Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Analysis on the cooling effect of a heat-reflective coating for asphalt pavement

A type of self-made heat-reflective coating was applied on the surface of different types of asphalt concrete. The temperature of the asphalt mixture specimens with coatings that have different application rates was measured. By calculating the temperature difference between the specimen with and without the coating, the results show that the cooling value first increases and then becomes flat as the application rate of the coating increases. With the same coating application rate, dense-graded asphalt mixture has the best cooling effect, followed by the stone matrix asphalt (SMA) mixture, and finally, the open-graded friction course (OGFC) asphalt mixture has the lowest cooling effect of the tested specimens. The reason is that the OGFC asphalt mixture has a high per cent of air voids and part of the coating will penetrate into the air voids, so less coating is available to reduce the temperature. The SMA mixture has a higher texture depth than the dense-graded asphalt mixture, which compromises the cooling effect of the coating. The cooling mechanism was analysed through microscopic analysis methods, and the reflective spectrum was measured by ultraviolet–visible–near-infrared spectrometer. Results show that the coating has a high reflectivity due to the addition of fillers, which reduces the heat absorption of pavement. The Infrared spectra of the coating and fillers in the middle infrared region were tested by the Fourier transform infrared spectrometer. It indicates that the fillers have good thermal radiation ability in the atmospheric window. Accordingly, the coating presents a good cooling ability in this region, which can further reduce the temperature of the pavement. Pictures from the scanning electron microscope prove that there are many fillers scattered on the surface of the coating, which can bring about a good cooling effect.
Early visual cortex organization in autism: an fMRI study

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by preserved visual abilities as well as a special profile for visual cognition. We examined the visual cortex of high-ability individuals with autism in order to assess whether the presence of abnormalities at the primary sensory level in autism could be the basis of their unusual pattern of visual cognitive abilities. We found that the early sensory visual areas are normally organized in individuals with autism, with a normal ratio between central versus peripheral visual field representation. We conclude that the differences observed in the visual capacities of individuals with autism are likely to arise from higher-level cognitive areas and functions, and are the result of top-down processes.
Association Between Protein-Bound Sialic Acid and High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein in Essential Hypertension: A Possible Indication of Underlying Cardiovascular Risk

The aim of this study was to examine the possible alteration in the levels of C-reactive protein, protein-bound sialic acid, and other lipid risk factors in newly diagnosed essential hypertensive subjects. In all, 56 hypertensive and 33 normotensive male subjects were enrolled in the study. Lipid profile, C-reactive protein, apolipoprotein-B, and protein-bound sialic acid were estimated in both the groups. Total cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein—cholesterol, C-reactive protein, apolipoprotein-B, and protein-bound sialic acid were significantly increased in patients with essential hypertension. Correlation analysis revealed a significant association between the protein-bound sialic acid with mean arterial pressure, C-reactive protein, and low-density lipoprotein—cholesterol. The findings of the present study suggest that in essential hypertension there is an association between protein-bound sialic acid and C-reactive protein, which reflects the clustering of cardiovascular risk factors in these patients.
Assessment of the effect of grape seed cake inclusion in the diet of healthy fattening‐finishing pigs

Modulatory capacity of bioactive compounds from different wastes has been scarcely investigated in pigs. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of dietary inclusion of grape seed cakes (GS diet) on performance and plasma biochemistry parameters as health indicators, as well as on several markers related to inflammation and antioxidant defence in the liver of fattening-finishing pigs. Twelve cross-bred pigs (TOPIG) were randomly assigned to one of two experimental diets: control and 5% grape seed cake diet during finishing period (24 days). No effect of GS diet on pig performance and blood biochemistry was observed. However, GS diet decreased significantly (-9.05%, p < .05) the cholesterol concentration (85.71 ± 0.94 mg/dl vs 94.24 ± 2.16 mg/dl) and increased IgA level (+49.90%, p < .05) in plasma (5.04 ± 0.5 mg/ml vs 3.36 ± 0.7 mg/ml). GS cakes decreased the inflammatory response in the liver of pigs fed with GS diet by lowering the Gene expression and protein concentration of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-8, TNF-α and IFN-γ) as well as the mRNA abundances of NF-κB signalling molecules. The antioxidant status was not increased by GS diet. The gene expression and activity of catalase decreased significantly. The gene expression of Nrf2, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and heat-shock protein decreased, and no effect on their activity was observed with the exception of catalase activity which decreased. However, TBARS was reduced significantly. GS diet showed a modulatory effect on antioxidative status as well as anti-inflammatory and hypocholesterolic properties without effect on pig performance.
The Moment Maps in Diffeology

This memoir presents a generalization of the moment maps to the category \{$Diffeology$\}. This construction applies to every smooth action of any diffeological group \textup{G} preserving a closed 2-form \omega, defined on some diffeological space \textup{X}. In particular, that reveals a universal construction, associated to the action of the whole group of automorphisms \mathrm{Diff}(\textup{X},\omega). By considering directly the space of momenta of any diffeological group \textup{G}, that is the space \mathscr{G}^* of left-invariant 1-forms on \textup{G}, this construction avoids any reference to Lie algebra or any notion of vector fields, or does not involve any functional analysis. These constructions of the various moment maps are illustrated by many examples, some of them originals and others suggested by the mathematical literature.
Photoreceptor loss in age-related macular degeneration.

