Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Experimental Characterization and Numerical Simulation of the Humidity Absorption Process in Glass Reinforced Composites Under Dissymmetric Exposure Conditions

This article investigates the dissymmetrical water absorption process in E-glass fiber reinforced polyester composites containing fillers and low profile additives. Two different cases of dissymmetrical exposures to water were considered. In the first case, only one side of the aged specimen was exposed to water at different temperatures, the other side was exposed to air. In the second case, both sides were exposed to water, but at different temperatures on each side. The moisture diffusivity and the maximum moisture content reached by the composites were determined using the gravimetric test method. In the first case of the dissymmetrical immersion, the temperature inside the aged specimen was found to be almost constant and the kinetic of the water diffusion was found to obey perfectly the one-dimensional Fick’s second law. In the second case, the specimen temperature varies from one side to the other, thus preventing the use of Fick’s laws. Alternatively, the use of the finite element code ABAQUS provided an excellent agreement between the experimental and simulated results in both cases of dissymmetrical immersions, as well as in the case of symmetrical immersion where the two sides were exposed to the same environmental conditions. POLYM.
Whole Grain Intake and Glycaemic Control in Healthy Subjects: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Backgrounds: There is growing evidence from both observational and intervention studies that Whole Grain (WG) cereals exert beneficial effects on human health, especially on the metabolic profile. The aim of this study was to perform a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials (RCT) to assess the acute and medium/long-term effect of WG foods on glycaemic control and insulin sensitivity in healthy individuals. Methods: A search for all the published RCT on the effect of WG food intake on glycaemic and insulin response was performed up to December 2016. Effect size consisted of mean difference (MD) and 95% CI between the outcomes of intervention and the control groups using the generic inverse-variance random effects model. Results: The meta-analysis of the 14 studies testing the acute effects of WG foods showed significant reductions of the post-prandial values of the glucose iAUC (0–120 min) by −29.71 mmol min/L (95% CI: −43.57, −15.85 mmol min/L), the insulin iAUC (0–120 min) by −2.01 nmol min/L (95% CI: −2.88, −1.14 nmol min/L), and the maximal glucose and insulin response. In 16 medium- and long-term RCTs, effects of WG foods on fasting glucose and insulin and homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance values were not significant. Conclusions: The consumption of WG foods is able to improve acutely the postprandial glucose and insulin homeostasis compared to similar refined foods in healthy subjects. Further research is needed to better understand the long-term effects and the biological mechanisms.
Failure of Sandwich Structures with Sub-Interface Damage

This thesis addresses some aspects concerned with fatigue behaviour and damage tolerance of foam core sandwich structures with composite faces. Two different foam cores typically used in aeronautical and marine applications are considered. The focus is on face/core interface cracks (debonds) and sub-interface impact damage in the core; the face sheet is regarded undamaged. The first part of the thesis (Papers A, B and C) is concerned with fatigue behaviour of cellular foams under constant and shedding load-amplitude. Mode I and mode II fatigue crack growth is experimentally investigated. Stress intensity factors at the crack tip are computed using the finite element method and assuming validity of linear elastic fracture mechanics. The fatigue crack propagation is characterised in terms of the Paris’ law equations and the fatigue threshold ∆Kth is experimentally evaluated. The obtained crack growth rates are shown to be very high, especially under mode I loading, suggesting that a conventional damage tolerance approach may be impractical for design purposes. Instead, a design based on keeping the applied stress intensity range below the fatigue threshold ∆Kth may be recommended. In the next part (Papers D and E) the focus is shifted to analysis of residual static strength and failure mechanisms of sandwich beams with impact damage. An idealised 2D damage configuration is investigated. Two typical failure modes are considered; shear failure of the core and local buckling of the face sheet. Failure mechanisms of impactdamaged beams and the effect of bridging in the peripheral regions of impact damage are thoroughly examined. The properties of the crushed core, underlying the impact damage, are experimentally determined. A parametrised finite element model of impact damage with implemented crushed core and bridging conditions in the peripheral regions of impact damage is developed. A point-stress criterion is used for post-impact fracture analysis. The model shows good agreement with post-impact experimental results. The last paper links the two aforementioned parts of the thesis addressing the fatigue life of impact-damaged sandwich beams under constant load-amplitude. A tentative approach is suggested for estimation of the threshold load levels for sandwich beams with known impact damage size. It is based on a modified point-stress criterion coupled with experimentally measured fatigue threshold stress intensity range ∆Kth. The proposed approach shows good correlation with experiments and may be applied for evaluation of maximum allowable load levels during the preliminary design of sandwich structures.
A Totally Self-Checking 1-out-of-3 Code Error Indicator

