Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
On vibration properties of functionally graded nano-plate using a new nonlocal refined four variable model

In this paper, a new nonlocal hyperbolic refined plate model is presented for free vibration properties of functionally graded (FG) plates. This nonlocal nano-plate model incorporates the length scale parameter which can capture the small scale effect. The displacement field of the present theory is chosen based on a hyperbolic variation in the in-plane displacements through the thickness of the nano-plate. By dividing the transverse displacement into the bending and shear parts, the number of unknowns and equations of motion of the present theory is reduced, significantly facilitating structural analysis. The material properties are assumed to vary only in the thickness direction and the effective properties for the FG nano-plate are computed using Mori-Tanaka homogenization scheme. The governing equations of motion are derived based on the nonlocal differential constitutive relations of Eringen in conjunction with the refined four variable plate theory via Hamilton\'s principle. Analytical solution for the simply supported FG nano-plates is obtained to verify the theory by comparing its results with other available solutions in the open literature. The effects of nonlocal parameter, the plate thickness, the plate aspect ratio, and various material compositions on the dynamic response of the FG nano-plate are discussed.
Carrier-Induced Degradation in Multicrystalline Silicon: Dependence on the Silicon Nitride Passivation Layer and Hydrogen Released During Firing

Carrier-induced degradation (CID) of multicrystalline silicon (mc-Si) solar cells has been receiving significant attention; however, despite this increasing interest, the defect (or defects) responsible for this degradation has not been determined yet. Previous studies have shown that the surface passivation layer and the firing temperature have a significant impact on the rate and extent of this degradation. In this paper, we further study this impact through an investigation of the CID behavior of the mc-Si wafers passivated with six different silicon nitride layers, each fired at four different peak temperatures. At low firing temperatures, no significant difference in the CID was identified between the samples with different passivation layers; however, a large range of degradation extents was observed at higher firing temperatures. Using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, a correlation was found between the degradation extent and the amount of hydrogen released from the dielectric during firing. We verified that no degradation of the surface passivation quality occurred, indicating that the degradation is primarily associated with a bulk defect.
Bespoke versus off-the-shelf ankle-foot orthosis for people with stroke: randomized controlled trial

Objective: The aim of the study was to compare the effect of two designs of ankle-foot orthosis on people with stroke. Design: The study design was an assessor-blind, multicentre randomized controlled trial. Setting: The setting was community stroke services. Participants: A total of 139 community-dwelling stroke survivors with limited mobility were recruited. Interventions: The two most commonly used types of ankle-foot orthosis (bespoke and off-the-shelf) were chosen. Main measures: The main measures of the study were as follows: short- (6 weeks) and long-term (12 weeks) effects on stroke survivors’ satisfaction; adverse events; mobility (Walking Handicap Scale); fear of falling (Falls Efficacy Scale–International (FES-I)) and walking impairments (gait speed and step length using the 5-m walk test). Results: Long-term satisfaction was non-significantly higher in the off-the-shelf group: 72% versus 64%; OR (95% CI) = 0.64 (0.31 to 1.3); P = 0.21. No statistically significant differences were found between the orthoses except that the off-the-shelf group had less fear of falling at short-term follow-up than the bespoke group: mean difference (95% CI) = −4.6 (−7.6 to −1.6) points on the FES-I; P = 0.003. Conclusion: No differences between off-the-shelf and bespoke ankle-foot orthoses were found except that participants in the off-the-shelf orthosis group had less fear of falling at short-term follow-up.
CT evaluation of native acetabular orientation and localization: sex-specific data comparison on 336 hip joints.

BACKGROUND The reorientation of the acetabular component in total hip replacement is currently carried out under consideration of the safe zone, respecting the best possible range of motion and is influenced by wear debris of different bearings. Is the preferred orientation a reconstruction of the native anatomy and are there sex-specific differences? METHODS On the basis of 168 CT datasets (72 women, 96 men) 336 native hip joints were analysed. The abduction and anteversion of the acetabulum as well as the location of the hip center were detected. As a reference the anterior pelvic plane was used. RESULTS The 144 female hip joints showed a mean abduction of 53.0 degrees (SD 6.14 degrees ) and an anteversion of 24.63 degrees (SD 6.61 degrees ). The 192 male hip joints showed an abduction of 53.58 degrees (SD 6.68 degrees ) and an anteversion of 21.31 degrees (SD 6.17 degrees ). Significant differences were observed on comparison between the sexes in relation to the anteversion and the location of the hip center. Likewise, there was a significant correlation between the position of the hip center and the degree of anteversion. CONCLUSIONS In total hip arthroplasty a reconstruction of the native acetabular orientation is not possible, gender specific characteristics should be considered.
RF and Thermal Considerations of a Flip-Chip Integrated 40+ Gb/s Silicon Photonic Electro-Optic Transmitter

