Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Bending Models for Thin Flexible Objects

Textiles usually exhibit much larger resistance to in-plane deformation than to bending deformation. However, the latter essentially determines the formation of folds and wrinkles which in turn govern the overall appearance of the cloth. The resulting numerical problem is inherently sti and hence susceptible to instability. This overview is devoted to a closer investigation of bending deformation. Approaches known from the field of engineering can describe the problem of bending in a physically accurate way. However, the nature of the governing equations is such that they cannot be discretised with the standard methods currently used in cloth simulation. Since curvature is a central variable, we introduce related concepts from dierential geometry and describe the transition to the discrete setting. Dierent approaches are discussed and demands on an approach for correctly modelling the bending behaviour of cloth are formulated.
Pressure denaturation of proteins: evaluation of compressibility effects.

One of the key pieces of information from pressure denaturation experiments is the standard volume change for unfolding (Delta V(o)). The pressure dependence of the volume change, the standard compressibility change (Delta K(o)T), is typically assumed to be zero in the analysis of these experiments. We show here that this assumption can be incorrect and that the neglect of compressibility differences can skew the interpretation of experimental results. Analysis of experimental, variable-pressure NMR data for bovine pancreatic ribonuclease A in 2H2O at pH 2.0 and 295 K yielded the following statistically significant, non-zero values: Delta K(o) T = 0.015 +/- 0.002 mL mol-1 bar-1, Delta V(o) = -21 +/- 2 mL mol-1, and Delta G(o) = 2.8 +/- 0.3 kcal mol-1. The experimental protein stability is in good agreement with one (Delta G(o) = 2.5 kcal mol-1) determined independently for the same protein by calorimetry at atmospheric pressure under equivalent conditions [Makhatadze, G. I. , Clore, G. M. , and Gronenborn, A. M. (1995) Nat. Struct. Biol. 2, 852-855]. The positive value for Delta K(o)T indicates that the denatured form of ribonuclease A is more compressible than the native form; this is explained in terms of an interplay between the intrinsic compressibility of the protein and solvation effects. When the same data were fitted to a model that assumes a zero compressibility change, the Delta G(o) value of 4. 0 +/- 0.1 kcal mol-1 returned by the model no longer agreed with the independent measurement, and the Delta V(o) returned by the model was a very different -59 +/- 1 mL mol-1. By contrast, it was not possible to carry out a similar thermodynamic analysis of fluorescence spectroscopic data for the denaturation of staphylococcal nuclease to yield well-defined values of Delta G(o), Delta V(o), and Delta K(o)T. This limitation was shown by evaluation of synthetic data to be intrinsic to spectroscopic data whose analysis requires fitting of the plateaus at either side of the transition. Because NMR data do not have this requirement, they can be analyzed more rigorously.
Glycogen Synthase Kinase-3 is required for axon growth and development

XINSHUO WANG: GSK-3 is Required for Axon Growth and Development (Under the direction of Dr. William Snider) Glycogen Synthase Kinase-3 (GSK-3) is a critical downstream regulator in multiple signaling pathways including neurotrophin/PI3K and Wnt/β-catenin pathways. GSK-3 signal has been strongly implicated in the regulation of neuronal polarity and axon growth in vitro. However, how GSK-3 is regulated and whether it is required for mammalian nervous system development is unknown. Here, I assessed the role of Par6 signaling in the regulation of GSK-3 activity and NGF-induced axon growth. My results show that Par6 is required for GSK-3 phosphorylation and inhibition. Elimination of Par6 inhibits NGF-induced axon growth. We have also generated nervous system specific GSK-3 knockout mice. By studying GSK-3 null cortical neurons, my results show that GSK-3 is required for axon growth in vivo and the deletion of GSK-3 mainly affects the microtubule dynamics which prevents the axon growth. We conclude that GSK-3 is a key regulator of axon growth and development both in vivo and in vitro.
An Analysis of Upstream and Downstream Interaction , From a View of Principal-Agent Relationship ∗

