Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Influence of post-consumer recycled asphalt shingles on hot mix asphalt containing fractionated recycled asphalt pavement

As the cost of construction materials continue to rise and place financial constraints on transportation agencies, engineers are looking for sustainable methods that minimize construction costs and optimize the selection of materials used in asphalt pavements. Two methods that are beginning to receive considerable attention for highway construction are adding post-consumer recycled asphalt shingles (RAS) to hot mix asphalt (HMA) and increasing the percentage of reclaimed asphalt pavement being added to HMA through the process of fractionation. The objective of this research is to characterize the effects of post-consumer RAS on the laboratory performance of HMA and its compatibility with fractionated recycled asphalt pavement (FRAP). In the summer of 2009, a field demonstration project was conducted by the Illinois Tollway on the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90). Eight mix designs containing zero or five percent RAS and varying percentages of FRAP were developed and placed in the pavement shoulder. Production and laboratory prepared samples of the mixes were obtained for dynamic modulus, flow number, moisture sensitivity, beam fatigue, and fracture energy tests in addition to binder extraction and subsequent characterization. From the dynamic modulus testing, master curves were constructed to characterize the stress/strain response of the HMA samples. From the extracted binders, a suite of Superpave tests was conducted at different temperatures and frequencies to build master curves for analyzing how the addition of RAS binder affected the rheological properties of the mix binder blend. A statistical analysis was performed on the dynamic modulus and flow number test results to determine how the behavior of the asphalt materials containing RAS differed from the behavior of the
Falling asleep: the determinants of sleep latency

Background: Difficulty falling asleep (prolonged sleep latency) is a frequently reported problem in school-aged children. Aims: This study aimed to describe the distribution of sleep latency and factors that influence its duration. Methods: 871 children of European mothers were recruited at birth. 591 (67.9%) children took part in the follow-up at 7 years of age. Sleep and daytime activity were measured objectively by an actigraph worn for 24 h. Results: Complete sleep data were available for 519 children (87.8%) with a mean age of 7.3 years (SD 0.2). Median sleep latency was 26 minutes (interquartile range 13–42). Higher mean daytime activity counts were associated with a decrease in sleep latency (−1.2 minutes per 102 movement count per minute, p = 0.05). Time spent in sedentary activity was associated with an increase in sleep latency (3.1 minutes per hour of sedentary activity, p = 0.01). Conclusions: These findings emphasise the importance of physical activity for children, not only for fitness, cardiovascular health and weight control, but also for promoting good sleep.
Young Investigator Program: Quasi-Liquid Grain Boundary Films in Refractory Metals

Abstract : Nanoscale intergranular "glassy" films often control the fabrication and mechanical properties of high-temperature structural ceramics. This AFOSR Young Investigator program unequivocally demonstrated the high-temperature formation of analogous liquid-like grain boundary (GB) films in metallic refractory alloys. The bulk computational thermodynamic (CalPhaD) methods were extended to GBs, predicting the onset of GB disordering at as low as 60-85% of the bulk solidus line. Combined experimental and modeling studies of both W and Mo based systems unambiguously demonstrated that the mysterious solid-state activated sintering is due to the increased mass transport in impurity-based liquid-like GB films that are thermodynamic stabilized below the bulk solidus line. Determining this solid-state activated sintering mechanism solved an outstanding scientific problem that has puzzled the materials community for >50 years. Subsequently, Ni-doped Mo was selected for systematical evaluation via characterizing well-quenched specimens and thermodynamic modeling. Finally, "GB `phase' diagrams" were developed as a new materials science tool to control microstructural evolution and forecast high-temperature properties; their correctness has been quantitatively validated by measuring GB diffusivities, direct HRTEM and Auger characterizations, and atomistic simulations. The developed high-temperature interfacial thermodynamic models can be further extended to more complex multicomponent metals and ceramics in future studies.
Activation of the Annexin A1 Pathway Underlies the Protective Effects Exerted by Estrogen in Polymorphonuclear Leukocytes

