Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Structural properties of impact ices accreted on aircraft structures

The structural properties of ice accretions formed on aircraft surfaces are studied. The overall objectives are to measure basic structural properties of impact ices and to develop finite element analytical procedures for use in the design of all deicing systems. The Icing Research Tunnel (IRT) was used to produce simulated natural ice accretion over a wide range of icing conditions. Two different test apparatus were used to measure each of the three basic mechanical properties: tensile, shear, and peeling. Data was obtained on both adhesive shear strength of impact ices and peeling forces for various icing conditions. The influences of various icing parameters such as tunnel air temperature and velocity, icing cloud drop size, material substrate, surface temperature at ice/material interface, and ice thickness were studied. A finite element analysis of the shear test apparatus was developed in order to gain more insight in the evaluation of the test data. A comparison with other investigators was made. The result shows that the adhesive shear strength of impact ice typically varies between 40 and 50 psi, with peak strength reaching 120 psi and is not dependent on the kind of substrate used, the thickness of accreted ice, and tunnel temperature below 4 C.
Ursodeoxycholic acid attenuates colonic epithelial secretory function

• Although diarrhoeal diseases represent a significant health and economic burden to society, therapeutic options remain limited. • While several bile acids are known to stimulate epithelial Cl− secretion, the major driving force for fluid secretion in the intestine, the effects of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) on epithelial transport function are not well described. • We report that in contrast to other bile acids, UDCA exerts anti‐secretory actions on colonic epithelial cells in vitro. • In contrast, in vivo administration of UDCA enhances epithelial secretory function, an affect we ascribe to being due to its bacterial metabolism to lithocholic acid. In keeping with this hypothesis, in vivo administration of a metabolically stable analogue of UDCA, 6α‐methyl‐UDCA, was anti‐secretory. • Our findings reveal novel anti‐secretory actions of UDCA and suggest that metabolically stable analogues of bile acid may be useful for development as a new class of anti‐diarrhoeal drug.
Complement receptors CD21 and CD35 in humoral immunity

Summary: The complement system is a family of proteins that is involved in both innate and adaptive immunity. Complement receptors CD21 and CD35, which recognize activated products of C3 and C4, are predominantly expressed on B cells and follicular dendritic cells (FDCs) in the mouse. In this review, we focus on the role of FDC‐expressed CD21 and CD35 in humoral immunity. They are the principle receptors for uptake and retention of immune complexes. In their absence, memory B‐cell survival is markedly impaired. This is likely because of the lack of antigen but could also reflect a role for complement C3d ligand. How antigen is transported to FDCs remains an open question. In recent unpublished work using multiphoton intravital imaging, we found that small protein antigens presented in the lymph drain rapidly into B‐cell follicles and are taken up by FDCs in a complement‐dependent manner.
Computation of differential operators in wavelet coordinates

In [Found. Comput. Math., 2 (2002), pp. 203-245], Cohen, Dahmen, and DeVore proposed an adaptive wavelet algorithm for solving general operator equations. Assuming that the operator defines a boundedly invertible mapping between a Hilbert space and its dual, and that a Riesz basis of wavelet type for this Hilbert space is available, the operator equation is transformed into an equivalent well-posed infinite matrix-vector system. This system is solved by an iterative method, where each application of the infinite stiffness matrix is replaced by an adaptive approximation. It was shown that if the errors of the best linear combinations from the wavelet basis with N terms are O(N -s ) for some s > 0, which is determined by the Besov regularity of the solution and the order of the wavelet basis, then approximations yielded by the adaptive method with N terms also have errors of O(N -s ). Moreover, their computation takes only 0(N) operations, provided s s, assuming that each entry of the stiffness matrix is exactly available at unit cost. Generally these entries have to be approximated using numerical quadrature. In this paper, restricting ourselves to differential operators, we develop a numerical integration scheme that computes these entries giving an additional error that is consistent with the approximation error, whereas in each column the average computational cost per entry is 0(1). As a consequence, we can conclude that the adaptive wavelet algorithm has optimal computational complexity.
Dynamic properties of pH-dependent structural organization of the amyloidogenic β-protein (1-40)

