Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of Size on the Failure of Geometrically Similar Concrete Beams Strengthened in Shear with FRP Strips

Fiber reinforced plastics (FRP) are commonly used for the strengthening of concrete members. For shear strengthening of beams, FRP strips can be bonded to the sides of the member alone, to both the sides and the bottom (i.e., the U configuration), or wrapped around the whole beam. For the various strengthening configurations, empirical equations have been proposed for predicting the contribution of strips to the shear capacity of the member. However, for the same strengthened member, the equations recommended by different design guidelines (American Concrete Institute, International Federation for Structural Concrete, and Japan Society for Civil Engineers) predict different shear capacities. Moreover, as the equations were obtained through the fitting of laboratory data on relatively small beams, their applicability to beams of practical sizes have not really been assessed. In the present investigation, geometrically similar beams with depth of 180, 360, and 720 mm were retrofitted in shear with carbon FR.
A tale of two frequencies: Determining the speed of lexical access for Mandarin Chinese and English compounds

Two picture naming experiments show that compound word production in Mandarin Chinese and in English is determined by the compound's whole-word frequency, and not by its constituent morpheme frequency. Four control experiments rule out that these results are caused by recognition or articulatory processes. These results are consistent with models of lexical access that assume compounds are stored in their full-form and that frequency affects the retrieval of whole words. The present results corroborate the results from previous studies that have investigated compound word production in Mandarin Chinese, but also differ from those previously reported on compound word production in Dutch. The possibility that this inconsistency arises due to cross-linguistic, or task differences is discussed.
Optimal planning of fast PEV charging facilities

This paper proposes a novel algorithm for optimal planning of plug-in electric vehicle (PEV) charging facilities. The proposed algorithm takes into consideration the stochastic nature of PEV mobility in terms of arrivals to and departures from the charging facility. The objective of the planning algorithm is to jointly determine the optimal number of deployed electric chargers and waiting space size in the charging facility so as to maximize the operator's expected profit. The expected profit accounts for the charging service price and the electricity cost, and penalizes a long waiting queue of PEVs and rejected PEV charging requests. The planning approach exploits the M/M/C/S queue structural properties and follows a simple search algorithm to reach the optimal solution. Numerical results are presented to demonstrate the performance of the planning algorithm.
Lower Bounds for the Capacitated Facility Location Problem Based on Column Generation

The capacitated facility location problem (CFLP) is a well-known combinatorial optimization problem with applications in distribution and production planning. A variety of lower bounds based on Lagrangean relaxation and subgradient optimization has been proposed for this problem. However, information about a primal (fractional) solution can be important to solve large or difficult problem instances. Therefore, we study various approaches for solving the master problems exactly. The algorithms employ different strategies for stabilizing the column-generation process. Furthermore, a new lower bound for the CFLP based on partitioning the plant set and employing column generation is proposed. Computational results are reported for a set of large problem instances.
The Mechanism of Neck-in Phenomenon in Film Casting Process

Abstract In this study, the non-isothermal viscoelastic simulation of the film casting process was carried out. Low-density polyethylene polymerized by a high-pressure process (LDPE) was used for the simulation. The LDPE exhibited strain hardening in elongational viscosity since it has long chain branching. The Phan-Thien/Tanner model, as a constitutive equation of the viscoelastic fluid, and temperature dependence of the Arrhenius law were employed for the simulation to investigate the effect of viscoelasticity on extrusion drawing, so-called neck-in phenomenon. We developed the theoretical model on the basis of deformation type and force balance of a film to recognize the mechanism of the neck-in phenomenon. It was confirmed from a combination of the simulation results and the theoretical model that neck-in was determined by the ratio of planar to uniaxial elongational viscosity rather than the strain hardening nature of a uniaxial elongational viscosity.
The experience of being 30-45 years of age and depending on haemodialysis treatment: a phenomenological study.

