Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Botulinum Neurotoxin Chimeras Suppress Stimulation by Capsaicin of Rat Trigeminal Sensory Neurons In Vivo and In Vitro

Chimeras of botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) serotype A (/A) combined with /E protease might possess improved analgesic properties relative to either parent, due to inheriting the sensory neurotropism of the former with more extensive disabling of SNAP-25 from the latter. Hence, fusions of /E protease light chain (LC) to whole BoNT/A (LC/E-BoNT/A), and of the LC plus translocation domain (HN) of /E with the neuronal acceptor binding moiety (HC) of /A (BoNT/EA), created previously by gene recombination and expression in E. coli. , were used. LC/E-BoNT/A (75 units/kg) injected into the whisker pad of rats seemed devoid of systemic toxicity, as reflected by an absence of weight loss, but inhibited the nocifensive behavior (grooming, freezing, and reduced mobility) induced by activating TRPV1 with capsaicin, injected at various days thereafter. No sex-related differences were observed. c-Fos expression was increased five-fold in the trigeminal nucleus caudalis ipsi-lateral to capsaicin injection, relative to the contra-lateral side and vehicle-treated controls, and this increase was virtually prevented by LC/E-BoNT/A. In vitro, LC/E-BoNT/A or /EA diminished CGRP exocytosis from rat neonate trigeminal ganglionic neurons stimulated with up to 1 µM capsaicin, whereas BoNT/A only substantially reduced the release in response to 0.1 µM or less of the stimulant, in accordance with the /E protease being known to prevent fusion of exocytotic vesicles.
Vibration analysis of high-speed vehicles under the conditions of various speed and lines

Vibration property of high-speed vehicles influences riding comfort and operation safety.A vehicle-track coupling system model is established to analyze the vibration responses of high-speed vehicle under the various operation velocity and track conditions in this paper.The track irregularity,simulated on the German high-speed railway PSD and China Main Line PSD,is introduced to the coupling system model as the railway excitation.Newmark numerical integration method is used to solve the dynamic response of high speed vehicle and track components and the simulation results are obtained by MATLAB program.The results show that the vibration response of vehicle components increases obviously with the speed increasing.Track conditions have great effect on the dynamics of the wheelset and track system,compared to the acceleration of the car body.
Examining corruption prominence in SIDS – the curse and the cure for construction tender practices

Purpose Business-to-government corruption has destroyed many businesses and debilitated numerous countries. The paradox of plenty, or the curse of resources, is exacerbated in emerging oil and gas economies, where corruption is rampant. Corruption most frequently occurs within the tendering stage of construction projects and the current debate fails to arrest this ubiquitous boundless construct in small island developing states (SIDSs). The purpose of this study is to explain how the unique features of SIDS contributes to an understanding of B2G corruption during construction tendering. Design/methodology/approach This study elucidates corruption in the tendering process through the lens of collective action and principal–agent theories. Interviews with three experts and a questionnaire survey with 115 practitioners evaluated corruption in Trinidad’s construction industry. Principal component analysis reduced 33 corruption variables to 5 primary causes. In addition, the relative importance of potential solutions for curtailing corruption was assessed. Findings The derived factors highlight that governance within SID oil and gas economies, inadequate tender procedures and practices, reprehensible business growth strategies, unethical misconduct and the social networking context characterise public infrastructure tendering. The recommendations for minimising corruption in tendering are grounded in behaviour and deterrence theories and infused with technological advances. Research limitations/implications Using surveys and interviews circumvents the limitation of the inability to measure corruption because of the confines of respondents’ recall triggers. However, corruption is mediated by cultural norms, which limits the generalisation of the findings. Originality/value The study concludes that corruption results from a lack of transparency in the construction supply chain. It leads to an awareness gap between project stakeholders, which is a major risk factor and source of mistrust. The result is a lack of traceable processes and coordination among stakeholders. Consequently, the study fills the gap in responsible socio-economic consumption in SIDSs.
How many modes are needed to predict climate bifurcations? Lessons from an experiment

