Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The synthesis and fluorescence quenching properties of well soluble hybrid graphene material covalently functionalized with indolizine

Chemically functionalized graphene–indolizine functionalized graphene (IMG) sheets, which can be well dispersed in different organic solvents over four months without obvious aggregation, are obtained through a 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition to graphene with pyridinium ylide. The properties of IMG sheets are investigated using a thorough set of measurements including UV–visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Raman spectroscopy, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and cyclic voltammetry (CV), and a tagging technique has exhibited the distribution of functional groups on the graphene surface. The IMG sheets show very strong quenching by a factor of ∼ 93.4% to that of indolizine, which is attributed to the fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) from indolizine molecules to few-layer graphene sheets. The CV method also proved the catalytic properties of IMG sheets in some redox systems.
Flame monitoring with an AER color vision sensor

We present a new method to sense NIR (Near Infrared Radiation) with an asynchronous pixel event AER (Address Event Representation) color vision sensor. The sensor's asynchronous output data flow can be processed by a computer to monitor oscillations of NIR illumination levels. Such variations can be indicators for fires or flames. The new sensor is an alternative to high-speed CMOS cameras with NIR filters as front-end for flame detection and characterization methods. Our sensor maintains a high temporal resolution and low latency for regions that are bright in the NIR spectrum, e.g. flames and hot-spots, at an overall low (scene dependent) data rate and power consumption. This makes it specially suitable for Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs). A dedicated real-time Java interface was programmed to process the sensor outputs. In this paper, we describe the algorithm for sensing NIR intensity and describe experiments that show oscillations of NIR levels of a flame.
Modélisation de l'effet de la topographie sur la dynamique et la structure de peuplements forestiers hétérogènes

L'etude de l'effet de la variabilite environnementale sur la dynamique et la structure des ecosystemes forestiers permet une meilleure comprehension de leur fonctionnement. La topographie est une source d'heterogeneite importante car elle agit sur les principaux facteurs limitant des communautes forestieres (eau, nutriments, lumiere). Notamment, l'augmentation de la pente cree une anisotropie de la ressource lumineuse au niveau des couronnes par le biais de l'etagement des arbres. L'objectif de cette these est d'etudier l'effet de cette anisotropie sur les caracteristiques du peuplement. Des observations de terrain, issues de la litterature ou d'analyses que j'ai menees sur les donnees d'une foret tropicale d'Inde, mettent en evidence certaines variations de dynamique et de structure forestiere avec la variation de la pente. Cependant l'interpretation de l'effet de l'anisotropie lumineuse sur ces resultats reste difficile compte tenu de l'action d'autres facteurs egalement modifies par la variation de la pente. J'ai donc utilise un modele informatique, arbre dependant des distances, afin d'explorer qualitativement l'effet de la variation de la pente sur la dynamique et la structure de la foret, par le biais de la competition pour la lumiere. Les interactions competitives entre voisins ont lieu au niveau des couronnes et sont illustrees par un indice synthetique qui depend en partie de l'altitude des arbres. Deux types de mortalite sont consideres : une mortalite sur pied, dependante de la densite, et une mortalite par chablis, dependante de la pente. Le modele a permis d'analyser la part des observations de terrain imputables a l'effet de la pente sur la competition pour la lumiere. Il a egalement montre l'evolution avec la pente de caracteristiques difficilement testables dans la realite. Enfin, il a mis en evidence l'importance de la presence de perturbations locales et d'arbres asymetriques sur l'expression des effets de la pente sur le peuplement.
Spatial Analysis of Neonatal Congenital Hypothyroidism and Nitrate as an Environmental Pollutant in Isfahan Province During 2010-2013

Background: Thyroid absorption of iodine could be encumbered by nitrate drinking water when it is transported to the fetal thyroid gland. Therefore, nitrate potentially causes congenital hypothyroidism (CH) due to thyroid dysfunction. In this study, we have not only aimed at spatial determination of CH distribution and nitrate concentration (NC) existing in drinking water, but also we intended to evaluate the probable impact of nitrate on CH incidence. Methods: Annual average of nitrate in drinking-water as well as number of CH infants diagnosed through the screening program were applied to determine the incidence ratio of the disease for each town (from 2010 to 2013). Afterward, Arc GIS 9.3 was used to draw choropleth maps with quantile classification. Data were entered into SPSS 16.0 and Excel 2010 software. Finally, linear regression was applied for data analysis. Results: The incidence rate of CH (considering transient and permanent cases) was about one in every 413 births. Khansar, Golpaygan, Naein, and Ardestan had the highest incidence rate of CH respectively. On the other hand, Tiran, Dehaghan, Khansar, and Fereydan had the highest level of nitrate drinking water. There was a strong relationship between the NC and incidence of CH in Khansar; however, this relationship was not significant (P = 0.392) in Isfahan province. Conclusions: Since there was not a significant relationship between NC in drinking-water and incidence of CH through linear regression analysis, more studies should be implemented to confirm or refute our observations.
Reactive Oxygen Species on GABA Release a

