Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
SVM-based dynamic modeling for machine life stage identification and machine wear estimation

Identification of machine condition is crucial to reduce machine downtime and scrap parts in the manufacturing industries. In this paper, we propose a novel methodology to identify life stage and estimate machine wear. The proposed framework is based on stage identification using Support Vector Machines (SVMs) and machine wear estimation using AutoRegressive Moving Average with eXogenous inputs (ARMAX) models. Our proposed framework is evaluated on a high-speed industrial milling machine, and the effectiveness of the proposed methodology in tool wear stage identification and tool wear estimation is verified with experimental results.
ASAP: the Alternative Splicing Annotation Project

Recently, genomics analyses have demonstrated that alternative splicing is widespread in mammalian genomes (30-60% of genes reported to have multiple isoforms), and may be one of their most important mechanisms of functional regulation. However, by comparison with other genomics data such as genome annotation, SNPs, or gene expression, there exists relatively little database infrastructure for the study of alternative splicing. We have constructed an online database ASAP (the Alternative Splicing Annotation Project) for biologists to access and mine the enormous wealth of alternative splicing information coming from genomics and proteomics. ASAP is based on genome-wide analyses of alternative splicing in human (30 793 alternative splice relationships found) from detailed alignment of expressed sequences onto the genomic sequence. ASAP provides precise gene exon-intron structure, alternative splicing, tissue specificity of alternative splice forms, and protein isoform sequences resulting from alternative splicing. Moreover, it can help biologists design probe sequences for distinguishing specific mRNA isoforms. ASAP is intended to be a community resource for collaborative annotation of alternative splice forms, their regulation, and biological functions. The URL for ASAP is http://www.bioinformatics. ucla.edu/ASAP.
Real-Time Management of Geomagnetic Disturbances: Hydro One?s eXtreme Space Weather control room tools.

Dusty records of Ontario Hydro? s activities in the study of geomagnetically induced currents (GICs) and their effects on the power system go as far back as the late 1970s. In the early 1980s, a network of four GIC monitors was in place long before the notorious March 1989 geomagnetic disturbance (GMD) event that caused the Hydro Quebec blackout.
Multiple Kernel <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$k$</tex-math><alternatives><mml:math><mml:mi>k</mml:mi></mml:math><inline-graphic xlink:href="liu-ieq1-2892416.gif"/></alternatives></inline-formula>-Means with Incomplete Kernels

Multiple kernel clustering (MKC) algorithms optimally combine a group of pre-specified base kernel matrices to improve clustering performance. However, existing MKC algorithms cannot efficiently address the situation where some rows and columns of base kernel matrices are absent. This paper proposes two simple yet effective algorithms to address this issue. Different from existing approaches where incomplete kernel matrices are first imputed and a standard MKC algorithm is applied to the imputed kernel matrices, our first algorithm integrates imputation and clustering into a unified learning procedure. Specifically, we perform multiple kernel clustering directly with the presence of incomplete kernel matrices, which are treated as auxiliary variables to be jointly optimized. Our algorithm does not require that there be at least one complete base kernel matrix over all the samples. Also, it adaptively imputes incomplete kernel matrices and combines them to best serve clustering. Moreover, we further improve this algorithm by encouraging these incomplete kernel matrices to mutually complete each other. The three-step iterative algorithm is designed to solve the resultant optimization problems. After that, we theoretically study the generalization bound of the proposed algorithms. Extensive experiments are conducted on 13 benchmark data sets to compare the proposed algorithms with existing imputation-based methods. Our algorithms consistently achieve superior performance and the improvement becomes more significant with increasing missing ratio, verifying the effectiveness and advantages of the proposed joint imputation and clustering.
Transport Distraction Osteogenesis for Closing Full-Thickness Calvarial Defects in Sheep

