Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of Moulding Temperature on the Physical Properties of Wood-Based Moulding Bonded with Citric Acid

Abstract Development of natural adhesives that do not depend on fossil resources is very important for the future of wood-based materials. We recently found that citric acid can be used as a natural adhesive for wood-based moulding. In this study, we investigated the effects of moulding temperature on the characterization of wood-based moulding bonded with citric acid. Wood powder obtained from Acacia mangium was mixed with 20 percent (by weight) citric acid, and the powder mixture was moulded at a temperature ranging from 140°C to 220°C. The press pressure and heating time were set at 4 MPa and 10 minutes, respectively. The bending properties were affected by the moulding temperature, and the moulding fabricated at 180°C showed excellent values. The average impact strength of the moulding at 180°C was 1.1 kJ/m2. Water resistance increased with moulding temperature, and good resistance against boiling water was achieved. Thermal properties were also clearly increased with moulding temperature. However, fe.
Effect of Vallecular Ballooning in Stroke Patients With Dysphagia

Objective To investigate the improvement of dysphagia after balloon dilatation and balloon swallowing at the vallecular space with a Foley catheter in stroke patients. Methods This study was conducted between May 1, 2012 and December 31, 2015, and involved 30 stroke patients with complaints of difficulty in swallowing. All patients underwent videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS) before and after vallecular ballooning. VFSS was performed with a 4 mL semisolid bolus. For vallecular ballooning, two trainings were performed for at least 10 minutes, including backward stretching of the epiglottis and swallowing of a balloon located in the vallecular space, by checking the movement of the Foley catheter tip in real time using VFSS. Results After examination of the dysphagia improvement pattern before and after vallecular ballooning, laryngeal elevation (x-axis: pre 2.62±1.51 mm and post 3.54±1.93 mm, p=0.038; y-axis: pre 17.11±4.24 mm and post 22.11±3.46 mm, p=0.036), pharyngeal transit time (pre 5.76±6.61 s and post 4.08±5.49 s, p=0.043), rotation of the epiglottis (pre 53.24°±26.77° and post 32.45°±24.60°, p<0.001), and post-swallow pharyngeal remnant (pre 41.31%±23.77% and post 32.45%±24.60%, p=0.002) showed statistically significant differences. No significant difference was observed in the penetration-aspiration scale score (pre 4.73±1.50 and post 4.46±1.78, p=0.391). Conclusion For stroke patients with dysmotility of the epiglottis and post-swallowing residue, vallecular ballooning can be considered as an alternative method that can be applied without risk of aspiration in dysphagia treatment.
Common Variation in the LMNA Gene (Encoding Lamin A/C) and Type 2 Diabetes

Mutations in the LMNA gene (encoding lamin A/C) underlie familial partial lipodystrophy, a syndrome of monogenic insulin resistance and diabetes. LMNA maps to the well-replicated diabetes-linkage region on chromosome 1q, and there are reported associations between LMNA single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (particularly rs4641; H566H) and metabolic syndrome components. We examined the relationship between LMNA variation and type 2 diabetes (using six tag SNPs capturing >90% of common variation) in several large datasets. Analysis of 2,490 U.K. diabetic case and 2,556 control subjects revealed no significant associations at either genotype or haplotype level: the minor allele at rs4641 was no more frequent in case subjects (allelic odds ratio [OR] 1.07 [95% CI 0.98–1.17], P = 0.15). In 390 U.K. trios, family-based association analyses revealed nominally significant overtransmission of the major allele at rs12063564 (P = 0.01), which was not corroborated in other samples. Finally, genotypes for 2,817 additional subjects from the International 1q Consortium revealed no consistent case-control or family-based associations with LMNA variants. Across all our data, the OR for the rs4641 minor allele approached but did not attain significance (1.07 [0.99–1.15], P = 0.08). Our data do not therefore support a major effect of LMNA variation on diabetes risk. However, in a meta-analysis including other available data, there is evidence that rs4641 has a modest effect on diabetes susceptibility (1.10 [1.04–1.16], P = 0.001).
Neutralisation of the interleukin-33/ST2 pathway ameliorates experimental colitis through enhancement of mucosal healing in mice