The structural organization of the amyloidogenic β-proteins containing 40 amino acid residues (Aβ40) was studied by the high temperature molecular dynamics simulations in the acidic (pH~3) and basic (pH~8) pH regions. The obtained data suggest that the central Ala21-Gly29 segment of Aβ40, can adopt folded and partially unfolded structures. At the basic pH, this segment forms folded structures, stabilized by electrostatic interactions and hydrogen bonds. At the acidic pH, it forms partially unfolded structures. Two other segments flanking to the central segment exhibit the propensity to adopt unstable inter-converting α-helical, 310-helical and turn-like structures. One of these segments is comprised of the Ala30-Val36 residues at both of the considered pHs. The second segment is comprised of the Glu11-Phe20 at the basic pH and of the Glu11-Val24 residues at the acidic pHs. The revealed pH-dependent structuration of the Aβ40 allowed us to suggest a possible scenario for initial Aβ aggregation. According to this scenario, the occurrence of the partially unfolded states of the Ala21-Gly29 segment plays main role in the Aβ oligomerization process.
Anisotropy Signature in Extended Images From Reverse-Time Migration

Reverse-time migration can accurately image complex geologic structures in anisotropic media. Extended images at selected locations in the earth, i.e. at commonimage-point gathers (CIPs), carry enough information to characterize the angle-dependent illumination and to provide measurements for migration velocity analysis. Furthermore, inaccurate anisotropy leaves a distinctive signature in CIPs, which can be used to evaluate anisotropy through techniques similar to the ones used in conventional wavefield tomography.
Dissociable functions of reward inference in the lateral prefrontal cortex and the striatum

In a complex and uncertain world, how do we select appropriate behavior? One possibility is that we choose actions that are highly reinforced by their probabilistic consequences (model-free processing). However, we may instead plan actions prior to their actual execution by predicting their consequences (model-based processing). It has been suggested that the brain contains multiple yet distinct systems involved in reward prediction. Several studies have tried to allocate model-free and model-based systems to the striatum and the lateral prefrontal cortex (LPFC), respectively. Although there is much support for this hypothesis, recent research has revealed discrepancies. To understand the nature of the reward prediction systems in the LPFC and the striatum, a series of single-unit recording experiments were conducted. LPFC neurons were found to infer the reward associated with the stimuli even when the monkeys had not yet learned the stimulus-reward (SR) associations directly. Striatal neurons seemed to predict the reward for each stimulus only after directly experiencing the SR contingency. However, the one exception was “Exclusive Or” situations in which striatal neurons could predict the reward without direct experience. Previous single-unit studies in monkeys have reported that neurons in the LPFC encode category information, and represent reward information specific to a group of stimuli. Here, as an extension of these, we review recent evidence that a group of LPFC neurons can predict reward specific to a category of visual stimuli defined by relevant behavioral responses. We suggest that the functional difference in reward prediction between the LPFC and the striatum is that while LPFC neurons can utilize abstract code, striatal neurons can code individual associations between stimuli and reward but cannot utilize abstract code.
Spatial Throughput Maximization of Wireless Powered Communication Networks

