Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Numerical Analysis of the Crack Growth in a High Loaded Bolt Connection

The present paper deals with the research on the crack growth in a bolt connection of a lug for crane counter weight bars. Counter weight bars are structural elements that are subjected to very heavy loads and therefore special attention must be paid. The main purpose of this research is to determine the number of the load cycles required for a crack to propagate from initial to critical crack length, when the final failure can be expected to occur. All required material parameters and the experimental results were determined in our previous research. The influence of the initial crack size upon the remaining life of the lug is researched numerically by means of finite element analysis and analytically by use of the corrected analytical model.
Exploring Adaptive Data Centers through Cooperative Symbiotic Networking

This paper describes a biologically-inspired architecture, called SymbioticSphere, which allows large-scale data centers to autonomously adapt to dynamic environmental changes. SymbioticSphere follows biological principles such as decentralization, natural selection and symbiosis to design data centers (application services and middleware platforms). Each application service and middleware platform is designed as a biological entity and implements biological behaviors such as migration, replication death and energy exchange. Services and platforms cooperatively invoke their behaviors to improve their adaptability. This paper presents a set of behaviors for services and platforms, and describes how services and platforms act and interact with each other. Simulation results show that services and platforms autonomously adapt to dynamic network conditions (e.g., user location, network traffic, and resource availability) by invoking their behaviors suitable for the conditions
Parasites in food webs: the ultimate missing links

Parasitism is the most common consumer strategy among organisms, yet only recently has there been a call for the inclusion of infectious disease agents in food webs. The value of this effort hinges on whether parasites affect food-web properties. Increasing evidence suggests that parasites have the potential to uniquely alter food-web topology in terms of chain length, connectance and robustness. In addition, parasites might affect food-web stability, interaction strength and energy flow. Food-web structure also affects infectious disease dynamics because parasites depend on the ecological networks in which they live. Empirically, incorporating parasites into food webs is straightforward. We may start with existing food webs and add parasites as nodes, or we may try to build food webs around systems for which we already have a good understanding of infectious processes. In the future, perhaps researchers will add parasites while they construct food webs. Less clear is how food-web theory can accommodate parasites. This is a deep and central problem in theoretical biology and applied mathematics. For instance, is representing parasites with complex life cycles as a single node equivalent to representing other species with ontogenetic niche shifts as a single node? Can parasitism fit into fundamental frameworks such as the niche model? Can we integrate infectious disease models into the emerging field of dynamic food-web modelling? Future progress will benefit from interdisciplinary collaborations between ecologists and infectious disease biologists.
Reference intervals for four biochemistry analytes in plasma for evaluating oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation in human plasma.

A variety of free radicals (FRs) are produced as a consequence of normal cell metabolism. In healthy tissue, these potentially toxic by-products are removed by endogenous scavengers, but under pathological conditions, the rate of FR release is increased, with consequent lipid peroxidation (1)(2). FRs and lipid peroxidation are assumed to play an essential and causative role in the pathogenesis of cellular damage induced by different afflictions (1)(2)(3). Nitric oxide (NO) is a pluripotential molecule that acts as both an autocrine and paracrine mediator of homeostasis, and derangement of its metabolism can be linked with many pathophysiological events (4). NO is a lipid-soluble gas that, in solution, has a half-life <30 s, undergoing oxidation to nitrate and nitrite. In addition, it can be inactivated by superoxide anions and binds to heme-containing proteins; it has also been shown to interact with FRs. However, NO can form a potent oxidant, peroxynitrite, with a half-life of 1 s (4). Peroxynitrite decomposes to form a reactive hydroxyl radical, and its degradation products have been linked to lipid peroxidation. NO will combine with protein-bound thiol groups (GSHs) to form S-nitrosyl compounds. Finally, each of these interactions can contribute to cell injury, and the effect of NO during oxidative stress injury in human diseases still remains controversial. However, because FRs are very reactive and short-lived, their direct detection is difficult (2)(3)(4). Determination of lipoperoxides (LPOs), total antioxidant status (TAS), GSHs, and NO end products is therefore …
Characteristics of chest wall injuries that predict postrecovery pulmonary symptoms: A secondary analysis of data from a randomized trial

