Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
X-ray photoemission electron microscopic study of transformed shear bands in AISI 4340 steel

Abstract Failures of structural materials under dynamic mechanical loading at high strain rates are commonly initiated by shear strain localisation along adiabatic shear bands, which act as preferential sites for crack initiation and propagation. We have used synchrotron based X-ray photoemission electron microscopy (XPEEM) to identify chemical elements and measure compositional contrast in the shear band in AISI 4340 steel. The high spatial resolution of XPEEM combined with near edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectroscopy is used to study the microstructural evolution in transformed shear bands that formed in quench hardened and tempered AISI 4340 steel under dynamic impact loading. We compared our XPEEM findings with other complementary techniques such as energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy to get a complete picture. As in the case of optical and scanning electron microscopy, XPEEM images show a featureless transformed band devoid of the martensite laths found in the parent metal. Interestingly, XPEEM images and corresponding Cr 2p→3d and Ni 2p→3d NEXAFS spectra confirms a compositional contrast in the transformed shear band that resulted in more nickel inside the shear band than in the adjacent region. Les défaillances des matériaux structuraux sous charge mécanique dynamique à des vitesses élevées de déformation sont communément initiées par la localisation de la déformation de cisaillement le long des bandes de cisaillement adiabatique, lesquelles agissent comme sites préférentiels pour l’amorçage et la propagation de fissure. Nous avons utilisé le synchrotron basé sur la spectromicroscopie d’électrons photo-excités par rayons X (XPEEM) pour identifier les éléments chimiques et pour mesurer le contraste de composition dans la bande de cisaillement de l’acier AISI 4340. La haute résolution spatiale par XPEEM, combinée avec la spectroscopie des structures fines d’absorption X proches du seuil (NEXAFS), est utilisée pour étudier l’évolution de microstructure dans les bandes de cisaillement transformées qui se forment dans l’acier AISI 4340 durci par trempe et revenu sous charge dynamique par impact. Nous avons comparé nos trouvailles par XPEEM à d’autres techniques complémentaires comme la spectroscopie aux rayons X à dispersion d’énergie et la microscopie électronique à balayage afin d’obtenir une image complète. Comme dans le cas de la microscopie optique et électronique à balayage, les images XPEEM montrent une bande transformée sans particularité et sans martensite massive trouvée dans le métal parent. Ce qui est intéressant, c’est que les images XPEEM et les spectres correspondants de NEXAFS Cr 2p →3d et Ni 2p →3d confirment un contraste de composition dans la bande de cisaillement transformée qui a pour résultat la présence de plus de nickel à l’intérieur de la bande de cisaillement que dans la région adjacente.
Genetic Contribution of Variants near SORT1 and APOE on LDL Cholesterol Independent of Obesity in Children

Objective To assess potential effects of variants in six lipid modulating genes (SORT1, HMGCR, MLXIPL, FADS2, APOE and MAFB) on early development of dyslipidemia independent of the degree of obesity in children, we investigated their association with total (TC), low density lipoprotein (LDL-C), high density lipoprotein (HDL-C) cholesterol and triglyceride (TG) levels in 594 children. Furthermore, we evaluated the expression profile of the candidate genes during human adipocyte differentiation. Results Expression of selected genes increased 101 to >104 fold during human adipocyte differentiation, suggesting a potential link with adipogenesis. In genetic association studies adjusted for age, BMI SDS and sex, we identified significant associations for rs599839 near SORT1 with TC and LDL-C and for rs4420638 near APOE with TC and LDL-C. We performed Bayesian modelling of the combined lipid phenotype of HDL-C, LDL-C and TG to identify potentially causal polygenic effects on this multi-dimensional phenotype and considering obesity, age and sex as a-priori modulating factors. This analysis confirmed that rs599839 and rs4420638 affect LDL-C. Conclusion We show that lipid modulating genes are dynamically regulated during adipogenesis and that variants near SORT1 and APOE influence lipid levels independent of obesity in children. Bayesian modelling suggests causal effects of these variants.
CYTOPLASMIC FILAMENTS IN DEVELOPING AND ADULT VERTEBRATE SMOOTH MUSCLE

