Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of fiber length and composition on mechanical properties of carbon fiber-reinforced polybenzoxazine

The mechanical strength and modulus of chopped carbon fiber (CF)-reinforced polybenzoxazine composites were investigated by changing the length of CFs. Tensile, compressive, and flexural properties were investigated. The void content was found to be higher for the short fiber composites. With increase in fiber length, tensile strength increased and optimized at around 17 mm fiber length whereas compressive strength exhibited a continuous diminution. The flexural strength too increased with fiber length and optimized at around 17 mm fiber length. The increase in strength of composites with fiber length is attributed to the enhancement in effective contact area of fibers with the matrix. The experimental results showed that there was about 350% increase in flexural strength and 470% increase in tensile strength of the composites with respect to the neat polybenzoxazine, while, compressive properties were adversely affected. The composites exhibited an optimum increase of about 800% in flexural modulus and 200% in tensile modulus. Enhancing the fiber length, leads to fiber entanglement in the composites, resulted in increased plastic deformation at higher strain. Multiple branch matrix shear, debonded fibers and voids were the failures visualized in the microscopic analyses. Defibrillation has been exhibited by all composites irrespective of fiber length. Fiber debonding and breaking were associated with short fibers whereas clustering and defibrillation were the major failure modes in long fiber composites. Increasing fiber loading improved the tensile and flexural properties until 50–60 wt% of fiber whereas the compressive property consistently decreased on fiber loading. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Relative Lengths of Fingers and Toes in Human Males and Females

Digital scans of the hands and feet were obtained from 62 heterosexual females and 60 heterosexual males. Scans only of the hands were obtained from 29 homosexual females and 35 homosexual males. The lengths of the individual fingers and toes were estimated from those images by two experienced judges, and length ratios were constructed for all possible pairs of fingers (or toes) on each hand (or foot). Thumbs were not measured, but the great toe was measured and used to construct length ratios. Past research had concentrated on the relative lengths of the index and ring fingers (the 2D:4D ratio). This ratio is close to 1.0 in females and smaller than 1.0 in males. Here 2D:4D did exhibit the largest sex difference, for both hands, followed by 2D:5D and 3D:4D. The sex differences were larger for the right hand than for the left. For both homosexual females and homosexual males, nearly all of the length ratios for fingers were intermediate to those for heterosexual females and heterosexual males; that is, the ratios of homosexual females were masculinized and those of homosexual males were hypomasculinized, but few of these differences were significant. Because many toes were substantially arched, acceptable estimates of length often could not be obtained from the two-dimensional scans, meaning that conclusions about toes are much less certain than those for fingers. Nevertheless, the length ratios were generally larger for toes than for fingers, and the sex differences were generally smaller for toes.
Childhood dental fear: A problem to solve

In this thesis, the principal aim was to study the possible aetiological factors of childhood dental fear (psychological aspects, parental dental fear, parental presence or absence during dental treatment). A second aim was to present the normative data on childhood dental fear and caries in a representative sample and to define the Greek dental fear cut-off points in school age children. Another objective was to examine the usefulness of a specific technique (Parental Presence/Absence-PPA) in the improvement of the child dental behaviour and to give advises for the clinical child dental situation. This thesis has added a new tool for paediatric dentists in Greece, since from now on they can use the child dental fear cut-off points of the CFSS-DS, in order to predict a child’s behaviour management problems. However, there is a need for a pan-Hellenic study, in order for these cut-off points to be more applicable in specific situations. The results of this thesis added also to our knowledge of the aetiological factors of child dental fear, since it was shown that children’s psychological functioning can give information about their dental fear. The role of the parents during dental treatment was shown to be important, moreover since we can “use them as a dental behaviour tool”, with the PPA technique. This technique is equally effective compared to other behaviour management techniques and is also very accepted by parents, so it’s an advisable strategy. However, when exploring PPA technique’s use, more clinical trials are needed in order to study the role of the parents.
The Organization of Dorsal Frontal Cortex in Humans and Macaques

The human dorsal frontal cortex has been associated with the most sophisticated aspects of cognition, including those that are thought to be especially refined in humans. Here we used diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI) and functional MRI (fMRI) in humans and macaques to infer and compare the organization of dorsal frontal cortex in the two species. Using DW-MRI tractography-based parcellation, we identified 10 dorsal frontal regions lying between the human inferior frontal sulcus and cingulate cortex. Patterns of functional coupling between each area and the rest of the brain were then estimated with fMRI and compared with functional coupling patterns in macaques. Areas in human medial frontal cortex, including areas associated with high-level social cognitive processes such as theory of mind, showed a surprising degree of similarity in their functional coupling patterns with the frontal pole, medial prefrontal, and dorsal prefrontal convexity in the macaque. We failed to find evidence for “new” regions in human medial frontal cortex. On the lateral surface, comparison of functional coupling patterns suggested correspondences in anatomical organization distinct from those that are widely assumed. A human region sometimes referred to as lateral frontal pole more closely resembled area 46, rather than the frontal pole, of the macaque. Overall the pattern of results suggest important similarities in frontal cortex organization in humans and other primates, even in the case of regions thought to carry out uniquely human functions. The patterns of interspecies correspondences are not, however, always those that are widely assumed.
Preparation and optimisation of anionic liposomes for delivery of small peptides and cDNA to human corneal epithelial cells