The aim of this study was to describe how haemodialysis (HD) patients, between 30 and 45 years of age, experience their dependence on HD treatment. Nine patients undergoing HD treatment were interviewed. The transcribed texts were analysed according to Giorgi's four basic principles. Being between 30 and 45 years of age and needing HD treatment meant experiencing a total lack of freedom, which was illuminated through the sub-themes: a sense of fear, dependency on caregivers, time lost in dialysis, feelings of loneliness and the stress of being on the waiting list for a new kidney. The participants felt that being dependent on HD treatment was 'not a real life' and that they were experiencing a double life of sorts: the life of dialysis versus their ordinary life outside treatment. The dependency on HD treatment was also expressed as a feeling that life 'stood still. ' The results also indicate that the participants expected to encounter competent healthcare professionals, and they emphasised the importance of providing support for younger HD patients by focusing on their ability to cope with their life situation.
Interaction-based HPC modeling of social, biological, and economic contagions over large networks

Modeling large-scale stochastic systems of heterogeneous individuals and their interactions, where multiple behaviors and contagions co-evolve with multiple interaction networks, requires high performance computing and agent-based simulations. We present graph dynamical systems as a formalism to reason about network dynamics and list phenomena from several application domains that have been modeled as graph dynamical systems to demonstrate its wide-ranging applicability. We describe and contrast three tools developed in our laboratory that use this formalism to model these systems. Beyond evaluating system dynamics, we are interested in understanding how to control contagion processes using resources both endogenous and exogenous to the system being investigated to support public policy decision-making. We address control methods, such as interventions, and provide illustrative simulation results.
A comparison of cross-over and cross-talk canceling digital predistorters for multiple antenna transmitters

Cross-over digital predistorter (CO-DPD) and cross-talk canceling predistorter (CTC-DPD) are two important architectures proposed to overcome the harmful effect of RF cross-talk before the power amplifiers (PA) on digital predistortion (DPD) in multiple antenna transmitters. The computational complexity of CO-DPD increases quadratically with the number of transmit antennas. The CTC-DPD which introduces a cross-talk pre-cancellation block after the DPD is computationally simpler. In this paper, the estimation of the coupling factors for CTC-DPD based on the linear section of the PA response is proposed. A comparison of the linearization performance and the computational complexity of CO-DPD and CTC-DPD is also presented.
Tomographic microinterferometry as a measurement tool for 3D micro-optical phase elements

This paper presents tomographic microinterferometry as a tool for determination of 3D refractive index distribution in optically transparent elements. Principles of method and exemplary results are obtained in laboratory system are given. Concept of insensitive for ambient influence field tomograph dedicated for fast determination of refractive index distribution is given. Decreasing of acquisition and computing time is achieved by reduction of number of views, for which measurements are taken. The influence of decreasing number of projection is analyzed in order to determine a certain compromise between the quality of n(x,y,z) reconstruction and time of measurement.
Folding and coloring problems in mathematics and physics

We review various folding problems arising in the physics of membranes and polymers. These are (1) the phantom folding of tethered membranes, i.e. the two-dimensional lattice folding; (2) the phantom folding of fluid membranes, i.e. the folding of tessellations of arbitrary genus; (3) the self-avoiding folding of polymers, i.e. the meander problem. All three problems are found to be related to coloring problems and possess one kind of underlying integrable structure, in different guises. Many mathematical results follow from taking advantage of this fact.
Impact of Stem Cells in Craniofacial Regenerative Medicine

Interest regarding stem cell based therapies for the treatment of congenital or acquired craniofacial deformities is rapidly growing. Craniofacial problems such as periodontal disease, cleft lip and palate, ear microtia, craniofacial microsomia, and head and neck cancers are not only common but also some of the most burdensome surgical problems worldwide. Treatments often require a multi-staged multidisciplinary team approach. Current surgical therapies attempt to reduce the morbidity and social/emotional impact, yet outcomes can still be unpredictable and unsatisfactory. The concept of harvesting stem cells followed by expansion, differentiation, seeding onto a scaffold and re-transplanting them is likely to become a clinical reality. In this review, we will summarize the translational applications of stem cell therapy in tissue regeneration for craniofacial defects.
Rhamnose biosynthesis in mycoplasmas requires precursor glycans larger than monosaccharide

