: Nicoletta Adamo-Villani. The ‘Senescence’ framework is a character simulation plug-in for Maya that can be used for rigging and skinning muscle deformer based humanoid characters with support for aging. The framework was developed using Python, Maya Embedded Language and PyQt. The main targeted users for this framework are the Character Technical Directors, Technical Artists, Riggers and Animators from the production pipeline of Visual Effects Studios. The characters that were simulated using ‘Senescence’ were studied using a survey to understand how well the intended age was perceived by the audience. The results of the survey could not reject one of our null hypotheses which means that the difference in the simulated age groups of the character is not perceived well by the participants. But, there is a difference in the perception of simulated age in the character between an Animator and a Non-Animator. Therefore, the difference in the simulated character’s age was perceived by an untrained audience, but the audience was unable to relate it to a specific age group.
TITLE: Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2A protects pancreatic beta cells during endoplasmic reticulum stress while rescuing translation inhibition

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-induced unfolded protein response (UPR) helps decide β cell survival in diabetes. The alternative eukaryotic initiation factor 2A (EIF2A) has been proposed to mediate EIF2S1-independent translation during cellular stress and viral infection, but its role in β cells is unknown. EIF2A abundance is high in human and mouse islets relative to other tissues, and both thapsigargin and palmitate significantly increased EIF2A mRNA and EIF2A protein levels in MIN6 cells, mouse islets and human islets. Knockdowns of EIF2A, the related factor EIF2D, or both EIF2A and EIF2D, were not sufficient to cause apoptosis. On the other hand, transient or stable EIF2A over-expression protected MIN6 cells, primary mouse islets, and human islets from ER stress-induced, caspase-3-dependent apoptosis. Mechanistically, EIF2A overexpression decreased ERN1 (also known as IRE1 α ) expression in thapsigargin-treated MIN6 cells or human islets. In vivo , β cell specific EIF2A viral overexpression reduced ER stress, improved insulin secretion, and abrogated hyperglycemia in Ins2 Akita/WT mice. EIF2A overexpression significantly increased expression of genes involved in protein translation and reduced expression of pro-apoptotic genes (e.g. ALDH1A3). Remarkably, the decrease in global protein synthesis during UPR was prevented by EIF2A, despite ER stress-induced EIF2S1 phosphorylation. The protective effects of EIF2A were additive to those of ISRIB, a drug that counteracts the effects of EIF2S1 phosphorylation. Cells overexpressing EIF2A showed higher expression of translation factor EIF2B5, which may contribute to the lack of translational inhibition in these cells. We conclude that EIF2A is a novel target for β cell protection and the circumvention of EIF2S1-mediated translational repression. protein by increasing transcription, while ISRIB prevent EIF2B degradation. It is also possible that EIF2A acts completely independently of the EIF2 complex to recruit Met-tRNA i to the 40S ribosomal subunit. RNA sequencing identified additional potential mediators of β cell-protective effects of EIF2A, including up-regulated transcripts ( Ins1 , Sct , Malat1 , Basp1 , Cdhr5 , Ano1 ) and down-regulated transcripts ( Spp1 , Nr4a1 , Cldn11 , Aldh1a3 , Pdzd2 ). Cleary multiple mechanisms are involved β cell protection by EIF2A. Taken together, our study defines new roles for the alternative translation initiation factor EIF2A during β cell ER stress, integrating the UPR, protein synthesis, and cell fate decisions.
Fault Estimation and Fault Tolerant Control for Discrete-Time Dynamic Systems

 Abstract—In this paper, a novel discrete-time estimator is proposed, which is employed for simultaneous estimation of system states, and actuator/sensor faults in a discrete-time dynamic system. The existence of the discrete-time simultaneous estimator is mathematically proved. The systematic design procedure for the derivative and proportional observer gains is addressed, enabling the estimation error dynamics to be internally proper and stable, and robust against the effects from the process disturbances, measurement noises and faults. On the basis of the estimated fault signals and system states, a discrete-time fault-tolerant design approach is addressed, by which the system may recover the system performance when actuator/sensor faults occur. Finally, the proposed integrated discrete-time fault estimation and fault-tolerant control technique is applied to the vehicle lateral dynamics with real data, which demonstrates the effectiveness of the developed techniques.
Effects of Indian mustard and oilseed rape co|cropping on absorbing insoluble cadmium of contaminated soil

