Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Superpave binder properties and the role of viscosity

An output from the asphalt component of the US Strategic Highways Research Program has been the introduction of the Dynamic Shear Rheometer (DSR) into routine testing and the specification control of bituminous binders used in road construction. With unfamiliar terminology and a challenging set of new properties, the DSR has presented many users with concepts difficult to grasp and researchers with a wide range of testing and property options. This paper has been developed to place the DSR derived Superpave properties into the context of conventional tests and compares the development of the US Superpave properties with the Austroads Elastometer based properties used in Australian modified binder specifications. Information on the basic flow and characteristics of bituminous binders is presented as an aid to understanding the more complex SHRP concepts. (a) For the covering entry of this conference, please see ITRD abstract no. E216180.
Abnormal patterns of breathing during swallowing in neurological disorders.

Swallowing momentarily inhibits breathing, and normally the great majority of apnoeas which accompany a swallow are followed by expiration (xE swallows). This swallowing-breathing interaction is regarded as one of several mechanisms by which the airway is protected from aspiration during swallowing. The purpose of this study was to investigate the interaction of breathing and swallowing in two groups of neurological patients. Twenty-two patients with defined neurological disorders involving various structures or pathways (brain, spinal cord and peripheral nerves) were studied to determine whether particular lesions resulted in breakdown of the normal breathing pattern (22 normal subjects were also assessed and their breathing-swallowing pattern was compared with that of neurological patients). Subsequently, 32 patients with motor neurone disease (MND) were studied to identify factors associated with an abnormal pattern (i.e. swallow apnoeas followed by inspiration) and to clarify whether an abnormal pattern is related to chest infections, episodes of coughing and choking during meals, and prognosis. The swallow apnoea in patients with brain, spinal cord and peripheral neurological diseases was followed by inspiration more frequently than expected [20/22 (91%) patients compared with 2/22 (9%) of normal subjects, P: < 0.001], but this was not associated with a specific site of lesion(s). However, patients with corticobulbar involvement tended to have post-apnoea inspiration more often than those without. MND patients commonly displayed an abnormal pattern during swallowing [14/32 (44%) patients] characterized by inspiration after swallow, prolonged swallow apnoea and multiple swallows per bolus. Over the period of follow-up (12-18 months) this pattern did not predict chest infections, coughing and choking episodes during meals or survival. It seems likely that post-swallowing apnoea inspiration is a non-specific concomitant of disordered swallowing and/or breathing rather than being an important mechanism of aspiration per se or of symptom production.
Emerging Evidence on Neutrophil Motility Supporting Its Usefulness to Define Vitamin C Intake Requirements

Establishing intake recommendations for vitamin C remains a challenge, as no suitable functional parameter has yet been agreed upon. In this report, we review the emerging evidence on neutrophil motility as a possible marker of vitamin C requirements and put the results in perspective with other approaches. A recent in vitro study showed that adequate levels of vitamin C were needed for this function to work optimally when measured as chemotaxis and chemokinesis. In a human study, neutrophil motility was optimal at intakes ≥250 mg/day. Interestingly, a Cochrane review showed a significant reduction in the duration of episodes of common cold with regular vitamin C intakes in a similar range. Additionally, it was shown that at a plasma level of 75 µmol/L, which is reached with vitamin C intakes ≥200 mg/day, incidences of cardiovascular disease were lowest. This evidence would suggest that daily intakes of 200 mg vitamin C might be advisable for the general adult population, which can be achieved by means of a diverse diet. However, additional studies are warranted to investigate the usefulness of neutrophil motility as a marker of vitamin C requirements.
Efficient asymmetric co-tracking using uncertainty sampling

