Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Biodegradable packaging foams of starch acetate blended with corn stalk fibers

Starch acetate–corn fiber foams were prepared by extrusion. Corn starch was acetylated (DS 2) to introduce thermoplastic properties. Corn stalks were treated with sodium hydroxide to remove the lignin and to obtain purified cellulose fibers. Starch acetate was blended with treated fiber at concentrations of 0, 2, 6, 10, and 14% (w/w) and extruded in a corotating twin-screw extruder with 12 to 18% w/w ethanol content and 5% talc as a nucleating agent. The samples were extruded at 150°C and selected physical and mechanical properties were evaluated. Micrographic properties were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy to observe the interaction of fiber and starch. Fiber incorporation at the lower concentrations enhanced the physical properties of the foams. Fiber contents greater than 10% decreased expansion and increased density and shear strength. Good compatibility between starch and corn fiber was observed. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 93: 2627–2633, 2004
Cerebral White Matter Lesions, Gait, and the Risk of Incident Falls: A Prospective Population-Based Study

Background and Purpose— The association between cerebral white matter lesions (WMLs) and the risk of falls in older people is uncertain, with no supporting prospective evidence. We aimed to determine the risk of incident falls associated with WML volume, and the interactions between WML volume, gait, and other sensorimotor factors leading to falls. Methods— We conducted a prospective, population-based study (n=294, mean age 72.3 years, independently mobile). Volumetric MRI, computerized gait measures, and sensorimotor measures of falls risk were obtained at baseline. Incident falls were recorded prospectively over a 12-month period. Using regression modeling, we estimated the risk of incident falls associated with baseline WML volume. Results— Increasing baseline WML volume was independently associated with any incident fall (P=0.01) and multiple incident falls (P=0.02). The risk of incident falls was doubled in people with lesion volumes in the highest quintile of its distribution compared with the lowest (adjusted relative risk, 2.32; 95% CI, 1.28–4.14). Greater lesion volume was also associated with poorer gait and greater gait variability (both P<0.001). The effect of WML volume on the risk of falls was magnified in people with poorer quadriceps muscle strength (P=0.03) and greater gait variability (P=0.001). Conclusions— These data provide the first prospective evidence to our knowledge demonstrating that WMLs are strong risk factors for falls in the general older population. WMLs present potential therapeutic targets for interventional trials in falls prevention.
Controlled deposition of gold nanodots using non-contact atomic force microscopy

A technique for highly reproducible deposition of nanoscale sized gold dots in an atomic force microscopy (AFM) configuration is described. This is achieved by precisely controlling the tip–sample separation, using feedback control enabled by the application of an external electrostatic servo force. Application of a voltage pulse of either polarity to a gold coated oscillating cantilever tip leads to the deposition of the Au dot. Dimensions for the fabricated dots are 6–100 nm in width, and <1–10 nm in height. The well controlled deposition process allowed the study of dot formation and the obtaining of relevant statistics. We found that the deposition process is the field emission of Au ions. Nevertheless, threshold values obtained are higher than previously reported ones and were found to be dependent on the tip shape. Depositions are independent of substrate morphology and lithographically patterned lines formed by overlapping Au nanodots as long as 55 µm have been fabricated.
Glycan Dependence of Galectin-3 Self-Association Properties

Human Galectin-3 is found in the nucleus, the cytoplasm and at the cell surface. This lectin is constituted of two domains: an unfolded N-terminal domain and a C-terminal Carbohydrate Recognition Domain (CRD). There are still uncertainties about the relationship between the quaternary structure of Galectin-3 and its carbohydrate binding properties. Two types of self-association have been described for this lectin: a C-type self-association and a N-type self-association. Herein, we have analyzed Galectin-3 oligomerization by Dynamic Light Scattering using both the recombinant CRD and the full length lectin. Our results proved that LNnT induces N-type self-association of full length Galectin-3. Moreover, from Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and Surface Plasmon Resonance experiments, we observed no significant specificity or affinity variations for carbohydrates related to the presence of the N-terminal domain of Galectin-3. NMR mapping clearly established that the N-terminal domain interacts with the CRD. We propose that LNnT induces a release of the N-terminal domain resulting in the glycan-dependent self-association of Galectin-3 through N-terminal domain interactions.
A New Logic Encryption Strategy Ensuring Key Interdependency