This paper discusses pricing strategies and production of upstream and downstream firms from the view of a principal-agent relationship. As an agent, the upstream firm offers intermediate products and allocates them between downstream firms according to their incentives. As principals, downstream firms determine the quantities of final products they separately supply based on the competition or cooperation in the final market, which further determine the quantities of intermediate products they need and the incentives they are willing to offer. The research on the dual principals-agent setting indicates a price dispersion of intermediate product because of the difference in productivity of downstream firms. This paper also discusses the possibility of a unified price of intermediate product, a kind of price collusion between downstream firms, and its effect on profits of upstream agent. It is shown that the firm with higher productivity can always benefit from the collusion, and the collusion is usually supported when downstream firms have close technology levels. Furthermore, the analysis on the monopolistic downstream indicates that whether the upstream agent can benefit from the monopoly structure depends on the features of the final market and the difference in productivity of downstream firms. In short, this paper offers some new findings of price and allocation of intermediate products and the supply of final goods, as well as the effects of price commitment and monopoly structure in downstream on them.
bearded-ear Encodes a MADS Box Transcription Factor Critical for Maize Floral Development[W][OA]

Although many genes that regulate floral development have been identified in Arabidopsis thaliana, relatively few are known in the grasses. In normal maize (Zea mays), each spikelet produces an upper and lower floral meristem, which initiate floral organs in a defined phyllotaxy before being consumed in the production of an ovule. The bearded-ear (bde) mutation affects floral development differently in the upper and lower meristem. The upper floral meristem initiates extra floral organs that are often mosaic or fused, while the lower floral meristem initiates additional floral meristems. We cloned bde by positional cloning and found that it encodes zea agamous3 (zag3), a MADS box transcription factor in the conserved AGAMOUS-LIKE6 clade. Mutants in the maize homolog of AGAMOUS, zag1, have a subset of bde floral defects. bde zag1 double mutants have a severe ear phenotype, not observed in either single mutant, in which floral meristems are converted to branch-like meristems, indicating that bde and zag1 redundantly promote floral meristem identity. In addition, BDE and ZAG1 physically interact. We propose a model in which BDE functions in at least three distinct complexes to regulate floral development in the maize ear.
A Differential Semantics of Lazy AR Propagation

In this paper we present a differential semantics of Lazy AR Propagation (LARP) in discrete Bayesian networks. We describe how both single and multi dimensional partial derivatives of the evidence may easily be calculated from a junction tree in LARP equilibrium. We show that the simplicity of the calculations stems from the nature of LARP. Based on the differential semantics we describe how variable propagation in the LARP architecture may give access to additional partial derivatives. The cautious LARP (cLARP) scheme is derived to produce a flexible cLARP equilibrium that offers additional opportunities for calculating single and multi dimensional partial derivatives of the evidence and subsets of the evidence from a single propagation. The results of an empirical evaluation illustrates how the access to a largely increased number of partial derivatives comes at a low computational cost.
The gentle touch.

This research study, which, because of its small numbers should be regarded as more of a pilot study, investigated the effect that therapeutic touch may have on measurable physical signs of the subjects involved. It also looked at any change this complementary therapy may have made in health perception immediately following the experiment and 1 week later. The design is modelled on that of Quinn (1984), eminent researcher in the field of energy exchange. Therapeutic touch is a misnomer because physical touch is not necessary--it is the energy field that is touched.
The Multistate Hard Core Model on a Regular Tree

The classical hard core model from statistical physics, with activity λ>0 and capacity C=1, on a graph G, concerns a probability measure on the set ℐ(G) of independent sets of G, with the measure of each independent set I∈ℐ(G) being proportional to λ|I|. Ramanan et al. [K. Ramanan, A. Sengupta, I. Ziedins and P. Mitra, Adv. Appl. Probab. , 34 (2002), pp. 1–27] proposed a generalization of the hard core model as an idealized model of multicasting in communication networks. In this generalization, the multistate hard core model, the capacity C is allowed to be a positive integer, and a configuration in the model is an assignment of states from {0,…,C} to V(G) (the set of nodes of G) subject to the constraint that the states of adjacent nodes may not sum to more than C. The activity associated to state i is λi, so that the probability of a configuration σ∶V(G)→{0,…,C} is proportional to λ∑v∈V(G)σ(v). In this work, we consider this generalization when G is an infinite rooted b-ary tree and prove rigorously som.
Fuzzy Self-Tuning Speed Control of an Indirect Field-Oriented Control Induction Motor Drive

