Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Mapping quantum yield for (Fe-Zn-Sn-Ti)Ox photoabsorbers using a high throughput photoelectrochemical screening system.

Combinatorial synthesis and screening of light absorbers are critical to material discoveries for photovoltaic and photoelectrochemical applications. One of the most effective ways to evaluate the energy-conversion properties of a semiconducting light absorber is to form an asymmetric junction and investigate the photogeneration, transport and recombination processes at the semiconductor interface. This standard photoelectrochemical measurement is readily made on a semiconductor sample with a back-side metallic contact (working electrode) and front-side solution contact. In a typical combinatorial material library, each sample shares a common back contact, requiring novel instrumentation to provide spatially resolved and thus sample-resolved measurements. We developed a multiplexing counter electrode with a thin layer assembly, in which a rectifying semiconductor/liquid junction was formed and the short-circuit photocurrent was measured under chopped illumination for each sample in a material library. The multiplexing counter electrode assembly demonstrated a photocurrent sensitivity of sub-10 μA cm(-2) with an external quantum yield sensitivity of 0.5% for each semiconductor sample under a monochromatic ultraviolet illumination source. The combination of cell architecture and multiplexing allows high-throughput modes of operation, including both fast-serial and parallel measurements. To demonstrate the performance of the instrument, the external quantum yields of 1819 different compositions from a pseudoquaternary metal oxide library, (Fe-Zn-Sn-Ti)Ox, at 385 nm were collected in scanning serial mode with a throughput of as fast as 1 s per sample. Preliminary screening results identified a promising ternary composition region centered at Fe0.894Sn0. 103Ti0.0034Ox, with an external quantum yield of 6.7% at 385 nm.
Terrestrial lidar measurements for analysing canopy structure in an old-growth forest

In einem nahezu 200 Jahre alten, strukturreichen Wald mit elf Baumarten und typischen Merkmalen eines alten Waldstandortes wurden mit einem Laserscanner bodenbasierte LiDAR-Messungen (LiDAR = light detection and ranging) durchgefuhrt. Ziel dieser Messungen war es, artspezifische Unterschiede der Kronenstruktur von im Bestand wachsenden Baumen zu erfassen. Die Uberprufung der Genauigkeit der Methode und der Vollstandigkeit der Kronenmessung erfolgte anhand unabhangiger Hohenmessungen und der sichtbasierten Aufnahme einzelner Baumkronen im Wald. Aufgenommen wurden hier die Kronenprojektionen der Baume, also der Ausenrand des Schattens, der sich bei einer senkrechten Bestrahlung von oben bilden wurde. Wahrend die Struktur der unteren Halfte der Baumkronen vollstandig erfasst werden konnte, zeigten sich bei den virtuellen Baumkronen im oberen Bereich Lucken entlang der Astachse. Gegenuber der Freilandaufnahme ist die virtuelle Methode besser in der Lage die Einkerbungen der Ausenlinie der Baumkronenprojektion zu erfassen. Durch beide Methoden werden vergleichbare Projektionsflachen der Baumkronen bestimmt (der Standardfehler betragt 11,1 m²). Die LiDAR-basierte Hohe der Baumkronenbasis stimmt mit den Freilandmessungen besser uberein als die LiDAR-basierte Baumhohe. (Literatur-Standort: 1158)
An approach to the functions approximation problems by Mamdani fuzzy system

In this paper, we introduce a class of piecewise multilinear models for Mamdani fuzzy system and investigate their approximation capabilities to integrable functions with Lp-norm. Specially, by extending fuzzy system to stochastic one, the approximation capability of the stochastic Mamdani system to a class of random processes is analyzed. A result on the approximation of regular function is given showing that fuzzy system may keep their semantic structure while approximating to any degree of accuracy not only sufficiently regular functions, but also their derivatives.
EUR-ASSESS Project Subgroup Report on Methodology: Methodological Guidance for the Conduct of Health Technology Assessment

