Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Contact resistance and fretting corrosion of lead-free alloy coated electrical contacts

As lead-free solders replace tin-lead solders in soldering, it is also expected that lead-free solder alloys will be used as contact finish materials for electrical contacts. In this study, the contact resistance and fretting corrosion of tin-silver-copper and tin-copper coatings were investigated and compared with tin-lead eutectic coating. The contact resistance before and after different aging conditions, including mixed flowing gas, steam, and dry heat aging, was examined. Tin-silver-copper and tin-lead alloy coatings have similar performance on contact resistance versus contact normal force after dry heat aging and MFG aging. Severe degradation was found on tin-silver-copper coatings after steam aging. Higher contact force is suggested in the application of tin-silver-copper solder alloy coating than for eutectic tin-lead alloy coatings. Fretting corrosion on tin-silver-copper and tin-copper lead-free alloy coatings was studied and compared with tin-lead coating. Fretting corrosion experiments were conducted and compared at different temperatures and normal forces. In general, tin-silver-copper and tin-copper alloys show equal or better fretting corrosion resistance than tin-lead eutectic alloy at the experimental conditions in this study
Energy Efficient Clustering and Routing in Mobile Wireless Sensor Network

A critical need in Mobile Wireless Sensor Network (MWSN) is to achieve energy efficiency during routing as the sensor nodes have scarce energy resource. The nodes' mobility in MWSN poses a challenge to design an energy efficient routing protocol. Clustering helps to achieve energy efficiency by reducing the organization complexity overhead of the network which is proportional to the number of nodes in the network. This paper proposes a novel hybrid multipath routing algorithm with an efficient clustering technique. A node is selected as cluster head if it has high surplus energy, better transmission range and least mobility. The Energy Aware (EA) selection mechanism and the Maximal Nodal Surplus Energy estimation technique incorporated in this algorithm improves the energy performance during routing. Simulation results can show that the proposed clustering and routing algorithm can scale well in dynamic and energy deficient mobile sensor network.
On the importance of phase in human speech recognition

In this paper, we analyze the effects of uncertainty in the phase of speech signals on the word recognition error rate of human listeners. The motivating goal is to get a quantitative measure on the importance of phase in automatic speech recognition by studying the effects of phase uncertainty on human perception. Listening tests were conducted for 18 listeners under different phase uncertainty and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) conditions. These results indicate that a small amount of phase error or uncertainty does not affect the recognition rate, but a large amount of phase uncertainty significantly affects the recognition rate. The degree of the importance of phase also seems to be an SNR-dependent one, such that at lower SNRs the effects of phase uncertainty are more pronounced than at higher SNRs. For example, at an SNR of -10 dB, having random phases at all frequencies results in a word error rate (WER) of 63% compared to 24% if the phase was unaltered. In comparison, at 0 dB, random phase results in a 25% WER as compared to 11% for the unaltered phase case. Listening tests were also conducted for the case of reconstructed phase based on the least square error estimation approach. The results indicate that the recognition rate for the reconstructed phase case is very close to that of the perfect phase case (a WER difference of 4% on average)
Trends in Stomach Cancer and Stroke in Finland. Comparison to Northwest Europe and USA

The mortality rates of stomach cancer and stroke were found to decrease in a similar way over a given time in different countries. The same phenomenon can be observed in Finland for both sexes. Salt is suggested to be the linking factor in the stroke-stomach cancer relationship. Recent studies indicate that salt intake in Finland is very high. Actual salt consumption levels are in Finland as high as they were in Belgium 15 years ago. The same observations can be made for cerebrovascular and stomach cancer mortality, making the salt hypothesis plausible. In contrast from 1972-73 on stroke mortality decreases faster than stomach cancer mortality. This could be observed in other western countries: USA, Austria, England and Wales, Belgium, West Germany, etc. The steeper decline may be the consequence of mass drug treatment of hypertension which started in Finland during the early years of 1970's, and also the conse-quence of changes in dietary habits, especially in fat intake in Finland. Stroke Vol 15, No 5, 1984
PERSONALITY PROCESSES AND INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES Effects of Optimism , Pessimism , and Trait Anxiety on Ambulatory Blood Pressure and Mood During Everyday Life