PURPOSE The authors showed previously that parafoveal rods, but not cones, decrease during the course of adulthood in donor eyes that were screened to exclude the grossly visible macular drusen and pigmentary disturbances typical of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Because AMD begins in the parafovea, this selective loss of rods actually may be subclinical AMD not yet visible in the fundus. If so, AMD must have a predilection for rods over cones. The authors tested this hypothesis by determining the relative numbers of cones and rods in donor eyes with mid-to late-stage AMD and in age-matched controls. METHODS Thirteen eyes (from seven donors) with grossly visible macular drusen and pigmentary disturbances were either wholemounted for photoreceptor counts or sectioned through the fovea for histopathology and carbonic anhydrase histochemistry to label red-green cones. Eyes were assigned to AMD or control groups on the basis of histopathology and clinical history. RESULTS Five nonexudative AMD (NE-AMD) eyes from three donors showed sparing of foveal cones and loss of rods and cones in the parafovea. In two donors, rod loss exceeded cone loss at most parafoveal locations, and in one donor, rod density was normal and cone density was reduced. In eight exudative AMD (EX-AMD) eyes from five donors, photoreceptors surviving along the margins of and overlying disciform scars were largely cones. CONCLUSIONS Photoreceptors are lost in NE-AMD as well as in the more severe exudative form, consistent with functional and clinical studies. The authors propose that rods die in older eyes without evidence of overt retinal pigment epithelial disease. In persons susceptible to AMD, the retinal pigment epithelium becomes dysfunctional. Secondarily, rod loss continues and cones begin to degenerate. Eventually, only degenerate cones remain; ultimately, all photoreceptors may disappear.
Robust and Controllable Quadrangulation of Triangular and Rectangular Regions

Figure 1: Basic topological patterns used for quadrangulating rectangular and triangular regions. Vertices with a red circle represent corners. Vertices with orange and blue fill represent irregular vertices with valence three and five, respectively. pX and pY represent a regular grid of quadrilaterals padded to the corresponding side of the rectangle (only shown with pattern 1 for brevity). pB , pR, and pL are similarly defined for the triangle. α and β represent the number of times an edge flow is inserted at these locations. Compared to the patterns proposed by Nasri et al. [2009], all of our patterns have at least one side that has only one edge, which is important for guaranteeing valid quadrangulation of the region even when the specified number of edge subdivisions is very small and extreme.
Behavioral and Neural Properties of Social Reinforcement Learning

Social learning is critical for engaging in complex interactions with other individuals. Learning from positive social exchanges, such as acceptance from peers, may be similar to basic reinforcement learning. We formally test this hypothesis by developing a novel paradigm that is based on work in nonhuman primates and human imaging studies of reinforcement learning. The probability of receiving positive social reinforcement from three distinct peers was parametrically manipulated while brain activity was recorded in healthy adults using event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging. Over the course of the experiment, participants responded more quickly to faces of peers who provided more frequent positive social reinforcement, and rated them as more likeable. Modeling trial-by-trial learning showed ventral striatum and orbital frontal cortex activity correlated positively with forming expectations about receiving social reinforcement. Rostral anterior cingulate cortex activity tracked positively with modulations of expected value of the cues (peers). Together, the findings across three levels of analysis—social preferences, response latencies, and modeling neural responses—are consistent with reinforcement learning theory and nonhuman primate electrophysiological studies of reward. This work highlights the fundamental influence of acceptance by one's peers in altering subsequent behavior.
Language and dementia: a review

Synopsis In the literature on dementia the presence or absence of language deficits has come to occupy a pivotal position with respect to certain nosological and nosographical issues. These are reviewed critically, together with the results of experimental investigations which have sought to elucidate the nature of the language deficit(s) in patients with dementia, especially that of the Alzheimer type. Attention is drawn to important gaps in current knowledge and suggestions are made regarding the direction of future research.
Impaired Glucose Tolerance in Sleep Disorders

