Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Elimination of Wastes in Pasta Manufacturing using Value Stream Mapping Techniques: A Case Study of Golden Pasta Company, Lagos.

— Manufacturing industries in Nigeria have been faced with fierce competition, higher production cost and ever-increasing customer’s demand for a whole decade. In order to survive in today’s fiercely competitive market, achieve customer’s satisfaction at a lower cost, many manufacturing outfits started thinking on the best way to eliminates wastes through the lean methodology. Therefore since the presence of these wastes are very prominent in pasta manufacturing plants which have resulted to higher production costs and insatiable customer’s requirements, eliminating wastes in the pasta manufacturing processes cannot be over-emphasized hence the choice of pasta. This work focuses on the analysis of the current state mapping of a particular company (Golden Pasta Company) to identify wastes, present problem solving techniques to eliminate the identified wastes and then proposes a future state mapping to the company with expected potential cost savings. The manufacturing operations of Fava Long Goods 3 (FLG3) of Golden Pasta Company was carefully understudied. Data collected from the company, Enterprise Resource Planning system (ERP) and shop floor including feedback from the customers were evaluated. The results of the evaluation shows production lead time was massively reduced from 1.43 days to 5.04 hours with a 85.3% waste reduction. A practical approach of implementing the value stream mapping, using Microsoft Visio 2016 software was suggested. A potential cost savings of N42, 188,880 yearly would be realized after the waste elimination. This was shown in the financial balanced sheets approved by the financial director of the Golden Pasta Company.
A passivity approach to control of Markovian jump systems with mixed time-varying delays

This paper investigated the problem of control design for a class of stochastic systems with Markovian jump parameters and time-varying delays. For the model under consideration, a passivity-based approach is introduced for designing mode-dependent output feedback controllers with mixed discrete and distributed delays. A Lypunov-Krasovskii function (LKF) is defined to establish new required sufficient conditions for ensuring exponentially mean-square stability and the passivity criteria, simultaneously. Moreover, controller gains are calculated based on a convex optimization method by solving a Linear Matrix Inequality (LMI). Finally, simulation results are provided to illustrate the effectiveness of our approach.
Post-Transcriptional Regulation of Connexin43 in H-Ras-Transformed Cells

Connexin43 (Cx43) expression is lost in cancer cells and many studies have reported that Cx43 is a tumor suppressor gene. Paradoxically, in a cellular NIH3T3 model, we have previously shown that Ha-Ras-mediated oncogenic transformation results in increased Cx43 expression. Although the examination of transcriptional regulation revealed essential regulatory elements, it could not solve this paradox. Here we studied post-transcriptional regulation of Cx43 expression in cancer using the same model in search of novel gene regulatory elements. Upon Ras transformation, both Cx43 mRNA stability and translation efficiency were increased. We investigated the role of Cx43 mRNA 3′ and 5′Untranslated regions (UTRs) and found an opposing effect; a 5′UTR-driven positive regulation is observed in Ras-transformed cells (NIH-3T3Ras), while the 3′UTR is active only in normal NIH-3T3Neo cells and completely silenced in NIH-3T3Ras cells. Most importantly, we identified a previously unknown regulatory element within the 3′UTR, named S1516, which accounts for this 3′UTR-mediated regulation. We also examined the effect of other oncogenes and found that Ras- and Src-transformed cells show a different Cx43 UTRs post-transcriptional regulation than ErbB2-transformed cells, suggesting distinct regulatory pathways. Next, we detected different patterns of S1516 RNA-protein complexes in NIH-3T3Neo compared to NIH-3T3Ras cells. A proteomic approach identified most of the S1516-binding proteins as factors involved in post-transcriptional regulation. Building on our new findings, we propose a model to explain the discrepancy between the Cx43 expression in Ras-transformed NIH3T3 cells and the data in clinical specimens.
A low-power CMOS BFSK transceiver for health monitoring systems

