Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of Reinforcement Corrosion and Repeated Loads on Performance of Reinforced Concrete Beam

The effects of both steel corrosion and repeated loading on performance of reinforced concrete beam were investigated. Repeated loads were applied to corroded reinforced concrete specimens with corrosion levels ranging from 0% to 5%. The experiments were conducted for the deflection, cracking, stiffness, bearing capacity and failure type of the corroded beams. For corrosion levels less than 5%, the residual deflection was about 3% of the maximum value of failure deflection. The deflection of beams of high corrosion levels were generally greater than those of low corrosion levels, while the flexural rigidity of the high corrosion levels decreased more in value than those of low corrosion levels. The failure modes of beams changed from plastic type to brittle type with the increase of corrosion level.
A Survey on Security Threats and Defensive Techniques of Machine Learning: A Data Driven View

Machine learning is one of the most prevailing techniques in computer science, and it has been widely applied in image processing, natural language processing, pattern recognition, cybersecurity, and other fields. Regardless of successful applications of machine learning algorithms in many scenarios, e.g., facial recognition, malware detection, automatic driving, and intrusion detection, these algorithms and corresponding training data are vulnerable to a variety of security threats, inducing a significant performance decrease. Hence, it is vital to call for further attention regarding security threats and corresponding defensive techniques of machine learning, which motivates a comprehensive survey in this paper. Until now, researchers from academia and industry have found out many security threats against a variety of learning algorithms, including naive Bayes, logistic regression, decision tree, support vector machine (SVM), principle component analysis, clustering, and prevailing deep neural networks. Thus, we revisit existing security threats and give a systematic survey on them from two aspects, the training phase and the testing/inferring phase. After that, we categorize current defensive techniques of machine learning into four groups: security assessment mechanisms, countermeasures in the training phase, those in the testing or inferring phase, data security, and privacy. Finally, we provide five notable trends in the research on security threats and defensive techniques of machine learning, which are worth doing in-depth studies in future.
Functional responses of contrasting seed predator guilds to masting in two Mediterranean oak species

The predator satiation hypothesis poses that synchronous and variable seed production during masting events increases seed escape through seed predator satiation. The success of this strategy depends upon the type of consumer functional response, in this case defined as the change in seed consumption rate by a predator as a function of change in seed density. Type II (where the proportion of seed consumed is highest at low levels of seed availability) and type III (where the proportion of seed consumed is highest at some intermediate level of seed availability and then declines towards zero) functional responses describe negative density-dependence and indicate predator satiation. The type of function response should be contingent upon herbivore traits: type II responses are predicted for dietary specialist predators with low mobility, and type III responses are predicted for highly mobile, dietary generalist predators. Surprisingly, most studies have not evaluated whether functional responses vary among seed predator guilds. Here we describe the functional responses at population and individual tree level of highly mobile generalist (birds and rodents) and less mobile specialist (insects) pre-dispersal seed predators attacking acorns of two sympatric oaks (Quercus suber and Q. canariensis) over a 10-year period. Our results showed that in most cases specialist seed predators exhibited the predicted type II functional response at both the individual tree and population level for both oak species. However, generalist seed predators did not exhibit the predicted type III response; instead, they also exhibited a type II response at the individual tree and population level for both oak species. By independently assessing the effects of multiple seed predators associated with the same host tree species, our work highlights the influence of herbivore traits on the outcome of plant–seed predator interactions in masting species, and thus furthers our understanding of the ecological and evolutionary mechanisms underlying masting behaviour.
THE INFLUENCE OF AGE ON THE ANTHROPOMETRIC AND PERFORMANCE 1 CHARACTERISTICS OF HIGH LEVEL YOUTH FEMALE SOCCER PLAYERS

