Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Integrative Analysis of Transcriptomic and Physiological Reveals Drought Adaption Strategies in Different Maize Genotypes

Background: Drought is an environmental stress that adversely affects maize productivity. However, drought adaption strategies of different maize varieties are not fully clear at the transcriptomic level. In the paper, drought-sensitive SD902 and -resistant SD609 varieties were analyzed to explore transcriptional and physiological alterations to drought stress. Results: The higher SOD, CAT, GSH enzymatic antioxidants, stomatal conductance, transpiration, net photosynthesis rate suggested better performance of SD609 than SD902 variety under drought stress. In transcriptome profiling, a total of 8985 and 7305 difference expression genes (DEGs) were identified in SD902 and SD609 respectively. These genes were overall involved in antioxidation reduce, osmotic adjustment, protein modification (e.g. HSP and chaperone protein), photosynthesis, phytohormone (e.g. ABA, IAA, ethylene), transcription factors (TFs) (e.g. ERF, WRKY, NAC and bZIP) and MAPK (MAPK1/8, MKK4/9 and MKKK17) cascade. Among them, the upregulated genes significantly correlated with stress adjustment, HSPs and chaperone functions might better reduce drought-induced damage in both SD902 and especially SD609. The higher genes expression of IAA, ethylene and electron transfer in SD609 may be closely related to drought-tolerant performance than SD902 plants. Moreover, the misregulation of TFs, MAPK and ABA signaling would appear vital to explain the various sensitivity to drought in both varieties. Conclusion: The more drought-tolerant SD609 presented a beneficial and significantly higher genes expression of stress protection, IAA transduction, photosynthesis compared with drought-sensitive SD902 variety. Our findings provide vital insights into the molecular signatures underpinning drought resistance in maize.
A Historical Review on Dry Friction and Stick-Slip Phenomena

This article gives a historical overview of structural and mechanical systems with friction. Friction forces between sliding surfaces arise due to complex mechanisms and lead to mathematical models which are highly nonlinear, discontinuous and nonsmooth. Humankind has a long history of magnificent usage of friction in machines, buildings and transportation. Regardless, our state of knowledge of the friction-influenced dynamics occurring in such systems as well as in our daily lives was, until recently, rather primitive. To represent our understanding of friction in nonlinear dynamics, we first trace examples from the earliest prehistoric technologies and the formulation of dissipation laws in mechanics. The work culminates with examples of friction oscillators and stick-slip. This review article contains 304 references.
32 x 16 CMOS smart pixel array for optical interconnects

Free space optical interconnects can increase throughput capacities and eliminate much of the energy consumption required for `all electronic' systems. High speed optical interconnects can be achieved by integrating optoelectronic devices with conventional electronics. Smart pixel arrays have been developed which use optical interconnects. An individual smart pixel cell is composed of a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL), a photodetector, an optical receiver, a laser driver, and digital logic circuitry. Oxide-confined VCSELs are being developed to operate at 850 nm with a threshold current of approximately 1 mA. Multiple quantum well photodetectors are being fabricated from AlGaAs for use with the 850 nm VCSELs. The VCSELs and photodetectors are being integrated with complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) circuitry using flip-chip bonding. CMOS circuitry is being integrated with a 32 X 16 smart pixel array. The 512 smart pixels are serially linked. Thus, an entire data stream may be clocked through the chip and output electrically by the last pixel. Electrical testing is being performed on the CMOS smart pixel array. Using an on-chip pseudo random number generator, a digital data sequence was cycled through the chip verifying operation of the digital circuitry. Although, the prototype chip was fabricated in 1.2 micrometers technology, simulations have demonstrated that the array can operate at 1 Gb/s per pixel using 0.5 micrometers technology.
Tapered backfire helical antenna with loaded termination

In order to improve the radiation characteristics of a backfire bifilar helical antenna, a means of terminating the arm ends with a resistor is numerically and experimentally investigated. Owing to the reduction of reflected current, the present backfire helix realises an excellent front-to-back ratio and axial ratio, while maintaining inherent absolute gain.
A Review of TQM and IT Research in the ICT Industry: An Agenda for Future

