Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
On decomposing a hypergraph into k connected sub-hypergraphs

By applying the matroid partition theorem of J. Edmonds [1] to a hypergraphic generalization of graphic matroids, due to M. Lorea [3], we obtain a generalization of Tutte’s disjoint trees theorem for hypergraphs. As a corollary, we prove for positive integers k and q that every (kq)-edge-connected hypergraph of rank q can be decomposed into k connected sub-hypergraphs, a well-known result for q = 2. Another by-product is a connectivity-type sufficient condition for the existence of k edge-disjoint Steiner trees in a bipartite graph.
Metal organic framework based mixed matrix membranes: an overview on filler/polymer interfaces

Membrane technology for gas separation has attracted significant attention because of its low energy consumption. However, most polymeric membranes suffer from the trade-off between mass transport rates and separation efficiency. Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are promising candidates to fabricate mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) for gas separation due to their high surface area and porosity, adjustable pore sizes and controllable surface functionality. This review presents the recent opportunities and challenges faced in MOF-based MMM fabrication, emphasizing the MOFs/polymer interfacial morphology. The state-of-the-art solutions and strategies for improving the filler/matrix interface are reviewed and evaluated in detail. Finally, the characterisation and understanding of the MMM interface morphology and future research directions are outlined. This review will offer some insights for fabricating MMMs with optimal interface morphology and separation performance.
Modification of natural fibers from Thespesia lampas plant by in situ generation of silver nanoparticles in single-step hydrothermal method

Abstract Ligno-cellulosic fibers have a great market and propose higher value addition and options to develop various products but they do not have inherent antimicrobial properties. In this study, a simple hydrothermal method was applied to build up antimicrobial properties to natural fibers by in situ-generating silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in them. Herein, the ligno-cellulosic Thespesia lampas natural fibers were selected to develop antimicrobial activity using silver nitrate (AgNO3) solution by hydrothermal method. The modified fibers were characterized by SEM, FTIR, XRD, TGA, and antibacterial activity tests. The modified fibers had spherical AgNPs with an average size of 95 nm. The thermal stability of the modified fibers was higher than that of the unmodified fibers. The modified fibers exhibited good antibacterial activity against both the Gram negative and Gram positive bacteria. These modified fibers can be considered as fillers in polymer matrices to make antibacterial composites.
The effectiveness and ease of a one-step conditioning agent with conventional acid etch and priming in the placement of sealants: A 6-month follow-up

Objectives: The objective of the study was to evaluate the caries incidence of occlusal surfaces sealed using the two different techniques after 6 months and the ease of placement of sealant following the two techniques, for children and operator. Materials and Methods: Children between the age groups of 8–11 years and only mandibular molars were involved in the study; the techniques used for enamel preparation before sealant placement on the right and left side of the mandibular arch were randomized. On one side Adper™ SE plus and on the other side phosphoric acid etches together with Adper™ Single Bond 2 were used. Clinpro™ sealants were placed on both sides. The retention with these two techniques was compared after 6-month-based Color Coverage Caries system. The opinions of the children were taken on the two techniques that were used and recorded on individual questionnaires using Facial Grimace Scale and the operator by visual analog scale. Descriptive statistics carried out using SPSS (version 17.0). Results: Fifty-seven (95%) of the sixty children were available for the follow-up after 6 months. The retention of the acid-etch group was significantly superior (P = 0.00*) as was the caries preventive effect (P = 0.04*). Children felt that the placement of sealants was easier following enamel preparation with Adper™ SE Plus (P = 0.00*) and same as the operator. Conclusions: The regular acid etch with placement of sealant showed less caries occurrence on the occlusal surface after 6 months. Both the operator and children opined that acid-etch method for the placement of sealants is more comfortable.
Genetic variants associated with deep vein thrombosis: the F11 locus

