Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Two-dimensional hexagonal M3C2 (M = Zn, Cd and Hg) monolayers: novel quantum spin Hall insulators and Dirac cone materials

The intriguing Dirac cones in honeycomb graphene have motivated the search for novel two-dimensional (2D) Dirac materials. Based on density functional theory and the global particle-swarm optimization method, herein, we predict a new family of 2D materials in honeycomb transition-metal carbides M3C2 (M = Zn, Cd and Hg) with intrinsic Dirac cones. The M3C2 monolayer is a kinetically stable state with a linear geometry (CMC), which to date has not been observed in other transition-metal-based 2D materials. The intrinsic Dirac cones in the Zn3C2, Cd3C2 and Hg3C2 monolayers arise from p–d band hybridizations. Importantly, the Hg3C2 monolayer is a room-temperature 2D topological insulator with a sizable energy gap of 44.3 meV. When an external strain is applied, additional phases with node-line semimetal states emerge in the M3C2 monolayer. These novel stable transition-metal–carbon-framework materials hold great promise for 2D electronic device applications.
LLC resonant converter with wide output voltage control ranges operating at a constant switching frequency

In this paper, an LLC resonant converter with a wide output voltage control range operating at a constant switching frequency is presented. The proposed converter provides a wide controllable output voltage (Vo∼8Vo) with high efficiency over a wide load range. The LLC resonant converter's primary switching devices (Q1-Q4) are configured to operate in the half-bridge/full-bridge operating modes and the auxiliary switches (Sa1, Sa2) are turned on and off to meet the required voltage gain characteristic. The feasibility of the proposed converter is verified with experimental results of a 2kW prototype.
When Did Photosynthesis Emerge on Earth?

Life began early in Earth9s history, but it was the emergence of photosynthesis that allowed its proliferation across the planet, because it freed life from its sole dependence on abiotic chemical sources of reducing power. Des Marais discusses recent geological and molecular biological evidence, such as the paper by Xiong et al., that photosynthesis emerged at least 2,800 million years ago.
Virus Adaptation and Treatment Schmallenberg virus : continuing a trend ?

Correspondence: Rob Noad Centre for Emerging Endemic and Exotic Diseases, Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, Hatfield AL9 7TA United Kingdom Tel +44 017 076 670 62 Fax +44 017 076 670 51 Email rnoad@rvc.ac. uk Abstract: Since its first isolation in Germany in 2011 the Schmallenberg strain of the Sathuperi virus has been detected across northern Europe. The virus is associated with neurological disease, abortion, and congenital deformities in ruminants, particularly among sheep and cattle. The rapid dissemination of the pathogen is reminiscent of the transmission of another midge-borne arbovirus, Bluetongue virus, which also spread to Europe on several separate occasions between 1998 and 2007. In this review we detail the characteristic features of the Schmallenberg virus and consider whether the virus highlights a European vulnerability for other midge-transmitted pathogens.
New strategies to target iron metabolism for the treatment of beta thalassemia

Iron is one of the most abundant elements in the Earth and a fundamental component of enzymes and other proteins that participate in a wide range of biological processes. As the human body has no mechanisms to eliminate the excess of iron, its metabolism needs to be tightly controlled in order to avoid all the sequelae associated with high iron levels. Iron overload is the main cause of morbidity and mortality in beta thalassemia. The master regulator of iron homeostasis, hepcidin, is chronically repressed in this disorder, leading to increased intestinal iron absorption and consequent iron overload. Many groups have focused on obtaining a better understanding of the pathways involved in iron regulation. New molecules have recently been synthesized and used in animal models of dysregulated iron metabolism, demonstrating their ability to target and reduce iron load. Antisense oligonucleotides, as well as lipid nanoparticle–formulated small interfering RNAs and minihepcidins peptides, are novel agents that have already proved to be efficient in modulating iron metabolism in mouse models and are therefore promising candidates for the treatment of patients affected by iron disorders.
IFNL4 and IFNL3 Associated Polymorphisms Strongly Influence the Spontaneous IFN-Alpha Receptor-1 Expression in HCV-Infected Patients