Adaptive tracking-by-detection approaches are popular for tracking arbitrary objects. They treat the tracking problem as a classification task and use online learning techniques to update the object model. However, these approaches are heavily invested in the efficiency and effectiveness of their detectors. Evaluating a massive number of samples for each frame (e.g., obtained by a sliding window) forces the detector to trade the accuracy in favor of speed. Furthermore, mis-classification of borderline samples in the detector introduce accumulating errors in tracking. In this study, we propose a co-tracking based on the efficient cooperation of two detectors: a rapid adaptive exemplar-based detector and another more sophisticated but slower detector with a long-term memory. The sampling labeling and co-learning of the detectors are conducted by an uncertainty sampling unit, which improves the speed and accuracy of the system. We also introduce a budgeting mechanism which prevents the unbounded growth in the number of examples in the first detector to maintain its rapid response. Experiments demonstrate the efficiency and effectiveness of the proposed tracker against its baselines and its superior performance against state-of-the-art trackers on various benchmark videos.
A New Performance Evaluation Technique for Web Information Retrieval Systems

The performance evaluation of an information retrieval system is a decisive aspect for the measure of the improvements in search technology. Our work intends to provide a framework to compare and contrast the performance of search engines in a research environment. In this way, we have designed and developed USim, a tool for the performance evaluation of Web IR systems based on the simulation of users' behavior. This simulation tool contributes in the performance evaluation process in two ways: estimating the saturation threshold of the system and in the comparison of different search algorithms or engines. The latter point is the most interesting because, as we demonstrated, the comparison using different workload environments will achieve more accurate results (avoiding erroneous conclusions derived from ideal environments). From a general point of view, USim intends to be an approximation to some new performance evaluation techniques specifically developed for the Internet search engines.
Carney complex: the first 20 years

Purpose of review The purpose of this review is to comment on the current findings on Carney complex, a dominantly inherited disease and a unique multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome. Recent findings Sequencing of the PRKAR1A gene in more than 150 kindreds has revealed a number of pathogenic mutations; in more than 90% of the cases, the sequence change was predicted to lead to a premature stop codon and, thus, mutant mRNAs were subject to nonsense-mediated mRNA decay. In Carney complex syndrome cells carrying these mutations, protein kinase A activity is irregularly stimulated by cAMP. Mutations that did not lead to a premature stop codon have also been described; these were also associated with abnormal protein kinase A activity. Animal models of the disease have been recently developed; they reproduced some of the stigmata of Carney complex syndrome but not all. Genetic testing of patients' family members has been introduced in recent years, leading to early detection and a better overall prognosis. Summary New treatments have yet to be applied; the elucidation of the molecular pathways regulated by PRKAR1A holds the promise of leading to molecularly designed therapies.
Ambient temperature response establishes ELF3 as a required component of the core Arabidopsis circadian clock

Circadian clocks synchronize internal processes with environmental cycles to ensure optimal timing of biological events on daily and seasonal time scales. External light and temperature cues set the core molecular oscillator to local conditions. In Arabidopsis, EARLY FLOWERING 3 (ELF3) is thought to act as an evening-specific repressor of light signals to the clock, thus serving a zeitnehmer function. Circadian rhythms were examined in completely dark-grown, or etiolated, null elf3-1 seedlings, with the clock entrained by thermocycles, to evaluate whether the elf3 mutant phenotype was light-dependent. Circadian rhythms were absent from etiolated elf3-1 seedlings after exposure to temperature cycles, and this mutant failed to exhibit classic indicators of entrainment by temperature cues, consistent with global clock dysfunction or strong perturbation of temperature signaling in this background. Warm temperature pulses failed to elicit acute induction of temperature-responsive genes in elf3-1. In fact, warm temperature-responsive genes remained in a constitutively “ON” state because of clock dysfunction and, therefore, were insensitive to temperature signals in the normal time of day-specific manner. These results show ELF3 is broadly required for circadian clock function regardless of light conditions, where ELF3 activity is needed by the core oscillator to allow progression from day to night during either light or temperature entrainment. Furthermore, robust circadian rhythms appear to be a prerequisite for etiolated seedlings to respond correctly to temperature signals.
Use of Surface Electromyography (EMG) in the Diagnosis of Childhood Hypertonia: A Pilot Study

