Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Encoding Types in ML-like Languages (Preliminary Version)

A Hindley-Milner type system such as ML's seems to prohibit typeindexed values, i.e., functions that map a family of types to a family of values. Such functions generally perform case analysis on the input types and return values of possibly different types. The goal of our work is to demonstrate how to program with type-indexed values within a Hindley-Milner type system. Our first approach is to interpret an input type as its corresponding value, recursively. This solution is type-safe, in the sense that the ML type system statically prevents any mismatch between the input type and function arguments that depend on this type. Such specific type interpretations, however, prevent us from combining different type-indexed values that share the same type. To meet this objection, we focus on finding a value-independent type encoding that can be shared by different functions. We propose and compare two solutions. One requires first-class and higher-order polymorphism, and, thus, is not implementable in the core language of ML, but it can be programmed using higher-order functors in Standard ML of New Jersey. Its usage, however, is clumsy. The other approach uses embedding/projection functions. It appears to be more practical. We demonstrate the usefulness of type-indexed values through examples including type-directed partial evaluation, C printf-like formatting, and subtype coercions. Finally, we discuss the tradeoffs between our approach and some other solutions based on more expressive typing disciplines.
Exploitation of passive RFID technology for wireless read-out of temperature sensors

In this paper we introduce for the first time the concept of exploiting the rectifier part of passive RFID systems not only for sensor powering but also for remotely performing the sensor reading. This solution is proposed for harsh industrial environments where remote machineries parts need be simultaneously powered and monitored wirelessly. We demonstrate the co-existence of high wireless power transfer and NFC communication for temperature sensor read-out, with no need for extra electronics at the RFID tag side to control the sensor readout. In particular, we show that the behavior of the RF-to-DC rectifier of a passive RFID, loaded by the sensor, can be exploited for powering the sensor operations as well as for reading its activities.
Activation of Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid 4 Impairs the Dendritic Arborization of Newborn Neurons in the Hippocampal Dentate Gyrus through the AMPK and Akt Signaling Pathways

Neurite growth is an important process for the adult hippocampal neurogenesis which is regulated by a specific range of the intracellular free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i). Transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 (TRPV4) is a calcium-permeable channel and activation of it causes an increase in [Ca2+]i. We recently reported that TRPV4 activation promotes the proliferation of stem cells in the adult hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG). The present study aimed to examine the effect of TRPV4 activation on the dendrite morphology of newborn neurons in the adult hippocampal DG. Here, we report that intracerebroventricular injection of the TRPV4 agonist GSK1016790A for 5 days (GSK1016790A-injected mice) reduced the number of doublecortin immunopositive (DCX+) cells and DCX+ fibers in the hippocampal DG, showing the impaired dendritic arborization of newborn neurons. The phosphorylated AMP-activated protein kinase (p-AMPK) protein level increased from 30 min to 2 h, and then decreased from 1 to 5 days after GSK1016790A injection. The phosphorylated protein kinase B (p-Akt) protein level decreased from 30 min to 5 days after GSK1016790A injection; this decrease was markedly attenuated by the AMPK antagonist compound C (CC), but not by the AMPK agonist AICAR. Moreover, the phosphorylated mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and p70 ribosomal S6 kinase (p70S6k) protein levels were decreased by GSK1016790A; these changes were sensitive to 740 Y-P and CC. The phosphorylation of glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β) at Y216 was increased by GSK1016790A, and this change was accompanied by increased phosphorylation of microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP2) and collapsin response mediator protein-2 (CRMP-2). These changes were markedly blocked by 740 Y-P and CC. Finally, GSK1016790A-induced decrease of DCX+ cells and DCX+ fibers was markedly attenuated by 740 Y-P and CC, but was unaffected by AICAR. We conclude that TRPV4 activation impairs the dendritic arborization of newborn neurons through increasing AMPK and inhibiting Akt to inhibit the mTOR-p70S6k pathway, activate GSK3β and thereby result in the inhibition of MAP2 and CRMP-2 function.
Automatic measurement system for the DC and low-f noise characterization of FETs at wafer level

In this work we propose a measurement setup topology suitable for the automatic DC and low frequency noise (LFN) characterization of field effect transistors at wafer level. The system is composed of source and measure units (SMUs), by a custom-built low noise amplifier (LNA), and by a PC based spectrum analyzer. No bias filters and switch matrices are used, allowing fast switching between DC and LFN measurements together with low leakage. The programmable LNA can reach background noise levels in the order of fA/Hz1/2, while DC performances are limited by the SMUs. The main feature of the proposed system is the high degree of operational flexibility due to the complete PC-based software control. LFN characterization, down to bias DC currents of 1pA, in organic thin film transistors is reported to demonstrate system operation and performances.
The recognition heuristic: A decade of research

