Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Polyethyleneimine-modified calcium carbonate nanoparticles for p53 gene delivery

In this study, calcium carbonate (CaCO3) nanoparticles with spherical structure were regulated by arginine and successfully synthesized via a facile co-precipitation method. The average particle size of as-prepared CaCO3 was about 900 nm. The properties of nanostructured CaCO3 particles were characterized by scanning electron microscope, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and size distribution. After modified with polyethyleneimine (PEI), the ability of PEI-CaCO3 nanoparticles to carry GFP-marked p53 gene (pEGFP-C1-p53) into cancer cells to express P53 protein were studied. Meanwhile, the cytotoxicity, transfection efficiency, cells growth inhibition and the ability to induce apoptosis by expressed P53 protein were conducted to evaluate the performances of PEI-CaCO3 nanoparticles. The results show that prepared PEI-CaCO3 nanoparticles had good biocompatibility and low cytotoxicity in a certain concentration range. PEI-CaCO3 effectively transfected pEGFP-C1 gene into epithelial-like cancer cells. And with the expression of GFP-P53 fusion protein, pEGFP-C1-p53-gene-loaded PEI-CaCO3 particles significantly reduced the proliferation of cancer cells. These findings indicate that our PEI-modified CaCO3 nanoparticles are potential to be successfully used as carriers for gene therapy.
Optical fronthaul technologies for next-generation mobile communications

We report on technical challenges associated with the use of directly modulated lasers in the mobile fronthaul networks based on radio-over-fiber (RoF) technology. In particular, the effects of dispersion-induced RF power fading and multi-path interference are investigated through theoretical and experimental analyses for the RoF-based transmission system implemented by using directly modulated lasers.
INFOMOD: a knowledge-based moderator for electronic mail help lists

Focused informational electronic mail lists, where end users as well as help staff members read and respond to messages, enable the users of a product or service to get timely answers to questions, while requiring fewer paid staff-hours than customer help desks. However, such lists can be plagued by (a) knowledge loss through user and staff turnover and absences, (b) frequently-asked or RTFM questions, and (c) misdirected administrative messages. This paper describes an approach to building a knowledge-based automated list moderator that partially solves these problems, filtering list traffic so that users with frequently asked or administrative questions can get answers without bothering the rest of the list members. INFO MOD employs an expandable base of question-answering knowledge about the product or service, providing tools to help maintain the knowledge.
The Value of Sustainable Knowledge Transfer Methods for SMEs, Utilizing Socio-Technical Networks and Complex Systems

This paper will examine the development of sustainable SME methods for tracking tacit (informal) knowledge transfer as a series of networks of larger complex system. Understanding sustainable systems begins with valuing tacit knowledge networks and their ability to produce connections on multiple levels. The behaviour of the social or socio-technical aspects of a system in relation to the explicit formal/physical structures need to be understood and actively considered when utilizing methodologies for interacting within complex systems structures.This paper utilizes theory from several previous studies to underpin the key case study discussed. This approach involved examining the behavioural phenomena of an SME knowledge network. The knowledge network elements were highlighted to identify their value within an SME structure. To understand the value of these emergent elements from between tacit and explicit knowledge networks, is to actively, simultaneously and continuous support sustainable development for SME organizations. The simultaneous links within and between groups of organizations is crucial for understanding sustainable networking structures of complex systems.
Integrating Declarative Knowledge: Issues, Algorithms and Future Work

As information technology progresses, computers of these days can access more information than in the past, and thereby the need to integrate many pieces of knowledge increases. This paper discusses the integration of declarative knowledge. More specifically, it discusses the construction of a coherent knowledge representation out of small pieces of knowledge using a background KB. The paper will cover several challenging issues arising in knowledge integration, our approach and future work. One of the goals of AI is to build a comprehensive knowledge base incrementally by acquiring fragments of knowledge from multiple sources, probably by reading texts(fig. 1). The key facility in a system - apart from natura l language processing, which is beyond the scope of this paper - is knowledge integration: the ability to combine fragments of knowledge into a coherent whole. Although some recent systems (Harrington & Clark 2007) (Yatskevich, Welty, & Murdock 2006) (Noy 2004) provided aspects of this facility, their main focus was on identifying co-references among the snippets of knowledge. In contrast, in this paper, KI entail s considerably more than coreference identification. A KI facility, such as the one we are developing, would have application for a variety of AI tasks, such as NLP, Knowledge Actuisition, and computational models of human learning.
EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES ON THE DETERMINATION OF ACOUSTIC BULK MATERIAL PROPERTIES AND TRANSFER IMPEDANCE