An extensive study of adult and developing smooth muscle has revealed the widespread occurrence of a distinct filament with an average diameter of about 100 A (termed the 100 A filament). Unlike that of myofilaments, their appearance in longitudinal section is uniform, but in transverse section they have a round profile, occasionally exhibiting a less electron-opaque core. The 100 A filaments are almost invariably preserved under a variety of fixation procedures, whereas myofilaments, particularly the thicker filaments, are preserved inconsistently. The 100 A filaments appear to be randomly oriented throughout the cytoplasm, either singly or in small groups, although they are sometimes concentrated in the juxtanuclear region of the smooth muscle cells. The intimate association of 100 A filaments with dark bodies, in both developing and adult smooth muscle cells, may indicate that these filaments either play a role in dark body formation or, at least, constitute a part of the dark body. The 100 A filaments are conspicuous in developing smooth muscle cells and occasionally form networks or clusters; they appear to decrease in relative number as maturation proceeds, but considerable numbers are still present in adult tissue.
Low Complexity Decision Directed Channel Tracking for High Mobility OFDM Systems

Pilot assisted channel tracking (PACT) has been very popular for channel estimation in OFDM systems. However, as the mobility in the system increases and one has to maintain a high accuracy in channel estimation, the pilot overhead typically has to be increased. Emerging cellular OFDM standards are expected to use about 6 - 12% pilot overhead per stream, and any possible reduction in pilot overhead would be useful. Decision directed channel tracking (DDCT) can help reduce pilot overhead, but is known to suffer from error propagation at high fade rates. In emerging broadband wireless systems promising peak bit rates of 50 Mbps or more, saving on pilot overhead by using DDCT schemes would be highly attractive provided: (a) Such a DDCT approach does not suffer from error propagation and has an error rate performance comparable to (or better than) PACT schemes even at high fade rates; (b) The computational complexity of such a DDCT approach is not significantly more than that of the MMSE based PACT scheme. In this work, we propose a low complexity DDCT method which exploits the structure of the regression matrix in conjunction with robust statistics to mitigate the effect of error propagation. It has a much lower computational complexity and a better error rate performance than the decision directed EM-Kalman and other existing robust statistics based DDCT schemes. The proposed method also outperforms a 12.5% pilot overhead based PACT scheme with only a modest increase in computational complexity.
Early Predictors of Mortality in Geriatric Patients With Trauma

Objective: To identify variables that predict mortality in geriatric patients with trauma. Design: Retrospective review. Setting: Level I trauma center. Patients/Participants: A total of 147 geriatric patients with trauma (age ≥65) with a predicted probability of survival of 10%–75% based on the Trauma Score-Injury Severity Score (TRISS). Main Outcome Measurements: Patients were divided into 2 cohorts: survivors and nonsurvivors. The following variables available at presentation were analyzed: age, mechanism of injury, temperature, systolic blood pressure, pulse rate, shock index, respiratory rate, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score, base deficit, and hematocrit (HCT). The Injury Severity Score (ISS) and TRISS were calculated for both cohorts. Results: Of the 147 patients analyzed, 84 (57%) died during the index hospitalization and 63 (43%) survived. The mean age of nonsurvivors was significantly higher than that of survivors (78.6 vs. 76.1 years; P < 0.04). A greater number of nonsurvivors (72.6%) sustained injuries as a result of a low-energy mechanism compared with survivors (54%; P = 0.02). GCS, temperature, and respiratory rate were significantly lower for nonsurvivors, whereas base deficit was higher (P < 0.05). The TRISS was predictive of survival (TRISS 0.27 vs. 0.53, P < 0.001), but the distinguishing capacity of the TRISS to predict mortality was limited (area under the receiver operator curve; 0.67; 95% confidence interval 0.58–0.76; P < 0.0001). Conclusions: Older age, lower GCS, and a low-energy mechanism of injury are associated with a higher mortality rate in this at-risk geriatric trauma population. Early identification of predictors of mortality may help care providers more accurately assess injury burden in geriatric patients. Level of Evidence: Prognostic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
An Open Label, Pilot, Randomized Controlled Trial of Noradrenaline Versus Terlipressin in the Treatment of Type 1 Hepatorenal Syndrome and Predictors of Response