With the globalization of IC design flow, many fabless companies outsource the fabrication of their design to off-site foundries. As these foundries may not always be trusted, it results in security vulnerabilities and threats such as counterfeiting, IP piracy, reverse engineering, overbuilding and Hardware Trojans. Logic encryption has emerged to be a potential solution to secure the design against these threats. It introduces some extra hardware (key-gates) into the design to hide the functionality from unauthorized users, using secret keys. The locations of insertion of key-gates determine the quality of the security provided by the resulting design. In this paper, we propose a new logic encryption technique, which judiciously inserts key-gates into the design and introduces some extra gates to satisfy two major criteria - high dependency between the keys and high output corruption for wrong keys, to ensure the quality of encryption. Experimental results show that our proposed method offer high security with reasonably low overhead for practically larger circuits.
Image analysis for efficient categorization of image-based spam e-mail

To circumvent prevalent text-based anti-spam filters, spammers have begun embedding the advertisement text in images. Analogously, proprietary information (such as source code) may be communicated as screenshots to defeat text-based monitoring of outbound e-mail. The proposed method separates spam images from other common categories of e-mail images based on extracted overlay text and color features. No expensive OCR processing is necessary. Our method works robustly in spite of complex backgrounds, compression artifacts, and a wide variety of formats and fonts of overlaid spam text. It is also demonstrated successfully to detect screen-shots in outbound e-mail.
Age‐predicted maximal heart rate in healthy subjects: The HUNT Fitness Study

Maximal heart rate (HRmax) declines substantially with age, but the magnitude and possible modifying effect of gender, body composition, and physical activity are not fully established. The present study examined the relationship between HRmax and age in 3320 healthy men and women within a wide age range using data from the HUNT Fitness Study (2007–2008). Subjects were included if a maximal effort could be verified during a maximal exercise test. General linear modeling was used to determine the effect of age on HRmax. Subsequently, the effects of gender, body mass index (BMI), physical activity status, and maximal oxygen uptake were examined. Mean predicted HRmax by three former prediction formulas were compared with measured HRmax within 10‐year age groups. HRmax was univariately explained by the formula 211 − 0.64·age (SEE, 10.8), and we found no evidence of interaction with gender, physical activity, VO2max level, or BMI groups. There were only minor age‐adjusted differences in HRmax between these groups. Previously suggested prediction equations underestimated measured HRmax in subjects older than 30 years. HRmax predicted by age alone may be practically convenient for various groups, although a standard error of 10.8 beats/min must be taken into account. HRmax in healthy, older subjects and women were higher than previously reported.
Role of Central Serotonin in Anticipation of Rewarding and Punishing Outcomes: Effects of Selective Amygdala or Orbitofrontal 5-HT Depletion

Understanding the role of serotonin (or 5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) in aversive processing has been hampered by the contradictory findings, across studies, of increased sensitivity to punishment in terms of subsequent response choice but decreased sensitivity to punishment-induced response suppression following gross depletion of central 5-HT. To address this apparent discrepancy, the present study determined whether both effects could be found in the same animals by performing localized 5-HT depletions in the amygdala or orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) of a New World monkey, the common marmoset. 5-HT depletion in the amygdala impaired response choice on a probabilistic visual discrimination task by increasing the effectiveness of misleading, or false, punishment and reward, and decreased response suppression in a variable interval test of punishment sensitivity that employed the same reward and punisher. 5-HT depletion in the OFC also disrupted probabilistic discrimination learning and decreased response suppression. Computational modeling of behavior on the discrimination task showed that the lesions reduced reinforcement sensitivity. A novel, unitary account of the findings in terms of the causal role of 5-HT in the anticipation of both negative and positive motivational outcomes is proposed and discussed in relation to current theories of 5-HT function and our understanding of mood and anxiety disorders.
Optimal management of iron deficiency anemia due to poor dietary intake