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the anthropometric and performance characteristics 39 of high level youth female soccer players by annual-age category (U10-U16). Data were 40 collected from 157 female soccer players (U16 ; n =46, U14 ; n =43, U12 ; n =38, U10 ; n =30), 41 recruited from three high level female soccer academies in England. Players completed 42 assessments of anthropometry (height and body mass), isometric mid-thigh pull strength 43 (IMTP), jump height (CMJ), aerobic capacity (YYIRL1), change of direction (505-left/right), and 44 speed (10 and 30 m). Magnitude based-inferences were used to assess for practical significance 45 between consecutive age groups. Height ( very likely – most likely ), body mass ( very likely – most 46 likely ), absolute strength ( most likely ), jump height ( likely – very likely ), and distance on the 47 YYIRL1 ( possibly – most likely ) were greater in older players. Both speed and change of 48 direction time were most likely to very likely lower in older players. However, only most likely 49 trivial-possibly trivial differences were observed in relative strength between age groups. 50 Findings suggest that physical characteristics except for relative strength differentiate by age 51 categories. These findings provide comparative data and target reference data for such 52 populations and can be used by coaches and practitioners for player development purposes. 53 Practitioners should be aware that relative strength does not differ between age categories in 54 high level youth female soccer players. 55 This study provides anthropometric and performance characteristics comparative data for 9-16 old high level female soccer players. Findings demonstrate that anthropometric and performance characteristics develop with increasing age except for relative strength in this cohort. Athletic development of players in addition to technical/tactical development of should be a key focus of training with appropriate strength and conditioning sessions incorporated in 359 to the weekly training structure to develop the athleticism of players.
Thermogenic Blend Alone or in Combination with Whey Protein Supplement Stimulates Fat Metabolism and Improves Body Composition in Mice

Background: Certain food ingredients promote thermogenesis and fat loss. Similarly, whey protein improves body composition. Due to this potential synergistic effect, a blend of thermogenic food ingredients containing African mango, citrus fruit extract, Coleus forskohlii, dihydrocapsiate, and red pepper was tested alone and in combination with a whey protein supplement for its effects on body composition in sedentary mice during high-fat diet. Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the interaction of thermogenic foods on improving body composition during consumption of an unhealthy diet. Materials and Methods: C57BL/6J young adult male mice (n = 12) were placed on a 60% high-fat diet for 4 weeks and subsequently randomly assigned to receive daily dosing by oral gavage of vehicle, the novel blend alone or with whey protein supplement for another 4 weeks. Body composition, thermal imaging of brown adipose tissue (BAT), mitochondrial BAT uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1), and plasma levels of leptin were assessed. Results: Novel blend alone and in combination with protein supplement attenuated body weight gain, fat, and increased surface BAT temperature in comparison to vehicle control and to baseline (P < 0.5). The combination of novel blend and whey protein supplement also significantly increased UCP1 protein expression in BAT mitochondria in comparison to vehicle control and novel blend alone (P < 0.5). Conclusions: These data indicate that this novel blend stimulates thermogenesis and attenuates the gain in body weight and fat in response to high-fat diet in mice and these effects were improved when administered in combination with whey protein supplement.
Prenatal Glucocorticoids: Short-Term Benefits and Long-Term Risks

Glucocorticoids are steroid hormones synthesized in the adrenal gland cortex, and most of their physiological effects are mediated by the glucocorticoid receptor (GR), that acts as a ligand-dependent transcription factor. Coordinate changes in metabolism under glucocorticoid influence provide energy that is instantly and selectively available to vital organs, an enables them to deal with immediate environmental demands, at the expense of anabolic pathways, such as bone formation, reproduction, immunological responses and other, that are being blunted or delayed, under glucocorticoid influence [1-3].
The role of selection in the comprehension of focus alternatives