Reactive oxygen species have been shown to induce the release of amino acid neurotransmitters, namely the excitatory amino acids (EAA) glutamate and aspartate,'S2 which are endowed with neurotoxic effe~ts.3. ~ The biological functions of EAA are mediated through several receptor subtypes, but the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor has been extensively studied.s Excessive glutamate, acting through the NMDA class of EEA receptors, would cause excitotoxicity and the neuronal death observed during hypoxia-ischemiaM and in neurodegenerative d i ~ o r d e r s . ~ J ~ Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is the major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the CNS,l1-l3 present in 60-70% of all synapses within the CNS.I4 Glutamate has been shown to evoke the release of GABA,I5J6 which might be valuable as a protective mechanism by inhibiting the excessive neuronal firing induced by the rise in glutamate concentration and possibly preventing this excitation from reaching a neurotoxic level? Our working hypothesis was that free-radical formation, EAA release, and the release of GABA are related events and cooperate in the excitotoxic injury of cells. For this purpose, monolayer cultures of embryonic chick retina cells, enriched in amacrine cells,'7 were used as a model system. In retina, horizontal and amacrine cells have been identified as the principal GABAergic system,IsJ9 their major excitatory input coming from bipolar cells that most likely use EAA as their transmitter.2°. 21 Oxidative stress was induced by the oxidant pair ascorbate (1.5-mM)/Fe2+ (7.5 kM), which gives rise to the highly reactive hydroxy (OH.) radical by the so-called Haber-Weiss reaction.22 The extent of lipid peroxidation was evaluated by determining the amount of rnalondialdehyde (MDA) and cell viability was tested by the release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). 24
Detailed Theoretical and Experimental Study on Single Passband, Photonic Microwave FIR Filter Using Digital Micromirror Device and Continuous-Wave Supercontinuum

We perform a detailed theoretical and experimental study on the impact of the finesse (F) of a multiple wavelength channel optical filter on output microwave filter transfer function in a spectrum slicing-based photonic microwave finite-impulse response (FIR) filter. For this paper, we use the combination of a digital micromirror device-based spatial light modulator and a continuous-wave, depolarized supercontinuum, since it allows us to perform flexible reconfiguration of output filter transfer function. It is found that the superimposed broadband, low-pass RF transfer function induced by the wide linewidth single-wavelength channel effectively suppresses higher order, periodic resonance peaks as the F is reduced. The optical filters with F=2 are found to provide the most effective suppression of higher order peaks, whatever the single channel waveform is: sinusoidal or Gaussian.
Psychomotor performance after short-term anaesthesia.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE The aim was to examine the immediate effects of short-term anaesthesia on the different components of psychomotor performance of the upper extremity and cognitive functions, and to find out if there were any differences in the sensitivities of the different tests. The measured psychomotor aspects were simple reaction time, choice reaction time, speed of movement, index finger-tapping speed, co-ordination, visual spatial memory capacity, digit-symbol substitution and the Maddox Wing test. METHODS The subjects were 30 female patients aged 24-50 yr who had been through a minor gynaecological operation. Anaesthesia had been induced with propofol and alfentanil. The measurements were mainly made with the HPM/BEP system, and the tests were performed 1 h before the anaesthesia and immediately after the wake-up. RESULTS Short-term anaesthesia prolonged the simple reaction time by 7% and the choice reaction times by 25% (one-choice) and 7% (two-choice) and decreased the speed of movement by 10% (one-choice) and 19% (two-choice), index finger-tapping speed by 7% and co-ordination by 7%. In addition, visual spatial memory capacity decreased by 21%, digit-symbol substitution increased by 5% and the Maddox Wing test increased by 68%. CONCLUSIONS Based on the results, it seems that short-term anaesthesia reduces both signal processing at the central level, and motor control and co-ordination of movements at the peripheral level, and has a decreasing effect on motor performance in the above-mentioned aspects measured immediately after wake-up.
LOHAS: loss‐of‐heterozygosity analysis suite