BACKGROUND Hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) is characterized by functional renal failure in end-stage liver disease.AND AIMS: Terlipressin is the drug of choice for treating type 1 HRS (HRS-1). It is expensive and often not readily available. We, in an open label, randomized, pilot trial, compared the efficacy of terlipressin and noradrenaline on the renal functions and clinical outcome of patients with HRS-1 and also sought predictors of response.PATIENTS AND Forty consecutive patients with HRS-1 were randomized to receive noradrenaline 0.5–3.0 mg/h andMETHODS:albumin (group A, N = 20) or terlipressin 0.5–2 mg, 6 hourly and albumin (group B, N = 20), until reversal of HRS (primary end point) or completion of 15 days of therapy (secondary end point). Systemic and renal parameters were monitored. Baseline parameters and delta creatinine at day 4 (DCD4) were used to predict response.RESULTS:The two groups were comparable at baseline. At similar time points, 10 (50%) patients in each group achieved primary end points. Patients in both groups had a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in serum creatinine from baseline (group A day 4 2.4 ± 1.2 mg/dL, day 8 1.6 ± 1.2 mg/dL, and day 15 1.0 ± 0.4 mg/dL; group B day 4 2.5 ± 1.5 mg/dL, day 8 1.8 ± 0.9 mg/dL, and day 15 1.2 ± 0.5 mg/dL) and progressive increase in creatinine clearance (group A day 4 26.5 ± 12.8 mL/min and day 15 59.8 ± 14.2 mL/min; group B day 4 31.4 ± 21.4 mL/min and day 15 54.9 ± 27.5 mL/min, P < 0.05). Median baseline plasma renin activity was reduced from 38.0 and 42.0 ng/mL/h to 3.0 and 8.0 ng/mL/h (P= 0.08) in groups A and B, respectively. Mean arterial BP and urine output significantly increased in both groups with therapy. Eleven (55%) patients in group A (10 responders) and an equal number in group B (8 responders) survived until day 15 (P= 0.798). Reversible cardiac ischemia was seen in one patient in each group. Noradrenaline therapy was significantly less expensive than terlipressin. On univariate analysis, the following baseline parameters predicted response to therapy: lower grade of encephalopathy, lower MELD score, higher creatinine clearance, higher mean arterial pressure (MAP), and lower plasma renin activity. However, on multivariate analysis only baseline creatinine clearance, MAP, and plasma renin activity were independent predictors of response. At day 4 of therapy, DCD4 was computed and a value of 0.15 mg/dL/day or more accurately predicted response. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value for DCD4 0.15 mg/dL/day for predicting response to therapy were 90%, 75%, 78%, and 88%, respectively.CONCLUSIONS:Noradrenaline may be an effective and safe alternative to terlipressin in improving renal functions. Various baseline parameters and DCD4 can be used to predict response to therapy.
EPOpt: Learning Robust Neural Network Policies Using Model Ensembles

Sample complexity and safety are major challenges when learning policies with reinforcement learning for real-world tasks, especially when the policies are represented using rich function approximators like deep neural networks. Model-based methods where the real-world target domain is approximated using a simulated source domain provide an avenue to tackle the above challenges by augmenting real data with simulated data. However, discrepancies between the simulated source domain and the target domain pose a challenge for simulated training. We introduce the EPOpt algorithm, which uses an ensemble of simulated source domains and a form of adversarial training to learn policies that are robust and generalize to a broad range of possible target domains, including unmodeled effects. Further, the probability distribution over source domains in the ensemble can be adapted using data from target domain and approximate Bayesian methods, to progressively make it a better approximation. Thus, learning on a model ensemble, along with source domain adaptation, provides the benefit of both robustness and learning/adaptation.
Incentives and Equity under Standards-based Reform