OF THESIS EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES ON THE DETERMINATION OF ACOUSTIC BULK MATERIAL PROPERTIES AND TRANSFER IMPEDANCE Soft trim absorbing parts (i.e., headliners, backwalls, side panels, etc.) are normally comprised of different layers including films, adhesives, foams and fibers. Several approaches to determine the complex wavenumber and characteristic impedance for porous sound absorbing materials are surveyed and the advantages and disadvantages of each approach are discussed. It is concluded that the recently documented three-point method produces the smoothest results. It is also shown that measurement of the flow resistance and the use of empirical equations is sufficient for many common materials. Following this, the transfer impedance of covers, adhesives, and densified layers are measured using an impedance difference approach. The transfer matrix method was then used to predict the sound absorption of a multi-layered materal which included a perforated cover, fiber layers, and an adhesive. The predicted results agree well with measurement.
Site-specific replacement of the thymine methyl group by fluorine in thrombin binding aptamer significantly improves structural stability and anticoagulant activity

Here we report investigations, based on circular dichroism, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, molecular modelling, differential scanning calorimetry and prothrombin time assay, on analogues of the thrombin binding aptamer (TBA) in which individual thymidines were replaced by 5-fluoro-2′-deoxyuridine residues. The whole of the data clearly indicate that all derivatives are able to fold in a G-quadruplex structure very similar to the ‘chair-like’ conformation typical of the TBA. However, only ODNs TBA-F4 and TBA-F13 have shown a remarkable improvement both in the melting temperature (ΔTm ≈ +10) and in the anticoagulant activity in comparison with the original TBA. These findings are unusual, particularly considering previously reported studies in which modifications of T4 and T13 residues in TBA sequence have clearly proven to be always detrimental for the structural stability and biological activity of the aptamer. Our results strongly suggest the possibility to enhance TBA properties through tiny straightforward modifications.
A novel design of a 3-PRC translational compliant parallel micromanipulator for nanomanipulation

A novel 3-DOF prismatic-revolute-cylindrical (PRC) translational compliant parallel micromanipulator (CPM) has been designed for 3-D nanomanipulation in this paper. The system is configured by a proper selection of hardware and analyzed via the established pseudo-rigid-body (PRB) model. The CPM workspace is determined taking into account the physical constraints imposed by piezoelectric actuators and flexure hinges.
Designing engagement-aware agents for multiparty conversations

Recognizing users' engagement state and intentions is a pressing task for computational agents to facilitate fluid conversations in situated interactions. We investigate how to quantitatively evaluate high-level user engagement and intentions based on low-level visual cues, and how to design engagement-aware behaviors for the conversational agents to behave in a sociable manner. Drawing on machine learning techniques, we propose two computational models to quantify users' attention saliency and engagement intentions. Their performances are validated by a close match between the predicted values and the ground truth annotation data. Next, we design a novel engagement-aware behavior model for the agent to adjust its direction of attention and manage the conversational floor based on the estimated users' engagement. In a user study, we evaluated the agent's behaviors in a multiparty dialog scenario. The results show that the agent's engagement-aware behaviors significantly improved the effectiveness of communication and positively affected users' experience.
Arbitrary Precoding with Single-Fed Parasitic Arrays: Closed-Form Expressions and Design Guidelines

Single-fed compact arrays known as electronically steerable parasitic antenna radiators (ESPARs) have recently emerged as a new paradigm for spatial multiplexing that requires only a single radio-frequency (RF) chain and a few easy-to-implement analog tunable loads. Besides the remarkable hardware savings, the ESPAR capabilities are still limited as it is not possible to find appropriate loadings that multiplex any signaling format over the air. Indeed, commonly the loading values are obtained through time-consuming iterative algorithms, e.g. exhaustive search, and can only emulate MIMO transmission of signals emerging from low-order constellations. This paper constitutes a clear step forward in solving this problem, as it defines the necessary guidelines for the design of single-fed ESPAR systems that are able to support an arbitrary precoding scheme. To alleviate the need for iterative processes, the proposed design methodology uses complex tunable loads and introduces new closed-form expressions for the exact computation of the loads and the feeding voltage.
Temporal Trends in Incidence, Prevalence, and Mortality of Atrial Fibrillation in Primary Care