This study tested whether disposition^ measures of optimism, pessimism, and anxiety affected ambulatory blood pressure (BP) and mood and whether any cardiovascular effects of dispositions were moderated by mood. Pessimistic and anxious adults had higher BP levels and felt more negative and less positive than did optimists or low anxious adults throughout the monitoring. The few times that optimists did feel negative were associated with levels of BP as high as those observed among pessimists or anxious individuals, regardless of their mood. To the extent that trait anxiety measures neuroticism, these findings suggest that neuroticism is directly related to health indicators rather than simply to illness behavior. Furthermore, the results suggest that pessimism has broad physiological and psychological consequences.
A dopamine transporter polymorphism is a risk factor for borderline personality disorder in depressed patients

Background. Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is often co-morbid with major depression and may complicate its treatment. We were interested in differences in genetic and developmental risk factors between depressed patients with or without a co-morbid BPD. Method. Out-patients with major depressive disorder were recruited for two treatment trials. Assessment of depressed patients included the assessment of personality disorders, developmental risk factors and DNA samples for genetic analyses. Results. In each study there was a significant association between the 9-repeat allele of the dopamine transporter (DAT1) and BPD, with odds ratios (OR) >3 and p[les ]0·02. This association remained significant when developmental risk factors for BPD (childhood abuse and neglect and borderline temperament) were also included in the analyses. The OR was even larger in the depressed patients aged [ges ]35 years (OR 9·31, p=0·005). Conclusion. This replicated association in depressed patients between the 9-repeat allele of DAT1 and BPD may provide clues to understanding the neurobiology of BPD. The finding that the association is larger in the older depressed patients, suggests that the 9-repeat allele may be associated with a poorer prognosis BPD, rather than a young adult limited variant of BPD.
Sprache der Nähe — Sprache der Distanz. Mündlichkeit und Schriftlichkeit im Spannungsfeld von Sprachtheorie und Sprachgeschichte

Das Verhältnis von gesprochener und geschriebener Sprache, von Mündlichkeit und Schriftlichkeit, ist in den letzten Jahren mit Recht zu einem zentralen Gegenstand linguistischer Forschung geworden. Jedoch wird die Diskussion dieser Thematik durch eine Reihe von begrifflichen Unklarheiten und Konfusionen sowie sachlichen Mißverständnissen belastet, die vor allem die folgenden Problemkomplexe betreffen:
Identification of a putative alternate sigma factor and characterization of a multicomponent regulatory cascade controlling the expression of Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae Pss61 hrp and hrmA genes

The Pseudomonas syringae hrp and hrmA genes controlling pathogenicity and elicitation of the hypersensitive response and the avr genes controlling host range have been shown previously to be regulated by carbon, nitrogen, pH, osmolarity, and hypothetical plant factors. In P. syringae pv. syringae Pss61, inactivation of hrp complementation groups II and XIII reduced expression of a plasmid-borne hrmA'-lacZ fusion. The hrp regions II and XIII were cloned on separate plasmids and shown to enhance the activity of the hrmA promoter in Escherichia coli MC4100 transformants at least 100-fold. The nucleotide sequence of region XIII revealed two open reading frames (hrpR and hrpS) whose deduced products share homology with P. syringae pv. phaseolicola NPS3121 HrpS and are both related to the NtrC family of two-component signal transduction systems. HrpR and HrpS differ from most members of the protein family by lacking an amino-terminal domain which modulates the regulatory activity. A single open reading frame, hrpL, whose product shares homology with AlgU, a putative alternate sigma factor of P. aeruginosa, as well as with the related alternate sigma factors was identified within region II. Key domains are partially conserved. Inactivation of hrpS in Pss61 repressed expression of a plasmid-borne hrpL'-lacZ fusion carried by pYXPL1R, and transformation of MC4100(pYXPL1R) with a plasmid carrying hrpRS increased hrpL promoter activity at least 200-fold. Neither hrpS nor hrpR, when cloned on separate plasmids, activated the hrpL promoter activity individually. The expression of hrpL when directed by a lac promoter was sufficient to express a set of plasmid-borne hrmA'-, hrpJ'-, and hrpZ'-lacZ fusions independently of other hrp genes. The results indicate that hrpRS and hrpL are part of a regulatory cascade in which HrpR and HrpS activate expression of hrpL and HrpL, a putative sigma factor, induces expression of HrpL-responsive genes.
Statistical timing analysis with correlated non-Gaussian parameters using independent component analysis

