Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Biotechnological Approach to Increase Oxyresveratrol Production in Mulberry In Vitro Plants under Elicitation

Morus alba L. is used for a range of therapeutic purposes in Asian traditional medicine, and its extracts are reported to be effective against lipidemia, diabetes, and obesity, as well as being hepatoprotective and tyrosinase-inhibitory. They are also included in cosmetic products as anti-aging and skin-whitening agents. Stilbenes, the major bioactive compounds found in M. alba, have received renewed attention recently because of their putative activity against COVID-19. In this study M. alba plants were established in vitro, and the effect of elicitation on plant growth and stilbene accumulation, specifically oxyresveratrol and trans-resveratrol, was investigated. Different concentrations of the elicitors including methyl jasmonate and cyclodextrins were applied, and stilbene levels were determined in leaves, roots, and the culture medium. Elicitation of the M. alba plants with 5 mM cyclodextrins, alone or in combination with 10 µM methyl jasmonate, significantly increased the total phenolic content in the culture medium and leaves after 7 days of treatment. The higher total phenolic content in the roots of control plants and those treated only with methyl jasmonate indicated that cyclodextrins promoted metabolite release to the culture medium. Notably, the cyclodextrin-treated plants with the highest levels of oxy- and trans-resveratrol also had the highest total phenolic content and antioxidant capacity. These results indicate that elicited M. alba in vitro plants constitute a promising alternative source of bioactive stilbenes to supply pharmaceutical and cosmeceutical industries.
An Iterative Approximation to the Mixed-Signal Processor

Summary An iterative array processor for two simultaneously arriving signals is developed which gives estimates equal to the maximum likelihood estimates. Using this processor, the array is first beamed on one of the two events to produce a signal estimate which is then time-shifted and subtracted from each of the original traces. The difference traces are then beamed to produce a signal estimate for the second event. The estimate for the second event is now shifted and subtracted from the original traces, and the resulting difference traces are rebeamed on the first event. The process is repeated until differences in successive signal estimates for the desired event fall below a pre-determined threshold. In addition to its use in processing two simultaneously arriving signals, the processor can be of use for detection of secondary phases in the coda of an event.
A Stochastic Geometry Model for Functional Magnetic Resonance Images

In functional magnetic resonance imaging, spatial activation patterns are commonly estimated using a non-parametric smoothing approach. Significant peaks or clusters in the smoothed image are subsequently identified by testing the null hypothesis of lack of activation in every volume element of the scans. A weakness of this approach is the lack of a model for the activation pattern; this makes it difficult to determine the variance of estimates, to test specific neuroscientific hypotheses or to incorporate prior information about the brain area under study in the analysis. These issues may be addressed by formulating explicit spatial models for the activation and using simulation methods for inference. We present one such approach, based on a marked point process prior. Informally, one may think of the points as centres of activation, and the marks as parameters describing the shape and area of the surrounding cluster. We present an MCMC algorithm for making inference in the model and compare the approach with a traditional non-parametric method, using both simulated and visual stimulation data. Finally we discuss extensions of the model and the inferential framework to account for non-stationary responses and spatio-temporal correlation.
Conductivity reconstructions using real data from a new planar electrical impedance tomography device

Abstract In this paper, we present results of reconstructions using real data from a new planar electrical impedance tomography device developed at the Institut für Physik, Johannes Gutenberg Universität, Mainz, Germany. The prototype consists of a planar sensing head of circular geometry, and it was designed mainly for breast cancer detection. There are 12 large outer electrodes arranged on a ring of radius cm where the external currents are injected, and a set of 54 point-like high-impedance inner electrodes where the induced voltages are measured. Two direct (i.e. non-iterative) reconstruction algorithms are considered: one is based on a discrete resistor model, and the other one is an integral equation approach for smooth conductivity distributions.
Intelligent Edge Sensing and Control Co-Design for Industrial Cyber-Physical System

In the new generation of industrial cyber-physical system (ICPS), data-driven control is one of the emerging intelligent control methods to realize efficient production adjustment. In most existing works, the perfect sensing process is regarded as the fundamental assumption. However the experienced sensing strategies deployed in advance are increasingly difficult to adapt to the expanding network scale and diversified production demands in the Industry 4.0 era. To tackle the challenges, we propose the novel intelligent edge sensing and control co-design (IESCC) framework under ICPS. The cooperation of five constructed graph convolutional neural networks respectively related to system model, sensing model, estimator, actor and critic is adopted to approximate the coupled optimality conditions of sensing and control strategies. The structure of learning networks is designed in advance for online strategy solving tailored for the real-time industrial requirements and edge computing power. In particular, the representation capabilities of learning networks under different scales are quantitatively analyzed from the perspectives of observability and controllability. Besides, the feasible region of learning rates is explicitly depicted to ensure convergence. Finally, the proposed algorithm is applied into the laminar cooling process in the semi-physical simulation. Compared with the state-of-the-art approaches, our method can always guarantee observability and controllability. And up to 27.9${\%}$ overall performance of sensing and control is improved, and 38${\%}$ execution time reduction is achieved on average.
High-Resolution Vertical Profiles of X-Band Polarimetric Radar Observables during Snowfall in the Swiss Alps

