Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cobalt sulfide nanosheet/graphene/carbon nanotube nanocomposites as flexible electrodes for hydrogen evolution.

Flexible three-dimensional (3D) nanoarchitectures have received tremendous interest recently because of their potential applications in wearable electronics, roll-up displays, and other devices. The design and fabrication of a flexible and robust electrode based on cobalt sulfide/reduced graphene oxide/carbon nanotube (CoS2 /RGO-CNT) nanocomposites are reported. An efficient hydrothermal process combined with vacuum filtration was used to synthesize such composite architecture, which was then embedded in a porous CNT network. This conductive and robust film is evaluated as electrocatalyst for the hydrogen evolution reaction. The synergistic effect of CoS2 , graphene, and CNTs leads to unique CoS2 /RGO-CNT nanoarchitectures, the HER activity of which is among the highest for non-noble metal electrocatalysts, showing 10 mA cm(-2) current density at about 142 mV overpotentials and a high electrochemical stability.
Image denoising based on weighted regularized least square method

Noise in an image is caused due to various reasons. Removal of noise in an efficient way is a big challenge for researchers. In this paper, one dimensional signal denoising based on weighted regularized least square method is mapped to two dimensional image denoising. The proposed technique of image denoising based on least square is experimented on standard images sub-jected to different noises with varying noise levels. The effectiveness of the proposed method of image denoising is compared against the recently pro-posed sparse banded filter based image denoising technique. The comparison is done based on standard metric called peak signal to noise ratio(PSNR). The experimental result analysis shows that the proposed technique of least square image denoising outperforms the recently proposed sparse banded fil-ter based image denoising. The advantages of the proposed method are sim-ple computation and fast processing.
Multi-path transmission control scheme combining bandwidth aggregation and packet scheduling for real-time streaming in multi-path environment

These days, a wide variety of wireless interfaces are available to connect to Internet. When coverage area of these different technologies overlap, receiver equipped with multiple interfaces can use them simultaneously to improve the performance of its applications in terms of bandwidth rely on bandwidth aggregation. However, specific conditions such as bottleneck bandwidth and end-to-end delay need to be accounted for before using such techniques. If this problem of end-to-end delay and bottleneck bandwidth are not properly addressed, there may be many packets along multiple paths which can arrive late and can lead to a large number of out-of-order packets at the receiver, which can eventually cause serious degradation of video quality at the receiver. For this reason, in this study, the authors propose a multi-path transmission control scheme (MTCS) combining bandwidth aggregation and packet scheduling for real-time streaming in a multi-path environment. In a bandwidth aggregation scheme, the authors propose a mathematical model to find the transmission rate over each path in order to obtain the optimal total throughput. However, the end-to-end delay of each path is not the same. The out-of-order packets problem will become serious in a multi-path environment. Therefore the authors propose a packet scheduling scheme to arrange the transmission sequence in order to effectively minimise the impact of packet reordering at the receiver. Our proposed control scheme not only aggregates the available bandwidth of multiple paths, but also reduces the time of packet reordering at the receiver. Experimental results show with our proposed scheme, the authors not only obtain the optimal transmission throughput but also reduce packet reordering delays under varying drop and delay conditions caused by the underlying network.
Soft electrostatic repulsion in particle monolayers at liquid interfaces: surface pressure and effect of aggregation

