Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Principles of metal casting

1: Introduction History of Casting Foundry Industry 2: Patterns Introduction to Patternmaking Types of Patterns Pattern Allowances Function of Patterns Core Boxes Rapid Prototyping Application of CAD to Pattern and Core Making 3: Casting Processes Reusable Molds Molds that are destroyed after making castings Green Sand Process Cores 4: Solidification of Metals Freezing of Pure Materials Freezing of Alloys Other Properties Related to Solidification 5: Gating & Risering of Castings Gating System Design of Gating System Risers 6: Casting Process Solidification Casting Process Simulation 7: Aluminum & Aluminum Alloys Physical Metallurgy Melting & Melt Handling Casting Characteristics Heat Treatment Mechanical and Physical Properties Post Casting Operations Ch. 8: Copper & Copper Alloys Physical Metallurgy Melting & Melt Handling Heat Treatment Mechanical & Physical Properties Post Casting Ops Ch. 9: Magnesium & Magnesium Alloys Physical Metallurgy Melting & Melt Handling Heat Treatment Mechanical and Physical Properties Ch. 10: Zinc & Zinc Alloys Physical Metallurgy Melting & Melt Handling Mechanical/ Physical Properties Ch. 11: Cast Iron Melting and Melt Handling Change Materials Pouring Practices Solid State Transformation Post Casting Foundry Operations Mechanical and Physical Properties Casting Design Considerations Ch. 12: Steel Castings Physical Metallurgy Melting & Pouring of Steel Heat Treatment Post Casting Operations Machining and Welding Nondestructive Examinations Troubleshooting Ch. 13: Cleaning and Inspection Cleaning Operations & Equipment Inspection of Castings Ch. 14: Casting Defects Defect Analysis Processing Cycle and Defect Formation Root Cause Evaluation Corrective Actions Scrap Reporting Typical Defect Analysis Charts
RETRACTED: Now You See It, Now You Don't: Explicit Versus Implicit Measures of the Personal/Group Discrimination Discrepancy

When making explicit self-report ratings, members of status- and racial-minority groups report less personal experience with discrimination than that encountered by their group--a phenomenon called the personal/group discrimination discrepancy (PGDD). This study provides evidence, for the first time, that the PGDD may be, in part, a product of the procedure used to measure it. White women and men completed explicit and implicit measures of personal and group discrimination based on sex. The PGDD surfaced among women in the explicit measures, but not in the implicit measures. These findings suggest that explicit and implicit measures might provide different assessments of experience with discrimination.
Neuroligin-4 is localized to glycinergic postsynapses and regulates inhibition in the retina

Neuroligins (NL1–NL4) are postsynaptic adhesion proteins that control the maturation and function of synapses in the central nervous system (CNS). Loss-of-function mutations in NL4 are linked to rare forms of monogenic heritable autism, but its localization and function are unknown. Using the retina as a model system, we show that NL4 is preferentially localized to glycinergic postsynapses and that the loss of NL4 is accompanied by a reduced number of glycine receptors mediating fast glycinergic transmission. Accordingly, NL4-deficient ganglion cells exhibit slower glycinergic miniature postsynaptic currents and subtle alterations in their stimulus-coding efficacy, and inhibition within the NL4-deficient retinal network is altered as assessed by electroretinogram recordings. These data indicate that NL4 shapes network activity and information processing in the retina by modulating glycinergic inhibition. Importantly, NL4 is also targeted to inhibitory synapses in other areas of the CNS, such as the thalamus, colliculi, brainstem, and spinal cord, and forms complexes with the inhibitory postsynapse proteins gephyrin and collybistin in vivo, indicating that NL4 is an important component of glycinergic postsynapses.
Cholangiocarcinoma Presenting as Trousseau's Syndrome

