Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Molecular basis of N-acetylmuramoyl-L-alanine amidase (Rv3915) and Protein Kinase B (PknB) essentiality in Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Background: Protein kinase B (PknB) is critical for the survival of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis) in vitro and in hosts. It phosphorylates various enzymes involved in biosynthesis of cell wall and a particular autolysin classified as CwIM or Rv3915 has been recently identified as a PknB substrate. However, in-depth knowledge of this protein is still unknown. The aims of this study were to purify and investigate the activity of Rv3915, as well as monitor the phosphorylation of Rv3915 and the influence of phosphorylation on the activity of this protein. Results: Using the C41 E. coli strain containing a plasmid, with a gene encoding the protein, Rv3915 was either expressed alone or co-expressed with PknB. Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel (SDS-PAGE) was used to observe the amount of Rv3915 purified, anti-poly His and anti-phosphothreonine western blot techniques were used to confirm the presence and phosphorylation of Rv3915 and zymogram assays were run to examine its activity. The results showed that Rv3195 was successfully expressed and was deemed soluble when observed in soluble fraction of E. coli lysate. It was confirmed that Rv3915 is produced as a ~45kDa protein, which does not possess any muralytic activity. However a shorter version of the protein (~25kDA) was active in zymogram, suggesting that Rv3915 is activated by cleavage. Conclusion: Rv3915 was phosphorylated by PknB and phosphorylation apparently controls stability of the protein.
Novel fiber Bragg grating fabrication method by high-precision shutter control

Fiber Bragg grating (FBG) is an important element in many applications including filters and dispersion compensators in fiber communication systems. With recently developed inverse scattering algorithm, FBGs with desired reflection spectrum and/or dispersion properties can now be designed. However, most of these designs require arbitrary grating amplitude and phase control. Previously, fabrication of such FBGs relies on the accurate control of the temporal variation of the intensity pattern using a piezo electric translation stage. The precision of this fabrication method is limited by the noise in the control voltage, which is usually larger than 1%. The distortion in piezo response also affects the performance. In this paper, we develop and demonstrate a novel writing technique for arbitrary FBG fabrication. Our technique is based on a translate-and-write configuration. The incorporation of a precisely controlled shutter allows the apodization and phase of the FBG to be continuously changed at each grating line. The shutter error mainly results from the control signal's timing jitter, which is normally lower than 0.1%. Using this writing technique, we demonstrate a Hamming apodized grating with 20mm length, -22 dB minimum transmission, and < -25 dB reflection side lobe suppression. Furthermore, phase-shift in a grating can be fabricated by a simple delay in the control signal. We also demonstrate FBGs with π, π/2, 3π/2 phase-shifts, respectively. Our experimental results are in excellent agreement with theoretical predictions. To show the capability to fabricate a FBG with arbitrary structure, we demonstrate a 35 mm long zero dispersion grating.
A Cluster Head Election Mechanism in Inhomogeneous Wireless Sensor Networks

Wireless sensor nodes are battery-powered devices with limited processing and transmission power, energy-efficient configuration has become a major design goal to improve the lifetime of the network. A cluster-based network topology can increase the scalability and lifetime, the classical clustering solutions elect the cluster head according the nodes’ residential energy in homogeneous networks, and however, the network is mostly inhomogeneous in practical application. In this paper, a cluster head election mechanism is proposed in a network which deploys the nodes with non-uniform energy and data gathering rates. This protocol is able to distribute energy consumption more reasonable among the sensors in the network, and make each node lifetime more similar.
Novel digital integrator and differentiator

A novel digital integrator and a novel digital differentiator are presented. Both the integrator and the differentiator are of first order and thus eminently suitable for real-time applications. Both have an almost linear phase. The integrator is obtained by interpolationg two popular digital integration techniques, the rectangular and the trapezoidal rules. The resulting integrator outperforms both the rectangular and the trapezoidal integrators in range and accuracy. The new differentiator is obtained by taking the inverse of the transfer function of the integrator. The effective range of the differentiator is about 0.8 of the Nyquist frequency.
Eyeglass Remover Network based on a Synthetic Image Dataset

The removal of accessories from the face is one of the essential pre-processing stages in the field of face recognition. However, despite its importance, a robust solution has not yet been provided. This paper proposes a network and dataset construction methodology to remove only the glasses from facial images effectively. To obtain an image with the glasses removed from an image with glasses by the supervised learning method, a network that converts them and a set of paired data for training is required. To this end, we created a large number of synthetic images of glasses being worn using facial attribute transformation networks. We adopted the conditional GAN (cGAN) frameworks for training. The trained network converts the in-the-wild face image with glasses into an image without glasses and operates stably even in situations wherein the faces are of diverse races and ages and having different styles of glasses.
Third-generation current conveyor: a new helpful active element

