Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Investigation of span-chordwise bending anisotropy of honeybee forewings

ABSTRACT In this study, the spanwise and chordwise bending stiffness EI of honeybee forewings were measured by a cantilevered bending test. The test results indicate that the spanwise EI of the forewing is two orders of magnitude larger than the chordwise EI. Three structural aspects result in this span-chordwise bending anisotropy: the distribution of resilin patches, the corrugation along the span and the leading edge vein of the venation. It was found that flexion lines formed by resilin patches revealed through fluorescence microscopy promoted the chordwise bending of the forewing during flapping flight. Furthermore, the corrugation of the wing and leading edge veins of the venation, revealed by micro-computed tomography, determines the relatively greater spanwise EI of the forewing. The span-chordwise anisotropy exerts positive structural and aerodynamic influences on the wing. In summary, this study potentially assists researchers in understanding the bending characteristics of insect wings and might be an important reference for the design and manufacture of bio-inspired wings for flapping micro aerial vehicles. Summary: The span-chordwise bending anisotropy is due to the distribution of resilin patches, the corrugation along the span and the leading edge vein of the venation.
Design considerations for low-power high-performance mobile logic and memory interfaces

This paper highlights design considerations for low-power, high-performance mobile memory and logic interfaces, based on the results from the 14 mW, 6.25 Gb/s transceiver test chip demonstrated in 90 nm CMOS. One of the keys to achieving 2.25 mW/Gbps was the highly-sensitive, low-offset receiver. An accurate receiver enables low-swing signaling and requires less power and area from the transmitter. The smaller transceiver design in turn lowers the clock distribution power and improves the signal quality by presenting less loading to the clock and the channel, respectively. The improved signal quality enables even lower signal swing and a ldquospiral of goodnessrdquo continues. This paper examines these aspects in detail and discusses their potential implications to a broad spectrum of future low-power, high-performance mobile interface designs.
Intradiscal Electrothermal Therapy (IDET) Provides Effective Symptom Relief in Patients With Discogenic Low Back Pain

Study Design Single-arm, prospective clinical trial. Objective To evaluate back pain severity, physical function, and quality of life outcomes in highly selected patients with lumbar discogenic pain treated with intradiscal electrothermal therapy (IDET). Summary of Background Data Degeneration and disruption of the intervertebral disc can be the source of severe low back pain and the associated physical dysfunction. IDET is a minimally invasive treatment option in the continuum of care between conservative nonoperative management and spinal surgery. Methods Using magnetic resonance imaging, pressure-controlled discography, and postdiscogram computed tomography findings, 56 patients with lumbar discogenic pain were identified, underwent IDET treatment and followed for 20.5±4.4 months, on average. Outcomes included assessments of back pain severity by visual analog scale, sitting, standing, and walking tolerances, and health-related quality of life using the SF-36. Results Mean pain severity scores (visual analog scale) improved from 6.1±1.8 pretreatment to 2.4±2.6 at final follow-up (P=0.0001). Mean tolerance times (minutes) improved from 40.9±40.6 to 84.5±54.4, 46.8±42.9 to 84.4±54.2, and 39.2±39.6 to 77.9±50.8 between baseline and final follow-up for sitting, standing, and walking, respectively (P=0.0001 for all comparisons). Seven of 8 quality of life domains showed significant (P=0.0001 for all comparisons) improvement over baseline. Forty-two patients (75%) were classified as a treatment success by virtue of a ≥2-point improvement in pain severity or a ≥10-point improvement in either the physical functioning or bodily pain domain of the SF-36. Conclusions The findings of this study suggest that durable clinical improvements can be realized after IDET in highly selected patients with mild disc degeneration, confirmatory imaging evidence of annular disruption, and concordant pain provocation by low pressure discography.
Pain After Unilateral Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial Examining the Analgesic Effectiveness of a Combined Adductor Canal Peripheral Nerve Block with Periarticular Infiltration Versus Adductor Canal Nerve Block Alone Versus Periarticular Infiltration Alone