To the Editor:We appreciate the valuable comments and criticisms from Dr. Siegel et al. and Dr. Kimet al. about our recently published paper entitled “Endoscopic lithotomy of common bile duct stones with sublingual nitroglycerin and guidewire” (1). In the same issue of the journal, an editorial comment by MacMathuna highlighted its future application as questionable because of a fewer number of studies and its long-term outcome. In the United States, in addition to benzodiazepines, patients are much more heavily sedated for ERCP with narcotics, and development of severe complications is not unlikely. However, in Japan, we frequently use diazepam (10 mg) for sedation. If there is a sudden drop in blood pressure, discontinuation of the medical dilation therapy by nitroglycerin should be applied immediately. Of course, the procedure needs continuous blood pressure monitoring to avoid serious complications. Although one of our patients showed a drop in blood pressure by nitroglycerin, it was found not harmful as previously shown by other authors (2, 3). As mentioned by Siegel et al., it is generally accepted that gabexate mesylate can reduce the post-ERCP complication, which was also true in our study. Consequently, in our patients severe complications were absent. The roles of gabexate mesylate in reducing post-ERCP complications as well as complications after medical dilation, however, are not clear. The study was new, the Japanese insurance system is inexpensive (compared to the system in the U.S.A.), and a longer period of hospitalization was reasonable, which allowed us to follow up with patients properly. Unfortunately, longer hospitalization days seem to be not applicable to the patients in the U.S.A. because of a high-cost health insurance system. As our study showed no severe complications about the procedure, it would be possible to reduce the hospitalization days in a selected group of patients in a future trial. Although selection criteria for patients in our study were not clear, we attempted to select patients on the basis of a small number and small size of stones in the common bile duct and according to the patients who agreed to accept the procedure. Although it seems difficult to make selection criteria for the procedure, the medical dilation therapy could be an alternative. However, the procedure can be recommended by judging size and number of stones, blood pressure, and other factors (primary or secondary stones as mentioned by Dr. Kim et al.). We thought that medical dilation helps to open the sphincter as in lithotomy. We agree with Dr. Siegel that the method can be named as “lithectomy. ” Our preliminary study, however, raised some new and important aspects of the procedures in the extraction of common bile duct stones that obviously require more criticisms before their routine applications worldwide. Naohito Uchida, M.D. Syed A. Morshed, M.D. Third Department of Internal Medicine Kagawa Medical University Kagawa-ken, Japan
Stabilization of networked multi-input systems over a shared bus with scheduling/control co-design

In this paper, we study the stabilization of a continuous-time networked multi-input system over a shared communication bus modeled as a fading channel. Transmission scheduling of the control inputs has to be performed so that only one input signal is transmitted through the channel at one time. We aim at finding the minimum channel capacity rendering state feedback stabilization possible. The main novelty of this work lies in the idea of scheduling/control co-design which suggests that the transmission scheduling should be designed simultaneously with the controller design. By virtue of such co-design, a nice analytic solution is obtained for the minimum channel capacity required for stabilization given in terms of the topological entropy of the plant. A numerical example is provided to illustrate how the scheduling/control co-design is carried out to stabilize the networked system.
Bringing new treatments to the bedside in cystic fibrosis

The discovery of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator gene in 1989 led to a dramatic increase in the understanding of the molecular basis of CF. Increased knowledge has provided the opportunity to target drug development at correcting the basic defect either by gene therapy or pharmacological modulation of the abnormal physiological processes.
Tight Regret Bounds for Stochastic Combinatorial Semi-Bandits

A Proofs of Main Theorems A.1 Proof of Lemma 1 Let Rt = R(At, wt) be the stochastic regret of CombUCB1 at time t, where At and wt are the solution and the weights of the items at time t, respectively. Furthermore, let Et = 9e 2 E : w̄(e) ŵTt 1(e)(e) ct 1,Tt 1(e) be the event that w̄(e) is outside of the high-probability confidence interval around ŵTt 1(e)(e) for some item e at time t; and let Et be the complement of Et, w̄(e) is in the high-probability confidence interval around ŵTt 1(e)(e) for all e at time t. Then we can decompose the regret of CombUCB1 as: R(n) = E " t0 1 X
The role of ATP13A2 in Parkinson's disease: Clinical phenotypes and molecular mechanisms