Phytoremediation is a promising new method that uses green plants to take up or deloxify Cd from contaminated soils. One species of plant can affect the other co-cropped species, two plant species of co-cropping used for phytoremediation method may improve remediation efficiency. Effects of Indian mustard and oilseed rape co-cropping on the uptake of insoluble cadmium from contaminated soils were investigated in a greenhouse pot experiment with the addition of CdCO_3 to calcareous soil. The results showed that Indian mustard could compete more nutrients than oilseed rape when Indian mustard and oilseed rape were co-cropped. Thus Indian mustard had higher shoot dry weight yield. On the contrary, oilseed rape had poorer shoot dry weight yield when Indian mustard and oilseed rape were co-cropped, because oilseed rape could compete less nutrients or had more soluble Cd in the rhizosphere soil. Indian mustard could activate insoluble Cd, Indian mustard and oilseed Rape co-cropping could enhance their phytoremediation potential for contaminated soil, so Indian mustard and oilseed rape co-cropping could markedly increase Cd concentrations in oilseed rape shoots while Indian mustard showed a marginal increase. Compared with Indian mustard or oilseed rape mono-cropping, Indian mustard and oilseed Rape co-cropping could increase their Cd uptake and Cd remediation rates.
Cluster analysis: A toolbox for MATLAB.

A broad definition of clustering can be given as the search for homogeneous groupings of objects based on some type of available data. There are two common such tasks now discussed in (almost) all multivariate analysis texts and implemented in the commercially available behavioral and social science statistical software suites: hierarchical clustering and the K-means partitioning of some set of objects. This chapter begins with a brief review of these topics using two illustrative data sets that are carried along throughout this chapter for numerical illustration. Later sections will develop hierarchical clustering through least-squares and the characterizing notion of an ultrametric; K-means partitioning is generalized by rephrasing as an optimization problem of subdividing a given proximity matrix. In all instances, the MATLAB computational environment is relied on to effect our analyses, using the Statistical Toolbox, for example, to carry out the common hierarchical clustering and K-means methods, and our own open-source MATLAB M-files when the extensions go beyond what is currently available commercially (the latter are freely available as a Toolbox from www.cda.psych.uiuc.edu/clusteranalysis_mfiles). Also, to maintain a reasonable printed size for the present handbook contribution, the table of contents, figures, and tables for the full chapter, plus the final section and the header comments for the M-files in Appendix A, are available from www.cda. psych.uiuc. edu/cluster_analysis_parttwo. pdf
Prevalence and Risk Factors of Hypertension among Patients with Opioid Use Disorder in Methadone Maintenance Treatment

BACKGROUND: The current prevalence of hypertension (HTN) and risk factors that characterize its occurrence during long-term methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) have not been established. METHODS: HTN was defined if either systolic blood pressure (BP) [≥]140 mmHg or diastolic BP [≥]90 mmHg was detected twice (one week apart) among adult MMT patients. Recorded and current body mass index (BMI), BP, methadone dose and serum level, and drugs in urine were analyzed. Data on socioeconomic and addiction history characteristics were also retrieved. RESULTS: HTN was detected in 103 (35.4%) of the 291 study patients (age range 26-81 years, 62 females). The HTN and non-HTN groups were comparable in sex (P=0.3), age (56.6{+/-}9.6 vs. 55.3{+/-}9.7 years, P=0.3), and duration in MMT (13.0{+/-}9.1 vs. 12.5{+/-}8.6 years, P=0.7). Age correlated linearly with duration in MMT (R=0.3, P<0.001) and with systolic BP (R=0.27, P<0.001). Patients with HTN had higher BMI values than those without HTN (28.1{+/-}5.4 vs. 25.5{+/-}5.2, respectively, P<0.001) and fewer had positive urine test findings to any substance (35.7% vs. 50.5%, P=0.01). Comparison of first methadone serum, BP, and BMI levels 11.9{+/-}5.8 years earlier increased more for the HTN group, independent of methadone dose and serum levels that lowered significantly over time. Drug abuse and older age were not associated with increased BMI and BP. CONCLUSION: Weight gain was associated with BP elevation and characterized patients who succeeded in drug abstinence during MMT. PERSPECTIVES Identifying HTN and offering treatment for this highly prevalent life-threatening condition among older patients in MMT is recommended.
High Resolution Scanning Electron Microscopy of Cells Using Dielectrophoresis

