Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The dynamic response of β titanium alloys to high strain rates at room and elevated temperatures

Titanium and its alloys fulfil a wide range of applications involving aerospace, biomedical, chemical and petroleum industries due to their extraordinary properties such as high specific strength, excellent biocompatibility and corrosion resistance. Among different types of titanium alloys, β titanium alloys have a unique range of properties such as an excellent combination of high strength and fracture toughness and low Young’s modulus. Therefore, the usage of β titanium alloys in the manufacturing of some key components in aerospace and biomedical industries has continually increased in the past decade. Nowadays many commercial manufacturing processes for metallic materials such as machining, explosive welding, hot forging and extrusion employ high strain rates and are conducted at elevated temperatures. Also, high-strain-rate deformation can be encountered in collisions such as in car crashes, bird strikes on airplanes and micrometeorite impacts on space structures. Hence a large number of studies have been conducted on the dynamic response of metallic materials including copper, steels, tantalum, Ti-6Al-4V alloy and commercially pure titanium to high strain rates. Due to limited knowledge of the dynamic behaviour of β titanium alloys, this thesis mainly investigates the stress-strain behaviour and microstructural evolution of β titanium alloys under high strain rates at room and elevated temperatures. Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar compressive tests were carried out on two new types of β titanium alloys with different levels of β phase stability, the Ti-6Cr-5Mo-5V-4Al (wt. %) and Ti-25Nb-3Zr3Mo-2Sn (wt.%) alloys, at strain rates ranging from 10 -3 s -1 to 10 4 s -1 and temperatures ranging from 293K to 1173K. The Ti-6Cr-5Mo-5V-4Al alloy, with relatively high β phase stability, represents an alloy type which can be engineered through heat treatment or thermo-mechanical processing to achieve a superior combination of strength and fracture toughness. While the Ti-25Nb-3Zr-3Mo2Sn alloy with relatively low β phase stability represents an alloy type which can be applied in biomedical applications due to their low Young’s modulus and superelastic properties. For the Ti-6Cr-5Mo-5V-4Al alloy, dislocation slip is dominant at all testing strain rates and temperatures in this research. The flow stress increases with increasing strain rate but decreasing temperature. Also, it is more sensitive to temperature than strain rate. At ambient temperatures, the strain hardening rate exhibited by the Ti-6Cr-5Mo-5V-4Al alloy at high strain rates is much lower than that at quasi-static strain rates, which is attributed to the thermal softening effect brought by
Past and present in the notion of school-family collaboration

Pasado y presente del concepto de colaboracion centro docente-familia. En este articulo se analiza la nocion de colaboracion escuela-familia y su interes para los teoricos, investigadores y profesionales de la educacion. Se describe en primer lugar como los movimientos historicos y politicos llevaron al establecimiento y afianzamiento de la colaboracion entre los centros escolares y las familias, y se hace referencia a los diferentes roles y responsabilidades que estos movimientos bao asignado a los padres y madres. Sobre este particular se hace referencia al apoyo que la politica educativa de distintos paises ha mostrado para iniciar estas vias de interaccion. Seguidamente se revisan resultados empiricos de caracter internacional y regulaciones educativas que apoyan el valor de los vinculos escuela-familia. El articulo finaliza describiendo diferentes modos en que las familias se involucran en los procesos de aprendizaje academico de sus hijos, asi como varias tipologias para llevar a cabo la implicacion de las familias en los centros escolares. Se hace mencion tambien a diferentes conceptos utilizados en el ambito de estudio de las relaciones escuela-familia y a los condicionantes y factores que parecen definir el contenido y alcance de estas relaciones.
Leisure in the UK Across the 20 th Century

Leisure started the century as the name of a class, and ends it as a category of consumption. Leisure was once assumed to be an attribute of the progress of civilization, in which we move, step by step, from a primitive world of unremitting toil toward a future of uninterrupted play. At earlier stages of civilization, leisure was the exclusive perquisite of the rich, progress, through the automation of production would mean that an ever increasing proportion of the population of developed societies would achieve this desirable state, while the working hours of the remaining part would continuously decline. The Sabbath day of rest was considered to be a foretaste of this paradisial state of society, and indeed the Babylonian Talmud identifies the start of the messianic era with the point in history that all abstain from work on one particular Saturday.
Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination-Revised: Effects of Education and Age. Normative Data for the Spanish Speaking Population.