Wireless charging is a promising way to power wireless nodes' transmissions. This paper considers new dual-function access points (APs), which are able to support the energy/information transmission to/from wireless nodes. We focus on a large-scale wireless powered communication network (WPCN), and use stochastic geometry to analyze the wireless nodes' performance tradeoff between energy harvesting and information transmission. We study two cases with battery-free and battery-deployed wireless nodes. For both cases, we consider a harvest-then-transmit protocol by partitioning each time frame into a downlink (DL) phase for energy transfer, and an uplink (UL) phase for information transfer. By jointly optimizing frame partition between the two phases and the wireless nodes' transmit power, we maximize the wireless nodes' spatial throughput subject to a successful information transmission probability constraint. For the battery-free case, we show that the wireless nodes prefer to choose small transmit power to obtain large transmission opportunity. For the battery-deployed case, we first study an ideal infinite-capacity battery scenario for wireless nodes, and show that the optimal charging design is not unique, due to the sufficient energy stored in the battery. We then extend to the practical finite-capacity battery scenario. Although the exact performance is difficult to be obtained analytically, it is shown to be upper and lower bounded by those in the infinite-capacity battery scenario and the battery-free case, respectively. Finally, we provide numerical results to corroborate our study.
Predictors of Emotional Distress After Stroke

Background and Purpose— The aim of this prospective longitudinal study was to identify factors relating to emotional distress in the first 6 months after stroke in a sample including patients with aphasia. Methods— One hundred patients who were in hospital at 1 month after stroke were recruited and assessed on measures of communication impairment (Sheffield Screening Test), personal activities of daily living (Barthel Index), and emotional distress (Visual Analogue Self-Esteem Scale). Demographic and stroke characteristics were recorded. Patients (n=92) were reassessed on the same measures 6 months after stroke, in addition to assessing extended activities of daily living (Nottingham Extended Activities of Daily Living Scale). Results— Patients were aged 44 to 86 years (51 men), and 21 were classified as having aphasia. Multiple linear regression showed that expressive communication impairment and dependence in personal activities of daily living were significant predictors of emotional distress at 1 month after stroke (R2=24%). Expressive communication impairment, emotional distress at 1 month after stroke, and having a more severe stroke were significant predictors of emotional distress at 6 months after stroke (R2=55%). Distress levels were similar at 1 month and 6 months after stroke. Demographic characteristics and side of lesion were unrelated to distress. Conclusions— Expressive communication impairment and level of disability in personal activities of daily living were related to distress. Distress was persistent in the first 6 months after stroke. Appropriate treatment strategies need to be developed and evaluated for patients who have communication impairments.
Numerical Analysis and Experimental Results by Silicon-Based MHz Ultrasonic Nozzles to Product of Monodisperse Droplets

Monodisperse de-ionized water droplets 4.5 μm in diameter have been produced in ultrasonic atomization using micro electro-mechanical system (MEMS)-based three-Fourier horn 1 MHz silicon nozzles. The required electrical drive power and voltage are 15 mW and 6.5 V, respectively. The nozzles measure 1.80 x 0.21 x 0.11 cm3 and can accommodate flow rate of 2 to 300 μl/min. As liquid enters the 200 μm x 200 μm central channel of the nozzle, a curved thin liquid film is maintained at the nozzle tip that vibrates longitudinally at the nozzle resonance frequency, resulting in formation of standing capillary waves on the free surface of the liquid film. As the tip vibration amplitude exceeds a threshold (critical or onset amplitude), the standing capillary waves become unstable (temporal instability) and a spray of monodisperse droplets (mist) is produced. The experimental results of resonance frequency, droplet diameter, voltage requirement and critical or onset amplitude support the predictions of the three-dimensional finite element simulation and the linear theory of capillary wave atomization mechanism.
Sourcing performance satisfaction: A study of the critical success factors and firm-related characteristics

Abstract The aim of this paper is to identify the critical success factors (CSFs) of production sourcing for small and medium-sized clothing firms in Hong Kong, and to explore the effects of these factors and firm-related characteristics on satisfaction with production sourcing performance. A two-stage methodology was applied. In the first stage, a multiple-case study of ten small and medium-sized clothing firms in Hong Kong was undertaken to identify the CSFs and critical performance indicators of production sourcing. In the second stage, a questionnaire-based survey was conducted among 104 small and medium-sized clothing firms to test the developed hypotheses. Based on the findings, the two most significant success factors of production sourcing are the sustaining of long-term relationships with production providers and choosing production providers carefully. The two aspects of production sourcing performance that are most likely to lead to satisfaction are on-time delivery and better quality. The results show that the level of satisfaction with sourcing performance is influenced by certain CSFs and firm-related characteristics.
Don't ask, they won't tell: the quality of adolescent health screening in five practice settings.