Abstract. According to everyone's experience, predicting the weather reliably over more than 8 d seems an impossible task for our best weather agencies. At the same time, politicians and citizens are asking scientists for climate projections several decades into the future to guide economic and environmental policies, especially regarding the maximum admissible emissions of CO2. To what extent is this request scientifically admissible? In this review we will investigate this question, focusing on the topic of predictions of transitions between metastable states of the atmospheric or oceanic circulations. Two relevant examples are the switching between zonal and blocked atmospheric circulation at mid-latitudes and the alternation of El Niño and La Niña phases in the Pacific Ocean. The main issue is whether present climate models, which necessarily have a finite resolution and a smaller number of degrees of freedom than the actual terrestrial system, are able to reproduce such spontaneous or forced transitions. To do so, we will draw an analogy between climate observations and results obtained in our group on a laboratory-scale, turbulent, von Kármán flow in which spontaneous transitions between different states of the circulation take place. We will detail the analogy, investigate the nature of the transitions and the number of degrees of freedom that characterize the latter, and discuss the effect of reducing the number of degrees of freedom in such systems. We will also discuss the role of fluctuations and their origin and stress the importance of describing very small scales to capture fluctuations of correct intensity and scale.
Improving Methods for Multi-Terrain Classification Beyond Visual Perception

Terrain classification in mixed-surface unstructured environments is key for safe navigation, energy efficiency, and anticipating motion volatility. This is particularly true for dynamically moving legged platforms which are highly impacted by foot ground interactions. This research demonstrates terrain classification using a long short-term memory (LSTM) model trained on actuator time series data, particularly the difference in center-of-pressure (COP) and leg forces. The LSTM COPForce model showed a 97.5% accuracy in classification on three outdoor surfaces with small amounts of data and no additional sensors.
Studies on Herbicide Application by Stage to Control Barnyard Grass in Paddy Field of Cold Region

In order to solve the problems existing in conventional herbicide application once to control barnyard grass at the early stage of transplanting in the cold region,such as low herbicide effect and less security,the herbicides were applied twice,that is,five to seven days before transplanting and 15 to 20 days after transplanting.The results showed that the barnyard grass control effect was good and the security to rice was increased.
Tikhonov regularization for a class of generalized hemivariational inequality in Banach spaces

This paper aims to study in a reflexive Banach space a class of generalized hemivariational inequality problem involving a set-valued mapping and a nonlinear perturbation. We study the solvability of the considered generalized hemivariational inequality problem and give some properties of its solutions by introducing some new coercivity conditions and hemivariational inequality property. Moreover, by means of the normalized duality mapping, we introduce the Tikhonov regularization for the problem in order to get an approximating sequence of its solutions, whose weak convergence is proved under mild conditions.
‘We hunt to share’: social dynamics and very large mammal butchery during the Oldowan–Acheulean transition

ABSTRACT The Early Pleistocene (2.58–0.78 Ma) was a period of major evolutionary changes in the hominin lineage. The progressive consolidation of bipedal locomotion, alongside increases in cranial capacity and behavioural flexibility, allowed early Homo to exploit an increasing diversity of resources and environmental settings within the changing landscapes of East Africa and beyond. These complex processes were not necessarily linear or spatially uniform, given the technological diversity documented, particularly during the Oldowan–Acheulean transition. In this paper, we argue that human populations experienced a considerable demographic expansion from c.1. 7–1.5 Ma onwards, expressed in the number, size, density, and distribution of archaeological sites. These patterns resulted from the interplay of high-yielding animal resource exploitation strategies, technological investment, prosocial behaviours as well as increasingly structured land use patterns. A more consolidated hominin demographic structure led to the extinction of large sympatric carnivore species, while larger group sizes would have led to more successful Out-of-Africa dispersals.
Carboxypeptidase A3—A Key Component of the Protease Phenotype of Mast Cells

