Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An Experimental Study of Pile-Supported OWC-Type Breakwaters: Energy Extraction and Vortex-Induced Energy Loss

Integrating wave energy converters with breakwaters is a promising concept for wave energy utilization. On the basis of fulfilling the wave protection demands, pile-supported Oscillating Water Column (OWC)-type breakwaters can also meet the local needs of electricity far from the lands. In the present study, the wave energy extraction and vortex-induced energy loss of pile-supported OWC-type breakwaters were analyzed based on a two-point measurement method. The importance of energy extraction and vortex-induced energy loss on the wave energy dissipation of pile-supported OWC-type breakwaters were experimentally investigated. It was found that the trends of energy extraction and vortex-induced energy loss were generally correlated. The effects of the pneumatic damping induced by top opening affected the vortex-induced energy loss more than the energy extraction. Results showed that a larger pneumatic damping was preferable for the purpose of increasing energy extraction, whereas for a smaller pneumatic damping the vortex-induced energy loss was more important to the energy dissipation. With increasing draft, the energy extraction decreased, but the vortex-induced energy loss complementally contributed to the total energy dissipation and made the energy dissipation at the same level as that for a shallower draft.
Robustness with respect to SEUs of a self-converging algorithm

Self-convergence is a property of distributed systems, allowing a system, when it was perturbed or badly initialised, to recover a correct operation in a finite number of calculation steps. In this paper is explored the intrinsic robustness of a self converging algorithm with respect to soft errors resulting from SEU (Single Event Upset) phenomena. This study was performed by fault injection using a devoted test platform. A self-converging benchmark program was executed by a LEON3 processor implemented in an FPGA. The low number of observed errors puts in evidence the fault tolerance of the tested algorithm.
Deep Compositional Question Answering with Neural Module Networks

Visual question answering is fundamentally compositional in nature---a question like "where is the dog? " shares substructure with questions like "what color is the dog? " and "where is the cat? " This paper seeks to simultaneously exploit the representational capacity of deep networks and the compositional linguistic structure of questions. We describe a procedure for constructing and learning *neural module networks*, which compose collections of jointly-trained neural "modules" into deep networks for question answering. Our approach decomposes questions into their linguistic substructures, and uses these structures to dynamically instantiate modular networks (with reusable components for recognizing dogs, classifying colors, etc.). The resulting compound networks are jointly trained. We evaluate our approach on two challenging datasets for visual question answering, achieving state-of-the-art results on both the VQA natural image dataset and a new dataset of complex questions about abstract shapes.
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Diethyl phthalate (DEP) is used as a plasticizer, a detergent base, in aerosol sprays, as a perfume binder and after shave lotion. It is known to be a contaminant of fresh water and marine ecosystem. Therefore, a study was designed to determine the acute toxicity effects of DEP on a fresh water fish, Clarias gariepinus fingerlings. The fish was treated with 50 μg/l, 75 μg/l, 100 μg/l, and 150 μg/l. DEP was dissolved in distilled water to determine the LC50. There was 100 % mortality observed in 150 μg/l, 56.6 % mortality in 100 μg/l treated fish, 46.7 % mortality at 75 μg/l, and 29.9 % mortality in 50 μg/l within 24h to 96h of exposure. The LC50 of DEP was estimated at log toxicant concentration as 2.217, 2.734, 3.435 and 3.931 μg/l at 24, 48, 72, 96h and 1. 871μg/l for the total death. This shows that the impacts are dose and time dependent with respect to marked reduction in mortality rate. At sub-lethal concentrations of the test substance at 30 μg/l, 40 μg/l, 60 μg/l, and 80 μg/l in a renewal bioassay system, the water and the test compound were changed intermittently. One group was maintained as a control in dechlorinated water. Fish were killed and dissected to obtain liver, muscle, and brain samples. Brain and muscle acetylcholinesterase (AchE) activity was measured. Liver and muscle acid phosphatase (ACP) were measured. Liver aspartate (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT) were measured. There was significant difference (P ≤ 0.05) in brain and muscle AchE activity compared to the control. The liver ACP activity was statistically significant (P ≤ 0.05) at day 15 respectively compared to the control. The muscle ACP in other treatment groups showed no significant difference (P > 0.05). Liver AST showed no significance in all treated groups (P > 0.05) and liver ALT activity was statistically significance (P ≤ 0.05) at day 30 only. The haematological parameters (HB, PCV, RBC and WBC) carried out showed that haemoglobin level estimated in all treatment groups to the duration of exposure showed no significance different (P > 0.05) compared to the control. The park cell volume showed a significance different (P ≤ 0.05) at day 30 only. The erythrocyte count mean values were not statistically significant (P > 0.05) compared to the control throughout the duration of exposure. The leucocyte count throughout the exposure period showed that the mean values are statistically significant (P ≤ 0.05) at day 15 only compared to the control. The mean cell volume (MCV), showed a significant different at day 15 (P ≤ 0.05) whereas mean cell haemoglobin (MCH) and mean cell haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) showed no significance difference (P > 0.05) throughout the exposure period. The mean values in day 0 for differential counts
Utilization of Rad51C promoter for transcriptional targeting of cancer cells

