Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Towards the Design of a Virtual Heritage Experience based on the World-as-Support Interaction Paradigm

We present the initial design stage of a Virtual Heritage experience for a bomb shelter built during the Spanish Civil War, namely Refugi 307. The shelter currently belongs to the History Museum of Barcelona which provides guided tours through the cultural heritage site for schools and the general public. The aim of the study was to define the requirements for the design of a first prototype based on the World-as-Support interaction paradigm. We conducted an ethnographic study and Participatory Design workshop to analyze different aspects of the requirements and to include multiple needs and viewpoints of the involved stakeholders. Based on the outcomes, we outline the potential for activities to foster (1) contextual-awareness between the learning content and the cultural heritage site, (2) environment-awareness in relation to missing objects in the physical space and (3) social-awareness to embody feelings related to solidarity and empathy.
Analysis of E-government Services Outsourcing and Incentive Scheme

Relative theories, operation patterns and trends about e-government out-sourcing are studied. Subsequently, the analyses on the incentive model and system for government and enterprise in the e-government outsourcing project are presented based on the theories of game and principal-agent, emphasizing on motivation and performance evaluation in managing out-sourcing business, in which the importance of incentive game in principal-agent is also derived. The sate of incomplete and asymmetric information makes it important for government to implement reward and punishment before enough analyzing. From the aspect of validity analysis, the optimal proposal will have the characteristics of monotone, that is, the awards to the manager which are provided by government should increase with the improvement of output level. It is eventually concluded that the reformation of e-government services outsourcing relationship requires incentive scheme.
A Novel Static CTS Charge Pump with Voltage Level Controller for DC-DC Converters

This paper describes a novel charge pumping technique for low-power dc-dc converters by switched capacitors. The proposed configurations were based on the charge-transfer-switch (CTS) topology. In this paper, the problems and possible solutions for conventional static CTS charge pumps will be surveyed. In our study, a novel static CMOS voltage shifter which was called the voltage level controller in our design was proposed to overcome the reverse charge sharing problem. The pump accepted an input of 1.5 V and generated a 7.5 V output for the load up to 75 mW. The converter was fabricated by the TSMC 0.35 mum CMOS technology and the resulted layout consumed an area of 125*160 mum2.
Unstructural biology of the dengue virus proteins

In this study, we used a wide spectrum of bioinformatics techniques to evaluate the extent of intrinsic disorder in the complete proteomes of genotypes of four human dengue virus (DENV), to analyze the peculiarities of disorder distribution within individual DENV proteins, and to establish potential roles for the structural disorder with respect to their functions. We show that several proteins (ER, E, 1, 2A and 4A) are predicted to be mostly ordered, whereas four proteins (C, 2k, NS3 and NS5) are expected to have high disorder levels. The profiles of disorder propensities are similar across the four genotypes, except for the NS5 protein. Cleavage sites are depleted in polymorphic sites, and have a high propensity for disorder, especially relative to neighboring residues. Disordered regions are highly polymorphic in type 1 DENV but have a relatively low number of polymorphic sites in the type 4 virus. There is a high density of polymorphisms in proteins 2A and 4A, which are depleted in disorder. Thus, a high density of polymorphism is not unique to disordered regions. Analysis of disorder/function association showed that the predominant function of the disordered regions in the DENV proteins is protein–protein interaction and binding of nucleic acids, metals and other small molecules. These regions are also associated with phosphorylation, which may regulate their function.
Parental determinants of birth weight

As part of a study on causes of variation in birth weight, questionnaire data on parental measures were related to offspring birth weights recorded in the Medical Birth Registry of Norway. A genetic analysis of parent‐offspring covariances in birth weight indicated that about 60% of the variance in birth weight could be explained by effects of fetal genes, while no effects of maternal genes were detectable. Multiple regression analysis showed that height and weight of both parents and maternal smoking status were associated with variation in birth weight. Socioeconomic status, educational attainment and paternal smoking habit had no independent effects. The adult, parental variables could only explain 10% of the variation in mean offspring birth weight.
Reduced Inward Rectifying and Increased E‐4031‐Sensitive K+ Current Density in Arrhythmogenic Subendocardial Purkinje Myocytes from the Infarcted Heart