A CMOS low-power transceiver for implantable and external health monitoring devices operating in the MICS band is presented. The LNA core has an integrated mixer in a folded configuration to reuse the bias current, allowing high linearity with a low power supply levels. The baseband strip consists of a pseudo differential MOS-C band-pass filter achieving demodulation of 150kHz-offset BFSK signals. An all digital frequency-locked loop is used for LO generation in the RX mode and for driving a class AB power amplifier in the TX mode. The MICS transceiver is designed and fabricated in a 0. 18µm 1-poly, 6-metal CMOS process. The sensitivities of −70dBm and −98dBm were achieved with NF of 40dB and 11dB at the data rate of 100kb/s while consuming only 600µW and 1.5mW at 1.2V and 1.8V, respectively. The BERs are less than 10−3 at the input powers of −70dBm at 1.2V and −98dBm at 1.8V at the data rate of 100kb/s. Finally, the output power of the transmitter is 0dBm for a power consumption of 1.8mW.
Evaluation of the mechanical properties and surface topography of as-received, immersed and as-retrieved orthodontic archwires

Background and aims This experimental study mainly aims at comparing the most important mechanical properties of the new orthodontic archwires, those immersed in fluorinated solution, the as-retrieved ones and the intra-oral used ones. Methods A total of 270 arch wires were tested, using tensile testing and three-point bending tests. The tested archwires were made of Stainless Steel, Nickel Titanium, Beta-Titanium and physiognomic covered Nickel Titanium. The tested archwires were subjected to three types of treatments: immersion into fluorinated solution, immersion into carbonated drinks and intra-oral use. Results The immersion caused variations of the activation and deactivation forces of all arch wires. The most affected arch wires, in terms of bending characteristics, were the intra-oral used ones. Conclusions The alteration of mechanical properties of the orthodontic arch wires by their immersion into fluorinated solutions and soft drinks could not be statistically demonstrated.
Automatic instantiation of abstract tests on specific configurations for large critical control systems

Computer‐based control systems have grown in size, complexity, distribution and criticality. In this paper a methodology is presented to perform an ‘abstract testing’ of such large control systems in an efficient way: an abstract test is specified directly from system functional requirements and has to be instantiated in more test runs to cover a specific configuration, comprising any number of control entities (sensors, actuators and logic processes). Such a process is usually performed by hand for each installation of the control system, requiring a considerable time effort and being an error‐prone verification activity. To automate a safe passage from abstract tests, related to the so‐called generic software application, to any specific installation, an algorithm is provided, starting from a reference architecture and a state‐based behavioural model of the control software. The presented approach has been applied to a railway interlocking system, demonstrating its feasibility and effectiveness in several years of testing experience. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
OpenSim: Open-Source Software to Create and Analyze Dynamic Simulations of Movement

Dynamic simulations of movement allow one to study neuromuscular coordination, analyze athletic performance, and estimate internal loading of the musculoskeletal system. Simulations can also be used to identify the sources of pathological movement and establish a scientific basis for treatment planning. We have developed a freely available, open-source software system (OpenSim) that lets users develop models of musculoskeletal structures and create dynamic simulations of a wide variety of movements. We are using this system to simulate the dynamics of individuals with pathological gait and to explore the biomechanical effects of treatments. OpenSim provides a platform on which the biomechanics community can build a library of simulations that can be exchanged, tested, analyzed, and improved through a multi-institutional collaboration. Developing software that enables a concerted effort from many investigators poses technical and sociological challenges. Meeting those challenges will accelerate the discovery of principles that govern movement control and improve treatments for individuals with movement pathologies.
Drop-Size Soda Lakes: Transient Microbial Habitats on a Salt-Secreting Desert Tree