Summary. Background : Recent studies have found associations between deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in a 4q35.2 locus that contains genes encoding factor XI (F11), a cytochrome P450 family member (CYP4V2), and prekallikrein (KLKB1).
Translocation of Crohn's disease Escherichia coli across M-cells: contrasting effects of soluble plant fibres and emulsifiers

Background Crohn's disease is common in developed nations where the typical diet is low in fibre and high in processed food. Primary lesions overlie Peyer's patches and colonic lymphoid follicles where bacterial invasion through M-cells occurs. We have assessed the effect of soluble non-starch polysaccharide (NSP) and food emulsifiers on translocation of Escherichia coli across M-cells. Methods To assess effects of soluble plant fibres and food emulsifiers on translocation of mucosa-associated E coli isolates from Crohn's disease patients and from non-Crohn's controls, we used M-cell monolayers, generated by co-culture of Caco2-cl1 and Raji B cells, and human Peyer's patches mounted in Ussing chambers. Results E coli translocation increased across M-cells compared to parent Caco2-cl1 monocultures; 15.8-fold (IQR 6.2–32.0) for Crohn's disease E coli (N=8) and 6.7-fold (IQR 3.7–21.0) for control isolates (N=5). Electron microscopy confirmed E coli within M-cells. Plantain and broccoli NSP markedly reduced E coli translocation across M-cells at 5 mg/ml (range 45.3–82.6% inhibition, p<0.01); apple and leek NSP had no significant effect. Polysorbate-80, 0.01% vol/vol, increased E coli translocation through Caco2-cl1 monolayers 59-fold (p<0.05) and, at higher concentrations, increased translocation across M-cells. Similarly, E coli translocation across human Peyer's patches was reduced 45±7% by soluble plantain NSP (5 mg/ml) and increased 2-fold by polysorbate-80 (0.1% vol/vol). Conclusions Translocation of E coli across M-cells is reduced by soluble plant fibres, particularly plantain and broccoli, but increased by the emulsifier Polysorbate-80. These effects occur at relevant concentrations and may contribute to the impact of dietary factors on Crohn's disease pathogenesis.
Lumbo-pelvic loading during fast bowling in adolescent cricketers: The influence of bowling speed and technique

Abstract This study aimed to assess changes in bowling technique and lumbar load over the course of a bowling spell in adolescent fast bowlers, and to investigate the relationship between lumbar loads during fast bowling and kinematic factors which have previously been associated with low back injury. Three-dimensional motion analysis was carried out on forty participants who performed an 8-over bowling spell. There were no significant changes in bowling technique or lumbar loads over the course of the spell. Bowling with a more extended front knee, faster ball release speed and increased shoulder counter-rotation were related to increased lumbo-pelvic loading – in particular peak transverse plane rotation moments and anterior-posterior shear forces. These lumbar loads may be a factor in low back injury aetiology and future studies should investigate the relationship between lumbar loading, injury incidence and other risk factors.
Mode mixity analysis of face/core debonds in a single cantilever beam sandwich specimen

The single cantilever beam sandwich specimen has been proposed, as a fracture test standard for mode I peel loading. Critical parameters, including specimen dimensions, determine whether the crack propagates along the face/core interface in mode I during the fracture test. This paper outlines a parametric study based on a numerical method to examine local mode mixity conditions for a wide array of sandwich systems by varying several geometrical and material parameters. The thickness and modulus of the face sheet were seen to influence the mode mixity for most sandwich systems. Core Poisson’s ratio was shown to influence the local mode mixity and has the capability of driving the crack along the interface or into the core. The effect of the intact specimen length was analyzed and presented from a mode mixity perspective based on various elastic foundation modulus expressions. Reinforcement of the single cantilever beam specimen with stiff layers was also investigated numerically and compared with a similar analysis in the literature. The analysis presented in this paper shows that, despite reducing the global shear component, the local mode mixity condition deviated away from the mode I regime for several sandwich specimens. An appropriate foundation model along with a minimum loading rod length was one of the recommendations provided from the analyses, which may supplement the ASTM International standardization efforts.
Intact Type I Interferon Production and IRF7 Function in Sooty Mangabeys

