Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Recruitment of progenitor cell populations by chemoattractant degradation products of extracellular matrix scaffolds

Biologic scaffolds composed of extracellular matrix (ECM) have been successfully used as templates for the constructive remodeling of numerous tissues in preclinical studies and human clinical applications. The mechanisms by which ECM induces remodeling are largely unknown, but the degradation products of ECM may play key roles in constructive remodeling. This dissertation investigated the hypothesis that ECM degradation products possess chemoattractant properties for progenitor cell (PC) populations that participate in constructive remodeling. We investigated different methods of in vitro degradation of ECM and determined physiologically relevant methods of degradation yielded degradation products with chemoattractant activity. Both pepsin and collagenase digestion of ECM resulted in chemoattraction of two distinct PC populations. We then investigated if ECM degradation products from a given tissue have more potent chemoattractant properties for PCs derived from the same tissue type than for PCs derived from other tissues. Although ECM derived from skin, liver, small intestine, and urinary bladder were all chemoattractive for at least one PC population, a tissue-specific chemotactic effect was not observed in studies using skin, liver, and intestinal PCs. However, results showed that the age and species from which ECM is harvested has an effect on the chemoattractant potential of the ECM for some PC populations. We investigated if prevention or retardation of ECM degradation in vivo would reduce bone marrow-derived PC involvement in constructive remodeling, yielding a different histomorphologic outcome than normal ECM degradation. Bone marrow-derived cells (BMCs) participated in the early remodeling of wounded mouse skin treated with rapidly degrading ECM scaffolds. By 28 days post-surgery, the number of BMCs returned to normal levels, suggesting that these cells do not participate in long-term constructive remodeling of mouse skin. Slowly degrading chemically crosslinked ECM scaffolds did not recruit more BMCs than are found in normal uninjured mouse skin at any time investigated. Wounds treated with rapidly degrading ECM appeared to remodel more rapidly than other treatment groups. These results suggest that scaffold type affects the temporal remodeling of injured mouse skin and that while BMCs participate in remodeling of skin wounds in mice, local tissue cells may also play an important role.
Warehousing consent?

Grâce a la comparaison entre deux etudes de cas situees en Italie et en France dans le secteur de la logistique, cet article etudie les effets de la precarisation de l’emploi sur les mobilisations collectives et les formes actuelles de resistance au travail. A Padoue comme a Senart, le secteur logistique est generateur d’une precarite professionnelle importante : en France, par la segmentation de la main-d’œuvre par l’interim, recrutant les fractions disqualifiees du salariat subalterne ; en Italie, par la sous-traitance de la main-d’œuvre ouvriere a des cooperatives recrutant principalement des travailleurs immigres. Mais, alors qu’au cours des dix dernieres annees, l’Italie a vu emerger dans les entrepots du nord du pays, notamment a Padoue, une mobilisation d’ampleur, dont les travailleurs immigres ont ete les protagonistes, les rares episodes conflictuels en France sont des conflits defensifs qui ne depassent pas le cadre d’un etablissement. En s’interessant aux pratiques de mobilite professionnelle de la main-d’œuvre et aux jeux syndicaux locaux, l’article montre que la captivite de la main-d’œuvre et les relations d’interconnaissances sur lesquelles s’appuient les strategies syndicales jouent un role central dans la mobilisation collective a Padoue, alors qu’a Melun-Senart, la mobilite des travailleurs restreint la conflictualite a un petit groupe de militants syndicaux du segment stable de la main-d’œuvre.
Global-Local Optimization of Flapping Kinematics in Hovering Flight

The kinematics of a hovering wing are optimized by combining the 2-d unsteady vortex lattice method with a hybrid of global and local optimization algorithms. The objective is to minimize the required aerodynamic power under a lift constraint. The hybrid optimization is used to efficiently navigate the complex design space due to wing-wake interference present in hovering aerodynamics. The flapping wing is chosen so that its chord length and flapping frequency match the morphological and flight properties of two insects with different masses. The results suggest that imposing a delay between the different oscillatory motions defining the flapping kinematics, and controlling the way through which the wing rotates at the end of each half stroke can improve aerodynamic power under a lift constraint. Furthermore, our optimization analysis identified optimal kinematics that agree fairly well with observed insect kinematics, as well as previously published numerical results.
Forecasting of Tea Yield Based on Energy Inputs using Artificial Neural Networks (A case study: Guilan province of Iran)

