Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Mechanics of C 60 in Nanotubes

A modeling study of C60 in nanotubes is presented, with focus on a new approach. We report on the elastic properties, energetics, and certain tribological issues, for C 60 inside (n, n) nanotubes, withn ranging from 5 to 10. A new combined molecular dynamics/continuum approach with account of both the nonbonded and bonded interactions was used. The elastic properties of the nanotube were analytically derived on the basis of the Tersoff-Brenner potential. The derived Young’s modulus is consistent with experimental values. We have computed the case where the C 60 has zero initial velocity and is “sucked” into the (10, 10) or (9, 9) tubes due to the sharp force gradient present from the deep attractive potential at the tube inlet; C 60 then oscillates back and forth inside the (10, 10) and (9, 9) nanotubes. C 60 seems to make a perfect nanobearing system when in the (10, 10) tube. In a separate modeling study, C 60 was fired on axis at high velocity (from 400 up to 1600 m/s) toward the six different armchair nanotubes. Over this velocity range the C 60 could only penetrate into the (10, 10) and (9, 9) nanotubes, rebounding from the (8, 8), (7, 7), (6, 6), and (5, 5) tubes.
Rethinking Deep Marginal Extension ( DME )

displace proximal margins underneath indirect bonded restorations. The author considers the former definition lexically misleading, historically mistaken and technically misaddressed. Lexically misleading because the word elevation evokes the idea of moving the margin. In reality, with this kind of procedure, the cavity dental margin keeps the same preoperative spatial position, with no significant potential gain of ferrule. The clinician just extends ‘prosthetically’ the dental cavity margin by means of some filling material. Therefore the author proposes to keep the acronym DME but as meaning Deep Margin Extension. The use of the word ‘elevation’ should be applied to Introduction
Left ventricular structure and function in prediabetic adults: Relationship with insulin resistance

Introduction: Several studies have shown that ventricular dysfunction is increased in individuals with diabetes. Insulin resistance (IR) may precede type 2 diabetes, and is a pathogenic factor for it. Furthermore, IR has been shown to be an independent predictor of cardiovascular disease in diabetes. Given that glucose intolerance and IR precede the development of overt diabetes, these factors would be associated with abnormal myocardial performance. Aim of the Work: To evaluate the state of left ventricular structure and function in prediabetic adults in relation with IR. Patients and Methods: A case—control study was performed. One hundred and twenty-one consecutive adults with prediabetes were enrolled for the study. Forty-two of the adults had IR (group A) and 79 had insulin sensitivity (group B). Forty-three healthy (with normal blood glucose) adults matched for age and gender were considered as a control group. All groups were subjected to full medical history and clinical examination and biochemical and echocardiographic studies. Results: There were no statistically significant differences between the insulin-sensitive prediabetic group and the control group in all parameters of left ventricular structure and systolic and diastolic functions. Significant differences were observed between group A and control group in the parameters of left ventricular diastolic function (both isovolumetric relaxation time and E/A ratio). Regarding correlation between the parameters of diastolic function and different variables of IR prediabetic group, there was a statistically significant coefficient correlation with HOMA IR, waist circumference and triglycerides. No correlation was observed with fasting glucose, Hb A1c, body mass index, blood pressure (BP) and total lipids. Conclusion: In prediabetic adults, IR is associated with impaired left ventricular diastolic function, and this association appears to be independent of BP, ventricular geometry, glucose tolerance status, total plasma lipids and obesity.
Translation of Earth observation data into sustainable development indicators: An analytical framework

In 2015, member countries of the United Nations adopted the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the Sustainable Development Summit in New York. These global goals have 169 targets and 232 indicators which are based on the three pillars of sustainable development: economic, social and environmental. Substantial challenges remain in obtaining data of the required quality, especially in developing countries, given the often limited resources available. One promising and innovative way of addressing this issue of data availability is to use Earth Observation (EO). This paper presents the results of research to develop a novel analytical framework for assessing the potential of EO approaches to populate the SDG indicators. We present a Maturity Matrix Framework (MMF) and apply it to all of the 232 SDG indicators. The results demonstrate that while the applicability of EO-derived data does vary between the SDG indicators, overall, EO has an important contribution to make towards populating a wide diversity of the SDG indicators.
Reproducti 7 e skew in birds : models , problems and prospects