Detection of loss of heterozygosity (LOH) plays an important role in genetic, genomic and cancer research. We develop computational methods to estimate the proportion of homozygous SNP calls, identify samples with structural alterations and/or unusual genotypic patterns, cluster samples with close LOH structures and map the genomic segments bearing LOH by analyzing data of genome‐wide SNP arrays or customized SNP arrays. In addition to cancer genetics/genomics, we also apply the methods to study long contiguous stretches of homozygosity (LCSH) in general populations. The LCSH analysis aids in the identification of samples with complex LCSH patterns indicative of nonrandom mating and/or meiotic recombination cold spots, separation of samples with different genetic backgrounds and sex, and mapping of regions of LCSH. Affymetrix Human Mapping 500K Set SNP data from an acute lymphoblastic leukemia study containing 304 cancer patients and 50 normal controls and from the HapMap Project containing 30 African trios, 30 Caucasian trios and 90 independent Asian samples were analyzed. We identified common gene regions of LOH, e.g., ETV6 and CDKN1B, and identified frequent regions of LCSH, e.g., the region that encompasses the centromeric gene desert region of chromosome 16. Unsupervised analysis separated cancer subtypes and ethnic subpopulations by patterns of LOH/LCSH. Simulation studies considering LOH width, effect size and heterozygous interference fraction were performed, and the results show that the proposed LOH association test has good test power and controls type 1 error well. The developed algorithms are packaged into LOHAS written in R and R GUI. Genet. Epidemiol. 35: 247‐260, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A signal generator for real time vibrotactile stimulations

A compact and reduced cost signal generator with variable frequency is presented in this work. It is programmed through serial communication, with application in systems of real time training for hearing impaired people with vibrotactile feedback. This signal generator was developed in order to correct delays caused by digitalization and voice signal processing in real time applications. Using an external generator, one separates the action or signal generation, to be applied in the tactile or vibrotactile actuator, from the acquisition and voice signal processing part.
A dual band dual polarization slot patch antenna

A dual band and dual polarization slot patch antenna for Global Positioning System (GPS) and wireless LAN network with the corresponding polarizations is proposed. An L-shaped slot and a small stub are utilized to excite the desirable right-hand circular polarization (RHCP) for GPS. Meanwhile the linearly polarized electromagnetic wave for Wi-Fi communications at 2.4 GHz is contributed by an arc-shaped slot embedded circular patch. The multi-layered geometry and the capacitive feeding disk placed between the substrate layers enhance the operating bandwidths of the antenna. The achievable percentage bandwidths at the low and high bands are 6.4% and 7% respectively. The measured 3dB axial ratio (AR) bandwidth is 34 MHz, which covers the GPS L1 band.
Genome Analysis RNA Interference-Based Gene Silencing as an Efficient Tool for Functional Genomics in Hexaploid Bread Wheat 1 [ W ] [ OA ]

Insertional mutagenesis and gene silencing are efficient tools for the determination of gene function. In contrast to gainor lossof-function approaches, RNA interference (RNAi)-induced gene silencing can possibly silence multigene families and homoeologous genes in polyploids. This is of great importance for functional studies in hexaploid wheat (Triticum aestivum), where most of the genes are present in at least three homoeologous copies and conventional insertional mutagenesis is not effective. We have introduced into bread wheat double-stranded RNA-expressing constructs containing fragments of genes encoding Phytoene Desaturase (PDS) or the signal transducer of ethylene, Ethylene Insensitive 2 (EIN2). Transformed plants showed phenotypic changes that were stably inherited over at least two generations. These changes were very similar to mutant phenotypes of the two genes in diploid model plants. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction revealed a good correlation between decreasing mRNA levels and increasingly severe phenotypes. RNAi silencing had the same quantitative effect on all three homoeologous genes. The most severe phenotypes were observed in homozygous plants that showed the strongest mRNA reduction and, interestingly, produced around 2-fold the amount of small RNAs compared to heterozygous plants. This suggests that the effect of RNAi in hexaploid wheat is gene-dosage dependent. Wheat seedlings with low mRNA levels for EIN2 were ethylene insensitive. Thus, EIN2 is a positive regulator of the ethylene-signaling pathway in wheat, very similar to its homologs in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) and rice (Oryza sativa). Our data show that RNAi results in stably inherited phenotypes and therefore represents an efficient tool for functional genomic studies in polyploid wheat.
Comparison of a DNA based PCR method with conventional methods for the detection of M. tuberculosis in Jos, Nigeria.

