Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A comparison of acoustic emission and vibration on bearing fault detection

Rolling element bearings are among the most common components in industrial rotating machinery. Condition monitoring technologies for bearing fault detection and diagnosis are critical to avoid machines from productivity reduction and emergency breakdown. Acoustic emission (AE) technology which detects the expanding of cracks in the fatigued material is able to monitor bearings before visual defects formed in contacting surfaces. This advantage may help the AE method identify the fault before the commonly used vibration method does. In this paper, the effectiveness of AE method on bearing diagnosis is compared with vibration method. The two methods were tested on the same bearing fault under three rotary speeds, and two kinds of signals were both processed by envelope analysis method. The results show that the quality of acoustic emission signal decreases more significantly than vibration signal when rotary speed slows down, and the attenuation of high frequency component of AE signal should be specially addressed before applying to industrial equipment.
Homeostasis in C. elegans sleep is characterized by two behaviorally and genetically distinct mechanisms

Biological homeostasis invokes modulatory responses aimed at stabilizing internal conditions. Using tunable photo- and mechano-stimulation, we identified two distinct categories of homeostatic responses during the sleep-like state of Caenorhabditis elegans (lethargus). In the presence of weak or no stimuli, extended motion caused a subsequent extension of quiescence. The neuropeptide Y receptor homolog, NPR-1, and an inhibitory neuropeptide known to activate it, FLP-18, were required for this process. In the presence of strong stimuli, the correlations between motion and quiescence were disrupted for several minutes but homeostasis manifested as an overall elevation of the time spent in quiescence. This response to strong stimuli required the function of the DAF-16/FOXO transcription factor in neurons, but not that of NPR-1. Conversely, response to weak stimuli did not require the function of DAF-16/FOXO. These findings suggest that routine homeostatic stabilization of sleep may be distinct from homeostatic compensation following a strong disturbance. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.7554/eLife.04380. 001
Clean and Productive? Evidence from the German Manufacturing Industry

We analyze the productivity effects of environmental (green) investment as well as of environmental expenditures and energy expenditures. For this purpose, we follow a production function approach where we account for these investment and expenditure categories as inputs. Based on a panel dataset for the German manufacturing industry between 1996 and 2002 we find that both environmental and energy expenditures do not contribute to production growth. In contrast, environmental investment positively impinges upon production growth as a productivity driver. We thus conclude that environmental regulation should stimulate investment in order to be compatible with economic goals such as productivity.
The Activity Theoretical Iterative Evaluation Method

This paper is an academic reflection on the Activity Theoretical Iterative Evaluation Method (ATIEM). ATIEM is based on Activity Theory (AT), and aims to concretise the abstract concepts of AT into a practical method for evaluation that can be applied by IS practitioners without requiring in-depth knowledge of the theory. We describe how the method was developed, its links to AT, and the application of ATIEM in a case study. We then discuss our reflections on the method, which are framed as contradictions. Additional issues and recommendations also emerged from the development and application of ATIEM, and these are addressed in the subsequent section of this paper, followed by some conclusions.
IVF-ICSI outcome in women operated on for bilateral endometriomas.

BACKGROUND The influence of previous conservative surgery for endometriomas on IVF-ICSI outcome is debated. Conflicting information emerging from the literature may be consequent to the fact that endometriomas are mostly monolateral. The contralateral intact ovary may adequately supply for the reduced function of the affected one. To clarify this point, we assess IVF-ICSI outcome in women operated on for bilateral endometriomas. METHODS Women selected for IVF-ICSI cycles who previously underwent bilateral endometriomas cystectomy were matched (1:2) for age and study period with patients who did not undergo prior ovarian surgery. RESULTS Sixty-eight cases and 136 controls were recruited. Women operated on for bilateral endometriotic ovarian cysts had a higher withdrawal rate for poor response (P < 0.001). In these patients, despite the use of higher doses of gonadotrophins, the number of follicles (P = 0.006), oocytes retrieved (P = 0.024) and embryos obtained (P = 0.024) were significantly lower. The clinical pregnancy rate per started cycle in cases and controls was 7% and 19% (P = 0.037) and the delivery rate per started cycle was 4% and 17%, respectively (P = 0.013). CONCLUSIONS IVF outcome is significantly impaired in women operated on for bilateral ovarian endometriomas.
Evaluation of CNCPS predictions of milk production of dairy cows fed alfalfa silage

The Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System (CNCPS) model has a mechanistic ruminal submodel that uses carbohydrate and protein degradation rates to predict the amount of feed that is fermented in the rumen and the amount that escapes undigested to the lower gut (Russell et al., 1992; Sniffen et al., 1992). The CNCPS has been modified as new information becomes available (Fox et al., 2003a). Overall, model validations indicated that it can provide realistic estimates of animal performance over a wide range of dietary ingredients (Fox et al., 2003a). However, preliminary analyses indicated the CNCPS did not provide realistic predictions of milk production when alfalfa silage was the sole dietary ingredient; it underpredicted nutritive value of diets based on alfalfa silage in lactating dairy cows with a mean bias as great as 50%.
Subset Optimization of Adaptive Coding and Modulation Schemes for Broadband Satellite Systems

The number of Coding and Modulation Schemes suggested for the two standards DVB-S2 and DVB-RCS (in its "advanced" version) is overdimensioned; a subset of schemes can be used and this only reduces the overall system performance negligibly. This paper presents the investigations performed on this rain fading mitigation technique, called Adaptive Coding and Modulation (ACM), supported by the DVB-S2 standard and shows how the sets of modulation and coding schemes, considered in the forward and in the return-links, can be changed to reduce terminal complexity and how this affects the overall system performance. It is shown that, by a careful selection of the ACM schemes, already with less than one fourth (7 or 5 out of 28) of the total number of schemes it is possible to get performance close to the optimum, but with a much lower terminal complexity.
Effects of Intravenous Pamidronate Treatment in Infants With Osteogenesis Imperfecta: Clinical and Histomorphometric Outcome

Clinical and histomorphometric outcome was compared between children with OI who had received pamidronate since infancy and age‐matched patients who had never received pamidronate. Pamidronate was associated with improved vertebral shape and mass, higher cortical width, increased cancellous bone volume, and suppressed bone turnover.
How many servers are best in a dual-priority FCFS system?

We ask the question, "for minimizing mean response time, which is preferable: one fast server of speed 1, or A; slow servers each of speed I/A:? " Our setting is the M/Gl/k system with two priority classes of customers, high priority and low priority, where G is a phase-type distribution. We find that multiple slow servers are often preferable — and we demonstrate exactly how many servers are preferable as a function of load and G. In addition, we find that the optimal number of servers with respect to the high priority jobs may be very different from that preferred by low priority jobs, and we characterize these preferences. We also evaluate the optimal number of servers with respect to overall mean response time, averaged over high and low priority jobs. Lastly, we ascertain the effect of the variability of high priority jobs on low priority jobs. This paper is the first to analyze an M/Gl/k system with two priority classes and a general phase-type distribution. Prior analyses of the M/Gl/k with two priority classes either require that G be exponential, or are approximations that work well when G is exponential, but are less reliable for more variable G. Our analytical method is very different from the prior literature: it combines the technique of dimensionality reduction (see [9]) with Neuts' technique for determining busy periods in multiserver systems [22]. Our analysis is approximate, but can be made as accurate as desired, and is verified via simulation.
Quantitative in silico Analysis of Neurotransmitter Pathways Under Steady State Conditions