In this paper, an asynchronous TSC 1-out-of-3 (1/3) code error indicator is introduced that memorizes erroneous 1/3 code inputs 000, 011, 101, 110, 111 with time duration greater than a discrimination time T. Such an error indicator is used to discriminate transient erroneous 1/3 code inputs from real ones as well as to detect faults that cause logical errors and delay faults (short or long) altering the circuit delay outside its specified limits (upper or lower bounds) without causing logical errors. To our knowledge, this error indicator is the first TSC 1/3 code error indicator proposed in the open literature.
Evaluating oral noncombustible potential-reduced exposure products for smokers.

INTRODUCTION Potential-reduced exposure products (PREPs) are marketed as a way for smokers to continue using tobacco while possibly lessening their tobacco toxicant intake. Some tobacco-based PREPs are combustible and intended to be smoked, while others are noncombustible and intended to be administered orally (e.g., Camel Snus [CS] tobacco sachets and Ariva tobacco tablets). The ability of these noncombustible PREPs to reduce smokers' exposure to cigarette-delivered toxicants and suppress tobacco abstinence symptoms effectively is unclear. Clinical laboratory methods have been used to measure combustible PREP-associated toxicant exposure and abstinence symptom suppression and could be applied to evaluating the effects of orally administered noncombustible PREPs. METHODS In this study, 21 smokers (6 women) participated in four 5-day conditions that differed by product used: CS, Ariva, own brand cigarettes, or no tobacco. Measures included expired-air carbon monoxide (CO), the urinary metabolite of nicotine (cotinine), the urinary metabolite of the carcinogen NNK (NNAL-T), and subjective effect ratings. RESULTS Relative to own brand, all other conditions were associated with CO and cotinine levels that were lower and abstinence symptom ratings that were greater. Only no-tobacco use was associated with significantly lower NNAL levels. Acceptability ratings were also lower in all conditions relative to own brand. DISCUSSION Although these oral products reduce exposure to CO, their ineffective abstinence symptom suppression and low acceptability may limit their viability as PREPs. As with combustible PREPs, clinical laboratory study of orally administered noncombustible PREPs will be a valuable part of any comprehensive PREP evaluation strategy.
Deposition of Carbon Nanotubes in Human Alveoli - A Theoretical Approach for Risk Assessment

Carbon nanotubes (CNT) with different aspect ratios were studied with regards to their deposition in the alveolar spaces of the human respiratory tract (HRT). In order to provide close-to-realistic deposition scenarios, alveolar mixing was approximated by a specific mixing factor. This factor describes the ratio between total mixing and non-mixing of inhaled and residual air. As clearly demonstrated by the results, alveolar deposition strongly depends on CNT aspect ratio, with long and thin CNT producing similar effects as short and thick CNT. Alveolar deposition commonly ranges from c. 10% in the case of sitting breathing to c. 13% in the case of breathing during heavy exercise. For selected single-wall CNT (d = 5 nm, b = 1,000) and multi-wall CNT (d = 50 nm, b = 100) generation-specific alveolar deposition patterns were modelled. With increasing inhalative flow rate deposition maximum of SWCNT is displaced from airway generation 16 to airway generation 17. The deposition maximum of MWCNT is constantly positioned at airway generation 17, thereby adopting different amounts. The effect of CNT on alveolar cells was subject to a detailed discussion. Various transport paths of CNT were described and intensively debated with regards to their hygienic effects.
Characterisation of HRas local signal transduction networks using engineered site-specific exchange factors