BACKGROUND To achieve early diagnosis and effective treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis, simple and sensitive methods that enhance the detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis) from clinical specimens are needed. This study compared the effectiveness and suitability of an insertion sequence (IS 6110) based polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay with conventional methods for the detection of M. tuberculosis from clinical specimens in a resource-limited setting. METHODS Sputa from 101 HIV-positive patients and 40 clinical specimens (sputa, gastic wash out, ascitic fluid, pleural fluid and cerebrospinal fluid) collected from children (HIV status unknown), all suspected for pulmonary tuberculosis at the Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos, (JUTH) Nigeria, were examined by Ziehl Neelsen (ZN) smear microscopy, Lowenstein Jensen's (LJ) egg-based culture, and PCR methods for the detection of M. tuberculosis. RESULTS Mycobacteria was detected in 45/101 (44.6%) of the specimens from the HIV-positive patients and comprised of 6% ZN(+)culture(+)PCR(+), 4% ZN(-)culture(+)PCR(-), 16% ZN(-)culture(+)PCR(+) and 19% ZN(-)culture(-)PCR(+). Twenty-two of forty (55%) children were positive with 0% smear microscopy; 4/40 (10%) culture(+)PCR(+); and 18/40 (45%) culture(-)PCR(+). The sensitivity and specificity of the PCR for the HIV-positive patients were 85% and 74% respectively against 23% and 100% for ZN smear microscopy. CONCLUSION The IS6110 PCR is a rapid and sensitive method that is specific for the M. tuberculosis complex group. It is simple in our experience and increased the detection of M. tuberculosis from the specimens examined. We suggest its use for the detection of M. tuberculosis in high TB and HIV burden areas.
The Effects of Estrogen and Progesterone on Blood Glutamate Levels: Evidence from Changes of Blood Glutamate Levels During the Menstrual Cycle in Women

The gonadal steroids estrogen and progesterone have been shown to have neuroprotective properties against various neurodegenerative conditions. Excessive concentrations of glutamate have been found to exert neurotoxic properties. We hypothesize that estrogen and progesterone provide neuroprotection by the autoregulation of blood and brain glutamate levels. Venous blood samples (10 ml) were taken from 31 men and 45 women to determine blood glutamate, estrogen, progesterone, glucose, glutamate-pyruvate transaminase (GPT), and glutamate-oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT) levels, collected on Days 1, 7, 12, and 21 of the female participants' menstrual cycle. Blood glutamate concentrations were higher in men than in women at the start of menstruation (P < 0.05). Blood glutamate levels in women decreased significantly on Days 7 (P < 0.01), 12 (P < 0.001), and 21 (P < 0.001) in comparison with blood glutamate levels on Day 1. There was a significant decrease in blood glutamate levels on Days 12 (P < 0.001) and 21 (P < 0.001) in comparison with blood glutamate levels on Day 7. Furthermore, there was an increase in blood glutamate levels on Day 21 compared with Day 12 (P < 0.05). In women, there were elevated levels of estrogen on Days 7 (P < 0.05), 12, and 21 (P < 0.001), and elevated levels of progesterone on Days 12 and 21 (P < 0.001). There were no differences between men and women with respect to blood glucose concentrations. Concentrations of GOT (P < 0.05) and GPT (P < 0.001) were significantly higher in men than in women during the entire cycle. The results of this study demonstrate that blood glutamate levels are inversely correlated to levels of plasma estrogen and progesterone.
Metabotropic Glutamate 5 Receptor Antagonist MPEP Decreased Nicotine and Cocaine Self‐Administration but Not Nicotine and Cocaine‐Induced Facilitation of Brain Reward Function in Rats

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Diaspora Voting and Ethnic Politics in Kenya

Many African governments have extended voting rights to nationals living abroad, but little is known about the political behavior of diaspora populations. In the context of Kenya, where the 2010 constitution authorized diaspora voting, we ask whether nationals living abroad are as likely to vote along ethnic lines as their counterparts at home. Using data from public opinion polls prior to the March 2013 presidential election, we compare levels of support for presumed ethnic candidates among Kenyans surveyed in the diaspora and those surveyed in the country. Overall, diaspora respondents were significantly less likely than in-country respondents to support the presumed ethnic candidate from their home province. The results provide preliminary support for our hypothesis that diaspora Africans are less likely to vote along ethnic lines than their in-country counterparts, and thus are less reliable for the construction of ethnic coalitions. More survey data are needed from Kenyans and other Africans living abroad to further examine the relationship between diaspora voting and ethnicity in African politics.
Methodic of calculation of the non-sinusoidal voltage index within electrical networks with high-voltage frequency convertors

The paper gives the procedure for calculation of the voltage non-sinusoidality ratio of the electric mains supplying electric drives with high voltage frequency convertors. It includes the calculation charts which help to predict its value for the cases with six- or similar twelve-phase rectifiers and various relations of inductive impedance of the matching transformer (input reactor) and similar one of the electric supply system. The paper determines the ratio of short circuit power and variable frequency drive power providing specified values of the non-sinusoidality ratio for convertors with various rectification circuits. It considers activities providing electromagnetic compatibility of the power frequency convertors with the electric supply main. They include changes within the electric supply system structure, improvement of the frequency converter circuits and application of devices for changing the unified power quality index. It proves that it is more reasonable to raise the rectifier pulse number and apply the rectifier with pulse width modulation.