The importance of ATP13A2 (PARK9) in Parkinson's disease (PD) has emerged with the discovery that mutations in this gene cause Kufor‐Rakeb syndrome, an autosomal recessive, juvenile‐onset form of parkinsonism associated with the additional clinical triad of spasticity, supranuclear gaze palsy, and dementia. Eleven independent kindreds with homozygous or compound heterozygous ATP13A2 mutations have been identified. These reports make it clear that the condition exhibits considerable clinical heterogeneity, with a spectrum of disease even among family members carrying the same mutation. The relevance of the protein in sporadic PD is demonstrated by the presence of single heterozygous ATP13A2 mutations in this group of patients and altered expression of the gene in the substantia nigra from patients with the disease. The involvement of ATP13A2 in Zn2+ homeostasis has recently been demonstrated, with the molecular consequences of this disturbance causing lysosomal impairment, α‐synuclein accumulation, and mitochondrial dysfunction. These discoveries provide a new understanding of the role that ATP13A2 plays in the development of PD and identify a therapeutic target that may ameliorate α‐synuclein accumulation and lysosomal and mitochondrial dysfunction in Parkinson's disease. © 2015 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
Total and selective reuse of Krylov subspaces for the resolution of sequences of nonlinear structural problems

This paper deals with the definition and optimization of augmentation spaces for faster convergence of the conjugate gradient method in the resolution of sequences of linear systems. Using advanced convergence results from the literature, we present a procedure on the basis of a selection of relevant approximations of the eigenspaces for extracting, selecting and reusing information from the Krylov subspaces generated by previous solutions in order to accelerate the current iteration. Assessments of the method are proposed in the cases of both linear and nonlinear structural problems. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Why Did You Choose This Pet?: Adopters and Pet Selection Preferences in Five Animal Shelters in the United States

Simple Summary This study examined reasons why adopters chose their pet in an animal shelter, what behaviors were first exhibited by the pet to the adopter, what information was important during their selection process, and the relative importance of seeing the animals’ behavior in various contexts. Abstract Responses from an adopter survey (n = 1,491) determined reasons for pet selection, type of information received by the adopter, and the context in which the animal’s behavior was observed. Appearance of the animal, social behavior with adopter, and personality were the top reasons for adoption across species and age groups. Most adopters stated that information about the animal from a staff member or volunteer was more important than information on cage cards, and health and behavior information was particularly important. Adopters found greater importance in interacting with the animal rather than viewing it in its kennel. The results of this study can be used by shelters to create better adoption matches, prioritize shelter resources and staff training, and potentially increase adoptions. Additionally, some simple training techniques are suggested to facilitate adopter-friendly behaviors from sheltered dogs and cats.
Oxidative Stress and NO Signalling in the Root Apex as an Early Response to Changes in Gravity Conditions

Oxygen influx showed an asymmetry in the transition zone of the root apex when roots were placed horizontally on ground. The influx increased only in the upper side, while no changes were detected in the division and in the elongation zone. Nitric oxide (NO) was also monitored after gravistimulation, revealing a sudden burst only in the transition zone. In order to confirm these results in real microgravity conditions, experiments have been set up by using parabolic flights and drop tower. The production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was also monitored. Oxygen, NO, and ROS were continuously monitored during normal and hyper- and microgravity conditions in roots of maize seedlings. A distinct signal in oxygen and NO fluxes was clearly detected only in the apex zone during microgravity, with no significant changes in normal and in hypergravity conditions. The same results were obtained by ROS measurement. The detrimental effect of D'orenone, disrupting the polarised auxin transport, on the onset of the oxygen peaks during the microgravity period was also evaluated. Results indicates an active role of NO and ROS as messengers during the gravitropic response, with probable implications in the auxin redistribution.
Infliximab for treatment of pyoderma gangrenosum associated with inflammatory bowel disease

