Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Vibration of suspended solid-timber slabs without intermediate support: assessment for human comfort

ABSTRACT Mass timber flooring is an effective use of low-grade timber. However, lightweight, unsupported, timber slabs are particularly susceptible to vibrations in the frequency range that causes discomfort to occupants. The purpose of this investigation is to determine whether panelised solid timber slabs vibrate within acceptable standards for human comfort. The first three natural frequencies and associated mode shapes of five 4.4 m × 0.28 m × 0.09 m nail laminated, MGP10 Radiata Pine test panels were investigated using accelerometers to validate and calibrate a finite element model in Ansys Workbench. The finite element model was then extended to study three slabs spanning 4.4 m, with widths in the range 4.2–8.4 m. Marginally acceptable levels were achieved by the thinnest slab tested (90 mm), however with increased slab depth, the recommended limits are easily satisfied. These conclusions are shown likely to be conservative when furnishings and fittings are accounted for. As results are dominated by the stiff dimension, conclusions can be extrapolated to wider slabs, thus this represents a viable method of construction for slabs of any width spanning 4.4 m.
The Coarse Structure of the Center Periphery

Spanish displays a set of diverse contexts in which constituents are frozen inside the VP: only direct objects and postverbal subjects but not preverbal subjects or IP material are licensed. These environments include: indefinites licensed by modals, syntactically-marked focus (as opposed to stress-focus), evidentials, etc. It is argued that all of these contexts involve a projection exactly above vP responsible for licensing discourse-related items. The reason why XP is immediately above vP is that vP is a strong phase, and evidence for parallel behavior of CP is given. The proposed syntactic framework to account for this symmetry involves a set of strong phases intertwined with discourse-oriented peripheries.
Firing and gettering dependence of effective defect density in material exhibiting LeTID

The investigation of LeTID effects in mc-Si material requires repeated measurements of the minority charge carrier lifetime τeff. Due to the inhomogeneous nature of mc-Si, measurements of τeff should be carried out in a spatially resolved way. In this work, we show results for the impact of firing and gettering on LeTID in high quality mc-Si material and analyse them in terms of the effective defect density Neff while retaining the spatial information. We show that especially for low peak firing temperature degradation is not homogeneous and that firing and gettering influence the degree of spatial inhomogeneity.The investigation of LeTID effects in mc-Si material requires repeated measurements of the minority charge carrier lifetime τeff. Due to the inhomogeneous nature of mc-Si, measurements of τeff should be carried out in a spatially resolved way. In this work, we show results for the impact of firing and gettering on LeTID in high quality mc-Si material and analyse them in terms of the effective defect density Neff while retaining the spatial information. We show that especially for low peak firing temperature degradation is not homogeneous and that firing and gettering influence the degree of spatial inhomogeneity.
Statin use in adults at high risk of cardiovascular disease mortality: cross-sectional analysis of baseline data from The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA)

Objectives This study aims to examine the extent to which statins are used by adults at high risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) compared to European clinical guidelines. The high-risk groups examined are those with (1) known CVD, (2) known diabetes and (3) a high or very high risk (≥5%) of CVD mortality based on Systematic COronary Risk Evaluation (SCORE). Design This study is cross-sectional in design using data from the first wave (2009–2011) of The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA). Setting and participants The sample (n=3372) is representative of community living adults aged 50–64 years in Ireland. Results Statins were used by 68.6% (95% CI 61.5% to 75.8%) of those with known CVD, 57.4% (95% CI 49.1% to 65.7%) of those with known diabetes and by 19.7% (95% CI 13.0% to 26.3%) of adults with a SCORE risk ≥5%. Over a third (38.5%, 95% CI 31.0% to 46.0%) of those with known CVD, 46.8% (95% CI 38.4% to 55.1%) of those with known diabetes and 85.2% (95% CI 79.3% to 91.1%) of those with a SCORE risk ≥5% were at or above the low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) target of 2.5 mmol/L specified in the 2007 European guidelines. Conclusions Despite strong evidence and clinical guidelines recommending the use of statins for secondary prevention, a gap exists between guidelines and practice in this cohort. It is also of concern that a low proportion of adults with a SCORE risk ≥5% were taking statins. A policy response that strengthens secondary prevention, and improves risk assessment and shared decision-making in the primary prevention of CVD is required.
Semi-supervised Learning with Ladder Networks