We propose a scalable and efficient parameterized block-based statistical static timing analysis algorithm incorporating both Gaussian and non-Gaussian parameter distributions, capturing spatial correlations using a grid-based model. As a preprocessing step, we employ independent component analysis to transform the set of correlated non-Gaussian parameters to a basis set of parameters that are statistically independent, and principal components analysis to orthogonalize the Gaussian parameters. The procedure requires minimal input information: given the moments of the variational parameters, we use a Pade approximation-based moment matching scheme to generate the distributions of the random variables representing the signal arrival times, and preserve correlation information by propagating arrival times in a canonical form. For the ISCAS89 benchmark circuits, as compared to Monte Carlo simulations, we obtain average errors of 0.99% and 2.05%, respectively, in the mean and standard deviation of the circuit delay. For a circuit with |G| gates and a layout with g spatial correlation grids, the complexity of our approach is O(g|G|)
Antihyperglycemic and antidyslipidemic activity of Musa paradisiaca‐based diet in alloxan‐induced diabetic rats

Abstract This study was aimed at investigating the antihyperglycemic and antidyslipidemic activity of Musa paradisiaca‐based diets in alloxan‐induced diabetic mellitus rats. Diabetes was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of alloxan (150 mg/kg b.w) in 48 randomly selected rats. The rats were randomly grouped into four as follows: normal rats fed Dioscorea rotundata‐based diet, diabetic control rats fed D. rotundata‐based diet, diabetic rats fed D. rotundata‐based diet and administered metformin (14.2 mg/kg body weight) orally per day, and diabetic rats fed M. paradisiaca‐based diet. Body weight and fasting blood glucose level were monitored, on 28th days the rats were sacrificed, liver was excised. Thereafter, the hyperglycemic and dyslipidemic statii of the induced diabetic animals were determined. The M. paradisiaca‐based diet significantly (p < .05) reversed the levels of fasting blood glucose, with significant (p < .05) increase in insulin and glycogen concentrations. The diet also increased the activity of hexokinase with significant reduction (p < .05) in glucose‐6‐phosphatase and fructose‐1‐6‐diphosphatase activities. M. paradisiaca‐based diet demonstrated significant reduction (p < .05) in cholesterol, triacylglycerol (TG), very low‐density lipoprotein (VLDL), low‐density lipoprotein (LDL), and significant increase (p < .05) in high‐density lipoprotein (HDL) compared with those of diabetic control group. Also, M. paradisiaca‐based diet significantly (p < .05) reversed the activities of aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase when compared with diabetic control animals. The consumption of this diet may be useful in ameliorating hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia in diabetes mellitus patients.
Experimental investigation of human-robot cooperative carrying