Outward Currents in Purkinje Cells from 48‐Hour Infarcted Heart. Introduction: Subendocardial Purkinje myocytes from the 4K‐hour infarcted heart (IZPCs) have reduced resting potentials, possibly due to altered inwardly rectifying K+ currents IKI. Abnormal depolarization‐activated outward K+ currents could contribute to long triangularly shaped action potentials of IZPCs.
Automatic accent quantification of indian speakers of English

In addition to measuring job candidates spoken English proﬁ-ciency, quantifying the degree of accentedness may help companies assign employees to appropriate job categories, or identify employees who could beneﬁt from additional speech training. In this paper, we discuss methods for automatic accent quantiﬁcation of Indian English speakers. Similar to techniques used in speaker recognition, we used Gaussian mixture models (GMMs) for the modeling of accent spectral characteristics in different groups of subjects. Computationally, we veriﬁed that certain consonants in Indian English have more discriminative power than others in quantifying an Indian accent. As a result, we propose the idea of using GMMs to model only certain phonemes with high predictive power. By combining features from GMMs with others, we achieved a human-machine correlation coefﬁcient of 0 . 84 at the participant level. The results validate the use of new proposed methods to quantify accents automatically.
[Estimation of the correlation of insulin resistance and selected adipocytokines in children with simple obesity--preliminary study].

BACKGROUND Insulin resistance--a key element of the metabolic syndrome--is observed in children with simple obesity. Adipose tissue is producing bioactive substances called adipocytokines. Some of them may play a role in the development of insulin resistance. AIM OF THE STUDY Estimation of the frequency of insulin resistance and its correlation with leptin, adiponectin and resistin levels in children with simple obesity. MATERIAL AND METHODS The 53 children (BMI>97 centile), mean age 13.57 years. Mean BMI was +4.04 SDS. Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed. Insulin levels at 0' < or = 15 microIU/mL and/or insulin peak during OGTT < or = 150 microIU/mL and/or peak at 120' < or =75 microIU/mL were established as normal values. Homa ratio was calculated. Patients were divided into groups depending on the presence or absence of hyperinsulinemia / insulin resistance. Concentrations of adiponectin, leptin, resistin were measured. RESULTS In 13.23 % children various types of hyperglycemia were diagnosed and hyperinsulinemia in OGTT was noted in 83.02 %. Severe insulin resistance (HOMA>3) was diagnosed in 71.82 %. In the hyperinsulinemia group higher glucose levels in OGTT were stated comparing to the non hyperinsulinemia group. In children with insulin resistance, higher BMI and SD BMI were observed. In this paper results of correlations of adipocytokines levels and anthropometric parameters or carbohydrates metabolism in children with / without insulin resistance are presented. CONCLUSIONS In children with severe insulin resistance adiponectin concentrations correlate negatively with glucose levels, there is a positive correlation of adiponectin and glucose and insulin in a group without severe insulin resistance. In patients with insulin resistance leptin concentrations correlate positively with the degree of obesity and insulin levels in OGTT.
Family Connections: A Program for Preventing Child Neglect

Family Connections was a demonstration program specifically designed to prevent child neglect. This article describes the development of prevention strategies and the assessment of outcomes for families who received two versions of the intervention. The sample included 154 families (473 children) in a poor, urban neighborhood who met risk criteria for child neglect and who were randomly assigned to receive either a 3- or 9-month intervention. Self-report and observational data were analyzed using analyses of variance (ANOVA) with repeated measures. Results for the entire sample indicated positive changes in protective factors (parenting attitudes, parenting competence, social support); diminished risk factors (parental depressive symptoms, parenting stress, life stress); and improved child safety (physical and psychological care of children) and behavior (decreased externalizing and internalizing behavior). Results further reflected no advantage of the 9-month intervention for improving parenting adequacy. Further testing of the intervention with other target populations is being conducted.
Virtualized Resource Sharing in Cloud Radio Access Networks Through Truthful Mechanisms