We combine supervised learning with unsupervised learning in deep neural networks. The proposed model is trained to simultaneously minimize the sum of supervised and unsupervised cost functions by backpropagation, avoiding the need for layer-wise pre-training. Our work builds on top of the Ladder network proposed by Valpola [1] which we extend by combining the model with supervision. We show that the resulting model reaches state-of-the-art performance in semi-supervised MNIST and CIFAR-10 classification in addition to permutation-invariant MNIST classification with all labels.
K-stability of constant scalar curvature polarization

In this paper, we shall show that a polarized algebraic manifold is K-stable if the polarization class admits a Kaehler metric of constant scalar curvature. This generalizes the results of Chen-Tian, Donaldson and Stoppa. (Parts of the arguments are based on a forthcoming paper "A stronger concept of K-stability." )
Mid-latitude afforestation shifts general circulation and tropical precipitation

We show in climate model experiments that large-scale afforestation in northern mid-latitudes warms the Northern Hemisphere and alters global circulation patterns. An expansion of dark forests increases the absorption of solar energy and increases surface temperature, particularly in regions where the land surface is unable to compensate with latent heat flux due to water limitation. Atmospheric circulation redistributes the anomalous energy absorbed in the northern hemisphere, in particular toward the south, through altering the Hadley circulation, resulting in the northward displacement of the tropical rain bands. Precipitation decreases over parts of the Amazon basin affecting productivity and increases over the Sahel and Sahara regions in Africa. We find that the response of climate to afforestation in mid-latitudes is determined by the amount of soil moisture available to plants with the greatest warming found in water-limited regions. Mid-latitude afforestation is found to have a small impact on modeled global temperatures and on global CO2, but regional heating from the increase in forest cover is capable of driving unintended changes in circulation and precipitation. The ability of vegetation to affect remote circulation has implications for strategies for climate mitigation.
Item response theory for measurement validity

Summary Item response theory (IRT) is an important method of assessing the validity of measurement scales that is underutilized in the field of psychiatry. IRT describes the relationship between a latent trait (e.g., the construct that the scale proposes to assess), the properties of the items in the scale, and respondents’ answers to the individual items. This paper introduces the basic premise, assumptions, and methods of IRT. To help explain these concepts we generate a hypothetical scale using three items from a modified, binary (yes/no) response version of the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression scale that was administered to 19,399 respondents. We first conducted a factor analysis to confirm the unidimensionality of the three items and then proceeded with Mplus software to construct the 2-Parameter Logic (2-PL) IRT model of the data, a method which allows for estimates of both item discrimination and item difficulty. The utility of this information both for clinical purposes and for scale construction purposes is discussed.
Listener impressions of speakers with Parkinson’s disease

Abstract Parkinson’s disease (PD) has several negative effects on speech production and communication. However, few studies have looked at how speech patterns in PD contribute to linguistic and social impressions formed about PD patients from the perspective of listeners. In this study, discourse recordings elicited from nondemented PD speakers (n = 18) and healthy controls (n = 17) were presented to 30 listeners unaware of the speakers’ disease status. In separate conditions, listeners rated the discourse samples based on their impressions of the speaker or of the linguistic content. Acoustic measures of the speech samples were analyzed for comparison with listeners’ perceptual ratings. Results showed that although listeners rated the content of Parkinsonian discourse as linguistically appropriate (e.g., coherent, well-organized, easy to follow), the PD speakers were perceived as significantly less interested, less involved, less happy, and less friendly than healthy speakers. Negative social impressions demonstrated a relationship to changes in vocal intensity (loudness) and temporal characteristics (dysfluencies) of Parkinsonian speech. Our findings emphasize important psychosocial ramifications of PD that are likely to limit opportunities for communication and social interaction for those affected, because of the negative impressions drawn by listeners based on their speaking voice. (JINS, 2010, 16, 49–57.)
Outbreaks of the Brown Planthopper Nilaparvata lugens (Stål) in the Yangtze River Delta: Immigration or Local Reproduction?