The objective of this study was the exploring relation between energy inputs and tea yield using artificial neural network (ANN) in the Guilan province of Iran. For this purpose, the energy use pattern was determined by collection data from 30 tea farmers using face-to-face questionnaire method in the many village of studied region. The results indicated the tot al energy consumption and yield of tea production were 46144.04 MJ ha -1 and 8419.47 kg ha -1 , respectively. The highest share of energy consumption was belonged to nitrogen with 50.84%. In this study, the energy indices covering energy use efficiency, energy productivity, specific energy and net energy were calculated at 0.18, 0.23 kg MJ -1 , 4.38 MJ kg -1 and -37724.57 MJ ha -1 , respectively. Moreover, the share of energy forms including direct, indirect, renewable and non -renewable energies was found to be as 42.96%, 57.04%, 28.34% and 71.66%, respectively. For forecasting of tea yield based on energy inputs, ANN model developed by Back propagation algorithm in this study. The results illustrated the ANN model with 7-13-13-1 architecture had the best condition for predict of tea yield. With respect to ANN model, R2, RMSE and MAPE was computed as 0.968, 0.105 and 0.006, respectively. In the last section of this study, sensitivity analysis was applied by ANN for robustness of evaluated mode. The results disclosed the farmyard manure had the highest rate of sensitivity among all inputs.
Testing of ground conductors with artificially generated lightning current

Alternative conductors for lightning protection applications favorable for use in mobile systems have been tested to demonstrate high levels of protection against maximal lightning events. The method of determining the survivability of the down conductors was to expose each type of conductor to maximal lightning events generated by a large Marx capacitor bank. Each type of conductor was tested until mechanical failure occurred or until it survived four exposures to the lightning event. A test to determine the effect of physical damage on conductor performance was also conducted. A theory attributing interstrand or intraconductor magnetic forces, rather than ohmic heating, as the primary cause of conductor failure is proposed. Results Indicate that two types of tested conductor exist which can provide protection against maximal lightning events, yet have properties that lend themselves to mobile application.
Implementation of hybrid short-term load forecasting system using artificial neural networks and fuzzy expert systems

In this paper, a hybrid model for short-term load forecast that integrates artificial neural networks and fuzzy expert systems is presented. The forecasted load is obtained by passing through two steps. In the first procedure, the artificial neural networks are trained with the load patterns corresponding to the forecasting hour, and the provisional forecasted load is obtained by the trained artificial neural networks. In the second procedure, the fuzzy expert systems modify the provisional forecasted load considering the possibility of load variation due to changes in temperature and the load behavior of holiday. In the test case of 1994 for implementation in the short term load forecasting expert system of Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO), the proposed hybrid model provided good forecasting accuracy of the mean absolute percentage errors below 1.3%. The comparison results with exponential smoothing method showed the efficiency and accuracy of the hybrid model. >
Modeling and Simulation of Big Pendulum Hammer with Natural Coordinates

The dynamic of a type of play equipment, Big Pendulum Hammer, was modeled and simulated in computer and the approach of natural coordinates was adopted to build its equation of motion. In order to obtain appropriate natural coordinates, a two-step selection method was chosen, which based on concept of natural coordinate system (NCS). The two-step method treats selecting natural coordinates for a rigid element as building an actual NCS which should be adapted from a standard NCS. In order to automate the process of adaptation for 18 rigid elements in the model of Big Pendulum Hammer, a four-step self-adaptation method was also adopted, which can help automate the selection of natural coordinates for multi-rigidbody systems.
CPW bandstop filter using slot-type SRRs