The modeling of glutamate/GABA-glutamine cycling in the brain tissue involving astrocytes, glutamatergic and GABAergic neurons leads to a complex compartmentalized metabolic network that comprises neurotransmitter synthesis, shuttling, and degradation. Without advanced computational tools, it is difficult to quantitatively track possible scenarios and identify viable ones. In this article, we follow a sampling-based computational paradigm to analyze the biochemical network in a multi-compartment system modeling astrocytes, glutamatergic, and GABAergic neurons, and address some questions about the details of transmitter cycling, with particular emphasis on the ammonia shuttling between astrocytes and neurons, and the synthesis of transmitter GABA. More specifically, we consider the joint action of the alanine-lactate shuttle, the branched chain amino acid shuttle, and the glutamine-glutamate cycle, as well as the role of glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) activity. When imposing a minimal amount of bound constraints on reaction and transport fluxes, a preferred stoichiometric steady state equilibrium requires an unrealistically high reductive GDH activity in neurons, indicating the need for additional bound constants which were included in subsequent computer simulations. The statistical flux balance analysis also suggests a stoichiometrically viable role for leucine transport as an alternative to glutamine for replenishing the glutamate pool in neurons.
Trade, transport and trouble: managing invasive species pathways in an era of globalization

Summary 1 Humans have traded and transported alien species for millennia with two notable step-changes: the end of the Middle Ages and beginning of the Industrial Revolution. However, in recent decades the world has entered a new phase in the magnitude and diversity of biological invasions: the Era of Globalization. This Special Profile reviews the links between the main drivers of globalization and biological invasions and examines state-of-the-art approaches to pathway risk assessment to illustrate new opportunities for managing invasive species. 2 Income growth is a primary driver of globalization and a clear association exists between Gross Domestic Product and the richness of alien floras and faunas for many regions of the world. In many cases, the exposure of these economies to trade is highlighted by the significant role of merchandise imports in biological invasions, especially for island ecosystems. 3 Post-1950, technical and logistic improvements have accelerated the ease with which commodities are transported across the globe and hindered the traceability of goods and the ease of intercepting pests. New sea, land and air links in international trade and human transport have established novel pathways for the spread of alien species. Increasingly, the science advances underpinning invasive species management must move at the speed of commerce. 4 Increasing transport networks and demand for commodities have led to pathway risk assessments becoming the frontline in the prevention of biological invasions. The diverse routes of introduction arising from contaminant, stowaway, corridor and unaided pathways, in both aquatic and terrestrial biomes are complex. Nevertheless, common features enable comparable approaches to risk assessment. By bringing together spatial data on climate suitability, habitat availability and points of entry, as well a demographic models that include species dispersal (both natural and human-mediated) and measures of propagule pressure, it is possible to generate risk maps highlighting potential invasion hotspots that can inform prevention strategies. 5 Synthesis and applications. To date, most attempts to model pathways have focused on describing the likelihood of invader establishment. Few have modelled explicit management strategies such as optimal detection and inspection strategies and assessments of the effectiveness of different management measures. A future focus in these areas will ensure research informs response.
Source (or Part of the following Source): Type Article Title the Role of Consciousness in Cognitive Control and Decision Making Author(s) the Role of Consciousness in Cognitive Control and Decision Making

Copyright It is not permitted to download or to forward/distribute the text or part of it without the consent of the author(s) and/or copyright holder(s), other than for strictly personal, individual use, unless the work is under an open content licence (like Creative Commons). UvA-DARE is a service provided by the library of the University of Amsterdam (http://dare.uva.nl) Here we review studies on the complexity and strength of unconscious information processing. We focus on empirical evidence that relates awareness of information to cognitive control processes (e.g., response inhibition, conflict resolution, and task-switching), the lifetime of information maintenance (e.g., working memory) and the possibility to integrate multiple pieces of information across space and time. Overall, the results that we review paint a picture of local and specific effects of unconscious information on various (high-level) brain regions, including areas in the prefrontal cortex. Although this neural activation does not elicit any conscious experience, it is functional and capable of influencing many perceptual, cognitive (control) and decision-related processes, sometimes even for relatively long periods of time. However, recent evidence also points out interesting dissociations between conscious and unconscious information processing when it comes to the duration, flexibility and the strategic use of that information for complex operations and decision-making. Based on the available evidence, we conclude that the role of task-relevance of subliminal information and meta-cognitive factors in unconscious cognition need more attention in future work.
The endemic flora in the south of the Iberian Peninsula: taxonomic composition, biological spectrum, pollination, reproductive mode and dispersal

