Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of Short PAN Fiber Contents on Mechanical Properties of Metakaolin-Blast Furnace Slag Based Geopolymers

This paper investigated mechanical properties and microstructure of metakaolin/slag based geopolymers reinforced by short polyacrylonitrile (PAN) fibers. The results showed that addition of short PAN fibers had no effect on the phase composition of the geopolymer but could strengthen and toughen the geopolymers remarkably. When the content of short PAN fibres was 0.8wt%, the geopolymers showed the highest compressive strength (99.84MPa) and flexural strength (13.76MPa). The addition of PAN fibers enlarged the work of fracture of the geopolymers and changed the fractural behavior from brittle to non-brittle fractural mode through fiber bridging and pull-out effects.
A New Algorithm for Weighted Proportional Fairness Based Spectrum Allocation of Cognitive Radios

Cognitive Radio can achieve dynamic spectrum access by spectrum sensing. The paper proposes a new scheme to share spectrum employing OFDMA-based Cognitive Radio. To show efficiency and fairness, the paper builds an Asymmetric-Nash-Bargain-Solution-Based utility function and implement a new spectrum sharing algorithm based on sensing contribution weighted proportional fairness through two-user bargaining. The simulation results show that the proposed approach is not only to achieve a fair and efficient allocation of spectrum resources but also to help maximizing the spectrum sensing.
Look and Think Twice: Capturing Top-Down Visual Attention with Feedback Convolutional Neural Networks

While feedforward deep convolutional neural networks (CNNs) have been a great success in computer vision, it is important to note that the human visual cortex generally contains more feedback than feedforward connections. In this paper, we will briefly introduce the background of feedbacks in the human visual cortex, which motivates us to develop a computational feedback mechanism in deep neural networks. In addition to the feedforward inference in traditional neural networks, a feedback loop is introduced to infer the activation status of hidden layer neurons according to the "goal" of the network, e.g., high-level semantic labels. We analogize this mechanism as "Look and Think Twice. " The feedback networks help better visualize and understand how deep neural networks work, and capture visual attention on expected objects, even in images with cluttered background and multiple objects. Experiments on ImageNet dataset demonstrate its effectiveness in solving tasks such as image classification and object localization.
Resource Allocation for Epidemic Control in Metapopulations

Deployment of limited resources is an issue of major importance for decision-making in crisis events. This is especially true for large-scale outbreaks of infectious diseases. Little is known when it comes to identifying the most efficient way of deploying scarce resources for control when disease outbreaks occur in different but interconnected regions. The policy maker is frequently faced with the challenge of optimizing efficiency (e.g. minimizing the burden of infection) while accounting for social equity (e.g. equal opportunity for infected individuals to access treatment). For a large range of diseases described by a simple SIRS model, we consider strategies that should be used to minimize the discounted number of infected individuals during the course of an epidemic. We show that when faced with the dilemma of choosing between socially equitable and purely efficient strategies, the choice of the control strategy should be informed by key measurable epidemiological factors such as the basic reproductive number and the efficiency of the treatment measure. Our model provides new insights for policy makers in the optimal deployment of limited resources for control in the event of epidemic outbreaks at the landscape scale.
Atypical chest pain in diabetic patients with suspected stable angina: impact on diagnosis and coronary outcomes.