Objective: To prove the hypothesis that transport distraction osteogenesis can be applied to the skull to close critical-size calvarial defects. Design: A sheep model was developed to investigate this hypothesis. In four sheep, bilateral parietal bone windows were created and adjacent osteotomies performed. On the tested side, an adjacent bone segment was transported into the defect. The contralateral side was left untreated as a control. Main Outcome Measures: After completion of the distraction and consolidation period, a computed tomography study was performed, and the animals were sacrificed. The newly formed bone was examined macroscopically and histologically. Results: A successful closure of the defect with transport distraction was achieved in all of the animals. The control side healed spontaneously in one (younger) sheep but did not heal in the other three animals. The closure of the bony defect with transport distraction was evident macroscopically as well as on the computerized tomography. Microscopic examination showed new healthy bone formation on the treated side. Conclusion: We conclude that transport distraction is an effective tool in closing full-thickness calvarial defects in adult sheep. Further investigation is needed before applying this promising technique in humans.
The Carrot or the Big Stick ? A Game-Theoretic Approach to the Integration of Environmental Policy in CARICOM

Transboundary pollution is a problem of international externalities resulting from a lack of property rights in the global commons. Externalities at a national level can be internalised by the adoption of relevant policies by a central authority such as a national government. However, at a supra-national level this cannot be done unless there exists a supra-national body with the complete authority to internalise the externality. Necessary conditions for this are the articulation and adoption of a common policy stance on environmental issues and the incorporation of the mechanisms necessary to achieve these well-defined common goals. The geographical characteristics of the CARICOM region mean that there are significant transboundary externality effects that should be regionally considered, particularly in terms of marine exploitation and pollution. This paper investigates the issues that arise from the adoption of a sustainable regional environmental strategy in CARICOM from a game-theoretic point of view. The literature abounds with theoretical and empirical investigations of the “carrot” approaches such as subsidies and international transfers, versus the “big stick” approaches such as trade restrictions and Pigouvian taxes. However as a regional grouping, CARICOM presents its own special case. CARICOM as a grouping represents but a subset of the Latin American and Caribbean region (LAC), and as such only a portion of the nation states that generate, and are affected by, the transboundary pollution of the region. Thus, while it is imperative to identify the relative 1 Department of Economics UWI (St. Augustine) email: ssteelucksingh@fss.uwi. tt tel: 662-2002 x 2017/2018 fax: 662-6555
A comparison of two cellular delivery mechanisms for small interfering RNA

Cellular delivery of small interfering RNAs to target cells of a tissue has the potential to travel by two intercellular pathways. For intimately apposed cells gap junctions allow transport exclusive of the extracellular space. For cells not in intimate contact, exocytotic release of vesicular contents and subsequent retrieval via endocytosis of exosomes and other vesicular contents represent an alternative intercellular delivery system that utilizes the extracellular space. Previous studies have shown siRNA/miRNA transfer from a delivery cell to a target cell via gap junction channels. We hypothesized that siRNA can be delivered via gap junctions and downregulate the expression of a reporter gene, the cyclic nucleotide‐gated cation channel gene (mHCN2), in the recipient cells of cell pairs. Whole‐cell patch clamp was used to measure the mHCN2‐induced current and junctional conductance. The target cells were HEK293 cells that endogenously express Cx43 or HeLaCx43 cells, both transfected with mHCN2. The source cells were HEK293 or HeLaCx43 cells transfected with fluorescent‐labeled siRNA targeting mHCN2. We found that siRNA targeting mHCN2 resulted in significant downregulation of mHCN2 currents both in single cells and the recipient cell of a cell pair. In addition we also documented downregulation in target cells that were not in contact with source cells suggesting an extracellular‐mediated delivery. To test further for extracellular delivery HEK293/HCN2 or HeLaCx43/HCN2 cells were cultured in medium collected from HEK293 or HeLaCx43 cells transfected with fluorescent‐labeled siRNA or fluorescent‐labeled morpholino designed to target HCN2. After 24 h single HEK293/HCN2 or HeLaCx43cells showed accumulation of siRNA. The mHCN2 currents were also down regulated in cells with siRNA uptake. Application of 200 nmol/L Bafilomycin A1, which has been shown to affect endosome acidification and endocytotic activity, resulted in a smaller accumulation of fluorescent‐labeled siRNA in single target cells. In distinction to siRNA, morpholinos targeting HCN2 exhibited greatly reduced extracellularly mediated transfer while in cell pairs, target cells exhibited reduced HCN2 currents consistent with effective gap junction‐mediated delivery.
Deterministic Construction of RIP Matrices in Compressed Sensing from Constant Weight Codes