Background Incidence and prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF) are expected to increase dramatically; however, we currently lack comprehensive data on temporal trends in unselected clinical populations. Methods and Results Analysis of the UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) from 1998 to 2010 of patients with incident AF, excluding major valvular disease, linked to hospital admission data and national statistics. Fifty‐seven thousand eight hundred eighteen adults were identified with mean age 74.2 (SD, 11.7) years and 48.3% women. Overall age‐adjusted incidence of AF per 1000 person years was 1.11 (95% CI, 1.09–1.13) in 1998–2001, 1.33 (1.31–1.34) in 2002–2006, and 1.33 (1.31–1.35) in 2007–2010. Ongoing increases in incidence were noted for patients aged ≥75 years, with similar temporal patterns in women and men. Associated comorbidities varied over time, with a constant prevalence of previous stroke, increases in hypertension and diabetes mellitus, and decreases in ischemic heart disease. Among patients aged 55 to 74 years, there was a significant reduction in mortality over time (P<0.001), but mortality rates in patients aged ≥75 years remained static at 14% to 15% per year (P=0.84). Projections of AF prevalence demonstrated a constant yearly rise, increasing from 700 000 patients in 2010 to between 1.3 and 1.8 million patients with AF in the United Kingdom by 2060. Conclusions In a large general practice population, incident AF increased and then plateaued overall, with a continued increase in patients aged ≥75 years. The large projected increase in AF prevalence associated with temporal changes in AF‐related comorbidities suggests the need for comprehensive implementation of AF prevention and management strategies.
Descriptive Profile of Hip Rotation Range of Motion in Elite Tennis Players and Professional Baseball Pitchers

Background Repetitive loading to the hip joint in athletes has been reported as a factor in the development of degenerative joint disease and intra-articular injury. Little information is available on the bilateral symmetry of hip rotational measures in unilaterally dominant upper extremity athletes. Hypothesis Side-to-side differences in hip joint range of motion may be present because of asymmetrical loading in the lower extremities of elite tennis players and professional baseball pitchers. Study Design Cohort (cross-sectional) study (prevalence); Level of evidence, 1. Methods Descriptive measures of hip internal and external rotation active range of motion were taken in the prone position of 64 male and 83 female elite tennis players and 101 male professional baseball pitchers using digital photos and computerized angle calculation software. Bilateral differences in active range of motion between the dominant and nondominant hip were compared using paired t tests and Bonferroni correction for hip internal, external, and total rotation range of motion. A Pearson correlation test was used to test the relationship between years of competition and hip rotation active range of motion. Results No significant bilateral difference (P > .005) was measured for mean hip internal or external rotation for the elite tennis players or the professional baseball pitchers. An analysis of the number of subjects in each group with a bilateral difference in hip rotation greater than 10° identified 17% of the professional baseball pitchers with internal rotation differences and 42% with external rotation differences. Differences in the elite male tennis players occurred in only 15% of the players for internal rotation and 9% in external rotation. Female subjects had differences in 8% and 12% of the players for internal and external rotation, respectively. Statistical differences were found between the mean total arc of hip range of internal and external rotation in the elite tennis players with the dominant side being greater by a clinically insignificant mean value of 2.5°. Significantly less (P < .005) dominant hip internal rotation and less dominant and nondominant hip total rotation range of motion were found in the professional baseball pitchers compared with the elite male tennis players. Conclusion This study established typical range of motion patterns and identified bilaterally symmetric hip active range of motion rotation values in elite tennis players and professional baseball pitchers. Asymmetric hip joint rotational active range of motion encountered during clinical examination and screening may indicate abnormalities and would indicate the application of flexibility training, rehabilitation, and further evaluation.
A Task-Based Design Approach for Augmented Reality Systems

— User interaction components of Augmented Reality (AR) systems have to be tested with users in order to find and fix usability problems as early as possible. In this paper we will report on a user-centered design approach for AR systems following the experience acquired during the design and evaluation of a software prototype for an AR-based educational platform. In this respect we will focus on the re-design of the user task based on the results from a formative usability evaluation. The basic idea of our approach is to describe task scenarios in a tabular format, to develop a task model in a task modeling environment and then to simulate the execution.
Asset allocation and derivatives

The fact that derivative securities are equivalent to specific dynamic trading strategies in complete markets suggests the possibility of constructing buy-and-hold portfolios of options that mimic certain dynamic investment policies, e.g. asset-allocation rules. We explore this possibility by solving the following problem: given an optimal dynamic investment policy, find a set of options at the start of the investment horizon which will come closest to the optimal dynamic investment policy. We solve this problem for several combinations of preferences, return dynamics and optimality criteria, and show that under certain conditions, a portfolio consisting of just a few options is an excellent substitute for considerably more complex dynamic investment policies.
Effects of Awakening and the Use of Topical Dexamethasone and Levofloxacin on the Cytokine Levels in Tears Following Corneal Transplantation

