Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Recursive Bayesian Filtering for States Estimation: An Application Case in Biotechnological Processes

Abstract — In this work a state estimator for a continuous bioprocess is presented. To reach this aim a nonlinear filtering technique, based on the recursive application of the Bayes rule and Monte Carlo techniques, is used. To the best of author’s knowledge, not many applications in the biotechnological area applying such techniques have been reported. Generally, a bioprocess has strong nonlinear and non Gaussian characteristics and so this methodology becomes more attractive. Specifically, the recursive Bayesian Filters SIR (Sampling Importance Resampling) are used, including different kinds of resampling; also the uncertainties of states and measurements are modelled. The estimator behaviour and performance are illustrated for the continuous alcoholic fermentation process of Zymomonas mobilis. There is an industrial interest in the use of Zymomonas due to its capability to produce ethanol; and for the fuel ethanol industry to expand; Zymomonas mobilis has attracted the attention as a promising bacterium regarding the ethanol production improvement.
Effects of acetylcholine and glutamate on isolated neurons of locomotory network of Clione

IN Clione limacina, locomotory rhythm is produced in the central pattern generator by reciprocal activity of two groups of interneurons. Dorsal (D) and ventral (V) phase interneurons activate neurons of the same phase and inhibit neurons of the opposite phase. Which neurotransmitters are used by these interneurons is not clear. In this study, identified follower neurons to V and D interneurons were isolated, and their responses to the local application of potential neurotransmitters were examined. Acetylcholine exerted inhibitory action on the isolated D-phase neurons and excitatory action on V-phase neurons. Glutamate produced excitation in D-phase neurons, and inhibition in V-phase neurons. These results suggest that acetylcholine is the neurotransmitter of D-phase interneurons, while glutamate might be the neurotransmitter of V-phase interneurons.
Making Change

Diffusion of innovations theory typically has been applied to the spread of a particular technology or practice rather than the interplay of a cluster of innovations. This case study of a news company undergoing significant change seeks to offer a deeper understanding of multi-faceted industry upheaval by considering the diffusion of three interdependent yet distinct changes. Findings suggest technological change faces the fewest hurdles, as journalists recognize the need to adapt their practices to newer capabilities. Changes to audience relationships face greater resistance, while responses to changes to the professional culture of journalism remain the most tepid.
Ephedrine blocks wild‐type and long‐lived mutant acetylcholine receptor channels

A combination of transient expression of wild-type and a mutant muscle nicotinic receptor (AChR) found in a patient suffering from a congenital myasthenic syndrome and single-channel recordings was used to characterize the action of ephedrine on the AChR. In the presence of ephedrine, both types of AChR channel showed a flickering behaviour and a dose-dependent reduction in the mean open time. The duration of the blocking events was dependent on the membrane potential. The forward rate constant for the blocking process was of the order of 107 M−1 s−1 in both types of AChR. The results are consistent with ephedrine acting as a channel blocker in wild-type AChR as well as in long- lived AChR channels present in patients with the slow- channel syndrome.
Las campañas de mítines electorales en Granada (15-1-77 y l-M-79): Un análisis espacial

La preocupacion por el estudio de la distribucion geografica de los resultados electorales es ya antigua en la geografia (1); sin embargo, otros hechos de caracter politico, y con una base espacial importante, no han sido considerados de interes por los estudiosos de geografia, al menos hasta el momento (2). Este es el caso del proceso de propaganda electoral que se realiza durante las campanas previas a las elecciones. Unicamente podemos senalar el estudio pionero y de gran interes de Johnston (1977), que nos va a servir, en lo que sigue, de constante fuente de inspiracion. Las campanas electorales que se llevaron a cabo en la provincia de Granada entre el 15 de junio de 1977 y el 1 de marzo de 1979 las hemos descrito, sucintamente, en nuestra tesis doctoral: Las elecciones del periodo de la reforma politica (1977-1979) en Espana y en la provincia de Granada. Sabemos que la actividad de los partidos tuvo distintos aspectos (3): anuncios de prensa, radio, mitines, etc. De todos ellos el que tuvo un ca-
Busca por Similaridade no CassandraDB: Particionamento, Recuperação Eficiente e Planejamento Experimental