Background Recent epidemiological and experimental data suggest a negative influence of shortened or disturbed night sleep on glucose tolerance. Due to the high prevalence of sleep disorders this might be a major health issue. However, no comparative studies of carbohydrate metabolism have been conducted in clinical sleep disorders. Methodology/Principal Findings We performed oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT) and assessed additional parameters of carbohydrate metabolism in patients suffering from obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS, N = 25), restless legs syndrome (RLS, N = 18) or primary insomnia (N = 21), and in healthy controls (N = 33). Compared to controls, increased rates of impaired glucose tolerance were found in OSAS (OR: 4.9) and RLS (OR: 4.7) patients, but not in primary insomnia patients (OR: 1.6). In addition, HbA1c values were significantly increased in the same two patient groups. Significant positive correlations were found between 2-h plasma glucose values measured during the OGTT and the apnea-arousal-index in OSAS (r = 0.56; p<0.05) and the periodic leg movement-arousal-index in RLS (r = 0.56, p<0.05), respectively. Sleep duration and other quantitative aspects of sleep were similar between patient groups. Conclusions/Significance Our findings suggest that some, but not all sleep disorders considerably compromise glucose metabolism. Repeated arousals during sleep might be a pivotal causative factor deserving further experimental investigations to reveal potential novel targets for the prevention of metabolic diseases.
Eight Years Follow-up of a Case with Idiopathic Pulmonary Hemosiderosis After Corticosteroid Therapy

Idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis is characterized by recurrent episodes of alveolar hemorrhage, hemoptysis, and secondary iron deficiency anemia with unknown etiology. It generally emerges in childhood and adolescence periods but rarely found in adulthood. Definite diagnosis is established by appearing the hemosiderin-laden macrophages at sputum, bronchoalveolar lavage, or open lung biopsy. We reported a male patient who was born in 1975, expectorated blood since 1995, and was diagnosed in 1998. He received many blood replacements. He admitted to our clinic in 2003 with complaints of coughing up blood, shortness of breath, and tiredness. We gave the corticosteroid therapy to patient for 6-month period. After treatment, the patient did not have any complaints. Clinicians should keep in mind that idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis may differ in localization on chest X-ray and corticosteroid treatment should be started when diagnosis is established.
Trial of Maintenance Therapy in Schizophrenia*

A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was carried out to determine the value of maintenance therapy with phenothiazines in a population of outpatients who had recently recovered from an acute episode of schizophrenia. The drug was shown to be significantly more effective than the placebo in preventing relapse. The relationship of the trial patients to the population from which they were selected was defined in terms of clinical, historical, and social data. Maintenance therapy seems of little value in patients with a good prognosis and in the severely ill, but it is of value in the indeterminate group between these two extremes.
HIV-Infected Individuals Who Delay, Decline, or Discontinue Antiretroviral Therapy: Comparing Clinic- and Peer-Recruited Cohorts

A substantial proportion of persons living with HIV/AIDS (PLHA) delay, decline, or discontinue antiretroviral therapy (ART) when it is medically indicated (40–45%), largely African-Americans and Latinos/Hispanics. This study explores the feasibility of locating PLHA, who are not on ART (PLHA-NOA) through clinics and peer-referral; compares the two cohorts on multi-level barriers to ART; and examines readiness to initiate/reinitiate ART, a predictor of treatment outcomes. We recruited adult HIV-infected African-American and Latino/Hispanic PLHA-NOA through HIV hospital clinics and peer-referral in 2012–2013. Participants were engaged in structured 1-h assessments with reliable/valid measures on barriers to ART. We found that recruitment through peers (63.2%, 60/95) was more feasible than in clinics (36.8%, 35/90). Participants were 48.0 years old and had lived with HIV for 14.7 years on average, and 56.8% had taken ART previously. Most (61.1%) were male and African-American (76.8%), and 23.2% were Latino/Hispanic. Peer-recruited participants were older, had lived with HIV longer, were less engaged in HIV care, and were more likely to have taken ART previously. The cohorts differed in reasons for discontinuing ART. Levels of ART knowledge were comparable between cohorts (68.5% correct), and there were no differences in attitudes toward ART (e.g., mistrust), which were in the neutral range. In bivariate linear regression, readiness for ART was negatively associated with physician mistrust (B = −10.4) and positively associated with self-efficacy (B = 5.5), positive outcome expectancies (B = 6.3), beliefs about personal necessity of ART (B = 17.5), and positive internal norms (B = 7.9). This study demonstrates the feasibility of engaging this vulnerable population through peer-referral. Peer-recruited PLHA evidence particularly high rates of risk factors compared to those in hospital clinics. Interventions to support ART initiation and continuation are sorely needed for both subgroups.
Minimally Invasive Treatment of Distal Tibial Fractures with Locking and Non-Locking Plates