BACKGROUND Although thoracic trauma is common, little is known about which factors lead to poor functional outcomes. We sought to determine which characteristics of chest wall injury predict postrecovery pulmonary symptoms or health-related quality of life. METHODS We conducted a secondary analysis of data from a randomized trial involving patients with chest wall injuries at a Level I trauma center between December 2007 and July 2012. We evaluated the overall severity of the chest wall injury—characterized primarily by the number of fractured ribs—and rib fracture location (upper, middle, and lower; anterior, lateral, and posterior) as predictors of patient-reported outcomes 60 days after injury: dyspnea burden (0–40), Modified Medical Research Council Dyspnea Scale (MMRC) (0–4), St. George’s Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), and normalized Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form 36 (SF-36) scores. RESULTS Of 189 evaluable subjects, the mean (SD) number of fractured ribs was 5 (4). The number of fractured ribs was not associated with dyspnea burden, MMRC, or SGRQ scores. After adjustment for confounders, each additional fractured rib was associated with worse SF-36 Physical Functioning and Bodily Pain scores (−0.6 units [95% confidence interval (CI), −1.1 to 0.0] and −0.8 units [95% CI, −1.3 to −0.2], respectively). Lower rib fractures were associated with worse dyspnea burden (3.4 units; 95% CI, 1.0–5.9), MMRC score (0.4 units; 95% CI, 0.0–0.8), and SF-36 Physical Functioning, Role–Physical, Role–Emotional, and Physical Component Summary scores (−4 units [95% CI, −8 to 0], −5 units [95% CI, −8 to −1], −4 units [95% CI, −8 to 0], and −4 units [95% CI, −7 to −1], respectively). CONCLUSION The overall anatomic severity of chest wall injuries does not predict worse dyspnea symptoms 60 days after injury, but it does predict increased patient perceptions of pain and physical function limitations. Lower rib fractures predict both persistent respiratory symptoms and perception of decreased overall health. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Prognostic/epidemiologic study, level III.
Critical Success Factors Model for Business Intelligent over ERP Cloud

Resource Planning (ERP) is designed to model and automate basic processes across the organization over a centralized database sheet, or any type of tools that are used by the organization and pays a lot of attention in implementing ERP modules. The success of a cloud ERP system does not require the demolishing of the traditional ERP system models, but re-platforming and hosting them. Business Intelligence (BI) represents the tools and systems that play a vital role in the strategic planning process of any organization, whatever the size of the organization and produced by many vendors. This paper investigates the ERP main modules and vendor, comparing among them, based on the enterprise size. The main focus of this paper is to define the Critical Success Factors (CSFs) that organizations need to address to adapt or implement BI projects' chances of success. Finally, CSFs model for implementing BI over cloud for small and medium enterprise will be proposed, and it should be scalable and fixable to meet the continuously changing requirements expansion of the system to handle the increase amount of information coming on BI.
Multiple description video coding by coefficients ordering and interpolation

A novel approach to Multiple Description Coding (MDC) of digital video is presented. In the proposed scheme, each descriptor carries a limited number of alternately selected coefficients, complemented with a sorting information, which is used at the decoder to achieve an accurate interpolation of missing coefficients. In order to achieve an efficient compression reducing the overhead, a very effective JPEG-like syntax has been introduced to encode the side information. As compared to other approaches to MDC, the proposed strategy is characterized by an extremely low computational burden, while ensuring comparable overhead and almost seamless reconstruction from a single descriptor. Current simulations and tests refer to a two-descriptors architecture, but an almost straightforward extension to three or more descriptors is also suggested.
Clinical and economic burden of community-acquired pneumonia among adults in Europe