OBJECTIVES This study examined the extent to which comprehensive, age-appropriate adolescent health screening is undertaken in the clinical setting and whether the extent of such screening varies by setting. METHODS Charts of adolescents 13 to 17 years old (n = 788) were randomly selected from five practice settings in Minneapolis, Minn. Each was assessed for the number of biomedical and sociobehavioral health risks screened. RESULTS In no practice setting was there screening to the level recommended. The two teen clinics screened more extensively for behavioral, psychosocial, substance use and sexual behavior risks than the community family practice setting, which, in turn, screened more extensively than either the private family practice or private pediatric practice settings, which did not differ from each other. Age differences and gender accounted for only small amounts of variance in total number of health risks screened, whereas differences among practice settings accounted for a larger amount. CONCLUSIONS Results suggest substantive deficiencies in private practice settings' implementation of preventive care screening protocols for adolescents.
Design of stabilizing switching control laws for discrete- and continuous-time linear systems using piecewise-linear Lyapunov functions

In this paper, the stability of switched linear systems is investigated using piecewise linear Lyapunov functions. In particular, we identify classes of switching sequences that result in stable trajectories. Given a switched linear system, we present a systematic methodology for computing switching laws that guarantee stability based on the matrices of the system. In the proposed approach, we assume that each individual subsystem is stable and admits a piecewise linear Lyapunov function. Based on these Lyapunov functions, we compose 'global' Lyapunov functions that guarantee stability of the switched linear system. A large class of stabilizing switching sequences for switched linear systems is characterized by computing conic partitions of the state space. The approach is applied to both discrete-time and continuous-time switched linear systems.
Genome-Wide Analysis of Soybean HD-Zip Gene Family and Expression Profiling under Salinity and Drought Treatments

Background Homeodomain-leucine zipper (HD-Zip) proteins, a group of homeobox transcription factors, participate in various aspects of normal plant growth and developmental processes as well as environmental responses. To date, no overall analysis or expression profiling of the HD-Zip gene family in soybean (Glycine max) has been reported. Methods and Findings An investigation of the soybean genome revealed 88 putative HD-Zip genes. These genes were classified into four subfamilies, I to IV, based on phylogenetic analysis. In each subfamily, the constituent parts of gene structure and motif were relatively conserved. A total of 87 out of 88 genes were distributed unequally on 20 chromosomes with 36 segmental duplication events, indicating that segmental duplication is important for the expansion of the HD-Zip family. Analysis of the Ka/Ks ratios showed that the duplicated genes of the HD-Zip family basically underwent purifying selection with restrictive functional divergence after the duplication events. Analysis of expression profiles showed that 80 genes differentially expressed across 14 tissues, and 59 HD-Zip genes are differentially expressed under salinity and drought stress, with 20 paralogous pairs showing nearly identical expression patterns and three paralogous pairs diversifying significantly under drought stress. Quantitative real-time RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis of six paralogous pairs of 12 selected soybean HD-Zip genes under both drought and salinity stress confirmed their stress-inducible expression patterns. Conclusions This study presents a thorough overview of the soybean HD-Zip gene family and provides a new perspective on the evolution of this gene family. The results indicate that HD-Zip family genes may be involved in many plant responses to stress conditions. Additionally, this study provides a solid foundation for uncovering the biological roles of HD-Zip genes in soybean growth and development.
Creating a Digital Fingerprint From Web Browsing History Alone

Humans are unique creatures. Everything we do is slightly different from everyone else. Even though many times these differences are so minute they are not even noticed. This is exactly the same for web browsing. The way that each human browses the web is unique. Each websites we visit as well as the order in which we visit them is unique. Now wouldn't be nice if this uniqueness was not just overlooked and was actually used to benefit the user's browsing experience. In this research we compare different representations of browsing histories to find which one can best be used to represent this uniqueness. Then by using machine learning algorithms this research will attempt to create a fingerprint from which future web-browsing could be used to identify the user who created it.
The right thing to do: patients' views and experiences of telling partners about chlamydia.