We describe a hitherto unrecognized bacterial community, inhabiting the leaf surfaces of the salt-excreting desert tree Tamarix. High temperatures, strong radiation, and very low humidity dictate a daytime existence in complete desiccation, but damp nights allow the microbial population to proliferate in a sugar-rich, alkaline, and hypersaline solution, before drying up again after sunrise. The exclusively bacterial population contains many undescribed species and genera, but nevertheless appears to be characterized by relatively limited species diversity. Sequences of 16S rRNA genes from either isolates or total community DNA place the identified members of the community in five bacterial groups (Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, α-, and γ-Proteobacteria); in each of these, they concentrate in a very narrow branch that in most cases harbors organisms isolated from unrelated halophilic environments.
Events and findings of the Purdue University Calumet computer information technology & graphics (CIT&&G) department teaching partnership with the College of Software Engineering of Southeast University in Nanjing China

In this poster session we are reporting on the results of two, three-week summer graduate teaching experiences that took place in Nanjing, China over a two-year period. A faculty exchange program was entered into between Southeast University of Nanjing China and Purdue University Calumet of Hammond, Indiana, USA. One of the goals of the exchange program was to expose Chinese students to the instructional methods employed by United States Universities. By understanding the cultural differences and utilizing various teaching methodologies employed by American teachers, the faculty and students involved in these three-week classroom intensive training courses were able to adapt and successfully complete the graduate level material that was presented.
Insulitis and β-Cell Mass in the Natural History of Type 1 Diabetes

Descriptions of insulitis in human islets throughout the natural history of type 1 diabetes are limited. We determined insulitis frequency (the percent of islets displaying insulitis to total islets), infiltrating leukocyte subtypes, and β-cell and α-cell mass in pancreata recovered from organ donors with type 1 diabetes (n = 80), as well as from donors without diabetes, both with islet autoantibodies (AAb+, n = 18) and without islet autoantibodies (AAb−, n = 61). Insulitis was observed in four of four donors (100%) with type 1 diabetes duration of ≤1 year and two AAb+ donors (2 of 18 donors, 11%). Insulitis frequency showed a significant but limited inverse correlation with diabetes duration (r = −0.58, P = 0.01) but not with age at disease onset. Residual β-cells were observed in all type 1 diabetes donors with insulitis, while β-cell area and mass were significantly higher in type 1 diabetes donors with insulitis compared with those without insulitis. Insulitis affected 33% of insulin+ islets compared with 2% of insulin− islets in donors with type 1 diabetes. A significant correlation was observed between insulitis frequency and CD45+, CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, and CD20+ cell numbers within the insulitis (r = 0.53–0.73, P = 0.004–0.04), but not CD68+ or CD11c+ cells. The presence of β-cells as well as insulitis several years after diagnosis in children and young adults suggests that the chronicity of islet autoimmunity extends well into the postdiagnosis period. This information should aid considerations of therapeutic strategies seeking type 1 diabetes prevention and reversal.
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation to Lessen Neuropathic Pain After Spinal Cord Injury

Background. It is suggested that transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) can produce lasting changes in corticospinal excitability and can potentially be used for the treatment of neuropathic pain. However, the detailed mechanisms underlying the effects of tDCS are unknown. Objective. We investigated the underlying neural mechanisms of tDCS for chronic pain relief using [18F]-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography ([18F]FDG-PET). Methods. Sixteen patients with neuropathic pain (mean age 44.1 ± 8.6 years, 4 females) due to traumatic spinal cord injury received sham or active anodal stimulation of the motor cortex using tDCS for 10 days (20 minutes, 2 mA, twice a day). The effect of tDCS on regional cerebral glucose metabolism was evaluated by [18F]FDG-PET before and after tDCS sessions. Results. There was a significant decrease in the numeric rating scale scores for pain, from 7.6 ± 0.5 at baseline to 5.9 ± 1.8 after active tDCS (P = .016). We found increased metabolism in the medulla and decreased metabolism in the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex after active tDCS treatment compared with the changes induced by sham tDCS. Additionally, an increase in metabolism after active tDCS was observed in the subgenual anterior cingulate cortex and insula. Conclusion. The results of this study suggest that anodal stimulation of the motor cortex using tDCS can modulate emotional and cognitive components of pain and normalize excessive attention to pain and pain-related information.
Faint Galactic X‐ray Binaries