We demonstrate a flip-chip integrated electro-optic transmitter incorporating a high-swing CMOS driver and silicon photonic Mach–Zehnder modulator, and discuss the RF and thermal characteristics of the assembly. The transmitter showed a dynamic extinction ratio of 8 dB, which is the highest to date for 40+ Gb/s-class transmitters using CMOS drivers with silicon modulators. The input reflection coefficient of the module was mostly determined by the input electrical lines, solder bumps, and driver, while the electro-optic transfer function was mostly set by the Mach–Zehnder modulator. Despite the high power consumption of the driver and modulator (553 mW) and the close proximity between the electronic and photonic dies, the thermal simulations show that heat can be efficiently sunk from the bottom side of the silicon photonic die.
South Asian-White health inequalities in Canada: intersections with gender and immigrant status

ABSTRACT Objectives. We apply intersectionality theory to health inequalities in Canada by investigating whether South Asian-White health inequalities are conditioned by gender and immigrant status in a synergistic way. Design. Our dataset comprised 10 cycles (2001–2013) of the Canadian Community Health Survey. Using binary logistic regression modeling, we examined South Asian-White inequalities in self-rated health, diabetes, hypertension and asthma before and after controlling for potentially explanatory factors. Models were calculated separately in subsamples of native-born women, native-born men, immigrant women and immigrant men. Results. South Asian immigrants had higher odds of fair/poor self-rated health, diabetes and hypertension than White immigrants. Native-born South Asian men had higher odds of fair/poor self-rated health than native-born White men and native-born South Asian women had lower odds of hypertension than native-born White women. Education, household income, smoking, physical activity and body mass index did little to explain these associations. The three-way interaction between racial identity, gender and immigrant status approached statistical significance for hypertension but not for self-rated health and asthma. Conclusion. Our findings provide modest support for the intersectionally inspired principle that combinations of identities derived from race, gender and nationality constitute sui generis categories in the manifestation of health outcomes.
Academic network analysis: A joint topic modeling approach

We propose a novel probabilistic topic model that jointly models authors, documents, cited authors, and venues simultaneously in one integrated framework, as compared to previous work which embeds fewer components. This model is designed for three typical applications in academic network analysis: the problems of expert ranking, cited author prediction and venue prediction. Experiments based on two real world data sets demonstrate the model to be effective, and it outperforms several state-of-the-art algorithms in all three applications.
Self-service cloud computing

Modern cloud computing infrastructures use virtual machine monitors (VMMs) that often include a large and complex administrative domain with privileges to inspect client VM state. Attacks against or misuse of the administrative domain can compromise client security and privacy. Moreover, these VMMs provide clients inflexible control over their own VMs, as a result of which clients have to rely on the cloud provider to deploy useful services, such as VM introspection-based security tools. We introduce a new self-service cloud (SSC) computing model that addresses these two shortcomings. SSC splits administrative privileges between a system-wide domain and per-client administrative domains. Each client can manage and perform privileged system tasks on its own VMs, thereby providing flexibility. The system-wide administrative domain cannot inspect the code, data or computation of client VMs, thereby ensuring security and privacy. SSC also allows providers and clients to establish mutually trusted services that can check regulatory compliance while respecting client privacy. We have implemented SSC by modifying the Xen hypervisor. We demonstrate its utility by building user domains to perform privileged tasks such as memory introspection, storage intrusion detection, and anomaly detection.
Nonoverlapping Blocks Based Copy-Move Forgery Detection

In order to solve the problem of high computational complexity in block-based methods for copy-move forgery detection, we divide image into texture part and smooth part to deal with them separately. Keypoints are extracted and matched in texture regions. Instead of using all the overlapping blocks, we use nonoverlapping blocks as candidates in smooth regions. Clustering blocks with similar color into a group can be regarded as a preprocessing operation. To avoid mismatching due to misalignment, we update candidate blocks by registration before projecting them into hash space. In this way, we can reduce computational complexity and improve the accuracy of matching at the same time. Experimental results show that the proposed method achieves better performance via comparing with the state-of-the-art copy-move forgery detection algorithms and exhibits robustness against JPEG compression, rotation, and scaling.
Drug-induced modulation of gp130 signalling prevents articular cartilage degeneration and promotes repair