Objective—The anti-inflammatory properties of the female sex hormone estrogen have been linked to a reduced incidence of cardiovascular disease. In the present study, we addressed whether estrogen could activate vasculoprotective mechanisms via annexin A1 (AnxA1) mobilization in human polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs). Methods and Results—Using whole-blood flow cytometry, we demonstrated that premenopausal women expressed higher levels of surface AnxA1 on circulating PMNs compared with males. This correlated with high plasma estrogen during the menstrual cycle. The addition of estrogen in vitro to male PMNs induced rapid mobilization of AnxA1, optimal at 5 ng/mL and a 30-minute incubation period; this effect was abolished in the presence of the estrogen receptor antagonist ICI182780. Estrogen addition to human PMNs induced a distinct AnxA1hi CD62Llo CD11blo phenotype, and this was associated with lower cell activation as measured by microparticle formation. Treatment of human PMNs with E2 inhibited cell adhesion to an endothelial cell monolayer under shear, which was absent when endogenous AnxA1 was neutralized. Of interest, addition of estrogen to PMNs flowed over the endothelial monolayer amplified its upregulation of AnxA1 localization on the cell surface. Finally, in a model of intravital microscopy, estrogen inhibition of white blood cell adhesion to the postcapillary venule was absent in mice nullified for AnxA1. Conclusion—We unveil a novel AnxA1-dependent mechanism behind the inhibitory properties of estrogen on PMN activation, describing a novel phenotype with a conceivable impact on the vasculoprotective effects of this hormone.
ZKSCAN3 promotes bladder cancer cell proliferation, migration, and invasion

The expression status of ZKSCAN3, a zinc-finger transcription factor containing KRAB and SCAN domains, as well as its biological significance, in human bladder cancer remains largely unknown. In the current study, we aimed to determine the functional role of ZKSCAN3 in bladder cancer progression. Immunohistochemistry in tissue specimens detected ZKSCAN3 signals in 138 (93.2%) of 148 urothelial neoplasms, which was significantly higher than in non-neoplastic urothelial tissues [76 (84.4%) of 90; P=0.044]. Correspondingly, the levels of ZKSCAN3 gene were significantly elevated in bladder tumors, compared with those in adjacent normal-appearing bladder mucosae (P=0.008). In a validation set of tissue microarray, significantly higher ZKSCAN3 expression was observed in high-grade and/or muscle-invasive urothelial carcinomas than in low-grade and/or non-muscle-invasive tumors. Two bladder cancer cell lines, UMUC3 and 647V, were found to strongly express ZKSCAN3 protein/mRNA, whereas its expression in 5637 bladder cancer and SVHUC normal urothelium cell lines was very weak. ZKSCAN3 silencing via its short hairpin RNA (shRNA) in UMUC3 and 647V resulted in significant decreases in cell viability/colony formation, cell migration/invasion, and the expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2/MMP-9 and oncogenes c-myc/FGFR3, as well as significant increases in apoptosis and the expression of tumor suppressor genes p53/PTEN. ZKSCAN3 overexpression in 5637 also induced cell growth and migration. In addition, ZKSCAN3-shRNA expression considerably retarded tumor formation as well as its subsequent growth in xenograft-bearing mice. These results suggest that ZKSCAN3 plays an important role in bladder cancer outgrowth. Thus, ZKSCAN3 inhibition has the potential of being a therapeutic approach for bladder cancer.
Review of Hypoparathyroidism