Over the past two decades, total quality management (TQM) and information technology (IT) have become the essential components of the information communication and technology (ICT) industry. TQM is an integrated approach that continuously improves the quality of performance while IT act as technical knowledge that supports quality experts and both are frequently used to fulfill customer requirements. There is a lack of sound literature review on TQM and IT together in the ICT industry. A comprehensive study of the published TQM and IT literature is undertaken to fill this gap that will also guide the future researchers in the area. The methodology adopted in this paper is the classification of literature review based on study type, nature of study, type of industry and country where study is conducted. A total of 153 TQM/IT related research papers were identified from different sources and 89 articles were finally filtered out for conducting the present study. The paper reflects the extent of work undertaken in the area as well as tries to re-structure and organize the available knowledge on TQM and IT in ICT industry. Major conclusions and suggestions for future research are presented at the end
AERODYNAMIC CHARACTERISTICS OF LOW-ASPECT-RATIO WINGS IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE GROUND

Abstract : A wind-tunnel investigation has been conducted to determine the effect of ground proximity on the aerodynamic characteristics of thick highly cambered rectangular wings with aspect ratios of 1, 2, 4, and 6. The results showed that, for these aspect ratios, as the ground was approached all wings experienced increases in lift-curve slope and reductions in induced drag which resulted in increases in lift-drag ratio. Although an increase in lift-curve slope was obtained for all aspect ratios as the ground was approached, the lift coefficient at an angle of attack of 0 degrees for any given aspect ratio remained nearly constant. The experimental results were in general agreement with Wieselsberger's ground-effect theory. As the wings approached the ground, there was an increase in static longitudinal stability at positive angles of attack. When operating in ground effect, all the wings had stability of height at positive angles of attack and instability of height at negative angles of attack. Wing-tip fairings on the wings with aspect ratios of 1 and 2 produced small increases in lift-drag ratio in ground effect. (Author)
Transmission of infrared and visible wavelengths through energy-saving glass due to etching of frequency-selective surfaces

The transmission of infrared (IR) and visible frequencies through modern energy-saving glass, due to etching of bandpass frequency-selective surfaces (FSSs), is analysed. Energy-saving glass panels employ a very thin layer of metallic oxide on one side of the ordinary glass. Due to the presence of this layer, IR waves are attenuated whereas visible wavelengths can pass through, providing good see-through effect. However, one drawback with such energy-saving glass panels is that they also attenuate useful radio frequency (RF)/microwave (MW) signals such as those used for mobile (e. g. global system for mobile communication (GSM)), global positioning system (GPS) and personal communication systems, due to the resistance of metallic oxide coating. To overcome this problem, an aperture-type bandpass FSS may be etched in the glass coating to selectively improve the transmission of useful signals. However, such an FSS also leads to an increase in overall IR transmission through energy-saving glass which is unwanted. In this study the authors analyse the effect of etching an FSS on the transmission of RF/MW, IR and light waves, for two types of commercial energy-saving glass panels. For example, an FSS with 8 mm aperture designed to improve MW transmission by 20 dB (from about -30 to -10 dB) at 1.3 GHz causes an increase in overall IR transmission from 23.8% to 33.8% (10%), which may be acceptable. An FSS with a narrower (4 mm) aperture improves MW transmission by 16 dB with 6.2% increase in IR transmission. Theoretical and measured results are presented. (Less)
Drying Interval Effects on Quality of Runoff from Fescue Plots Treated with Poultry Litter

Land application of poultry (Gallus gallus domesticus) litter can lead to elevated runoff concentrations of organic matter and nutrients. This experiment was conducted to determine the impacts of poultry litter treatment (0 and 218 kg of N ha–1) and drying interval (4, 7, and 14 days) between litter application and simulated rainfall on quality of runoff from fescue grass (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) plots. Runoff was generated from simulated rainfall (50 mm h–1) and sampled at 0.08-h intervals during runoff. Composite runoff samples from each treatment and replication were analyzed for nitrate N (NO3-N), ammonia N (NH3-N), total Kjeldahl N (TKN), ortho-P (PO4-P), total P (TP), chemical oxygen demand (COD), and total suspended solids (TSS). One set per treatment of the noncomposited runoff samples was also analyzed. Runoff concentrations of all parameters except NO3-N were significantly (p < 0.05) higher for the litter-treated plots than for the control plots. Drying interval did not significantly (p < 0.05) affect either concentration or total mass of any constituent lost in the runoff. Concentrations of NH3-N, TKN, PO4-P, and TP decreased uniformly with increasing runoff rate and thus with time after beginning of runoff. Temporal variation in runoff concentrations of NO3-N, COD, and TSS followed no identifiable general pattern.
Burnout among nurses working in COVID-19 pandemic