Aims Silent myocardial ischaemia occurs commonly in diabetes. Whether altered perception of ischaemia also predisposes to atypical presentations with under-diagnosis of coronary disease is not known. To determine whether (i) patients with diabetes diagnosed with angina are more likely to report atypical symptoms compared with patients without diabetes, and (ii) atypical symptoms in patients with diabetes cause angina to go unrecognized, increasing the risk of coronary events. Methods and results Prospective, multicentre cohort study of 8662 ambulatory patients with suspected angina, of whom 906 had diabetes. We recorded detailed chest pain descriptors and fatal and non-fatal coronary events over a median of 3.08 years of follow-up. Proportionately more patients with than without diabetes received a diagnosis of angina (42.7 vs. 25.1%). Among patients with diabetes diagnosed with angina, a greater proportion had atypical chest pain compared with patients without diabetes (21.0 vs. 11.3%), but the hazard of fatal and non-fatal coronary events was similar. However, among patients diagnosed with non-cardiac chest pain, those with diabetes-most of whom had atypical symptoms-remained at greater risk of coronary events [2.29 (95% CI 1.54, 3.41)] and all-cause mortality [1.67 (95% confidence interval, CI 1.04, 2.69)] compared with non-diabetic patients. Conclusion Patients with diabetes and atypical symptoms are nearly twice as likely to be diagnosed with angina compared with non-diabetic patients. Those diagnosed with non-cardiac pain are at increased risk of coronary events. Our study emphasizes the need for more intensive investigation of diabetic patients with chest pain, particularly those presenting with atypical symptoms.
Evaluation of gigacycle fatigue limit and life of high-strength steel with interior inclusion-induced failure

The gigacycle fatigue properties with the interior inclusion-induced failure for three kinds of high-strength steels are investigated in this study. Fatigue strength of these steels in the gigacycle regime is highly related to the sizes of inclusions that are present in the effective damage zone under loading condition. The induced stress concentration at the inclusion–matrix interface plays a key role in the small crack growth process within fine granular area, but has little effect on the macroscopic crack growth outside the fine granular area. Considering the effect of stress gradient around the inclusion, new models were developed to evaluate the values of stress intensity factor at the front of the fine granular area and the fish-eye. A nearly constant stress intensity factor value of 4.5 MPa m for the fine granular area can be regarded as the threshold value controlling interior macroscopic crack growth. A method from the viewpoint of small crack growth was proposed to evaluate the fatigue limit/life of high-strength steel with the interior inclusion-induced failure in the gigacycle regime, which reveals the influences of loading condition, inclusion size, and specimen size. In life prediction, this method is mainly based on the relationship between the fine granular area size and the fatigue life. Because of the maximum inclusion sizes used, the partially predicted results may be somewhat conservative, but they are more satisfied with the requirement of safety design.
Effects of different silvicultural systems on initial soft mast production

Recent policy changes by federal land management agencies such as the United States Forest Service have led to increased use of silvicultural systems other than clearcut- ting. Because soft mast is an integral part of wildlife habitat and the effects of these alternative silviculture systems on soft mast production are unknown, we evaluated effects of different stand-level silvicultural systems on soft mast production in the Ouachita Mountains of Arkansas and Oklahoma. We evaluated differences in soft mast production and coverage among 4 replications of 5 treatments (clearcut, shelter- wood, group selection, single-tree selection, and late-rotation, unharvested forest stands) during the first (19941, third (1996), and fifth (1998) years after initial timber harvest. Coverage of all mast-producing plants combined did not differ among treat- ments over all years. Soft mast production did not differ among treatments the first year after timber harvest, but was greater in harvested stands than in unharvested stands in the third post-harvest year. Production in shelterwood cuts and clearcuts was greater than in single-tree selection, group selections, and unharvested stands the fifth post-harvest year. Unharvested stands, greenbelts (unharvested buffers surround- ing stream drainages), and the thinned matrix of group-selecti on stands produced Iit- tle mast in all years. A significant linear relationship between soft mast production and residual overstory basal area was present in years 3 and 5. We present equations to predict soft mast production 3 and 5 years after harvest when residual overstory basal areas are known. Without additional stand treatments (e.g., thinning or burn- ing), we expect production in even-aged stands (clearcuts and shelterwood cuts) to decline as canopy closure progresses; likewise, production in single-tree selection stands will likely decline due to midstory development.
EFFECT OF CURING TIME ON THE PORE SIZE AND EFFECTIVE THICKNESS/POROSITY OF POLYESTER THIN FILM COMPOSITE NANOFILTRATION MEMBRANES