It is difficult to determine the impact of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in Europe, because precise data are scarce. Mortality attributable to CAP varies widely between European countries and with the site of patient management. This review analysed the clinical and economic burden, aetiology and resistance patterns of CAP in European adults. All primary articles reporting studies in Europe published from January 1990 to December 2007 addressing the clinical and economic burden of CAP in adults were included. A total of 2606 records were used to identify primary studies. CAP incidence varied by country, age and gender, and was higher in individuals aged ≥65 years and in men. Streptococcus pneumoniae was the most common agent isolated. Mortality varied from <1% to 48% and was associated with advanced age, co-morbid conditions and CAP severity. Antibiotic resistance was seen in all pathogens associated with CAP. There was an increase in antibiotic-resistant strains, but resistance was not related to mortality. CAP was associated with high rates of hospitalisation and length of hospital stay. The review showed that the clinical and economic burden of CAP in Europe is high. CAP has considerable long-term effects on quality of life, and long-term prognosis is worse in patients with pneumococcal pneumonia.
Performance Analysis for OFDMA in the Presence of Tone Interference

Space-frequency coded (SFC) orthogonal frequency-division multiple access (OFDMA) is considered in the presence of multitone (MT) interference. Analytical expressions for the bit-error probability (BEP) are derived for OFDMA with SFC in a frequency-selective fading environment. It is shown that SFC increases the resistance of OFDMA against the MT interference and reduces BEP considerably
N-Cadherin Prodomain Processing Regulates Synaptogenesis

Classical cadherins, which are adhesion molecules functioning at the CNS synapse, are synthesized as adhesively inactive precursor proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Signal sequence and prodomain cleavage in the ER and Golgi apparatus, respectively, activates their adhesive properties. Here, we provide the first evidence for sorting of nonadhesive precursor N-cadherin (ProN) to the neuronal surface, where it coexists with adhesively competent mature N-cadherin (N-cad), generating a spectrum of adhesive strengths. In cultured hippocampal neurons, a high ProN/N-cad ratio downregulates synapse formation. Neurons expressing genetically engineered uncleavable ProN make markedly fewer synapses. The synapse number can be rescued to normality by depleting surface ProN levels through prodomain cleavage by an exogenous protease. Finally, prodomain processing is developmentally regulated in the rat hippocampus. We conclude that it is the ProN/N-cad ratio and not mature N-cad alone that is critical for regulation of adhesion during synaptogenesis.
The molecular landscape of ASPM mutations in primary microcephaly

Background: Autosomal recessive primary microcephaly (MCPH) is a model disease to study human neurogenesis. In affected individuals the brain grows at a reduced rate during fetal life resulting in a small but structurally normal brain and mental retardation. The condition is genetically heterogeneous with mutations in ASPM being most commonly reported. Methods and results: We have examined this further by studying three cohorts of microcephalic children to extend both the phenotype and the mutation spectrum. Firstly, in 99 consecutively ascertained consanguineous families with a strict diagnosis of MCPH, 41 (41%) were homozygous at the MCPH5 locus and all but two families had mutations. Thus, 39% of consanguineous MCPH families had homozygous ASPM mutations. Secondly, in 27 non-consanguineous, predominantly Caucasian families with a strict diagnosis of MCPH, 11 (40%) had ASPM mutations. Thirdly, in 45 families with a less restricted phenotype including microcephaly and mental retardation, but regardless of other neurological features, only 3 (7%) had an ASPM mutation. This report contains 27 novel mutations and almost doubles the number of MCPH associated ASPM mutations known to 57. All but one of the mutations lead to the use of a premature termination codon, 23 were nonsense mutations, 28 deletions or insertions, 5 splicing, and 1 was a translocation. Seventeen of the 57 mutations were recurrent. There were no definitive missense mutations found nor was there any mutation/phenotype correlation. ASPM mutations were found in all ethnic groups studied. Conclusion: This study confirms that mutations in ASPM are the most common cause of MCPH, that ASPM mutations are restricted to individuals with an MCPH phenotype, and that ASPM testing in primary microcephaly is clinically useful.
Effects of a Mechanical Preload on the Dynamic Force Response of Gas Foil Bearings: Measurements and Model Predictions