Despite the apparent absence of genes coding for the known pathways for biosynthesis, the monosaccharide rhamnose was detected in the d configuration in Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Mycoplasma pulmonis, and in both the d and l configurations in Mycoplasma arthritidis. Surprisingly, the monosaccharide glucose was not a precursor for rhamnose biosynthesis and was not incorporated at detectable levels in glucose‐containing polysaccharides or glycoconjugates. In contrast, carbon atoms from starch, a polymer of glucose, were incorporated into rhamnose in each of the three species examined. When grown in a serum‐free medium supplemented with starch, M. arthritidis synthesized higher levels of rhamnose, with a shift in the relative amounts of the d and l configurations. Our findings suggest the presence of a novel pathway for rhamnose synthesis that is widespread in the genus Mycoplasma.
Surgical Management of Epiretinal Membrane with Indocyanine-Green-Assisted Peeling

Purpose: To evaluate the surgical results of pars plana vitrectomy with peeling of the inner limiting membrane (ILM) in a preliminary series of 28 eyes with macular epiretinal membrane (ERM). Methods: Pars plana vitrectomy with peeling of the ERM was performed on 28 eyes. All preretinal macular tissues were removed including the ILM after injection of indocyanine green (ICG) solution. Results: Postoperatively visual acuity improved within 3 months by at least 2 lines in 26 eyes. Neither the deterioration of the macula nor the recurrence of the ERM was observed during the entire period of review (6 months; range 4–8 months). Conclusions: Vitrectomy including ICG-assisted peeling of the ERM leads to an expedited resolution of the macular pucker and improvement of visual acuity, without subsequent formation of ERMs.
Clinical and Histological Aspects of CNV Formation: Studies in an Animal Model

The purpose of the present thesis was to develop an animal model of CNV in order to study the early formation of CNV and to test the effects of an anti‐angiogenic treatment. Porcine eyes were chosen as a substrate for CNV induction, since they are similar to human eyes in terms of both macroscopic and microscopic morphology. However, a major difference is that pigs lack a fovea; instead they have a visual streak, with a relatively stable and high concentration of cones. By surgical perforation of Bruch's membrane we were able to induce formation of CNV membranes. The morphology and cellular composition of these membranes varied with the surgical technique employed. When RPE cells were locally removed at the time of perforation, the resulting CNV was thinner, contained fewer blood vessels and was less prone to leak on fluorescein angiography than when RPE cells were left intact at induction. The neuroretina overlying the perforation site was not damaged by any of the surgical techniques, thus allowing the subsequent retinal damage to be ascribed to the actual process of CNV formation. Using this animal model allowed us to directly map histological findings onto fluorescein angiograms and thereby perform meaningful correlations between histopathologic and photographic features. Such correlations have been hampered in human subjects, since human eyes are not enucleated as a consequence of CNV and are therefore only available for post‐mortem studies. In such studies there often is a considerable time‐gap between the death of the patient and the latest available fluorescein angiogram, thereby allowing macular pathology to evolve in the interim. Histological examination of the porcine membranes demonstrated that they were composed of RPE cells, glial cells, macrophages, endothelial cells, collagen and smooth muscle fibres, which are the same cellular and fibrillar elements that dominate human CNV membranes. The porcine model was applied to test the effects, in a randomized and masked fashion, of intravitreally injected bevacizumab. Bevacizumab, a pan VEGF A antibody, was found to reduce both the proliferation of endothelial cells in CNV membranes and the propensity to leak in fluorescein angiograms. Immunohistochemically, bevacizumab was detected in the inner limiting membrane, in retinal blood vessels and binding uniformly to the entire CNV membrane without any cellular predisposition. Based on the above findings we believe that the porcine CNV model shows a bearing to human disease and therefore might be used as a tool to obtain improved treatments for this debilitating condition.
International Clones of Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli with Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamases in a Czech Hospital