In recent years there has been a resurgence of interest in models to explain the partitioning of direct reproduction (‘reproductive skew’) among members of one sex within social groups. We review models of skew, identify problems of testing models, and consider how to make progress. One series of models assumes that dominants have complete control of subordinate reproduction, but may allow subordinates some reproduction as a way of enticing them to help or getting them to share the cost of reproduction. Another series of models assume that dominants have limited control of subordinate reproduction. Reproductive skew may also be affected by incest avoidance or control by the opposite sex. Models are largely untested because no study of birds has quantified all relevant parameters, and we see no prospect of this happening soon. A common simplifying approach is to test qualitative predictions about the effect on skew of relatedness among group members. However, these data alone cannot distinguish among models because models do not make unique predictions, partly because skew is also affected by other factors. A major problem in cooperatively-breeding birds is that any effect of relatedness will often be confounded by covariation with relatedness asymmetry and subordinate competitiveness. Progress can be made with the development of theory, controlling confounding variables through the choice of study species or types of social group, and, most importantly, testing assumptions underlying hypotheses.
NUMERICAL ANALYSIS OF BRITTLE FRACTURE PROPAGATION AND STEP-PATH FAILURE IN MASSIVE ROCK SLOPES

Although individually both continuum and discontinuum numerical methods provide useful means to analyze rock slope stability problems, complex failures typically involve mechanisms related to both deformation along existing discontinuities and brittle fracture of intact rock. One such example is the 1991 Randa rockslide in the Swiss Alps, where failure involved several complex mechanisms, which require the consideration of progressive failure and brittle fracture propagation. This paper presents results from a series of hybrid finite-/discrete-element models directed towards the explicit modelling of brittle fracturing in natural rock slopes simulating the formation of a step-path failure surface. Two series of models are presented, the first starting from the assumption of an initial continuum (i.e. pre-existing discrete fractures are not included), the second including pre-existing fractures of limited persistence. These results demonstrate that massive rock slope failure involves the initiation and propagation of brittle fractures driven by extension strain, which interact with natural pre-existing discontinuities to form basal and internal shear planes. RÉSUMÉ Même si individuellement les méthodes numériques dites de continuum et discontinu procurent une façon utile d’analyser les problèmes de stabilité des pentes rocheuses, les ruptures complexes impliquent normalement des mécanismes reliés à la déformation le long des discontinuités pré-éxistantes et aux fractures fragiles de roche intacte. Un exemple de ce type de rupture est le glissement rocheux Randa de 1991 dans les Alpes Suisse, où la rupture impliqua plusieurs mécanismes complexes, ce qui demanda une considération de la rupture progressive et de la propagation de fractures fragile. Cet article présente les résultats d’une série de modèles avec des éléments hybrides finis discrets. Ceux-ci sont employés vers la modélisation explicite de la fracturation fragile sur des pentes rocheuses naturelles simulant ainsi la formation de surface de rupture en échelon. Deux séries de modèles sont présentées, la première à pour point de départ la supposition que le matériel soit un continuum (i.e. les fractures discrètes préexistantes ne sont pas incluses). La deuxième série inclue les fractures préexistantes de persistance limitée. Ces résultats démontrent qu’une rupture de pente rocheuse massive implique l’initiation et la propagation de fracture fragile en tension conduite par la déformation en extension, et qui interagit avec les discontinuités naturelles préexistantes pour former des plans de cisaillements de base et internes.
Influence of j uxtampullary d uodenal d iverticula on endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography for pancreaticobiliary disease

The influence of the presence and localization of a juxta-ampullary duodenal diverticulum (JPDD) on endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) for pancreaticobiliary disease is controversial. From January 2011 to June 2017, 486 patients enrolled at Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Dongyang People’s Hospital underwent ERCP. These patients’ characteristics and the details of their ERCP procedures were retrospectively evaluated. The primary outcome was the overall occurrence of successful cannulation, post-ERCP complications, and mortality. Two different types of JPDDs were identified according to the localization of the duodenal papilla: those with a peridiverticular papilla (PDP) (n=38, 56.72%), which was located near or in the margin of the diverticulum, and those with an interdiverticular papilla (IDP) (n=29, 43.28%), which was located inside the diverticulum. The success rate of the first cannulation was significantly lower in patients with JPDD than those without (72.73% vs. 87.25%, respectively). There was not significant difference in the success rate of total cannulation (84.41% vs. 96.81%). The incidence of post-ERCP complications (post-ERCP pancreatitis, hyperamylasemia, and bleeding) was higher in patients with JPDD than those without. The success rates of the first cannulation (88.64% vs. 51.72%) and total cannulation (93.18% vs. 72.73%) were higher in the PDP group than that in the IDP group. There was no significant difference in ERCP-related complications between the PDP group and IDP groups. ERCP in patients with a JPDD requires a higher skill level and may be associated with an increased complication rate after the procedure. A PDP is associated with higher success rates of the first and total cannulation.
Efficient and scalable data evolution with column oriented databases