ABSTRACT Ras GTPases convey signals from different types of membranes. At these locations, different Ras isoforms, interactors and regulators generate different biochemical signals and biological outputs. The study of Ras localisation-specific signal transduction networks has been hampered by our inability to specifically activate each of these Ras pools. Here, we describe a new set of site-specific tethered exchange factors, engineered by fusing the RasGRF1 CDC25 domain to sub-localisation-defining cues, whereby Ras pools at specific locations can be precisely activated. We show that the CDC25 domain has a high specificity for activating HRas but not NRas and KRas. This unexpected finding means that our constructs mainly activate endogenous HRas. Hence, their use enabled us to identify distinct pathways regulated by HRas in endomembranes and plasma membrane microdomains. Importantly, these new constructs unveil different patterns of HRas activity specified by their subcellular localisation. Overall, the targeted GEFs described herein constitute ideal tools for dissecting spatially-defined HRas biochemical and biological functions.
Interaction with Penicillium expansum enhances Botrytis cinerea growth in grape juice medium and prevents patulin accumulation in vitro

Interactions between fungi occur when they grow on the same host plant. This is the case of Botrytis cinerea and Penicillium expansum on grape. P. expansum is also responsible for production of the mycotoxin patulin. In this study, the influence of the interaction between both fungi on fungal growth parameters was studied as well as the effect on the accumulation of patulin by P. expansum. For that purpose, spores of B. cinerea and P. expansum were inoculated together (mixed inoculum), and the parameters growth rate, time for growth and patulin accumulation were assessed. The presence of P. expansum conidia shortened the time for growth of mixed inoculum colonies which, at the end of incubation, were B. cinerea‐like. Although some P. expansum growth was observed in mixed inoculum colonies, very low levels of patulin were observed. In assays carried out in patulin‐spiked medium, B. cinerea was capable to metabolize the mycotoxin. The capabilities of B. cinerea to shorten time for growth and prevent patulin accumulation are competing abilities that facilitate grape colonization.
Genome‐wide identification and characterization of odorant‐binding protein (OBP) genes in the malaria vector Anopheles sinensis (Diptera: Culicidae)

Anopheles sinensis is a major malaria vector. Insect odorant‐binding proteins (OBPs) may function in the reception of odorants in the olfactory system. The classification and characterization of the An. sinensis OBP genes have not been systematically studied. In this study, 64 putative OBP genes were identified at the whole‐genome level of An. sinensis based on the comparison between OBP conserved motifs, PBP_GOBP, and phylogenetic analysis with An. gambiae OBPs. The characterization of An. sinensis OBPs, including the motif's conservation, gene structure, genomic organization and classification, were investigated. A new gene, AsOBP73, belonging to the Plus‐C subfamily, was identified with the support of transcript and conservative motifs. These An. sinensis OBP genes were classified into three subfamilies with 37, 15 and 12 genes in the subfamily Classic, Atypical and Plus‐C, respectively. The genomic organization of An. sinensis OBPs suggests a clustered distribution across nine different scaffolds. Eight genes (OBP23–28, OBP63–64) might originate from a single gene through a series of historic duplication events at least before divergence of Anopheles, Culex and Aedes. The microsynteny analyses indicate a very high synteny between An. sinensis and An. gambiae OBPs. OBP70 and OBP71 earlier classified under Plus‐C in An. gambiae are recognized as belonging to the group Obp59a of the Classic subfamily, and OBP69 earlier classified under Plus‐C has been moved to the Atypical subfamily in this study. The study established a basic information frame for further study of the OBP genes in insects as well as in An. sinensis.
Topic Distillation with Query-Dependent Link Connections and Page Characteristics

