Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Vibration energy harvesting using piezoelectric circular diaphragm array

Harvesting electric energy from mechanical vibration using a mechanically excited piezoelectric circular membrane array is presented in this paper. The piezoelectric circular diaphragm array is consisted of four plates with parallel connection, and the electrical characteristics of the array are examined under dynamic conditions. With an optimal load resistor of 11 kΩ, an output power of 27 mW was generated at 150 Hz under a pre-stress of 0.8 N force and a vibration acceleration of 9.8 m/s2. The results show that using a parallel array can increase significantly the output of energy compared with the use of a single plate.
Interferometric forest height for modeling spatial tree patterns in Amazonia

The spatial distribution of very large trees in primary Amazon forest is extracted from a digital model of interferometric forest height by an approach of local maximum filtering. The spatial point patterns of very large trees are modeled by a series of Markov point process models. Spatial distribution is regular, and interaction decreases with distance; very large trees are shown to exert repulsive interaction with their neighboring very large trees. Key-words: Amazon, ecological modeling, K-function, Local maximum filtering, Markov process, pair potential function, primary forest, radar, remote sensing, spatial point pattern, Strauss process.
The development effectiveness management model for sub-district secondary school

The purposes of this research were to study the factors of effectiveness management model for subdistrict secondary school, to investigate current situations and desirable situations of effectiveness management model for sub-district secondary school, to develop the effectiveness management model for sub-district secondary school and to study the effects of effectiveness management model for subdistrict secondary school. This study was conducted in 4 phases which include first, studying the factors of effectiveness management model for sub-district secondary school, secondly investigating current situations and desirable situations of effectiveness management model for sub-district secondary school, thirdly developing effectiveness management model for sub-district secondary school and the last examining the results of usage of the effectiveness management model for subdistrict secondary school. The target group consists of 33 teachers at Dongmafaiwittaya School, Secondary Educational Service Area Office 23, which was the research field. The instruments used in this study were two types: Firstly manual of development effectiveness management model, Secondly instruments used for data collection: questionnaire, non-structure interview and evaluation form. The statistics used for data analysis were percentage, mean and standard deviation. The findings of the research were as follows: The factors of effectiveness management model for sub-district secondary school comprised of input, process and output; the current situations and desirable situations of effectiveness management model for sub-district secondary school were in the ‘highest’ level in every aspect; the development effectiveness management model for sub-district secondary school found that the factors of effectiveness management model for sub-district secondary school comprised of 3 aspects, 18 main factors and 102 sub-factors; the results of using the effectiveness management model for sub-district secondary revealed that it was suitability and feasibility in overall.
Developing a Drawing Task to Differentiate Group Average Time Course vs. Dynamics in the Individual

Teaching and theorizing in psychology has long been torn between targeting general underlying principles by observing dynamics in the individual or focusing on average behavior. As dealing with group averages is common practice in psychology, it is important for students to understand how individual learning curves relate to group average curves. In two experiments, we explore whether posing questions about the individual time course of learning can help psychology students to generate valid representations of the average time course of learning. Attempting to foster learning as a generative process, we provided students in Experiment 1 (N = 83) with vignettes asking them to draw hypothetical learning curves of individuals vs. averages over individuals (order of vignettes varied as experimental manipulation) into an empty coordinate system (time on the x-axis, performance on the y-axis; fixed start and endpoints). However, students who worked on the individual-time-course vignette first did not draw better average curves than those undertaking the reverse order of tasks. Experiment 2 (N = 36) found tentative evidence that providing students with a metaphor (falling leaves) can guide attention towards the variability of individual time courses.
An efficient method for mobile big data transfer over HetNet in emerging 5G systems

Recently, mobile cloud computing (MCC) has arisen as a promising technology to augment the user equipment (UE)' capabilities in emerging 5G systems by wirelessly transferring the computation-burden from it to the resource-rich cloud computing centers. In this setting, the massive data transfer over a standalone wireless network becomes a challenging task due to the expected increased latency over the wireless channels associated with the remote cloud data centers. This paper proposes an efficient data transfer method for mobile big data along with a data correction technique to cope with the problem of failure to retrieve the data chunks in the cloud. The proposed algorithm exploits the overlapping feature of heterogeneous wireless networks (HetNets) to expedite the mobile big data transfer between the UE and the cloud by splitting the data into a number of smaller chunks which are transmitted simultaneously over the wireless links. Simulation results are provided, showing that our proposed method outperforms the baseline data storage method.
Connected Digits Recognition Task: ISTC–CNR Comparison of Open Source Tools