Database evolution is the process of updating the schema of a database or data warehouse (schema evolution) and evolving the data to the updated schema (data evolution). It is often desired or necessitated when changes occur to the data or the query workload, the initial schema was not carefully designed, or more knowledge of the database is known and a better schema is concluded. The Wikipedia database, for example, has had more than 170 versions in the past 5 years [8]. Unfortunately, although much research has been done on the schema evolution part, data evolution has long been a prohibitively expensive process, which essentially evolves the data by executing SQL queries and re-constructing indexes. This prevents databases from being flexibly and frequently changed based on the need and forces schema designers, who cannot afford mistakes, to be highly cautious. Techniques that enable efficient data evolution will undoubtedly make life much easier. In this paper, we study the efficiency of data evolution, and discuss the techniques for data evolution on column oriented databases, which store each attribute, rather than each tuple, contiguously. We show that column oriented databases have a better potential than traditional row oriented databases for supporting data evolution, and propose a novel data-level data evolution framework on column oriented databases. Our approach, as suggested by experimental evaluations on real and synthetic data, is much more efficient than the query-level data evolution on both row and column oriented databases, which involves unnecessary access of irrelevant data, materializing intermediate results and re-constructing indexes.
Experiments on augmenting CONDENSATION for mobile robot localization

We study some modifications of the CONDENSATION algorithm. The case studied is feature based mobile robot localization in a large scale environment. The required sample set size for making the CONDENSATION algorithm converge properly can in many cases require too much computation. To manage with a sample set size which in the normal case would cause the CONDENSATION algorithm to break down. We study two modifications. The first strategy, called "CONDENSATION with random sampling", takes part of the sample set and spreads it randomly over the environment the robot operates in. The second strategy, called "CONDENSATION with planned sampling", places part of the sample set at planned positions based on the detected features. From the experiments we conclude that the second strategy is the best and can reduce the sample set size by at feast a factor of 40.
FRACTURE TOUGHNESS OF FERRITIC STEEL-UNDERWATER WET WELDED

Life extension of structures, such as nuclear power plants or nuclear reactor internals could require recoveries or mitigation actions due to aging phenomena. Such actions on steel structures many times has to be done using welds in wet environment, what would require special techniques like underwater wet welding. Shielded metal-arc welding is usually used in underwater wet welding. Once the welding electric arc is open, water dissociation occurs, producing oxygen, hydrogen, and characteristic welding gases. These produced chemical elements can be absorbed by the weld in underwater wet welding process and due to the fast cooling of weld it is impossible to eliminate these welding gases. Higher levels of absorbed discontinuities are characteristics of underwater wet welding. Cooling rate of underwater wet welding is faster than conventional air welding. Structures built using underwater wet welding must attend to special structural requirements. Results of fracture toughness of materials produced with high cooling rate and high level of inherent discontinuities, characteristic of underwater wet welding process, are presented in this paper. Materials used in this work were welded in depth condition of 0, 20, 40 and 60 meters of water column.
Differential Effects of Muscle Contraction from Various Body Parts on Neuromagnetic Somatosensory Responses

We studied eight healthy subjects with a whole-scalp 306-channel neuromagnetometer to explore the effect of motor activity from different body parts on somatosensory responses to left median nerve stimulation. The stimuli produced clear tactile sensation without any motor movement. In the rest condition, the subject had no task. During contraction conditions, the subject had to maintain submaximal isometric contraction in masseter, left deltoid, left thenar, or left tibialis muscles. Short-latency responses from the primary somatosensory cortex did not change during contraction. Responses from both the right (contralateral) and left second somatosensory cortices (SII) were significantly enhanced during contraction of the left thenar muscles. Responses from the left SII were significantly enhanced also during contraction of the left deltoid muscles, but they were decreased during contraction of the masseter and left tibialis anterior muscles. This study implies that SII activation is modulated by motor activity and that the effect depends on the topographical proximity of the stimulated and contracted body parts.
Pattern Motion Selectivity of Spiking Outputs and Local Field Potentials in Macaque Visual Cortex