Objective Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) have been intrinsically linked to a deregulated cytokine network, but novel therapeutic principles are urgently needed. Here we identify the interleukin (IL)-33 and its receptor ST2 as key negative regulators of wound healing and permeability in the colon of mice. Design Expression of IL-33 and ST2 was determined by qRT-PCR, ELISA, immunohistochemistry and western-blot analysis. Wild-type and St2−/− mice were used in wound healing experiments and in two experimental models of IBD triggered by 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulphonic acid or dextran sodium sulphate (DSS). Neutralisation of ST2 was performed by using a specific blocking antibody. Results Nuclear localisation and enhanced expression of IL-33 in myofibroblasts and enterocytes was linked to disease involvement independently of inflammation, while the expression of ST2 was primarily restricted to the colonic epithelia. In two experimental models of IBD, genetic ablation of ST2 significantly improved signs of colitis, while a sustained epithelial expression of the cyto-protective factor connexin-43 was observed in DSS-treated St2-deficient mice. Unexpectedly, absence of ST2 in non-hematopoietic cells was sufficient to protect against colitis. Consistently, specific inhibition of endogenous ST2-mediated signalling by treatment with neutralising antibody improved DSS-induced colitis. In addition, IL-33 treatment impaired epithelial barrier permeability in vitro and in vivo, whereas absence of ST2 enhanced wound healing response upon acute mechanical injury in the colon. Conclusions Our study unveiled a novel non-hematopoietic function of IL-33 in epithelial barrier function and wound healing. Therefore, blocking the IL-33/ST2 axis may represent an efficient therapy in IBD.
Storability of modified wet distillers grains with solubles

Distillers grains, a high-quality co-product from dry-grind ethanol production processes, is widely uses as a livestock feed both locally and internationally. However, the wet form of distillers grains deteriorates (i.e., undergoes dry matter loss-DML) rapidly during storage which affects overall management and utilization. There are several active research initiatives aimed at developing alternative preservation methods to retard storage losses thus extending the wet feed storage life to meet the fundamental principle of availability of feed during scarcity. And yet, data on wet distillers grains DML is highly limited. This study investigated the effect of 0.1% w/w CakeGuard preservative (propionic acid-based) and temperature (10C, 20C and 30C) on modified wet distillers grains with solubles (MWDGS) DML under aerobic conditions during storage for 21 days. There was significant difference in DML with preservative treatment at 20C and 30C. Effect of temperature treatment was significant. Preservative and temperature interaction effect on DML was
SELECTION ON LEAF ECOPHYSIOLOGICAL TRAITS IN A DESERT HYBRID HELIANTHUS SPECIES AND EARLY‐GENERATION HYBRIDS

Abstract Leaf ecophysiological traits related to carbon gain and resource use are expected to be under strong selection in desert annuals. We used comparative and phenotypic selection approaches to investigate the importance of leaf ecophysiological traits for Helianthus anomalus, a diploid annual sunflower species of hybrid origin that is endemic to active desert dunes. Comparisons were made within and among five genotypic classes: H. anomalus, its ancestral parent species (H. annuus and H. petiolaris), and two backcrossed populations of the parental species (designated BC2ann and BC2pet) representing putative ancestors of H. anomalus. Seedlings were transplanted into H. anomalus habitat at Little Sahara Dunes, Utah, and followed through a summer growing season for leaf ecophysiological traits, phenology, and fitness estimated as vegetative biomass. Helianthus anomalus had a unique combination of traits when compared to its ancestral parent species, suggesting that lower leaf nitrogen and greater leaf succulence might be adaptive. However, selection on leaf traits in H. anomalus favored larger leaf area and greater nitrogen, which was not consistent with the extreme traits of H. anomalus relative to its ancestral parents. Also contrary to expectation, current selection on the leaf traits in the backcross populations was not consistently similar to, or resulting in evolution toward, the current H. anomalus phenotype. Only the selection for greater leaf succulence in BC2ann and greater water‐use efficiency in BC2pet would result in evolution toward the current H. anomalus phenotype. It was surprising that the action of phenotypic selection depended greatly on the genotypic class for these closely related sunflower hybrids grown in a common environment. We speculate that this may be due to either phenotypic correlations between measured and unmeasured but functionally related traits or due to the three genotypic classes experiencing the environment differently as a result of their differing morphology.
Medication Adherence and Associated Hemoglobin A1c in Type 2 Diabetes

