Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
T-matrix determination of effective permittivity for three-dimensional dense random media

In this paper, we present a full wave method for determining the effective permittivity for random media in three dimensions. The type of media addressed is composed of spherical dielectric particles in a homogeneous dielectric background. The particle volume fraction ranges from 0 to 40% and dielectric contrast may be significantly different from the background medium. The method described relies on the T-matrix approach for solving Maxwell's equations using a spherical wave expansion in conjunction with a Monte-Carlo simulation for calculating the mean scattered field confined within a prescribed fictitious boundary. To find the effective permittivity, the mean scattered field is compared with that of a homogeneous scatterer whose shape is defined by the fictitious boundary and its dielectric constant is varied until the scattered fields are matched. A complete description of the T-matrix approach is given along with an explanation of why the recursive form of this technique (RATMA) cannot be used for addressing this problem. After the method development is completed, the results of our numerical technique are compared against the theoretical methods of the quasi crystalline approximation and the effective field approximation to demonstrate the region of validity of the theoretical methods. The examples contained within the paper use between 30 and 120 included spheres (with radii ranging from from ka=0.6 to 0.8) within a larger, fictitious sphere of diameter kD=8.4.
Systematic review of the effective components of psychosocial interventions delivered by care home staff to people with dementia

Objectives This review aims to understand what elements of psychosocial interventions are associated with improved outcomes for people with dementia to inform implementation in care homes. Design A systematic review of qualitative and quantitative intervention studies was undertaken. Eligibility criteria for included studies We included primary research studies evaluating psychosocial interventions that trained care home staff to deliver a specific intervention or that sought to change how staff delivered care to residents with dementia and reported staff and resident qualitative or quantitative outcomes. Methods We searched MEDLINE, PsychINFO and EMBASE electronic databases and hand-searched references up to May 2016. Quality of included papers was rated independently by 2 authors, using operationalised checklists derived from standard criteria. We discussed discrepancies and reached consensus. We conducted a narrative synthesis of quantitative and a thematic synthesis of qualitative findings to find what was effective immediately and in sustaining change. Results We identified 49 papers fulfilling predetermined criteria. We found a lack of higher quality quantitative evidence that effects could be sustained after psychosocial interventions finished with no evidence that interventions continued to work after 6 months. Qualitative findings suggest that staff valued interventions focusing on getting to know, understand and connect with residents with dementia. Successful elements of interventions included interactive training, post-training support, aiming to train most staff, retaining written materials afterwards and building interventions into routine care. Conclusions Psychosocial interventions can improve outcomes for staff and residents with dementia in care homes; however, many trial results are limited. Synthesis of qualitative findings highlight core components of interventions that staff value and feel improve care. These findings provide useful evidence to inform the development of sustainable, effective psychosocial interventions in care homes. Trial registration number CRD42015017621.
Characterizing individual communication patterns

The increasing availability of electronic communication data, such as that arising from e-mail exchange, presents social and information scientists with new possibilities for characterizing individual behavior and, by extension, identifying latent structure in human populations. Here, we propose a model of individual e-mail communication that is sufficiently rich to capture meaningful variability across individuals, while remaining simple enough to be interpretable. We show that the model, a cascading non-homogeneous Poisson process, can be formulated as a double-chain hidden Markov model, allowing us to use an efficient inference algorithm to estimate the model parameters from observed data. We then apply this model to two e-mail data sets consisting of 404 and 6,164 users, respectively, that were collected from two universities in different countries and years. We find that the resulting best-estimate parameter distributions for both data sets are surprisingly similar, indicating that at least some features of communication dynamics generalize beyond specific contexts. We also find that variability of individual behavior over time is significantly less than variability across the population, suggesting that individuals can be classified into persistent "types". We conclude that communication patterns may prove useful as an additional class of attribute data, complementing demographic and network data, for user classification and outlier detection-a point that we illustrate with an interpretable clustering of users based on their inferred model parameters.
Suicide and attempted suicide among older adults in Western Australia

Background. Suicide rates are high in later life. Risk factors include male sex and depressive illness. This study investigated the relationship between suicidal behaviour and contact with mental health services among the elderly in Western Australia. Methods. Record linkage was used to obtain records of hospital admissions and mental health service contacts for all suicide attempts and deaths in the period 1980–95. Standardized incidence ratios were calculated for the elderly, general population and people with mental health service contacts. Cox regression was used to evaluated potential risk factors for elderly people who were in contact with mental health services. Results. People over 60 years of age accounted for 15% of suicides and 4·6% of attempted suicides. Suicide rates were 3·3 times higher in males and 4·4 times higher in females when compared to the general population of elderly people. For attempted suicide, the rate was 5·8 times higher in males and 6·6 times higher in females with prior contact with mental health services. Highest risk of suicide was found in patients with diagnoses of affective psychoses (RR = 3·7), adjustment reaction (RR = 3·2) or depressive disorder (RR = 2·8). The diagnosis of cancer was associated with decreased risk of suicide (RR = 3·6) and attempted suicide (RR = 1·9). Conclusions. Suicide rates are high among the elderly in Western Australia. Suicide is significantly associated with the diagnosis of mood disorder. Suicide attempts are less common, and are associated most strongly with mood and personality disorders. The decreased risk of self-harm behaviour among patients with cancer warrants further investigation.
Impact of Network-Awareness on Profile Migration