Hypoparathyroidism is a rare endocrine disorder in which parathyroid hormone (PTH) production is abnormally low or absent, resulting in low serum calcium and increased serum phosphorus. The most common cause of hypoparathyroidism is parathyroid gland injury or inadvertent removal during thyroid surgery. Current treatments include supplementation with calcium and active vitamin D, with goal albumin-corrected serum calcium level in the low-normal range of 8–9 mg/dl. Complications of the disease include renal dysfunction, nephrocalcinosis, kidney stones, extracellular calcifications of the basal ganglia, and posterior subcapsular cataracts, as well as low bone turnover and increased bone density. Until January 2015, hypoparathyroidism was the only classic endocrine disease without an available hormone replacement. Recombinant human PTH 1-84, full-length PTH, is now available for a selected group of patients with the disease who are not well controlled on the current standard therapy of calcium and active vitamin D. In addition, the role of PTH replacement on quality of life, intracerebral calcifications, cataracts, improving bone turnover, and reduction of renal complications of the disease remains to be further investigated.
Distinguishing medication‐free subjects with unipolar disorder from subjects with bipolar disorder: state matters

Recent studies have indicated that pattern recognition techniques of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data for individual classification may be valuable for distinguishing between major depressive disorder (MDD) and bipolar disorder (BD). Importantly, medication may have affected previous classification results as subjects with MDD and BD use different classes of medication. Furthermore, almost all studies have investigated only depressed subjects. Therefore, we focused on medication‐free subjects. We additionally investigated whether classification would be mood state independent by including depressed and remitted subjects alike.
Job polarization and structural change

We document that job polarization – contrary to the consensus – has started as early as the 1950s in the US: middle-wage workers have been losing both in terms of employment and average wage growth compared to low- and high-wage workers. Given that polarization is a long-run phenomenon and closely linked to the shift from manufacturing to services, we propose a structural change driven explanation, where we explicitly model the sectoral choice of workers. Our simple model does remarkably well not only in matching the evolution of sectoral employment, but also of relative wages over the past fifty years.
Immunosuppressive Therapy for Active Lymphocytic Myocarditis: Virological and Immunologic Profile of Responders Versus Nonresponders

Background—The beneficial effect of immunosuppressive treatment on myocarditis is still controversial, possibly because the immunologic and virological profile of potential candidates is largely unknown. Methods and Results—Out of 652 biopsied patients, 112 had a histological diagnosis of active lymphocytic myocarditis; 41 of these 112 patients were characterized by progressive heart failure despite conventional therapy and were treated with prednisone and azathioprine for 6 months. All were resubmitted to cardiac catheterization, angiography, and endomyocardial biopsy at 1 and 6 months and followed-up for 1 year. A total of 21 patients responded with prompt improvement in left ventricular ejection fraction from 25.7±4.1% to 47.1±4.4% and showed evidence of healed myocarditis at control biopsy. Conversely, 20 patients failed to respond and showed a histological evolution toward dilated cardiomyopathy: 12 remained stationary, 3 underwent cardiac transplantation, and 5 died. We retrospectively performed a polymerase chain reaction on frozen endomyocardial tissue for the most common cardiotropic viruses and assessed circulating serum cardiac autoantibodies. Viral genomes were present in biopsy specimens of 17 nonresponders (85%), including enterovirus (n=5), Epstein-Barr virus (n=5) adenovirus (n=4), both adenovirus and enterovirus (n=1), influenza A virus (n=1), parvovirus-B19 (n=1), and in 3 responders, who were all positive for hepatitis C virus. Cardiac autoantibodies were present in 19 responders (90%) and in none of the nonresponders. Conclusions—In patients with active lymphocytic myocarditis, those with circulating cardiac autoantibodies and no viral genome in the myocardium are the most likely to benefit from immunosuppression. The beneficial effect of immunosuppression in hepatitis C virus myocarditis suggests a relevant immunomediated component of damage.
Maturation of the sulfobromophthalein sodium-glutathione conjugating system in rat liver.