Polyester thin film composite nanofiltration membranes were synthesized on the polyethersulfone (PES) support via the interfacial polymerization between triethanolamine (TEOA) and trimesoyl chloride (TMC). Here we report the effect of curing time in the interfacial polymerization process on membrane properties like pore size and effective thickness/porosity. The membrane properties were determined based on the uncharged solute permeation test and the hypothetical mechanistic structure (pore size, effective thickness/porosity) was determined using Donnan steric pore flow model (DSPM). This study also provides information on the effect of curing time on water permeability. From the 2 minute point to 10 minute point, the membranes pore sizes were reduced and negligible changes to effective thickness/porosity suggest the occurrence of additional cross-linking reaction between aqueous and organic monomers.
BACE1 Dynamics Upon Inhibition with a BACE Inhibitor and Correlation to Downstream Alzheimer’s Disease Markers in Elderly Healthy Participants

The β-site amyloid-β protein precursor (AβPP) cleaving enzyme-1 (BACE1) is the rate limiting enzyme in the generation of amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) from AβPP, one of the major pathways in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathology. Increased BACE1 levels and activity have been reported in the brain of patients with sporadic AD. Therefore, changes of BACE1 levels in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) have also been investigated as a possible biomarker of the disease. We analyzed BACE1 levels in CSF of elderly healthy participants before and after chronic treatment with a BACE inhibitor (BACEi) and evaluated the correlation between BACE1 levels and downstream AD markers. Overall, BACE1 CSF levels showed strong correlations to all downstream AD markers investigated. This is the first reported finding that shows BACE1 levels in CSF were well correlated to its end product Aβ1 - 42. As previously described, BACE1 levels were strongly correlated to total-tau and phosphorylated tau levels in CSF. Generally, chronic BACE inhibition did not influence BACE1 CSF protein levels. Follow-up studies including early-stage AD pathophysiology and prodromal AD patients will help to understand the importance of measuring BACE1 routinely in daily clinical practice and AD clinical trials.
Communicating ALS to the public: The message effectiveness of social-media-based health campaign

ABSTRACT Celebrity endorsement has been proved to be a very powerful tool in health campaigns. This study examined how celebrity–issue matchup presented in utilitarian and hedonic appeals influences attitude toward the video, perceived issue severity, and behavioral intentions in the context of ALS communication. The findings showed that celebrity–issue matchup condition outperformed nonmatchup condition in generating positive attitude and behavioral intentions. The results also indicated that utilitarian appeal with matchup condition triggered significantly greater behavioral intention than that with nonmatchup condition. However, no difference was found in hedonic appeal between matchup and nonmatchup conditions. Theoretical and practical implications are also discussed.
Population dynamics of juvenile Caribbean spiny lobster, Panulirus argus, in Florida Bay, Florida

Despite a wealth of information on the growth and population dynamics of sub-adult and adult Caribbean spiny lobsters (Panulirus argus), there is far less information about younger juveniles under natural conditions. Here we describe growth and population dynamics of juvenile spiny lobsters (12--{i8mm carapace length, CL) that we have studied for 14 months (October 1988-December 1989) using mark-recapture techniques in a hardbottom community in Florida Bay, Florida. We also monitored the supply of postlarvae into the region in 1988 and 1989 using Witham-type surface collectors in an effort to link peak periods of settlement of postlarvae with subsequent cohorts of juveniles. Field estimates of growth were the highest ever reported for this species, averaging 0.95 mm CL·wk-' (range: 0.35-1.25 mm CL·wk-1 for individuals 20-25 mm CL and 40-45 mm CL, respectively). These results indicate that lobsters in some areas in Florida Bay can reach Florida's legal harvestable size (76 mm CL) 1.5 years after settlement. Season and lobster size had significant effects on growth rates; slower growth occurred during the winter and among small individuals, Differences in growth among size classes resulted from changes in molt increment, whereas seasonal differences were a result of changes in intermolt interval. Using mark-recapture techniques, we estimate that the density of juvenile spiny lobsters <45 mm CL in this prime nursery habitat was 454·ha-', that the mean monthly probability of survival (reflecting actual mortality plus emigration) was 0.51, and that an average of 131 lobsters entered the population through recruitment and immigration each month. Recruitment of juveniles wliS'significantly correlated (r = 0,83) with the supply of postlarvae to the region 8 months earlier. This relationship is stronger than was previously believed, and may only be manifested in areas with superior
Can We “Future‐Proof” Consensus Trees?†