A necessidade de escalabilidade em cenários de Big Data levou à prosperação dos NOSQL distribuídos. Contudo, as soluções mais amplamente usadas não suportam uma outra característica desejável, busca por similaridade. Neste artigo propomos contornar tal limitação estendendo o Cassandra com suporte a buscas por dados similares. Nossa abordagem usa hashing sensível à localidade para distribuir dados entre nós, direcionar buscas, e recuperar dados em armazenamento estável de forma eficiente. Descrevemos aqui como implementar esta abordagem, nosso plano de testes e resultados iniciais.
A Measure-Theoretic Description of the Intrinsic View of Embodied Agents

We consider a general model of the sensori-motor loop of an agent interacting with the world. Here, we assume a particular causal structure, mechanistically described in terms of Markov kernels. In this generality, we define two σ-algebras of events in the world that describe two respective perspectives: (1) the perspective of an external observer, (2) the intrinsic perspective of the agent. Not all aspects of the world, seen from the external perspective, are accessible to the agent. This is expressed by the fact that the second σ-algebra is a subalgebra of the first one. We show that, under continuity and compactness assumptions, the global dynamics of the world can be simplified without changing the internal process. This simplification can serve as a minimal world model that the system must have in order to be consistent with the internal process.
Orthogonal Stimulus–Response Compatibility Effects Emerge Even when the Stimulus Position is Task Irrelevant

The above-right/below-left mapping advantage with vertical stimuli and horizontal responses is known as the orthogonal stimulus–response compatibility (SRC) effect. We investigated whether the orthogonal SRC effect emerges with irrelevant stimulus dimensions. In Experiment 1, participants responded with a right or left key press to the colour of the stimulus presented above or below the fixation. We observed an above-right/below-left advantage (orthogonal Simon effect). In Experiment 2, we manipulated the polarity in the response dimension by varying the horizontal location of the response set. The orthogonal Simon effect decreased and even reversed as the left response code became more positive. This result provides evidence for the automatic activation of the positive and negative response codes by the corresponding positive and negative stimulus codes. These findings extended the orthogonal SRC effect based on coding asymmetry to an irrelevant stimulus dimension.
An RRAM-based Oscillatory Neural Network

Oscillatory Neural Networks (ONNs) are an intriguing brain-inspired paradigm for massively parallel computing, but implementations in CMOS fail to produce competitive architecture performance. While representing each artificial neuron with a CMOS oscillator does not scale well in terms of power and area, we have recently demonstrated the design and fabrication of low-power, small-area voltage controlled oscillators based on metal-oxide resistive devices (RRAMs). The same RRAM materials have also been demonstrated as programmable nonvolatile resistors for use as artificial synapses [1]. In this paper, we propose a RRAM-based ONN that is based on the coupling of oscillatory “neurons” through weighted “synapses. ” A few CMOS logic gates per neuron are required for the phase detection that is used to initialize the input pattern and lock to the correct stored pattern. Using measurement data for RRAM-based oscillators and synapses, compact models were derived and characterized for use in simulating an eight neuron proof-of-concept network.
Can a Science Court Settle Controversies Between Scientists?

Theideaof a “sciencecourt” is reexamined.Sucha court would be a forum for scientists to evaluate research data, especially in controversial areas of science, and to discuss matters of ethics and protocol in scientific research.Recent, much-publicizedevents-the investigations into published data from David Baltimore’s team and the scramble to publish or replicate cold fusion experiments--are used to underscore the necessity for a self-regulatory process. A science court could scttte, or even anticipate, differences between scientists as well as violations of scholarly conduct.
"The Between" of Teaching Sociology: Ways of Knowing and Teaching