Field-oriented control of induction machines is widely used in high-performance applications. However, detuning caused by parameter disturbances still limits the performance of these drives. In order to accomplish variable speed operation conventional PID-like controllers are commonly used. These controllers provide limited good performance over a wide range of operation, even under ideal field oriented conditions. An alternate approach is to use a so-called "fuzzy" controller. In this paper, a self-tuning fuzzy controller is implemented. The proposed controller has the ability to adjust its parameters online according to the error between actual machine speed and a model reference. The scheme is compared to conventional PI control and validated by simulation and experimental tests of both control techniques.
Minimalist Approach to Evaluating Patients for Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement.

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has become an alternative to cardiac surgery in a growing number of patients. Initially oriented to those considered high-risk or inoperable, TAVR is rapidly extending toward lower risk populations.1 It may not be long until most patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS) will be treated by a transcatheter approach. Undoubtedly, in this rapidly changing field, periprocedural management will also evolve. See Article by Chieffo et al There is growing interest in performing TAVR using a minimalist approach.2 A reduction in the size of sheaths and improved delivery systems enable safer device transfer via the femoral artery in the vast majority of patients. Increasingly, centers perform TAVR in a conventional cath-laboratory setting, under conscious sedation, and without transesophageal echocardiogram monitoring.3 In addition, early patient discharge has become a reality.4 In our facility, many TAVR patients are discharged the next day, as part of a 3M protocol (Multidisciplinary, Multimodality, but Minimalist Approach). Remarkably, an anecdotal report of successful same-day discharge was recently described at another center.5 In this new era of high-volume TAVR procedures and long waiting lists, there is a need for a more efficient system for patient assessment. The majority of centers regularly evaluate candidates for TAVR in the cath-laboratory by performing coronary angiography with the addition of aortic root and ileofemoral assessment. In the early days of TAVR, a combination of echocardiography and invasive angiography was the foundation of patient assessment and further evaluations, such as computed tomography (CT), were ordered as needed. The dramatic growing importance of CT angiography in TAVR is fascinating. In the original trials, cardiac CT was not requested.6 The main reason for performing CT in those early days was to assess the ability of the ileofemoral vessels to accommodate large caliber sheaths. The …
Crystal structure of the DNA‐binding domain of BldD, a central regulator of aerial mycelium formation in Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2)

BldD is a central regulator of the developmental process in Streptomyces coelicolor. The 1.8 Å resolution structure of the DNA‐binding domain of BldD (BldDN) reveals that BldDN forms a compact globular domain composed of four helices (α1–α4) containing a helix‐turn‐helix motif (α2–α3) resembling that of the DNA‐binding domain of lambda repressor. The BldDN/DNA complex model led us to design a series of mutants, which revealed the important role of α3 and the ‘turn’ region between α2 and α3 for DNA recognition. Based on the fact that BldD occupies two operator sites of bldN and whiG and shows significant disparity in the affinity toward the two operator sites when they are disconnected, we propose a model of cooperative binding, which means that the binding of one BldD dimer to the high affinity site facilitates that of the second BldD dimer to the low affinity site. In addition, structural and mutational investigation reveals that the Tyr62Cys mutation, found in the first‐identified bldD mutant, can destabilize BldD structure by disrupting the hydrophobic core.
Cytochrome P450 2C9 (CYP2C9) polymorphisms in Chinese Li population.