An effective control strategy for migratory pests is difficult to implement because the cause of infestation (i.e., immigration or local reproduction) is often not established. In particular, the outbreak mechanisms of the brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens (Stål), an insect causing massive losses in rice fields in the Yangtze River Delta in China, are frequently unclear. Field surveys of N. lugens were performed in Jiangsu and Zhejiang Provinces in 2008 to 2010 and related historical data from 2003 onwards were collected and analyzed to clarify the cause of these infestations. Results showed that outbreaks of N. lugens in the Yangtze River Delta were mostly associated with an extremely high increase in population. Thus, reproduction rather than immigration from distant sources were the cause of the infestations. Although mass migration occurred late in the season (late August and early September), the source areas of N. lugens catches in the Yangtze River Delta were mainly located in nearby areas, including the Yangtze River Delta itself, Anhui and northern Jiangxi Provinces. These regions collectively form the lower-middle reaches of the Yangtze River, and the late migration can thus be considered as an internal bioflow within one population.
The insular Lobe of Reil–its Anatamico-Functional, behavioural and Neuropsychiatric attributes in humans–a review

Summary There is considerable clinical and experimental research to explore the anatamico-functional correlations of the limbic lobe to establish its relevance in modern neuroscience. The insula being a pivotal structure in the concept of the greater limbic lobe, we have attempted to highlight in this review the topographical anatomy and development, the remarkable heterogeneity of the insular cortical architecture, the widespread multifaceted spectrum of functional connectivity patterns and how this is translated to its behavioural specialisation in humans. The insula serves as an intergration cortex for multimodal convergence of distributed neural networks such as the somesthetic-limbic, insulolimbic, insulo-orbito-temporal and the prefrontalstriato- pallidal-basal forebrain. This provides the conceptual framework to facilitate functional and clinical considerations relevant to the various behavioural and neuropsychiatric disorders outlined in this review. The functional role of the insula in these disorders with particular reference to the current functional neuroimaging data has been also reviewed in this article.
Coastwide Otolith Signatures of Juvenile Atlantic Menhaden, 2009–2011

AbstractThe Atlantic Menhaden Brevoortia tyrannus is a clupeid that plays a critical role in the marine food web and supports one of the largest fisheries on the U.S. East Coast. Along with a decrease in overall numbers and spawning stock biomass, recruitment levels have remained low since the 1990s. Atlantic Menhaden use numerous estuaries along the Atlantic coast for juvenile development before recruiting to the adult population, but the contribution of each of these nursery grounds is currently unknown. Chesapeake Bay is thought to contribute 70% of the total recruits, although this estimate is over 20 years old and predates current low recruitment levels. We investigated the potential of trace element (Li, Mg, Mn, Rb, Sr, Y, Ba, and Pb) and stable isotope ratio (δ13C and δ18O) signatures in otoliths to distinguish among Atlantic Menhaden collected from various nursery grounds along the U.S. Atlantic coast (Connecticut to South Carolina) during 2009–2011. Juveniles were classified to four regional nurs.
Dichlorido{2-morpholino-N-[1-(2-pyridyl)ethylidene]ethanamine-κ3 N,N′,N′′}zinc(II)

In the title compound, [ZnCl2(C13H19N3O)], the Schiff base ligand acts as an N,N′,N′′-tridentate chelating agent, making two five-membered rings with the ZnII ion. The metal atom is five-coordinated by the Schiff base ligand and two Cl atoms in a distorted square-pyramidal geometry. An intramolecular C—H⋯Cl interaction occurs. In the crystal, adjacent molecules are linked together via C—H⋯Cl hydrogen-bonding and long range C—H⋯O and C—H⋯Cl interactions into a three-dimensional network.
Improved glycemic control with colesevelam treatment in patients with type 2 diabetes is not directly associated with changes in bile acid metabolism