Intelligent robot assistants will be simpler for laypersons to use if the robots are able to cooperate with their users anthromimetically. However, designing an anthromimetic robot controller requires knowledge of human behavior in the domain of interest. Previous works have identified cooperative carrying as an ideal task for robotic assistants, but studies of human behavior in this domain are few. In this paper, we present an experimental study of nineteen non-expert human subjects cooperatively carrying a long object with a robot partner. Our results demonstrate that human cooperative carrying behavior is much more complex than previously supposed, which has significant implications on the development of intelligent, physically interactive robot assistants.
A 1.0 V 40mW 10b 100MS/s pipeline ADC in 90nm CMOS

A 1.0V 10b 100MS/s pipeline ADC consuming 40mW fabricated in a 90nm CMOS process is described. Design consideration for the thermal noise of operational amplifiers effectively saves the power consumption of the ADC with conventional architecture at 1.0 V supply. Measured peak SNDR of the ADC is 56.5dB. It occupies 0.52 mm2 with on-chip decoupling capacitors and 0.31 mm2 without the capacitors, both of which includes the buffer for reference voltages
Efficacy of Imiquimod-Based Transcutaneous Immunization Using a Nano-Dispersed Emulsion Gel Formulation

Background Transcutaneous immunization (TCI) approaches utilize skin associated lymphatic tissues to elicit specific immune responses. In this context, the imidazoquinoline derivative imiquimod formulated in Aldara applied onto intact skin together with a cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) epitope induces potent CTL responses. However, the feasibility and efficacy of the commercial imiquimod formulation Aldara is limited by its physicochemical properties as well as its immunogenicity. Methodology/Principal Findings To overcome these obstacles, we developed an imiquimod-containing emulsion gel (IMI-Gel) and characterized it in comparison to Aldara for rheological properties and in vitro mouse skin permeation in a Franz diffusion cell system. Imiquimod was readily released from Aldara, while IMI-Gel showed markedly decreased drug release. Nevertheless, comparing vaccination potency of Aldara or IMI-Gel-based TCI in C57BL/6 mice against the model cytotoxic T-lymphocyte epitope SIINFEKL, we found that IMI-Gel was equally effective in terms of the frequency of peptide-specific T-cells and in vivo cytolytic activity. Importantly, transcutaneous delivery of IMI-Gel for vaccination was clearly superior to the subcutaneous or oral route of administration. Finally, IMI-Gel based TCI was at least equally effective compared to Aldara-based TCI in rejection of established SIINFEKL-expressing E.G7 tumors in a therapeutic setup indicated by enhanced tumor rejection and survival. Conclusion/Significance In summary, we developed a novel imiquimod formulation with feasible pharmaceutical properties and immunological efficacy that fosters the rational design of a next generation transcutaneous vaccination platform suitable for the treatment of cancer or persistent virus infections.
1 Caries Through Time : An Anthropological Overview

Bioanthropological1 researches carried out in the last few decades have given special emphasis to the study of the relation between disease, as well as social and environmental phenomena, enhancing the already strong connection between lifestyle and health conditions during history of humankind (Cohen & Armelagos, 1984; Katzenberg & Saunders, 2008; Larsen, 1997). Because infectious diseases result from the interaction between host and agent, modulated by ecological and cultural environments, the comparative study of the historic prevalence of diseases in past populations worldwide can provide important data about their related factors and etiology.
High-conductance chloride channels generate pacemaker currents in interstitial cells of Cajal.

BACKGROUND & AIMS Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) are responsible for slow, wave-driven, rhythmic, peristaltic motor patterns in the gastrointestinal tract. The aim was to identify and characterize the ion channels that generate the underlying pacemaker activity. METHODS Single ion channel recordings were obtained from nonenzymatically isolated ICCs and studied by using the cell attached and inside-out configurations of the patch clamp technique. RESULTS A high-conductance chloride channel was observed in ICCs that was spontaneously and rhythmically active at the same frequency as the rhythmic inward currents defining ICC pacemaker activity, 20-30 cycles/min at room temperature. Main conductance levels occurred between 122-144 pS and between 185-216 pS. Periodicity in the channel opening coincided with periodicity in membrane potential change, hence, at the single channel level, chloride channels were seen to be associated with the generation of rhythmic changes in membrane potential. CONCLUSIONS ICCs harbor high-conductance chloride channels that participate in the generation of pacemaker activity and may become a target for pharmacologic treatment of gut motor disorders.
Stabilization of linear input delayed dynamics under sampling