A new conveyor, which has been called the third generation current conveyor (CCIII), is introduced. It is defined from the general equations that describe the first and second generation current conveyors. As an example of its possibilities, the use of the circuit as a floating current sensing device is investigated. Its class AB implementation, obtained from two second generation current conveyors, is given. Some simulation results are also reported, the circuits being implemented from complementary bipolar arrays.
Comprehensive study of ultra broadband GCPW‐MS transition on thin films

Back‐to‐back GCPW‐MS‐GCPW (Grounded Coplanar Waveguide‐Microstrip lines) transitions realized on benzocyclobutene polymer thin films (20 μm) and using copper metallization are presented in this article. The achieved experimental bandwidth is 82 GHz with a remarkably lower cutoff frequency of only 1.5 GHz and insertion loss of 0.5 dB. This performance is obtained without neither making via holes in the substrate nor patterning the bottom ground plane. These transitions make easier and faster manufacturing and characterization, by means of coplanar probes, of microwave devices realized from materials in thin film and whose driving electrode is a MS line. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 57:2041–2045, 2015
High frequency synchronous buck converter for low voltage applications

The effect of dead time delays on the efficiency of a constant frequency, 1 MHz low voltage, synchronous buck power converter is investigated. The overall efficiency is calculated as a function of the load current and the switching frequency with the dead time as a parameter. It was calculated, and subsequently experimentally verified, that the efficiency can be improved by over 3.5% by eliminating unnecessary body diode conduction.
Development of Relationships between Safety and Congestion for Urban Freeways

The development of relationships between safety and congestion is documented; traffic volume, speed, and crash data by 15-min periods for urban freeways in the areas of Seattle, Washington, and Minneapolis–Saint Paul, Minnesota, were used. The safety–congestion relationships were developed to provide a basis for estimating the safety effects of design treatments intended to reduce nonrecurrent congestion and increase travel time reliability. The relationships were developed with traffic volume and speed data from detectors in individual lanes for 564 urban freeway segments during study periods of up to 3 years. Traffic crash records were obtained for the same time periods as the volume and speed data. The U-shaped relationship between crash rate per million vehicle miles of travel and traffic density (the level-of-service measure for freeways) was found, with the highest crash rates at low and high traffic densities and the lowest crash rates in the middle range of traffic densities. The high crash rates at lower traffic densities represent predominantly single-vehicle crashes, whereas the high crash rates at higher traffic densities represent predominantly multiple-vehicle crashes. Quantitative safety–congestion relationships were developed for the range of traffic densities from 20 to 78 passenger cars per hour per lane, corresponding to the level-of-service range from C to F.
P‐4: Electro Static Discharge Effects on Polysilicon TFTs for AMLCD

We have investigated the degradation and failure of poly‐Si thin film transistors (TFT) due to electro static discharge (ESD) stress by using transmission line pulser (TLP) test. Experimental results show that degradations caused by ESD stress on the drain pad are classified into three failure modes depending on the strength of ESD stress;degradation regime, partial failure regime and complete failure regime. DC stress test has been performed to compare with the ESD stress test.
Small-signal high-frequency analysis of the free-running current-mode-controlled converter

The small-signal high-frequency model of the free-running current-mode-controlled converter is determined using the analysis method of injected-absorbed currents and introducing high-frequency correction terms. The model is valid up to one-half of the switching frequency. The model parameters (the characteristic coefficients of the switching cell) can be obtained with a few lines of calculation while retaining the insight into the physical operation of the converter. The technique is applied for the buck, boost, and buck-boost cells, using hysteretic, constant off-time, or constant on-time control. A general procedure is recommended for determining the coefficients. The possible approximations for the high-frequency correction terms are discussed. Tables of characteristic coefficients are provided. Experimental data that are in excellent agreement with theoretical prediction are presented. <<ETX>>
Novel inrush current restraining method for transformers of shipboard power system

Summary In this paper, the process of energizing unloaded transformer in the shipboard power system is analyzed. Because the transformer in shipboard power system is generally delta connection or ungrounded star connection, energization of the first phase will have no influence to the transformer. By mathematical analysis of delta connection transformer and ungrounded star connection transformer, the methods to calculate optimal closing time of the second phase and third phase are presented. And then, a novel time-controlled energization strategy is proposed. The feasibility of this new energization strategy is verified with EMTP. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
CSRR‐based compact penta band printed antenna for GPS/GSM/WLAN/WiMAX applications