In contrast to pathogenic HIV/SIV infections of humans and rhesus macaques (RMs), natural SIV infection of sooty mangabeys (SMs) is typically non-pathogenic despite high viremia. Several studies suggested that low immune activation and relative resistance of CD4+ central memory T-cells from virus infection are mechanisms that protect SMs from AIDS. In 2008 it was reported that plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) of SMs exhibit attenuated interferon-alpha (IFN-α) responses to TLR7/9 ligands in vitro, and that species-specific amino acid substitutions in SM Interferon Regulatory Factor-7 (IRF7) are responsible for this observation. Based on these findings, these authors proposed that “muted” IFN-α responses are responsible for the benign nature of SIV infection in SMs. However, other studies indicated that acutely SIV-infected SMs show robust IFN-α responses and marked upregulation of Interferon Stimulated Genes (ISGs). To investigate this apparent disparity, we first examined the role of the reported IRF7 amino acid substitutions in SMs. To this end, we sequenced all IRF7 exons in 16 breeders, and exons displaying variability (exons 2,3,5,6,7,8) in the remainder of the colony (177 animals). We found that the reported Ser-Gly substitution at position 191 was a sequencing error, and that several of the remaining substitutions represent only minor alleles. In addition, functional assays using recombinant SM IRF7 showed no defect in its ability to translocate in the nucleus and drive transcription from an IFN-α promoter. Furthermore, in vitro stimulation of SM peripheral blood mononuclear cells with either the TLR7 agonist CL097 or SIVmac239 induced an 500–800-fold induction of IFN-α and IFN-β mRNA, and levels of IFN-α production by pDCs similar to those of RMs or humans. These data establish that IFN-α and IRF7 signaling in SMs are largely intact, with differences with RMs that are minor and unlikely to play any role in the AIDS resistance of SIV-infected SMs.
Time series shapelets: a new primitive for data mining

Classification of time series has been attracting great interest over the past decade. Recent empirical evidence has strongly suggested that the simple nearest neighbor algorithm is very difficult to beat for most time series problems. While this may be considered good news, given the simplicity of implementing the nearest neighbor algorithm, there are some negative consequences of this. First, the nearest neighbor algorithm requires storing and searching the entire dataset, resulting in a time and space complexity that limits its applicability, especially on resource-limited sensors. Second, beyond mere classification accuracy, we often wish to gain some insight into the data. In this work we introduce a new time series primitive, time series shapelets, which addresses these limitations. Informally, shapelets are time series subsequences which are in some sense maximally representative of a class. As we shall show with extensive empirical evaluations in diverse domains, algorithms based on the time series shapelet primitives can be interpretable, more accurate and significantly faster than state-of-the-art classifiers.
Simulation and Implementation of a Morphology-Tuned Gold Nano-Islands Integrated Plasmonic Sensor

This work presents simulation, analysis and implementation of morphology tuning of gold nano-island structures deposited by a novel convective assembly technique. The gold nano-islands were simulated using 3D Finite-Difference Time-Domain (FDTD) techniques to investigate the effect of morphological changes and adsorption of protein layers on the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) properties. Gold nano-island structures were deposited on glass substrates by a novel and low-cost convective assembly process. The structure formed by an uncontrolled deposition method resulted in a nano-cluster morphology, which was annealed at various temperatures to tune the optical absorbance properties by transforming the nano-clusters to a nano-island morphology by modifying the structural shape and interparticle separation distances. The dependence of the size and the interparticle separation distance of the nano-islands on the LSPR properties were analyzed in the simulation. The effect of adsorption of protein layer on the nano-island structures was simulated and a relation between the thickness and the refractive index of the protein layer on the LSPR peak was presented. Further, the sensitivity of the gold nano-island integrated sensor against refractive index was computed and compared with the experimental results.
Do community characteristics predict alcohol-related crime?