AbstractAn X-band polarimetric radar was deployed in the eastern Swiss Alps at an altitude of 2133 m. Radar measurements were complemented with several weather stations deployed in an altitude range from 1500 to 3100 m as well as with a fixed GPS ground station that was used to infer integrated water vapor estimates. Around 8000 vertical profiles of polarimetric radar observables above the melting layer collected during two months are analyzed. First, the behavior of the mean profiles of reflectivity at horizontal polarization Zh, differential reflectivity Zdr, copolar cross correlation ρhv, and specific differential phase shift Kdp are interpreted from a microphysical point of view. It is shown that the whole evolution of snowflakes, from pristine crystals at temperatures around −30°C to dendritic crystals around −15°C, to large aggregates around 0°C, is well captured by the polarimetric radar variables. In a second step, the profiles are analyzed as functions of high and low water vapor and snow accumul.
Cox Regression with Incomplete Covariate Measurements

Abstract This article provides a general solution to the problem of missing covariate data under the Cox regression model. The estimating function for the vector of regression parameters is an approximation to the partial likelihood score function with full covariate measurements and reduces to the pseudolikelihood score function of Self and Prentice in the special setting of case-cohort designs. The resulting parameter estimator is consistent and asymptotically normal with a covariance matrix for which a simple and consistent estimator is provided. Extensive simulation studies show that the large-sample approximations are adequate for practical use. The proposed approach tends to be more efficient than the complete-case analysis, especially for large cohorts with infrequent failures. For case-cohort designs, the new methodology offers a variance-covariance estimator that is much easier to calculate than the existing ones and allows multiple subcohort augmentations to improve efficiency. Real data taken f.
Electrostatic Potential Shielding in Representative Cislunar Regions

Touchless potential sensing of neighboring spacecraft using photoemissions and secondary electron emissions has been investigated for geosynchronous (GEO) applications. As more missions are being sent to cislunar space, this technology may be extended there as well. However, the complexity of the cislunar environment presents novel challenges for touchless potential sensing technology. A chief issue is shorter Debye lengths than in GEO regions, which can be as low as 10 m in the cislunar regions. Therefore, a model for the electric and potential fields surrounding a charged spacecraft in short Debye regions around the moon is investigated. The vacuum (Laplace) and Debye–Hückel models are presented and effective Debye lengths are used to expand the models and better represent the environment. The effective Debye length has previously been investigated in low Earth orbit (LEO), quiet GEO, and asteroid environments but has not been found in the cislunar plasma environment, and a larger effective Debye length may allow touchless potential sensing using electron emissions to be possible at farther, safer distances than expected. Once the effective Debye lengths and associated models are established, the relationship between effective Debye lengths and touchless potential sensing capabilities is explored through computations in NASCAP-2k, a spacecraft–plasma interaction software. The developed methods are then used to determine whether passive and active touchless potential sensing is feasible in cislunar regions with nonnegligible electrostatic potential shielding.
The use of the spatial covariance in computing pericardial potentials

This paper investigates the incorporation of the spatial covariance of the pericardial potentials, assumed known a priori as a regularization function, when computing the pericardial potential distribution from observed body surface potentials. The resulting inverse solutions are compared with those using as a regularization function: (1) the norm of the solution, (2) the norm of the surface Laplacian of the solution, as well as with those based on using the truncated singular value decomposition. The study uses a realistic source model to simulate potentials throughout the QRS-interval. This source is placed in an anatomically accurate inhomogeneous volume conductor model of the torso. The use of a single value of the regularization parameter is shown to be feasible: for data incorporating 2% noise, the use of the spatial covariance is demonstrated to result in a relative error over the entire QRS interval as low as 10%. Major errors are demonstrated to result if the effect of the inhomogeneity of the lungs is ignored. The spatial covariance based inverse is shown to be more robust with respect to the perturbations (noise; inhomogeneity) than the other estimators included in this study.
3D Recognition Using Affine Invariants