The bandstop characteristic of a slot-type split-ring resonator (SRR) on a substrate used for microwave frequencies is presented for a bandstop filter. Analogously to the conventional strip-type SRR, the slot-type SRR is very attractive for notching unwanted band because of its small dimension and high Q operation. In addition, the complementary SRR can be easily applied for coplanar configuration, which is favourable to MMIC designs. Based on the simulation and measurement results, the slot-type SRR for the bandstop filter is very effective in rejecting unwanted frequency in terms of its selectivity and size.
Novel linearizer using balanced circulators and its application to multilevel digital radio systems

A miniaturized RF predistortion linearizer for a GaAs field-effect transistor power amplifier applicable to 256 quadrature-amplitude modulation (QAM) digital microwave systems is presented. This linearizer, which is based upon the cuber linearizer technique, utilizes circulators and a pair of diodes in the distortion generator to obtain high signal component isolation, and in the variable phase shifter to compensate for temperature variations. This allows miniaturization and easy adjustment of the circuit. Results show that a distortion reduction of more than 10 dB is obtained over a 300 MHz bandwidth. It was verified that distortion reduction can be achieved over a temperature range from 0 to 50 degrees C. The fundamental characteristics of the linearizer and its effect on the 256-QAM signal are shown. The results show an improvement of more than 6 dB in the output back-off of the amplifier. >
Merchandising rules for shelf space allocation with horizontal and vertical positions

: Retail visual merchandising techniques can maximize product attractiveness, create good store performance, attract more customers to the store, and as a result, they help to increase the retailer’s profit. These strategies make it easier for category managers to differentiate their products from other competitors. This study aimed to investigate the practical visual merchandising methods that influence customer preference of visiting a store and making purchases there. It provides interesting insights into the techniques of how retailers could deploy visual merchandising into the daily tasks to increase profit. The author proposed the framework and the shelf space allocation model, which includes visual merchandising constraints including store layout and traffic, aisles with regard to traffic direction; different shelf levels (special attention is given to the most profitable eye-level shelf); and shelf segments where convenience and local products should be placed. The results of the study could be a part of strategic category management in the retail business.
Beam tests of the ZEUS barrel calorimeter

A fully compensating uranium‐scintillator calorimeter with specially designed electronic readout was constructed for the ZEUS detector at HERA. The Barrel part of the calorimeter and the readout electronics for the entire calorimeter were built by the US collaboration. During two running periods in the summers of 1990 and 1991, some of these modules were subjected to beam tests at Fermilab before shipping to DESY for installation. These tests were primarily aimed at calibrating the modules with electrons and hadrons, measuring cell response uniformity and resolutions. Results from these runs show that tower‐to‐tower and module‐to‐module uniformities are better than 1% using both muon and electron, energy resolutions are 35%/ √E for hadrons and 19%/ √E for electrons, energy nonlinearity is less than 1% for both electron and hadron, the absolute calibration and the equality of response for electrons and hadrons are confirmed to 2%.
A potential role for metastasis-associated in colon cancer 1 (MACC1) as a pan-cancer prognostic and immunological biomarker.

BACKGROUND Metastasis-Associated in Colon Cancer 1(MACC1) is a validated biomarker for metastasis and is linked to survival. Although extensive experimental evidence indicates an association between MACC1 and diverse cancers, no pan-cancer analyses have yet been performed for this marker, and the role of MACC1 in immunology remains unknown. MATERIAL AND METHODS In our study, we performed the analysis of MACC1 expression and its influence on prognosis using multiple databases, including TIMER2, GEPIA2, Kaplan-Meier plotter. MACC1 promoter methylation levels were evaluated using the UALCAN database. Based on the TCGA database, we explored the relationship between MACC1 and tumor mutational burden (TMB), microsatellite instability (MSI), immune checkpoints using the R programming language. We evaluated the association between MACC1 and immune infiltration via TIMER and UALCAN. RESULTS Our results revealed that abnormal DNA methylation may be an important cause for the different expression of MACC1 across cancer types. Meanwhile, we explored the potential oncogenic roles of MACC1 and found significant prognostic value. MACC1 may be related to T-cell function and the polarization of tumor-associated macrophages, especially in STAD and LGG. Its expression was associated with immune infiltration and was found to be closely related to immune checkpoint-associated genes, especially CD274 and SIGLEC15, indicating that MACC1 may be a potential immune therapeutic target for several malignancies. Our paper reveals for the first time the relationship between MACC1 and cancer immunology. CONCLUSIONS MACC1 might act as a predictor for the immune response in cancer patients, and could also represent a new potential immunotherapeutic target.
Observed postural variations across computer workers during a day of sedentary computer work