ABSTRACT A 2-month survey of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) producers was performed in a Czech hospital. Klebsiella pneumoniae produced SHV-2, -5, or -12, Escherichia coli produced CTX-M-9 or -15, and other species produced TEM-92 or -132. All K. pneumoniae and E. coli isolates belonged to sequence types (STs) or clonal complexes (CCs) spread across the world (K. pneumoniae clonal complex 11 [CC11], CC14, and sequence type 101 [ST101] and E. coli CC31, CC73, CC131, and CC405) and carried various plasmids (mainly with A/C- and FII-type replicons).
A randomised, double-blind, multicentre, parallel-group, prospective study comparing the pharmacokinetics, safety, and efficacy of CT-P13 and innovator infliximab in patients with ankylosing spondylitis: the PLANETAS study

Objectives To compare the pharmacokinetics (PK), safety and efficacy of innovator infliximab (INX) and CT-P13, a biosimilar to INX, in patients with active ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Methods Phase 1 randomised, double-blind, multicentre, multinational, parallel-group study. Patients were randomised to receive 5 mg/kg of CT-P13 (n=125) or INX (n=125). Primary endpoints were area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) at steady state and observed maximum steady state serum concentration (Cmax,ss) between weeks 22 and 30. Additional PK, efficacy endpoints, including 20% and 40% improvement response according to Assessment in Ankylosing Spondylitis International Working Group criteria (ASAS20 and ASAS40), and safety outcomes were also assessed. Results Geometric mean AUC was 32 765.8 μgh/ml for CT-P13 and 31 359.3 μgh/ml for INX. Geometric mean Cmax,ss was 147.0 μg/ml for CT-P13 and 144.8 μg/ml for INX. The ratio of geometric means was 104.5% (90% CI 94% to 116%) for AUC and 101.5% (90% CI 95% to 109%) for Cmax,ss. ASAS20 and ASAS40 responses at week 30 were 70.5% and 51.8% for CT-P13 and 72.4% and 47.4% for INX, respectively. In the CT-P13 and INX groups more than one adverse event occurred in 64.8% and 63.9% of patients, infusion reactions occurred in 3.9% and 4.9%, active tuberculosis occurred in 1.6% and 0.8%, and 27.4% and 22.5% of patients tested positive for anti-drug antibodies, respectively. Conclusions The PK profiles of CT-P13 and INX were equivalent in patients with active AS. CT-P13 was well tolerated, with an efficacy and safety profile comparable to that of INX up to week 30.
Restoration of osseous homeostasis after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

Patients with symptomatic ACL insufficiency frequently develop regions of periarticular increased osseous metabolic activity that is detectable by technetium 99m-labeled methylene diphosphonate scintigraphy (Refs. 1, 6, 8; A. Alexander, et al., unpublished data, 1992). Over the years, we have gained experience with sequential technetium bone scans in the evaluation of patients with anterior knee pain2~5 and meniscal tears.3,4 We have found that the increased osseous metabolic activity detected by scintigraphy is often
Moment-based Modeling of Extended Defects for Simulation of TED: What Level of Complexity is Necessary?

Accurate modeling of extended defect kinetics is of primary importance for predictive modeling of transient enhanced diffusion (TED). Our previously developed model accurately accounts for extended defects and can be used predictively for TED. Using some experimental knowledge about the distribution of the extended defect population we can simplify our model. We demonstrate that reducing the number of solution variables by one doesn't affect the predictive capabilities of the model for extended defect kinetics and TED. However, some caution has to be used when applying the same principles to modeling of dopant deactivation.
Non-commutative Cartier operator and Hodge-to-de Rham degeneration

We introduce a version of the Cartier isomorphism for de Rham cohomology valid for associative, not necessarily commutative algebras over a field of positive characteristic. Using this, we imitate the well-known argument of P. Deligne and L. Iluusie and prove, in some cases, a conjecture of M. Kontsevich which claims that the Hodge-to-de Rham, a.k. a. Hochschild-to-cyclic spectral sequence degenerates.
Wide-range frequency offset estimator for DSP-based optical coherent receivers

We propose a hardware-efficient, feed-forward, wide-range frequency offset estimator for DSP-based optical coherent receivers, employed in 112 Gb/s PM-QPSK systems. This estimator is capable to estimate offsets in a range of ±5 GHz, using a simple relationship of signal spectrum. The obtained results show that this estimator is robust to spectrum asymmetry caused by electrical and optical filtering of the signal, even when using return-to-zero signals.
Toshiba ASKMi at NTCIR-4 QAC2