The size of 3D data stored around the web has become bigger. Therefore the development of recognition applications and retrieval systems of 3D models is important. This paper deals with invariants for 3D models recognition. Thus under general affine transform we propose in a first time determinants of three points to realize invariance under affinity. To solve starting point problem we needs Fourier Series (FS) to extract affine invariant descriptors, called Fourier Series Descriptor (FSD). The difference between first and second approaches: in first approach determinants are computed on cartesian coordinates directly while in the second one determinants are computed from FS coefficients to eliminate dependency on starting point. The FS are also applied on 2D slices to generate affine invariants for 3D volume. FS can be computed based on hole points of volume, but this technique. The principal advantages of proposed approaches are the possibility to handle affine transform and 3D volume. Two types of 3D objects are used in the experimentations: mesh and volume, the Princeton Shape Benchmarek (PSB) is also used to test our descriptor based on FSD.
Cash Dividend, Principal-agent Problem and Local Chairperson: Evidence from China

ABSTRACT This paper studies the relationship between the local chairperson of the board and the cash dividend distribution level by using annual data from A-share listed firms in China. Firstly, the empirical results show a firm’s cash dividend distribution level will increase when the firm has a local chairperson. The analysis of mediating effect concludes that the local chairperson can improve corporate performance by alleviating the first type of principal-agent problems, and this ultimately increases its cash dividend distribution level. Secondly, the cross-sectional tests show this consistency has a greater effect on the cash dividend distribution levels of state-owned enterprises and those that embraced high-quality external audits. Finally, this relationship will be weakened in firms that have the more serious second type of principal-agent problems.
Characterization and Gel Properties of Low-Molecular-Weight Carrageenans Prepared by Photocatalytic Degradation

Low-molecular-weight carrageenan has attracted great interest because it shows advantages in solubility, absorption efficiency, and bioavailability compared to original carrageenan. However more environment-friendly and efficient methods to prepare low-molecular-weight carrageenan are still in great need. In the present study, a photocatalytic degradation method with only TiO2 has been developed and it could decrease the average molecular weight of κ-carrageenan to 4 kDa within 6 h. The comparison of the chemical compositions of the degradation products with those of carrageenan by FT-IR, NMR, etc., indicates no obvious removement of sulfate group, which is essential for bioactivities. Then 20 carrageenan oligosaccharides in the degradation products were identified by HPLC-MSn, and 75% of them possessed AnGal or its decarbonylated derivative at their reducing end, indicating that photocatalysis is preferential to break the glycosidic bond of AnGal. Moreover, the analysis results rheology and Cryo-SEM demonstrated that the gel property decreased gradually. Therefore, the present study demonstrated that the photocatalytic method with TiO2 as the only catalyst has the potential to prepare low-molecular-weight carrageenan with high sulfation degree and low viscosity, and it also proposed the degradation rules after characterizing the degradation products. Thus, the present study provides an effective green method for the degradation of carrageenan.
Marshall–Olkin Morgenstern–Weibull distribution: generalisations and applications

Abstract In this paper a new bivariate distribution called Marshall–Olkin–Morgenstern-bivariate-Weibull distribution is introduced and studied. Two different models of minification processes with the above bivariate distribution as stationary marginal distribution are developed. It is shown that the process is strictly stationary. The properties of the process are derived. The expressions for reliability under stress-strength analysis when the components are in series and parallel are obtained. The process is extended to pth order as well as k-variate cases.
Patients’ Experiences, Expectations, Motivations, and Perspectives around Urinary Tract Infection Care in General Practice: A Qualitative Interview Study

While there are many alternatives to antibiotics for the symptomatic treatment of urinary tract infections (UTIs), their application in practice is limited. Among other things, general practitioners (GPs) often feel pressure from patients to prescribe antibiotics. To gain a better understanding of why this happens and where this pressure originates from, we investigated experiences, expectations, motivations, and perspectives of patients with UTIs in general practice. During this qualitative study we performed 14 semi-structured online interviews among female UTI patients in general practice. Interviews were based on a topic list derived from sensitising concepts. All the interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analysed using a constant comparative technique. Three main categories emerged from the data; (1) experienced versus unexperienced patients with UTI, (2) patient’s lack of knowledge, and (3) patients feeling understood. Inexperienced patients consult a general practitioner for both diagnosis and symptom relief, while experienced patients seem to consult specifically to obtain antibiotics. In addition, patients have a lack of knowledge with regard to the diagnosis, treatment, self-care, and cause of UTIs. Finally, patients’ satisfaction is increased by involving them more in the process of decision making, so they feel understood and taken seriously. Patients’ expectations in UTI management in general practice often arise during their first experience(s) and play a major role in subsequent episodes. In conclusion, preventing misconceptions is especially important in the inexperienced patient group, as this may prevent future overtreatment of UTIs. In addition, involving patients in the decision making process will lead to greater understanding of the GP’s treatment choices.
Best Practices for Comprehensive Annotation of Neuropeptides of Gryllus bimaculatus