In children, increased tone in a joint can be caused by spasticity, dystonia, rigidity, or mechanical limitations such as contracture. Determination of the cause of hypertonia is important for selection of appropriate therapy, but distinction between the types of hypertonia is difficult in a clinical setting. We present results of a pilot test of the use of a portable surface electromyography (EMG) device for the evaluation of hypertonia. Seven children 5–17 years of age with hypertonia due to cerebral palsy were each examined by 6 clinicians, both with and without the use of surface EMG. The use of surface EMG resulted in an increase in interrater agreement as well as an increase in the self-reported confidence of the clinicians in their assessment. These results support the importance of further testing of surface EMG as an adjunct to the clinical examination of childhood hypertonia.
Wnt/Β-Catenin and Sex Hormone Signaling In Endometrial Homeostasis and Cancer

A delicate balance between estrogen and progestagen signaling underlies proper functioning of the female reproductive tract and, in particular, the monthly re- and degenerative phases characteristic of the menstrual cycle. Here, we propose that the canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway may underlie this finely tuned hormonal equilibrium in endometrial homeostasis and, upon its constitutive activation, lead to neoplastic transformation of the endometrium. During the menstrual cycle, estradiol will enhance Wnt/β-catenin signaling in the proliferative phase, while progesterone inhibits Wnt/β-catenin signaling, thus restraining estrogens' proliferative actions, during the secretory phase. In case of enhanced or unopposed estrogen signaling, constitutive activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling will trigger endometrial hyperplasia, which may develop further into endometrial cancer.
Ordinal position and afferent input of neurons in monkey striate cortex

From the extracellular recording of single units in the monkey striate cortex and electrical stimulation at two selected sites in the optic radiations it was possible to estimate (1) the ordinal position of striate neurons (i.e., whether they received a monosynaptic, disynaptic or polysynaptic input from the thalamus) and (2) the nature of the afferent input to these neurons (i.e., whether it came from the magnocellular or parvocellular subdivision of the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN)). Based on receptive field properties six major classes of striate neuron were identified—three which lacked orientation specificity (the ON‐center, the OFF‐center, and the ON/OFF or nonoriented (N‐0) receptive fields) and three with orientation specific responses (the S, the C, and the B categories of receptive field). Units lacking orientation specificity were concentrated in laminae 4A, 4Cβ and 6 while, for the cells with orientation specificity, C cells were found in laminae 4B and 6, B cells in 2/3 and 5, and S cells predominantly in laminae 2/3, 4Cα, and 5.
Communication: Words and Conceptual Systems

Words (phrases or symbols) play a key role in human life. Word (phrase or symbol) representation is the fundamental problem for knowledge representation and understanding. A word (phrase or symbol) usually represents a name of a category. However, it is always a challenge that how to represent a category can make it easily understood. In this paper, a new representation for a category is discussed, which can be considered a generalization of classic set. In order to reduce representation complexity, the economy principle of category representation is proposed. The proposed category representation provides a powerful tool for analyzing conceptual systems, relations between words, communication, knowledge, situations. More specifically, the conceptual system, word relations and communication are mathematically defined and classified such as ideal conceptual system, perfect communication and so on; relation between words and sentences is also studied, which shows that knowledge are words. Furthermore, how conceptual systems and words depend on situations is presented, and how truth is defined is also discussed.
The Case for Low-Power Photonic Networks on Chip

Packet-switched networks on chip (NoC) have been advocated as a natural communication mechanism among the processing cores in future chip multiprocessors (CMP). However, electronic NoCs do not directly address the power budget problem that limits the design of high-performance chips in nanometer technologies. We make the case for a hybrid approach to NoC design that combines a photonic transmission layer with an electronic control layer. A comparative power analysis with a fully-electronic NoC shows that large bandwidths can be exchanged at dramatically lower power consumption.
Rapid detection of 3500Q and 3531 mutations and MspI polymorphism in exon 26 at the apolipoprotein B gene