Objective Human adult articular cartilage (AC) has little capacity for repair, and joint surface injuries often result in osteoarthritis (OA), characterised by loss of matrix, hypertrophy and chondrocyte apoptosis. Inflammation mediated by interleukin (IL)-6 family cytokines has been identified as a critical driver of proarthritic changes in mouse and human joints, resulting in a feed-forward process driving expression of matrix degrading enzymes and IL-6 itself. Here we show that signalling through glycoprotein 130 (gp130), the common receptor for IL-6 family cytokines, can have both context-specific and cytokine-specific effects on articular chondrocytes and that a small molecule gp130 modulator can bias signalling towards anti-inflammatory and antidegenerative outputs. Methods High throughput screening of 170 000 compounds identified a small molecule gp130 modulator termed regulator of cartilage growth and differentiation (RCGD 423) that promotes atypical homodimeric signalling in the absence of cytokine ligands, driving transient increases in MYC and pSTAT3 while suppressing oncostatin M- and IL-6-mediated activation of ERK and NF-κB via direct competition for gp130 occupancy. Results This small molecule increased proliferation while reducing apoptosis and hypertrophic responses in adult chondrocytes in vitro. In a rat partial meniscectomy model, RCGD 423 greatly reduced chondrocyte hypertrophy, loss and degeneration while increasing chondrocyte proliferation beyond that observed in response to injury. Moreover, RCGD 423 improved cartilage healing in a rat full-thickness osteochondral defect model, increasing proliferation of mesenchymal cells in the defect and also inhibiting breakdown of cartilage matrix in de novo generated cartilage. Conclusion These results identify a novel strategy for AC remediation via small molecule-mediated modulation of gp130 signalling.
Verbal Creativity Correlates with the Temporal Variability of Brain Networks During the Resting State

&NA; Creativity is the ability to see the world in new ways. Creative individuals exhibit the ability to switch between different modes of thinking and shift their mental focus. This suggests a connection between creativity and dynamic interactions of brain networks. We report here the first investigation into the relationship between the reconfiguration of dynamic brain networks during the resting state and verbal creativity using two fMRI datasets involving 574 subjects. We find that verbal creativity correlates with temporal variability of the functional‐connectivity (FC) patterns of the lateral prefrontal cortex, the precuneus, and the parahippocampal gyrus. High variability of these regions indicates flexible connectivity patterns which may facilitate executive functions. Furthermore, verbal creativity correlates with the temporal variability of FC patterns within the default mode network (DMN), between the DMN and attention/sensorimotor network, and between control and sensory networks. High variability of FCs between the DMN and attention networks characterizes frequent adjustments of attention. Finally, dynamic interaction between the cerebellum and task control network also contributes to verbal creativity, suggesting a relationship between the cerebellum and creativity. This study reveals a close relationship between verbal creativity and high variability of cortical networks involved in spontaneous thought, attention and cognitive control.
Sedentary behaviour is a key determinant of metabolic inflexibility

Metabolic flexibility is defined as the ability to adapt substrate oxidation rates in response to changes in fuel availability. The inability to switch between the oxidation of lipid and carbohydrate appears to be an important feature of chronic disorders such as obesity and type 2 diabetes. Laboratory assessment of metabolic flexibility has traditionally involved measurement of the respiratory quotient (RQ) by indirect calorimetry during the fasted to fed transition (e.g. mixed meal challenge) or during a hyperinsulinaemic–euglycaemic clamp. Under these controlled experimental conditions, ‘metabolic inflexibility’ is characterized by lower fasting fat oxidation (higher fasting RQ) and/or an impaired ability to oxidize carbohydrate during feeding or insulin‐stimulated conditions (lower postprandial or clamp RQ). This experimental paradigm has provided fundamental information regarding the role of substrate oxidation in the development of obesity and insulin resistance. However, the key determinants of metabolic flexibility among relevant clinical populations remain unclear. Herein, we propose that habitual physical activity levels are a primary determinant of metabolic flexibility. We present evidence demonstrating that high levels of physical activity predict metabolic flexibility, while physical inactivity and sedentary behaviours trigger a state of metabolic ‘inflexibility’, even among individuals who meet physical activity recommendations. Furthermore, we describe alternative experimental approaches to studying the concept of metabolic flexibility across a range of activity and inactivity. Finally, we address the promising use of strategies that aim to reduce sedentary behaviours as therapy to improve metabolic flexibility and reduce weight gain risk.
Influence of EGFR mutational status on metastatic behavior in non squamous non small cell lung cancer

Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) mutated Non Small Cell Lung Cancers (NSCLCs) are a molecularly subgroup of patients with peculiar clinic-pathological characteristics. Previous studies have suggested a possible interaction between oncogene status and metastatic behavior in non squamous NSCLCs with conflicting results. The aim of this study was to compare the different metastatic patterns, at baseline and during the course of the disease, in a cohort of 137 Caucasian patients with non-squamous NSCLC according to the EGFR mutational status and survival differences according to the different metastatic behavior. We observed unique metastatic distributions between EGFR-mutated and EGFR wild type non-squamous NSCLCs. These data support the hypothesis that tumor bio-molecular characteristics and genotype may influence the metastatic process in NSCLC and might help the development of enrichment strategies for tumor genotyping in these tumors, especially in the presence of limited tissue availability.
Specific Damping Capacity of Multiphase Unidirectional Hybrid Fiber Composites