Cancer therapy that specifically targets malignant cells with minimal or no toxicity to normal tissue has been a long-standing goal of cancer research. Rad51 expression is elevated in a wide range of cancers and Rad51 promoter has been used to transcriptionally target tumor cells, however, a large size of Rad51 promoter limits its application for gene therapy. To identify novel tumor-specific promoters, we examined expression levels of Rad51 paralogs, Rad51B, Rad51C, and Rad51D as well as Rad52 in a panel of normal and tumor cell lines. We found that Rad51C is significantly overexpressed in cancer cells. The expression was up-regulated by approximately 6-fold at the mRNA level and 9-fold at the protein level. Interestingly, the 2064 bp long Rad51C promoter fragment was approximately 300-fold higher in cancer cells than in normal cells. A construct containing Rad51C promoter driving diphtheria toxin A efficiently killed several types of cancer cells with very mild effect to normal cells. These results underscore the potential of targeting the homologous recombination pathway in cancer cells and provide a proof of principle that the Rad51C promoter fragment can be used to transcriptionally target cancer cells.
A Unified MGF-Based Capacity Analysis of Diversity Combiners over Generalized Fading Channels

Unified exact ergodic capacity results for L-branch coherent diversity combiners including equal-gain combining (EGC) and maximal-ratio combining (MRC) are not known. This paper develops a novel generic framework for the capacity analysis of L-branch EGC/MRC over generalized fading channels. The framework is used to derive new results for the gamma-shadowed generalized Nakagami-m fading model which can be a suitable model for the fading environments encountered by high frequency (60 GHz and above) communications. The mathematical formalism is illustrated with some selected numerical and simulation results confirming the correctness of our newly proposed framework.
The Role of Gesture Types and Spatial Feedback in Haptic Communication

The sense of touch is a fundamental part of social interaction as even a short touch from another person can elicit emotional experiences. Previous studies on haptic communication indicate that the benefits of interpersonal touch exist even when touch is artificially mediated between people that are physically apart. In the current study an evaluation of three input gestures (i.e., moving, squeezing, and stroking) was conducted to identify preferred methods for creating haptic messages using a hand-held device. Furthermore, two output methods (i.e., one or four haptic actuators) were investigated in order to determine whether representing spatial properties of input gestures haptically provides additional benefit for communication. Participants created haptic messages in four example communication scenarios. The results of subjective ratings, postexperimental interviews, and observations showed that squeezing and stroking were the preferred ways to interact with the device. Squeezing was an unobtrusive and quick way to create haptic content. Stroking, on the other hand, enabled crafting of more detailed haptic messages. Spatial haptic output was appreciated especially when using the stroking method. These findings can help in designing haptic communication methods for hand-held devices.
Synaptic transmission block by presynaptic injection of oligomeric amyloid beta

Early Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathophysiology is characterized by synaptic changes induced by degradation products of amyloid precursor protein (APP). The exact mechanisms of such modulation are unknown. Here, we report that nanomolar concentrations of intraaxonal oligomeric (o)Aβ42, but not oAβ40 or extracellular oAβ42, acutely inhibited synaptic transmission at the squid giant synapse. Further characterization of this phenotype demonstrated that presynaptic calcium currents were unaffected. However, electron microscopy experiments revealed diminished docked synaptic vesicles in oAβ42-microinjected terminals, without affecting clathrin-coated vesicles. The molecular events of this modulation involved casein kinase 2 and the synaptic vesicle rapid endocytosis pathway. These findings open the possibility of a new therapeutic target aimed at ameliorating synaptic dysfunction in AD.
Comparison of Two Reconstructive Techniques in the Surgical Management of Four-Level Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy

To compare the clinical efficacy and radiological outcome of treating 4-level cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) with either anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) or “skip” corpectomy and fusion, 48 patients with 4-level CSM who had undergone ACDF or SCF at our hospital were analyzed retrospectively between January 2008 and June 2011. Twenty-seven patients received ACDF (Group A) and 21 patients received SCF. Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score, Neck Disability Index (NDI) score, and Cobb's angles of the fused segments and C2-7 segments were compared in the two groups. The minimum patient follow-up was 2 years. No significant differences between the groups were found in demographic and baseline disease characteristics, duration of surgery, or follow-up time. Our study demonstrates that there was no significant difference in the clinical efficacy of ACDF and SCF, but ACDF involves less intraoperative blood loss, better cervical spine alignment, and fewer postoperative complications than SCF.
Inhibitors and Enablers as Dual Factor Concepts in Technology Usage