BACKGROUND:Total knee arthroplasty is a painful surgery that requires early mobilization for successful joint function. Multimodal analgesia, including spinal analgesia, nerve blocks, periarticular infiltration (PI), opioids, and coanalgesics, has been shown to effectively manage postoperative pain. Both adductor canal (AC) and PI have been shown to manage pain without significantly impairing motor function. However, it is unclear which technique is most effective. This 3-arm trial examined the effect of AC block with PI (AC + PI) versus AC block only (AC) versus PI only (PI). The primary outcome was pain on walking at postoperative day (POD) 1. METHODS:One hundred fifty-one patients undergoing unilateral total knee arthroplasty were included. Patients received either AC block with 30 mL of 0.5% ropivacaine or sham block. PI was performed intraoperatively with a 110-mL normal saline solution containing 300 mg ropivacaine, 10 mg morphine, and 30 mg ketorolac. Those patients randomly assigned to AC only received normal saline knee infiltration. RESULTS:On POD 1, participants who received AC + PI reported significantly lower pain numeric rating scale scores on walking (3.3) compared with those who received AC (6.2) or PI (4.9) (P < 0.0001). Participants who received AC reported significantly higher pain scores at rest and knee bend compared with those who received AC + PI or PI (P < 0.0001). The difference in pain scores between participants who received AC + PI and those who received AC was 2.83 (95% confidence interval, 1.58–4.09) and the difference between those who received AC + PI and those who received PI was 1.61 (95% confidence interval, 0.37–2.86). On POD 2, participants who received AC + PI reported significantly less pain on walking (4.4) compared with those who received AC (5.6) or PI (5.6) (P = 0.006). On POD 2, there was no difference between the groups for pain at rest or knee bending. Participants who received AC used more IV patient-controlled analgesia on POD 0. There was no difference between the groups regarding distance walked. CONCLUSIONS:Participants who received AC + PI reported significantly less pain on walking on PODs 1 and 2 compared with those who received AC only or PI only.
Convergência de Renda dos Estados Brasileiros: Uma Abordagem de Painel Dinâmico com Efeito Threshold

RESUMO Este artigo aplica um modelo em painel dinâmico para analisar a convergencia da taxa de crescimento do PIB per capita, numa abordagem nao linear atraves de um efeito threshold para os vinte e seis Estados brasileiros mais o Distrito Federal, durante o periodo 1985-2005. Ha dois regimes de renda determinada pela variavel threshold. Nos dois regimes de renda os processos de convergencia foram significantes, sendo que o regime de baixa renda apresenta uma velocidade de convergencia bem mais baixa do que o regime de alta renda, nao favorecendo assim a possibilidade de efeito catch up. Estes resultados indicam entao a existencia de dois clubes de convergencia, um formado pelos Estados que se encontram no regime de baixa renda, formado pelos Estados da regiao Nordeste, Norte (com excecao do Estado do Amazonas) e o Estado de Goias. Enquanto que o outro clube e formado por aqueles que se encontram no regime de alta renda, compostos pelos Estados da regiao Sul e Sudeste, mais os Estados de Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul e o Distrito Federal. O Estado de Mato Grosso foi o unico que migrou do regime de baixa renda para o de alta renda, favorecido possivelmente pelos constantes aumentos das exportacoes das commodities agricolas registrados nos ultimos dez anos.
The influence of pattern type on children's block design performance

Abstract This study sought to determine what factors contribute to normal developmental changes in performance on the block design task. The target models were systematically varied to emphasize global, intermediate, and local pattern structures. One hundred children between 4.5 and 9 years of age were tested in the first experiment. Correct performance and error types differed significantly as a function of age and pattern type. Broken configuration errors were particularly common for the global patterns. In the second experiment, 48 children between 4.5 and 8 years of age were tested using designs with a superimposed grid (cued condition). Error rates were lower in the cued condition and broken configuration errors were less frequent. These results suggest that children have more difficulty parsing more cohesive patterns, but they can modify their strategies when the square matrix is provided by the pattern structure. (JINS, 1996, 2, 392–402.)
The Drosophila synaptotagmin-like protein bitesize is required for growth and has mRNA localization sequences within its open reading frame