BACKGROUND: Tight blood glucose control has been correlated with a reduction in diabetes complications. Adherence to antidiabetic medications is crucial to achieving blood glucose control. OBJECTIVE: To assess the relationship between good glucose control [glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels] and adherence to prescribed treatment in patients on a stable medication regimen for type 2 diabetes. METHODS: The Morisky survey, a 4–item questionnaire that predicts patient medication-taking behavior, was used to assess adherence in 301 patients. The relationship of HbA1c to Morisky score was evaluated, controlling for other variables related to patient demographics and clinical characteristics. Data were analyzed using a general linear model on log (HbA1c). RESULTS: Unadjusted mean HbA1c values (capped at 14.0%) for patients with Morisky scores of 0 or 1, 2, 3, and 4 were 8.92%, 8.67%, 7.74%, and 7.60%, respectively. Of all patients, 13.0%, 14.0%, 24.3%, and 48.8% had scores of 0 or 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively. Good adherence (Morisky score ≥3) was associated with a 10% lower total HbA1c (p = 0.0003) adjusted for all other factors in the model. Duration of diabetes (5–10 y) and presence of diabetes complications were also significantly associated with HbA1c (p = 0.026 and 0.002, respectively). Adherence was poor in 27% of patients. CONCLUSIONS: This study found that patients with a higher score on the Morisky scale had a lower associated HbA1c measurement. The Morisky score may be an efficient tool for identifying patients with poor medication-taking behavior who can then be targeted for directed adherence counseling services.
Non-Conscious vs. Deliberate Dynamic Decision-Making - A Pilot Experiment

The purpose of this paper is to explore the effects of non-conscious vs. deliberate ways of making decisions in a dynamic decision-making task. An experimental setting is used to study this question; three experimental groups are distinguished: immediate decision-making (only very limited time for deliberate cognitive processing), considerate decision-making (relatively long time for deliberate cognitive processing), and distracted decision-making (time for non-conscious cognitive processing only). As experimental stimulus, a simulator based on the Kaibab Plateau model was employed. With a sample size of more than 100 experimental participants, group differences are not significant for most data examined. Implications comprise the formulation of a framework to guide further research. The value of this paper lies in the fact that it connects to a recent discussion in psychology and transfers it to a domain in the core interest of the system community: decision-making in situations with dynamic complexity. Furthermore, it offers a range of improvement points for potential follow-up studies.
Exploring the Factors That Affect Blood Cholesterol and Heart Disease Risk: Is Dietary Cholesterol as Bad for You as History Leads Us to Believe?12

This paper summarizes presentations given at the 2011 Experimental Biology meetings about the latest research and a paleoanthropological perspective pertaining to the relationship between dietary cholesterol intake and cardiovascular disease risk. For much of the past 50 years, a great deal of the scientific literature regarding dietary fat and cholesterol intake has indicated a strong positive correlation with heart disease. In recent years, however, there have been a number of epidemiological studies that did not support a relationship between cholesterol intake and cardiovascular disease. Further, a number of recent clinical trials that looked at the effects of long-term egg consumption (as a vehicle for dietary cholesterol) reported no negative impact on various indices of cardiovascular health and disease. Coupled with data indicating that the impact of lowering dietary cholesterol intake on serum LDL levels is small compared with other dietary and lifestyle factors, there is a need to consider how otherwise healthy foods can be incorporated in the diet to meet current dietary cholesterol recommendations. Because eggs are a healthful food, it is particularly important that sensible strategies be recommended for inclusions of eggs in a healthy diet.
More Symmetrical Children Have Faster and More Consistent Choice Reaction Times