In the recent paradigm of cloud radio access networks (C-RAN), signal processing functions at the base stations (BSs) are virtualized and migrated into a mobile cloud that maintains a pool of virtual BS (VBS) instances. Remote radio heads and antennae at the BSs are connected to the VBS pool by fronthaul fiber links. Mobile operators may lease resources from the tower company who owns the C-RAN infrastructure. We study auction mechanisms for efficiently sharing C-RAN resources among mobile operators. Leveraging randomized rounding, we design an offline C-RAN auction mechanism that can achieve truthfulness and near-optimal social welfare. For the more realistic setting of online bid arrival, we design an online algorithm that executes in polynomial time and achieves a competitive ratio of $(1-\epsilon )$ . A tailored fractional Vickrey–Clarke–Groves mechanism works in concert with the online algorithm to elicit truthful bids. Extensive simulation studies verify the efficacy of our C-RAN auction mechanisms.
Post-abortion care with misoprostol – equally effective, safe and accepted when administered by midwives compared to physicians: a randomised controlled equivalence trial in a low-resource setting in Kenya

Objective To assess the effectiveness of midwives administering misoprostol to women with incomplete abortion seeking post-abortion care (PAC), compared with physicians. Design A multicentre randomised controlled equivalence trial. The study was not masked. Settings Gynaecological departments in two hospitals in a low-resource setting, Kenya. Population Women (n=1094) with incomplete abortion in the first trimester, seeking PAC between 1 June 2013 to 31 May 2016. Participants were randomly assigned to receive treatment from midwives or physicians. 409 and 401 women in the midwife and physician groups, respectively, were included in the per-protocol analysis. Interventions 600 µg misoprostol orally, and contraceptive counselling by a physician or midwife. Main outcome measures Complete abortion not needing surgical intervention within 7–10 days. The main outcome was analysed on the per-protocol population with a generalised estimating equation model. The predefined equivalence range was –4% to 4%. Secondary outcomes were analysed descriptively. Results The proportion of complete abortion was 94.8% (768/810): 390 (95.4%) in the midwife group and 378 (94.3%) in the physician group. The proportion of incomplete abortion was 5.2% (42/810), similarly distributed between midwives and physicians. The model-based risk difference for midwives versus physicians was 1.0% (–4.1 to 2.2). Most women felt safe (97%; 779/799), and 93% (748/801) perceived the treatment as expected/easier than expected. After contraceptive counselling the uptake of a contraceptive method after 7–10 days occurred in 76% (613/810). No serious adverse events were recorded. Conclusions Treatment of incomplete abortion with misoprostol provided by midwives is equally effective, safe and accepted by women as when administered by physicians in a low-resource setting. Systematically provided contraceptive counselling in PAC is effective to mitigate unmet need for contraception. Trial registration number NCT01865136; Results.
LTCC technology for microfluidic applications based on the gap waveguide technology

In recent years, Low Temperature Co-fired Ceramics (LTCC) have become an attractive technology for microwave and millimeter-wave components due to its high integration density, low dielectric loss at high frequencies, high thermal stability and compatibility with a wide range of assembly techniques. Recently, a number of researchers have demonstrated the use of LTCC to build integrated microelectromechanical and microfluidic device. In this work, we present a new LTCC microfluidic system based on the guiding structure called Gap Waveguide. In this kind of technology the waveguide is generated in a narrow gap between parallel metal plates. One of the plates is textured by a periodic pattern (metallic vias) acting as a High Impedance Surface (HIS) that prevents global parallel-plate modes from propagation. This work provides new performances on the Gap Waveguide concept for microfluidic applications using LTCC.
Glucocorticoid Receptor Nitration Leads to Enhanced Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Novel Steroid Ligands 1