A content-based data dissemination network routes messages to users based on their profiles. Our focus is on the design of a overlay network based filtering architecture capable of disseminating high bandwidth and high volume data streams to a large user population. This paper shows that networkaware profile assignment significantly improves the overall system throughput by jointly considering node-bound and link-bound constraints of the overlay network. Our main contribution is the design of a fully-distributed algorithm for dynamic profile movement in order to adapt to the changing network conditions. Each node in the system executes the proposed algorithm independently so that the system as a whole adapts and converges to a high-throughput operating point by efficiently utilizing the network resources. We identify the critical requirements to meet the automatic reconfiguration goal and use the insights in designing the algorithm. Based on extensive simulation study, we show that we are able to improve the system throughput by more than 80% in most of the cases and by as much as 200% in some scenarios.
Effect of the protein corona on nanoparticles for modulating cytotoxicity and immunotoxicity

Although the cytotoxicity of nanoparticles (NPs) is greatly influenced by their interactions with blood proteins, toxic effects resulting from blood interactions are often ignored in the development and use of nanostructured biomaterials for in vivo applications. Protein coronas created during the initial reaction with NPs can determine the subsequent immunological cascade, and protein coronas formed on NPs can either stimulate or mitigate the immune response. Along these lines, the understanding of NP-protein corona formation in terms of physiochemical surface properties of the NPs and NP interactions with the immune system components in blood is an essential step for evaluating NP toxicity for in vivo therapeutics. This article reviews the most recent developments in NP-based protein coronas through the modification of NP surface properties and discusses the associated immune responses.
Stochastic sub-grid modeling of drop breakup for LES of atomizing spray

Injection of a liquid jet at relatively high liquid-to-gas velocity ratios leads to very complex physical phenomena, involving the stripping of filaments from distorted liquid surfaces, turbulence-induced breakup, multiple droplet collision, etc., causing atomization. This gives rise to a broad spectrum of droplet sizes at various locations from the injector. Kolmogorov (1941) described the breakup of droplets as a discrete random process, where the probability that a parent particle breaks into a given number of droplets is independent of the parent particle size. From Lyapunov’s theorem, Kolmogorov pointed out that such a general assumption leads to a log-normal distribution of particle size in the long-time limit. Predicting these probability distributions of droplet sizes due atomization is the crux of sheet-breakup modeling. In the present work, the process of atomization is considered in the framework of a cascade of uncorrelated breakage events, independent of the initial droplet size. The cascade idea of droplet-sheet breakup due to Kolmogorov is explored by developing a stochastic sub-grid model for the production of new droplets. Finding a probability distribution function for droplet radii, during each breakup period, by solving a stochastic differential equation may give a more realistic prediction of the breakup process. A detailed theoretical analysis of Kolmogorov’s model assuming the breakup frequency to depend on the radius of the parent particle, was performed by Gorokhovski & Saveliev (2001). It was shown that in the long time-limit, Kolmogorov’s scaling symmetry of breakup implies fractal properties of the particle-size distribution. The photographic examination of an atomizing spray (Liu & Reitz (1993), Zhou & Yu (2000), Shavit & Chigier (1995)) also shows that atomization at high relative liquid-to-gas velocity is related to fractals implying that in a broad interval of droplet radius variation, somewhere between the initial and the maximum stable radii, there exists no distinguishable characteristic length scale. Following these observations, Kolmogorov’s idea of droplet breakup seems appropriate to model the complex fragmentary process of liquid atomization.
Killing of Cryptococcus neoformans strains by human neutrophils and monocytes