Health technology assessment (HTA) is primarily concerned with the consequences (benefits and costs) of health care and health policy decisions. Because decision making is complex and outcomes are often uncertain, it is helpful to attempt to assess the consequences. The quality of decisions can be improved by a process that provides a consistent framework for identifying and assessing health technologies.
Modeling the World Economic Outlook at the IMF: A Historical Review

The World Economic Outlook (WEO) exercise at the IMF evolved during the 1980s, partly in response to demands by policymakers in national finance ministries for objective and internationally comparable projections and policy scenarios. The exercise had begun as a staff initiative, encouraged by the Managing Director (Johannes Witteveen). Gradually, the Executive Board, the Interim Committee, the Group of Seven, and others came to view the discussion of the WEO documents as an important element in their efforts to keep abreast of world economic developments and prospects. Direct and indirect feedback from those discussions informed the staff as to how the exercise should be improved. Driven by this policy relevance, the WEO evolved from a decentralized project that was only haphazardly model-based into a more rigorous and coordinated exercise.
Lack of Phosphatidylglycerol Inhibits Chlorophyll Biosynthesis at Multiple Sites and Limits Chlorophyllide Reutilization in Synechocystis sp. Strain PCC 68031

The lack of lipid phosphatidylglycerol inhibits chlorophyll biosynthesis and induces accumulation of an aberrant protein complex containing monomeric PSI and CP43 antenna of PSII. The negatively charged lipid phosphatidylglycerol (PG) constitutes up to 10% of total lipids in photosynthetic membranes, and its deprivation in cyanobacteria is accompanied by chlorophyll (Chl) depletion. Indeed, radioactive labeling of the PG-depleted ΔpgsA mutant of Synechocystis sp. strain PCC 6803, which is not able to synthesize PG, proved the inhibition of Chl biosynthesis caused by restriction on the formation of 5-aminolevulinic acid and protochlorophyllide. Although the mutant accumulated chlorophyllide, the last Chl precursor, we showed that it originated from dephytylation of existing Chl and not from the block in the Chl biosynthesis. The lack of de novo-produced Chl under PG depletion was accompanied by a significantly weakened biosynthesis of both monomeric and trimeric photosystem I (PSI) complexes, although the decrease in cellular content was manifested only for the trimeric form. However, our analysis of ΔpgsA mutant, which lacked trimeric PSI because of the absence of the PsaL subunit, suggested that the virtual stability of monomeric PSI is a result of disintegration of PSI trimers. Interestingly, the loss of trimeric PSI was accompanied by accumulation of monomeric PSI associated with the newly synthesized CP43 subunit of photosystem II. We conclude that the absence of PG results in the inhibition of Chl biosynthetic pathway, which impairs synthesis of PSI, despite the accumulation of chlorophyllide released from the degraded Chl proteins. Based on the knowledge about the role of PG in prokaryotes, we hypothesize that the synthesis of Chl and PSI complexes are colocated in a membrane microdomain requiring PG for integrity.
Identification and Quantification of Major Maillard Cross-links in Human Serum Albumin and Lens Protein

Glycation reactions leading to protein modifications (advanced glycation end products) contribute to various pathologies associated with the general aging process and long term complications of diabetes. However, only few relevant compounds have so far been detected in vivo. We now report on the first unequivocal identification of the lysine-arginine cross-links glucosepane 5, DOGDIC 6, MODIC 7, and GODIC 8 in human material. For their accurate quantification by coupled liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry,13C-labeled reference compounds were synthesized independently. Compounds 5–8 are formed via the α-dicarbonyl compoundsN 6-(2,3-dihydroxy-5,6-dioxohexyl)-l-lysinate (1a,b), 3-deoxyglucosone (2), methylglyoxal (3), and glyoxal (4), respectively. The protein-bound dideoxyosone 1a,b seems to be of prime significance for cross-linking because it presumably is not detoxified by mammalian enzymes as readily as 2–4. Hence, the follow-up product glucosepane 5 was found to be the dominant compound. Up to 42.3 pmol of 5/mg of protein was identified in human serum albumin of diabetics; the level of 5 correlates markedly with the glycated hemoglobin HbA1c. In the water-insoluble fraction of lens proteins from normoglycemics, concentration of 5 ranges between 132.3 and 241.7 pmol/mg. The advanced glycoxidation end product GODIC 8 is elevated significantly in brunescent lenses, indicating enhanced oxidative stress in this material. Compounds 5–8 thus appear predestined as markers for pathophysiological processes.
Sequential migration of neutrophils across monolayers of endothelial and epithelial cells