Iron is necessary for the normal development of multiple vital processes. Iron deficiency (ID) may be caused by several diseases, even by physiological situations that increase requirements for this mineral. One of its possible causes is a poor dietary iron intake, which is infrequent in developed countries, but quite common in developing areas. In these countries, dietary ID is highly prevalent and comprises a real public health problem and a challenge for health authorities. ID, with or without anemia, can cause important symptoms that are not only physical, but can also include a decreased intellectual performance. All this, together with a high prevalence, can even have negative implications for a community’s economic and social development. Treatment consists of iron supplements. Prevention of ID obviously lies in increasing the dietary intake of iron, which can be difficult in developing countries. In these regions, foods with greater iron content are scarce, and attempts are made to compensate this by fortifying staple foods with iron. The effectiveness of this strategy is endorsed by multiple studies. On the other hand, in developed countries, ID with or without anemia is nearly always associated with diseases that trigger a negative balance between iron absorption and loss. Its management will be based on the treatment of underlying diseases, as well as on oral iron supplements, although these latter are limited by their tolerance and low potency, which on occasions may compel a change to intravenous administration. Iron deficiency has a series of peculiarities in pediatric patients, in the elderly, in pregnant women, and in patients with dietary restrictions, such as celiac disease.
Parent-reported attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptomatology and sleep problems in a preschool-age pediatric clinic sample.

OBJECTIVE To examine the association between attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptomatology and parent-reported sleep problems among preschoolers ages 2 to 5 years. METHOD A total of 1,073 parents of preschoolers ages 2 to 5 years attending a large pediatric clinic completed the Child Behavior Checklist 1(1/2)-5 years. A stratified probability sample of 193 parents of high scorers and 114 parents of low scorers were interviewed with the Preschool Age Psychiatric Assessment. Poisson regression was used to test the association between parent-reported sleep problems and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptomatology, as well as psychiatric and demographic covariates. RESULTS When considered without reference to other psychiatric disorders, elevated hyperactive-impulsive symptomatology was positively associated with parent reported problems including sleep assistance, parasomnias, and dyssomnias; however, all of these effects were attenuated to nonsignificance once psychiatric comorbidity was controlled. In contrast, elevated inattentive symptomatology (especially at lower levels of hyperactive-impulsive symptoms) was positively associated with daytime sleepiness even after psychiatric comorbidity was controlled. CONCLUSIONS Neither hyperactive-impulsive nor inattentive attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptomatology was uniquely related to parent-reported problems involving sleep assistance, parasomnias, or dyssomnias. However, inattentive symptomatology was uniquely related to daytime sleepiness above and beyond commonly occurring patterns of psychiatric comorbidity, sleep duration, and demographic factors.
Proinflammatory Cytokine Environments Can Drive Interleukin‐17 Overexpression by γ/δ T Cells in Systemic Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis

Systemic‐onset juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is speculated to follow a biphasic course, with an initial systemic disease phase driven by innate immune mechanisms and interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β) as a key cytokine and a second chronic arthritic phase that may be dominated by adaptive immunity and cytokines such as IL‐17A. Although a recent mouse model points to a critical role of IL‐17–expressing γ/δ T cells in disease pathology, in humans, both the prevalence of IL‐17 and the role of IL‐17–producing cells are still unclear.
Effects of streptomycin on growth of algae Chlorella vulgaris and Microcystis aeruginosa