ABSTRACT Successful language comprehension often requires comprehenders to infer contrastive focus alternatives, but the mechanisms used to establish contrastive alternatives are still poorly understood. We propose that comprehenders establish contrastive alternatives by using selection mechanisms that distinguish contrastive from non-contrastive candidates. To examine this proposal, we investigated the time course of contrastive alternatives in two cross-modal priming experiments, manipulating contrastive focus on prime words and the contrastiveness of visual targets. Experiment 1 examined early processing where comprehenders are entertaining candidates for contrastive alternatives. Experiment 2 examined later processing where comprehenders have selected contrastive alternatives from the candidate set. Results demonstrated that when primes were contrastively focused, initially both contrastive and non-contrastive associates were facilitated, but, in subsequent processing, non-contrastive associates became deactivated while contrastive associates maintained facilitation. We argue that selection mechanisms distinguish contrastive from non-contrastive candidates by deactivating non-contrastive candidates, enabling comprehenders to draw proper inferences about speakers’ implicit meanings.
The effect of smooth muscle antagonists on the sound-induced motion of the tympanic membrane

The pars tensa of the tympanic membrane is composed of three layers: an epidermal layer, a fibrous layer, and a mucosal layer. Recent studies (Kuijpers et al, 1999; Henson and Henson, 2000; Henson et al, 2005) suggest that the fibrous layer in several mammalian species contains contractile fibers, which are located primarily within the thickened border of the pars tensa known as the annulus fibrosis. These contractile fibers resemble smooth muscle fibers. Yang and Henson (2002) studied the physiological effects of pharmacological modulators on the pars tensa of the annulus fibrosis by measuring the sound-induced cochlear response. Their results suggest a dose-dependent change in cochlear response after application of sodium orthovanadate and norepinephrine. Application of saline induced no change in cochlear response. Based on their data, Yang and Henson proposed that the pharmacological agents altered the function of the smooth muscle fibers of the annulus fibrosis to produce a mechanical change in the tympanic membrane. In this study two measurements, cochlear response and Laser Doppler Vibrometry, were used to assess the sound-induced velocity of the tympanic membrane of the gerbil before and after application of saline and varying concentrations of three smooth muscle antagonists (sodium orthovanadate, norepinephrine, and carbachol) to the pars tensa. It was demonstrated that applications of saline and varying concentrations of sodium orthovanadate were associated with both increases and decreases in the magnitude of the cochlear response in two out of three ears tested. There was no evidence of a dose-dependent change in the cochlear response. Applications of saline and varying concentrations of sodium orthovanadate, norepinephrine, and carbachol were associated with increases and decreases in the magnitude of the Laser Doppler Vibrometry response in eight of fourteen ears tested. Evidence of a dose-dependent change in Laser Doppler Vibrometry results was obtained in one ear. The results of this study suggest that application of any substance to the tympanic membrane may or may not be associated with an increase or decrease in the cochlear response or Laser Doppler Vibrometry response, and thus, the source of mechanical changes observed at the tympanic membrane is not necessarily the smooth muscle fibers of the annulus fibrosis.
Hot Gas Path Heat Transfer Characteristics/Active Cooling Of Turbine Components

Gas turbines play an important role in the lives of all of us. They are instrumental in providing electricity or fuel to our homes and in transportation via aircraft and ships. Despite over 50 years of operation and their current ubiquity, gas turbines continue to evolve, becoming more fuel effi cient, reliable, and durable. With present emphasis on further improvement in effi ciency and operation with alternative fuels, signifi cant engineering challenges remain. The gas turbine did not come about by virtue of a single, momentous breakthrough, but rather by numerous small advances on many fronts, including heat transfer, aerodynamics, materials, dynamics, lubrication, and fuels. The efforts of tens of thousands of engineers have produced the present, extensive body of knowledge that provides our basis for further development. Given the complexity of the engine, it is quite easy to become overwhelmed when trying to become acquainted with the technology on which it is based. This chapter is offered to help in one aspect of gas turbine technology, the gas path heat transfer within the turbine. It aims fi rst to describe the physics of engine heat transfer by developing from simple ideas an introduction to the complex heat transfer phenomena within. This effort attempts to address how the engineer applies heat transfer tools available in the literature to support designs, which will advance engine life and enhance effi ciency. If successful, the newcomer will establish a foothold in the technology and the more experienced engineer will be reminded of some basic concepts.
Human Neural Stem Cell Therapy for Chronic Ischemic Stroke: Charting Progress from Laboratory to Patients