Sulfobromophthalein sodium, hereafter referred to as BSP, has frequently been employed to appraise hepatic function in the newborn infant (1-7). With but one exception (2), many studies have demonstrated delayed disappearance of BSP from blood and increased BSP retention in both the full-term and premature infant in the immediate postpartum period (1, 3-7). Subsequently, the rate of removal of BSP from blood gradually increased, and within a few weeks after birth, approached values found in older children and adults. In general, the impairment of BSP clearance in the first few days after delivery has been attributed to immaturity, and the gradual improvement to maturation of the factors involved in the hepatic removal of BSP from blood and the subsequent excretion of BSP into bile. Based on a considerable body of evidence which has been accumulated within the past few years (8-15), it is now known that a major fraction of the BSP which is removed from blood and excreted into bile undergoes metabolic transformation within the liver. There appears to be general agreement that the major pathway of BSPmetabolism in man, rat, dog, and other species involves conjugation with the tripeptide glutathione in thioether linkage (12-15). Recently, we identified an enzyme in the soluble supernatant fraction of liver that catalyzes BSP-glutathione conjugation (15). During conjugation, whether enzymecatalyzed or not, bromine is released from BSP, and the sulfur group of glutathione attaches to BSP at the site of bromine removal (13, 15).
Reflections on Research

The authors present their reflections on several of the major topics related to research. The subjects discussed include the quantity and quality of research; the motivation for research; the research process; research paradigm; restraints of research; and freedom to research. They point out that the haste to achieve success and to publish in most cases has precluded the learning process about the substance and methodology of research. An attempt is made to relate general problems of research and its methodology to research in the area of congenital facial deformities.
On the use of context in network intrusion detection systems

This thesis examines frameworks and mechanisms for building network intrusion detection systems. These systems perform a variety of complex analysis in order to enforce security policies, and such enforcement requires contextual information from several sources. In this thesis, we examine three such sources of context. First, we propose semi-automatic mechanisms that can be used in order to understand how application traffic manifests in the network; such mechanisms are necessary to incorporate application semantics into security policy enforcement. Second, we analyze the effectiveness of information exchange amongst multiple sites in containing a fast spreading worm. Third, we propose a framework that helps a network security system gain access to encryped network traffic that is typically decipherable only by the end-host, while at the same time, respecting confidentiality constraints on sensitive content embedded in network traffic.
Effects of Aerobic Versus Resistance Exercise Without Caloric Restriction on Abdominal Fat, Intrahepatic Lipid, and Insulin Sensitivity in Obese Adolescent Boys

The optimal exercise modality for reductions of abdominal obesity and risk factors for type 2 diabetes in youth is unknown. We examined the effects of aerobic exercise (AE) versus resistance exercise (RE) without caloric restriction on abdominal adiposity, ectopic fat, and insulin sensitivity and secretion in youth. Forty-five obese adolescent boys were randomly assigned to one of three 3-month interventions: AE, RE, or a nonexercising control. Abdominal fat was assessed by magnetic resonance imaging, and intrahepatic lipid and intramyocellular lipid were assessed by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Insulin sensitivity and secretion were evaluated by a 3-h hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp and a 2-h hyperglycemic clamp. Both AE and RE prevented the significant weight gain that was observed in controls. Compared with controls, significant reductions in total and visceral fat and intrahepatic lipid were observed in both exercise groups. Compared with controls, a significant improvement in insulin sensitivity (27%) was observed in the RE group. Collapsed across groups, changes in visceral fat were associated with changes in intrahepatic lipid (r = 0.72) and insulin sensitivity (r = −0.47). Both AE and RE alone are effective for reducing abdominal fat and intrahepatic lipid in obese adolescent boys. RE but not AE is also associated with significant improvements in insulin sensitivity.
Transcription termination control of the S box system: Direct measurement of S-adenosylmethionine by the leader RNA

Modulation of the structure of a leader RNA to control formation of an intrinsic termination signal is a common mechanism for regulation of gene expression in bacteria. Expression of the S box genes in Gram-positive organisms is induced in response to limitation for methionine. We previously postulated that methionine availability is monitored by binding of a regulatory factor to the leader RNA and suggested that methionine or S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) could serve as the metabolic signal. In this study, we show that efficient termination of the S box leader region by bacterial RNA polymerase depends on SAM but not on methionine or other related compounds. We also show that SAM directly binds to and induces a conformational change in the leader RNA. Both binding of SAM and SAM-directed transcription termination were blocked by leader mutations that cause constitutive expression in vivo. Overproduction of SAM synthetase in Bacillus subtilis resulted in delay in induction of S box gene expression in response to methionine starvation, consistent with the hypothesis that SAM is the molecular effector in vivo. These results indicate that SAM concentration is sensed directly by the nascent transcript in the absence of a trans-acting factor.
Self-Adaptation in Evolving Systems