This article describes the design of a compact penta band triangular patch antenna backed by a hexagonal complementary split ring resonator operating in the GPS (1.57 GHz), GSM (1.80 GHz), WLAN (2.4/5 GHz), and WiMAX (3.5 GHz) bands. The antenna has a very compact dimension of 20 × 20 × 1.6 mm3. Three concentric hexagonal split ring slots in the ground plane yield the uppermost triple bonds (2.45, 3.5, 5.2 GHz) and the two parameterized radiating branches attached to the triangular patch accounts for the two lowermost operating bands (1.57, 1.8 GHz). A prototype of the proposed antenna is fabricated and tested. Simulated and measured results are in good agreement. It has a uniform radiation pattern over all the operating frequencies and a peak gain of 6.3 dBi at 3.5 GHz. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 57:1538–1542, 2015
Association between pulse pressure and body mass index in the Chinese adult population in Jilin Province 2013.

Background: Pulse pressure and body mass index were associated with cardiovascular disease, and the relationship of pulse pressure and body mass index exhibited different situation in different study population. We want to access the association among pulse pressure, body mass index, and other factors in different gender Chinese population in Jilin Province. Methods: A multi-stage stratified random cluster sampling method was used to randomly select 3789 residents who without history of taking hypertension medication for questionnaire surveys, physical examinations and laboratory tests. IBM SPSS version 24.0 was used to perform all analysis, and Chi -square test and multinomial logistic regression were applied to analysis data.Results: For males, the multinomial logistic regression analysis shown that overweight was risk factor for other three pulse pressure groups. Besides, the older people(age≥60 years), and hypertension were risk factors for PP3 and PP4. In females results, aged≥45 years, hypertension and waist circumference was risk factor for three higher pulse pressure groups. Body mass index and pulse pressure was no significant association in three pulse pressure groups, and people with higher education level and above were protective factors in the PP3 and PP4 both in males and females.Conclusion: the relationship between body mass index and pulse pressure in different gender displayed different situation, and the association of waist circumference and pulse pressure was stronger than the relationship between body mass index and pulse pressure for women.
Bipolar resistive switching behavior with high ON/OFF ratio of Co:BaTiO3 films by acceptor doping

The bipolar resistive switching characteristics have been investigated in the Co:BaTiO3 films deposited by sol-gel method. It has been demonstrated that such devices can be used as resistive random access memory cells without required electroforming. Ohmic transport and space charge limited current mechanism are dominant during the resistive switching. The ON/OFF ratio between the resistance at the high and low resistance states is more than 106, better than other perovskite films. The high ratio should be attributed to acceptor doping into the n-type semiconductor. The results imply that the ON/OFF ratio can be enhanced by controlling doping type and concentration in those insulating oxides.
Characterisation of Pd Schottky barrier on n-type GaN

The electrical characteristics of Pd Schottky barrier to n-type GaN grown by MOCVD were investigated. The effective barrier height was found to be 0.94 and 1.07 eV from I-V and C-V measurements, respectively. The ideality factor was ~1.04. The effective Richardson constant was determined to be ~3.24 Acm-2K-2 using the modified Norde plot. These values were also compared to Au Schottky contacts.
Assessment of health risk associated with arsenic exposure from soil, groundwater, polished rice for setting target cleanup level nearby abandoned mines

This study focused on health risk assessment via multi-routes of As exposure to establish a target cleanup level (TCL) in abandoned mines. Soil, ground water, and rice samples were collected near ten abandoned mines in November 2009. The As contaminations measured in all samples were used for determining the probabilistic health risk by Monte-Carlo simulation techniques. The human exposure to As compound was attributed to ground water ingestion. Cancer risk probability (R) via ground water and rice intake exceeded the acceptable risk range of 10-6 ~ 10-4 in all selected mines. In particular, the MB mine showed the higher R value than other mines. The non-carcinogenic effects, estimated by comparing the average As exposure with corresponding reference dose were determined by hazard quotient (HQ) values, which were less than 1.0 via ground water and rice intake in SD, NS, and MB mines. This implied that the non-carcinogenic toxic effects, due to this exposure pathway had a greater possibility to occur than those in other mines. Besides, hazard index (HI) values, representing overall toxic effects by summed the HQ values were also greater than 1.0 in SD, NS, JA, and IA mines. This revealed that non-carcinogenic toxic effects were generally occurred. The As contaminants in all selected mines exceeded the TCL values for target cancer risk (10-6) through ground water ingestion and rice intake. However, the As level in soil was greater than TCL value for target cancer risk via inadvertent soil ingestion pathway, except for KK mine. In TCL values for target hazard quotient (THQ), the As contaminants in soil did not exceed such TCL value. On the contrary, the As levels in ground water and polished rice in SD, NS, IA, and MB mines were also beyond the TCL values via ground water and rice intake. This study concluded that the health risks through ground water and rice intake were greater than those though soil inadvertent ingestion and dermal contact. In addition, it suggests that the abandoned mines to exceed the risk-based TCL values are carefully necessary to monitor for soil remediation.
Negotiation-based collaborative planning in divergent two-tier supply chains