Information systems (IS) research has focused extensively on the factors that foster adoption and usage. A large body of work explores overall beliefs about system usage, antecedents of system satisfaction, and other perceptions that enable system success, create positive attitudes, and encourage usage. However, much less attention has been given to what perceptions uniquely inhibit usage. In large part, this is due to the implicit assumption that the inhibitors of usage are merely the opposite of the enablers. This paper proposes a theory for the existence, nature, and effects of system attribute perceptions that lead solely to discourage use. I posit that usage inhibitors deserve an independent investigation on the basis of three key arguments. One, there exist perceptions that serve solely to discourage usage, and these are qualitatively different from the opposite of the perceptions that encourage usage. Two, these inhibiting and enabling perceptions are independent of one another and can coexist. Three, inhibiting and enabling perceptions have differing antecedent and consequent effects. As unique beliefs, inhibiting perceptions can add to our understanding of the antecedents of usage or outright rejection. Further, such inhibitors may not only be important to the IS usage decision, they may be more important than enabling beliefs.
DETERMINATION OF RADIONUCLIDE AND HEAVY METAL CONCENTRATIONS IN BIOTA AND SEDIMENT SAMPLES FROM PAZAR AND RIZE STATIONS IN THE EASTERN BLACK SEA

SUMMARY The radionuclides ( 137 Cs, 238 U, 232 Th and 40 K) and heavy metal concentrations (Cd, Pb, Cu, Zn and Mn) were determined in macro algae, mussel, fish and sediment samples collected from two stations at the eastern Turkish coast of the Black Sea. The measured 137 Cs, 238 U, 232 Th and 40 K concentrations are within the range of the values cited in previous works concerning the Turkish Black Sea coast. However, the radionuclide concentrations in the sediment fraction < 63 µm are significantly higher. Regarding the influence of the collection sites on the accumulation of the heavy metals in biota, Rize is generally more polluted. At the same time, Pb, Cu, Zn and Mn concentrations in Rize sediment are also higher than in Pazar sediment of similar grain size. In general, the heavy metal concentrations in the present study are not higher than previously results. However, Pb and Cu levels increased in biota and sediment in the Turkish area of the Black Sea during the years investigated.
Comparative immunohistochemical analysis of developing kidneys, nephroblastomas and related tumors: Considerations on their histogenesis

Immunoperoxidase analysis was performed to evaluate the phenotypic expression of eight renal differentiation antigens in five nephroblastomas, one clear cell sarcoma of the kidney (CCSK), one rhabdoid tumor of the kidney (RTK), and four related tumors. A total of 19 fetal and pediatric kidneys, including two 6th‐week mesonephric tissues, were comparatively studied. All the specimens were fixed in formalin and embedded in paraffin. Neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM), a marker of the nephrogenic zone of the developing kidney, was consistently expressed in the epithelial and blastematous components of nephroblastomas of the common type. The epithelial components also commonly expressed NK1 and Leu 7 (CD57), and the findings may reflect that both were positive in immature proximal tubules directly differentiating from the NCAM‐positive immature fetal tubuloglomerular buds. In two cases, the epithelial component was immunoreactive for CD10 and WT1 gene product (WT1‐GP). Leu M1, epithelial membrane antigen and CA15–3 were only focally expressed in nephroblastomas. Rhabdomyoblasts in the stroma were positive for WT1‐GP. CCSK was featured by the expression of NCAM and CD10. In RTK, focal epithelial differentiation was discerned, with focal positivity of WT1‐GP and negativity of NCAM. In congenital mesoblastic nephroma, the stromal spindle cells were strongly immunoreactive for WT1‐GP, while WT1‐GP was not expressed in solitary multilocular cyst of the kidney. Pancortical nephroblastomatosis was featured by the diffuse subcapsular reappearance of immature metanephric tissue. Nephroblastomas and related conditions thus offer an adequate model for studying human nephrogenesis.
Effect of phosphorylated hsp27 on proliferation of human endothelial and smooth muscle cells

Recent studies have suggested a protective role of hsp27 against atherosclerosis and transplant graft vasculopathy. Here we have investigated the effects of over‐expression of wild‐type hsp27 and its phosphorylation mimics on proliferation of human endothelial cells (ECs) and smooth muscle cells (SMCs). ECs and SMCs cultured from human blood vessels or cells lines (human microvascular endothelial cell line and human telomerase reverse transcriptase subunit SMC) were infected with adenovirus containing DNA from wild‐type hsp27, hyper‐phosphorylated hsp27 mimic (3D hsp27), hypo‐phosphorylated hsp27 mimic (3A hsp27) or anti‐sense hsp27, and proliferation measured over the next 5 days. Protein extracts from infected cells were subjected to proteomic analysis using 2‐D DIGE. Over‐expression of 3D hsp27 and anti‐sense hsp27 but not 3A hsp27 mimic caused significant inhibition of proliferation of ECs and SMCs. Proteomic analysis focussed on proteins that were significantly down‐regulated by the 3D hsp27 mutant. The cell cycling proteins stathmin, cofilin and ubiquitination enzymes fullfilled these criteria. 1‐D Western blots of infected human microvascular endothelial cell line and human telomerase reverse transcriptase subunit SMC confirmed down‐regulation of stathmin, cofilin and ubiquitination enzymes by 3D hsp27. The phosphorylation status of hsp27 is an important regulator of proliferation of human vascular ECs and SMCs; possibly contributing to cardiovascular protection.
E-Service Quality as Antecendent to E-Satisfaction: the Moderating Effect of Culture