BACKGROUND The frequencies of Cytochrome P450 2C9 (CYP2C9) genotypes were various between populations. The aim of this study was to investigate the frequencies of the major variants of the CYP2C9 in Chinese Li minority populations. METHODS The promoter, exons and surrounding introns, and 3'-untranslated region of the CYP2C9 gene was detected by DNA sequencing to investigate in 100 unrelated healthy Chinese Li subjects. The protein function prediction was used the online tools: Sorting Intolerant From Tolerant (SIFT) and Phenotyping Version 2 (PolyPhen-2). The comparison of CYP2C9 allele frequencies in different populations were analyzed by Chi-square (χ(2)) test. Linkage disequilibrium (LD) analysis was performed using Haploview software. RESULTS We identified 17 different CYP2C9 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the Li population, including two missense mutations (3549 G > A and 42614 A > C) and two silent mutations (3514 T > Cand 50298A > T). The protein function prediction revealed the two missense mutations result in protein damaging. In addition, we detected the allele frequencies of CYP2C9*1, CYP2C9*3 and CYP2C9*42 were 98%, 1%, and 1%, respectively. Finally, we compared three major allelic frequency (CYP2C9*1, CYP2C9*2, and CYP2C9*3) between Li and other populations. We found that our results were similar to East Asians and Africans.
Schizophrenic delusions and the construction of autobiographical memory

In recent years, the study of normal cognitive function has gained substantially from the study of patients with cognitive deficits. Research on autobiographical memory is no exception, and research on retrograde amnesia and on confabulation in patients suffering from brain damage featured prominently in an earlier volume on this topic (Rubin, 1986). However, while the contribution of neuropsychology to the understanding of normal function is well established, neuropsychiatry has so far been less influential. One of the reasons is that psychiatry itself has been far from unanimous in its approach to the most appropriate conceptualization of its subject matter. There has, for example, been prolonged controversy as to whether schizophrenia should be regarded as a physical disorder resulting from some form of dysfunction of the brain, or as others would claim, a psychological response to psychosocial stress. While there is still little agreement as to what, if any, physical changes in the brain are associated with schizophrenia (see Waddington, 1993, for an overview), the application of neuropsychological techniques to the study of schizophrenic patients makes it clear that cognitive deficits are characteristic, and in particular tend to produce an impairment in memory (see McKenna, Clare, & Baddeley, 1995, for a review), and in executive functions (see Frith, 1992). These deficits do not appear to be a result of drug treatment, nor can they readily be explained in terms of problems of motivation, or disruption by positive symptoms such as hallucinations and delusions.
Acceleration of the Ventricular Response During Atrial Fibrillation in the Wolff‐Parkinson‐White Syndrome After Verapamil

We examined the electrophysiologic effects of verapamil in eight patients with the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. Verapamil shortened the antegrade effective refractory period of the accessory pathway in three patients and abbreviated the shortest cycle length with 1:1 conduction over the accessory pathway in two patients. More significantly, verapamil decreased the shortest RR interval between preexcited ventricular complexes during atrial fibrillation (279 ± 20 msec vs 236 ± 18 msec, mean ± SEM; p < 0.01). After verapamil, two patients required cardioversion for hemodynamic deterioration after acceleration of the ventricular response during atrial fibrillation. In the four patients with predominantly preexcited ventricular complexes during atrial fibrillation the ventricular rate accelerated after verapamil, whereas in patients with predominantly normal ventricular complexes, the average ventricular rate decreased or did not change after verapamil. Verapamil may result in significant acceleration of ventricular response during atrial fibrillation in the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. The safety of verapamil in individual patients with the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome should be established by electrophysiologic testing before its use.
Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 (GSK3) Inhibitor, SB-216763, Promotes Pluripotency in Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells

Canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling has been suggested to promote self-renewal of pluripotent mouse and human embryonic stem cells. Here, we show that SB-216763, a glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK3) inhibitor, can maintain mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) in a pluripotent state in the absence of exogenous leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) when cultured on mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs). MESCs maintained with SB-216763 for one month were morphologically indistinguishable from LIF-treated mESCs and expressed pluripotent-specific genes Oct4, Sox2, and Nanog. Furthermore, Nanog immunostaining was more homogenous in SB-216763-treated colonies compared to LIF. Embryoid bodies (EBs) prepared from these mESCs expressed early-stage markers for all three germ layers, and could efficiently differentiate into cardiac-like cells and MAP2-immunoreactive neurons. To our knowledge, SB-216763 is the first GSK3 inhibitor that can promote self-renewal of mESC co-cultured with MEFs for more than two months.
Linkk Oping Electronic Articles in Temporal Action Logics Tal: Language Speciication and Tutorial Linkk Oping Electronic Articles in Computer and Information Science

The purpose of this article is to provide a uniform, lightweight language speci cation and tutorial for a class of temporal logics for reasoning about action and change that has been developed by our group during the period 1994-1998. The class of logics are collected under the name TAL, an acronym for Temporal Action Logics. TAL has its origins and inspiration in the work with Features and Fluents (FF) by Sandewall, but has diverged from the methodology and approach through the years. We rst discuss distinctions and compatibility with FF, move on to the lightweight language speci cation, and then present a tutorial in terms of an excursion through the di erent parts of a relatively complex narrative de ned using TAL. We conclude with an annotated list of published work from our group. The article tries to strike a reasonable balance between detail and readability, making a number of simpli cations regarding narrative syntax and translation to a base logical language. Full details are available in numerous technical reports and articles which are listed in the nal section of this article.
Bayesian Persuasion with Heterogeneous Priors

In a world in which rational individuals may hold different prior beliefs, a sender can influence the behavior of a receiver by controlling the informativeness of an experiment (public signal). We characterize the set of distributions of posterior beliefs that can be induced by an experiment, and provide necessary and sufficient conditions for a sender to benefit from persuasion. We then provide sufficient conditions for the sender to benefit from persuasion for almost every pair of prior beliefs, even when there is no value of persuasion under a common prior. Our main condition is that the receiver's action depends on his beliefs only through his expectation of some random variable.
An Effective Load Balancing Task Allocation Algorithm using Task Clustering

In Distributed Computing Systems (DCSs), a program is split into small tasks and distributed among several computing elements to minimize the overall system cost. Several challenges have been posed by this mode of processing which can be classified mainly into two broad categories. One class belongs to the hardware oriented issues of building such systems more and more effective while the other aims at designing efficient algorithms to make the best use of the technology in hand. The task allocation problem in a DCS belongs to the later class. Intrinsically, task allocation problem is NPhard. To overcome this issue, it is necessary to introduce heuristics for generating near optimal solution to the given problem. This paper deals with the problem of task allocation in DCSs in such a way that the load on each processing node is almost balanced. Further, the development of an effective algorithm for allocating ‘m’ tasks to ‘n’ processors of a given distributed system using task clustering by taking both Inter Task Communication Cost (ITCC) and the Execution Cost (EC) is taken into consideration. General Terms Distributed Systems, Task Allocation
Radar signatures of snowflake riming: A modeling study

The capability to detect the state of snowflake riming reliably from remote measurements would greatly expand the understanding of its global role in cloud‐precipitation processes. To investigate the ability of multifrequency radars to detect riming, a three‐dimensional model of snowflake growth was used to generate simulated aggregate and crystal snowflakes with various degrees of riming. Three different growth scenarios, representing different temporal relationships between aggregation and riming, were formulated. The discrete dipole approximation was then used to compute the radar backscattering properties of the snowflakes at frequencies of 9.7, 13.6, 35.6, and 94 GHz. In two of the three growth scenarios, the rimed snowflakes exhibit large differences between the backscattering cross sections of the detailed three‐dimensional models and the equivalent homogeneous spheroidal models, similarly to earlier results for unrimed snowflakes. When three frequencies are used simultaneously, riming appears to be detectable in a robust manner across all three scenarios. In spite of the differences in backscattering cross sections, the triple‐frequency signatures of heavily rimed particles resemble those of the homogeneous spheroids, thus explaining earlier observational results that were compatible with such spheroids.