In the course of granulocyte‐dominated lung inflammation, granulocytes migrate across the endothelium and epithelium of the lung and cause severe tissue damage. To study this process in more detail, we developed a bilayer transmigration model composed of primary human endothelial and lung epithelial cells, simultaneously cultured on opposite sides of Transwell filters. Electron microscopical analysis showed that the morphology of the cells and the expression of junctional proteins remained unaltered and that matrix components were deposited onto the filter. Intriguingly, neutrophil migration was more efficient across the bilayers than across single epithelial monolayers and did not differ from migration across single endothelial monolayers. Coculture experiments showed that endothelial cells stimulated epithelial cells to release IL‐6 and that epithelial cells enhanced release of IL‐8 from endothelial cells. Together these data reveal bidirectional signaling and enhanced neutrophil migration in a transmigration model of primary human epithelial and endothelial cells.
Critical window hypothesis of hormone therapy and cognition: a scientific update on clinical studies

ObjectiveThe critical window hypothesis of hormone therapy (HT) and cognitive function states that the effects of HT depend on timing of initiation with respect to age, the menopausal transition, or both, and that optimal effects are evident with early initiation. This article reviews clinical studies that bear on this hypothesis. MethodsRecognizing that the typical pattern of HT use is early HT initiation, this review describes findings from observational studies of ever use of HT and observational studies that looked specifically at the timing of HT on Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and cognitive test performance. Randomized trials of HT and verbal memory are discussed, and neuroimaging studies bearing on the hypothesis are reviewed. ResultsObservational data suggest that HT generally reduces the risk of AD. Three of three observational studies that specifically examined the timing of initiation in relation to AD risk each provide support for the window, whereas three of five observational studies of HT timing and cognitive test performance do. Randomized clinical trials of estrogen therapy in younger women find support for the hypothesis. Conjugated equine estrogens/medroxyprogesterone acetate increases risks regardless of timing. Little is known about the cognitive effects of other combination HT formulations. ConclusionsA definitive trial to test the critical window hypothesis is not feasible. Evidence drawn from other sources provides initial support for the hypothesis. Although these findings are relevant to women who use HT to treat vasomotor symptoms, HT is currently not indicated for the treatment of cognitive complaints or for dementia prevention.
Three-dimensionally printed biological machines powered by skeletal muscle

Significance Cell-based soft robotic devices could have a transformative impact on our ability to design machines and systems that can dynamically sense and respond to a range of complex environmental signals. We demonstrate innovative advancements in biomaterials, tissue engineering, and 3D printing, as well as an integration of these technologies, to forward engineer a controllable centimeter-scale biological machine capable of locomotion on a surface in fluid. Due in part to their elastic nature and the living components that can permit a dynamic response to environmental and applied stimuli, these biological machines can have diverse applications and represent a significant advancement toward high-level functional control over soft biorobotic systems. Combining biological components, such as cells and tissues, with soft robotics can enable the fabrication of biological machines with the ability to sense, process signals, and produce force. An intuitive demonstration of a biological machine is one that can produce motion in response to controllable external signaling. Whereas cardiac cell-driven biological actuators have been demonstrated, the requirements of these machines to respond to stimuli and exhibit controlled movement merit the use of skeletal muscle, the primary generator of actuation in animals, as a contractile power source. Here, we report the development of 3D printed hydrogel “bio-bots” with an asymmetric physical design and powered by the actuation of an engineered mammalian skeletal muscle strip to result in net locomotion of the bio-bot. Geometric design and material properties of the hydrogel bio-bots were optimized using stereolithographic 3D printing, and the effect of collagen I and fibrin extracellular matrix proteins and insulin-like growth factor 1 on the force production of engineered skeletal muscle was characterized. Electrical stimulation triggered contraction of cells in the muscle strip and net locomotion of the bio-bot with a maximum velocity of ∼156 μm s−1, which is over 1.5 body lengths per min. Modeling and simulation were used to understand both the effect of different design parameters on the bio-bot and the mechanism of motion. This demonstration advances the goal of realizing forward-engineered integrated cellular machines and systems, which can have a myriad array of applications in drug screening, programmable tissue engineering, drug delivery, and biomimetic machine design.
The performance of query control schemes for the zone routing protocol