Gas foil bearings (GFBs) enable efficient, reliable, and maintenance-free operation of high-power-density microturbomachinery (<200 kW) operating at high speeds, typically >30 krpm. Rotors supported on bump-type GFBs, however, often show large amplitude subsynchronous whirl motions, albeit reaching limit cycles. Presently, commercial GFBs are modified to add a mechanical preload, which induces a hydrodynamic wedge to generate more pressure supporting larger loads. Three metal shims inserted under the bump-strip layers and in contact with the bearing housing create a multiple lobe clearance profile at a very low cost. Shaft motion measurements of a test rotor supported on the GFBs, original and shimmed, are conducted while the rotor accelerates/decelerates to/from 50 krpm and for increasing magnitudes of feed pressure into the air bearings. The shimmed GFBs produce an increase in the rotor–bearing system natural frequency, as expected, and also act to delay the onset speed of large amplitude subsynchronous whirl motions. The bearing feed pressure also aids to reduce the amplitude of rotor whirl motions appearing at speeds above the system critical speed. Most importantly, the nonlinear response induced by the GFBs—i.e., large amplitude rotor subsynchronous whirl—is a forced nonlinearity exacerbated by increasing rotor imbalances. For rotor speeds within the linear operation range (<25 krpm), predictions of rotor imbalance response implementing linearized bearing force coefficients are in good agreement with measured amplitudes for both GFB configurations, original and modified. The predictions and measurements demonstrate the beneficial effect of a mechanical preload on the rotordynamic performance of GFBs.
Electrodiffusive Model for Astrocytic and Neuronal Ion Concentration Dynamics

The cable equation is a proper framework for modeling electrical neural signalling that takes place at a timescale at which the ionic concentrations vary little. However, in neural tissue there are also key dynamic processes that occur at longer timescales. For example, endured periods of intense neural signaling may cause the local extracellular K+-concentration to increase by several millimolars. The clearance of this excess K+ depends partly on diffusion in the extracellular space, partly on local uptake by astrocytes, and partly on intracellular transport (spatial buffering) within astrocytes. These processes, that take place at the time scale of seconds, demand a mathematical description able to account for the spatiotemporal variations in ion concentrations as well as the subsequent effects of these variations on the membrane potential. Here, we present a general electrodiffusive formalism for modeling of ion concentration dynamics in a one-dimensional geometry, including both the intra- and extracellular domains. Based on the Nernst-Planck equations, this formalism ensures that the membrane potential and ion concentrations are in consistency, it ensures global particle/charge conservation and it accounts for diffusion and concentration dependent variations in resistivity. We apply the formalism to a model of astrocytes exchanging ions with the extracellular space. The simulations show that K+-removal from high-concentration regions is driven by a local depolarization of the astrocyte membrane, which concertedly (i) increases the local astrocytic uptake of K+, (ii) suppresses extracellular transport of K+, (iii) increases axial transport of K+ within astrocytes, and (iv) facilitates astrocytic relase of K+ in regions where the extracellular concentration is low. Together, these mechanisms seem to provide a robust regulatory scheme for shielding the extracellular space from excess K+.
Stimulation of intestinal adenyl cyclase by Escherichia coli enterotoxin: comparison of strains from an infant and an adult with diarrhea.

The effects of Escherichia coli enterotoxin on the activity of adenyl cyclase in intestinal mucosa were determined in the small intestine of the rabbit. In vivo incubation of enterotoxin in isolated intestinal loops for 2-4 hr led to an increase in the activity of adenyl cyclase in mucosal epithelial cells. The degree of stimulation of the enzyme was proportional to the concentration of enterotoxin. The levels of activity were additive when enterotoxin-treated, homogenized mucosal cells were exposed to prostaglandin E1. The activity of adenyl cyclase in both enterotoxin-treated and control preparations was stimulated markedly by NaF. Phosphodiesterase activity was not altered in enterotoxin-treated loops. Enterotoxin was partially inactivated when held at 60 C for 15 min; it was completely inactivated at 100 C. Differences in the degree of stimulation of adenyl cyclase were noted among strains of E. coli. Enterotoxin from a strain isolated in an adult in Calcutta with choleralike symptoms was a more potent stimulator of adenyl cyclase than enterotoxin from a strain of E. coli associated with a mild case of diarrhea in an infant in Chicago.
Mechanisms of Nitrosylation and Denitrosylation of Cytoplasmic Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate Dehydrogenase from Arabidopsis thaliana*