The paper considers theoretical and empirical evidence on the impact of standards-based school reform. Our theoretical synthesis distinguishes between sorting and incentive effects of high standards, and spells out the potential tradeoffs and complementarities between enhancing efficiency and equity in student achievement. Differentiated credentials can be helpful in ameliorating tradeoffs, provided that distinct signals are clearly understood, especially between cognitive and non-cognitive skills. The paper reviews trends in state-level school accountability systems, and examines empirical evidence on the impact of increased standards and expectations on student achievement. Finally, the paper reviews some of the practical challenges facing the standards movement.
PRELIMINARY AND INCOMPLETE , DECEMBER 2012 ENDOPHILIA OR EXOPHOBIA : BEYOND DISCRIMINATION

The immense literature on discrimination treats outcomes as relativistic: One group suffers relative to another. But does the difference arise because agents discriminate against others—are exophobic—or because they favor their own kind—are endophiles? We conduct a field experiment in which graders at one university are randomly assigned students’ exams that did or did not contain the students’ names. Examining whether matches by nationality or gender affected the scores that were given, we infer that on average there was favoritism but no discrimination by nationality, and neither favoritism nor discrimination by gender. The favoritism by nationality is due chiefly to behavior by the most experienced graders and by those graders who had been rated as poor teachers by students in previous courses.
Evidence of Action Sequence Chunking in Goal-Directed Instrumental Conditioning and Its Dependence on the Dorsomedial Prefrontal Cortex

The current study investigated the contribution of the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC) to instrumental action selection. We found that cell body lesions of the dmPFC, centered on the medial agranular area, spared rats' ability to choose between actions based on either the value or the discriminative stimulus properties of an outcome. We next examined the effects of these lesions on action sequence learning using a concurrent bidirectional heterogeneous chain task in which the identity of the reward delivered was determined by the order in which the two lever press actions were performed. Although both lesioned rats and sham controls learned to perform the task, we found that they relied on different behavioral strategies to do so. In subsequent tests, rats in the sham group were able to withhold their performance of a sequence when either its associated outcome was devalued or the contingency between that sequence and its outcome was degraded by delivering the outcome noncontingently. Interestingly, lesioned rats failed to reorganize their performance at the action sequence level and, rather, were found to withhold their performance of the terminal response in the sequence that had earned the devalued outcome relative to the more distal response, suggesting that they represented the elements of the sequence as distinct behavioral units. These findings demonstrate that rats can use sequence-level representations, or action chunks, to organize their behavior in a goal-directed manner and indicate that the dmPFC plays a critical role in this process.
Controlling Losses With Gates and Shields to Perfect a Quantum Hall Impedance Standard

We report new results and insights concerning the effect of side gates, back gates, and ac losses on the ac properties of the quantum Hall resistance (QHR). Three different loss mechanisms have been identified, namely, dissipative losses in the 2-D electron gas (2DEG), relaxation losses in a surface layer above the 2DEG, and dielectric losses in the GaAs substrate. A novel shielding configuration reduces the effect of these loss mechanisms and makes the ac QHR independent of frequency and current to better than 1 part in 108 at frequencies around 1 kHz.
Hydrogel Matrix to Support Stem Cell Survival After Brain Transplantation in Stroke