Single-nucleotide polymorphism in IFNL3 gene (rs12979860) predicts spontaneous and therapy-induced HCV clearance. In a previous study from our group PBMC from patients with favourable rs12979860 genotype showed higher levels of IFNAR-1 mRNA. Recently, a dinucleotide polymorphism, ss469415590 (TT or ΔG), has been discovered in the region upstream IFNL3 gene, which is in high linkage disequilibrium with rs12979860. ss469415590[ΔG] is a frameshift variant that creates a novel gene, designed IFNL4, encoding the interferon-lambda 4 protein (IFNL4). The aim of the present study was to extend the analysis of IFNAR-1 mRNA levels to the ss469415590 variants. Our results highlight that the difference of IFNAR-1 mRNA levels between favourable and unfavourable genotype combinations, at both rs12979860 and ss469415590 loci, is stronger than that observed for single polymorphisms at each locus. These findings suggest may represent the biological basis for the observed association between IFNL3 CC and IFNL4 TT/TT genotypes and favourable outcome of either natural HCV infection (clearance vs chronic evolution) or IFN-based therapy.
Joint Computation Offloading and Resource Allocation Optimization in Heterogeneous Networks With Mobile Edge Computing

In this paper, we propose a distributed joint computation offloading and resource allocation optimization (JCORAO) scheme in heterogeneous networks with mobile edge computing. An optimization problem is formulated to provide the optimal computation offloading strategy policy, uplink subchannel allocation, uplink transmission power allocation, and computation resource scheduling. The optimization problem is decomposed into two sub-problems due to the NP-hard property. In order to analyze the offloading strategy, a sub-algorithm named distributed potential game is built. The existence of Nash equilibrium is proved. To jointly allocate uplink subchannel, uplink transmission power, and computation resource for the offloading mobile terminals, a sub-algorithm named cloud and wireless resource allocation algorithm is designed. The solutions for subchannel allocation consist of uniform zero frequency reuse method without interference and fractional frequency reuse method based on Hungarian and graph coloring with interference. A distributed JCORAO scheme is proposed to solve the optimization problem by the mutual iteration of the two sub-algorithms. Simulation results show that the distributed JCORAO scheme can effectively decrease the energy consumption and task completion time with lower complexity.
Robustness of cooperation in the evolutionary prisoner's dilemma on complex networks

Recent studies on the evolutionary dynamics of the prisoner's dilemma game in scale-free networks have demonstrated that the heterogeneity of the network interconnections enhances the evolutionary success of cooperation. In this paper we address the issue of how the characterization of the asymptotic states of the evolutionary dynamics depends on the initial concentration of cooperators. We find that the measure and the connectedness properties of the set of nodes where cooperation reaches fixation is largely independent of initial conditions, in contrast with the behaviour of both the set of nodes where defection is fixed, and the fluctuating nodes. We also check for the robustness of these results when varying the degree heterogeneity along a one-parametric family of networks interpolating between the class of Erdős–Renyi graphs and the Barabási–Albert networks.
Popular Constitutional Values: The Links Between Public Opinion and the Supreme Court's 2011 Term

Over the past few decades, scholars have begun to explore the role private citizens play in shaping constitutional law. Some of these research efforts engage normative questions, while others construct descriptive, historical, and positive accounts of this phenomenon.1 Despite this increased interest in “popular constitutionalism,” few have sought to identify and measure the precise form and political impact of this variant of extrajudicial constitutional interpretation. Stated differently, not much empirical work has defined popular constitutionalism’s specific content and parameters.
Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Feiyangchangweiyan Capsule on Rat Pelvic Inflammatory Disease through JNK/NF-κB Pathway