OBJECTIVE Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination-Revised is a brief test battery for the detection and classification of mild cognitive impairment and dementia. The aims were to investigate the influence of age and education on the Spanish version of the ACE-R and to propose normative data for the Spanish speaking population. METHOD Three hundred thirty-four normal healthy volunteers were included in the study. They were classified in three age groups (48-64, 65-75, and 75-89 years of age) and four educational level groups (≤3; 4-8; 9-12, and ≥13 years of education). They were assessed with the version of ACE-R validated in Argentina with some modifications in order to adapt it to the Spanish population. RESULTS Significant differences were obtained between all age groups in Total ACE-R, Memory, Fluency, and Language indexes. Differences were observed among the 48-64 and 76-89 age groups in the Attention-Orientation and Visuospatial indexes. Regarding education, significant difference between ≤3 years of education and the remaining groups were obtained in Total ACE-R and in all the indexes. Additionally, the group of 4-8 years of education performed significantly worse than the 9-12 and ≥13 groups in Total, Memory, Fluency, and Language indexes. Adjusted scores by education were obtained and percentiles for each age group were calculated. CONCLUSIONS The results show that both age and education have an important effect on ACE-R performance. Consequently, age and education should be taken into account when interpreting results in ACE-R to improve diagnostic accuracy.
Medicago truncatula ERN Transcription Factors: Regulatory Interplay with NSP1/NSP2 GRAS Factors and Expression Dynamics throughout Rhizobial Infection1[W]

Rhizobial nodulation factors (NFs) activate a specific signaling pathway in Medicago truncatula root hairs that involves the complex interplay of Nodulation Signaling Pathway1 (NSP1)/NSP2 GRAS and Ethylene Response Factor Required for Nodulation1 (ERN1) transcription factors (TFs) to achieve full ENOD11 transcription. ERN1 acts as a direct transcriptional regulator of ENOD11 through the activation of the NF-responsive “NF box. ” Here, we show that NSP1, when combined with NSP2, can act as a strong positive regulator of ERN1 and ENOD11 transcription. Although ERN1 and NSP1/NSP2 both activate ENOD11, two separate promoter regions are involved that regulate expression during consecutive symbiotic stages. Our findings indicate that ERN1 is required to activate NF-elicited ENOD11 expression exclusively during early preinfection, while NSP1/NSP2 mediates ENOD11 expression during subsequent rhizobial infection. The relative contributions of ERN1 and the closely related ERN2 to the rhizobial symbiosis were then evaluated by comparing their regulation and in vivo dynamics. ERN1 and ERN2 exhibit expression profiles compatible with roles during NF signaling and subsequent infection. However, differences in expression levels and spatiotemporal profiles suggest specialized functions for these two TFs, ERN1 being involved in stages preceding and accompanying infection thread progression while ERN2 is only involved in certain stages of infection. By cross complementation, we show that ERN2, when expressed under the control of the ERN1 promoter, can restore both NF-elicited ENOD11 expression and nodule formation in an ern1 mutant background. This indicates that ERN1 and ERN2 possess similar biological activities and that functional diversification of these closely related TFs relies primarily on changes in tissue-specific expression patterns.
Murine Cytomegalovirus Stimulates Cellular Thymidylate Synthase Gene Expression in Quiescent Cells and Requires the Enzyme for Replication

ABSTRACT Herpesviruses accomplish DNA replication either by expressing their own deoxyribonucleotide biosynthetic genes or by stimulating the expression of the corresponding cellular genes. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) has adopted the latter strategy to allow efficient replication in quiescent cells. In the present report, we show that murine CMV (MCMV) infection of quiescent fibroblasts induces both mRNA and protein corresponding to the cellular thymidylate synthase (TS) gene, which encodes the enzyme that catalyzes the de novo synthesis of thymidylic acid. The increase in TS gene expression was due to an increase in gene transcription, since the activity of a reporter gene driven by the mouse TS promoter was induced following MCMV infection. Mutagenesis of the potential E2F-responsive element immediately upstream from the TS essential promoter region abolished the virus-mediated stimulation of the TS promoter, suggesting that the transactivating activity of MCMV infection was E2F dependent. Cotransfection experiments revealed that expression of the viral immediate-early 1 protein was sufficient to mediate the increase in TS promoter activity. Finally, MCMV replication and viral DNA synthesis were found to be inhibited by ZD1694, a quinazoline-based folate analog that inhibits TS activity. These results demonstrate that upregulation of cellular TS expression is required for efficient MCMV replication in quiescent cells.
Respiratory mechanics and lung morphometry in severe pancreatitis-associated acute lung injury in rats.