Modeling and analysis on the specific damping capacity (SDC) of a unidirectional hybrid fiber composite lamina have been presented in this paper. In an attempt to refine the SDC analysis for the case of hybrid composites a new unit cell has been identified. Idealization of the proposed unit cell introduces a fiber-matrix interphase into the hybrid composite damping model. Explicit lamina level SDC equations are derived using the strain energy method. The validity and the advantages of the present method have also been demonstrated by performing numerical simulations for conventional as well as shape memory alloy (SMA) hybrid fiber composites.
Impact of Mediterranean diet on metabolic syndrome, cancer and longevity

Obesity symbolizes a major public health problem. Overweight and obesity are associated to the occurrence of the metabolic syndrome and to adipose tissue dysfunction. The adipose tissue is metabolically active and an endocrine organ, whose dysregulation causes a low-grade inflammatory state and ectopic fat depositions. The Mediterranean Diet represents a possible therapy for metabolic syndrome, preventing adiposopathy or “sick fat” formation. The Mediterranean Diet exerts protective effects in elderly subjects with and without baseline of chronic diseases. Recent studies have demonstrated a relationship between cancer and obesity. In the US, diet represents amount 30-35% of death causes related to cancer. Currently, the cancer is the second cause of death after cardiovascular diseases worldwide. Furthermore, populations living in the Mediterranean area have a decreased incidence of cancer compared with populations living in Northern Europe or the US, likely due to healthier dietary habits. The bioactive food components have a potential preventive action on cancer. The aims of this review are to evaluate the impact of Mediterranean Diet on onset, progression and regression of metabolic syndrome, cancer and on longevity.
Downlink power control in user-centric and cell-free massive MIMO wireless networks

Recently, the so-called cell-free Massive MIMO architecture has been introduced, wherein a very large number of distributed access points (APs) simultaneously and jointly serve a much smaller number of mobile stations (MSs). A variant of the cell-free technique is the user-centric approach, wherein each AP just decodes the MSs that it receives with the largest power. This paper considers both the cell-free and user-centric approaches, and, using an interplay of sequential optimization and alternating optimization, derives downlink power-control algorithms aimed at maximizing either the minimum users' SINR (to ensure fairness), or the system sum-rate. Numerical results show the effectiveness of the proposed algorithms, as well as that the user-centric approach generally outperforms the CF one.
Die Seilbiegung mit einer durch die innere Reibung, die Zugkraft und die Seilkrümmung veränderlichen Biegesteifigkeit

This paper presents a new model for conductors under simultaneous tensile and bending loads. The proposed conductor model takes into account the interlayer friction and the interlayer slip in the conductor during bending and leads to a variable bending stiffness, Le, a stiffness which changes with the bending displacement and the tension applied to the conductor. The theoretical concept is validated by extensive tests using an innovative measurement setup, the "cable-scanner", wh ich detects, by non-contact scanning of the conductor surface, the displacement and the curvature of the conductor axis.
A descriptive study of behavioral problems in schoolgoing children

Background: Behavioral problems among schoolgoing children are of significant concern to teachers and parents. These are known to have both immediate and long-term unfavorable consequences. Despite the high prevalence, studies on psychiatric morbidity among school children are lacking in our country. Materials and Methods: Five hundred children aged 6–18 years were randomly selected from a government school in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, and assessed for cognitive, emotional, or behavioral problems using standardized tools. Results: About 22.7% of children showed behavioral, cognitive, or emotional problems. Additional screening and evaluation tools pointed toward a higher prevalence of externalizing symptoms among boys than girls. Conclusion: The study highlights the importance of regular screening of school children for preventive as well as timely remedial measures.
Clinical challenges in de novo pediatric acute myeloid leukemia

ABSTRACT Introduction: Although the prognosis of pediatric acute myeloid leukemia (pAML) has improved, with current survival rates up to 75%, relapse rates remain high. Areas covered: The low number of patients, the heterogeneous genomic landscape of AML, novel diagnostic techniques, divergent available treatment protocols, and dose-limiting toxicity of conventional agents all contribute to the complexity of AML treatment. This review gives an overview of the current clinical challenges with respect to diagnostics, treatment, and supportive care in pAML. Expert commentary: Due to intensified treatment regimens and improved supportive care measures, the outcome for pAML patients has improved substantially over the past years. However, most treatment protocols still rely on conventional chemotherapeutic agents with significant toxicity. Although targeted therapies promise to reduce the need for high doses of conventional agents with a subsequent decrease in toxicity, the effectiveness of these strategies remains unsatisfactory today. International collaborations are needed in order to address the ongoing therapeutic challenges of reducing toxicity while increasing effectivity. Consensus on risk-group classification, a common chemotherapy backbone and evidence-based supportive care guidelines are necessary in this context, at the same time enabling intergroup studies on new agents in subgroups.