Greater cognitive ability in childhood is associated with increased longevity, and speedier reaction time (RT) might account for much of this linkage. Greater bodily symmetry is linked to both higher cognitive test scores and faster RTs. It is possible, then, that differences in bodily system integrity indexed by symmetry may underlie the associations of RT and intelligence with increased longevity. However, RT and symmetry have seldom been examined in the same study, and never in children. Here, in 2 large samples aged 4 to 15 (combined n = 856), we found that more symmetrical children had significantly faster mean choice RT and less variability in RT. These associations of faster and less variable RT with greater symmetry early in life raise the possibility that the determinants of longevity in part originate in processes influencing bodily system integrity early in the life-course.
On a Criterion for Simultaneous Block-Diagonalization of Normal Matrices

Assume that A1, … , As are complex normal n × n matrices, p is a natural number and S2p is the standard polynomial in 2p non-commutative variables. It follows from classical results of S. Amitsur, J. Levitzki and H. Shapiro that A1, … , As can be simultaneously block-diagonalized by a unitary matrix with blocks of sizes not greater than p if and only if the algebra generated by A1, … , As satisfies the polynomial identity S2p = 0. We call this theorem the ALS-criterion for simultaneous block-diagonalization of normal matrices. In this paper, we present some application of the ALS-criterion in quantum theory. Namely, we give another proof of the renowned Morris-Shore transformation. Moreover, we discuss computable versions of the ALS-criterion. These versions allow one to verify the condition S2p = 0 in a finite number of steps. Such an approach is more useful in practical applications than the original one.
Multi-instance learning by treating instances as non-I.I.D. samples

Previous studies on multi-instance learning typically treated instances in the bags as independently and identically distributed. The instances in a bag, however, are rarely independent in real tasks, and a better performance can be expected if the instances are treated in an non-i.i. d. way that exploits relations among instances. In this paper, we propose two simple yet effective methods. In the first method, we explicitly map every bag to an undirected graph and design a graph kernel for distinguishing the positive and negative bags. In the second method, we implicitly construct graphs by deriving affinity matrices and propose an efficient graph kernel considering the clique information. The effectiveness of the proposed methods are validated by experiments.
On the performance of the Python programming language for serial and parallel scientific computations

This article addresses the performance of scientific applications that use the Python programming language. First, we investigate several techniques for improving the computational efficiency of serial Python codes. Then, we discuss the basic programming techniques in Python for parallelizing serial scientific applications. It is shown that an efficient implementation of the array-related operations is essential for achieving good parallel performance, as for the serial case. Once the array-related operations are efficiently implemented, probably using a mixed-language implementation, good serial and parallel performance become achievable. This is confirmed by a set of numerical experiments. Python is also shown to be well suited for writing high-level parallel programs.
On the Beck‐Fiala conjecture for random set systems

Motivated by the Beck‐Fiala conjecture, we study discrepancy bounds for random sparse set systems. Concretely, these are set systems (X,Σ), where each element x ∈ X lies in t randomly selected sets of Σ, where t is an integer parameter. We provide new bounds in two regimes of parameters. We show that when |Σ| ≥ |X| the hereditary discrepancy of (X,Σ) is with high probability O(tlogt) ; and when |X| ≫ |Σ|t the hereditary discrepancy of (X,Σ) is with high probability O(1). The first bound combines the Lovász Local Lemma with a new argument based on partial matchings; the second follows from an analysis of the lattice spanned by sparse vectors.
The Prevalence of Erectile Dysfunction and Its Association with Antiretroviral Therapy in HIV-Infected Men: The Swiss HIV Cohort Study