The vertebrate synaptotagmin-like protein granuphilin binds to the vesicle-trafficking proteins Rab27a and Munc18 and can modulate exocytosis of insulin-containing secretory granules in pancreatic beta cell lines. Here, we report the molecular and genetic characterization of bitesize, a granuphilin homolog and the only Drosophila synaptotagmin-like protein. Mutations that affect bitesize have reduced cell size and number, resulting in smaller animals that develop slowly. We also show that at least two classes of bitesize transcripts are localized to the apical plasma membrane in polarized epithelial cells. Whereas most cis-acting mRNA localization sequences map to 3′ untranslated regions, bitesize contains a 2.2-kb sequence within its ORF that is necessary and sufficient for apical localization. Thus, we have found that bitesize is a metazoan example of a transcript for which all identifiable mRNA localization sequences are contained within the protein-coding region.
High Prevalence of Plasmid-Mediated Quinolone Resistance Determinants qnr, aac(6′)-Ib-cr, and qepA among Ceftiofur-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae Isolates from Companion and Food-Producing Animals

ABSTRACT Three kinds of plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance (PMQR) determinants have been discovered and have been shown to be widely distributed among clinical isolates: qnr genes, aac(6′)-Ib-cr, and qepA. Few data on the prevalence of these determinants in strains from animals are available. The presence of PMQR genes in isolates from animals was determined by PCR amplification and DNA sequencing. The production of extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) and AmpC β-lactamases in the strains was detected, and their genotypes were determined. The genetic environment of PMQR determinants in selected plasmids was analyzed. All samples of ceftiofur-resistant (MICs ≥ 8 μg/ml) isolates of the family Enterobacteriaceae were selected from 36 companion animals and 65 food-producing animals in Guangdong Province, China, between November 2003 and April 2007, including 89 Escherichia coli isolates, 9 Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates, and isolates of three other genera. A total of 68.3% (69/101) of the isolates produced ESBLs and/or AmpC β-lactamases, mainly those of the CTX-M and CMY types. Of the 101 strains, PMQR determinants were present in 35 (34.7%) isolates, with qnr, aac(6′)-Ib-cr, and qepA detected alone or in combination in 8 (7.9%), 19 (18.8%), and 16 (15.8%) strains, respectively. The qnr genes detected included one qnrB4 gene, four qnrB6 genes, and three qnrS1 genes. Five strains were positive for both aac(6′)-Ib-cr and qepA, while one strain was positive for qnrS1, aac(6′)-Ib-cr, and qepA. qnrB6 was flanked by two copies of ISCR1 with an intervening dfr gene downstream and sul1 and qacEΔ1 genes upstream. In another plasmid, aac(6′)-Ib-cr followed intI1 and arr-3 was downstream. PMQR determinants are highly prevalent in ceftiofur-resistant Enterobacteriaceae strains isolated from animals in China. This is the first report of the occurrence of PMQR determinants among isolates from companion animals.
Investigation of chemical vapour deposition MoS2 field effect transistors on SiO2 and ZrO2 substrates

With the development of portable electronics, higher performance transistors are required to reduce the form factor and improve the performance of the devices. The key issue relies on developing transistors with outstanding electrical properties and low energy consumption at small scale. Here we demonstrate chemical vapor deposition (CVD) grown MoS2 transistors with a high on/off ratio using ZrO2 as a gate dielectric. Using 10 nm thick ZrO2, the transistor has an on/off ratio of 108, a sub-threshold swing of 0.1 V/dec, and a mobility of 64.66 cm2 V−1 s−1. Compared to the MoS2 devices grown on 300 nm SiO2, the electrical performance demonstrates an all round improvement, which indicates the high crystalline quality of MoS2/ZrO2. Owing to the high-k ZrO2 dielectrics, the MoS2 transistor has a high on/off ratio, a low operating voltage, and good channel modulation capability which ensures that MoS2 is a good candidate for low power electronics.
The Shapley value for fuzzy games on vague sets