In this paper, we study the performance of route query control mechanisms for the recently proposed Zone Routing Protocol (ZRP) for ad-hoc networks. The ZRP proactively maintains routing information for a local neighborhood (routing zone), while reactively acquiring routes to destinations beyond the routing zone. This hybrid routing approach has the potential to be more efficient in the generation of control traffic than traditional routing schemes. However, without proper query control techniques, the ZRP can actually produce more traffic than standard flooding protocols.Our proposed query control schemes exploit the structure of the routing zone to provide enhanced detection (Query Detection (QD1/QD2)), termination (Loop-back Termination (LT), Early Termination (ET)) and prevention (Selective Bordercasting (SBC)) of overlapping queries. We demonstrate how certain combinations of these techniques can be applied to single channel or multiple channel ad-hoc networks to improve both the delay and control traffic performance of the ZRP. Our query control mechanisms allow the ZRP to provide routes to all accessible network nodes with only a fraction of the control traffic generated by purely proactive distance vector and purely reactive flooding schemes, and with a response time as low as 10% of a flooding route query delay.
Hybrid control for biped robots using impedance control and computed-torque control

Proposes a hybrid control method of using the impedance control and the computed-torque control for biped robot locomotion. The computed-torque control is used for the supporting (constrained) leg. For the free leg, impedance control is used, where different values of impedance parameters are used depending on the gait phase of the biped robot. To reduce the magnitude of an impact and guarantee a stable footing when a foot contacts with the ground, the paper proposes to increase the damping of the leg drastically and to modify the reference trajectory of the leg. Computer simulations with a 3 DOF environment model for which a combination of a nonlinear and a linear compliant contact models is used, show that the proposed controller is superior to the computed-torque controllers in reducing impacts and stabilizing the footing.
Tissue-nonspecific alkaline phosphatase and plasma cell membrane glycoprotein-1 are central antagonistic regulators of bone mineralization

Osteoblasts mineralize bone matrix by promoting hydroxyapatite crystal formation and growth in the interior of membrane-limited matrix vesicles (MVs) and by propagating the crystals onto the collagenous extracellular matrix. Two osteoblast proteins, tissue-nonspecific alkaline phosphatase (TNAP) and plasma cell membrane glycoprotein-1 (PC-1) are involved in this process. Mutations in the TNAP gene result in the inborn error of metabolism known as hypophosphatasia, characterized by poorly mineralized bones, spontaneous fractures, and elevated extracellular concentrations of inorganic pyrophosphate (PPi). PPi suppresses the formation and growth of hydroxyapatite crystals. PPi is produced by the nucleoside triphosphate pyrophosphohydrolase activity of a family of isozymes, with PC-1 being the only member present in MVs. Mice with spontaneous mutations in the PC-1 gene have hypermineralization abnormalities that include osteoarthritis and ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament of the spine. Here, we show the respective correction of bone mineralization abnormalities in knockout mice null for both the TNAP (Akp2) and PC-1 (Enpp1) genes. Each allele of Akp2 and Enpp1 has a measurable influence on mineralization status in vivo. Ex vivo experiments using cultured double-knockout osteoblasts and their MVs demonstrate normalization of PPi content and mineral deposition. Our data provide evidence that TNAP and PC-1 are key regulators of the extracellular PPi concentrations required for controlled bone mineralization. Our results suggest that inhibiting PC-1 function may be a viable therapeutic strategy for hypophosphatasia. Conversely, interfering with TNAP activity may correct pathological hyperossification because of PPi insufficiency.
Summarizing Reviews with Variable-length Syntactic Patterns and Topic Models