EVALITA is a recent initiative devoted to the evaluation of Natural Language and Speech Processing tools for Italian. In this work, the results of three open source ASR toolkits will be described. CSLU Speech Tools, CSLR SONIC, CMU SPHINX are applied on the EVALITA clean and noisy digits recognition task and this report will describe the complete evaluation methodology. CSLR SONIC has resulted to have the best performances in all the tasks and even with high specialized trainings. We think that it is mostly because of the PMVDR features used in this system. CMU SPHINX has been the easiest system to train and test and its general performances are only slightly lower than SONIC. CSLU Speech Tools is the most specialized recognition system on digit and its score stands in the middle of the others. Overall, the three systems have Word Accuracy score over 90%.
Genetic Diversity in the Collaborative Cross Model Recapitulates Human West Nile Virus Disease Outcomes

ABSTRACT West Nile virus (WNV) is an emerging neuroinvasive flavivirus that now causes significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. The innate and adaptive immune responses to WNV infection have been well studied in C57BL/6J inbred mice, but this model lacks the variations in susceptibility, immunity, and outcome to WNV infection that are observed in humans, thus limiting its usefulness to understand the mechanisms of WNV infection and immunity dynamics. To build a model of WNV infection that captures human infection outcomes, we have used the Collaborative Cross (CC) mouse model. We show that this model, which recapitulates the genetic diversity of the human population, demonstrates diversity in susceptibility and outcomes of WNV infection observed in humans. Using multiple F1 crosses of CC mice, we identified a wide range of susceptibilities to infection, as demonstrated through differences in survival, clinical disease score, viral titer, and innate and adaptive immune responses in both peripheral tissues and the central nervous system. Additionally, we examined the Oas1b alleles in the CC mice and confirmed the previous finding that Oas1b plays a role in susceptibility to WNV; however, even within a given Oas1b allele status, we identified a wide range of strain-specific WNV-associated phenotypes. These results confirmed that the CC model is effective for identifying a repertoire of host genes involved in WNV resistance and susceptibility. The CC effectively models a wide range of WNV clinical, virologic, and immune phenotypes, thus overcoming the limitations of the traditional C57BL/6J model, allowing genetic and mechanistic studies of WNV infection and immunity in differently susceptible populations. IMPORTANCE Mouse models of West Nile virus infection have revealed important details regarding the innate and adaptive immune responses to this emerging viral infection. However, traditional mouse models lack the genetic diversity present in human populations and therefore limit our ability to study various disease outcomes and immunologic mechanisms subsequent to West Nile virus infection. In this study, we used the Collaborative Cross mouse model to more effectively model the wide range of clinical, virologic, and immune phenotypes present upon West Nile virus infection in humans. Mouse models of West Nile virus infection have revealed important details regarding the innate and adaptive immune responses to this emerging viral infection. However, traditional mouse models lack the genetic diversity present in human populations and therefore limit our ability to study various disease outcomes and immunologic mechanisms subsequent to West Nile virus infection. In this study, we used the Collaborative Cross mouse model to more effectively model the wide range of clinical, virologic, and immune phenotypes present upon West Nile virus infection in humans.
Possible roles of the endocytic cycle in cell motility

Starving, highly motile Dictyostelium cells maintain an active endocytic cycle, taking up their surface about every 11 minutes. Cell motility depends on a functional NSF (N-ethylmaleimide sensitive factor) protein - also essential for endocytosis and membrane trafficking generally - and we, therefore, investigated possible ways in which the endocytic cycle might be required for cell movement. First, NSF, and presumably membrane trafficking, are not required for the initial polarization of the leading edge in a cyclic-AMP gradient. Second, we can detect no evidence for membrane flow from the leading edge, as photobleached or photoactivated marks in the plasma membrane move forward roughly in step with the leading edge, rather than backwards from it. Third, we find that the surface area of a cell - measured from confocal reconstructions - constantly fluctuates during movement as it projects pseudopodia and otherwise changes shape; increases of 20-30% can often occur over a few minutes. These fluctuations cannot be explained by reciprocal changes in filopodial surface area and they substantially exceed the 2-3% by which membranes can stretch. We propose that the endocytic cycle has a key function in motility by allowing adjustment of cell surface area to match changes in shape and that, without this function, movement is severely impaired.
Molecular characterization of activated sludge from a seawater‐processing wastewater treatment plant