Nurses are at high risk of burnout because of the characteristic of their work that expends most of the time in delivering care to the patients. This study aimed to describe burnout among nurses working during corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) using nurses' demographic characteristics. This observational cross-sectional study involved 149 nurses from some hospitals and public health centers in Semarang using an online questionnaire from May 1 to June 15, 2020. Primary data were collected using Maslach Burnout Inventory including emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced personal accomplishment. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed. The study showed that 63.6% of nurses in the COVID-19 unit were at high levels of emotional exhaustion, 56.3% of them were at high levels of depersonalization, and 46.7% of them are at high levels of reduced personal accomplishment. Education was the only demographic factor that was significantly related to emotional exhaustion and depersonalization (p<0.05) with a weak correlation. The work environment and the reduced anxiety-related factors were not significantly correlated with the reduced personal accomplishment with a very weak correlation, while the nurses’ unit was significantly correlated with depersonalization (p<0.05) with a very weak correlation. The results found that burnout develops among nurses due to the work environment-related factors such as the unit of work, corona-infected patients, personal protective equipment usage, and the specific characteristics of the workplace. Nurses’ characteristics affect their ability to manage the workload even in a pandemic. Nurses need optimal supports to build their self-efficacy. The organizational efforts play an important role in strengthening nurses to prevent burnout.
Inhibiting Effects of Down-regulating of Fascin 1 on Proliferation and Migration in Hepatoma Cells

Objective: To investigate the inhibiting effects of fascin 1 gene knock-down on the proliferation and migration of hepatoma cells by means of small interfering RNA (siRNA). Methods: SiRNA targeting fascin 1 gene (si-fascin) and non-specific sequence siRNA (si-NC）were constructed and transfected into human hepatoma cell lines (HepG2 and Huh7) to down-regulate the expression of fascin 1. RT-qPCR, Western blotting, and Immunofluorescence technique were used to evaluate the efficiency of si-fascin. The proliferation and migration of cells were detected by MTT method and Transwell experiments, and the protein expression of genes related to proliferation and migration in cells were detected by Western blotting. The apoptosis and pseudopodia formation of cells were observed under scanning electron microscope (SEM). Results: Compared with human normal liver cells (LO2), the expressions of fascin 1 mRNA and protein were significantly higher in HepG2 and Huh7 cells. The expression of fascin 1 was overall inhibited in HepG2 and Huh7 cells transfected by the constructed four si-fascins, among which, fascin_siR3 had the highest inhibitory efficiency, therefore was selected in this study. In HepG2 and Huh7 cells transfected by si-fascin significant knock-down target gene expression, while reducing cell proliferation, migration and the formation of pseudopods, and causes reduced protein expression associated with proliferation and migration. Conclusion: This study further confirmed that fascin 1 gene has the function of promoting hepatoma cells proliferation and migration, suggesting that downregulating the expression of fascin 1 in hepatoma cells may be one of the strategies to intervene in liver cancer.
Minimal Invasive Aortic Valve Replacement by Upper Ministernotomy Approach in Comparison to The Conventional Full Median Sternotomy Approach