Bile acids (BAs) are essential for fat absorption and appear to modulate glucose and energy metabolism. Colesevelam, a BA sequestrant, improves glycemic control in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). We aimed to characterize the alterations in BA metabolism associated with T2DM and colesevelam treatment and to establish whether metabolic consequences of T2DM and colesevelam are related to changes in BA metabolism. Male subjects with T2DM (n = 16) and controls (n = 12) were matched for age and body mass index. BA pool sizes and synthesis/input rates were determined before and after 2 and 8 weeks of colesevelam treatment. T2DM subjects had higher cholic acid (CA) synthesis rate, higher deoxycholic acid (DCA) input rate, and enlarged DCA pool size. Colesevelam resulted in a preferential increase in CA synthesis in both groups. CA pool size was increased whereas chenodeoxycholic acid and DCA pool sizes were decreased upon treatment. Fasting and postprandial fibroblast growth factor 19 (FGF19) levels did not differ between controls and diabetics, but were decreased by treatment in both groups. Colesevelam treatment reduced hemoglobin A1C by 0.7% (P < 0.01) in diabetics. Yet, no relationships between BA kinetic parameters and changes in glucose metabolism were found in T2DM or with colesevelam treatment. Conclusion: Our results reveal significant changes in BA metabolism in T2DM, particularly affecting CA and DCA. Colesevelam treatment reduced FGF19 signaling associated with increased BA synthesis, particularly of CA, and resulted in a more hydrophilic BA pool without altering total BA pool size. However, these changes could not be related to the improved glycemic control in T2DM. (HEPATOLOGY 2010;)
Trajectory planning for a four-wheel-steering vehicle

This paper develops a trajectory planning algorithm for a four-wheel-steering vehicle based on vehicle kinematics. The flexibility offered by the steering is utilized fully in the trajectory planning. A two-part trajectory planning algorithm consists of the steering planning and velocity planning. Limits of the vehicle mechanism and drive torque are taken into account. Simulation results are presented to illustrate the application of the proposed algorithm.
Convex Optimization without Projection Steps

For the general problem of minimizing a convex function over a compact convex domain, we will investigate a simple iterative approximation algorithm based on the method by Frank & Wolfe 1956, that does not need projection steps in order to stay inside the optimization domain. Instead of a projection step, the linearized problem defined by a current subgradient is solved, which gives a step direction that will naturally stay in the domain. Our framework generalizes the sparse greedy algorithm of Frank & Wolfe and its primal-dual analysis by Clarkson 2010 (and the low-rank SDP approach by Hazan 2008) to arbitrary convex domains. We give a convergence proof guaranteeing {\epsilon}-small duality gap after O(1/{\epsilon}) iterations. The method allows us to understand the sparsity of approximate solutions for any l1-regularized convex optimization problem (and for optimization over the simplex), expressed as a function of the approximation quality. We obtain matching upper and lower bounds of {\Theta}(1/{\epsilon}) for the sparsity for l1-problems. The same bounds apply to low-rank semidefinite optimization with bounded trace, showing that rank O(1/{\epsilon}) is best possible here as well. As another application, we obtain sparse matrices of O(1/{\epsilon}) non-zero entries as {\epsilon}-approximate solutions when optimizing any convex function over a class of diagonally dominant symmetric matrices. We show that our proposed first-order method also applies to nuclear norm and max-norm matrix optimization problems. For nuclear norm regularized optimization, such as matrix completion and low-rank recovery, we demonstrate the practical efficiency and scalability of our algorithm for large matrix problems, as e.g. the Netflix dataset. For general convex optimization over bounded matrix max-norm, our algorithm is the first with a convergence guarantee, to the best of our knowledge.
Differential Roles of P-Glycoprotein, Multidrug Resistance-Associated Protein 2, and CYP3A on Saquinavir Oral Absorption in Sprague-Dawley Rats