Streptomycin is a common contaminant in a variety of industrial and agricultural wastewaters. The available information on the potential toxicity of streptomycin of fresh algae implicated in the treatment of biological wastewater is extremely limited. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of streptomycin on physiological indices and photosynthesis‐related gene transcription. The results of short‐term batch bioassays indicated that streptomycin was more sensitive to cyanobacteria than to green algae. The EC50 of streptomycin in Microcystis aeruginosa and Chlorella vulgaris were 0.28 and 20.08 mg L−1, respectively. These selected streptomycin concentrations inhibited algal cell growth and decreased chlorophyll or phycocyanobilin content. Streptomycin also destroyed the overall membrane system, which was speculated from malondialdehyde (MDA) content and electrolyte leakage increasing after streptomycin exposure. Two algae were induced to increase their antioxidant enzyme activities to withstand streptomycin. However, the balance between oxidant substance and antioxidant enzyme was broken, because reactive oxygen species (ROS) content simultaneously increased. Streptomycin inhibited photosynthesis‐related gene transcription in C. vulgaris and M. aeruginosa. Transcript levels of psaB, psbA, and rbcL in C. vulgaris decreased to only 14.5%, 32.2%, and 9.3% of the control, respectively. Similarly, the transcript levels of psaB, psbD, and rbcL in M. aeruginosa decreased markedly in the present of streptomycin. The transcription of these genes was 12.4%, 26.1%, and 28.4% of the control after 0.1 mg L−1 streptomycin exposure, respectively. Our results demonstrate that streptomycin is toxic to fresh algae, affects photosynthesis‐related gene transcription, and blocks electron transport and ROS overproduction. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol, 2012.
Multiscale modeling of combined deterministic and stochastic fabric non-uniformity for realistic resin injection simulation

Abstract The local fiber arrangement in a bi-directional fabric formed to a complex shape was modeled considering the stochastic arrangement of filaments within yarns, which determines axial and transverse yarn permeabilities, and the stochastic arrangement of yarns in a fabric, which determines the dimensions of interyarn gap spaces locally. To mimic the uncertainty in fabric forming, drape simulation was randomized in terms of start point and yarn start orientations. From yarn permeabilities and simulated local yarn spacing distributions, local fiber volume fractions and fabric permeabilities were approximated. This allowed resin injection into a deformed fabric to be simulated for different drape scenarios with different probabilities and different degrees of fabric randomness. The results indicate that variability in fabric properties and the forming process affects flow front shapes and times for complete impregnation of the reinforcement.
Amplitude equations for coupled electrostatic waves in the limit of weak instability

We consider the simplest instabilities involving multiple unstable electrostatic plasma waves corresponding to four-dimensional systems of mode amplitude equations. In each case, the coupled amplitude equations are derived up to third-order terms. The nonlinear coefficients are singular in the limit in which the linear growth rates vanish together. These singularities are analysed using techniques developed in previous studies of a single unstable wave. In addition to the singularities familiar from the single-mode problem, there are new singularities in coefficients coupling the modes. The new singularities are most severe when the two waves have the same linear phase velocity and satisfy the spatial resonance condition k2=2k1. As a result, the short-wave mode saturates at a dramatically smaller amplitude than that predicted for the weak-growth-rate regime on the basis of single-mode theory. In contrast, the long-wave mode retains the single-mode scaling. If these resonance conditions are not satisfied then both modes retain their single-mode scaling and saturate at comparable amplitudes.
Consistent Analytic Embedded Atom Potential for Face-Centered Cubic Metals and Alloys