Advanced Planning Systems are based on the principles of hierarchical planning, which—at least at the top level—grounds on centralized planning. However, central coordination requires access to all relevant information and the power to impose planning results on all organizational units. In consequence it can be realized only for parts of an inter-organizational supply chain, and the question arises whether there exist alternate ways to achieve coordination. In this paper we describe a non-hierarchical, negotiation-based process, which can be used to synchronize plans between independent partners of a two-tier supply chain consisting of one supplier and several buyers. Assuming that all partners generate plans based upon mathematical programming—as in most Advanced Planning Systems at the master planning level—we show how modified versions of these models can be utilized to support the negotiation process by evaluating given purchasing orders or supplies and by generating counter-proposals. Resulting is an iterative, negotiation-like scheme, which establishes and subsequently improves a consistent overall plan based on a limited exchange of information between the supply chain partners.
Augmented Reality-Based Embedded Sensor Location Recognition and Data Visualization Technique for Concrete Structural Health Monitoring

In recent years, numerous mega-sized and complex civil infrastructures are being constructed all over the world. Therefore, more precise construction and maintenance technologies are required for these complicated construction projects. So a variety of sensors-based structural health monitoring (SHM) techniques have been studied, but these techniques could not manage the sensors efficiently access the database obtained from the sensors. Recently, Quick response (QR) code and AR-based data access technologies have been developed. In this paper, an AR-based concrete curing strength monitoring technique for sensor management and efficient access of the measured data is introduced. It is confirmed that the AR-based concrete curing strength monitoring technique is useful for construction process. In addition, it is concluded that both efficient sensor location recognition and data visualization at anytime, anywhere, and any smart PC devices are promising.
An Outlook of Financial Inclusion with Mediating Effect of Direct Benefit Transfer in LPG Subsidy towards Actual Usage of Banking Technology

Objectives: RBI has defined financial inclusion as the process of facilitating financial services to the people from the weaker sections in the society at an affordable cost. This study empirically investigates the role of Information and Communication Technology to achieve financial inclusion in the district of Tirupur. This study took technology based financial inclusion in banking sector such as mobile banking, internet banking and Automated Teller Machine to know its frequency of usage among rural people in the district of Tirupur. Further study was conducted to identify the factors affecting the access and reasons for hesitation towards access. The study also identified the mediating effect of Direct Benefit Transfer in LPG Subsidy towards Actual Usage of Banking Technology Methods: The study has adopted Technological Acceptance Model (TAM) for building the conceptual model. Primary Data for the study has been collected from the rural villages of Tirupur District. The data has been analyzed through SPSS 21 and the proposed model has been empirically tested using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) through AMOS 21. Findings: From this study it is found that Automated Teller Machine is frequently used by 78.2% of the rural respondents. Direct Benefit Transfer in LPG Subsidy, to the rural people was found to be partially mediating the actual usage of banking technology by rural people. Through the Structural Equation Modeling it was found that there exists a cause and effect relationship between the study variables. Novelty: Prior studies have focused on only banking technological acceptance among the customers. The present study has measured the actual usage of banking technology and also studied the effect of Direct Benefit Transfer in LPG Subsidy on it. This is the major contribution to the existing literature in the field of financial inclusion.
Capacity and delay analysis for airport manoeuvring areas using simulation

Purpose – The aim of this study is to identify the nodes where congestion occurs in the manoeuvring area of a large-scale airport and to provide appropriate suggestions for improvement. Design/methodology/approach – To investigate the air traffic flow in a highly complex system such as an airport manoeuvring area, a two-stage method based on fast- and real-time simulation techniques is applied. The first stage involves the analysis with fast- and real-time simulations of a baseline model created to determine the congestion points. Based on the analysis, improvements to be performed in the layout of the manoeuvring area are proposed. In the second stage, alternative scenarios implementing these improvements are generated and evaluated in a fast-time simulation environment. Based on the results of simulations of different runway configurations, the main areas of congestion in the baseline airport model are determined. Congestion nodes are identified in the departure queue points and in the taxiway system. T.