Summary The taxonomical composition and four ecological characteristics (life form, seed-dispersal, pollination and reproductive mode) of the 553 endemic species occurring in the south of the Iberian Peninsula have been investigated. A comparative analysis of the results reveals that this endemic flora does not comply with the general patterns previously observed in local floras, Mediterranean regional floras and floras of temperate latitudes. Predominant life forms are chamaephytes (45%) and hemicryptophytes (33%). By contrast, therophytes (11%) and phanerophytes (1%) are relatively infrequent. This spectrum of life forms mirrors the altitudinal distribution of the endemic species, their seed-dispersal strategy and the type of phytocoenoses in which they occur. As far seed-dispersal is concerned, 44% of the endemic species lack any noteworthy adaptive feature. However, the results clearly suggest that this limitation in their disseminative potential has only encouraged endemicity among the therophytes inhabiting lowlands. Among chamaephytes and hemicryptophytes of medium and high altitude, there is a relatively high frequency of exozoochory and anemochory, an adaptation that has contributed to the survival of small plant populations. 91% of the endemic species are pollinated by animals (insects), and only 3 species are dioecious. The dichotomies that the above mentioned characteristics produce (herbaceous vs woody life form, animal-assisted vs abiotic seed-dispersal, animal-assisted vs abiotic pollination and dioecious vs hermaphrodite reproductive mode), have been used to plot statistically significant associations. These are three: Pollination mode is linked with the seed-dispersal strategy, life form with pollination mode, and pollination mode with the reproductive mode. These associations contrast distinctly with results of previous surveys on whole floras, a contrast which makes the singularity of the endemic flora of the Southern Iberian peninsula even more remarkable.
Relating Centromeric Topography in Fixed Human Chromosomes to α-Satellite DNA and CENP-B Distribution

Despite extensive analyses on the centromere and its associated proteins, detailed studies of centromeric DNA structure have provided limited information about its topography in condensed chromatin. We have developed a method with correlative fluorescence light microscopy and atomic force microscopy that investigates the physical and structural organization of α-satellite DNA sequences in the context of its associated protein, CENP-B, on human metaphase chromosome topography. Comparison of centromeric DNA and protein distribution patterns in fixed homologous chromosomes indicates that CENP-B and α-satellite DNA are distributed distinctly from one another and relative to observed centromeric ridge topography. Our approach facilitates correlated studies of multiple chromatin components comprising higher-order structures of human metaphase chromosomes.
Association of Increased Epicardial Adipose Tissue Thickness With Adverse Cardiovascular Outcomes in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation

AbstractThe thickness of epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) was reported to be highly associated with the incidence and severity of atrial fibrillation (AF). This study was conducted to analyze the ability of EAT thickness in predicting adverse cardiovascular (CV) events in AF.In 190 persistent AF patients, we performed a comprehensive transthoracic echocardiographic examination with assessment of EAT thickness. The definition of CV events included CV mortality, hospitalization for heart failure, myocardial infarction, and stroke.There were 69 CV events including 19 CV deaths, 32 hospitalizations for heart failure, 3 myocardial infarctions, and 15 strokes during a mean follow-up of 29 (25th–75th percentile: 17–36) months. The multivariable analysis demonstrates that chronic heart failure, increased left ventricular (LV) mass index and the ratio of transmitral E-wave velocity to early diastolic mitral annulus velocity, decreased body mass index, and increased EAT thickness (per 1-mm increase, odds ratio 1.224, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.096–1.368, P < 0.001) were associated with adverse CV events. Additionally, the addition of EAT thickness to a model containing CHA2DS2-VASc score, left atrial volume index, and LV systolic and diastolic function significantly improved the values in predicting CV events (global &khgr;2 increase 14.65, P < 0.001 and integrated discrimination improvement 0.10, 95% CI 0.04–0.16, P < 0.001). In AF, EAT thickness was useful in predicting adverse CV events. Additionally, EAT thickness could provide incremental value for CV outcome prediction over traditional clinical and echocardiographic parameters in AF.
Short term treatment with lithium carbonate as adjunct to radioiodine treatment for long-lasting Graves' hyperthyroidism.