For continuous-time linear time-invariant systems with an arbitrarily large constant pointwise delay in the inputs, we propose a new construction of exponentially stabilizing sampled control laws. Stability is achieved under an assumption on the size of the largest sampling interval. The proposed design is based on an adaptation of the two main results of the reduction model approach. The stability of the closed loop systems is proved through a Lyapunov functional of a new type.
Life satisfaction moderates the associations between motives and excessive social networking site usage

Abstract It has been suggested that excessive social networking sites (SNS) users might use SNS as a method of coping with their life problems and that psychosocial well-being variables might interact with users’ motives for using SNS in predicting problematic SNS use. The present research explores whether the association between motives (i.e. self-expression and passing time) and excessive SNS usage is moderated by the user's life satisfaction. A total of 996 college students were recruited from two colleges in Chongqing China. The participants were divided into excessive and nonexcessive SNS usage groups based on their mean score from the excessive SNS usage measurement. Regression analyses revealed that life satisfaction moderates the effect of motives on problematic SNS behaviors among excessive SNS users. Specifically, the motives were significantly related to excessive SNS usage for those with lower life satisfaction, while neither motives were associated with excessive SNS usage in participants with higher life satisfaction. For nonexcessive users, there was no significant interaction between the studied motives and life satisfaction for predicting excessive SNS usage, although the motives were significantly related to the extent of the users’ problematic SNS behaviors.
Characterization of ISRgn1, a Novel Insertion Sequence of the IS3 Family Isolated from a Bacteriocin-Negative Mutant of Ruminococcus gnavus E1

ABSTRACT ISRgn1, an insertion sequence of the IS3 family, has been identified in the genome of a bacteriocin-negative mutant of Ruminococcus gnavus E1. The copy number of ISRgn1 in R. gnavus E1, as well as its distribution among phylogenetically E1-related strains, has been determined. Results obtained suggest that ISRgn1 is not indigenous to the R. gnavus phylogenetic group but that it can transpose in this bacterium.
Pathogenic determinants in the U3 region of recombinant murine leukemia viruses isolated from CWD and HRS/J mice

Recombinant murine leukemia viruses (MuLVs) from high-leukemia-incidence mouse strains typically acquire pathogenic U3 region sequences from the genome of the endogenous xenotropic virus, Bxv-1. However, a recombinant virus isolated from a leukemic HRS/J mouse and another from a CWD mouse contained U3 regions that lacked genetic markers of Bxv-1. The U3 regions of both recombinants were derived from the endogenous ecotropic virus Env-1 and had retained a single enhancer element. However, compared with that of Emv-1, the U3 region of each of the recombinant viruses contained five nucleotide substitutions, one of which was shared. To determine the biological significance of these substitutions, chimeric ecotropic viruses that contained the U3 region from one of the two recombinant viruses or from Emv-1 were injected into NIH Swiss mice. All three of the chimeric ecotropic viruses were leukemogenic following a long latency. Despite the presence of an enhancer core motif that is known to contribute to the leukemogenicity of the AKR MuLV SL3-3, the HRS/J virus U3 region induced lymphomas only slightly more rapidly than the allelic Emv-1 sequences. The chimeric virus with the U3 region of the CWD recombinant caused lymphomas more frequently and more rapidly than either of the other two viruses. The results support the hypothesis that one or more of the five nucleotide substitutions in the U3 regions of the recombinants contribute to viral pathogenicity. Comparison of DNA sequences suggests that the pathogenicity of the CWD virus U3 region was related to a sequence motif that is shared with Bxv-1 and is recognized by the basic helix-loop-helix class of transcription factors.