The recognition heuristic exploits the basic psychological capacity for recognition in order to make inferences about unknown quantities in the world. In this article, we review and clarify issues that emerged from our initial work (Goldstein & Gigerenzer, 1999, 2002), including the distinction between a recognition and an evaluation process. There is now considerable evidence that (i) the recognition heuristic predicts the inferences of a substantial proportion of individuals consistently, even in the presence of one or more contradicting cues, (ii) people are adaptive decision makers in that accordance increases with larger recognition validity and decreases in situations when the validity is low or wholly indeterminable, and (iii) in the presence of contradicting cues, some individuals appear to select different strategies. Little is known about these individual differences, or how to precisely model the alternative strategies. Although some researchers have attributed judgments inconsistent with the use of the recognition heuristic to compensatory processing, little research on such compensatory models has been reported. We discuss extensions of the recognition model, open questions, unanticipated results, and the surprising predictive power of recognition in forecasting.
Effect of Polyethylene Glycol on Bis(2‐hydroxyethyl) terephthalate‐Based Polyurethane/Alginate pH‐Sensitive Blend for Oral Protein Delivery

Polyurethanes (PUs) are synthesized by reacting two polyols, namely bis(2-hydroxyethyl) terephthalate (BHET) and polyethylene glycol (PEG), taken in four different ratios and hexamethylene diisocyanate, where the polyol content is slightly higher than the stoichiometrically required amount. BHET is obtained by the glycolysis of polyethylene terephthalate waste. The synthesized PUs are blended with sodium alginate in the ratio of 7:3 and then cross-linked by calcium chloride to get a pH-sensitive protein (bovine serum albumin, BSA) carrier. X-ray diffraction patterns of different PU compositions indicate the presence of amorphous phase. The hydroxyl value of OH-terminated PUs is found to be increasing with increasing amount of PEG in the composition. PEGylated PU shows higher water uptake and protection against hemolysis with a rising amount of PEG in the PU. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy of the blend shows characteristic peaks for both PU and alginate distinctly, indicating good dispersion of both the polymers. pH responsive swelling behavior in different pH media corresponding to the gastrointestinal tract (pH 1.2 and 7.4) is investigated for all the prepared blends. The minimum degree of swelling is observed for PU with the maximum amount PEG at pH 1.2, whereas the degree of swelling of the same PU significantly increased at pH 7.4. BSA encapsulation efficiency of the blends increases with an increase in PEG content in the PU and varies within the range of 88–99%. The release profile of BSA at pH 7.4 is found to be similar as observed in the swelling study.
Collapse of triangular channels in a soft elastomer

We extend classical solutions in contact mechanics to examine the collapse of channels in a soft elastomer. These channels have triangular cross-section and collapse when pressure is applied to the surrounding elastomer. Treating the walls of the channel as indenters that penetrate the channel base, we derive an algebraic mapping between pressure and cross-sectional area. These theoretical predictions are in strong agreement with results that we obtain through finite element analysis and experimental measurements. This is accomplished without data fitting and suggests that the theoretical approach may be generalized to a broad range of cross-sectional geometries in soft microfluidics.
Barcoding Nemo: DNA-Based Identifications for the Ornamental Fish Trade

Background Trade in ornamental fishes represents, by far, the largest route for the importation of exotic vertebrates. There is growing pressure to regulate this trade with the goal of ensuring that species are sustainably harvested and that their point of origin is accurately reported. One important element of such regulation involves easy access to specimen identifications, a task that is currently difficult for all but specialists because of the large number of species involved. The present study represents an important first step in making identifications more accessible by assembling a DNA barcode reference sequence library for nearly half of the ornamental fish species imported into North America. Methodology/Principal Findings Analysis of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene from 391 species from 8 coral reef locations revealed that 98% of these species exhibit distinct barcode clusters, allowing their unambiguous identification. Most species showed little intra-specific variation (adjusted mean = 0.21%), but nine species included two or three lineages showing much more divergence (2.19–6.52%) and likely represent overlooked species complexes. By contrast, three genera contained a species pair or triad that lacked barcode divergence, cases that may reflect hybridization, young taxa or taxonomic over-splitting. Conclusions/Significance Although incomplete, this barcode library already provides a new species identification tool for the ornamental fish industry, opening a realm of applications linked to collection practices, regulatory control and conservation.
Has Actuarial Aging “Slowed” Over the Past 250 Years? A Comparison of Small-Scale Subsistence Populations and European Cohorts