Non-densely packed interfacial monolayers from charged micrometre-sized colloid particles find applications for producing micropatterned surfaces. The soft electrostatic repulsion between the particles in a monolayer on an air/water (or oil/water) interface is mediated by the non-polar fluid, where Debye screening is absent and the distances between the particles are considerably greater than their diameters. Surface pressure versus area isotherms were measured at the air/water interface. The experiments show that asymptotically the surface pressure is inversely proportional to the third power of the interparticle distance. A theoretical model is developed that predicts not only the aforementioned asymptotic law but also the whole surface pressure versus area dependence. An increase in the surface pressure upon aggregation of charged particles in the interfacial monolayers is experimentally established. This effect is explained by the developed theoretical model, which predicts that the surface pressure should linearly increase with the square root of the particle mean aggregation number. The effect of added electrolyte on the aggregation is also investigated. The data lead to the conclusion that ‘limited aggregation’ exists in the monolayers of charged particles. In brief, the stronger electrostatic repulsion between the bigger aggregates leads to a higher barrier to their coalescence that, in turn, prevents any further aggregation, i.e. negative feedback is present. This article is part of the themed issue ‘Soft interfacial materials: from fundamentals to formulation’.
Marketing strategy – foundation for SMEs development on Macedonian consumer market of confectionery products

Marketing strategy helps to set the way of future success in general. The aim of this paper is to explain how marketing strategy can be effective for the development of (Small and Medium Enterprises) SMEs, in particular on the consumer market. It will show how to design a marketing strategy for the SMEs in confectionery industry, hence it is the industry in which the domestic Macedonian companies are losing the market share to foreign competitors with brand names and closely defined strategies. The paper will provide answers to the question how is marketing strategy positively associated with company’s development and growth in the confectionery industry.
Exon and intron definition in pre‐mRNA splicing

One of the fundamental issues in RNA splicing research is represented by understanding how the spliceosome can successfully define exons and introns in a huge variety of pre‐mRNA molecules with nucleotide‐precision. Since its first description, researchers in this field have identified and characterized many fundamental elements and players capable of affecting the splicing process, both in a negative and positive manner. Indeed, it can be argued that today we know a great deal about the forces that make an exon, an exon and an intron, an intron. As will be discussed in this review, these decisions are a result of a complex combinatorial control resulting from many different factors/influences. Most importantly, these influences act across several levels of complexity starting from the relatively simple interaction between two consensus 5′ and 3′ splice sites to much more complex factors: such as the interplay between silencer or enhancer sequences, transcriptional processivity, genomic milieu, nucleosome positioning, and histone modifications at the chromatin level. Depending on local contexts, all these factors will act either antagonistically or synergistically to decide the exon/intron fate of any given RNA sequence. At present, however, what we still lack is a precise understanding of how all these processes add up to help the spliceosome reach a decision. Therefore, it is expected that future challenges in splicing research will be the careful characterization of all these influences to improve our ability to predict splicing choices in different organisms or in specific contexts. WIREs RNA 2013, 4:49–60. doi: 10.1002/wrna.1140
Descartes's blind man revisited: bimanual triangulation of distance using static hand-held rods.

Analogous to binocular convergence, we tested Descartes's proposal that a blind person could triangulate distances using crossed hand-held rods by sensing hand separation and wrist angles. In Experiment 1, 22 participants judged distances to loci at 4 distances, 18-36 in. (45.7-91.4 cm), at 5 eccentricities, 0-12 in. (0-30.5 cm) left and right of center. Participants reliably differentiated and scaled distances. The median individual multiple correlation (actual distances and eccentricities vs. judged distances; nonlinear with eccentricity) was . 91 (range, .75 to .95; group R = .98). In Experiment 2, 2 experienced observers judged 7 distances, 30-66 in. (76.2-167.6 cm) at 7 eccentricities, 0-18 in. (0-45.7 cm) left and right. Results replicated those of Experiment 1, with nonlinear multiple Rs of . 97 and . 99 for the 2 participants. Bimanual triangulation supported reliable distance judgments, comparable to binocular distance perception. No evidence of perceptual learning was found.
Hyperimmunoglobulinemia D and Periodic Fever Syndrome: The Clinical Spectrum in a Series of 50 Patients