B UBER (1965:202-205) IDENTIFIED THE SUBJECT of sociology as "the between". His sensitivity to the inherently relational character of human existence has particular poignancy for "the between" of teaching sociology (Berry 1985). From dyads to transnationals, sociologists attend to the normative character of social life. Attending to "the between" of teaching sociology means asking a reflexive question about the normative character of pedagogy. The question is not whether pedagogy has an ethical dimension, but rather "Which ethos does any given pedagogy promote? " (Schwehn 1993:84). In this essay, I ask about a pedagogy that promotes an ethos of connectedness and compassion. Teaching sociology in a culture of individualism presents ironies. We explore a subject matter that seems to many ofour students not quite real. As cultural solipsists for whom the self, its experience, and choice constitute the paramount reality, many students view society as epiphenomenal. A second irony is that while we analyze the normative character of social life, ethics seems to us not quite "real" knowledge. As social scientists for whom knowledge is public fact, clear and distinct from values, we relegate ethics to private opinion. A third irony is that while we focus on "the social" as content, we overlook the classroom as social context. Methodological individualism extends to our pedagogy, reducing the classroom to the sum of its student parts. Within contemporarywestern culture, as Mills (1959), Macpherson (1962), Lasch (1984), Bellah et al. (1985, 1991), Taylor (1989, 1991), and many others have pointed out, individualism filters and flattens howwe perceive, experience, and act toward the self, others, and the world. It dominates and emasculates how we teach.
Towards a Theoretical Model of Professional Practice Consultancy

The term ‘a practice in search of a theory’ has attracted authors writing about mediation and alternative dispute resolution (ADR) in general. An underpinning theory of professional practice consultancy in mediation (PPC, otherwise known as supervision) has yet to be articulated. Current consultancy training and practices are based on concepts derived from other disciplines, such as counselling and social work; however, these are inappropriate for the specific ethos and challenges of mediation. This paper argues for a discrete theoretical professional practice consultancy model, and explores a route by which this might be identified and achieved.
Suppressive Effects of Anthrax Lethal Toxin on Megakaryopoiesis

Anthrax lethal toxin (LT) is a major virulence factor of Bacillus anthracis. LT challenge suppresses platelet counts and platelet function in mice, however, the mechanism responsible for thrombocytopenia remains unclear. LT inhibits cellular mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), which are vital pathways responsible for cell survival, differentiation, and maturation. One of the MAPKs, the MEK1/2-extracellular signal-regulated kinase pathway, is particularly important in megakaryopoiesis. This study evaluates the hypothesis that LT may suppress the progenitor cells of platelets, thereby inducing thrombocytopenic responses. Using cord blood-derived CD34+ cells and mouse bone marrow mononuclear cells to perform in vitro differentiation, this work shows that LT suppresses megakaryopoiesis by reducing the survival of megakaryocytes. Thrombopoietin treatments can reduce thrombocytopenia, megakaryocytic suppression, and the quick onset of lethality in LT-challenged mice. These results suggest that megakaryocytic suppression is one of the mechanisms by which LT induces thrombocytopenia. These findings may provide new insights for developing feasible approaches against anthrax.
Factors associated with risk for HIV infection among chronic mentally ill adults.

OBJECTIVE Chronic mentally ill adults have been found to be at risk for HIV infection. The authors investigated the prevalence of HIV risk behaviors among psychiatric outpatients. Correlates of HIV risk factors and characteristics of patient relationships in which risk occurred were investigated. METHOD Structured interviews were conducted with 95 chronic mentally ill adults from urban community support service programs. The interviews focused on sexual and substance use behavior, history of HIV risk behaviors, and relationship characteristics related to risk. RESULTS The study showed that 27% of all patients had had two or more sex partners in the previous year and 18% had received money or drugs for sex. High rates of illicit drug use were also found, with frequent use of drugs or alcohol in association with sexual activity. Multiple regression analyses showed that use of illicit drugs, meeting sex partners in psychiatric clinics, and meeting partners in bars accounted for a substantial proportion of the variance in HIV risk behavior. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest an urgent need for HIV prevention programs targeted at urban chronic mentally ill adults. Risk-producing characteristics of patient relationships and social networks should be addressed in the development of prevention interventions.
x-Irradiation in rat liver: consequent upregulation of hepcidin and downregulation of hemojuvelin and ferroportin-1 gene expression.