Searchers on the Web often aim to find key resources about a topic. Finding such results is called topic distillation. Previous research has shown that the use of sources of evidence such as page indegree and URL structure can significantly improve search performance on interconnected collections such as the Web, beyond the use of simple term distribution statistics. This article presents a new approach to improve topic distillation by exploring the use of external sources of evidence: link structure, including query dependent indegree and outdegree; and web page characteristics, such as the density of anchor links. Our experiments with the TREC . GOV collection, an 18GB crawl of the US . gov domain from 2002, show that using such evidence can significantly improve search effectiveness, with combinations of evidence leading to significant performance gains over both full-text and anchor-text baselines. Moreover, we demonstrate that, at a different scope level, both local query-dependent outdegree and query-dependent indegree out-performed their global query-independent counterparts; and at the same scope level, outdegree out-performed indegree. Adding query-dependent indegree or page characteristics to query-dependent outdegree could have a small, but not significant, improvement.
Polyneuronal innervation of the fast muscles of the marine teleost Cottus scorpius L.

1. Histological and electrophysiological studies of the spinal nerves, nerve roots and muscles of the abdominal wall of the marine teleost Cottus scorpius have been undertaken to determine the extent and nature of polyneuronal innervation of the fast muscles. 2. Spinal nerves at proximal and distal levels, and the dorsal roots, contain axons in a single mixed population with a mean diameter of 2-4 µm. , while the ventral roots contain axons in two diameter classes with means at 4-6 and 12-14 µm. 3. Between 8 and 22 distributed nerve terminations were counted on fifty-two teased intact single muscle fibres stained for acetylcholinesterase activity. The average distance between the terminals is 0.64 mm. (range 0.094-2.050 mm.). 4. The compound action potential of the nerve comprises two principal peaks with conduction velocities of 17.0-23.8 m. /sec. and 1.5-12.2 m. /sec. at 10-12° C. 5. Fast muscle fibres gave two types of electrical response--all-or-none spike potentials that are propagated with a conduction velocity of c . I.I m.7/sec. at 10-120° C. , and quantized distributed junction potentials. 6. The electrical properties of the nerves and roots suggest that the fast muscles are innervated by a single class of fast axons and possibly by a few slow axons. 7. Simultaneous recordings of nerve and muscle activities were made at different stimulus intensities. In all cases muscle responses were correlated with the first peak of the compound action potential, and appeared with the same or only slightly different latencies. 8. Each muscle fibre is shown electrophysiologically to be polyneuronally innervated by 2-5 axons from a single spinal nerve, and to receive a similar axonic complement from each of four spinal nerves. 9. Polyneuronal innervation of the muscle fibres by 8-22 different axons in the absence of multiterminal innervation is postulated.
Algorithmic and mathematical programming approaches to scheduling problems with energy-based objectives

This is to certify that the thesis/dissertation prepared By Entitled For the degree of Is approved by the final examining committee: Chair To the best of my knowledge and as understood by the student in the Research Integrity and Copyright Disclaimer (Graduate School Form 20), this thesis/dissertation adheres to the provisions of Purdue University's " Policy on Integrity in Research " and the use of copyrighted material. ii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS First and foremost, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my major advisor, Dr. Nelson A. Uhan, for his excellent guidance and support during my PhD study. His strong enthusiasm for research and his earnest mentorship is of great value to me. I am grateful for his comments, inspiration, and patience throughout these years, all of which led me to a deeper understanding of the topics in this dissertation. I would also like to thank my co-advisor, Dr. Andrew L. Liu, for his guidance and his time to help me a lot during the last two years of my PhD study. I am thankful to
An Observational Study on the Effects of Nadroparin-Based and Citrate-Based Continuous Venovenous Hemofiltration on Calcium Metabolism