Background: Minimal invasive cardiac surgery has gained more popularity nowadays in field of cardiac surgery due to the rapid progress in equipments and techniques in this field. Ministernotomy technique for aortic valve replacement is one of the most common minimal invasive cardiac surgery techniques. Objective: Our study aimed to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of using minimal invasive upper ministernotmy approach versus conventional full median sternotomy approach for aortic valve replacement. Patients and methods: The study include 60 aortic valve replacement patients done from 2017 to 2019 in Sohag University Hospitals, Egypt and Hero Heart Institute, India. 30 patients by using conventional full sternotomy approach (group A), and 30 patients by using upper ministernotomy approach with central cannulation (Group B). Operative and post-operative data were compared. Results: Total operation time, ventilation time, ICU stay and total hospital stay, were significantly longer in conventional group (group A). Total bypass and cross clamp time were significantly longer in ministernotomy group (group B). Post-operative wound infection was significantly higher in conventional group (group A). Wound cosmoses post-operatively was better in ministernotmy group as regards patient opinion. Postoperative echocardiography showed no significant difference in post-operative pericardial effusion between both groups. Post-operative pain as well as early morbidity were significantly less in ministernotomy group (Group B). No mortality occurred in both groups. Conclusion: Upper ministernotomy is safe approach for aortic valve replacement and show advantages over conventional full sternotomy in form of shorter operative time, shorter hospital and ICU stay, better wound cosmetics, less post-operative bleeding and less post-operative pain.
Robust window discriminator for photon-counting pixel detectors

The paper proposes a robust and area-efficient way of designing window discriminators for photon-counting pixel detectors. For that, an all-digital window discriminator is proposed. It is event-driven and does not rely on any external or internal timing references, which makes it possible to use it over a wide range of specifications. In addition, it provides an overall area-efficient implementation of the digital electronics in photon-counting pixel detectors. The transistor-level implementation of the circuit is presented with its circuit area and timing performance.
Following Leaders in Byzantine Multirobot Systems by Using Blockchain Technology

Interest in multirobot systems is rising rapidly both in academia and in industry. The use of multiple robots working in a coordinated way, rather than a single robot, has several advantages in a diverse range of applications. However, few studies have focused on operations in which robots can behave maliciously and alter the outcome of the collective mission. In this article, we present a set of Byzantine Follow The Leader (BFTL) problems, in which a subset of robots in the system shows unintended or inconsistent behavior (i.e., Byzantine robots). In the BFTL problems, leaders discover routes from their starting positions to specific destinations and guide the followers, while Byzantine robots try to hinder the leaders and mislead the followers. In this research, blockchain technology is used as a communication tool within multirobot systems, for leaders to broadcast directions to the whole group. We propose algorithms to tackle the BFTL problems, prove their correctness, and validate them in simulated experiments of realistic scenarios. Results show that the proposed algorithms mitigate the impact of Byzantine robots in multirobot systems conducting a BFTL mission. Our analysis provides minimum and maximum boundary calculations for important metrics including number of robots reaching their destination, number of steps taken, and weight requirements of the chain used during the mission. Our results provide a path toward the deployment of byzantine-resistant real-world multirobot systems.
A comparison of high frequency cell designs for high voltage DMOSFETs

To reduce the conduction and switching losses in a MOSFET, it is desirable to reduce its specific on-resistance (R/sub on,sp/) and the specific input capacitance (C/sub in,sp/). In this paper, the Atomic Lattice Layout (ALL) and the Circular Layout (CL) are compared for a high frequency 400 V n-channel MOSFET with the goal of obtaining the lowest R/sub on/C/sub in/ product. The terrace gate design on ALL, with 6000 /spl Aring/ field oxide under the terrace gate region resulted in a R/sub on/C/sub in/ product of 603 /spl Omega/-pf which is nearly 4 times lower than the conventional DMOS design. It was also found to be superior to the same gate design on a CL. In the cell structure with a floating P/sup +/ diffusion, the gate-drain component (C/sub gd/) of the input capacitance (C/sub in/) was reduced by moving the floating P/sup +/ diffusion edge closer to the P-base edge at the expense of increasing the on-resistance. By studying the variation of the R/sub on/C/sub in/ product as a function of the position of the floating P/sup +/ edge, lowest R/sub on/C/sub in/ products of 452 /spl Omega/-pf and 360 /spl Omega/-pf were obtained for the ALL and CL, respectively. Although the R/sub on/C/sub in/ product of this structure is smaller than the terraced gate structures, the specific on-resistance is larger (98 m/spl Omega/-cm/sup 2/ vs 68 m/spl Omega/-cm/sup 2/ for the ALL and 137 m/spl Omega/-cm/sup 2/ vs 86 m/spl Omega/-cm/sup 2/ for the CL), which implies an increase in the die area. It was shown through simulations that the specific on-resistance did not increase appreciably with a reduction in the gate bias from 10 V to 5 V. Hence operation at 5 V gate bias is recommended to reduce the gate switching losses, which increase as the square of the gate drive voltage.
Porosities and Fatigue Property of Two A356 Cast Aluminum Alloy