Carboxypeptidase A3 (CPA3) is a specific mast cell (MC) protease with variable expression. This protease is one of the preformed components of the secretome. During maturation of granules, CPA3 becomes an active enzyme with a characteristic localization determining the features of the cytological and ultrastructural phenotype of MC. CPA3 takes part in the regulation of a specific tissue microenvironment, affecting the implementation of innate immunity, the mechanisms of angiogenesis, the processes of remodeling of the extracellular matrix, etc. Characterization of CPA3 expression in MC can be used to refine the MC classification, help in a prognosis, and increase the effectiveness of targeted therapy.
Thermal Characterization of a DBD Plasma Actuator: Dielectric Temperature Measurements using Infrared Thermography

Active flow control by plasma actuators is currentl y under investigation in order to improve the aerodynamic performance of vehicles. One of these actuators consists in using a surface dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) by creat ing a non-thermal plasma at the dielectric surface. The plasma discharge induces a low-velocity airflow, the so-called “ionic wind”, which can be used to modify external flows. In this study, we focus on the description of the thermal effect of a DBD actuator in order to contribute to a better understanding of the mechanisms of interaction with the flow. The te mperature of the dielectric surface was first determined with the plasma on and secondly af ter switching off the discharge. The measurements were conducted for several amplitudes and frequencies of the applied voltage. The study comprised two parts: in the first, measur ements were performed in quiescent air, and in the second, the influence of an external bou ndary layer over the discharge on the dielectric temperature was investigated.
Comparative Cytotoxic Effects and Possible Mechanisms of Deoxynivalenol, Zearalenone and T-2 Toxin Exposure to Porcine Leydig Cells In Vitro

Mycotoxins such as zearalenone (ZEN), deoxynivalenol (DON) and T-2 toxin (T-2) are the most poisonous biological toxins in food pollution. Mycotoxin contaminations are a global health issue. The aim of the current study was to use porcine Leydig cells as a model to explore the toxic effects and underlying mechanisms of ZEN, DON and T-2. The 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) of ZEN was 49.71 μM, and the IC50 values of DON and T-2 were 2.49 μM and 97.18 nM, respectively. Based on the values of IC50, ZEN, DON and T-2 exposure resulted in increased cell apoptosis, as well as disrupted mitochondria membrane potential and cell cycle distribution. The results also showed that ZEN and DON significantly reduced testosterone and progesterone secretion in Leydig cells, but T-2 only reduced testosterone secretion. Furthermore, the expression of steroidogenic acute regulatory (StAR) protein and 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3β-HSD) were significantly decreased by ZEN, DON and T-2; whereas the protein expression of cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme (CYP11A1) was only significantly decreased by ZEN. Altogether, these data suggest that the ZEN, DON and T-2 toxins resulted in reproductive toxicity involving the inhibition of steroidogenesis and cell proliferation, which contributes to the cellular apoptosis induced by mitochondrial injury in porcine Leydig cells.
Vehicle steering control method based on machine learning

The environmental perception and control are the core issues of driverless vehicles. Considering the weak signal of global positioning system (GPS) and the difficulty of road information acceptance in rural area, the DIPLECS autonomous driving datasets is selected. The roads in dataset are classified by support vector machine algorithm (SVM), and established into the road template library. Then, on different roads, images and steering direction are used as the input and labels of the training set for back propagation neural network (BPNN) model. Finally, the effect of the model is verified on the video clip. The results show that the accuracy of road classification reaches 99.8% through SVM, the shortest time consumption of a single frame is 0.9 ms. The highest accuracy of steering prediction is 94.5%, and it only takes 0.224 ms to detect a frame. The algorithm meets the requirements of accuracy and real-time, and it can effectively assist and warn the drivers or automatic driving systems.
Improved LQR Control Using PSO Optimization and Kalman Filter Estimator