The expicit restricted isometry property (RIP) measurement matrices are needed in practical application of compressed sensing in signal processing. RIP matrices from Reed-Solomon codes, BCH codes, orthogonal codes, expander graphs have been proposed and analysised. On the other hand binary constant weight codes have been studied for many years and many optimal or near-optimal small weight and ditance constant weight codes have been determined. In this paper we propose a new deterministic construction of RIP measurement matrices in compressed sensing from binary and ternary contant weight codes. The sparse orders and the number of budged rows in the new constant-weight-code-based RIP matrices can be arbitrary. These contant-weight-code based RIP matrices have better parameters compared with the DeVore RIP matrices when the sizes are small.
Genetic Programming and Deductive-Inductive Learning: A Multi-Strategy Approach

A water skiing tow apparatus for storing and controlling the release of a towline comprising a reel, adapted to be held by a water skier, in combination with a towline and means for connecting one end of the towline to the reel and the opposite end of the towline to a boat. A pair of handles extend outwardly from a take-up structure of the reel, the take-up structure being rotatable about the handles and configured such that when the reel is rotated about the handles the line of action of a force applied by the towline to the reel at least once per revolution of the reel passes approximately through the axis of rotation.
The correlation of regression with the grade of dysplasia (atypia) in melanocytic naevi

Sir: The diagnosis of atypical melanocytic naevus (AMN) is controversial, which partly explains its variable incidence. The AMN consensus definition includes the presence of lymphocytic inflammation, which is known to induce signs such as colour changes, swelling and erythema, considered to be criteria of atypical moles. The inflammation seen in naevus regression seems to be reactive to unidentified melanocytic changes, but its relationship to AMN grading remains unknown. We studied 123 clinically atypical naevi from 65 female and 46 male subjects aged 36.56 ± 11.94 years. No significant differences were observed associated with regression regarding age and sex distribution, location, gross appearance, family or personal history of atypical mole syndrome ⁄ malignant melanoma. Cases showing evidence of scarring, incomplete resection or features suggesting congenital onset were excluded. Multiple haematoxylin and eosin-stained sections of the whole lesion were evaluated by two independent observers (A.B. and S.J.D-C.). In cases of disagreement, grading was assigned during simultaneous inspection. Reproducibility data were not recorded. AMN were required to show both architectural and cytological atypia, including lentiginous melanocytic hyperplasia (discontinuous ⁄ confluent), suprabasilar melanocytes (little ⁄ fully pagetoid spread), nesting variation and
Characterization of the MacA-MacB efflux system in Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

OBJECTIVES A homologue of the MacA-MacB ABC transporter of Escherichia coli, which recognizes and exports macrolides, was identified in Neisseria gonorrhoeae. This study was undertaken to determine whether gonococci could use the MacA-MacB homologue to express decreased susceptibility to macrolides. METHODS Techniques of DNA sequencing, gene cloning and expression of recombinant proteins in E. coli, gene mutation construction, transcriptional analysis and antimicrobial susceptibility testing were used in the study. RESULTS Although the gonococcal MacA-MacB efflux pump enhanced bacterial resistance to macrolides when overexpressed in an E. coli background, its loss in a gonococcal clinical isolate only slightly decreased bacterial resistance to azithromycin and erythromycin. However, a mutation in the -10 sequence of the promoter used in macAB expression enhanced the macrolide resistance of gonococci that produced a defective MtrC-MtrD-MtrE pump, which also recognizes macrolides. CONCLUSIONS The results from this study indicate that gonococci can employ both the MacA-MacB and MtrC-MtrD-MtrE efflux pumps to develop resistance to macrolides, particularly if mutations develop in the promoter that drives transcription of macAB.
Stochastic Analysis of Deep-Submicrometer CMOS Process for Reliable Circuits Designs