Chronic disability after stroke represents a major unmet neurologic need. ReNeuron's development of a human neural stem cell (hNSC) therapy for chronic disability after stroke is progressing through early clinical studies. A Phase I trial has recently been published, showing no safety concerns and some promising signs of efficacy. A single-arm Phase II multicenter trial in patients with stable upper-limb paresis has recently completed recruitment. The hNSCs administrated are from a manufactured, conditionally immortalized hNSC line (ReNeuron's CTX0E03 or CTX), generated with c-mycERTAM technology. This technology has enabled CTX to be manufactured at large scale under cGMP conditions, ensuring sufficient supply to meets the demands of research, clinical development, and, eventually, the market. CTX has key pro-angiogenic, pro-neurogenic, and immunomodulatory characteristics that are mechanistically important in functional recovery poststroke. This review covers the progress of CTX cell therapy from its laboratory origins to the clinic, concluding with a look into the late stage clinical future.
Effects of national forest‐management regimes on unprotected forests of the Himalaya

Globally, deforestation continues, and although protected areas effectively protect forests, the majority of forests are not in protected areas. Thus, how effective are different management regimes to avoid deforestation in non‐protected forests? We sought to assess the effectiveness of different national forest‐management regimes to safeguard forests outside protected areas. We compared 2000–2014 deforestation rates across the temperate forests of 5 countries in the Himalaya (Bhutan, Nepal, China, India, and Myanmar) of which 13% are protected. We reviewed the literature to characterize forest management regimes in each country and conducted a quasi‐experimental analysis to measure differences in deforestation of unprotected forests among countries and states in India. Countries varied in both overarching forest‐management goals and specific tenure arrangements and policies for unprotected forests, from policies emphasizing economic development to those focused on forest conservation. Deforestation rates differed up to 1.4% between countries, even after accounting for local determinants of deforestation, such as human population density, market access, and topography. The highest deforestation rates were associated with forest policies aimed at maximizing profits and unstable tenure regimes. Deforestation in national forest‐management regimes that emphasized conservation and community management were relatively low. In India results were consistent with the national‐level results. We interpreted our results in the context of the broader literature on decentralized, community‐based natural resource management, and our findings emphasize that the type and quality of community‐based forestry programs and the degree to which they are oriented toward sustainable use rather than economic development are important for forest protection. Our cross‐national results are consistent with results from site‐ and regional‐scale studies that show forest‐management regimes that ensure stable land tenure and integrate local‐livelihood benefits with forest conservation result in the best forest outcomes.
An integrative scoring system for ranking SNPs by their potential deleterious effects

MOTIVATION Identifying single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that underlie common and complex human diseases, such as cancer, is of major interest in current molecular epidemiology. Nevertheless, the tremendous number of SNPs on the human genome requires computational methods for prioritizing SNPs according to their potentially deleterious effects to human health, and as such, for expediting genotyping and analysis. As of yet, little has been done to quantitatively assess the possible deleterious effects of SNPs for effective association studies. RESULTS We propose a new integrative scoring system for prioritizing SNPs based on their possible deleterious effects within a probabilistic framework. We applied our system to 580 disease-susceptibility genes obtained from the OMIM (Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man) database, which is one of the most widely used databases of human genes and genetic disorders. The scoring results clearly show that the distribution of the functional significance (FS) scores for already known disease-related SNPs is significantly different from that of neutral SNPs. In addition, we summarize distinct features of potentially deleterious SNPs based on their FS score, such as functional genomic regions where they occur or bio-molecular functions that they mainly affect. We also demonstrate, through a comparative study, that our system improves upon other function-assessment systems for SNPs, by assigning significantly higher FS scores to already known disease-related SNPs than to neutral SNPs.
Failure of A Novel, Rapid Antigen and Antibody Combination Test to Detect Antigen-Positive HIV Infection in African Adults with Early HIV Infection