The electric motor is a device that converts electrical power into mechanical power. The DC motor has some advantages compared to the AC motor on its easier way to control the speed or position and wide adjustable range. However, it still has some issues, such as uncertainty and disturbance; most existing controllers still provide bad system performance or have major drawbacks in solving these issues. The alternative solution for a control method with simple, easy to design, and can be implemented in a multi-input multi-output system is the integral state feedback control technique, such as in Linear Quadratic Regulator (LQR). The weakness of LQR control is that there is no exact method to determine the best value of matrix Q and R used to calculate the state feedback gain; trial or manual tuning method is mostly used. Therefore, this paper proposed an improved LQR control using Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) method and the Kalman filter estimator. The PSO was used to find optimal Q and R-value, while the Kalman filter reduced the number of sensors used to measure the system state. Both performance and energy consumption were compared using the Integral of Absolute Error (IAE) and total energy consumption. The simulation results showed that the proposed method is superior in performance and energy compared to manually-tuned LQR. However, based on the hardware implementation, although the manually-tuned LQR was found to have the smallest energy consumption, the proposed method has the smallest IAE, which can reduce the IAE by 11.28% with only 1% higher energy compared to manually-tuned LQR.
Machine Learning to Rate and Predict the Efficiency of Waterflooding for Oil Production

Waterflooding is a widely used secondary oil recovery technique. The oil and gas industry uses a complex reservoir numerical simulation and reservoir engineering analysis to forecast production curves from waterflooding projects. The application of such standard methods at the stage of assessing the potential of a huge number of projects could be computationally inefficient and requires a lot of effort. This paper demonstrates the applicability of machine learning to rate the outcome of waterflooding applied to an oil reservoir. We also explore the relationship of project evaluations by operators at the final stages with several performance metrics for forecasting. Real data about several thousand waterflooding projects in Texas are used in the current study. We compare the ML models rankings of the waterflooding efficiency and the expert rankings. Linear regression models along with neural networks and gradient boosting on decision threes are considered. We show that machine learning models allow reducing computational complexity and can be useful for rating the reservoirs, with respect to the effectiveness of waterflooding.
Mutual Coupling Reduction in a Patch Antenna Array Based on Planar Frequency Selective Surface Structure

In this article, mutual coupling has been reduced in the microstrip antenna array by using frequency selective surface (FSS). Here we have taken two microstrip antennas of dimension 65 × 45 mm2 each and a properly designed FSS of dimension 11 × 10 mm2 is inserted in between two patches. By using this array structure mutual coupling of 50 dB is reduced by means of the introduction of FSS. We have also studied cross polarization radiation of the patch antenna using FSS. Here also a reduction of orthogonal radiation of 15 dBi has been achieved. We have studied all parameters of the antenna structure and found that there is no any significant difference of antenna parameters (like return loss, efficiency, radiation pattern etc) with and without FSS. The simulations of the antenna parameter have been done by using IE3D electromagnetic simulator and the measurements are done by using 2N2230 vector network analyzer and automated anechoic chamber. A good agreement between simulated and measured result has been observed in this study.
Evaluating the impact of waiting time reliability on route choice using smart card data

ABSTRACT Unreliable waiting times may cause frustration and anxiety amongst public transport travellers. Although the effect of travel time reliability has been studied extensively, most studies have used stated preferences which have disadvantages, such as an inherent hypothetical bias, or have analysed revealed preferences for road traffic. Here, we derive revealed preferences from passively collected smart card data to analyse the role of waiting time reliability in public transport route choice. We study waiting time reliability as regular and irregular deviations from scheduled values, examining a number of indicators for the latter. Behaviour in morning peak and off-peak hours is contrasted and differences in reliability coefficients for different modes in the network, and for origin and transfer stops are reported. Results from The Hague indicate relatively low reliability ratios with travellers perceiving a 5-minute standard deviation in realised waiting times as an extra 1–5.6 min of planned waiting time.
Feasibility Study of Glucose Concentration Measurement of Aqueous Solution Using Time Domain Reflected Signals