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to analyse the influence of culture on the relationship between each of the dimensions of e-service quality and satisfaction with a web site involving purchase of a tourism service. Design/methodology/approach – A questionnaire was administered to 300 international tourists (150 British and 150 Spanish) who had purchased a tourism product via the internet. The study employs a structural equation model to analyse the effect of cultural dimensions on the relationship between e-service quality and online tourist satisfaction. The original data were standardised in order to allow comparison. Findings – The results show that the influence of the dimensions of service quality on the tourists’ satisfaction with their online purchases is moderated by cultural dimensions, namely uncertainty avoidance and individualism/collectivism. Research limitations/implications – In this study only two cultures are used to analyse the moderating effect of cultural dimensions on the relationship between quality and satisfaction and only two cultural dimensions are analysed. Practical implications – The key practical implications of the work lie in illuminating the variations in tourist satisfaction when making an online purchase, and understanding the role played by cultural dimensions in interactions with web-based businesses. Originality/value – This paper makes progress in the study of the dimensions of the e-service quality. Furthermore it is a cross-cultural study which pays attention to the moderating effect of the cultural dimensions on the relationship of each dimension of e-service quality with satisfaction with the web site.
Stressors and Coping Measures of Hospice Nurses

The nursing care of the dying patient in the home setting is considered highly stressful. As the population ages, the hospice census is expected to increase and the need to attract and retain hospice nurses will be vitally important. Understanding hospice nurses’ perceived stress and coping mechanisms can lead to increased retention and higher employee satisfaction. The survey presented in this article identified the perceived stressors of hospice nurses, their stress relief methods, and organizational work issues.
Local and Systemic Antibody Responses in Mice Immunized Intranasally with Native and Detergent-Extracted Outer Membrane Vesicles from Neisseria meningitidis

ABSTRACT The mouse humoral immune response toward native or detergent-extracted outer membrane vesicles (NOMVs and DOMVs, respectively) from Neisseria meningitidis was determined after intranasal immunization. Both preparations elicited high frequencies of NOMV-specific antibody-forming cells (AFCs) locally in the nasal associated lymphoid tissue (NALT) after three or four weekly doses. The diffuse NALT (D-NALT) contained ca. 10-fold more NOMV-specific AFCs than those observed in the mediastinal lymph node, spleen, and bone marrow. AFCs observed in the D-NALT were primarily immunoglobulin A positive (IgA+) and were maintained for at least 1 month. In contrast, the organized NALT (O-NALT) contained low numbers of AFCs, and the response was relatively short-lived. In other lymphoid tissues, AFCs producing various IgG subclasses and IgM were present with IgG2b-producing AFCs being dominant or codominant with IgA or IgG2a. In serum and in all of the tissues examined, with the exception of the NALT, NOMVs clearly induced a stronger antibody response and a broader range of antibody isotypes than DOMVs. The development of NOMV-specific AFCs in spleen and bone marrow after intranasal immunization was slow compared to intravenous immunization but, once established, the intranasally elicited responses increased steadily for at least 75 days. NOMV-specific antibodies induced via several routes of immunization had high bactericidal activities in serum. Our results indicated that intranasally administered OMVs induced strong local and systemic antibody responses in mice that were relatively long-lived.
Preparation and characterization of bismuth nanostructures deposited by pulsed laser ablation

Bismuth nanostructures, from nanoparticles to quasi-percolated films, were deposited by pulsed laser ablation (PLA) on different substrates using the 355 nm line of a Nd:YAG laser. The morphology and size distribution of the obtained nanostructures were investigated, as a function of the number of ablation pulses, by high resolution electron microscopy (HRTEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Deposits with a small number of pulses, 50, are formed of separated isolated particles with diameters in the range from 5 to 20 nm. Further increase in the number of pulses (>100) results in coalescence of individual particles with the formation of dendritic structures and finally, for 500 pulses, quasi-percolated Bi films are obtained. Additionally, the nanostructures formed were characterized by XPS, and Raman spectroscopy in order to determine the physical and chemical properties of the deposited material.