OBJECTIVE To develop and study an experimental model for severe pancreatitis-associated lung injury. DESIGN Prospective, randomized, controlled trial. SETTING University pulmonary laboratory. SUBJECTS Seventy-eight male Wistar rats. INTERVENTIONS Pancreatitis was induced by taurocholate injection into the pancreatic duct. Data were compared with data from sham-operated animals. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Pulmonary mechanical measurements were performed in anesthetized and mechanically ventilated rats. Alveolar pressure was obtained by the alveolar capsule technique. Lungs were fixed at functional residual capacity by immersion in liquid nitrogen and were submitted to morphometric studies. Dynamic pulmonary elastance was found to be increased in the acute pancreatitis group (2.25 +/- 0.21 vs. 1.62 +/- 0.10 cm H2O/mL [p < .05]). Morphometric signs of distal airway contraction and vasoconstriction were observed. Increased intraalveolar edema rate (55.6 +/- 12.7% vs. 22.6 +/- 9.6% [p < .001]) was detected in the animals with acute pancreatitis. A high degree of pulmonary unevenness and polymorphonuclear infiltration were also detected in the lungs of the acute pancreatitis animals. CONCLUSIONS In this severe pancreatitis-associated lung injury model, the mechanical and morphologic alterations were similar to those alterations observed in the adult respiratory distress syndrome. This model may prove to be a useful tool to investigate mechanisms and mediators of the respiratory failure induced by acute pancreatitis and other forms of adult respiratory distress syndrome.
Lytic Replication-Defective Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus: Potential Role in Infection and Malignant Transformation

ABSTRACT Defective viruses often have pivotal roles in virus-induced diseases. Although Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is etiologically associated with Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) and primary effusion lymphoma (PEL), defective KSHV has not been reported. Using differential genetic screening methods, we show that defective KSHV is present in KS tumors and PEL cell lines. To investigate the role of defective viruses in KSHV-induced pathogenesis, we isolated and characterized a lytic replication-defective KSHV, KV-1, containing an 82-kb genomic deletion of solely lytic genes. Cells harboring KV-1 escaped G0/G1 apoptosis induced by spontaneous lytic replication occurred in cells infected with regular KSHV but maintained efficient latent replication. Consequently, KV-1-infected cells had phenotypes of enhanced cell proliferation and transformation potentials. Importantly, KV-1 was packaged as infectious virions by using regular KSHV as helpers, and KV-1-like variants were detected in cultures of two of five KSHV cell lines and 1 of 18 KS tumors. These results point to a potential role for defective viruses in the regulation of KSHV infection and malignant transformation.
Scanning electron microscopic study of the cleaning ability of chlorhexidine as a root-canal irrigant.

AIM To evaluate in vitro the cleaning of root-canal walls after irrigation with different irrigants. METHODOLOGY A total of 36 recently extracted human teeth were divided into four experimental groups according to the irrigating solution used: saline; 2% chlorhexidine; 2.5% sodium hypochlorite; and 2.5% sodium hypochlorite + EDTA. The cleaning of the apical, middle and coronal thirds of the root canals was evaluated by scanning electron microscope examination using a 4-point scoring system. RESULTS The best cleaning was obtained using 2.5% sodium hypochlorite and EDTA, followed by 2.5% sodium hypochlorite only (P < 0.05), whose cleaning was similar to chlorhexidine only in the cervical third. Cleaning by saline and 2% chlorhexidine was worse than the other two groups and was similar in all thirds. Better cleaning was found in the cervical and middle thirds for all groups with the worst results in the apical third. CONCLUSIONS The apical third of the root canals was not cleaned as well as the middle and coronal thirds. Cleaning by chlorhexidine and saline was inferior compared to the cleaning by sodium hypochlorite with and without EDTA.
Novel Chemical Class of pUL97 Protein Kinase-Specific Inhibitors with Strong Anticytomegaloviral Activity

ABSTRACT Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a major human pathogen frequently associated with life-threatening disease in immunosuppressed patients and newborns. The HCMV UL97-encoded protein kinase (pUL97) represents an important determinant of viral replication. Recent studies demonstrated that pUL97-specific kinase inhibitors are powerful tools for the control of HCMV replication. We present evidence that three related quinazoline compounds are potent inhibitors of the pUL97 kinase activity and block in vitro substrate phosphorylation, with 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC50s) between 30 and 170 nM. Replication of HCMV in primary human fibroblasts was suppressed with a high efficiency. The IC50s of these three quinazoline compounds (2.4 ± 0.4, 3.4 ± 0.6, and 3.9 ± 1.1 μM, respectively) were in the range of the IC50 of ganciclovir (1.2 ± 0.2 μM), as determined by the HCMV green fluorescent protein-based antiviral assay. Importantly, the quinazolines were demonstrated to have strong inhibitory effects against clinical HCMV isolates, including ganciclovir- and cidofovir-resistant virus variants. Moreover, in contrast to ganciclovir, the formation of resistance to the quinazolines was not observed. The mechanisms of action of these compounds were confirmed by kinetic analyses with infected cells. Quinazolines specifically inhibited viral early-late protein synthesis but had no effects at other stages of the replication cycle, such as viral entry, consistent with a blockage of the pUL97 function. In contrast to epithelial growth factor receptor inhibitors, quinazolines affected HCMV replication even when they were added hours after virus adsorption. Thus, our findings indicate that quinazolines are highly efficient inhibitors of HCMV replication in vitro by targeting pUL97 protein kinase activity.
Personality in the cockroach Diploptera punctata: Evidence for stability across developmental stages despite age effects on boldness