Background: Plant cytoplasmic GAPDH undergoes nitrosylation and glutathionylation. Results: GSNO triggers mainly nitrosylation of Arabidopsis GAPDH, which can be denitrosylated by GSH but not by thioredoxins. Conclusion: The extent of GAPDH nitrosylation is dependent on the [GSH]/[GSNO] ratio but independent of the [GSH]/[GSSG] ratio. Significance: The mechanisms of GAPDH nitrosylation are delineated, and the prominent role of glutathione is established. Nitrosylation is a reversible post-translational modification of protein cysteines playing a major role in cellular regulation and signaling in many organisms, including plants where it has been implicated in the regulation of immunity and cell death. The extent of nitrosylation of a given cysteine residue is governed by the equilibrium between nitrosylation and denitrosylation reactions. The mechanisms of these reactions remain poorly studied in plants. In this study, we have employed glycolytic GAPDH from Arabidopsis thaliana as a tool to investigate the molecular mechanisms of nitrosylation and denitrosylation using a combination of approaches, including activity assays, the biotin switch technique, site-directed mutagenesis, and mass spectrometry. Arabidopsis GAPDH activity was reversibly inhibited by nitrosylation of catalytic Cys-149 mediated either chemically with a strong NO donor or by trans-nitrosylation with GSNO. GSNO was found to trigger both GAPDH nitrosylation and glutathionylation, although nitrosylation was widely prominent. Arabidopsis GAPDH was found to be denitrosylated by GSH but not by plant cytoplasmic thioredoxins. GSH fully converted nitrosylated GAPDH to the reduced, active enzyme, without forming any glutathionylated GAPDH. Thus, we found that nitrosylation of GAPDH is not a step toward formation of the more stable glutathionylated enzyme. GSH-dependent denitrosylation of GAPC1 was found to be linked to the [GSH]/[GSNO] ratio and to be independent of the [GSH]/[GSSG] ratio. The possible importance of these biochemical properties for the regulation of Arabidopsis GAPDH functions in vivo is discussed.
Rapid Voluntary Testing and Counseling for HIV: Acceptability and Feasibility in Zambian Antenatal Care Clinics

Abstract: Voluntary testing and counseling (VTC) for HIV/AIDS is now widely accepted as an effective HIV prevention and control strategy among heterosexual couples in sub‐Saharan Africa. The most appropriate format and venue for VTC remains a topic of debate among clinicians and public health professionals. Our research done in Lusaka, Zambia, took a tripartite approach to exploring the most acceptable format and venue for VTC: a community survey of attitudes towards VTC, a pre‐ and postcounseling knowledge survey, and a pilot study of same‐day VTC in urban antenatal care clinics. A community survey of 181 individuals was conducted in July‐August 1996 based on a structured questionnaire. A pre‐ and post‐VTC intervention knowledge survey was conducted during the same period among 82 couples attending the Zambia‐UAB HIV Research Project (ZUHRP) HIV VTC center in Lusaka. Finally, same‐day HIV VTC was pilot tested in six antenatal clinic locations during February‐May 1997 and June‐August 1998. The community survey revealed that 98% of participants support promotion of HIV VTC in the community and 83.8% prefer the same‐day testing format. The knowledge survey revealed misconceptions about discordance within a couple and perinatal transmission of HIV. Pilot testing in antenatal clinics was well received, with 84% of pregnant women requesting testing and 25% having positive HIV serologies. Women with primary school or less education, those seeking antenatal care in local clinics, and those seen before the third trimester of pregnancy were more likely to request HIV testing. Testing and counseling for HIV were shown to be feasible and effective in the antenatal clinic setting. Implementation of sameday HIV VTC in antenatal clinics is an effective strategy to prevent vertical transmission and should be expanded to include couples to leverage a decrease in heterosexual transmission as well.