OBJECTIVES:Pyoderma gangrenosum is an immune-mediated inflammatory condition characterized by ulcerative skin lesions affecting 1–2% of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Treatment includes wound care, antibiotics, corticosteroids, and immunomodulators. However, response to therapy varies, and many patients with pyoderma gangrenosum have disease that is refractory to these agents. The aim of this study was to assess the response of medically refractory pyoderma gangrenosum to infliximab.METHODS:This was a multicenter retrospective study of patients with IBD and medically refractory pyoderma gangrenosum treated with infliximab. Data collected included the following: baseline demographics; duration of IBD; history of bowel resection; duration of skin lesions; number, size, and location of pyoderma gangrenosum lesions; prior medications; dose and number of infliximab infusions; bowel activity before and after infliximab; pyoderma gangrenosum activity before and after infliximab therapy; time to response and time to healing of pyoderma gangrenosum lesions; recurrence of pyoderma gangrenosum after infliximab; corticosteroid taper; and adverse reactions to infliximab.RESULTS:There were 13 patients with moderate to severe pyoderma gangrenosum and IBD treated with infliximab. All patients demonstrated complete healing of the skin lesions. Three patients had a complete response to induction infliximab therapy and did not require additional treatment. Ten patients responded to induction infliximab and have maintained pyoderma gangrenosum healing with infusions every 4–12 wk. All patients receiving corticosteroids were able to discontinue them completely after institution of infliximab treatment. Infliximab was well tolerated; the only treatment-related adverse events were sunburn in one patient and an infusion reaction in another.CONCLUSION:Infliximab is a safe and effective treatment for IBD-associated pyoderma gangrenosum.
Determinants of Disability in Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Community-Based Cohort Study

Longitudinal care of a community-based cohort of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) was evaluated retrospectively. Candidate determinants of disability included visual analog scales (VAS) for patient global assessment and pain, comorbidities, and medications. The outcome was the ‘patient-acceptable symptom state’ for disability as defined by the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) disability index, using a cutoff of <1.04. Two-sample t tests and multivariable logistic regression were used to determine odds ratios (OR) for associations between predictor variables and disability. Out of a total of 99 patients, 28 (28%) patients had HAQ ≥1.04 at their last visit. The greatest odds of not attaining the patient-acceptable symptom state in a multivariable model was associated with corticosteroids (OR: 5.1; p=0.02), antidepressants (OR: 5.3; p=0.02), and female sex (OR: 6.5; p=0.05). In the era of biologic therapy, female sex, corticosteroids, and antidepressants remain profound determinants of disability highlighting the need to understand the underlying mechanisms.
Effect of processing parameters on the surface resistivity of ethylene–vinyl acetate copolymer/multiwalled carbon nanotube nanocomposites

In this study, ethylene–vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymer was melt-mixed with multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT). To realize full-scale application of MWCNT to the polymer industries, the effect of melt-processing parameters on the surface resistivity in the polymer/MWCNT nanocomposites should be well-understood. The effect of mixing time, rotor speed, compression molding time, and temperature on the surface resistivity was investigated. Increasing the rotor speed and longer mixing time lead to an improvement of dispersion of MWCNT in polymer matrix, resulting in a decrease of surface resistivity. The surface resistivity of EVA/MWCNT nanocomposites is also sensitive to the press temperature and time. However, the dominant processing parameters to affect surface resistivity depend on the amount of MWCNT. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012
Host resistance and parasite virulence in greenfinch coccidiosis

The question why different host individuals within a population differ with respect to infection resistance is of fundamental importance for understanding the mechanisms of parasite‐mediated selection. We addressed this question by infecting wild‐caught captive male greenfinches with intestinal coccidian parasites originating either from single or multiple hosts. Birds with naturally low pre‐experimental infection retained their low infection status also after reinfection with multiple strains, indicating that natural infection intensities confer information about the phenotypic ability of individuals to resist novel strains. Exposure to novel strains did not result in protective immunity against the subsequent infection with the same strains. Infection with multiple strains resulted in greater virulence than single‐strain infection, indicating that parasites originating from different host individuals are genetically diverse. Our experiment thus demonstrates the validity of important but rarely tested assumptions of many models of parasite‐mediated selection in a wild bird species and its common parasite.
Operative management of displaced femoral neck fractures in elderly patients. An international survey.