It has recently emerged that posttranslational modification of proteins via nitration of tyrosine residues can alter their function. In this study, we describe that specific nitration of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) by NCX-1015, a novel NO-donating prednisolone derivative (prednisolone 21-[4′-(nitrooxymethyl)benzoate), results in an enhancement of GR-mediated events. Incubation of PBMC and U937 cells with 1–10 μM NCX-1015 caused faster activation of GR as assessed by augmented 1) binding to [3H]dexamethasone, 2) dissociation from heat shock protein 90, and 3) nuclear translocation. PBMCs treated with NCX-1015 contained GR that had undergone tyrosine nitration. The chemistry facilitating the increase in steroid binding capacity observed with NCX-1015 is specific, because changing the position of the NO-donating group or ubiquitous nitration by addition of an NO donor was unable to mimic this event. In vivo treatment with NCX-1015 provoked GR nitration and faster heat shock protein 90 dissociation as assessed in peritoneal cells. Accordingly, NCX-1015, but not prednisolone or other derivatives, produced a rapid inhibition of the early neutrophil recruitment and mediator generation in a model of peritonitis. In conclusion, we report here for the first time that posttranslational modification of GR by this novel nitrosteroid is associated with its enhanced anti-inflammatory activity.
Pulmonary mast cells in cattle and llamas at high altitude

The density of mast cells in various anatomical locations within the lung were measured in a Peruvian Andean llama, a Peruvian Andean cow and a sea‐level‐cow. These densities were determined separately around pulmonary arteries, pulmonary veins, pulmonary arterioles and venules, in the alveolar septa, and around bronchi. The total mast cell density did not differ significantly between the three animals and there were more periarteriolar and perivenular mast cells in the llama than in either of the two cows. These data do not support the hypothesis that the perivascular mast cell is responsible for initiating the vasopressor response to hypoxia. In fact it can be argued that they actually inhibit this response since a high mast cell density was found in the llama, an animal which does not develop pulmonary hypertension at high altitude.
ICA based Artificial Neural Network model for voltage stability monitoring

In this paper, Artificial Neural Network with imperialist competitive algorithm (hybrid ANN-ICA) approach for online monitoring of long-term voltage instability has been proposed. The Imperialist Competitive Algorithm (ICA) has been used to improve the accuracy of ANN by tuning its meta-parameters such as input activation function, output activation function, number of hidden layer neurons and learning rate. The proposed approach uses the voltage phasor as the input vectors measured by phasor measurement units (PMUs) and outputs the Voltage Stability Margin Index (VSMI) vector. The performance evaluation using the proposed approach is carried out on New England 39-bus test system. The results of the proposed hybrid ANN-ICA approach for voltage stability monitoring is compared with ANN model on same data set.
The Value Relevance of a Firm's Carbon profile

This study revisits the valuation relevance of a firm’s carbon profile using a broader notion of a firm’s carbon profile, which includes carbon risk exposure, aside from emissions, and proactive carbon responses (PCRs), identified from publically available information. Initially, we use extant literature and interviews with 28 managers of high carbon emitting firms and five ESG analysts to inform the operationalisation of carbon-risk exposure and identification of PCRs from publically available data. From this, we test the valuation effects of our broader notion of a firm’s carbon profile using a modified Ohlson valuation model and a sample of 51 firms (122 firm-year observations) reporting under the NGER scheme with the necessary financial and market data. We document that, on average, a one standard deviation change in the level of the expanded carbon-risk exposure results in a penalty of 12% of market capitalisation of the sample firms on average. We also find that PCRs partially mitigate the documented penalty on high emitters. The interview results suggest that in terms of PCRs, managers and analysts perceive value in firms developing intangible carbon-related capabilities around adaptability, carbon leadership and stakeholder trust. Our empirical results are consistent with this proposition since we find that adaptability, carbon leadership and stakeholder trust partially mitigate the emissions penalty, whereas emissions reductions do not. Taken together these results are consistent with the argument that capital markets impound the valuation impacts of other carbon-risk exposure, aside from emissions, and PCRs identified from publically available information in firm valuations.
Phosphotyrosine-containing lactate dehydrogenase is restricted to the nuclei of PC12 pheochromocytoma cells