A time-domain methodology for statistical simulation of nonlinear dynamic integrated circuits with arbitrary excitations is presented. The statistical behavior of the circuits is described as a set of stochastic differential equations rather than estimated by a population of realizations and Gaussian closure approximations are introduced to obtain a closed form of moment equations. Statistical simulation of specific circuits shows that the proposed numerical methods offer accurate and efficient solution of stochastic differentials for variability and noise analysis of integrated circuits.
Handling large audio files in audio books for building synthetic voices

One of the issues in using audio books for building a synthetic voice is the segmentation of large audio ﬁles. The use of standard forced-alignment to obtain phone boundaries on large audio ﬁles fails primarily because of huge memory requirements. Earlier works have attempted to resolve this problem by us-ing large vocabulary speech recognition system employing restricted dictionary and language model. In this work, we pro-pose suitable modiﬁcations to the standard forced-alignment algorithm and demonstrate its usefulness for segmentation of large audio ﬁles. Experimental results are provided on audio ﬁles including an artiﬁcially created large audio ﬁle and on EMMA speech corpus of 17.5 hours. Synthetic voices are also built using these large audio ﬁles.
Combined Effects of High-Speed Railway Noise and Ground Vibrations on Annoyance

The Shinkansen super-express railway system in Japan has greatly increased its capacity and has expanded nationwide. However, many inhabitants in areas along the railways have been disturbed by noise and ground vibration from the trains. Additionally, the Shinkansen railway emits a higher level of ground vibration than conventional railways at the same noise level. These findings imply that building vibrations affect living environments as significantly as the associated noise. Therefore, it is imperative to quantify the effects of noise and vibration exposures on each annoyance under simultaneous exposure. We performed a secondary analysis using individual datasets of exposure and community response associated with Shinkansen railway noise and vibration. The data consisted of six socio-acoustic surveys, which were conducted separately over the last 20 years in Japan. Applying a logistic regression analysis to the datasets, we confirmed the combined effects of vibration/noise exposure on noise/vibration annoyance. Moreover, we proposed a representative relationship between noise and vibration exposures, and the prevalence of each annoyance associated with the Shinkansen railway.
Pharmacological sensitivity of ATP release triggered by photoliberation of inositol‐1,4,5‐trisphosphate and zero extracellular calcium in brain endothelial cells

Recently, ATP has gained much interest as an extracellular messenger involved in the communication of calcium signals between cells. The mechanism of ATP release is, however, still a matter of debate. In the present study we investigated the possible contribution of connexin hemichannels or ion channels in the release of ATP in GP8, a rat brain endothelial cell line. Release of ATP was triggered by photoactivation of InsP3 or by reducing the extracellular calcium concentration. Both trigger protocols induced ATP release significantly above baseline. InsP3‐triggered ATP release was completely blocked by α‐glycyrrhetinic acid (α‐GA), the connexin mimetic peptides gap 26 and 27, and the trivalent ions gadolinium and lanthanum. ATP release triggered by zero calcium was, in addition to these substances, also blocked by flufenamic acid (FFA), niflumic acid, and NPPB. Gap 27 selectively blocked zero calcium‐triggered ATP release in connexin‐43 transfected HeLa cells, while having no effect in wild‐type and connexin‐32 transfected cells. Of all the agents used, only α‐GA, FFA and NPPB significantly reduced gap junctional coupling. In conclusion, InsP3 and zero calcium‐triggered ATP release show major similarities but also some differences in their sensitivity to the agents applied. It is suggested that both stimuli trigger ATP release through the same mechanism, which is connexin‐dependent, permeable in both directions, potently blocked by connexin mimetic peptides, and consistent with the opening of connexin hemichannels. J. Cell. Physiol. 197: 205–213, 2003© 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The Knowledge Managment Capability of High-Technology Enterprises