PURPOSE To prospectively analyze hepcidin, hemojuvelin, and ferroportin-1 expression after x-irradiation of rat liver and isolated rat hepatocytes. MATERIALS AND METHODS The treatment of the rats and this study were approved by the local committee and the public authority on animal welfare. Rat livers in vivo and isolated rat hepatocytes in vitro were irradiated. The total number of rats in this study was 43. RNA extracted from livers (1, 3, 6, 12, 24, and 48 hours after irradiation) and from hepatocytes (1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 hours after irradiation) was analyzed with real-time polymerase chain reaction and Northern blot. Cytokines and prohepcidin in serum of irradiated rats were quantitatively detected with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Sham-irradiated animals served as controls in all experiments. Differences between sham-irradiated and irradiated data groups were tested with analysis of variance and Dunnett post hoc test. RESULTS In vivo, a significant radiation-induced increase of hepcidin (P=.034), interleukin (IL) 1beta (P=.008), IL-6 (P<.011), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) (P=.047) expression could be detected within the first 48 hours after irradiation. Expression of hemojuvelin (P=.008) and ferroportin-1 (P=.002) was significantly decreased. Serum iron levels were decreased because of irradiation (P<.058); prohepcidin serum levels were increased (P=.05). In rat hepatocytes in vitro, hepcidin RNA levels were significantly downregulated after irradiation (P<.001). Incubation of irradiated hepatocytes with IL-1beta, IL-6, or TNF-alpha led to upregulation of hepcidin expression in vitro up to 6 hours after irradiation, with subsequent significant downregulation for incubation with IL-1beta (P<.001). Hemojuvelin expression behaved in a way opposite to that of hepcidin. CONCLUSION x-Irradiation of the liver induced changes of hepcidin gene expression that are probably induced by acute phase mediators produced within the liver itself.
Using Arabic Wordnet for semantic indexation in information retrieval system

In the context of arabic Information Retrieval Systems (IRS) guided by arabic ontology and to enable those systems to better respond to user requirements, this paper aims to representing documents and queries by the best concepts extracted from Arabic Wordnet. Identified concepts belonging to Arabic WordNet synsets are extracted from documents and queries, and those having a single sense are expanded. The expanded query is then used by the IRS to retrieve the relevant documents searched. Our experiments are based primarily on a medium size corpus of arabic text. The results obtained shown us that there are a global improvement in the performance of the arabic IRS.
Dynamic support in ADAPTAPlan: ADA+

We present the multi-agent architecture that provides dynamic support to learners in ADAPTAPlan approach. This approach has been developed to facilitate the authoring and deploying of units of learning via IMS-LD specification. In particular, at design phase, the author is requested to provide a reduced set of information, which is used by a group of planners to generate the design of the course. The pedagogical model of the course is defined with IMS-LD level B. Different kinds of properties are managed. At runtime, different types of agents are in charge of various related tasks: monitoring learner's interactions with the learning management system, gathering relevant information about learner's interactions to update the user model, applying fuzzy logic and machine learning techniques to support personalised learning paths.
Efficient Production of Offspring from Japanese Wild-Derived Strains of Mice (Mus musculus molossinus) by Improved Assisted Reproductive Technologies1