Background Acute HIV infection (prior to antibody seroconversion) represents a high-risk window for HIV transmission. Development of a test to detect acute infection at the point-of-care is urgent. Methods Volunteers enrolled in a prospective study of HIV incidence in four African cities, Kigali in Rwanda and Ndola, Kitwe and Lusaka in Zambia, were tested regularly for HIV by rapid antibody test and p24 antigen ELISA. Five subgroups of samples were also tested by the Determine Ag/Ab Combo test 1) Antigen positive, antibody negative (acute infection); 2) Antigen positive, antibody positive; 3) Antigen negative, antibody positive; 4) Antigen negative, antibody negative; and 5) Antigen false positive, antibody negative (HIV uninfected). A sixth group included serial dilutions from a p24 antigen-positive control sample. Combo test results were reported as antigen positive, antibody positive, or both. Results Of 34 group 1 samples with VL between 5x105 and >1.5x107 copies/mL (median 3.5x106), 1 (2.9%) was detected by the Combo antigen component, 7 (20.6%) others were positive by the Combo antibody component. No group 2 samples were antigen positive by the Combo test (0/18). Sensitivity of the Combo antigen test was therefore 1.9% (1/52, 95% CI 0.0, 9.9). One false positive Combo antibody result (1/30, 3.3%) was observed in group 4. No false-positive Combo antigen results were observed. The Combo antigen test was positive in group 6 at concentrations of 80 pg/mL, faintly positive at 40 and 20 pg/mL, and negative thereafter. The p24 ELISA antigen test remained positive at 5 pg/mL. Conclusions Although the antibody component of the Combo test detected antibodies to HIV earlier than the comparison antibody tests used, less than 2% of the cases of antigen-positive HIV infection were detected by the Combo antigen component. The development of a rapid point-of-care test to diagnose acute HIV infection remains an urgent goal.
Prion protein dynamics before aggregation

Significance The prion protein aggregates and causes neurodegenerative diseases in many mammalian species. The aggregated protein is transmissible to other organisms and species. Aggregation is believed to originate in cellular endosomes at low pH. We have measured reconfiguration of unfolded prion of two species under a variety of conditions and found a wide range of rates. At low pH the reconfiguration rate for hamster prion is in the middle of the measured range, but increases when an aggregation inhibitor is added. These results agree with a model in which aggregation is fastest when reconfiguration is about the same rate as bimolecular association, and suggest a new approach to finding drugs for prion diseases in which reconfiguration is altered to prevent aggregation. Prion diseases, like Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson disease, are rapidly progressive neurodegenerative disorders caused by misfolding followed by aggregation and accumulation of protein deposits in neuronal cells. Here we measure intramolecular polypeptide backbone reconfiguration as a way to understand the molecular basis of prion aggregation. Our hypothesis is that when reconfiguration is either much faster or much slower than bimolecular diffusion, biomolecular association is not stable, but as the reconfiguration rate becomes similar to the rate of biomolecular diffusion, the association is more stable and subsequent aggregation is faster. Using the technique of Trp–Cys contact quenching, we investigate the effects of various conditions on reconfiguration dynamics of the Syrian hamster and rabbit prion proteins. This protein exhibits behavior in all three reconfiguration regimes. We conclude that the hamster prion is prone to aggregation at pH 4.4 because its reconfiguration rate is slow enough to expose hydrophobic residues on the same time scale that bimolecular association occurs, whereas the rabbit sequence avoids aggregation by reconfiguring 10 times faster than the hamster sequence.