The prokaryotic community composition of activated sludge from a seawater‐processing wastewater treatment plant (Almeria, Spain) was investigated by using the rRNA approach, combining different molecular techniques such as denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE), clone libraries and in situ hybridization (FISH and CARD‐FISH). Most of the sequences retrieved in the DGGE and the clone libraries were similar to uncultured members of different phyla. The most abundant sequence recovered from Bacteria in the clone library corresponded to a bacterium from the Deinococcus–Thermus cluster (almost 77% of the clones), and the library included members from other groups such as the Alpha, Gamma and Delta subclasses of Proteobacteria, the Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes. Concerning the archaeal clone library, we basically found sequences related to different orders of methanogenic Archaea, in correspondence with the recovered DGGE bands. Enumeration of DAPI (4′,6‐diamidino‐2‐phenylindole) stained cells from two different activated sludge samples after a mechanical flocculation disruption revealed a mean cell count of 1.6 × 109 ml−1. Around 94% of DAPI counts (mean value from both samples) hybridized with a Bacteria specific probe. Alphaproteobacteria were the dominant bacterial group (36% of DAPI counts), while Beta‐, Delta‐ and Gammaproteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria and Firmicutes contributed to lower proportions (between 0.5–5.7% of DAPI counts). Archaea accounted only for 6% of DAPI counts. In addition, specific primers for amplification of the amoA (ammonia monooxygenase) gene were used to detect the presence of Beta, Gamma and archaeal nitrifiers, yielding positive amplifications only for Betaproteobacteria. This, together with negative in situ hybridizations with probes for well‐known nitrifiying bacteria, suggests that nitrification is performed by still undetected microorganisms. In summary, the combination of the three approaches provided different and complementary pictures of the real assemblage composition and allowed to get closer to the main microorganisms involved in key processes of seawater‐processing activated sludge.
An Empirical Investigation of Networks in the Blogosphere

We seek out to investigate the social networks manifested in weblogs. Our dataset, derived from an initial list of URIs, consists of 3.9M files in XML or RDF format, totalling over 400M statements in RDF. We continue by applying wellknown network analysis algorithm to parts of the derived network. Our experiments show that links analysis algorithms benefit from input in a common, structured data model.
Epidural analgesia for labor and delivery.

A 30-year-old pregnant woman is undergoing induction of labor and is experiencing severe pain despite intravenous opioid administration. Epidural analgesia is recommended. Epidural analgesia involves the injection of a local anesthetic agent and an opioid analgesic agent into the lumbar epidural space. These agents diffuse across the dura and act on the spinal nerve roots. Rates of cesarean delivery are not increased with epidural analgesia.
On the approximate controllability of the stochastic Maxwell equations

We study the approximate controllability of the stochastic Maxwell equations with an abstract approach and a constructive approach using a generalization of the Hilbert uniqueness method as proposed in Kim (2004, Approximate controllability of a stochastic wave equation. Appl. Math. Optim., 49, 81–98) for the stochastic wave equation.
The impact of postgraduate studies on the teachers’ practice

Abstract This paper analyses the perceptions of teachers involved in postgraduate studies of the importance of their study programme for their profession, describes the benefits of postgraduate studies for their practice and examines the strategies used to enhance the impact research they undertake on their teaching. A questionnaire was administered to 161 teachers enrolled in master’s and PhD programmes in schools of education of five research universities in Romania. The results demonstrate that postgraduate studies provide teachers with a crucial link between the research conducted and reported by faculties of education and their own work in schools. A large majority recognised that research conducted in universities had a personal impact, improving their teaching. Developing research projects involving both researchers and practitioners, reading about research findings in journals and enhancing communication between researchers and practitioners were reported as useful strategies that facilitated research utilisation in practice.
Effects of Some Common Food Constituents on Cardiovascular Disease