Objectives In this study, we aimed to illustrate the preventive effect and possible mechanisms of Feiyangchangweiyan capsule (FYCWYC) on rat pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) model. Methods To construct the rat PID model, upper genital tract was infected by multipathogen, and then drugs were orally administered for 8 days. The histological examination, immunohistochemical analysis, and ELISA were carried out. Furthermore, Western blotting was used to analyze the expression of Akt, MAPKs, NF-κB p65, and IκB-α in uterus. Results As the results showed, infiltrations of neutrophils and lymphocytes in uterus were significantly suppressed, and IL-1β, IL-6, CXCL-1, and TNF-α were also reduced in a dose-dependent manner. We also found that FYCWYC inhibited apoptosis induced by infection. Furthermore, FYCWYC could block the infection-induced nuclear translocation of NF-κB. We found that FYCWYC treatment only decreased the phosphorylation of JNK induced by infection and had no effects on Akt and P38. Additional, the effects of SP600125, an inhibitor of phospho-JNK, were similar to the results of FYCWYC. Conclusions Taken together, our results demonstrated that FYCWYC had anti-inflammatory effect in pathogen-induced PID model, and the mechanism might be through inhibiting NF-κB nuclear translocation which is mediated by JNK.
PERFORMANCE OF AIRBORNE PRECISION SPACING UNDER REALISTIC WIND CONDITIONS AND LIMITED SURVEILLANCE RANGE

With the expected worldwide increase of air traffic during the coming decade, both the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA's) Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen), as well as Eurocontrol's Single European Sky ATM Research (SESAR) program have, as part of their plans, air traffic management (ATM) solutions that can increase performance without requiring time-consuming and expensive infrastructure changes. One such solution involves the ability of both controllers and flight crews to deliver aircraft to the runway with greater accuracy than they can today. Previous research has shown that time-based spacing techniques, wherein the controller assigns a time spacing to each pair of arriving aircraft, can achieve this goal by providing greater runway delivery accuracy and producing a concomitant increase in system-wide performance. The research described herein focuses on one specific application of time-based spacing, called Airborne Precision Spacing (APS), which has evolved over the past ten years. This research furthers APS understanding by studying its performance with realistic wind conditions obtained from atmospheric sounding data and with realistic wind forecasts obtained from the Rapid Update Cycle (RUC) short-range weather forecast. In addition, this study investigates APS performance with limited surveillance range, as provided by the Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) system, and with an algorithm designed to improve APS performance when ADS-B surveillance data is unavailable. The results presented herein quantify the runway threshold delivery accuracy of APS under these conditions, and also quantify resulting workload metrics such as the number of speed changes required to maintain spacing. Of the many improvements envisioned by the FAA's NextGen and Eurocontrol's SESAR program, increasing runway throughput without adding to an airport's infrastructure is a key capacity-enhancing goal. Improvements that fall into this category include high-density Metroplex operations, improved surface management techniques, simultaneous closely-spaced parallel approaches, as well as more precisely delivering aircraft to the runway threshold, and many others. Of these improvements, the research herein focuses on high-precision runway spacing through the application of time-based metering. Time-based metering is included in the FAA's High Density Airport component of its NextGen Solution Sets (1), and is addressed in Eurocontrol's SESAR program management plan, Lines of Change 7 (Queue Management Tools) and 10 (Airport Throughput, Safety, and Environment) (2). This particular application of time-based metering involves assigning a time interval to each pair of aircraft in an arrival stream, one called the leading aircraft and the other called the trailing aircraft. The trailing aircraft performs speed changes during its approach in order to achieve its assigned time spacing with respect to its leading aircraft at the runway threshold.
Limitations when improving security camera video