The objective of this investigation was to differentiate the roles of P-glycoprotein (Pgp), multidrug resistance-associated protein 2 (Mrp2), and CYP3A on saquinavir (SQV) oral absorption. With use of single-pass jejunal perfusion (in situ) and portal vein-cannulated rats (in vivo), SQV absorption was studied under chemical inhibition of Pgp [N-(4-[2-(1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-6,7-dimethoxy-2 isoquinolinyl)-ethyl]-phenyl)-9,10-dihydro-5-methoxy-9-oxo-4-acridine carboxamide (GF120918)], Mrp2 [(3-(((3-(2-(7-chloro-2-quinolinyl)-(E)-ethenyl)phenyl) ((3-(dimethylamino-3-oxopropyl)thio)methyl)-thio) propanoic acid (MK571)], and/or CYP3A (midazolam). Plasma concentrations of SQV and related metabolites were analyzed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. When given alone, SQV absorption was extremely low both in situ (Fa = 0.07%) and in vivo [Cmax = 0.068 μg/ml; area under the curve (AUC) = 6.8 μg · min/ml]. Coadministration of GF120918 boosted SQV absorption by more than 20-fold with decreased variation in AUCs (percent coefficient of variation = 30% versus 100%). In contrast, coadministration of MK571 or midazolam increased SQV absorption only 2- to 3-fold without improving the variation in AUCs. SQV oral absorption was not further improved when it was given with GF120918 and midazolam or with GF120918 and MK571. The current results provide, for the first time, direct and explicit evidence that the low oral absorption of SQV is controlled by a secretory transporter, Pgp, and not by limited passive diffusion owing to its poor physicochemical properties. Pgp-mediated transport is also responsible for the highly variable oral bioavailability of SQV. In contrast, intestinal Mrp2 and intestinal CYP3A appear to play minor roles in SQV oral bioavailability. Given the differential and complex roles of Pgp and CYP3A in SQV oral absorption, the optimization of AIDS boosting regimens requires careful consideration to avoid therapy-limiting drug-drug transporter and enzyme interactions.
Long-Term Survival and Recurrence After Acute Myocardial Infarction in England, 2004 to 2010

Background— There are limited population-based national data on prognosis in survivors of acute myocardial infarction (AMI), particularly on long-term survival and the risk of recurrence. Methods and Results— Record linkage of hospital and mortality data identified 387 452 individuals in England who were admitted to hospital with a main diagnosis of AMI between 2004 and 2010 and who survived for at least 30 days. Seven years after an AMI, the risk of death from any cause in survivors of first or recurrent AMI was, respectively, 2 and 3 times higher than that in the English general population of equivalent age. For all survivors of a first AMI, the risk of a second AMI was highest during the first year and the cumulative risk increased more gradually thereafter. For men, 1- and 7-year cumulative risks were 5.6% (95% confidence interval [CI], 5.5–5.7) and 13.9% (95% CI, 13.7–14.1); for women, they were 7.2% (95% CI, 7.1–7.4) and 16.2% (95% CI, 16.0–16.5). Older age, higher deprivation, no revascularization procedures, and presence of comorbidities were associated with higher recurrence risk. Conclusions— Survivors of both first and recurrent AMI remained at a significantly higher risk of death compared with the general population for at least 7 years after the event. For survivors of first AMI, the influence of predisposing factors for second AMI lessened with time after the initial event. The results reinforce the importance of acute clinical care and secondary prevention in improving long-term prognosis of hospitalized AMI patients.
Realized Bank Risk during the Great Recession

In the years preceding the 2007-2009 financial crisis, forward-looking indicators of bank risk concentrated and suggested unusually low expectations of bank default. We assess whether the ex-ante (i.e. prior to the crisis) cross-sectional variability in bank characteristics is related to the ex-post (i.e. during the crisis) materialization of bank risk. Our tailor-made dataset crucially accounts for the different dimensions of realized bank risk including access to central bank liquidity during the crisis. We consistently find that less reliance on deposit funding, more aggressive credit growth, larger size and leverage were associated with larger levels of realized risk. The impact of these characteristics is particularly relevant for capturing the systemic dimensions of bank risk and tends to become stronger for the tail of the riskier banks. The majority of these characteristics also predicted bank risk as materialized before the financial crisis.
Characterization of mercury-resistant clinical Aeromonas species

Mercury-resistant Aeromonas strains isolated from diarrhea were studied. Resistance occurs via mercuric ion reduction but merA and merR genes were only detected in some strains using PCR and dot hybridization. Results indicate a high variability in mer operons in Aeromonas. To our knowledge, this is the first report of mercury-resistant clinical Aeromonas strains.