Ultrastructural analysis of cells can reveal valuable information about their morphological, physiological, and biochemical characteristics. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) has been widely used to provide high-resolution images from the surface of biological samples. However, samples need to be dehydrated and coated with conductive materials for SEM imaging. Besides, immobilizing non-adherent cells during processing and analysis is challenging and requires complex fixation protocols. In this work, we developed a novel dielectrophoresis based microfluidic platform for interfacing non-adherent cells with high-resolution SEM at low vacuum mode. The system enables rapid immobilization and dehydration of samples without deposition of chemical residues over the cell surface. Moreover, it enables the on-chip chemical stimulation and fixation of immobilized cells with minimum dislodgement. These advantages were demonstrated for comparing the morphological changes of non-budding and budding yeast cells following Lyticase treatment.
Analisis Faktor-Faktor yang Berpengaruh terhadap Sikap Pengguna Aset Digital Non-Fungible Token Berbasis Blockchain pada Komunitas NFT Indonesia

Blockchain is an inspiring new technology that requires a lot of attention from various researchers and companies. This technology offers various benefits, where the newest derivative of this technology is Non-Fungible Tokens (NFT). In NFT, various digital assets such as images, videos, music or virtual creations are traded. The relatively new NFT creates a lack of user knowledge to be able to utilize this technology as a digital asset for trading. On the one hand, users welcome the use of NFTs as a tool to gain financial gain, but on the other hand, there are users who doubt the long-term success of NFTs as a form of investment and see them as a temporary trend that may be detrimental in the event of a market crash. The purpose of this research is to explore various factors that can impact the attitudes of NFT users. The research used a quantitative method which was carried out at the Indonesian NFT Community, involving 377 respondents as a sample. Questionnaires were distributed online using the Google form on the Telegram platform. The data analysis used in this research is by using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). The results of the study show that there are five factors that significantly influence the attitude of NFT users. Perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, perceived trust, and personal innovativeness have a positive and significant effect on user attitudes, while perceived risk has a negative effect and is one of the factors that has the most impact on user attitudes than other factors, followed by perceived trust in the second position as the most dominant variable. So like any new technology, NFTs have risks and trust issues that most users consider.
Inhibition of transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1-induced extracellular matrix with a novel inhibitor of the TGF-beta type I receptor kinase activity: SB-431542.

Transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1) is a potent fibrotic factor responsible for the synthesis of extracellular matrix. TGF-beta1 acts through the TGF-beta type I and type II receptors to activate intracellular mediators, such as Smad proteins, the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and the extracellular signal-regulated kinase pathway. We expressed the kinase domain of the TGF-beta type I receptor [activin receptor-like kinase (ALK)5] and the substrate, Smad3, and determined that SB-431542 is a selective inhibitor of Smad3 phosphorylation with an IC50 of 94 nM. It inhibited TGF-beta1-induced nuclear Smad3 localization. The p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase inhibitors SB-203580 and SB-202190 also inhibit phosphorylation of Smad3 by ALK5 with IC50 values of 6 and 3 microM, respectively. This suggests that these p38 MAPK inhibitors must be used at concentrations of less than 10 microM to selectively address p38 MAPK mechanisms. However, the p38 MAPK inhibitor SB-242235 did not inhibit ALK5. To evaluate the relative contribution of Smad signaling and p38 MAPK signaling in TGF-beta1-induced matrix production, the effect of SB-431542 was compared with that of SB-242235 in renal epithelial carcinoma A498 cells. All compounds inhibited TGF-beta1-induced fibronectin (FN) mRNA, indicating that FN synthesis is mediated in part via the p38 MAPK pathway. In contrast, SB-431542, but not the selective p38 MAPK inhibitor SB-242235, inhibited TGF-beta1-induced collagen Ialpha1 (col Ialpha1). These data indicate that some matrix markers that are stimulated by TGF-beta1 are mediated via the p38 MAPK pathway (i.e., FN), whereas others seem to be activated via ALK5 signaling independent of the p38 MAPK pathway (i.e., col Ialpha1).
Distributional Changes in Ohio's Breeding Birds and the Importance of Climate and Land Cover Change