The susceptibility of various strains of Cryptococcus neoformans to killing by human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) and monocytes was investigated. Five previously characterized strains of C. neoformans serotype A, a capsule-free mutant, and six recent clinical isolates were compared. PMNs and monocytes were isolated from normal peripheral blood and allowed to adhere to the flat-bottom wells of microtiter plates. Yeast cells of C. neoformans were added in the presence of normal human serum, and the plates were incubated at 37 degrees C. After 4 h, killing was determined by comparing the quantitative plate counts of viable yeast cells in experimental wells with counts in control wells containing yeast cells in the absence of leukocytes. No appreciable growth of yeast cells occurred in the wells during the incubation period. Both PMNs and monocytes effectively killed yeast cells at effector-to-target ratios as low as 1:1, although monocytes failed to kill the capsule-free strain 602 at a 1:1 ratio. With 9 of 12 strains, PMNs killed C. neoformans more effectively than did monocytes. Significant interstrain variation in killing occurred for both monocytes and PMNs, and the recent, clinical isolates were more resistant to killing by monocytes and PMNs than were the previously characterized strains. The extent to which different strains were killed by monocytes and PMNs was not consistently related to the size of the capsule or the entire cell. Normal PMNs and monocytes are remarkably effective in killing strains of C. neoformans in the absence of specific antibody and appear to constitute a significant defense mechanism in the peripheral circulation.
The effect of Social Relationships, Social Exchange, and Motivation and Ability to Access Information on Electronic Word-of-Mouth in Social Networking sites

The impact of electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM) on consumer purchase decisions in social networking sites (SNSs) has been an very important topic to researchers and practitioners. Friends on the SNSs, via Web connections, conversation, and collaboration, create product recommendations and eWOM. Previously, when consumers needed information, they usually through marketing channels such as TV advertising or network advertising to get product-related information; however, there are more consumers through their friends on the SNSs to get these useful eWOM now. This paper focuses on social relationships (social ties, trust, and identification), social exchange (reciprocity and enjoyment helping), and motivation and ability to access information (motivation to access information and ability to access information) in the SNSs to explore its impact on cognition and affective attitudes, and then have the eWOM effect. The research method is survey, and the research subject is the users on SNSs. We take online questionnaire to investigate these users’ eWOM intention and their opinions. The survey results from 212 participants on the SNS suggest that trust and motivation to access information are positively associated with users’ cognition and affective attitudes, whereas ability to access information only affects the cognition attitudes. In addition, users’ cognitive attitude positively influences users’ affective attitude and eWOM intention. Taken together, the paper provides insight into theses factors that shape eWOM and outlines additional questions that deserve further study.
Performance of Parallel Eigensolvers on Electronic Structure Calculations II

Many models employed to solve problems in quantum mechanics, such as electronic structure calculations, result in both linear and nonlinear eigenproblems. Solutions to the nonlinear problems, such as the Self-Consistent Field method, typically involve iterative schemes requiring the solution of a large symmetric linear eigenproblem during each iteration. This paper evaluates the performance of various popular and new parallel symmetric linear eigensolvers applied to such eigenproblems in electronic structure calculations on the IBM distributed memory supercomputer at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Results using established routines from ScaLAPACK and vendor optimized packages are presented, as well as from three recently developed parallel eigensolvers, two implementations of the Multiple Relatively Robust Representations algorithm and the block divide-andconquer algorithm. This paper updates an earlier version of this work reported in University of Tennessee Technical Report UT-CS-05-560 by Ward, Bai & Pratt in 2005 [33].
Carotid Body Tumors: Objective Criteria to Predict the Shamblin Group on MR Imaging

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: MR imaging is an established method for diagnosis and surgical planning of carotid body tumors (CBTs). However no studies have elaborated preoperative objective criteria to predict the Shamblin (surgical) classification of CBTs, an important predictor of vascular morbidity. The purpose of this study was to establish criteria to accurately predict the Shamblin group on preoperative MR imaging for a uniform reporting system. MATERIALS AND METHODS: MR images of 9 CBTs in 8 consecutive patients who underwent surgery between 2004 and 2007 were reviewed at a tertiary cancer hospital. The surgical records were blinded to the radiologists. A radiologic classification into 3 types (I, II, and III) based on the maximum degree of circumferential contact of the tumor with the internal carotid artery (ICA) was attempted and correlated with the Shamblin group in surgical records. RESULTS: There were 5 type III, 3 type II, and 1 type I tumors. The type I tumor had an ICA maximum circumference of contact less than or equal to 180°, type II tumors had more than 180° and less than 270°, and type III tumors had a maximum circumference of contact of 270° of more. MR imaging accurately predicted the Shamblin group in 8 (100%) of 8 operated tumors. Tumor size and Shamblin group did not have a uniformly predictable relation. CONCLUSIONS: Shamblin group can be predicted preoperatively on MR imaging, and the maximum degree of circumferential contact of the CBT with the ICA on axial images is the criterion to predict the Shamblin group.
The hows and whys of face memory: level of construal influences the recognition of human faces