Simple Summary We identified the neuropeptides and their genomic loci on the draft genome sequences of Gryllus bimaculatus. These annotations were additionally assigned to the draft genome annotation. This addition to the draft genome annotation improved the convenience of research by consolidating the knowledge of neuropeptides, such as the sequence information and functional annotation, which could not be obtained without searching each article, into the draft genome annotation. This contributed to the infrastructure for facilitating genome-wide research using high-throughput sequencing technology. Abstract Genome annotation is critically important data that can support research. Draft genome annotations cover representative genes; however, they often do not include genes that are expressed only in limited tissues and stages, or genes with low expression levels. Neuropeptides are responsible for regulation of various physiological and biological processes. A recent study disclosed the genome draft of the two-spotted cricket Gryllus bimaculatus, which was utilized to understand the intriguing physiology and biology of crickets. Thus far, only two of the nine reported neuropeptides in G. bimaculatus were annotated in the draft genome. Even though de novo assembly using transcriptomic analyses can comprehensively identify neuropeptides, this method does not follow those annotations on the genome locus. In this study, we performed the annotations based on the reference mapping, de novo transcriptome assembly, and manual curation. Consequently, we identified 41 neuropeptides out of 43 neuropeptides, which were reported in the insects. Further, 32 of the identified neuropeptides on the genomic loci in G. bimaculatus were annotated. The present annotation methods can be applicable for the neuropeptide annotation of other insects. Furthermore, the methods will help to generate useful infrastructures for studies relevant to neuropeptides.
Analysis of grating-assisted backward coupling employing the unified coupled-mode formalism

Grating-assisted backward coupling between two parallel waveguides is analyzed with a set of four coupled equations. The equations were recently derived by a unified approach that is appropriate for other coupling problems as well. Examples include three different operation regions and provide for the field variation along the guides as well as for the reflectivity and transmission coefficients. It is shown that the reduction of the four-wave coupling problem to a set of two coupled equations is possible only for some specific cases and at the cost of reduced accuracy. The model may be especially useful for the design of optical components for various applications such as optical switching and multiplexing.
A Glimpse at the Anti-Phage Defenses Landscape in the Foodborne Pathogen Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Typhimurium

Bacteriophages, which specifically infect and kill bacteria, are currently used as additives to control pathogens such as Salmonella in human food (PhageGuard S®) or animal feed (SalmoFREE®, Bafasal®). Indeed, salmonellosis is among the most important zoonotic foodborne illnesses. The presence of anti-phage defenses protecting bacteria against phage infection could impair phage applications aiming at reducing the burden of foodborne pathogens such as Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) to the food industry. In this study, the landscape of S. Typhimurium anti-phage defenses was bioinformatically investigated in publicly available genomes using the webserver PADLOC. The primary anti-phage systems identified in S. Typhimurium use nucleic acid degradation and abortive infection mechanisms. Reference systems were identified on an integrative and conjugative element, a transposon, a putative integrative and mobilizable element, and prophages. Additionally, the mobile genetic elements (MGEs) containing a subset of anti-phage systems were found in the Salmonella enterica species. Lastly, the MGEs alone were also identified in the Enterobacteriaceae family. The presented diversity assessment of the anti-phage defenses and investigation of their dissemination through MGEs in S. Typhimurium constitute a first step towards the design of preventive measures against the spread of phage resistance that may hinder phage applications.
Robust input to state stabilization for minimum-phase nonlinear systems

The paper considers minimum-phase nonlinear systems that are subject to bounded parametric uncertainties. The parametric uncertainties are not required to enter linearly in the state equations. The problem addressed concerns the design of a nonlinear state feedback controller such that the closed-loop system is input to state stable (ISS) for any input belonging to Linfinity [0,infinity) . Based on the normal form of a nonlinear minimum-phase system, a robust ISS controller is designed by applying the so-called 'backstepping'technique. Furthermore, the L2-gain from the input to the output of the closed-loop system is guaranteed to be less than or equal to a prespecified level for all admissible uncertainties.
Site‐selective chemical‐vapor‐deposition of submicron‐wide conducting polypyrrole films: Morphological investigations with the scanning electron and the atomic force microscope

We report morphological investigations of polypyrrole thin films deposited by means of a self‐aligning vapor phase technique onto glass, silicon and silicon dioxide substrates, coated with an oxidizing precursor. The variation of the deposition parameters allows the control of the film microstructure which can be fibrillar and strongly anisotropic or globular and tendentially isotropic. Patterning of the precursor by electron‐beam lithography allows the production of submicron wide lines as shown by both the scanning electron microscope and the atomic force microscope.