Toshiba participated in NTCIR-4 QAC2 Subtask 1: this is our first QAC participation. Using our newly developed Japanese QA system called ASKMi, we submitted two runs, one using Okapi/BM25 for document retrieval (TSB-A) and the other using Boolean AND constraintsbefore applyingOkapi/BM25(TSB-B). We achieved the 5th best performance among the 17 participants (8th and 9th among the 25 submitted runs). This paper briefly describes ASKMi, and analyses the formal run and oracle run results using Reciprocal Rank, as well as a new performance metric called Qmeasure which can handle multiple-answer questions and answer correctness levels.
CT and clinical correlation of stroke diagnosis, pattern and clinical outcome among stroke patients visting Tikur Anbessa Hospital.

BACKGROUND Stroke is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality and the most common neurological reason for hospitalizations world wide. Though stroke diagnosis is clinical, it is inaccurate in 10-15% of the cases and hence cross-sectional imaging, like CT and MRI, are necessary for accurate etiological diagnosis and advertent clinical management, and to rule out stroke mimics. OBJECTIVE To assess the CT and clinical pattern of stroke, their correlation, presentation, outcome, and risk factors of strokes in a teaching hospital setup. METHODS Retrospective chart review of clinically and CT diagnosed stroke patients diagnosed between January 2000 and March 2005 in Tikur Anbessa tertiary referral and teaching hospital. RESULTS Stroke accounted for 5% of all head CT indications done. Out of the eligible study population 55.7% were male with female to male ratio of 1.3:1. The mean age of the patients was 50.6 year (range 13-82). The main clinical presentation was hemi paresis (77.1%) and 20.8% were comatose with mean Glasgow coma scale of 5.7 +/- 2.8, stroke mortality was 21% and 31% had persistent neurological deficit. Clinical diagnosis was inaccurate in 30% of the patients, with low etiogical agreement between CT and clinical stroke subtypes diagnosis (Kappa = .334, 95CI .194-.474). On CT 54.8% patients had ischemic and 34.6% had hemorrhagic stroke diagnosis. The main risk factors were hypertension (52%) and Diabetes mellitus (26%). The mean duration of illness before CT diagnosis was 22 days (range 1 hr-360 days). CONCLUSION Stroke is not uncommon in our setting and associated with significant morbidity and mortality compounded by delayed diagnosis and possibly by less accurate etiological and clinical diagnosis. Therefore introduction and dissemination of CT service in public and private health institution should be encouraged.
Pose estimation for augmented reality applications using genetic algorithm

This paper describes a genetic algorithm that tackles the pose-estimation problem in computer vision. Our genetic algorithm can find the rotation and translation of an object accurately when the three-dimensional structure of the object is given. In our implementation, each chromosome encodes both the pose and the indexes to the selected point features of the object. Instead of only searching for the pose as in the existing work, our algorithm, at the same time, searches for a set containing the most reliable feature points in the process. This mismatch filtering strategy successfully makes the algorithm more robust under the presence of point mismatches and outliers in the images. Our algorithm has been tested with both synthetic and real data with good results. The accuracy of the recovered pose is compared to the existing algorithms. Our approach outperformed the Lowe's method and the other two genetic algorithms under the presence of point mismatches and outliers. In addition, it has been used to estimate the pose of a real object. It is shown that the proposed method is applicable to augmented reality applications.
Experimental Game Theory and Behavior Genetics

We summarize the findings from a research program studying the heritability of behavior in a number of widely used economic games, including trust, dictator, and ultimatum games. Results from the standard behavior genetic variance decomposition suggest that strategies and fundamental economic preference parameters are moderately heritable, with estimates ranging from 18 to 42%. In addition, we also report new evidence on so‐called “hyperfair” preferences in the ultimatum game. We discuss the implications of our findings with special reference to current efforts that seek to understand the molecular genetic architecture of complex social behaviors.