Three experiments investigated the influence of level of construal (i.e., the interpretation of actions in terms of their meaning or their details) on different stages of face memory. We employed a standard multiple-face recognition paradigm, with half of the faces inverted at test. Construal level was manipulated prior to recognition (Experiment 1), during study (Experiment 2) or both (Experiment 3). The results support a general advantage for high-level construal over low-level construal at both study and at test, and suggest that matching processing style between study and recognition has no advantage. These experiments provide additional evidence in support of a link between semantic processing (i.e., construal) and visual (i.e., face) processing. We conclude with a discussion of implications for current theories relating to both construal and face processing.
A living thick nanofibrous implant bifunctionalized with active growth factor and stem cells for bone regeneration

New-generation implants focus on robust, durable, and rapid tissue regeneration to shorten recovery times and decrease risks of postoperative complications for patients. Herein, we describe a new-generation thick nanofibrous implant functionalized with active containers of growth factors and stem cells for regenerative nanomedicine. A thick electrospun poly(ε-caprolactone) nanofibrous implant (from 700 μm to 1 cm thick) was functionalized with chitosan and bone morphogenetic protein BMP-7 as growth factor using layer-by-layer technology, producing fish scale-like chitosan/BMP-7 nanoreservoirs. This extracellular matrix-mimicking scaffold enabled in vitro colonization and bone regeneration by human primary osteoblasts, as shown by expression of osteocalcin, osteopontin, and bone sialoprotein (BSPII), 21 days after seeding. In vivo implantation in mouse calvaria defects showed significantly more newly mineralized extracellular matrix in the functionalized implant compared to a bare scaffold after 30 days’ implantation, as shown by histological scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive X-ray microscopy study and calcein injection. We have as well bifunctionalized our BMP-7 therapeutic implant by adding human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs). The activity of this BMP-7-functionalized implant was again further enhanced by the addition of hMSCs to the implant (living materials), in vivo, as demonstrated by the analysis of new bone formation and calcification after 30 days’ implantation in mice with calvaria defects. Therefore, implants functionalized with BMP-7 nanocontainers associated with hMSCs can act as an accelerator of in vivo bone mineralization and regeneration.
Canine Genomics and Genetics: Running with the Pack

ABSTRACT The domestication of the dog from its wolf ancestors is perhaps the most complex genetic experiment in history, and certainly the most extensive. Beginning with the wolf, man has created dog breeds that are hunters or herders, big or small, lean or squat, and independent or loyal. Most breeds were established in the 1800s by dog fanciers, using a small number of founders that featured traits of particular interest. Popular sire effects, population bottlenecks, and strict breeding programs designed to expand populations with desirable traits led to the development of what are now closed breeding populations, with limited phenotypic and genetic heterogeneity, but which are ideal for genetic dissection of complex traits. In this review, we first discuss the advances in mapping and sequencing that accelerated the field in recent years. We then highlight findings of interest related to disease gene mapping and population structure. Finally, we summarize novel results on the genetics of morphologic variation.
Lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase: old friend or foe in atherosclerosis?

Lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) is a key enzyme that catalyzes the esterification of free cholesterol in plasma lipoproteins and plays a critical role in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) metabolism. Deficiency leads to accumulation of nascent preβ-HDL due to impaired maturation of HDL particles, whereas enhanced expression is associated with the formation of large, apoE-rich HDL1 particles. In addition to its function in HDL metabolism, LCAT was believed to be an important driving force behind macrophage reverse cholesterol transport (RCT) and, therefore, has been a subject of great interest in cardiovascular research since its discovery in 1962. Although half a century has passed, the importance of LCAT for atheroprotection is still under intense debate. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the insights that have been gained in the past 50 years on the biochemistry of LCAT, the role of LCAT in lipoprotein metabolism and the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis in animal models, and its impact on cardiovascular disease in humans.
Contraction-induced enhancement of relaxation during high force contractions of mouse lumbrical muscle at 37°C

ABSTRACT Repeated stimulation of unfatigued rodent fast-twitch skeletal muscle accelerates the kinetics of tension relaxation through an unknown mechanism. This effect varies with muscle type and stimulation parameters, and has been observed at physiological temperatures for submaximal but not maximal contractions. The purpose of this study was to compare relaxation kinetics of C57BL/6 mouse lumbrical muscles ex vivo from maximal isometric force (500 Hz for 20 ms) when evoked before (pre) and after (post) an intervening tetanic contraction at 37°C. During post contractions, we noted significant increases in the rate of tension decline during both the slow linear phase and the fast exponential phase of relaxation, as well as a reduced duration of the slow phase of relaxation compared with pre contractions (all P<0.05). This is the first demonstration of enhanced slow and fast relaxation phases from maximal isometric tension induced by prior stimulation in intact muscle at a physiological temperature. Summary: The fast and slow phases of relaxation from high force isometric contractions can be enhanced following electrically evoked contraction of intact mouse lumbrical muscle at physiological temperatures.