Abstract Drug delivery to corneal epithelial cells is challenging due to the intrinsic mechanisms that protect the eye. Here, we report a novel liposomal formulation to encapsulate and deliver a short sequence peptide into human corneal epithelial cells (hTCEpi). Using a mixture of Phosphatidylcholine/Caproylamine/Dioleoylphosphatidylethanolamine (PC/CAP/DOPE), we encapsulated a fluorescent peptide, resulting in anionic liposomes with an average size of 138.8 ± 34 nm and a charge of −18.2 ± 1.3 mV. After 2 h incubation with the peptide-encapsulated liposomes, 66% of corneal epithelial (hTCEpi) cells internalised the FITC-labelled peptide, demonstrating the ability of this formulation to effectively deliver peptide to hTCEpi cells. Additionally, lipoplexes (liposomes complexed with plasmid DNA) were also able to transfect hTCEpi cells, albeit at a modest level (8% of the cells). Here, we describe this novel anionic liposomal formulation intended to enhance the delivery of small cargo molecules in situ.
Universal arguments and their applications

We put forward a new type of computationally-sound proof systems, called universal-arguments, which are related but different from both CS-proofs (as defined by Micali, 2000) and arguments (as defined by Brassard et al., 1986). In particular, we adopt the instance-based prover-efficiency paradigm of CS-proofs, but follow the computational-soundness condition of argument systems (i.e., we consider only cheating strategies that are implementable by polynomial-size circuits). We show that universal-arguments can be constructed based on standard intractability assumptions that refer to polynomial-size circuits (rather than assumptions referring to subexponential-size circuits as used in the construction of CS-proofs). As an application of universal-arguments, we weaken the intractability assumptions used in the recent non-black-box zero-knowledge arguments of Barak (2001). Specifically, we only utilize intractability assumptions that refer to polynomial-size circuits (rather than assumptions referring to circuits of some "nice" super-polynomial size).
Impaired mental rotation in benign paroxysmal positional vertigo and acute vestibular neuritis

Vestibular processing is fundamental to our sense of orientation in space which is a core aspect of the representation of the self. Vestibular information is processed in a large subcortical–cortical neural network. Tasks requiring mental rotations of human bodies in space are known to activate neural regions within this network suggesting that vestibular processing is involved in the control of mental rotation. We studied whether mental rotation is impaired in patients suffering from two different forms of unilateral vestibular disorders (vestibular neuritis – VN – and Benign Paroxysmal positional Vertigo – BPPV) with respect to healthy matched controls (C). We used two mental rotation tasks in which participants were required to: (i) mentally rotate their own body in space (egocentric rotation) thus using vestibular processing to a large extent and (ii) mentally rotate human figures (allocentric rotation) thus using own body representations to a smaller degree. Reaction times and accuracy of responses showed that VN and BPPV patients were impaired in both tasks with respect to C. Significantly, the pattern of results was similar in the three groups suggesting that patients were actually performing the mental rotation without using a different strategy from the control individuals. These results show that dysfunctional vestibular inflow impairs mental rotation of both own body and human figures suggesting that unilateral acute disorders of the peripheral vestibular input massively affect the cerebral processes underlying mental rotations.
Increased Reactive Oxygen Species in Rostral Ventrolateral Medulla Contribute to Neural Mechanisms of Hypertension in Stroke-Prone Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats

Background—Oxidative stress increases in hypertension. The aim of this study was to determine whether reactive oxygen species (ROS) are increased in the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) in the brainstem, where the vasomotor center is located, in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP), and, if so, to determine whether the increased ROS contribute to neural mechanisms of hypertension in SHRSP. Methods and Results—We measured ROS levels in the RVLM of SHRSP and compared them with those in Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY). Thiobarbituric acid–reactive substances were increased in SHRSP compared with WKY. ROS were measured by electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy. The ESR signal decay rate in the RVLM of SHRSP was significantly increased compared with that in WKY, and this increase was abolished by dimethylthiourea (a hydroxyl radical scavenger). The increased ESR signal decay rate was reduced to the same extent in the presence of desferrioxamine, catalase, and Tiron, indicating that hydroxyl radicals are derived from superoxide anions and hydrogen peroxide. In addition, total superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in the RVLM was decreased in SHRSP compared with WKY. Furthermore, bilateral microinjection of tempol into the RVLM decreased blood pressure in SHRSP but not in WKY, and MnSOD overexpression in the RVLM of SHRSP decreased blood pressure and inhibited sympathetic nerve activity. Conclusions—These results suggest that superoxide anions in the RVLM, which generate hydroxyl radicals, are increased in SHRSP and contribute to the neural mechanisms of hypertension in SHRSP.
Venous Thromboembolism Pharmacy Intervention Management Program With an Active, Multifaceted Approach Reduces Preventable Venous Thromboembolism and Increases Appropriate Prophylaxis