We studied 50 patients (28 male and 22 female) with the hyper-IgD and periodic fever syndrome. Most patients originated from Europe, namely The Netherlands (28 cases; 56%), France (10 cases, 20%), and Italy (3 cases, 6%), but 1 patient was from Japan. A hereditary component is suggested by 18 patients coming from 8 families. The syndrome is typified by a very early age at onset (median, 0.5 years) and life-long persistence of periodic fever. Characteristically, attacks occur every 4-8 weeks and continue for 3-7 days, but the individual variation is large. Attacks feature high spiking fever, preceded by chills in 76% of patients. Lymphadenopathy is commonly present (94% of patients). During attacks, 72% of patients complained of abdominal pains, 56% of vomiting, 82% of diarrhea, and 52% of headache. Joint involvement is common in the hyper-IgD syndrome with poly-arthralgia in 80% and a non-destructive arthritis, mainly of the large joints (knee and ankle), in 68% of patients. Eighty-two percent of patients reported skin lesions with some attacks; these demonstrated vasculitis histologically. Serositis has been seen in only 3 patients (6%), while amyloidosis has not been recorded in any of the patients with this syndrome. Immunizations precipitated attacks in 54% of patients. All patients had a persistently elevated serum IgD level (> 100 U/mL), and in 82% of cases the serum IgA was likewise elevated. During attacks there is an acute-phase response adjudged by leukocytosis, neutrophilia, and increased ESR. The etiology remains to be elucidated, and treatment is supportive. The hyper-IgD syndrome is distinct from other periodic fever syndromes like systemic-onset juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, adult-onset Still disease, and familial Mediterranean fever.
Piezoelectric MEMS deformable mirrors with high-density actuator array

We fabricated piezoelectric MEMS deformable mirror (DM) with high-density actuator array for adaptive optics to realize low-voltage and high-resolution retinal imaging. 61-element actuator array composed of lead zirconate titanate (PZT) thin film was deposited on the mirror diaphragm, and the diaphragm was deformed by applying control voltage onto the individual actuator through lead lines prepared on a polyimide insulating layer with through holes. The deformation characteristics of the fabricated DM were measured with a laser Doppler vibrometer, and independent application of a voltage on the individual actuator was confirmed. We also confirmed relatively large stroke of 0.23 µm under low-voltage of 20 V without displacement hysteresis.
Development of a modular inductive power transfer system with a reactive power correction for EV application

Inductive Power Transfer (IPT) is the most available method to transfer the power wireless by loose coupling. Various IPT systems for electric vehicles are either under development or deployed as aftermarket options in the automotive industry. In this work, a series-series compensated inductive power transfer system for electric vehicles is presented and investigated, which allows a power transmission up to 3.7 kW. The drivers of the inverter are completely galvanic insulated from the ac grid side by optocouplers to ensure safety. The temperature measurement is performed by negative temperature coefficient thermistor (NTC) and is galvanic insulated from the insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) module as well. Each driver of the IGBT's on the primary side is separated from the other ones so that if one driver is damaged, a replacement can easily be installed. The frequency and power control is also integrated and will be shown in this paper. The proposed IPT topology is simple, robust and modular.
Assessing Productivity And Performance Of Seaports: The Importance For Gateways

The advent of containerization has increased transshipment possibilities through some ports, while reducing the competitive advantages of others. The supply chain management concept implies that successful ports must add value to the movement of freight, such as by decreasing transit time or by providing valueadded services. In light of these environmental developments, potential port strategies are analyzed using Porter’s (1980) three generic strategies and through the lens of the resource-based view of competitive advantage. Different resource characteristics are identified with distinct strategies. The major implication for port management is the need to closely assess a port’s operating position in order to properly arrive at a competitive strategy.
Molecular markers of early Parkinson's disease based on gene expression in blood