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical performances of stainless steel nonlocking plates and titanium locking plates in minimally invasive medial plating of extra-articular metaphyseal fractures of the distal tibia. Materials and Methods: Between 2004 and 2006, 43 patients who sustained closed fractures of the distal tibia metaphysis were managed with either a stainless steel nonlocking plate (Group 1, n = 21) or a titanium locking plate (Group 2, n = 22). Clinical and radiographic data were retrospectively reviewed. Function was assessed with use of the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society ankle-hindfoot instrument. The average followup period was 25 months. Results: The average AOFAS foot and ankle scores in Group 1 and Group 2 at final followup were 85 and 81, respectively. Fracture reduction was anatomical or nearly anatomical without angular displacement in all cases except one patient in Group 2. (p > 0.05) The average time to full, unprotected weightbearing in Group 1 and Group 2 were 15 weeks and 18 weeks, respectively (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Minimally invasive medial plating with titanium locking plates resulted in prolonged secondary healing both in comminuted and simple fracture patterns compared to conventional stainless steel nonlocking plates. We believe that in biological fixation of distal tibial fractures, similarly good results may be obtained with both materials as the locking technology had a greater effect on stability. Level of Evidence: III, Retrospective Comparative Study
From the Voices of Women

This mixed-method study investigated perceptions women domestic violence survivors/victims have about why women do not seek help from formal support structures and actions domestic helping agencies can take to facilitate survivor access to services. Congruent with previous research, quantitative analysis identified 17 reasons women do not seek help from formal support structures. Expanding current knowledge, concept mapping revealed six ways family violence programs can better reach women in abusive relationships, including (1) remove barriers to services, (2) improve comfort with services, (3) “talk about it,” (4) improve community awareness, (5) victim-targeted marketing, and (6) “I honestly don’t know. ”
Memory Performance Used to Detect Radiation Effects on Cognitive Functioning

Although radiotherapy remains a necessary and frequently used treatment for brain tumors, uncertainty remains about the nature and severity of neurocognitive morbidity. We show that verbal-semantic memory (free recall of word list) is sensitive to damaging radiation effects in 20 patients with low-grade, supratentorial, primary brain tumors who received moderate doses of partial-brain irradiation. We previously reported that verbal-semantic memory is dissociated from visual memory (acquisition and recall) during the same phase of radiation effects, indicating that memory is differentially affected by radiation. In this study, we provide evidence of the nature of the iatrogenic radiation effect on memory by testing collateral cognitive functions that might explain the specific memory impairment. We found that the verbal-semantic recall impairment was not associated with impairments in auditory attention, auditory processing speed, auditory-verbal working memory, or in the temporal coding or subjective organization of word-list recall. These findings focus damaging radiation effects on primary retrieval processes, rather than on earlier cognitive processes or executive processes affecting recall. Knowledge of the specific patterns of change in cognition would guide the differential diagnosis and rehabilitation of survivors of brain tumors whose conditions are complicated by tumors with multiple treatments.
Endothelial activation and circulating vascular adhesion molecules in alcoholic liver disease

Alcoholic hepatitis is characterized by hepatocyte necrosis associated with infiltration of the liver parenchyma by neutrophils. The mechanisms responsible for recruiting neutrophils to the liver are unknown. We report high circulating levels and tissue expression of the endothelial adhesion molecule E‐selectin in alcoholic hepatitis. Because expression of E‐selectin is involved in neutrophil transmigration into inflamed tissue, it may play a crucial role in the recruitment of neutrophils to the liver in alcoholic hepatitis. By contrast, we detected high levels of vascular cell adhesion molecule‐1, the endothelial counter‐receptor for the lymphocyte adhesion molecule very late antigen‐4, in alcoholic cirrhosis, which is associated with a predominantly mononuclear cell infiltrate. Both diseases were associated with high levels of circulating intercellular adhesion molecule‐1, which is released by activated lymphocytes, providing further evidence of immune activation in alcoholic liver disease. (Hepatology 1994;19:588–594).
A preliminary investigation of biosecurity risks associated with biofouling on merchant vessels in New Zealand

Abstract Biofouling on international vessels is an important mechanism for the inadvertent transfer of non‐indigenous marine species around the globe. This paper describes the nature and extent of biofouling on 30 merchant vessels (ranging from 1400 to 32 000 gross registered tonnes) based on analysis of hull inspection video footage collected by two New Zealand commercial diving companies. A new method for measuring biofouling communities is applied, which aims to incorporate the potential for various hull locations to house non‐indigenous marine species. Our analysis revealed that out‐of‐service vessels and vessels plying trans‐Tasman routes possessed greater levels of biofouling than more active vessels. Dry‐docking support strips and sea‐chest gratings generally had the highest levels of biofouling and may pose relatively high biosecurity risks. Any future biosecurity surveillance should target these hull locations for non‐indigenous species.