Security is one of the most important things in our daily lives and the security business is a big industry. Security cameras are set in many areas in order to keep us safe. When a crime occurs, we often hear that police analyze the security camera footage. It takes long time and it is often the case that the footage is not helpful in the investigation at all. The reason is very simple. Many of the security camera images do not have sufficient resolution. Currently there are many super resolution (SR) technologies. In detective dramas technicians solve crimes using SR technologies turning blurry images taken with a security camera into sharp high resolution ones with a click of a button. However, in real life it is not so easy. In this paper we discuss the current issues and limitations of the SR technologies.
Premature Alliance Termination: Explaining Decisions to Abrogate or Renegotiate Existing Alliances 1

Under what conditions do leaders choose to terminate existing alliances before their scheduled end dates? If states form military alliances purposively and endure costs in order to achieve the benefits of policy coordination, how can we understand decisions to terminate existing alliance relationships prior to fulfillment of the previously negotiated conditions for the alliance to end? In this paper, we build an argument that links changes in specific factors within and outside the member states to the decision to abandon sunk costs and terminate a cooperative relationship. We assume that leaders form alliances based on their beliefs at the time of formation that the benefits of the alliance exceed the costs, and that alliances become vulnerable to termination when the conditions supporting their formation change in such a way that the expected future benefits are not worth the continuing costs. Yet, whether and how alliances end are also influenced by factors that affect the costs associated with abrogation and renegotiation. We evaluate our argument empirically on a sample of bilateral alliances formed between 1816 and 1989 using competing risks duration analysis and find support for our hypotheses.
Late introduction of complementary feeding, rather than duration of breastfeeding, may protect against adult overweight.

BACKGROUND Early nutrition may affect the risk of overweight in later life. OBJECTIVE The objective was to explore the effect of the duration of breastfeeding (BF) and age at introduction of complementary feeding (CF) on body mass index (BMI) during childhood through adulthood. DESIGN The study was based on a subsample of the Copenhagen Perinatal Cohort established in 1959-1961 (n = 5068). Information on BF and available information on CF (age of introduction of "spoon-feeding," "vegetables," "egg," "meat," and "firm food") and several covariates were collected in infancy and linked with information on BMI from follow-up examinations in childhood and adulthood at age 42 y. RESULTS The median (10th, 90th percentiles) durations of any BF and age at introduction of spoon-feeding were 2.50 (0.23, 6.50) and 3.50 (2.00, 6.00) mo, respectively. After 1 y of age and throughout childhood and adolescence, no association between BF and BMI was found in regression models also adjusted for age at introduction of spoon-feeding and covariates. The risk of overweight at age 42 y decreased or tended to decrease with increasing age (in mo) at introduction of spoon-feeding [odds ratio (OR): 0.94; 95% CI: 0.86, 1.02], vegetables (OR: 0.90; 95% CI: 0.81, 0.98), meat (OR: 0.93; 95% CI: 0.87, 1.00), and firm food (OR: 0.92; 95% CI: 0.86, 0.98) but not egg (OR: 0.98; 95% CI: 0.91, 1.05). CONCLUSION The findings of this study suggest that introduction of CF at a later age (within the range of 2 to 6 mo) is protective against overweight in adulthood but do not support a protective effect of a longer duration of BF.
Chapter 8 Encapsulation of Transgenic Cells for Gene Therapy

A major challenge to emerging cell-based medicine including gene therapy is the host immune rejection of transplanted donor cells or engineered tissue. One way to address this problem is to use drugs to achieve immunosuppression. However, suppressing the patient’s immune system may put the patient at risk for many other diseases. An alternative is to encapsulate living cells in macro/microcapsules to achieve immunoi‐ solation of the cells, thereby increasing cell viability in the patient’s body following transplantation. The capsule’s membrane protects the encapsulated cells from being damaged by both the host’s immune system and mechanical stress while allowing free diffusion of nutrients and metabolic waste for the cells to survive. Moreover, the membrane could be designed to achieve controlled and/or sustained release of therapeutic products produced by the encapsulated transgenic cells to treat a variety of diseases such as cardiovascular disorders, anemia, wounds, bone fractures, and cancer.
Nitric acid dihydrate at ambient and high pressure : An experimental and computational study