In this paper, a general expression of the Shapley value for fuzzy games on vague sets is proposed, where the player participation levels are vague sets. The existence and uniqueness of the given Shapley value are showed by establishing axiomatic system. When the fuzzy games on vague sets are convex, the given Shapley value is a vague population monotonic allocation function (VPMAF) and an element in the core. Furthermore, we study a special kind of this class of fuzzy games, which can be seen as an extension of fuzzy games with multilinear extension form. An application of the proposed model in joint production problem is provided.
RECENT TECHNICAL MANIFESTATIONS OF VON KARMAN'S VORTEX WAKE.

When a fluid or gas flows past a cylindrical obstacle, the wake behind it is seen to contain numerous whirls or vortices arranged in a regular pattern, which was described and drawn accurately as early as the fifteenth century by Leonardo da Vinci. The whirls appear alternately on the one and on the other side of the cylinder, and they are washed away in the wake when they have reached a certain size. At the moment that a vortex has reached its maximum size, just before detaching itself from the cylinder, the velocity of the flow past that side of the cylinder is maximum and hence, by Bernoulli's law, the pressure on that side is a minimum. The cylinder thus experiences an alternating force in a direction perpendicular to that of the flow. In 1878 Strouhal published a formula for the frequency of this force or of this vortex shedding, based on observations only. This formula is now usually represented in a dimensionless form: S = fD/V, where S is the dimensionless "Strouhal number," a constant of value 0.22 or about 1/4.5; f is the frequency, D the cylinder diameter, and V the stream velocity; the latter three quantities being expressed in any set of consistent units. This relation can be remembered by observing that one period of force oscillation (or the shedding of one pair of vortices) occurs during the time that it takes the stream to advance through 4.5 diameters. In 1911 von Karman made a stability analysis of the vortices and from it derived the geometrical pattern. This was the first theoretical investigation of the subject, and it is so important that the vortex wake now is generally referred to as the KArmAn wake. The intensity of the alternating force can be written, for dimensional reasons, as:
ifOnly: a smart phone app to capture unmet need and support the development of new products for people living with long term conditions

Given the rise of long term conditions, and focus on living independently in the community, we launched a free crowd sourcing community app called 'ifOnly' to encourage people with disabilities to share the problems they encounter in everyday life. The app allows people to record, upload and share videos and audios that demonstrate everyday problems they face at home. These were then shared on the 'ifOnly' website - www.ifonlyitworked. com. Designers, recruited nationally, were asked to come up with innovative design solutions via a competition hosted by the University of Bath. The designs were evaluated for novelty and commercial potential by a panel of stakeholders.
The Genome Sequence of the Metal-Mobilizing, Extremely Thermoacidophilic Archaeon Metallosphaera sedula Provides Insights into Bioleaching-Associated Metabolism

ABSTRACT Despite their taxonomic description, not all members of the order Sulfolobales are capable of oxidizing reduced sulfur species, which, in addition to iron oxidation, is a desirable trait of biomining microorganisms. However, the complete genome sequence of the extremely thermoacidophilic archaeon Metallosphaera sedula DSM 5348 (2.2 Mb, ∼2,300 open reading frames [ORFs]) provides insights into biologically catalyzed metal sulfide oxidation. Comparative genomics was used to identify pathways and proteins involved (directly or indirectly) with bioleaching. As expected, the M. sedula genome contains genes related to autotrophic carbon fixation, metal tolerance, and adhesion. Also, terminal oxidase cluster organization indicates the presence of hybrid quinol-cytochrome oxidase complexes. Comparisons with the mesophilic biomining bacterium Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans ATCC 23270 indicate that the M. sedula genome encodes at least one putative rusticyanin, involved in iron oxidation, and a putative tetrathionate hydrolase, implicated in sulfur oxidation. The fox gene cluster, involved in iron oxidation in the thermoacidophilic archaeon Sulfolobus metallicus, was also identified. These iron- and sulfur-oxidizing components are missing from genomes of nonleaching members of the Sulfolobales, such as Sulfolobus solfataricus P2 and Sulfolobus acidocaldarius DSM 639. Whole-genome transcriptional response analysis showed that 88 ORFs were up-regulated twofold or more in M. sedula upon addition of ferrous sulfate to yeast extract-based medium; these included genes for components of terminal oxidase clusters predicted to be involved with iron oxidation, as well as genes predicted to be involved with sulfur metabolism. Many hypothetical proteins were also differentially transcribed, indicating that aspects of the iron and sulfur metabolism of M. sedula remain to be identified and characterized.
Divergent mRNA transcription in the chloroplast psbB operon.