Backgrounds: To study calcium homeostasis during citrate-based compared to nadroparin-based CVVH in critically-ill patients with acute renal failure. Methods: 11 patients were observed during citrate anticoagulation, 9 with nadroparin and 10 controls. Citrate was chosen for patients with active or at risk for bleeding. Results: The controls had, at 24 h, a median serum iCa of 1.1 mmol/l, the citrate group 0.87 mmol/l and the nadroparin group 1.1 mmol/l (citrate vs. control p = 0.001, citrate vs. nadroparin p = 0.002). At 48 h, iCa was not significantly different anymore. Ca balance was negative for the citrate group in contrast to the nadroparin group (p = 0.012). Median serum PTH was higher (30.0 pmol/l vs. 6.5 pmol/l, p = 0.003) in the citrate group. Conclusion: With a relative low target-serum-iCa (0.8–0.9 mmol/l) citrate CVVH-treated patients had a negative daily calcium balance and a temporarily lower iCa level resulting in an enhanced PTH response in comparison to nadroparin.
Improved Outcome Prediction Using CT Angiography in Addition to Standard Ischemic Stroke Assessment: Results from the STOPStroke Study

Purpose To improve ischemic stroke outcome prediction using imaging information from a prospective cohort who received admission CT angiography (CTA). Methods In a prospectively designed study, 649 stroke patients diagnosed with acute ischemic stroke had admission NIH stroke scale scores, noncontrast CT (NCCT), CTA, and 6-month outcome assessed using the modified Rankin scale (mRS) scores. Poor outcome was defined as mRS>2. Strokes were classified as “major” by the (1) Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (ASPECTS+) if NCCT ASPECTS was≤7; (2) Boston Acute Stroke Imaging Scale (BASIS+) if they were ASPECTS+ or CTA showed occlusion of the distal internal carotid, proximal middle cerebral, or basilar arteries; and (3) NIHSS for scores>10. Results Of 649 patients, 253 (39.0%) had poor outcomes. NIHSS, BASIS, and age, but not ASPECTS, were independent predictors of outcome. BASIS and NIHSS had similar sensitivities, both superior to ASPECTS (p<0.0001). Combining NIHSS with BASIS was highly predictive: 77.6% (114/147) classified as NIHSS>10/BASIS+ had poor outcomes, versus 21.5% (77/358) with NIHSS≤10/BASIS− (p<0.0001), regardless of treatment. The odds ratios for poor outcome is 12.6 (95% CI: 7.9 to 20.0) in patients who are NIHSS>10/BASIS+ compared to patients who are NIHSS≤10/BASIS−; the odds ratio is 5.4 (95% CI: 3.5 to 8.5) when compared to patients who are only NIHSS>10 or BASIS+. Conclusions BASIS and NIHSS are independent outcome predictors. Their combination is stronger than either instrument alone in predicting outcomes. The findings suggest that CTA is a significant clinical tool in routine acute stroke assessment.
Impedance Control for Robotic Rehabilitation: A Robust Markovian Approach

The human-robot interaction has played an important role in rehabilitation robotics and impedance control has been used in the regulation of interaction forces between the robot actuator and human limbs. Series elastic actuators (SEAs) have been an efficient solution in the design of this kind of robotic application. Standard implementations of impedance control with SEAs require an internal force control loop for guaranteeing the desired impedance output. However, nonlinearities and uncertainties hamper such a guarantee of an accurate force level in this human-robot interaction. This paper addresses the dependence of the impedance control performance on the force control and proposes a control approach that improves the force control robustness. A unified model of the human-robot system that considers the ankle impedance by a second-order dynamics subject to uncertainties in the stiffness, damping, and inertia parameters has been developed. Fixed, resistive, and passive operation modes of the robotics system were defined, where transition probabilities among the modes were modeled through a Markov chain. A robust regulator for Markovian jump linear systems was used in the design of the force control. Experimental results show the approach improves the impedance control performance. For comparison purposes, a standard H∞ force controller based on the fixed operation mode has also been designed. The Markovian control approach outperformed the H∞ control when all operation modes were taken into account.