Sedentary computer work is widespread and typically occurs at a fixed-height seated workstation. Both neutral and at-risk postural classes of the back and neck were observed among 11computer-intensive workers using such workstations who had reported high discomfort levels. Four video recordings of approximately 1 hour each over the working day were analyzed to determine the percent duration and number of observations of each body and neck posture. Risky slouching (32.3% ±17.3%) and neck forward postures (16.9% ±12.3%) varied significantly by participant but not by time of day. Absence from video field of view of the workstation was not negligible, occurring 23.8%±14.8%. Postural changes of slouch and neck forward occurred several times during each recording (4.8±1.9 and 2.5±0.9, respectively) and varied significantly by participant but not over the day. Despite these postural adjustments, the prevalence of risky postures suggests that static workstations are fundamentally problematic.
Distributed Global Optimization for a Class of Nonconvex Optimization With Coupled Constraints

This article examines the distributed nonconvex optimization problem with structured nonconvex objective functions and coupled convex inequality constraints on static networks. A distributed continuous-time primal-dual algorithm is proposed to solve the problem. We use the canonical transformation and Lagrange multiplier method to reformulate the nonconvex optimization problem as a convex–concave saddle point computation problem, which is subsequently solved by employing the projected primal-dual subgradient method. Sufficient conditions that guarantee the global optimality of the solution generated by the proposed algorithm are provided. Numerical and application examples are presented to demonstrate the proposed algorithm.
An innovative direct self-control scheme for induction motor drives

The paper presents a new direct self-control (DSC) scheme for induction motor drives using the stator voltage third harmonic component in order to estimate the air-gap flux and the torque as well as to synchronize the supply voltage vector. Compared to previous DSC schemes the new one is independent from any motor parameter variation, specifically on stator resistance thus showing better performances at low speeds. The paper starts with a quick review on standard DSC main features pointing out the influence of stator resistance variations on the flux and torque control. The new DSC scheme is then introduced and evaluated by simulations and experimental tests on a 1.5 kW induction motor drive.
Design of chaotic sequences used for a satellite spread spectrum communication system

In this paper, a chaos-based sequence generator with the multidimensional chaotic system is designed because the sequence generated by the unimodal map can be attacked easily. Some modifications are introduced to the n-dimensional nonlinear digital filters in order to improve the period and distribution property of the resulted sequence. The property of the generated chaotic sequences is similar to that of pseudo-noise (PN) sequences. Test results show that the generator produces sequences with a large code family, good randomness and high security. Chaotic sequences are thus very attractive for satellite spread spectrum systems.
Design and modelling of a linear switched reluctance actuator for biomedical applications

This paper deals with a design of linear stepper motor for biomedical applications. The involved biomedical system is a syringe pump generally used for continuous drug infusion. The syringe pump consists of a linear switched reluctance motor (LSRM) coupled to a syringe plunger. In order to determine the axial force to control the syringe plunger, it was necessary to begin by evaluating the thrust force. The latter constituted the key element for designing the motor. Based on the concept of energy balance, a simplified analytical model was developed to predict the electromagnetic characteristics of the linear switched reluctance motor. The validity of results was ensured by direct comparison with the finite element method (FEM). Key words: Linear switched reluctance motor, syringe pump, modelling, finite-element.
Bipolar Junction Transistor 1/f Noise Simulation and Parameter Extraction Technique