The genes psbB, psbH, petB and petD for the components in photosystem II and the cytochrome b6/f complex are clustered and co‐transcribed in liverwort Marchantia polymorpha chloroplasts. On the opposite DNA strand in the spacer region between the genes psbB and psbH, we deduced an open reading frame consisting of 43 sense codons, and designated it as the ORF43 gene. The ORF43 gene was actively transcribed in liverwort chloroplasts. The ORF43 transcripts were entirely complementary to a part of the primary transcripts of the psbB operon. Heterogeneous Northern hybridization showed that the mRNA transcripts for the ORF43 gene increased with greening in pea seedlings. This is the first demonstration of divergent overlapping transcription in chloroplasts.
THE NATURAL HISTORY OF VISUAL PIGMENTS

Many of the visual pigments located in the outer segments of the visual cells of the vertebrate retina can be brought into solution and analyzed spectrophotometrically. Such studies have revealed that these chromoproteins have the same characteristic broad-banded spectrum,' and that the photosensitivity, insofar as it has been determined, is not grossly different for the pigments from different animals. ' One important question pertains to the spectral location of these substances. Is there only a limited number of spectral locations for these compounds such as the region of 500 mp for the rhodopsins, 522 mp for the porphyropsins, and 562 mp for the iodopsins, or are these substances distributed over broader regions of the spectrum? The answer to this question has biological significance, not only with respect to theories of color vision, but also with regard to the wider problem of the adaptation of organisms to their environment. Recent work from a number of laboratories, in fact, has revealed the existence in animals of a multiplicity of visual pigment^. ^-^ At this laboratory we have been especially interested in the types of visual pigments found in nature and the results of our research, which are summarized in this report, suggest that, within the setting of a system founded on the two retinenes (retinenel and retinenes), nature has devised a variety of compounds located over broad regions of the spectral scale. I t is the purpose of this report to illustrate the nature of this diversity for several vertebrate classes and to suggest, wherever possible, the biological implications. Some of this work has already been published.6-11 Other work is being presented for the first time. This report constitutes a general statement; details of the experiments and of the results will be published later.
Is there a best hyperspectral detection algorithm?

A large number of hyperspectral detection algorithms have been developed and used over the last two decades. Some algorithms are based on highly sophisticated mathematical models and methods; others are derived using intuition and simple geometrical concepts. The purpose of this paper is threefold. First, we discuss the key issues involved in the design and evaluation of detection algorithms for hyperspectral imaging data. Second, we present a critical review of existing detection algorithms for practical hyperspectral imaging applications. Finally, we argue that the "apparent" superiority of sophisticated algorithms with simulated data or in laboratory conditions, does not necessarily translate to superiority in real-world applications.
Estimating Premorbid IQ in the Prodromal Phase of a Neurodegenerative Disease

Estimates of premorbid intellect are often used in neuropsychological assessment to make inferences about cognitive decline. To optimize the method of controlling for premorbid intellect in assessments of prodromal neurodegenerative disease, we examined performance on the American National Adult Reading Test (ANART; administered during Years 1 and 3) and the two-subtest version of the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence (WASI; administered in Years 2 and 4) in an ongoing prospective longitudinal study of 371 participants with prodromal Huntington disease and 51 participants with normal CAG repeats. Although both measures performed similarly, the ANART demonstrated slightly lower variability in performance over a 2-year period and had slightly higher test–retest reliability than the WASI.