ABSTRACT Because the genetic diversity of the laboratory mouse (Mus musculus) is very limited, wild-derived strains from this genus could provide invaluable experimental models for studies of mouse genetics and epigenetics such as quantitative trait locus analysis. However, such strains generally show poor reproductive performance under conventional husbandry conditions, so their use for large-scale analyses has been limited. This study was undertaken to devise assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) for the efficient production of offspring in two wild-derived strains, MSM/Ms and JF1/Ms (Mus musculus molossinus). First, as females of these strains are poor responders to equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) stimulation, we examined the efficiency of superovulation by injecting anti-inhibin serum followed by human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). Approximately four to six times more oocytes were ovulated than with eCG-hCG treatment in both strains, reaching ∼25–30 oocytes per female. Consequently, the procedures for in vitro fertilization using these superovulated oocytes and cryopreservation of embryos and spermatozoa could be optimized for both of the wild-derived strains. However, MSM/Ms embryos but not JF1/Ms embryos failed to develop to term after embryo transfer because of intrauterine death at mid to late gestation. We were able to overcome this obstacle by cotransfer of these embryos with those from laboratory strains combined with treatment of recipient females with an immunosuppressant (cyclosporin A). Thus, a series of ARTs essential for efficient production and preservation of the wild-derived strains were successfully devised. These technologies will facilitate systematic studies of mouse genetics and epigenetics using a wider range of genetic diversity than currently available in the genus Mus.
OUTSOURCING CONTRACTS: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

This paper presents the application of a systematic review protocol for Software Engineering. This protocol is used as a formal model by applying systematic review of outsourcing contracts. The objective is to search for papers related to outsourcing contracts in the software acquisition process. Furthermore, the systematic review is focused in order to identify initiatives and reports of outsourcing contract proposals for the software acquisition. Results obtained show that most of the studies that tried to define a model for outsourcing did not exactly develop a fixed model to be used in the IT area and that there is a need for more in-depth studies.
The cryptographic security of the German electronic identity card

In November 2010, the German government started to issue the new electronic identity card (eID) to its citizens. Besides its original utilization as a ’visual’ identification document, the eID card can be used by the cardholder to prove one’s identity at border control and to enhance security of authentication processes over the Internet, with the eID card serving as a token to reliably transmit personal data to service providers or terminals, respectively. To this end, the German Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) proposed several cryptographic protocols now deployed on the eID card. The Password Authenticated Connection Establishment (PACE) protocol secures the wireless communication between the eID card and the user’s local card reader, based on a cryptographically weak password like the PIN chosen by the card owner. Subsequently, the Extended Access Control (EAC) protocol is executed by the chip and the service provider to mutually authenticate and agree on a shared secret session key. This key is then used in the secure channel protocol, called Secure Messaging (SM). Finally, an optional protocol, called Restricted Identification (RI), provides a method to use pseudonyms such that they can be linked by individual service providers, but not across different service providers (even not by malicious ones). This thesis consists of two parts. First, we present the above protocols and provide a rigorous analysis on their security from a cryptographic point of view. We show that the Germen eID card provides reasonable security for authentication and exchange of sensitive information allaying concerns regarding its usage. In the second part of this thesis, we introduce two possible modifications to enhance the security of these protocols even further. Namely, we show how to (a) add to PACE an additional efficient chip authentication step, and (b) augment RI to allow also for signatures under pseudonyms.
A 77 GHz CMOS power amplifier module using multi-layered redistribution layer technology

This paper presents a new millimeter-wave module concept, which is an integration of CMOS monolithic microwave integrated circuits (MMICs) and passive devices fabricated using a redistribution layer (RDL) technology. To realize a low-loss passive circuit, we introduced a multi-metal-layer for the RDL. The first metal layer was used as ground to shield from substrates. The upper metal layers form passive RF components such as a thin film microstrip line (TFMSL), a spiral inductor, a balun, a power combiner, and an antenna. Detailed measurements and characterizations are presented, and we show their applicability in the millimeter-wave region. Moreover, this concept was applied to an integrating millimeter-wave module consisting of four identical CMOS power amplifiers and RDL power combiners to increase the output power. The module exhibited a saturation power of 15 dBm, which is almost four-times higher than that obtained from the single PA. The measured small-signal gain of the PA module was 5.4 dB. The total chip size was 2.2 × 1.5 mm2. The power consumption of the PA module was 800 mW.