A theoretical and experimental analysis is made of the effects of self-adaptation in a simple evolving system. Specifically, we consider the effects of coding the mutation and crossover probabilities of a genetic algorithm evolving in certain model fitness landscapes. The resultant genotypephenotype mapping is degenerate in fitness space, there being no direct selective advantage for one probability versus another. Thus there is a symmetry between various genotypes that all correspond to the same phenotype. We show that the action of mutation and crossover lifts this degeneracy, that is, the genetic operators induce a breaking of the genotype-phenotype symmetry, thus leading to a preference for those genotypes that propagate most successfully into future generations. We demonstrate that this induced symmetry breaking allows the system to self-adapt in a time-dependent environment.
Color image quantization for frame buffer display

Algorithms for adaptive, tapered quantization of color images are described. The research is motivated by the desire to display high-quality reproductions of color images with small frame buffers. It is demonstrated that many color images which would normally require a frame buffer having 15 bits per pixel can be quantized to 8 or fewer bits per pixel with little subjective degradation. In most cases, the resulting images look significantly better than those made with uniform quantization. The color image quantization task is broken into four phases: 1) Sampling the original image for color statistics 2) Choosing a colormap based on the color statistics 3) Mapping original colors to their nearest neighbors in the colormap 4) Quantizing and redrawing the original image (with optional dither). Several algorithms for each of phases 2-4 are described, and images created by each given.
Nanostructures Technology , Research and Applications

The Nanostructures Laboratory (NSL) at MIT develops techniques for fabricating surface structures with feature sizes in the range from nanometers to micrometers, and uses these structures in a variety of research projects. The NSL is closely coupled to the Space Microstructures Laboratory (SML) with which it shares facilities and a variety of joint programs. The NSL and SML include facilities for lithography (photo, interferometric, electron-beam, and xray), etching (chemical, plasma and reactive-ion), liftoff, electroplating, sputter deposition, and ebeam evaporation. Much of the equipment, and nearly all of the methods, utilized in the NSL/SML are developed in house. Generally, commercial processing equipment, designed for the semiconductor industry, cannot achieve the resolution needed for nanofabrication, is inordinately expensive, and lacks the required flexibility for our research. The research projects within the NSL/SML fall into three major categories: (1) development of nanostructure fabrication technology; (2) short-channel semiconductor devices, nanomagnetics and microphotonics; (3) periodic structures for x-ray optics, spectroscopy, atomic interferometry and nanometer metrology.
Targeted Amino-Terminal Acetylation of Recombinant Proteins in E. coli

One major limitation in the expression of eukaryotic proteins in bacteria is an inability to post-translationally modify the expressed protein. Amino-terminal acetylation is one such modification that can be essential for protein function. By co-expressing the fission yeast NatB complex with the target protein in E.coli, we report a simple and widely applicable method for the expression and purification of functional N-terminally acetylated eukaryotic proteins.
Information-theoretic thresholds from the cavity method

Vindicating a sophisticated but non-rigorous physics approach called the cavity method, we establish a formula for the mutual information in statistical inference problems induced by random graphs. This general result implies the conjecture on the information-theoretic threshold in the disassortative stochastic block model [Decelle et al.: Phys. Rev. E (2011)] and allows us to pinpoint the exact condensation phase transition in random constraint satisfaction problems such as random graph coloring, thereby proving a conjecture from [Krzakala et al.: PNAS (2007)]. As a further application we establish the formula for the mutual information in Low-Density Generator Matrix codes as conjectured in [Montanari: IEEE Transactions on Information Theory (2005)]. The proofs provide a conceptual underpinning of the replica symmetric variant of the cavity method, and we expect that the approach will find many future applications.