Despite a recent surge in the popularity of animal personality studies and their wide-ranging associations with various aspects of behavioural ecology, our understanding of the development of personality over ontogeny remains poorly understood. Stability over time is a central tenet of personality; ecological pressures experienced by an individual at different life stages may, however, vary considerably, which may have a significant effect on behavioural traits. Invertebrates often go through numerous discrete developmental stages and therefore provide a useful model for such research. Here we test for both differential consistency and age effects upon behavioural traits in the gregarious cockroach Diploptera punctata by testing the same behavioural traits in both juveniles and adults. In our sample, we find consistency in boldness, exploration and sociality within adults whilst only boldness was consistent in juveniles. Both boldness and exploration measures, representative of risk-taking behaviour, show significant consistency across discrete juvenile and adult stages. Age effects are, however, apparent in our data; juveniles are significantly bolder than adults, most likely due to differences in the ecological requirements of these life stages. Size also affects risk-taking behaviour since smaller adults are both bolder and more highly explorative. Whilst a behavioural syndrome linking boldness and exploration is evident in nymphs, this disappears by the adult stage, where links between other behavioural traits become apparent. Our results therefore indicate that differential consistency in personality can be maintained across life stages despite age effects on its magnitude, with links between some personality traits changing over ontogeny, demonstrating plasticity in behavioural syndromes.
Is missing maxillary lateral incisor in complete cleft lip and palate a product of genetics or local environment?

OBJECTIVE To test the null hypothesis: Subjects with isolated complete unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) show no differences in overall frequency of tooth agenesis (hypodontia), comparing a subsample with cleft-side maxillary lateral incisor (MxI2) agenesis to a subsample without cleft-side MxI2 agenesis. Findings could clarify the origins of cleft-side MxI2 agenesis. MATERIALS AND METHODS Tooth agenesis was identified from dental radiographs of 141 subjects with UCLP. The UCLP cohort was segregated into four categories according to the status and location of MxI2 in the region of the unilateral cleft: group M: subjects with one tooth, located on the mesial side of the alveolar cleft; group D: subjects with one tooth, located on the distal side of the alveolar cleft; group MD: subjects with two teeth present, one mesial and one distal to the cleft; and group ABS: subjects with lateral incisor absent (agenesis) in the cleft area. RESULTS The null hypothesis was rejected. Among UCLP subjects, there was a twofold increase (P < .0008) in overall frequency of tooth agenesis outside the cleft region in a subsample with cleft-side MxI2 agenesis (ABS), compared to a subsample presenting with no agenesis of the cleft-side MxI2 (M+D+MD). CONCLUSIONS Cleft-side MxI2 agenesis in CLP subjects appears to be largely a genetically controlled anomaly associated with cleft development, rather than a collateral environmental consequence of the adjacent cleft defect, since increased hypodontia involving multiple missing teeth observed remote from a cleft clearly has a significant genetic basis.
Bipaddle Radial Forearm Flap for Head and Neck Reconstruction

BackgroundAlthough the radial forearm free flap has become a workhorse flap in head and neck reconstruction, the skin grafting of the donor is the main drawback resulting in an unacceptable contour deformity and an unsightly appearance. Several technical modifications have been therefore applied to the radial forearm (RF) flap marking, elevation, and inset to overcome this major shortcoming. In this article, we report our clinical series with the bipaddle RF flap. MethodsThe authors described their 11 cases of head and neck oncologic reconstruction with the bipaddle RF flap. The skin island is designed longer and narrower and split into 2 separate skin paddles each nourished by a proximal and a distal independent perforators raising from the radial artery so that the donor site could be closed directly. The narrow design of the skin paddle and the subsequent splitting in its 2 components applying the “perforator-pedicle propeller flap method” allow for the changing of the flap shape according to the shape of the recipient site defect. ResultsFrom 2007 to 2013, the bipaddle RF flap method was used in 11 patients to restore head and neck defects following cancer ablation. The mean age of the patients was 43 years, ranging from 31 to 50 years. The location of the defects was the tongue (n = 7) and the intraoral region (n = 4). The defect sizes varied from 4 × 5 cm to 5 × 6 cm, and the flap maximum width was 3 cm with mean area of 26.4 cm2. The healing was uneventful in all patients with excellent cosmetic and functional results of both donor site and recipient site after 20 months of mean follow-up. ConclusionsThe bipaddle RF free flap is a reliable and versatile option for the reconstruction of a wide range of soft tissue defects of head and neck region. This method allows for a customized resurfacing of the defect because of its large variability in shape and size. The harvesting site is closed primarily, and a second donor site for skin graft is avoided.Clinical Question, Level of Evidence: Therapeutic, IV