G.C. Williams's 1957 hypothesis famously argues that higher age-independent, or ‘extrinsic,’ mortality should select for faster rates of senescence. Long-lived species should therefore show relatively few deaths from extrinsic causes such as predation and starvation. Theoretical explorations and empirical tests of Williams's hypothesis have flourished in the past decade but it has not yet been tested empirically among humans. We test Williams's hypothesis using mortality data from subsistence populations and from historical cohorts from Sweden and England/Wales, and examine whether rates of actuarial aging declined over the past two centuries. We employ three aging measures: mortality rate doubling time (MRDT), Ricklefs's &ohgr;, and the slope of mortality hazard from ages 60–70, m′50–70, and model mortality using both Weibull and Gompertz-Makeham hazard models. We find that (1) actuarial aging in subsistence societies is similar to that of early Europe, (2) actuarial senescence has slowed in later European cohorts, (3) reductions in extrinsic mortality associate with slower actuarial aging in longitudinal samples, and (4) men senesce more rapidly than women, especially in later cohorts. To interpret these results, we attempt to bridge population-based evolutionary analysis with individual-level proximate mechanisms.
A Real-Time Closed-Loop Setup for Hybrid Neural Networks

Hybrid living-artificial neural networks are an efficient and adaptable experimental support to explore the dynamics and the adaptation process of biological neural systems. We present in this paper an innovative platform performing a real-time closed-loop between a cultured neural network and an artificial processing unit like a robotic interface. The system gathers bioware, hardware, and software components and ensures the closed-loop data processing in less than 50 mus. We detail here the system components and compare its performances to a recent commercial platform.
Triploid plover female provides support for a role of the W chromosome in avian sex determination

Two models, Z Dosage and Dominant W, have been proposed to explain sex determination in birds, in which males are characterized by the presence of two Z chromosomes, and females are hemizygous with a Z and a W chromosome. According to the Z Dosage model, high dosage of a Z-linked gene triggers male development, whereas the Dominant W model postulates that a still unknown W-linked gene triggers female development. Using 33 polymorphic microsatellite markers, we describe a female triploid Kentish plover Charadrius alexandrinus identified by characteristic triallelic genotypes at 14 autosomal markers that produced viable diploid offspring. Chromatogram analysis showed that the sex chromosome composition of this female was ZZW. Together with two previously described ZZW female birds, our results suggest a prominent role for a female determining gene on the W chromosome. These results imply that avian sex determination is more dynamic and complex than currently envisioned.
“Jello® Shots” and Cocktails as Ethanol Vehicles: Parametric Studies with High- and Low-Saccharin-Consuming Rats

Naïve humans and rats voluntarily consume little ethanol at concentrations above ~6% due to its aversive flavor. Developing procedures that boost intake of ethanol or ethanol-paired flavors facilitates research on neural mechanisms of ethanol-associated behaviors and helps identify variables that modulate ethanol intake outside of the lab. The present study explored the impact on consumption of ethanol and ethanol-paired flavors of nutritionally significant parametric variations: ethanol vehicle (gelatin or solution, with or without polycose); ethanol concentration (4% or 10%); and feeding status (chow deprived or ad lib.) during flavor conditioning and flavor preference testing. Individual differences were modeled by testing rats of lines selectively bred for high (HiS) or low (LoS) saccharin intake. A previously reported preference for ethanol-paired flavors was replicated when ethanol had been drunk during conditioning. However, indifference or aversion to ethanol-paired flavors generally obtained when ethanol had been eaten in gelatin during conditioning, regardless of ethanol concentration, feeding status, or caloric value of the vehicle. Modest sex and line variations occurred. Engaging different behavioral systems when eating gelatin, rather than drinking solution, may account for these findings. Implications for parameter selection in future neurobiological research and for understanding conditions that influence ethanol intake outside of the lab are discussed.
Molecular Survey of Toxoplasma gondii in Sheep, Cattle and Meat Products in Chaharmahal va Bakhtiari Province, Southwest of Iran

Background Toxoplasmosis is a worldwide spread disease. The present study examined the prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection among animals of edible meat (cattle and sheep) in Chaharmahal va Bakhtiari Province (Southwest of Iran) in 2012. Furthermore, we attempted for the first time to identify this parasite from the meat products in the province. Methods The tongue, brain, femur muscle and liver of 50 sheep and 70 cattle as well as 50 samples of meat products were selected and collected to perform molecular survey using Nested-PCR method. Results Of the studied sheep, 38% were infected. The infection rate in the age groups under 1 year, 1-2 years, and more than 2 years was 25%, 35.29% and 52.94%, respectively. The infection rate in femur muscle, brain, liver and tongue was 28%, 32%, 30% and 16%, respectively. Of the studied cattle, 8.57% were infected. The infection rate in the age groups 1-2 years, 2-4 years, and more than 4 years was 3.7%, 9.09% and 14.28%, respectively. Sheep was infected 6 times more than cattle (OR = 6.53 CI = 2.374-18.005). The infection rate among samples of meat products was 12% (6 samples out of 50 samples). Conclusion Due to the high rate of this parasitic infection among the slaughtered animals as well as meat products in this region, the use of infected material can be one of the main risk factors of transmission of the parasite to humans.
Speed and position sensorless control of Interior Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor using Square-root Cubature Kalman filter with joint parameter estimation