We present a short overview of the properties of faint Galactic X‐ray binaries. We place emphasis on current classification scenarios. One of the important parameters for the faint sources is their intrinsic luminosity. In the case of low‐mass X‐ray binaries it has recently been realised that besides a phase of radius expansion, the duration of type I X‐ray bursts can be used as a primer for the source luminosity in some cases. Further, we show that a very low equivalent width of hydrogen and helium emission lines in the optical spectrum alone is not a tell‐tale sign for an ultra‐compact system. Finally, we list and discuss some unusual sources that could be X‐ray binaries.
A Retrospection on Building a Custom Tool for Automated System Testing

The numerous commercial and open source test tools available today cover almost any of the features one may ever require for automating tests. However, companies still develop in-house solutions or extend existing tools with custom functionality. In our case, all started with the need to automate tests for a machinery system based on non-standard technologies. In this paper we review the experiences and results from building our own test tool. We discuss the unique advantages of this endeavor and contrast them to the actual effort and costs. We list the involved challenges, the solutions we found, and the issues that remained open. In the end, building our own tool was a success. But would we do it again?
[Influence of ginsenoside Rb1 and Rg1 on some central neurotransmitter receptors and protein biosynthesis in the mouse brain].

Effects of ginsenoside Rb_1 and Rg_1 on seven kinds of central neurotransmitter receptors, α_1, α_2 and β-adrenoceptors, 5-HT, DA, GABA and M-cholinergic receptors, were measured. Results showed that no specific binding of Rb_1 and Rg_1 to any of these kinds of recptors was observed. However, 5 days after i. p. injection of Rb_1 and Rg_1 higher Bmax values were observed for the brain membranes from treated mice than those from control mice. Rb_1 and Rg_1 were also shown to increase protein biosynthesis in mouse brain. The findings may be helpful to elucidate ginseng's mechanism of central actions.
User-pair selection in amplify-and-forward based FSO networks

This paper describes a single amplify-and-forward relay assisted multiple user-pair free space optical (FSO) communication system. It is assumed a line-of-sight link does not exist between the nodes of a user-pair and the communication link between them is established using a relay. Among the multiple user-pairs, the user-pair having the maximum instantaneous signal-to-noise ratio is selected by the relay. For the considered system model, closed form expression of the system outage probability is derived in terms of the Meijer's-G function considering independent but not necessarily identically distributed (i.n.i.d.) fading channels. It is shown by numerical analysis that by carrying out user-pair selection the system performance significantly improves.
On building an Internet gateway for Internet telephony

Internet telephony has the potential to significantly reduce the cost of long distance voice communication. Thus, it is very important to construct a PSTN/Internet gateway for further experiments and developments. We explore several methodologies for the implementation of a PSTN/internet gateway. Based on these methodologies, we devise the corresponding architecture and implement a PSTN/Internet gateway. Following the ITU H.323 recommendation, the gateway built is interoperable with other H.323 compatible terminals. We also validate the gateway by having fluent two-way communication between a PSTN phone and an H.323 terminal. A performance study on the sensitivity of the buffer size is also conducted. It is noted that the gateway devised is very versatile and can be easily extended to support various applications.
Coupled Model Biases Breed Spurious Low‐Frequency Variability in the Tropical Pacific Ocean

Coupled general circulation model (GCM) biases in the tropical Pacific are substantial, including a westward extended cold sea surface temperature (SST) bias linked to El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO). Investigation of internal climate variability at centennial timescales using multicentury control integrations of 27 GCMs suggests that a Pacific Centennial Oscillation emerges in GCMs with too strong ENSO variability in the equatorial Pacific, including westward extended SST variability. Using a stochastic model of climate variability (Hasselmann type), we diagnose such centennial SST variance in the western equatorial Pacific. The consistency of a simple stochastic model with complex GCMs suggests that a previously defined Pacific Centennial Oscillation may be driven by biases in high‐frequency ENSO forcing in the western equatorial Pacific. A cautious evaluation of long‐term trends in the tropical Pacific from GCMs is necessary because significant trends in historical and future simulations are possible consequences of biases in simulated internal variability alone.
Toward a Vietnamese facial expression recognition system for human-robot interaction