In many cases it is important for practical applications to determine 1/f noise parameters of BJT for SPICE model but their exact values could not be theoretically predicted and must be obtained from the measurements. In this paper error sources in determination of noise parameters from measurement data are discussed. Different bipolar junction transistor noise measurement circuits are analysed using simulation technique to determine the most favourable circuit configuration and bias conditions. Some specific cases and problems related to noise parameter extraction are discussed. Ill. 8, bibl. 8 (in English; summaries in Lithuanian, English and Russian).
A dual band-notched ultra-wideband monopole antenna with spiral-slots and folded SIR-DGS as notch band structures

In this paper, an ultra-wideband (UWB) planar monopole antenna with impedance bandwidth from 2.83 to 11.56 GHz and dual band-notched characteristics is presented. The antenna consists of a small rectangular ground plane, a bat-shaped radiating patch, and a 50-Ω microstrip line. The notched bands are realized by introducing two different types of structures. The half-wavelength spiral-slots are etched on the radiating patch to obtain a notched band in 5.15 5.925 GHz for WLAN, HIPERLAN, and DSRC systems. Based on the single band-notched UWB antenna, the second notched band is realized by etching a folded stepped impedance resonator as defected ground structure on the ground plane for WiMAX and C-band communication systems. The notched frequencies can be adjusted by altering the length of resonant cells. Surface current distributions and equivalent circuit are used to illustrate the notched mechanism. The performance of this antenna both by simulation and by experiment indicates that the proposed antenna is suitable and a good candidate for UWB applications.
Critical Reasons for Crashes Investigated in the National Motor Vehicle Crash Causation Survey

The National Motor Vehicle Crash Causation Survey (NMVCCS), conducted from 2005 to 2007, was aimed at collecting on-scene information about the events and associated factors leading up to crashes involving light vehicles. Several facets of crash occurrence were investigated during data collection, namely the pre-crash movement, critical pre-crash event, critical reason, and the associated factors. A weighted sample of 5,470 crashes was investigated over a period of two and a half years, which represents an estimated 2,189,000 crashes nationwide. About 4,031,000 vehicles, 3,945,000 drivers, and 1,982,000 passengers were estimated to have been involved in these crashes. The critical reason, which is the last event in the crash causal chain, was assigned to the driver in 94 percent (±2.2%)† of the crashes. In about 2 percent (±0.7%) of the crashes, the critical reason was assigned to a vehicle component’s failure or degradation, and in 2 percent (±1.3%) of crashes, it was attributed to the environment (slick roads, weather, etc.). Among an estimated 2,046,000 drivers who were assigned critical reasons, recognition errors accounted for about 41 percent (±2.1%), decision errors 33 percent (±3.7%), and performance errors 11 percent (±2.7%) of the crashes.
Scanning 2D micromirror with enhanced flatness at high frequency

We present a scanning micromirror with 5x better flatness of the mirror plate compared to our previous devices. The devices are designed for a laser scanning displays with VGA resolution. Scanning laser displays are certainly the most demanding application for scanning micromirrors. The fast axis must provide a large mirror plate that remains flat, when deflected to large angles at high frequency. The presented devices meet the specifications for VGA-resolution (640x480 pixels). Oscillation frequency is 16kHz. The mirror-plate has 1mm diameter and can be deflected by +/-10°. Dynamic deformation is below lamba/10 under these conditions. The devices are fabricated in the established SOI process of Fraunhofer IPMS Dresden. Mirror plate and springs are made of 30um of crystalline silicon. Operation is resonant with lateral out-of-plane comb-drives. In this article we present the design, simulation results and measurement results.
Conversão Texto-Fala para o Português Brasileiro Utilizando Tacotron 2 com Vocoder Griffin-Lim

—This paper presents the training of a state-of-the-art neural network model, Tacotron-2, using a open-source voice dataset from the Common Voice project. Results from training the model from scratch and by applying transfer learning of a pre-trained english model were evaluated. The results show that it is possible to train the model with limited data resources.