Recently, wideband microwave spectroscopy (WBMS) has been applied for material characterization. Blood glucose sensing through microwave spectroscopy is usually done with resonant frequency-domain methods. Time-domain (TD) WBMS is a low-cost and convenient technique that can be used for glucose sensing of the aqueous solution. In this paper, early research for the implementation of a TD dielectric spectroscopy setup for glucose concentration measurement is presented. TD reflected signals from water with different glucose content are calculated using inverse Laplace transform. The proposed setup is a quasi-monostatic setup in which measurements are done with two different devices in the frequency range of 0.1 to 6 GHz to make a comparison between frequency domain (FD) and TD methods. Frequency domain (FD) measurement is performed with VNA and two Vivaldi antennas. Then, TD data is obtained using the transforming option of VNA. Direct TD measurement is operated with a maximum length sequence (m-sequence) transceiver. Measurement and numerical results follow the same trend and show good agreement with each other. A monotonic relation between peaks of TD signals and the corresponding glucose concentration is achieved. The variation of the height of the reflected signal’s peak is 0.00002 and 0.0005 for each 50 mg/dL glucose concentration with FD measurements and direct TD measurements, respectively. The glucose concentration range of 25 mg/dL to 400 mg/dL is investigated, and the worst repeatability of this method is 3.65% for 300 mg/dL.
Design of a 3D-Printed Soft Robotic Hand With Integrated Distributed Tactile Sensing

Humans rely on distributed tactile sensing in their hands to achieve robust and dexterous manipulation of delicate objects. Soft robotic hands have received increased attention in recent years due to their adaptability to unknown objects and safe interactions with the environment. However, the integration of distributed sensing in soft robotic hands is lacking. This is largely due to the complexity in the integration of soft sensing solutions with the hands. This letter proposes a novel soft robotic hand that incorporates an active palm and distributed pneumatic tactile sensing in both the fingers and the palm. Multi-material 3D printing allows the tactile sensors to be directly printed on the hand, whereas conventional tactile approaches require the sensors to be attached as part of multiple fabrication procedures. Active degrees of freedom are introduced in the palm to achieve increased dexterity. The proposed hand successfully performed 32 of the 33 Feix taxonomy grasps and all 11 Kapandji thumb opposition poses.
CONSTRUCCIÓN DE UN REACTOR DISCONTINUO PARA LA OBTENCIÓN DE BIODIESEL A PARTIR DEL ACEITE DE Ricinus communis A BATCH REACTOR CONSTRUCTION FOR OBTAINING BIODIESEL FROM OIL Ricinus communis

A batch reactor was constructed to obtain biodiesel from 5 liters of extracted from the seed of Ricinus communis. The reactor is made of stainless steel, 29cm length, 15.24 cm of inner diameter and a conical base of 20cm long, wall thickness of 0.2 cm, 1000 W tubular resistance and 110 volt motor. It is extracted and compared with the respective norms the physical and chemical properties of crude oil. Preliminary tests catalyzed transesterification of the oil with NaOH to verify the feasibility of the reaction and define the performed operational conditions. Obtained biodiesel was characterized and compared with references. The results showed that it is possible to obtain the biofuel in the batch reactor with a conversion 88%, confirming its application in transesterification reactions in a basic medium.
The discursive construction of new citizen identities in Singapore

Abstract This article investigates how new citizens reconfigure dominant indexes of citizenship to claim status as legitimate new citizens of Singapore. New citizens are expected to resolve a tension that underpins public discourses in Singapore society: while the statal narrative of multiculturalism countenances new citizens to have perceivable markers of difference, everyday discourses expect new citizens to assimilate into the ‘Singapore core’—a term used in Singapore that denotes a homogeneous understanding of what it means to be Singaporean. By adopting a metapragmatic approach, this article identifies three common indexes of citizenship that new citizens negotiate to resolve this contradiction: language, loyalty, and legacy. By reconfiguring common markers of citizenship in Singapore, new citizens are able to discursively construct a type of citizenship that they can legitimately claim and contribute to. This expands common understandings of the notion of citizenship in Singapore society. (Citizenship, language ideologies, multiculturalism, metapragmatics, Singapore)*