We present a novel summarization framework for reviews of products and services by selecting informative and concise text segments from the reviews. Our method consists of two major steps. First, we identify five frequently occurring variable-length syntactic patterns and use them to extract candidate segments. Then we use the output of a joint generative sentiment topic model to filter out the non-informative segments. We verify the proposed method with quantitative and qualitative experiments. In a quantitative study, our approach outperforms previous methods in producing informative segments and summaries that capture aspects of products and services as expressed in the user-generated pros and cons lists. Our user study with ninety users resonates with this result: individual segments extracted and filtered by our method are rated as more useful by users compared to previous approaches by users.
Geochemical Niches of Iron-Oxidizing Acidophiles in Acidic Coal Mine Drainage

ABSTRACT A legacy of coal mining in the Appalachians has provided a unique opportunity to study the ecological niches of iron-oxidizing microorganisms. Mine-impacted, anoxic groundwater with high dissolved-metal concentrations emerges at springs and seeps associated with iron oxide mounds and deposits. These deposits are colonized by iron-oxidizing microorganisms that in some cases efficiently remove most of the dissolved iron at low pH, making subsequent treatment of the polluted stream water less expensive. We used full-cycle rRNA methods to describe the composition of sediment communities at two geochemically similar acidic discharges, Upper and Lower Red Eyes in Somerset County, PA, USA. The dominant microorganisms at both discharges were acidophilic Gallionella-like organisms, “Ferrovum” spp. , and Acidithiobacillus spp. Archaea and Leptospirillum spp. accounted for less than 2% of cells. The distribution of microorganisms at the two sites could be best explained by a combination of iron(II) concentration and pH. Populations of the Gallionella-like organisms were restricted to locations with pH >3 and iron(II) concentration of >4 mM, while Acidithiobacillus spp. were restricted to pH <3 and iron(II) concentration of <4 mM. Ferrovum spp. were present at low levels in most samples but dominated sediment communities at pH <3 and iron(II) concentration of >4 mM. Our findings offer a predictive framework that could prove useful for describing the distribution of microorganisms in acid mine drainage, based on readily accessible geochemical parameters.
First experiences in the implementation of biometric technology to link data from Health and Demographic Surveillance Systems with health facility data

Background: In developing countries, Health and Demographic Surveillance Systems (HDSSs) provide a framework for tracking demographic and health dynamics over time in a defined geographical area. Many HDSSs co-exist with facility-based data sources in the form of Health Management Information Systems (HMIS). Integrating both data sources through reliable record linkage could provide both numerator and denominator populations to estimate disease prevalence and incidence rates in the population and enable determination of accurate health service coverage. Objective: To measure the acceptability and performance of fingerprint biometrics to identify individuals in demographic surveillance populations and those attending health care facilities serving the surveillance populations. Methodology: Two HDSS sites used fingerprint biometrics for patient and/or surveillance population participant identification. The proportion of individuals for whom a fingerprint could be successfully enrolled were characterised in terms of age and sex. Results: Adult (18–65 years) fingerprint enrolment rates varied between 94.1% (95% CI 93.6–94.5) for facility-based fingerprint data collection at the Africa Centre site to 96.7% (95% CI 95.9–97.6) for population-based fingerprint data collection at the Agincourt site. Fingerprint enrolment rates in children under 1 year old (Africa Centre site) were only 55.1% (95% CI 52.7–57.4). By age 5, child fingerprint enrolment rates were comparable to those of adults. Conclusion: This work demonstrates the feasibility of fingerprint-based individual identification for population-based research in developing countries. Record linkage between demographic surveillance population databases and health care facility data based on biometric identification systems would allow for a more comprehensive evaluation of population health, including the ability to study health service utilisation from a population perspective, rather than the more restrictive health service perspective.