Cardiovascular diseases are the major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, and there is considerable interest in the role of dietary constituents and supplements in the prevention and treatment of these disorders. We reviewed the major publications related to potential effects on cardiovascular risk factors and outcomes of some common dietary constituents: carotenoids, flavonoid-rich cocoa, tea, red wine and grapes, coffee, omega-3 fatty acids, and garlic. Increased intake of some of these has been associated with reduced all-cause mortality or reduced incidence of myocardial infraction, stroke, and hypertension. However, although the evidence from observational studies is supportive of beneficial effects for most of these foodstuffs taken as part of the diet, potential benefits from the use of supplements derived from these natural products remain largely inconclusive.
Incentives and Performance Standards as Screening Mechanisms : Lessons for Industrial Development :

Recently, 8 nations applied for an extension of the period allowing them to demand performance requirements into local investments; several others may follow suit. The decision to scrap these regulations had been established in 1995, through the signature of the WTO agreement. Developing nations had been given until 2002 as a transition period to drop these types of restrictions, in particular those that pertain to investment by foreign firms, but several of them are now arguing that they need more time. This paper addresses the question of why might these nations need performance requirements, and why are they so reluctant to drop them. It presents a framework to understand when can they be a useful development tool, and when are they just another protectionist device that generates distortions of the local and international market. In particular, the article develops a theory of incentives and performance requirements as screening mechanisms for governments aiming at maximizing the return from investment of multinationals and large national firms. The article has an introduction and three main sections. In the first section it introduces the topic of industrial development and the role of foreign technology. The second section introduces the topic of incentives and performance requirements, describes the major perspectives on the topics and exposes some of their limitations. The third section presents the model to understand incentives and performance requirements as screening mechanisms. DRAFT VERSION 06/08/00
PINK1 function in health and disease

The role of mitochondria in sporadic Parkinson's disease (PD) has been debated for a little over 20 years since the description of complex I deficiency in the substantia nigra pars compacta ( SNpc ) of PD patients. However, the identification of recessive pathogenic mutations in the pink1 gene in familial PD cases firmly re‐ignited interest in the pathophysiology of mitochondria in PD. PINK1 is a putative mitochondrial serine/threonine kinase, which protects cells against oxidative stress induced apoptosis. The mechanism by which this is achieved and the effect of the pathogenic mutations has been an area of intensive research over the past five years. Significant progress has been made and, in this review, we summarize the physiological roles that have been assigned to PINK1 and the potential mechanisms behind pathogenesis.
An interactive molecular visualization system for education in immersive multi-projection virtual environment

In this paper, our initial work on the use of visualization and virtual reality for education especially for providing three-dimensional concepts of molecular structure was presented. Our system is composed of a hybrid screen, multi-projectors, PC cluster, 6DOF haptic device etc. It offers a channel to reach into the molecular space in an immersive environment, allows user to employ an intuitive 6DOF haptic device Spidar-G to control the perspective. For educators, it can serve as a good instructional aid for helping students to understand molecular structure through effective visual representation and interactive manipulation.
An Algorithm for Geometric Set Operations Using Cellular Subdivision Techniques

Geometric set operations play an integral role in systems for CAD/CAM, for robot planning, and for modeling objects such as underground formations from empirical data. Two major issues in the implementation of geometric set operations are efficiency in the search for geometric intersections and effectiveness in the treatment of singular intersection cases. This article presents an algorithm for geometric set operations on planar polyhedral nonmanifold objects that addresses both these issues. First, an efficient search for geometric intersections is obtained by localizing the search to small regions of object space through a cellular subdivision scheme using the polytree data structure. Second, an effective treatment of singular intersection cases is obtained by mapping each singular intersection occurring in a region into one of a small set of cases.
Strategic Pricing Behavior under Asset Value Maximization

This article investigates a comprehensive assessment of firm strategic behavior under financial market uncertainty. A general theoretical model of market value maximization (MVM) is constructed using a traditional capital asset pricing format. The model built on the nonlinear Almost Ideal Demand Systems (AIDS) and structural first-order conditions is developed. By full information maximum likelihood (FIML) estimation, the model evaluates pricing strategies in the U.S. margarine and butter retail markets using 4-week interval scanner data from 1998 to 2002. The profit maximization model is rejected in favor of the MVM structure, which indicates that financial market uncertainty plays an important role in the pricing behavior of this industry. We estimate the price elasticities of demand for leading brands and investigate the degree of market power in this industry.