A consistent empirical embedded-atom potential that includes a long range force was developed for fcc (facecentered cubic) metals and alloys. The proposed potential for pure metals does not require modification of the initial function form when being applied to alloy systems. The potential parameters of this model were determined by fitting lattice constant, three elastic constants, cohesive energy, and vacancy formation energies of the pure metals and the heats of solution of the binary alloys via an optimization technique. Parameters for Ag, Al, Au, Cu, Ni, Pd and Pt were obtained. The obtained parameters were used to calculate the bulk modulus, divacancy formation energy, crystal stability, stacking fault energy, vacancy migration energy, and melting point for each pure metal and the heats of formation and lattice constants for binary alloys. The predicted values were in good agreement with experimental results.
Predictors of older adults' personal and community mobility: using a comprehensive theoretical mobility framework.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY Forty-six percent of older adults report limitations in their mobility, and maintaining mobility is considered an important factor in keeping adults independent and active in later life. This study tests a comprehensive theoretical framework of mobility (Webber, S. C., Porter, M. M., & Menec, V. H. [2010]. Mobility in older adults: A comprehensive framework. The Gerontologist, 50[4], 443-450. doi:10.1093/geront/gnq013) identifying multiple determinants that additively influence mobility (financial, psychosocial, environmental, physical, and cognitive), as well as cross-cutting influences of gender, culture, and biography. DESIGN AND METHODS Structural equation modeling was used to examine several models of mobility using data from 6,112 respondents in the Health and Retirement Study (mean age: 74.74, 85% white, 41% male, 57% married). RESULTS The original measurement model fit the data well. When both personal and community mobility were simultaneously predicted, only the physical, cognitive, psychosocial, and environmental determinants were retained in the independent models. Age and marital status also predicted personal and community mobility. Although most of these relationships were in the expected direction, interestingly when both forms of mobility were included in the model, poorer cognitive ability was associated with greater personal mobility in the final model. IMPLICATIONS Results indicate the importance of accounting for and examining comprehensive models of mobility. The factors affecting older adults' mobility are complex, and these relationships need to be explored in more depth to ensure the maintenance of individuals' independence and quality of life.
Testing the Role of Climate Change in Species Decline: Is the Eastern Quoll a Victim of a Change in the Weather?

To conserve a declining species we first need to diagnose the causes of decline. This is one of the most challenging tasks faced by conservation practitioners. In this study, we used temporally explicit species distribution models (SDMs) to test whether shifting weather can explain the recent decline of a marsupial carnivore, the eastern quoll (Dasyurus viverrinus). We developed an SDM using weather variables matched to occurrence records of the eastern quoll over the last 60 years, and used the model to reconstruct variation through time in the distribution of climatically suitable range for the species. The weather model produced a meaningful prediction of the known distribution of the species. Abundance of quolls, indexed by transect counts, was positively related to the modelled area of suitable habitat between 1990 and 2004. In particular, a sharp decline in abundance from 2001 to 2003 coincided with a sustained period of unsuitable weather over much of the species’ distribution. Since 2004, abundance has not recovered despite a return to suitable weather conditions, and abundance and area of suitable habitat have been uncorrelated. We suggest that fluctuations in weather account for the species’ recent decline, but other unrelated factors have suppressed recovery.
On Notions of Distortion and an Almost Minimum Spanning Tree with Constant Average Distortion

Minimum Spanning Trees of weighted graphs are fundamental objects in numerous applications. In particular in distributed networks, the minimum spanning tree of the network is often used to route messages between network nodes. Unfortunately, while being most efficient in the total cost of connecting all nodes, minimum spanning trees fail miserably in the desired property of approximately preserving distances between pairs. While known lower bounds exclude the possibility of the worst case distortion of a tree being small, it was shown in [4] that there exists a spanning tree with constant average distortion. Yet, the weight of such a tree may be significantly larger than that of the MST. In this paper, we show that any weighted undirected graph admits a spanning tree whose weight is at most (1 + ρ) times that of the MST, providing constant average distortion O(1/ρ2). 1 The constant average distortion bound is implied by a stronger property of scaling distortion, i.e., improved distortion for smaller fractions of the pairs. The result is achieved by first showing the existence of a low weight spanner with small prioritized distortion, a property allowing to prioritize the nodes whose associated distortions will be improved. We show that prioritized distortion is essentially equivalent to coarse scaling distortion via a general transformation, which has further implications and may be of independent interest. In particular, we obtain an embedding for arbitrary metrics into Euclidean space with optimal prioritized distortion.