Two concepts relating to venous thromboembolism (VTE) prevention have recently emerged—“appropriate” prophylaxis and “preventable” VTE. We evaluated whether a human alert, as part of a pharmacy intervention program, can increase appropriate prophylaxis and decrease preventable symptomatic VTE in hospitalized patients. This prospective study with retrospective data collection was conducted utilizing data from 1879 patients in 2006 as a control cohort. The intervention cohort data were from 1646 patients during 2007, after program implementation. The rate of appropriate prophylaxis increased from 23.8% in 2006 to 37.9% in 2007 (odds ratio 1.8; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.6-2.1; P < .0001). Preventable VTE incidence was reduced by 74% (95% CI = 44%-88%) from 18.6 to 4.9 per 1000 patient discharges in 2006 and 2007, respectively (P = .0006). In conclusion, a pharmacy-led multifaceted intervention can significantly increase the rates of appropriate prophylaxis and significantly reduce the incidence of preventable VTE in hospitalized patients.
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Association of the Serum Anti-chlamydial Antibodies with Tubal Infertility.

BACKGROUND Infertility is increasingly becoming a significant health problem in many areas of the world. The infection which is caused by Chlamydia trachomatis is a major cause of tubal factor infertility secondary to salpingitis. However, the data which pertains to infertility attributed to the C. trachomatis infection is limited in India. AIMS To evaluate the chlamydial infection in women who suffered from infertility and to investigate the possible role of the chlamydia serology as a screening test for tubal infertility. METHOD This study was aimed at evaluating the chlamydial infection in fifty women with primary infertility and at investigating the possible role of the chlamydial serology as a screening test for tubal infertility, by the detection of the anti-chlamydial IgM antibodies by using E.L. I.S. A. SETTING AND DESIGN The present prospective study was carried out at a tertiary care hospital in north India. RESULTS In this study, a high seropositivity (60%) for the antichlamydial antibody was observed. 52% females showed bilateral tubal blockage, while the most common site of the blockage was the ampullary portion (36%). CONCLUSION These findings highlighted a strong correlation between the tubal factor infertility and the antichlamydial antibodies. It also stressed on the need of the screening of infertile women for C. trachomatis with laboratory investigations, which could provide a rapid and specific diagnosis so that early therapeutic interventions could be instituted.
Predicting the effect of climate change on African trypanosomiasis: integrating epidemiology with parasite and vector biology

Climate warming over the next century is expected to have a large impact on the interactions between pathogens and their animal and human hosts. Vector-borne diseases are particularly sensitive to warming because temperature changes can alter vector development rates, shift their geographical distribution and alter transmission dynamics. For this reason, African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness), a vector-borne disease of humans and animals, was recently identified as one of the 12 infectious diseases likely to spread owing to climate change. We combine a variety of direct effects of temperature on vector ecology, vector biology and vector–parasite interactions via a disease transmission model and extrapolate the potential compounding effects of projected warming on the epidemiology of African trypanosomiasis. The model predicts that epidemics can occur when mean temperatures are between 20.7°C and 26.1°C. Our model does not predict a large-range expansion, but rather a large shift of up to 60 per cent in the geographical extent of the range. The model also predicts that 46–77 million additional people may be at risk of exposure by 2090. Future research could expand our analysis to include other environmental factors that influence tsetse populations and disease transmission such as humidity, as well as changes to human, livestock and wildlife distributions. The modelling approach presented here provides a framework for using the climate-sensitive aspects of vector and pathogen biology to predict changes in disease prevalence and risk owing to climate change.
Negative Word-of-Mouth by Dissatisfied Consumers: A Pilot Study

While marketing scholars have emphasized the importance of customer satisfaction, few studies have examined in detail consumers’ responses to dissatisfaction. This study examines correlates of one possible response—telling others about the dissatisfaction—and identifies variables that distinguish this response from others. Variables investigated include the nature of the dissatisfaction, perceptions of blame for the dissatisfaction, and perceptions of retailer responsiveness. Marketing management and consumer behavior research implications are discussed.
Importance of Hydrophobic Cavities in Allosteric Regulation of Formylglycinamide Synthetase: Insight from Xenon Trapping and Statistical Coupling Analysis