Parkinson's disease (PD) progresses relentlessly and affects five million people worldwide. Laboratory tests for PD are critically needed for developing treatments designed to slow or prevent progression of the disease. We performed a transcriptome-wide scan in 105 individuals to interrogate the molecular processes perturbed in cellular blood of patients with early-stage PD. The molecular multigene marker here identified is associated with risk of PD in 66 samples of the training set comprising healthy and disease controls [third tertile cross-validated odds ratio of 5.7 (P for trend 0.005)]. It is further validated in 39 independent test samples [third tertile odds ratio of 5.1 (P for trend 0.04)]. Insights into disease-linked processes detectable in peripheral blood are offered by 22 unique genes differentially expressed in patients with PD versus healthy individuals. These include the cochaperone ST13, which stabilizes heat-shock protein 70, a modifier of α-synuclein misfolding and toxicity. ST13 messenger RNA copies are lower in patients with PD (mean ± SE 0.59 ± 0.05) than in controls (0.96 ± 0.09) (P = 0.002) in two independent populations. Thus, gene expression signals measured in blood can facilitate the development of biomarkers for PD.
Triglyceride accumulation: inhibitory effects of tangzhiqing formula.

CONTEXT The tangzhiqing formula (TZQ-F) is a traditional antidiabetic prescription that includes red peony root, mulberry leaf, lotus leaf, danshen root, and hawthorn leaf. The research team's previous study showed that the TZQ-F had beneficial effects on abnormal glucose and lipid metabolism. OBJECTIVE This study was aimed at investigating TZQ-F's mechanism of lipid metabolism to evaluate its inhibitory effect on triglyceride (TG) accumulation. DESIGN This study included both an in vivo and an in vitro component. For the in vivo study, C57BL/6 mice were used as the normal control group, and KK-A(y) mice were divided into five groups: (1) model control group, (2) positive control group (10 mg/kg/d rosiglitazone), (3) 500 mg/kg/d TZQ-F treated KK-A(y) mice, (4) 200 mg/kg/d TZQ-F treated KK-A(y) mice, and (5) 100 mg/kg/d TZQ-F treated KK-A(y) mice. For the in vitro study, 3T3-L1 cells were divided into the following: (A) red peony total saponins, (B) danshen total polyphenols, (C) lotus leaf total flavonoids, (D) lotus leaf total alkaloids, (E) mulberry leaf total flavonoids, (F) mulberry leaf total alkaloids, (G) mulberry leaf polysaccharide, and (H) hawthorn leaf total flavonoids, and (I) tangzhiqing formula, including a normal group (NG) and a model control group (CG). SETTING This study occurred at Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TUTCM), Tianjin, China. INTERVENTION TZQ-F, suspended either in a 5% acacia solution and a vehicle (5% acacia solution) were given orally to the KK-A(y) mice once/d (16:00-17:00) for 4 wk. OUTCOME MEASURES RT-PCR and a Western blot analysis were used to detect gene and protein expression respectively. RESULTS The in vivo study showed that TZQ-F significantly reduced body weight without changing food intake in KK-A(y) mice and significantly decreased the levels of serum glucose (GLU), triglycerides (TG), and free fatty acids (FFA). TZQ-F significantly increased expression of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and phosphorylation of AMPK in the liver and muscle tissues of the KK-A(y) mice. TZQ-F significantly decreased expression of acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), fatty-acid synthase (FAS), hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in the liver and muscles. It also significantly decreased expression of sterol regulatory element binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c) while it significantly increased expression of glucose transporter type 4 (GLUT-4). The in vitro study showed that TZQ-F significantly suppressed the accumulation of TG and FFA in mature adipocytes and similarly increased expression of AMPK and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors-α (PPAR-α) and phosphorylation of AMPK, while it decreased expression of ACC, FAS, HSL, and SREBP-1c. CONCLUSIONS The findings partly clarified the inhibitory effects of TZQ-F on TG accumulation related to the AMPK signaling pathway.
Overcoming Cloning Problems by Staining Agarose Gels with Crystal Violet Instead Of Ethidium Bromide in Lactate Dehydrogenase Gene from Plasmodium Vivax And Plasmodium Falciparum