The dorsal pathway of the primate visual cortex is involved in the processing of motion signals that are useful for perception and behavior. Along this pathway, motion information is first measured by the primary visual cortex (V1), which sends specialized projections to extrastriate regions such as the middle temporal area (MT). Previous work with plaid stimuli has shown that most V1 neurons respond to the individual components of moving stimuli, whereas some MT neurons are capable of estimating the global motion of the pattern. In this work, we show that the majority of neurons in the medial superior temporal area (MST), which receives input from MT, have this pattern-selective property. Interestingly, the local field potentials (LFPs) measured simultaneously with the spikes often exhibit properties similar to that of the presumptive feedforward input to each area: in the high-gamma frequency band, the LFPs in MST are as component selective as the spiking outputs of MT, and MT LFPs have plaid responses that are similar to the spiking outputs of V1. In the lower LFP frequency bands (beta and low gamma), component selectivity is very common, and pattern selectivity is almost entirely absent in both MT and MST. Together, these results suggest a surprisingly strong link between the sensory tuning of cortical LFPs and afferent inputs, with important implications for the interpretation of imaging studies and for models of cortical function.
Shorter-is-Better: Venue Category Estimation from Micro-Video

According to our statistics on over 2 million micro-videos, only 1.22% of them are associated with venue information, which greatly hinders the location-oriented applications and personalized services. To alleviate this problem, we aim to label the bite-sized video clips with venue categories. It is, however, nontrivial due to three reasons: 1) no available benchmark dataset; 2) insufficient information, low quality, and 3) information loss; and 3) complex relatedness among venue categories. Towards this end, we propose a scheme comprising of two components. In particular, we first crawl a representative set of micro-videos from Vine and extract a rich set of features from textual, visual and acoustic modalities. We then, in the second component, build a tree-guided multi-task multi-modal learning model to estimate the venue category for each unseen micro-video. This model is able to jointly learn a common space from multi-modalities and leverage the predefined Foursquare hierarchical structure to regularize the relatedness among venue categories. Extensive experiments have well-validated our model. As a side research contribution, we have released our data, codes and involved parameters.
Diabetic foot infections: state‐of‐the‐art

Foot infections are frequent and potentially devastating complications of diabetes. Unchecked, infection can progress contiguously to involve the deeper soft tissues and ultimately the bone. Foot ulcers in people with diabetes are most often the consequence of one or more of the following: peripheral sensory neuropathy, motor neuropathy and gait disorders, peripheral arterial insufficiency or immunological impairments. Infection develops in over half of foot ulcers and is the factor that most often leads to lower extremity amputation. These amputations are associated with substantial morbidity, reduced quality of life and major financial costs. Most infections can be successfully treated with optimal wound care, antibiotic therapy and surgical procedures. Employing evidence‐based guidelines, multidisciplinary teams and institution‐specific clinical pathways provides the best approach to guide clinicians through this multifaceted problem. All clinicians regularly seeing people with diabetes should have an understanding of how to prevent, diagnose and treat foot infections, which requires familiarity with the pathophysiology of the problem and the literature supporting currently recommended care.
The NP-completeness column: The many limits on approximation

This is the 25th edition of a column that covers new developments in the theory of NP-completeness. The presentation is modeled on that which M. R. Garey and I used in our book Computers and Intractability: A Guide to the Theory of NP-Completeness, W. H. Freeman & Co., New York, 1979, hereinafter referred to as ““[G&J]. ”” Previous columns, the first 23 of which appeared in Journal of Algorithms, will be referred to by a combination of their sequence number and year of appearance, for example, [Col 1, 1981]. Full bibliographic details on the previous columns as well as downloadable unofficial versions of them can be found at http://www.reseach. att.com/~dsj/columns/. This edition of the column discusses the wide range of lower bounds on approximation guarantees for NP-hard optimization problems both in their functional forms and in the hypotheses on which they depend.
Visitors’ Satisfaction towards Service and Facilities in Kilim Karst Geoforest Park, Langkawi

Kilim Karst Geoforest Park (KKGP) is one of the three world heritage sites in Langkawi Island that recognized by UNESCO since 2007 . It provides nature-based attraction for instance wildlife watching, karst landscape, mangrove river, and karst caves. Last a few years, visitors arrival in KKGP has increased dramatically from 78, 145 to 273,450 between 2006 and 2012. This influx has spurred substantial increases in the demand for facilities and services. However, in terms of ecotourism destination, some visitors may not like the changes in the environment and the landscape of the park because of the development. The main objective of this study is to measure the level of visitors’ satisfaction towards quality of services and facilities at KKGP. This study uses the ECOSERV dimension that has been adapted from SERVQUAL for accessing the quality of environment, services, and facilities provided in ecotourism site. In additional, the study uses the expectation-performance analysis that has been adapted from Importance Performance Analysis (IPA) to identify the attributes in services, facilities and environment that are need priority for improvement. The result of the study found the level of visitors’ satisfaction towards quality of environment, services and facilities in the park is low. Of the 27 attributes, the study found 17 items indicates visitors are less satisfied and only 6 items really need for urgent action. The results also suggest that there are some opportunities for improving the services and facilities in KKGP especially for management, planner and service provider.