Formylglycinamide ribonucleotide amidotransferase (FGAR-AT) is a 140 kDa bi-functional enzyme involved in a coupled reaction, where the glutaminase active site produces ammonia that is subsequently utilized to convert FGAR to its corresponding amidine in an ATP assisted fashion. The structure of FGAR-AT has been previously determined in an inactive state and the mechanism of activation remains largely unknown. In the current study, hydrophobic cavities were used as markers to identify regions involved in domain movements that facilitate catalytic coupling and subsequent activation of the enzyme. Three internal hydrophobic cavities were located by xenon trapping experiments on FGAR-AT crystals and further, these cavities were perturbed via site-directed mutagenesis. Biophysical characterization of the mutants demonstrated that two of these three voids are crucial for stability and function of the protein, although being ∼20 Å from the active centers. Interestingly, correlation analysis corroborated the experimental findings, and revealed that amino acids lining the functionally important cavities form correlated sets (co-evolving residues) that connect these regions to the amidotransferase active center. It was further proposed that the first cavity is transient and allows for breathing motion to occur and thereby serves as an allosteric hotspot. In contrast, the third cavity which lacks correlated residues was found to be highly plastic and accommodated steric congestion by local adjustment of the structure without affecting either stability or activity.
Molecular Dynamics Simulation and Free Energy Calculation Studies of the Binding Mechanism of Allosteric Inhibitors with p38α MAP Kinase

p38 MAP kinase is a promising target for anti-inflammatory treatment. The classical kinase inhibitors imatinib and sorafenib as well as BI-1 and BIRB-796 were reported to bind in the DFG-out form of human p38α, known as type II or allosteric kinase inhibitors. Although DFG-out conformation has attracted great interest in the design of type II kinase inhibitors, the structural requirements for binding and mechanism of stabilization of DFG-out conformation remain unclear. As allosteric inhibition is important to the selectivity of kinase inhibitor, herein the binding modes of imatinib, sorafenib, BI-1 and BIRB-796 to p38α were investigated by molecular dynamics simulation. Binding free energies were calculated by molecular mechanics/Poisson-Boltzmann surface area method. The predicted binding affinities can give a good explanation of the activity difference of the studied inhibitors. Furthermore, binding free energies decomposition analysis and further structural analysis indicate that the dominating effect of van der Waals interaction drives the binding process, and key residues, such as Lys53, Gly71, Leu75, Ile84, Thr106, Met109, Leu167, Asp168, and Phe169, play important roles by forming hydrogen bond, salt bridge, and hydrophobic interactions with the DFG-out conformation of p38α. Finally, we also conducted a detailed analysis of BI-1, imatinib, and sorafenib binding to p38α in comparison with BIRB-796 exploited for gaining potency as well as selectivity of p38 inhibitors. These results are expected to be useful for future rational design of novel type II p38 inhibitors.
A real time cognitive radio testbed for physical and link layer experiments

Cognitive radios have been advanced as a technology for the opportunistic use of under-utilized spectrum. Cognitive radio is able to sense the spectrum and detect the presence of primary users. However, primary users of the spectrum are skeptical about the robustness of this sensing process and have raised concerns with regards to interference from cognitive radios. Furthermore, while a number of techniques have been advanced to aid the sensing process, none of these techniques have been verified in a practical system. To alleviate these concerns, a real time testbed is required, which can aid the comparison of these techniques and enable the measurement and evaluation of key interference and performance metrics. In this paper, we present such a testbed, which is based on the BEE2, a multi-FPGA emulation engine. The BEE2 can connect to 18 radio front-ends, which can be configured as primary or secondary users. Inherent parallelism of the FPGAs allows the simultaneous operation of multiple radios, which can communicate and exchange information via high speed low latency links
A signature of the donor star in the extra-galactic X-ray binary LMC X−2

Two nights of phase-resolved medium-resolution Very Large Telescope spectroscopy of the extra-galactic low-mass X-ray binary LMCX-2 have revealed a 0.32 +/- 0.02 d spectroscopic period in the radial velocity curve of the He II lambda 4686 emission line that we interpret as the orbital period. However, similar to previous findings, this radial velocity curve shows a longer term variation that is most likely due to the presence of a precessing accretion disc in LMCX-2. This is strengthened by He II lambda 4686 Doppler maps that show a bright spot that is moving from night to night. Furthermore, we detect narrow emission lines in the Bowen region of LMCX-2, with a velocity of K-em = 351 +/- 28 km s(-1), that we tentatively interpret as coming from the irradiated side of the donor star. Since K-em must be smaller than K-2, this leads to the first upper limit on the mass function of LMCX-2 of f(M-1) >= 0.86 M-circle dot (95 per cent confidence), and the first constraints on its system parameters.