Background Here, we aimed to determine the prevalence of erectile dysfunction (ED) among HIV-infected men and its association with components of antiretroviral therapy. Methods Cross-sectional data on sexual dysfunction were collected in the Swiss HIV Cohort Study (SHCS) between December 2009 and November 2010. Multilevel logistic regression models were used to estimate the association between ED and exposure to 24 different antiretroviral drugs from four drug classes. Results During the study period, 5,194 of 5,539 eligible men in the SHCS had a follow-up visit; 4,064 men answered a question on ED for the first time. Among these men, ED was experienced often by 459 (11%), sometimes by 543 (13%), rarely by 389 (10%), never by 2,526 (62%) and 147 (4%) did not know. ED was associated with older age, an earlier HIV diagnosis and depression. No association was found with any drug class; however, ED was associated with cumulative exposure to either zalcitabine (OR 1.29 per year of use; 95% CI 1.07, 1.55) or enfuvirtide (OR 1.28; 95% CI 1.08, 1.52). Conclusions Around 1 in 10 men in the SHCS reported often experiencing ED. We found no association between ED and any drug class, but those exposed to zalcitabine or enfurvitide (drugs no longer or rarely used) were more likely to report ED; this second association was probably not causal.
Male and female visions of mediation

M ost conf l ic t s -whether among nations, neighborhoods, business associates, or family m e m b e r s are managed by the disputants themselves; increasingly, however, the resolution of conflict involves the actions of third party professionals. Over the past decade, the ranks of practitioners claiming expertise in dispute resolution have swelled. Consequently, as professionals from the law, business, environmental, mental health and academic communities attempt to establish their legitimacy and credibility as mediation specialists, investigation into the nature of the third party role becomes increasingly relevant. The goal of this research is to broaden understanding of the mediatot 's role, clarify central features of the role as envisioned by successful mediators, and extend conceptions of the mediation process itself by comparing the approaches of male and female practitioners. Analysis of sex differences in social thought and behavior has served various purposes in different historical periods. Most recently, with the resurgence of the political women 's movement and the growth of the new feminist scholarship, the study of sex differences has focused on correcting bias in earlier studies and revaluing certain qualities and characteristics that women develop because of their historical position as " the other ," the socio-emotional experts in the family division of labor, the primary caretakers and nurturers of the young (Aries, t977, pp. 292-298; Henley, 1977; Rubin, 1979). In our research, by comparing male and female mediators, we hoped to learn about and describe certain activities, styles, and strategies that would be taken for granted or missed without the comparative frame. We considered gender as a critical variable, therefore, not because sex differences in themselves are important or intrinsically interesting, but because such a focus can enlarge understanding of human behavior and human possibility. We are not alone in this endeavor. Recently, a number of social and political theorists interested in the connection between feminism and pacifism have focused on the ways women and men interpret differences and confront conflict, the mechanisms they use in resolving conflict, and the satisfactions and understanding they derive from the
TCP/IP over aeronautical communication systems — Effects on bandwidth consumption

The TCP protocol has been selected as the transport layer protocol of the ATN/IPS. However, there are multiple known deficiencies of the protocol when operating over ldquolong thin networksrdquo. In this paper we discuss several well-known TCP optimization techniques and their application to aeronautical data traffic. The performance of TCP is evaluated and analyzed in a simulated environment based on the COCR report.
Relationships of cotton fiber properties to ring-spun yarn quality on selected High Plains cottons

Cotton fiber properties play an important role in determining spinning performance but explain only a portion of the variability in final yarn quality parameters. This research investigates relationships between ring-spun yarn quality and fiber properties (measured using the High Volume Instrument (HVI) and Advanced Fiber Information System (AFIS)) given additional information on harvest method and cultivar. Seventy-six samples of commercially grown cotton representing five cultivars from six locations across the Texas High Plains were collected over three years. Carded 14.5 tex (40 Ne) ring-spun yarns were produced and tested for various yarn quality characteristics. Principal component analysis and partial least squares regression were used to determine relationships between fiber and yarn properties. Neither harvest method nor cultivar explained a significant portion of yarn quality variability beyond that captured by HVI and AFIS results. Yarn work-to-break was highly correlated to fiber bundle elongation, which is not currently reported in official cotton classing reports.