Nonverbal behaviors such as facial expression, gesture that play an important role in human-human interaction, are not taken into account in human-robot interaction for social and service robot. The aim of this paper is to present our work for Vietnamese facial expression recognition including facial expression database building, face detection and facial expression recognition. Our main contributions in this paper are a Vietnamese facial expression database and preliminary results for face detection and facial expression recognition.
Measurements of Free Hemoglobin and Hemolysis Index: EDTA- or Lithium-Heparinate Plasma?

confusion seems to have taken place during the preparation of the report, in which the result of a proficiency survey was compared to the simulation. Because neither controls nor pooled samples are used in a proficiency survey, random patient interferences cannot be estimated. Thus, conclusions drawn from this comparison are suspect. Moreover, their alternative way to describe creatinine assay performance goals clearly leaves out random patient interferences [Table 1 in Myers et al. (1)]. The following is suggested as a more useful way to model assay performance:
Variation characteristic of regional Atmospheric Aerosol Properties from MODIS and its possible influence in rainfall

Satellite derived atmospheric aerosol properties have proved to be an efficient way in monitoring aerosol distribution over a period as well as over a region continuously. Moderate resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) derived, various aerosol properties over three geographically and socio-economically different regions in Kerala, India are considered over 2 years to study the aerosol distribution. Two consecutive years of rainfall data are considered over those places from Global precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission to understand the possible impact of these aerosol properties in influencing rainfall subsequently. Results promise for extensive research in understanding the characteristics of different aerosol properties and its influence in rainfall.
Systematic Review: Adverse Events of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation

Background Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is a microbiota-based therapy that shows therapeutic potential in recurrent or refractory Clostridium difficile infections and other intestinal or extra-intestinal disorders. Nonetheless, adverse events (AEs) remain a major challenge in the application of FMT. Aim To review the AEs of FMT and to address the concerns of safety during the procedure. Methods Publications were retrieved in the databases of Medline, Embase and Cochrane Library. AEs were classified according to their causality with FMT or their severity. Results A total of 7562 original articles about FMT were identified in this study, 50 of them fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Totally 78 kinds of AEs were revealed enrolled in these 50 selected publications. The total incidence rate of AEs was 28.5%. Among the 42 publications, 5 kinds were definitely and 38 kinds were probably related to FMT. The commonest FMT-attributable AE was abdominal discomfort, which was reported in 19 publications. For upper gastrointestinal routes of FMT, 43.6% (89/204) patients were compromised by FMT-attributable AE, while the incidence dropped to 17.7% (76/430) for lower gastrointestinal routes. In contrast, the incidences of serious adverse events (SAEs) were 2.0% (4/196) and 6.1% (40/659) for upper and lower gastrointestinal routes, respectively. A total of 44 kinds of SAEs occurred in 9.2% patients, including death (3.5%, 38/1089), infection (2.5%, 27/1089), relapse of inflammatory bowel diseases (0.6%, 7/1089) and Clostridium difficile infection (0.9%, 10/1089). Conclusion Consequently, both AEs and SAEs are not rare and should be carefully monitored throughout FMT. However, high quality randomized controlled trials are still needed for the more definite incidence of AEs of FMT.
Gravity sensing, a largely misunderstood trigger of plant orientated growth

Gravity is a crucial environmental factor regulating plant growth and development. Plants have the ability to sense a change in the direction of gravity, which leads to the re-orientation of their growth direction, so-called gravitropism. In general, plant stems grow upward (negative gravitropism), whereas roots grow downward (positive gravitropism). Models describing the gravitropic response following the tilting of plants are presented and highlight that gravitropic curvature involves both gravisensing and mechanosensing, thus allowing to revisit experimental data. We also discuss the challenge to set up experimental designs for discriminating between gravisensing and mechanosensing. We then present the cellular events and the molecular actors known to be specifically involved in gravity sensing.