ii Acknowledgments. iv Vita . v List of Tables . ix List of Figures . xi Chapter 1: Introduction . 1 BACKGROUND . 4 The Distribution of Organisms . 4 Climate Change and Avian Distributions . 7 Land Cover Change and Avian Distributions . 14 Avian Studies Incorporating Both Climate and Land Cover Change . 20 STUDY OBJECTIVES . 21 METHODOLOGY . 23 SIGNIFICANCE AND APPLICATIONS . 25
Inhibition of Transforming Growth Factor (cid:2) (TGF- (cid:2) ) Signaling can Substitute for Oct4 Protein in Reprogramming and Maintain Pluripotency *

Background: Pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) have been used widely to study molecular mechanisms involved in early embryo development. Results: The TGF- (cid:2) inhibitor SB431542 substitutes for Oct4 in reprogramming and maintains pluripotency. Conclusion: TGF- (cid:2) signaling inhibition promotes generation and maintenance of PSCs. Significance: Our study reveals a novel function of TGF- (cid:2) signaling in the generation of PSCs. Mouse pluripotent stem cells (PSCs), such as ES cells and induced PSCs (iPSCs), are an excellent system to investigate the molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in early embryonic development. The signaling pathways orchestrated by leukemia inhibitor factor/STAT3, Wnt/ (cid:2) -catenin, and FGF/MEK/ERK play key roles in the generation of pluripotency. However, the function of TGF- (cid:2) signaling in this process remains elusive. Here we show that inhibiting TGF- (cid:2) signaling with its inhibitor SB431542 can substitute for Oct4 during reprogramming. Moreover, inhibiting TGF- (cid:2) signaling can sustain the pluripotency of iPSCs and ES cells through modulating FGF/MEK/ERK
Distinct Subsets of FoxP3+ Regulatory T Cells Participate in the Control of Immune Responses1

Expression of the transcription factor FoxP3 is the hallmark of regulatory T cells that play a crucial role in dampening immune responses. A comparison of the development and phenotype of FoxP3+ T cells in relation to the expression of conventional MHC molecules facilitated the identification of several distinct lineages of naive and effector/memory populations of Foxp3+ T cells. One subpopulation of effector/memory Foxp3+ T cells develops in the thymic medulla, whereas the second is thymic independent. Both lineages display a distinct activated phenotype, undergo extensive steady-state proliferation, home to sites of acute inflammation, and are unique in their capacity to mediate Ag-nonspecific suppression of T cell activation directly ex vivo. Effector FoxP3+ T cells may act as a sentinel of tolerance, providing a first line of defense against potentially harmful responses by rapidly suppressing immunity to peripheral self-Ags.
The effects of physico-chemical properties on natural radioactivity levels, associated dose rate and evaluation of radiation hazard in the soil of Taiwan using statistical analysis

Activity concentrations using gamma-ray spectrometer and distributions of natural radionuclides in soil samples collected were investigated to assess the environmental radioactivity and characterization of radio- logical hazard. The average concentrations of 238 U, 232 Th series and 40 K in the 5 cm depth soil were 22.53, 33.43 and 406.62 Bq kg -1 , respectively, which was within world median ranges in the UNSCEAR 2000 report. The average absorbed dose rate estimated by soil activity and annual effective doses were 49.32 nGy h -1 and 60.48 lSv, respectively. Since the soil is an important building mate- rial, the mean radium equivalent activity (Raeq), external (Hex) and internal (Hin) hazard index using various models given in the literature for the study area were evaluated as 101.72 Bq kg -1 , 0.27 and 0.34, respectively, which were below the recommended limits. The effects of pH value, conductivity, true density and textural properties of soil samples on the natural radionuclide levels were also stud- ied. The application of cluster analysis (CA) and principal component analysis (PCA), coupled with Pearson correla- tion coefficient analysis, were utilized to analyze the data, identify and clarify the effects of physico-chemical prop- erties on natural radioactivity levels. The CA and PCA results showed that the former method yielded three dis- tinctive groups of the soil variables whereas the latter one yielded the number of variables into three factors with 87.5% variance explanation.