Stroke is a leading cause of adult disability. Stem/progenitor cell transplantation improves recovery after stroke in rodent models. These studies have 2 main limitations to clinical translation. First, most of the cells in stem/progenitor transplants die after brain transplantation. Second, intraparenchymal approaches target transplants to normal brain adjacent to the stroke, which is the site of the most extensive natural recovery in humans. Transplantation may damage this tissue. The stroke cavity provides an ideal target for transplantation because it is a compartmentalized region of necrosis, can accept a high volume transplant without tissue damage, and lies directly adjacent to the most plastic brain area in stroke. However, direct transplantation into the stroke cavity has caused massive death in the transplant. To overcome these limitations, the authors tested stem/progenitor transplants within a specific biopolymer hydrogel matrix to create a favorable environment for transplantation into the infarct cavity after stroke, and they tested this in comparison to stem cell injection without hydrogel support. A biopolymer hydrogel composed of cross-linked hyaluronan and heparin sulfate significantly promoted the survival of 2 different neural progenitor cell lines in vitro in conditions of stress and in vivo into the infarct cavity. Quantitative analysis of the transplant and surrounding tissue indicates diminished inflammatory infiltration of the graft with the hydrogel transplant. This result indicates that altering the local environment in stem cell transplantation enhances survival and diminishes cell stress. Stem cell transplantation into the infarct cavity within a pro-survival hydrogel matrix may provide a translational therapy for stroke recovery.
A Web-Based Interactive Tool for Creating, Inspecting, Editing, and Publishing Etymological Datasets

The paper presents the Etymological DICtionary ediTOR (EDICTOR), a free, interactive, web-based tool designed to aid historical linguists in creating, editing, analysing, and publishing etymological datasets. The EDICTOR offers interactive solutions for important tasks in historical linguistics, including facilitated input and segmentation of phonetic transcriptions, quantitative and qualitative analyses of phonetic and morphological data, enhanced interfaces for cognate class assignment and multiple word alignment, and automated evaluation of regular sound correspondences. As a web-based tool written in JavaScript, the EDICTOR can be used in standard web browsers across all major platforms.
Global heat kernel estimates for $\Delta+\Delta^{\alpha/2}$ in half-space-like domains

Suppose that $d\ge 1$ and $\alpha\in (0, 2)$. In this paper, we establish by using probabilistic methods sharp two-sided pointwise estimates for the Dirichlet heat kernels of $\{\Delta+ a^\alpha \Delta^{\alpha/2}; \ a\in (0, 1]\}$ on half-space-like $C^{1, 1}$ domains for all time $t>0$. The large time estimates for half-space-like domains are very different from those for bounded domains. Our estimates are uniform in $a \in (0, 1]$ in the sense that the constants in the estimates are independent of $a\in (0, 1]$. Thus they yield the Dirichlet heat kernel estimates for Brownian motion in half-space-like domains by taking $a\to 0$. Integrating the heat kernel estimates with respect to the time variable $t$, we obtain uniform sharp two-sided estimates for the Green functions of $\{\Delta+ a^\alpha \Delta^{\alpha/2}; \ a\in (0, 1]\}$ in half-space-like $C^{1, 1}$ domains in $R^d$.
The SBASE domain sequence resource, release 12: prediction of protein domain-architecture using support vector machines

SBASE (http://www.icgeb.trieste.it/sbase) is an online resource designed to facilitate the detection of domain homologies based on sequence database search. The present release of the SBASE A library of protein domain sequences contains 972 397 protein sequence segments annotated by structure, function, ligand-binding or cellular topology, clustered into 8547 domain groups. SBASE B contains 169 916 domain sequences clustered into 2526 less well-characterized groups. Domain prediction is based on an evaluation of database search results in comparison with a ‘similarity network’ of inter-sequence similarity scores, using support vector machines trained on similarity search results of known domains.
Incremental Naïve Bayesian Spam Mail Filtering and Variant Incremental Training

This paper proposes an incremental spam mail filtering using Naïve Bayesian classification which gives simplicity and adaptability. To keep the training set to a limited size and small, the sliding window is applied and the training set is updated when new emails are received. In effect, features in the training set are incrementally updated, and the model would be adaptive to a new spam pattern. In addition, we present three incremental training schemes: a window containing only the most recent emails, a window containing the previous batch of emails, and a window containing all already seen emails. The proposed model is evaluated using two spam corpora: Trec05p-1 [12] and Trec06p [13]. In our experiments, the window size is varied, the processing time per message, and the ham and spam misclassification rates are measured. The results show that the third incremental training scheme gives the best outcomes, and the window size significantly affects the misclassification rates and the processing time.