In this study, lactate dehydrogenase gene from Plasmodium vivax has been tried to subclone into an expression vector. Some of the Plasmodium falciparum lactate dehydrogenase mutant genes have also been tried to clone and subclone into a vector, but we failed to clone or subclone either of the genes. DNA visualisation in electrophoretic gels typically requires UV radiation and the fluorecent dye ethidium bromide. A crystal violet-stained gel was run instead of an ethidium bromide gel and so avoided the use of UV radiation. This enabled us to clone or subclone both Plasmodium vivax lactate dehydrogenase gene and Plasmodium falciparum lactate dehydrogenase mutant genes into any desired vector.
Lipid Metabolism in Farm Animals

In this brief review of lipid metabolism in farm animals we have focussed on aspects (in particular triacylglycerol production) which are of importance in their use for human consumption. Also, as lipid metabolism is very similar in all mammals, with variations arising primarily from differences in diet, we have concentrated on domestic ruminants. Cattle and sheep are herbivores but like all mammals they are unable to digest cellulose, the major carbohydrate moiety of leaves and shoots. This problem has been resolved in herbivores by the development of modifications to the digestive tract to slow down the passage of nutrients and by acquisition of a microbial population within the digestive tract which can digest cellulose. In some species (e.g. horse, rabbit) the microbes are located primarily in an extension of the hind-gut, but in cattle and sheep there is a major extension of the gut proximal to the stomach (the rumen) which houses the microbes. Thus, in cattle and sheep dietary nutrients are exposed to the activities of microorganisms before entry into the true stomach (abomasum). This, as described below, has considerable implications for lipid metabolism in these animals. In contrast, lipid metabolism in pigs is very similar to that in humans (see Gurr, 1988): both are omnivores and are simple-stomached. In the pig, as in man, the fatty acid composition of triacylglycerols can be modulated readily by dietary means. Much more detailed accounts of lipid metabolism in farm animals can be found in Lipid Metabolism in Ruminant Animals (Christie, 1981a) and Fats in Animal Nutrition (Wiseman, 1984).
Genetic algorithms for optimization of thematic regional clusters

Genetic algorithms are search procedure, based on mechanics of natural genetics, able to provide robust search in complex problem spaces. The substance of the solution is to find optimal traffic flow between explicit junctions. We can say it is solution for traffic systems. GA is possible to use also for non-traffic solutions of regional problems such as for development of tourism. Tourism is the world's largest industry and one of the fastest growing and as such faces exciting opportunities and tough challenges in a fast-changing and increasingly competitive global market. There are many local authorities all over the world that embark on a bold new direction in pursuing their local's (or state's) economic development in establishing of clusters. A cluster is defined, in simplest terms, as a geographic region containing enough companies that have similar or related needs and interests to generate external economies of scale and produce innovation. This paper solves the problem how to put together theses companies to have simple connection between them. Topic of paper is connected to our paper Pre-Computation of Regional Data for Optimization Analysis in EUROCON 2005 - The International Conference on "Computer as a Tool".
Crystal structure of a novel prokaryotic Ser/Thr kinase and its implication in the Cpx stress response pathway

The Cpx signalling system of Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica senses extracytoplasmic stress and controls expression of factors that allow the bacterium to adapt to these stressors and thereby enhance survival. Many of the Cpx‐responsive genes products are of unknown function. We determined the crystal structure of one of these gene products, called YihE in E. coli, which exhibits a eukaryotic kinase fold. Functional assays established that both YihE and the S. enterica YihE homologue, RdoA, undergo autophosphorylation and phosphorylate protein substrates at Ser/Thr residues in vitro, demonstrating that YihE/RdoA is a novel Ser/Thr protein kinase in prokaryotic cells. Phenotypic analysis of yihE/rdoA null strains indicates that this kinase is most abundant in stationary phase, and is important for long‐term cell survival and for expression of surface appendages in both a Cpx‐independent and ‐dependent manner. YihE/RdoA is therefore a previously unknown kinase component of a new type of bacterial phosphorelay mechanism, adding kinase activity as another response to the Cpx sensing system that functions to maintain cellular homeostasis.