Abstract Consensus methods are widely used for combining phylogenetic trees into a single estimate of the evolutionary tree for a group of species. As more taxa are added, the new source trees may begin to tell a different evolutionary story when restricted to the original set of taxa. However, if the new trees, restricted to the original set of taxa, were to agree exactly with the earlier trees, then we might hope that their consensus would either agree with or resolve the original consensus tree. In this article, we ask under what conditions consensus methods exist that are “future proof” in this sense. While we show that some methods (e.g., Adams consensus) have this property for specific types of input, we also establish a rather surprising “no‐go” theorem: there is no “reasonable” consensus method that satisfies the future‐proofing property in general. We then investigate a second notion of “future proofing” for consensus methods, in which trees (rather than taxa) are added, and establish some positive and negative results. We end with some questions for future work.
Orientia tsutsugamushi Ank9 is a multifunctional effector that utilizes a novel GRIP‐like Golgi localization domain for Golgi‐to‐endoplasmic reticulum trafficking and interacts with host COPB2

Orientia tsutsugamushi causes scrub typhus, a potentially fatal infection that afflicts 1 million people annually. This obligate intracellular bacterium boasts one of the largest microbial arsenals of ankyrin repeat‐containing protein (Ank) effectors, most of which target the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) by undefined mechanisms. Ank9 is the only one proven to function during infection. Here, we demonstrate that Ank9 bears a motif that mimics the GRIP domain of eukaryotic golgins and is necessary and sufficient for its Golgi localization. Ank9 reaches the ER exclusively by retrograde trafficking from the Golgi. Consistent with this observation, it binds COPB2, a host protein that mediates Golgi‐to‐ER transport. Ank9 destabilizes the Golgi and ER in a Golgi localization domain‐dependent manner and induces the activating transcription factor 4–dependent unfolded protein response. The Golgi is also destabilized in cells infected with O. tsutsugamushi or treated with COPB2 small interfering RNA. COPB2 reduction and/or the cellular events that it invokes, such as Golgi destabilization, benefit Orientia replication. Thus, Ank9 or bacterial negative modulation of COPB2 might contribute to the bacterium's intracellular replication. This report identifies a novel microbial Golgi localization domain, links Ank9 to the ability of O. tsutsugamushi to perturb Golgi structure, and describes the first mechanism by which any Orientia effector targets the secretory pathway.
Sparse Aperture InISAR Imaging via Sequential Multiple Sparse Bayesian Learning

Interferometric inverse synthetic aperture radar (InISAR) imaging for sparse-aperture (SA) data is still a challenge, because the similarity and matched degree between ISAR images from different channels are destroyed by the SA data. To deal with this problem, this paper proposes a novel SA–InISAR imaging method, which jointly reconstructs 2-dimensional (2-D) ISAR images from different channels through multiple response sparse Bayesian learning (M-SBL), a modification of sparse Bayesian learning (SBL), to achieve sparse recovery for multiple measurement vectors (MMV). We note that M-SBL suffers a heavy computational burden because it involves large matrix inversion. A computationally efficient M-SBL is proposed, which, proceeding in a sequential manner to avoid the time-consuming large matrix inversion, is denoted as sequential multiple sparse Bayesian learning (SM-SBL). Thereafter, SM-SBL is introduced to InISAR imaging to simultaneously reconstruct the ISAR images from different channels. Numerous experimental results validate that the proposed SM-SBL-based InISAR imaging algorithm performs superiorly against the traditional single-channel sparse-signal recovery (SSR)-based InISAR imaging methods in terms of noise suppression, outlier reduction and 3-dimensional (3-D) geometry estimation.
Underlying Physics of Conductive Polymer Composites and Force Sensing Resistors (FSRs) under Static Loading Conditions