BACKGROUND Hip fractures occur in 280,000 North Americans each year. Although surgeons have reached consensus with regard to the treatment of undisplaced fractures of the hip, the surgical treatment of displaced fractures remains controversial. Identifying surgeons' preferences in techniques, and the rationale for their choices, may aid in focusing educational activities to the orthopaedic community as well as planning future clinical trials. Our objective was to clarify current opinion with regard to the operative treatment of displaced fractures of the femoral neck. METHODS We used a cross-sectional survey design and a sample-to-redundancy strategy to examine surgeons' preferences in the treatment of displaced femoral neck fractures. We mailed this survey to members of the Orthopaedic Trauma Association and European-AO International-affiliated trauma centers. RESULTS Of 442 surgeons who received the questionnaire, 298 (67%) responded. The typical respondent was a North American man over the age of forty years who was in academic practice, supervised residents, had fellowship training in trauma, and worked in a low-volume center (<100 hip fractures per year), treating an equal proportion of displaced and undisplaced femoral neck fractures. Most surgeons believed that internal fixation was the procedure of choice in younger patients (those who are less than sixty years old) with a displaced fracture (Garden type III or IV). For patients over eighty years old with Garden type-III or IV fractures, almost all surgeons preferred arthroplasty. Respondents varied widely in their preferences for the treatment of patients who were sixty to eighty years old with a displaced fracture (Garden type III or IV) or active patients with a Garden type-III fracture. Many surgeons believed there was no difference between arthroplasty and internal fixation when considering mortality (45%), infection rates (30%), and quality of life (37%). Surgeons also revealed variable preferences in their choice of the optimal approach to arthroplasty for patients between sixty and eighty years old with a type-IV fracture (32% preferred unipolar; 41%, bipolar; and 17%, total hip arthroplasty) and in the optimal choice of implant for internal fixation. CONCLUSIONS While surgeons prefer internal fixation for younger patients and arthroplasty for older patients, they disagree about the optimal approach to the management of patients between sixty and eighty years old with a displaced fracture and active patients with a Garden type-III fracture. Surgeons also disagree on the optimal implants for internal fixation or arthroplasty.
Medicolegal aspects of vesicovaginal fistulae

Vesicovaginal ®stulae (VVF) are a common ®nding in developing countries, because there is a high incidence of prolonged obstructed labour [1±4]. In the Western world VVF are less common and usually associated with iatrogenic injury, especially obstetric and gynaecological procedures [5±8]. VVF may also result from pelvic malignancy and its treatment by radiotherapy [6,9]. The subsequent urinary incontinence caused by VVF has a profound affect on the patient's quality of life and is a common cause of medicolegal claims. This is frequently compounded by an unnecessary delay in repair of up to 3 months from the time of injury [5,6]. For a small ®stula, the treatment is initially conservative, as a small percentage will heal spontaneously; however, most will require surgery [10,11]. Operative intervention is associated with an 80±90% primary cure rate [1±7,12]. Surgery can be undertaken by either a gynaecologist or urologist, provided they are a specialist in the ®eld. The timing and type of repair used depend on the experience of the surgeon and the aetiology of the ®stula [13]. The incidence of medicolegal claims is increasing, especially in the ®eld of obstetrics and gynaecology. Urological injury occurring during obstetric and gynaecological procedures accounts for 10% of all claims and represents 19.6% of claims actually settled, with VVF accounting for the second highest cause of claims within gynaecology [14,15]. The avoidance, recognition and treatment of these ®stulae is therefore a signi®cant issue given the associated morbidity and medicolegal implications [16]. This review discusses the aetiology, presentation, management and prevention of obstetric, iatrogenic and radiotherapy-induced VVF [17].