Several environmental and genetic factors are associated with high levels of cholesterol. Hypercholesterolemia is the main phenotype of Familial Defective Apolipoprotein B and Familial Hypercholesterolemia that are caused by mutations at the apolipoprotein (apo) B and LDL receptor genes, respectively. Identification of the specific genetic alteration associated with hypercholesterolemia is an important issue in clinical diagnosis of high risk for CAD. Apo B gene mutations and polymorphisms are usually screened by SSCP, DGGE, and heteroduplex, which must be confirmed by DNA sequencing or by direct detection using PCR techniques. In this study, we have optimized a PCR‐RFLP procedure for identification of 3500Q and 3531 mutations and MspI polymorphism at the apo B gene. The technique can be performed in a single reaction, using the restriction endonuclease MspI for simultaneous detection of 3500Q mutation and MspI polymorphism, and NsiI for detection of 3531 mutation. The procedure was validated by analysis of control DNA samples from individuals carrying these mutations. Screening of 186 Brazilian hypercholesterolemic individuals showed that the frequency of the M‐allele (7.8%) of MspI polymorphism was similar to that found in other individuals with CAD. However, neither 3500Q nor 3531 mutations were detected in this group. In conclusion, this procedure is simple and rapid, being easily introduced in clinical laboratories for direct detection of the more frequent mutations at the apo B gene associated with hypercholesterolemia. J. Clin. Lab. Anal. 15:35–39, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Incidence and prognosis of cancer following heart transplantation using RATG induction therapy

Cancer limits survival following heart transplantation. The study's objectives were to evaluate the incidence and risk factors for cancers after heart transplantation and to assess the association between i.v. thymoglobuline induction therapy [rabbit antithymocyte immunoglobulin, (RATG)] and neoplasia. From 1982 to 2002, prospective data were gathered for 207 heart transplant recipients. Except from 1982 to 1987, all patients received a 3‐day course of i.v. RATG following transplantation. Forty‐three malignant neoplasms (21%) were diagnosed. The most common were: skin (42%), lung (12%), prostate (9%), genitourinary (9%) and lymphoma (5%). Mean length of follow‐up after transplantation was 99 ± 57 months. Mean survival after diagnosis was 52 ± 44 months. Multivariate analysis showed no significant increase in the incidence of cancer with recipient age, sex, number of rejection episodes, the type of immunosuppression or the use of RATG. Patients receiving RATG developed their malignancies significantly earlier after transplantation (P =0.007) and succumbed faster after the diagnosis (P = 0.06). Cancer is a limiting event for long‐term survival after heart transplantation. No individual risk factors allow predicting its development. In the present cohort, RATG does not have carcinogenic effects following transplantation, but is associated with a more precocious development of malignancies.
p53 Activation in Chronic Radiation-Treated Breast Cancer Cells

Mammalian cells chronically exposed to ionizing radiation (IR) induce stress response with a tolerance to the subsequent cytotoxicity of IR. Although p53 is well documented in IR response, the signaling network causing p53 activation in chronic IR remains to be identified. Using breast carcinoma MCF+FIR cells that showed a transient radioresistance after exposure chronically to fractionated IR (FIR), the present study shows that the basal DNA binding and transcriptional activity of p53 was elevated by FIR. p53-controlled luciferase activity was strikingly induced (∼7.9-fold) with little enhancement of p53/DNA binding activity (∼1.3-fold). The phosphorylated p53 (Thr 55) was increased in the cytoplasm and nucleus of MCF+FIR but not in the sham-FIR control cells. On the contrary, the sham-FIR control MCF-7 cells showed a low p53 luciferase transcription (∼3-fold) but a striking enhancement of p53/DNA binding (12-fold) after 5 Gy of IR. To determine the signaling elements regulating p53 activity, DNA microarray of MCF+FIR using sham-FIR MCF-7 cells as a reference demonstrated that the mRNA of p21, MDM2, and p14ARF was up-regulated. Time course Western blot analysis, however, showed no difference in p21 induction. In contrast, MDM2 that was absent in control cells and was predominantly induced by IR was not induced in MCF+FIR cells. In agreement with MDM2 inhibition, MDM2-inhibitory protein p14ARF was increased in MCF+FIR cells. In summary, these results demonstrate that up-regulation of p14ARF paralleled with MDM2 inhibition contributes to p53 accumulation in the nucleus and causes a high responsiveness of p53 in chronic IR-treated breast cancer cells.
The Enterprise Ontology