BACKGROUND Partner notification for patients diagnosed with chlamydia is a strategy recommended to interrupt transmission of infection, and patients are commonly encouraged by health practitioners to contact their sexual partners themselves. Few studies, however, have ascertained the psychosocial impact of the chlamydia diagnosis and its effect on partner notification. METHODS In-depth telephone interviews were conducted with 25 women and 15 men aged 18-55 years, diagnosed with chlamydia from clinics in Victoria, Australian Capital Territory and Queensland. Reactions to chlamydia diagnosis, as well as reasons for, and feelings about, telling their sexual partners about this infection were explored. RESULTS Common reactions to initial diagnosis were surprise, shock and shame. The majority of both men and women saw partner notification as a social duty. Some cited concerns about their own health and the health of others as a reason for telling partners and ex-partners about the diagnosis. An infrequent reason offered for partner notification was to confront a partner to clarify fidelity. Reasons for not contacting a partner were typically fear of reaction or a lack of contact details. Although participants reported sexual partners exhibiting a variety of reactions when told of the diagnosis, results showed that for almost everyone, the experience of notifying their partner was better than they had expected. CONCLUSIONS Findings suggested that partner notification by people diagnosed with chlamydia is achievable but that many require support from their health practitioner to achieve the skills and confidence necessary during this difficult time.
Antiviral Therapy Decreases Hepatic Venous Pressure Gradient in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C and Advanced Fibrosis

BACKGROUNDS:Antiviral therapy (AVT) may improve liver histology in patients with advanced viral hepatitis but its effect on portal pressure remains unknown.AIM:This study was aimed to evaluate the influence of antiviral therapy (AVT) on hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) in hepatitis C virus infected patients with portal hypertension.METHODS:Twenty compensated patients with chronic hepatitis C, fibrosis stage 3 or 4 and HVPG > 5 mmHg received PEG-IFN α2b plus ribavirin. Every patient underwent liver biopsy and portal pressure measurements before and immediately after AT. Biopsies were evaluated according to METAVIR score.RESULTS:HVPG significantly dropped in all but one treated patient, with a mean (SD) reduction of 28.2 (12)% [13.8 (5.6) Vs. 10.2 (3.8) mmHg, p = 0.005]. The percentage of HVPG decrease was significantly greater in patients who achieved a virological end of treatment response [26.2 (12.5)% Vs. 12.7 (8.5)%, p = 0.05] and in those with a decrease of at least 2 points in the grade of inflammation [35.7 (4.5)% Vs. 22.1 (9.5)%, p = 0.015]. Nine out of 11 patients with baseline HVPG ≥ 12 mmHg showed a decrease greater than 20% (3/11) or under the 12 mmHg threshold (6/11). CONCLUSIONS:AVT reduces HVPG in compensated patients with advanced hepatitis C (fibrosis stage 3 or 4) and portal hypertension.
Salivary fistula: Blue dye testing as part of an algorithm for early diagnosis

Orocutaneous and pharyngocutaneous fistula (OPCF) is a debilitating complication of head and neck surgery for squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), resulting in delayed adjuvant treatment and prolonged hospitalization. As yet, there is no established test that can help in prompt and accurate diagnosis of OPCF. This study aims to determine the accuracy of bedside blue dye testing and its role as part of an algorithm for early diagnosis. We also analyze the risk factors predisposing to OPCF.