Objectives. To study the short-term effect of eye opening and use of topical dexamethasone phosphate 0.1% and levofloxacin 0.5% on the cytokine levels in human tears. Methods. Prospective experimental design was used for tear collection from eyes of 10 healthy controls and 20 patients four days after penetrating keratoplasty (PKP) at awakening and after instilling dexamethasone or levofloxacin. The concentrations of different cytokines were measured by cytometric bead array. Results. At eye opening, IL-6 levels were higher in the PKP group as compared to the controls. Thirty minutes later, the released levels of IL-10, IL-13, IL-17, IFNγ, and CCL5 increased in controls, while CXCL8 decreased in both control and PKP groups. The release of the cytokines remained stable after 30 mins except for IFNγ, which showed a decrease in the controls following levofloxacin instillation. No short-term effects of the topically used dexamethasone and levofloxacin could be detected on the cytokine levels in controls and after PKP. Conclusions. Evidence of changes in the levels and time course of tear cytokines after awakening or eye opening could be established and the short-term confounding effects of dexamethasone and levofloxacin on the levels of released cytokines in human tears could be excluded.
Computer aided ECG analysis — State of the art and upcoming challenges

In this paper we present current achievements in computer aided ECG analysis and their applicability in real world medical diagnosis process. Most of the current work is covering problems of removing noise, detecting heartbeats and rhythm-based analysis. There are some advancements in particular ECG segments detection and beat classifications but with limited evaluations and without clinical approvals. This paper presents state of the art advancements in those areas till present day. Besides this short computer science and signal processing literature review, paper covers future challenges regarding the ECG signal morphology analysis deriving from the medical literature review. Paper is concluded with identified gaps in current advancements and testing, upcoming challenges for future research and a bullseye test is suggested for morphology analysis evaluation.
Loss of form vision impairs spatial imagery

Previous studies have reported inconsistent results when comparing spatial imagery performance in the blind and the sighted, with some, but not all, studies demonstrating deficits in the blind. Here, we investigated the effect of visual status and individual preferences (“cognitive style”) on performance of a spatial imagery task. Participants with blindness resulting in the loss of form vision at or after age 6, and age- and gender-matched sighted participants, performed a spatial imagery task requiring memorization of a 4 × 4 lettered matrix and subsequent mental construction of shapes within the matrix from four-letter auditory cues. They also completed the Santa Barbara Sense of Direction Scale (SBSoDS) and a self-evaluation of cognitive style. The sighted participants also completed the Object-Spatial Imagery and Verbal Questionnaire (OSIVQ). Visual status affected performance on the spatial imagery task: the blind performed significantly worse than the sighted, independently of the age at which form vision was completely lost. Visual status did not affect the distribution of preferences based on self-reported cognitive style. Across all participants, self-reported verbalizer scores were significantly negatively correlated with accuracy on the spatial imagery task. There was a positive correlation between the SBSoDS score and accuracy on the spatial imagery task, across all participants, indicating that a better sense of direction is related to a more proficient spatial representation and that the imagery task indexes ecologically relevant spatial abilities. Moreover, the older the participants were, the worse their performance was, indicating a detrimental effect of age on spatial imagery performance. Thus, spatial skills represent an important target for rehabilitative approaches to visual impairment, and individual differences, which can modulate performance, should be taken into account in such approaches.
A statistical analysis and modeling of repair data from a Brazilian Power Distribution System

Power Distribution Systems are responsible for distributing electricity to the final customers, e.g., homes, hospitals, and factories. Such structures are classified as critical infrastructures, once its failure directly affects the functioning of essential systems for our society. The adoption of the Smart Grid philosophy are leading to changes in such systems, and one is the capability of monitoring systems outages. In this study, we analyzed the repair data (outage duration and cause) from a single substation of a Brazilian Power Distribution System using Lifetime Data Analysis. We investigated the outages duration, or repair time, related to the following different causes of outages: Atmospheric, Environmental, Urban, Operational Needs, and Equipment Failure. We estimated the Survival function using the nonparametric Kaplan-Meyer estimator and modeled the repair time with a three-parameter Weibull distribution. The results indicate that Atmospheric causes are the factor that leads to larger repair time. A better knowledge of the effects of different causes in the duration of electricity interruption can be useful for maintenance planning since it can assist in the targeting of financial and human resources to reduce the impact of long-term outages, thus improving the power distribution quality indicators.
A Brief Report on Some Physiological Parameters of Streptozocin-Diabetic Rat

Several biological changes occur when streptozocin is given to experimental animals. The rat streptozocin (STZ) model is extensively used in diabetic experiments. In this brief report, the main physiological characteristics of rats injected with streptozocin are presented. These characteristics are manifested by weight loss, organ weight reduction, serum glucose elevation, decrease in serum insulin level, and other enzyme and hormonal changes. A collection of these parameters may be helpful in establishing a database to describe this model.