OBJECTIVE Lithium carbonate is primarily used for the treatment of patients with bipolar affective disorders. Initial treatment of Graves' hyperthyroidism (GHT) with antithyroid drugs (ATD) has limitations at over 50% of treated patients because of significant side effects and relatively high relapses of the disease after drugs withdrawal. Till now, the influence of LiCO₃on RIT outcome was mainly studied in patients with recent onset of GHT, and results were contradicted. Meta-analysis of case-control studies showed higher rated hypothyroidism in patients with mood disorders treated with LiCO₃(121/869) than in controls (10/578). Although in a small number of patients (n=28) with long-lasting GHT, preliminary results of ours showed that ¹³¹I treatment with LiCO₃for 7 days significantly improved the efficacy of RIT versus the non-LiCO₃treated patients (P<0.001). Lithium treated patients were cured faster (12 of 13 patients were cured after one month) than those treated only with ¹³¹I (8 patients were cured after one and 11/15 patients after 12 months). Fewer patients treated with ¹³¹I and LiCO₃had persistent hyperthyroidism than those treated with ¹³¹I alone. There were no toxic effects of LiCO₃during 7 days treatment. CONCLUSION These observations indicate of that short-term treatment with LiCO₃in GHT patients as adjunct to ¹³¹I-NaI improves the efficacy of RIT, prevents transient exacerbation of hyperthyroidism, early induction of hypothyroidism and does not worsen ophthalmopathy.
Anti‐obesity efficacy of LH‐21, a cannabinoid CB1 receptor antagonist with poor brain penetration, in diet‐induced obese rats

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Peripheral blockade of cannabinoid CB1 receptors has been proposed as a safe and effective therapy against obesity, putatively devoid of the adverse psychiatric side effects of centrally acting CB1 receptor antagonists. In this study we analysed the effects of LH‐21, a peripherally acting neutral cannabinoid receptor antagonist with poor brain penetration, in an animal model of diet‐induced obesity.
Increased bronchial responsiveness to exercise as a risk factor for symptomatic asthma: findings from a longitudinal population study of children and adolescents.

The prevalence of asthma seems to be on the increase and risk factors are not well-established. To investigate the relationship between asymptomatic increased bronchial responsiveness to exercise (BRE) and subsequent development of asthma, we studied a population sample of children and adolescents, aged 7-17 yrs at enrollment, examined twice 6 yrs apart (54 and 68%, respectively, of the original sample participated in the two examinations). Complete information was available for 383 subjects (191 males and 192 females). Case history and questionnaire data were obtained and were used to assess the presence or absence of symptomatic asthma. Exercise testing, performed at enrolment only, consisted of steady running on a 10% sloping treadmill for 6 min in a climate chamber. BRE was recorded as percentage fall in forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) from pre-exercise FEV1, within 15 min after exercise. Twenty subjects (5%) had asthma at enrolment, whereas 58 subjects (15%) had current asthma (i.e. symptoms within the preceding 12 months) at the time of follow-up, of whom 40 were asymptomatic at enrolment (new asthma). In general, increased BRE at enrolment was significantly associated with symptomatic asthma at follow-up. Analysing the data for subjects who were asymptomatic at enrolment (n=363), showed that new asthma at follow-up was not predicted by increased BRE at enrolment, whether BRE was evaluated as a continuous (R2=0.06, p=0.13) or dichotomous (cut-off: BRE =10% decline in FEV1; odds ratio (OR) 0.8 (0.4-1.2); p=0.11) variable. However, the data do not exclude the possibility that asymptomatic subjects with BRE >15% have an increased risk for subsequent development of asthma. The findings of the present study suggest that increased bronchial responsiveness to exercise in asymptomatic children and adolescents is not a strong predictor for subsequent development of symptomatic asthma. Further studies, preferably of larger samples, are needed to confirm these findings.