This is a comprehensive description of the Enterprise Ontology, a collection of terms and definitions relevant to business enterprises. We state its intended purposes, describe how we went about building it, define all the terms and describe our experiences in converting these into formal definitions. We then describe how we used the Enterprise Ontology and give an evaluation which compares the actual uses with original purposes. We conclude by summarising what we have learned. The Enterprise Ontology was developed within the Enterprise Project, a collaborative effort to provide a framework for enterprise modelling. The ontology was built to serve as a basis for this framework which includes methods and a computer tool set for enterprise modelling. We give an overview of the Enterprise Project, elaborate on the intended use of the ontology, and give a brief overview of the process we went through to build it. The scope of the Enterprise Ontology covers those core concepts required for the project, which will appeal to a wider audience. We present natural language definitions for all the terms, starting with the foundational concepts (e.g. entity, relationship, actor). These are used to define the main body of terms, which are divided into the following subject areas: activities, organisation, strategy and marketing. We review some of the things learned during the formalisation process of converting the natural language definitions into Ontolingua. We identify and propose solutions for what may be general problems occurring in the development of a wide range of ontologies in other domains. We then characterise in general terms the sorts of issues that will be faced when converting an informal ontology into a formal one. Finally, we describe our experiences in using the Enterprise Ontology. We compare these with the intended uses, noting our successes and failures. We conclude with an overall evaluation and summary of what we have learned.
An XMM–Newton observation of the massive edge-on Sb galaxy NGC 2613

We present an XMM-Newton observation of the massive edge-on Sb galaxy NGC 2613. We discover that this galaxy contains a deeply embedded active nucleus with a 0.3-10 keV luminosity of 3.3 x 10 40 erg s -1 and a line-of-sight absorption column of 1.2 × 10 23 cm -2 . Within the 25 mag arcsec -2 optical B-band isophote of the galaxy, we detect an additional four sources with an accumulated luminosity of 4.3 x 10 39 erg s -1 . The bulk of the unresolved X-ray emission spatially follows the near-infrared (NIR) K-band surface brightness distribution; the luminosity ratio L X /L K ∼ 8 x 10 -4 is consistent with that inferred from galactic discrete sources. This X-ray-NIR association and the compatibility of the X-ray spectral fit with the expected spectrum of a population of discrete sources suggest that low-mass X-ray binaries (LMXBs) are the most likely emitters of the unresolved emission in the disc region. The remaining unresolved emission is primarily due to extraplanar hot gas. The luminosity of this gas is at least a factor of 10 less than that predicted by recent simulations of intergalactic gas accretion by such a massive galaxy with a circular rotation speed V c ∼ 304 km s -1 . Instead, we find that the extraplanar hot gas most likely represents discrete extensions away from the disc, including two 'bubble-like' features on either side of the nucleus. These extensions appear to correlate with radio continuum emission and, energetically, can be easily explained by outflows from the galactic disc.
Multi-Task Transfer Learning for Weakly-Supervised Relation Extraction

Creating labeled training data for relation extraction is expensive. In this paper, we study relation extraction in a special weakly-supervised setting when we have only a few seed instances of the target relation type we want to extract but we also have a large amount of labeled instances of other relation types. Observing that different relation types can share certain common structures, we propose to use a multi-task learning method coupled with human guidance to address this weakly-supervised relation extraction problem. The proposed framework models the commonality among different relation types through a shared weight vector, enables knowledge learned from the auxiliary relation types to be transferred to the target relation type, and allows easy control of the tradeoff between precision and recall. Empirical evaluation on the ACE 2004 data set shows that the proposed method substantially improves over two baseline methods.