Improving the knowledge management (KM) capability in order to gain sustainable competitive advantages has emerged as an important strategy for addressing recurring problems in a new product development such a long time-to-market, riskiness and high development costs. Synthesizing prior theoretical research in innovation management, competitive advantages, KM and practical activities of high-technology engineering enterprises it is posited that innovation, engineering processes and organizational culture are important antecedents of KM capability. However, it is vague whether the KM capability as a mediator affects competitive advantages. The aim of the paper is to explore the impact of the KM capability in hightechnology engineering enterprises. To achieve this aim we have contributed an empiric research in which 50 high-technology engineering enterprises of Russia were involved. The regression analysis is applied to analyze the obtained empiric data. Among the three selected antecedents the engineering processes have the most impact on the KM capability. The research hasn’t proved the mediating role between the KM capability and competitive advantages because of relative novelty of this phenomenon to Russian hightechnology enterprises.
The social and personality neuroscience of empathy for pain and touch

First- and third-person experiences of bodily sensations, like pain and touch, recruit overlapping neural networks including sensorimotor, insular, and anterior cingulate cortices. Here we illustrate the peculiar role of these structures in coding the sensory and affective qualities of the observed bodily sensations. Subsequently we show that such neural activity is critically influenced by a range of social, emotional, cognitive factors, and importantly by inter-individual differences in the separate components of empathic traits. Finally we suggest some fundamental issues that social neuroscience has to address for providing a comprehensive knowledge of the behavioral, functional and anatomical brain correlates of empathy.
Preparation of electrospun silk fibroin nanofibers from solutions containing native silk fibrils

Electrospinning solutions containing native silk fibrils with varied diameter and length were firstly achieved by dissolving silk in CaCl2/Formic acid solvents. The structure of nanofibrils significantly improved the spinnability of electrospinning solution. The diameter of electrospun silk fibroin (SF) nanofibers increased from 40 nm to 1.8 μm, which could be achieved through increasing the solution concentration from 2 to 10%, implying a good size control over a wide range in this process. The structure of SF nanofibers transferred from random coil to beta-sheet, before and after ethanol treatment, respectively. The mechanical properties of the SF nanofibers were improved significantly with stress and strain at break of 11.15 MPa and 7.66% in dry state, and 3.32 MPa and 174.0% in wet state. The strategy for preparing SF nanofibers with improved mechanical properties and fiber diameter control over a wide range provides benefits for the application of this material. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 41236.
Comparison of Direct and Iterative Sparse Linear Solvers for Power System Applications on Parallel Computing Platforms

This paper presents a performance comparison of sparse linear solvers based on iterative and direct methods for power system applications implemented on parallel computing platform. The iterative sparse linear solver evaluated in this paper is based on the conjugate gradient algorithm with a Jacobi pre-conditioner executed on a general purpose graphic processing unit (GPGPU). The direct solvers are based on the SuiteSparseQR library implementing a QR factorization, and PARDISO, implementing a LU factorization, with both providing parallel implementations through Intel Threading Building Blocks and OpenMP respectively. The type of matrices tested during the evaluation are Jacobian and Gain matrices from state estimation applications, and DC power flow Jacobian matrices from power flow analysis and security constrained optimal power flow applications. The evaluation of the different solvers on each matrices showed that iterative methods are good candidates for power flow analysis application when the DC power flow Jacobian matrices are large and well conditioned. Direct methods based solvers outperform iterative solvers for matrices found in state estimation and security constrained power flow analysis application mainly due to the poor performances of iterative methods on ill-conditioned matrices.