In this paper, a Square root Cubature Kalman filter (SCKF) is applied for speed and position estimation in the control of Interior Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor (IPMSM). Cubature Kalman filter avoids the linearization errors prevailing in the Extended Kalman filter algorithm, and is much easier to tune than the Unscented Kalman filter. The square root version of the Cubature Kalman filter gives an increased numerical stability in the digital implementation of the observer. With an augmented state space model of the system, the proposed observer facilitates joint parameter estimation, wherein load torque and stator resistance are also estimated. Estimated load torque is used in the speed control loop and the estimated resistance is used in tuning the PI controllers for current adaptively. The proposed observer's robustness to parameter variations is demonstrated through the simulations.
The Influence of Fine Sand from Construction-Demolition Wastes (CDW) in the Mortar Properties

A fine fraction of recycled aggregates from the processing of construction and demolition waste (CDW), have a very effective potential use in mortar as a partial fine aggregate replacement for natural sand, an also contribute to the development of sustainable materials, specifically to produce coating mortar. This paper presents the results of a study using recycled aggregate in mortar as a replacement for natural sand, analyzing the effects of pre-wetting and the performance in mortar composition with a fine sand (1.2/ 0.15 mm). In this study was investigated the behavior of recycled aggregate dry and wet previously until to saturated surface dry condition (reaching this value by capillary absorption test of the granulometric prepared curve). Five different compositions have been defined, varying the quantity of fine and determined the physical properties of recycled aggregate. Then the mortars were prepared and evaluated in the fresh state: specific gravity, water retention and workability, and in the hardened state: hygrothermal and mechanical properties. The results showed that the wetting of the aggregate affects the properties of the mortar, as well the addition of fines. There is an advantage when is realized wetting of the recycled aggregate CDW. The addition of fine in mortars must be controlled, and the fine aggregates improved the almost properties and in excess can reduce the hygrothermals properties.
Vesiculo-vacuolar organelles and the regulation of venule permeability to macromolecules by vascular permeability factor, histamine, and serotonin

In contrast to normal microvessels, those that supply tumors are strikingly hyperpermeable to circulating macromolecules such as plasma proteins. This leakiness is largely attributable to a tumor-secreted cytokine, vascular permeability factor (VPF). Tracer studies have shown that macromolecules cross tumor vascular endothelium by way of a recently described cytoplasmic organelle, the vesiculo-vacuolar organelle or VVO (VVOs are grapelike clusters of interconnected, uncoated vesicles and vacuoles). However, equivalent VVOs are also present in the cytoplasm of normal venules that do not leak substantial amounts of plasma protein. To explain these findings, we hypothesized that VPF increased the permeability of tumor blood vessels by increasing VVO function and that the VVOs of normal venules were relatively impermeable in the absence of VPF stimulation. To test this hypothesis, VPF was injected intradermally in normal animals after intravenous injection of a soluble macromolecular tracer, ferritin, whose extravasation could be followed by electron microscopy. VPF caused normal venules to leak ferritin, and, as predicted by our hypothesis, ferritin extravasated by way of VVOs, just as in hyperpermeable tumor microvessels. Ultrathin (14-nm) serial electron microscopic sections and computer-aided three-dimensional reconstructions better defined VVO structure. VVOs occupied 16-18% of endothelial cytoplasm in normal venules. Individual VVOs were clusters of numerous (median, 124) interconnected vesicles and vacuoles that formed complex pathways across venular endothelium with multiple openings to both luminal and abluminal surfaces. Like VPF, histamine and serotonin also stimulated ferritin extravasation across venules by way of VVOs. Together, these data establish VVOs as the major pathway by which soluble plasma proteins exit venules in response to several mediators that increase venular hyperpermeability. These same mediators also increased the extravasation of colloidal carbon, but this large particulate nonphysiological tracer exited venules primarily through endothelial gaps.
A Gaussian Mixture Model based local search for Differential Evolution Algorithm

Evolutionary algorithms have been extensively explored and applied in optimization problems. They allow work with multiple solutions simultaneously, with multimodal functions and dynamic problems, and do not require additional information. Several algorithms have been developed over the years for this task. Yet special attention is needed in the area of increasing the convergence speed of evolutionary algorithms. This study is aimed at developing a framework capable of addressing this new line of research in the field of evolutionary computation. We used the Gaussian Mixture Model to do a local search, and generated a new population through the use of Variational Inference. To implement the proposed framework (GMM-Local Search), NSDE both static and dynamic with multiple objectives were used as basic algorithms. Experiments were performed with different test functions for static and dynamic multi-objective optimization problems. The comparison of the algorithms using the proposed framework with the basic algorithms are presented here, thus evidencing that an improvement in the convergence can be achieved.