There are five lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) isoenzymes, composed of various combinations of two types of subunits. LDH-5, which contains only the LDH A subunit, is known to be present in both the cytoplasm and the nucleus, to act as a single-stranded DNA-binding protein possibly functioning in transcription and/or replication, and to undergo phosphorylation of tyrosine 238 in approximately 1% of the enzyme after cell transformation by certain tumor viruses. We have characterized LDH from wild-type PC12 pheochromocytoma cells and from a PC12 variant (MPT1) that exhibits altered lactate metabolism and altered expression of multiple genes. Wild-type and MPT1 cells contain different proportions of LDH isoenzymes, with LDH-5 being more predominant in wild-type cells than in the variant. A small fraction of LDH from PC12 cells contains phosphotyrosine. Approximately 99% of the total LDH activity is located in the cytoplasm, but all of the phosphotyrosine-containing LDH is located in the nucleus. Furthermore, essentially all of the nuclear LDH contains phosphotyrosine. These results suggest that tyrosine phosphorylation can affect its role in the nucleus.
Association between nonsyndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate and the glutamic acid decarboxylase 67 gene in the Japanese population

Nonsyndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate (NSCLP) is one of the most common craniofacial malformations. Both genetic and environmental factors are involved in the pathogenesis. In addition to its role as an inhibitory neurotransmitter, γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA) synthesized by glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) is presumed to play a role in normal embryonic, especially facial, development. This notion has been substantiated by the fact that Gad67 knockout mice have been shown to have cleft palate. We hypothesized that GAD67 may be involved in the development of NSCLP and investigated the possible association between the GAD67 gene (GAD67) and NSCLP in Japanese patients. We screened 50 probands for single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in GAD67 using denaturing high performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC) and found seven SNPs. Since two SNPs showed complete linkage disequilibrium (LD) to the other SNPs, we constructed a 5‐locus haplotype of GAD67. The frequency distribution of the haplotype differed between NSCLP patients and controls (P = 0.0028). The frequency of −445A, −292A, −147G, 111C, and IVS9–39T haplotype in the NSCLP patients was significantly lower than that in controls (P = 0.00098). In a transmission disequilibrium test (TDT) in 99 parent–offspring trios, we found −445C, −292C, −147G, 111C, and IVS9–39C haplotype was preferentially transmitted to the patients with cleft lip and palate (P = 0.0077). Our data suggest that GAD67 is involved in the pathogenesis of NSCLP in the Japanese population. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Efficient use of training data for sinhala speech recognition using active learning

Automatic Speech Recognition is an area which requires a large amount of training data. Collecting such quantities of data involves significant time and cost owing to the tedious nature of collecting speech recordings and manual nature of transcribing it. For a low resourced language such as Sinhala, collecting a sufficient data set is a major problem. To address this issue we used the Active Learning technique from the Machine Learning paradigm which is applied to many tasks such as information retrieval. Our experiment using a simple Sinhala speech corpus shows that through the use of Active Learning, the amount of utterances that need to be transcribed can be reduced by some 42% to achieve the same accuracy as using the whole data set without such a strategy. This suggests that Active Learning techniques can be successfully applied to make optimal use of scarce resources for speech recognition for new languages.
Identification of Genes Affecting Wing Patterning Through a Loss-of-Function Mutagenesis Screen and Characterization of med15 Function During Wing Development

The development of the Drosophila melanogaster wing depends on the correct regulation of cell survival, growth, proliferation, differentiation, and pattern formation. These processes, and the genes controlling then, are common to the development of epithelia in many different organisms. To identify additional genes contributing to wing development we have carried out a genetic screen in mosaic wings carrying clones of homozygous mutant cells. We obtained 12 complementation groups corresponding to genes with a proven role in wing formation such as smoothened, thick veins, mothers against dpp, expanded, and fat and 71 new complementation groups affecting the pattern of veins and the size of wing. We mapped one of these groups to the mediator15 gene (med15), a component of the Mediator complex. We show that Med15 and other members of the Mediator complex are required, among other processes, for the transcription of decapentaplegic target genes.