The high pressure structural behavior of nitric acid dihydrate ([H{sub 3}O]{sup +}{center_dot}[NO{sub 3}]{sup -}{center_dot}H{sub 2}O) has been investigated up to 3.8 GPa using single crystal x-ray diffraction and neutron powder diffraction techniques. A new structural phase has been identified above 1.33 GPa and this has been further studied by ab initio quantum mechanical calculations. These have guided the refinement by neutron powder diffraction.
Cluster Synchronization for Interacting Clusters of Nonidentical Nodes via Intermittent Pinning Control

The cluster synchronization problem is investigated using intermittent pinning control for the interacting clusters of nonidentical nodes that may represent either general linear systems or nonlinear oscillators. These nodes communicate over general network topology, and the nodes from different clusters are governed by different self-dynamics. A unified convergence analysis is provided to analyze the synchronization via intermittent pinning controllers. It is observed that the nodes in different clusters synchronize to the given patterns if a directed spanning tree exists in the underlying topology of every extended cluster (which consists of the original cluster of nodes as well as their pinning node) and one algebraic condition holds. Structural conditions are then derived to guarantee such an algebraic condition. That is: 1) if the intracluster couplings are with sufficiently strong strength and the pinning controller is with sufficiently long execution time in every period, then the algebraic condition for general linear systems is warranted and 2) if every cluster is with the sufficiently strong intracluster coupling strength, then the pinning controller for nonlinear oscillators can have its execution time to be arbitrarily short. The lower bounds are explicitly derived both for these coupling strengths and the execution time of the pinning controller in every period. In addition, in regard to the above-mentioned structural conditions for nonlinear systems, an adaptive law is further introduced to adapt the intracluster coupling strength, such that the cluster synchronization for nonlinear systems is achieved.
Model predictive control for adaptive digital human modeling

ii I would like to dedicate my thesis to Nature, Mom-Dad, Ultimate Frisbee, Dance, Music, every single being who have helped mold my life and everything that defines freedom and creativity. iii My Little ones, you are the hope you are the future Keep always this youth which is the faculty to progress for you the phrase " It is impossible " will have no meaning. The Mother, Seeds of Light iv ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I am heartily thankful to my academic advisor, Karim Abdel-Malek, who gave me an opportunity to be a part of a wonderful team at Virtual Soldier Research (VSR), the University Of Iowa. Virtual Soldier Research is the place that bears so much importance in my life. The learning, the fun, the understanding, everything begins from VSR. I owe my deepest gratitude to Dr. Soura Dasgupta and Rajankumar Bhatt who have supervised me throughout my research, helped me understand the concepts behind the research and marked my way towards my graduation. The entire VSR crew, who have helped me in making the implementation of this research possible. I would also like to show my gratitude to Dharmsinh Desai University, through which I was able to explore this opportunity at The University of Iowa under the B.E – M.S joint program. A special thanks to Dr. Butler who made this joint program possible and also Dr. Edwin Dove, who in my initial days at UIowa, advised me academically, as well as supported me. I am heartily grateful to Prof. Saurin Shah and the entire faculty of Instrumentation and Control Engineering Department at Dharmsinh Desai University, who supported me in every possible for me to make the most out of this opportunity. Domain leaders at Delmia, Dassault Systemes who not only made things flexible for me during the course of my internship at Delmia to work towards my thesis but supported me to the fullest amidst all my work saying " Take the time you need for your thesis and come back to us with clear mind and fresh ideas ". My deepest thanks to Deborah Hampton and Jenny Simpson program assistants at CCAD as well as Lorena Lovetinsky and April Erickson secretaries at Biomedical v Engineering department, the University of Iowa who would help us with every possible thing in which they could Lastly, a special thanks with love to my parents, sister, cousins, all my friends and family …