To investigate the fatigue property of A356 cast aluminum alloy, the pore size distribution in two kinds of A356 alloy were statistically tested, and the S-N curves were plotted by conducting four-point bend fatigue test, then the fractography of the fatigue specimens were examined under scan electron microscope (SEM). It was indicated that the fatigue strength of the A356.2 alloy contenting more large pores and rougher crystalline grain was lower than that of A356.1 alloy, though the yield strength of A356.2 alloy was higher. Most of the fatigue cracks initiated from the pores that located on or close to the surface of the specimens, and the fracture of the specimens were induced from the growth of multi-sites initiated fatigue crack.
A light-activated optopiezoelectric thin-film actuator for microfluidic applications

In this paper, we present a new type of piezoelectric composite material, optopiezoelectric thin-film, to serve as a lightactivated micropump for integrating with a microfluidic device. By using a photoconductive material (titanium oxide phthalocyanine) to serve as one of the electrodes of a piezoelectric polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) polymer, multiple locations of this optopiezoelectric thin-film can be actuated independently with one driving voltage source and a programmable light mask. Integrating this optopiezoelectric thin-film to a microfluidic device, complex operations of a multi-functioned microfluidic device can potentially be simplified and scaled up. Here, we present our preliminary result to demonstrate the feasibility of using one optopiezoelectric thin-film to serve as two microfluidic micropumps controlled by a light mask.
Elevated ASF1B Promotes Apoptosis in Gastric Tumour Cells Through the Bax/Bcl-2-p53 Pathway and is Related to a Good Prognosis

Background: Previous studies have shown that ASF1B, a H3-H4 histone chaperone, plays a key role in cancer. However, the prognostic relevance and mechanism of ASF1B in patients with gastric cancer (GC) are not clear. Therefore, we explored the prognostic role of ASF1B in gastric cancer and explored its biological function.Methods: From the bioinformatics perspective, R software was used for prognostic correlation analysis, Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) and Weighted Gene Coexpression Network Analysis (WGCNA) were used to screen related differential genes, and R software was used for Gene Oncology（GO）functional enrichment analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis. In vitro, CCK-8 colorimetric assays and wound healing assays were used to evaluate the cell proliferation and migration abilities. The mechanism was investigated by western blot and cell functional assays.Results: Bioinformatics analysis showed that ASF1B was highly expressed in gastric cancer and that its expression was negatively correlated with T stage and prognosis. Cox regression analysis showed that ASF1B could be used as an independent prognostic factor in gastric cancer. The module genes were identified by WGCNA, and the genes related to ASF1B expression were identified by a PPI coexpression network construction. GO analysis showed enrichment in the terms positive regulation of cell cycle, DNA integrity checkpoint, regulation of double strand break repair, and signal transduction of p53; KEGG analysis showed enrichment in the p53 signalling pathway. GSEA showed that ASF1B was highly enriched in gene sets such as p53 signalling pathway, base excision repair, homologous recombination, and mismatch repair. TIMER analysis showed that the expression of ASF1B was closely related to the key genes of p53 apoptosis. In vitro experiments showed that ASF1B gene knockdown enhanced the proliferation and migration of gastric cancer cells and inhibited gastric cancer cell apoptosis by downregulating P53/Bax and upregulating the expression of the Bcl-2 protein.Conclusions: ASF1B may be an independent prognostic factor in gastric cancer. Downregulation of ASF1B promotes the proliferation and invasion of gastric tumour cells and is related to poor prognosis.