AIMS Alcohol-related crime is a substantial community problem. There is evidence to suggest that certain geographic areas experience higher rates of alcohol-related crime and that both individual and community factors are associated with alcohol-related crime. There is limited research at the community level despite communities being the target of interventions designed to reduce alcohol-related harm. This study aims to determine whether there are differences in alcohol-related crime at the community level and examines whether certain community characteristics are associated with increased alcohol-related crime. METHODS Routinely collected police data from 20 rural communities in New South Wales, Australia were analysed. The ratio of alcohol to non-alcohol-related criminal incidents was used as a proxy for alcohol-related crime. Predictor variables were population-adjusted community characteristics, including demographic and resource variables. RESULTS Regression analyses suggest that there are differences between communities in alcohol-related crime. Less socioeconomic disadvantage and more GPs and licensed premises (pubs and clubs) are associated with greater alcohol-related crime at the community level. CONCLUSIONS Decreasing the socioeconomic well-being of a community is not appropriate; however, introducing additional taxes to increase the cost of alcohol may decrease consumption and therefore alcohol-related crime. Reducing or capping the number of licensed premises, specifically the number of pubs and clubs, may be an appropriate strategy to reduce alcohol-related crime in rural communities.
Biochemical Validation of Self-Reported Smokeless Tobacco Abstinence among Smokeless Tobacco Users: Results from a Clinical Trial of Varenicline in India

Abstract The validity of self-reported tobacco use is often questioned given the potential for underestimation of use. This study used data from a double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial of varenicline for smokeless tobacco dependence in India to evaluate the accuracy of self-reported smokeless tobacco cessation using biochemical validation procedures and to evaluate correlates of reporting inaccuracy. Smokeless tobacco users attending a dental clinic at AIIMS were randomized to placebo or varenicline; all participants received counseling. Detailed smokeless tobacco use was recorded and abstinence was defined as cotinine-verified 7-day point prevalence cessation (cotinine < 50 ng/ml) and breath CO > 10 ppm at the end of 12 weeks of treatment. One-half of study completers (82/165) self-reported abstinence. Biochemical verification confirmed that (65.9%) subjects provided accurate self-reports while (34.1%) participants underreported tobacco use. These data indicate poor agreement between self-reported and biochemically confirmed abstinence (κ = −0.191). Underreporters of tobacco use had significantly higher baseline cotinine (p < 0.05), total craving (p < 0.012), and negative reinforcement craving (p < 0.001) vs. those whose self-reports were correctly verified. These findings provide evidence to support the need for biochemical validation of self-reported abstinence outcomes among smokeless tobacco users in cessation programs in India and identify high levels of pretreatment cotinine and craving levels as potential correlates of false reporting.
The Numerical Analysis of Axially Loaded Elastomeric Bushing

Mechanical behavior of a rubber bushing of a stabilizer of a passenger car is studied in this article. An analysis of behavior of the bushing loaded in the axial direction is performed. An identification of the critical points in the bushing body and, especially, in the interface between the bushing and the stabilizer bar for later optimization of the whole system of the stabilizer fixing in the car construction is the aim of this work. An advanced FEM system including such effects as a strongly nonlinear strain/stress relation of material of the bushing (hyperelasticity), large displacements, large deformations, and contact between the bushing and the stabilizer bar was used for the numerical analysis.
Glucuronidation of Drugs and Drug-Induced Toxicity in Humanized UDP-Glucuronosyltransferase 1 Mice

UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs) are phase II drug-metabolizing enzymes that catalyze glucuronidation of various drugs. Although experimental rodents are used in preclinical studies to predict glucuronidation and toxicity of drugs in humans, species differences in glucuronidation and drug-induced toxicity have been reported. Humanized UGT1 mice in which the original Ugt1 locus was disrupted and replaced with the human UGT1 locus (hUGT1 mice) were recently developed. In this study, acyl-glucuronidations of etodolac, diclofenac, and ibuprofen in liver microsomes of hUGT1 mice were examined and compared with those of humans and regular mice. The kinetics of etodolac, diclofenac, and ibuprofen acyl-glucuronidation in hUGT1 mice were almost comparable to those in humans, rather than in mice. We further investigated the hepatotoxicity of ibuprofen in hUGT1 mice and regular mice by measuring serum alanine amino transferase (ALT) levels. Because ALT levels were increased at 6 hours after dosing in hUGT1 mice and at 24 hours after dosing in regular mice, the onset pattern of ibuprofen-induced liver toxicity in hUGT1 mice was different from that in regular mice. These data suggest that hUGT1 mice can be valuable tools for understanding glucuronidations of drugs and drug-induced toxicity in humans.
Neutron scattering for sustainable energy materials: investigations of proton dynamics in acceptor doped barium zirconates

Proton conducting oxides are currently receiving considerable attention for their present or potential use as electrolytes in technological devices such as sensors and electrolysers and, in particular, solid oxide fuel cells, which are among the most promising apparatuses for energy conversion. One of the main challenges for these latter devices is to combine the advantages of a solid electrolyte with those of operational temperatures below 750 °C, which is currently hampered by insufficient conductivities in the targeted temperature range. The development of new electrolytes meeting the requirements for applications depends on a better understanding of the physico-chemical processes underlying ionic conductivity in these materials. Towards this aim, this thesis reports on investigations of key properties in hydrated samples of the perovskites BaZr0.9 M 0.1O2. 95 with M =Y and Sc and BaZr1- x In x O3- x /2 with x =0.1—0.275, well-known and promising proton conducting oxides. Of specific concern in this thesis is the study of the effect of the type ( M ) and concentration ( x ) of dopant atoms on the atomic-scale proton dynamics over a wide time-range, from picoseconds to nanoseconds, using different state-of-the-art neutron scattering techniques at the neutron scattering facilities Institut Laue-Langevin in Grenoble, France, and Forschungs-Neutronenquelle Heinz Maier-Leibnitz in Garching, Germany. The results show a complex dynamics, arising from a distribution of different proton sites, a consequence of a disordered structure of the materials. Analysis of the short time scale dynamics discloses localized dynamics interpretable as proton jumps and reorientations of the hydroxyl groups. Faster local motions are observed in more distorted structures associated with higher doping levels, whereas no substantial differences are observed for different dopant ions. Analysis of the long time scale dynamics reveals long-range diffusion of protons, which can be described as a jump-diffusion process. Higher dopant concentrations lead to higher activation energies, still well below those for macroscopic proton conductivities, but larger fractions of mobile protons. This new insight adds to the previous knowledge of proton dynamics in perovskite materials and can be useful to develop strategies for the design of improved proton conductors for technological applications
A Genome Wide Survey of SNP Variation Reveals the Genetic Structure of Sheep Breeds

The genetic structure of sheep reflects their domestication and subsequent formation into discrete breeds. Understanding genetic structure is essential for achieving genetic improvement through genome-wide association studies, genomic selection and the dissection of quantitative traits. After identifying the first genome-wide set of SNP for sheep, we report on levels of genetic variability both within and between a diverse sample of ovine populations. Then, using cluster analysis and the partitioning of genetic variation, we demonstrate sheep are characterised by weak phylogeographic structure, overlapping genetic similarity and generally low differentiation which is consistent with their short evolutionary history. The degree of population substructure was, however, sufficient to cluster individuals based on geographic origin and known breed history. Specifically, African and Asian populations clustered separately from breeds of European origin sampled from Australia, New Zealand, Europe and North America. Furthermore, we demonstrate the presence of stratification within some, but not all, ovine breeds. The results emphasize that careful documentation of genetic structure will be an essential prerequisite when mapping the genetic basis of complex traits. Furthermore, the identification of a subset of SNP able to assign individuals into broad groupings demonstrates even a small panel of markers may be suitable for applications such as traceability.