Conductive polymer composites are manufactured by randomly dispersing conductive particles along an insulating polymer matrix. Several authors have attempted to model the piezoresistive response of conductive polymer composites. However, all the proposed models rely upon experimental measurements of the electrical resistance at rest state. Similarly, the models available in literature assume a voltage-independent resistance and a stress-independent area for tunneling conduction. With the aim of developing and validating a more comprehensive model, a test bench capable of exerting controlled forces has been developed. Commercially available sensors—which are manufactured from conductive polymer composites—have been tested at different voltages and stresses, and a model has been derived on the basis of equations for the quantum tunneling conduction through thin insulating film layers. The resistance contribution from the contact resistance has been included in the model together with the resistance contribution from the conductive particles. The proposed model embraces a voltage-dependent behavior for the composite resistance, and a stress-dependent behavior for the tunneling conduction area. The proposed model is capable of predicting sensor current based upon information from the sourcing voltage and the applied stress. This study uses a physical (non-phenomenological) approach for all the phenomena discussed here.
Depletion of ozone and reservoir species of chlorine and nitrogen oxide in the lower Antarctic polar vortex measured from aircraft

Novel airborne in-situ measurements of inorganic chlorine, nitrogen oxide species and ozone were performed inside the lower Antarctic polar vortex and at its edge in September 2012. We focus on one flight during the TACTS/ESMVal campaign with the German research aircraft HALO, reaching latitudes of 65° S and potential temperatures up to 405 K. Using the early-winter correlations of reactive trace gases with N2O from ACE-FTS, we find high depletion of chlorine reservoir gases up to ∼ 40% (0.8 ppbv) at 12 km to 14 km altitude in the vortex and 0.4 ppbv at the edge in subsided stratospheric air with mean ages up to 4.5 years. We observe denitrification of up to 4 ppbv, while ozone was depleted by 1.2 ppmv at potential temperatures as low as 380 K. The advanced instrumentation aboard HALO enables high resolution measurements with implications for the oxidation capacity of the lowermost stratosphere.
Energy Harvesting From Human and Machine Motion for Wireless Electronic Devices

Energy harvesting generators are attractive as inexhaustible replacements for batteries in low-power wireless electronic devices and have received increasing research interest in recent years. Ambient motion is one of the main sources of energy for harvesting, and a wide range of motion-powered energy harvesters have been proposed or demonstrated, particularly at the microscale. This paper reviews the principles and state-of-art in motion-driven miniature energy harvesters and discusses trends, suitable applications, and possible future developments.
Emerging tyrosine kinase inhibitors for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma

ABSTRACT Introduction: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most diagnosed cancer in the world and the third leading cause of death. Unfortunately, when diagnosed two thirds of patients have an advanced disease for which only palliative treatment can be proposed and most likely systemic therapy. Areas covered: As of today only one systemic therapy is validated in the treatment of advanced HCC, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI): Sorafenib. Treatment options are therefore lacking. With the advent of Sorafenib other TKIs have been studied with some disappointing results. Many explanations can be found to the failure of these tested TKIs such as the underlying cirrhosis leading to rapidly serious adverse events, or trial design imperfections. Expert opinion: Taking into account these failures, new trials with more appropriate designs have led to recent success with multi-target TKIs (Regorafenib and Lenvatinib). This multi-target approach allows to overcome the molecular heterogeneity of advanced HCC which is associated with multiple simultaneously dysregulated signaling pathways. On the contrary, another lead is to study target a specific TKI such as c-MET inhibitors or TGFβR inhibitors in HCC sub-populations with promising results in early phase trials. These results will have to be validated in the ongoing phase III trials.