Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Mathematical models for erosion and corrosion in power plants. A review of applicable modelling optimization techniques

Surface damage in power plants causes economic loss and waste of operational time in modifications or repair. The wear is caused mainly by solid particles and water droplets. Erosion and corrosion of protective coatings constitute a number of significant engineering difficulties. “Trial and error” type methodology to improve the materials design is rather expensive, inaccurate and time consuming. Mathematical modelling through optimization methods overcome these engineering complications/difficulties, and reduce the experimental/tribotesting period. In this paper we provide a brief review of the current classified erosion and/or corrosion models and, additionally, detailed modern optimization methods for precise modelling of given applications. A concise computational optimization example for an erosion model is presented with brief software details/approximations.
Comprehensive rhythm evaluation in a large contemporary Fontan population.

OBJECTIVES Rhythm disturbances are an important cause of morbidity in Fontan patients. Currently, the total cavopulmonary connection is performed by using the intra-atrial lateral tunnel (ILT) ('baffle ILT' or 'prosthetic ILT'), or the extracardiac conduit (ECC). The aim of the study was to evaluate rhythm abnormalities and compare the surgical techniques in a contemporary cohort. METHODS In a cross-sectional multicentre study, 115 patients (age 12.5 ± 3.1 years) underwent rhythm evaluation using ECG, exercise testing and Holter, including heart rate variability. Medical history was reviewed for episodes of arrhythmia. RESULTS Sinus node dysfunction (SND) was found in 29%, 3 of whom required pacemaker therapy. No difference was found in the incidence of SND between ILT and ECC patients. Sinus pauses occurred only in the ILT group. Exercise testing showed no difference in peak heart rate between the groups. Heart rate reserve (P = 0.023) and heart rate recovery (HRrecovery) (P < 0.001) were lower in ILT patients. Atrial arrhythmias were more common in ILT patients (15 vs 1%, P = 0.004), but only in those with a baffle ILT. One patient had symptomatic ventricular tachycardia (VT). Holter recordings showed sub-clinical VT in 6% of patients, which was associated with larger end-diastolic (P = 0.035) and end-systolic volumes (P = 0.029). CONCLUSIONS The overall incidence of arrhythmia was low, although SND was frequently present in both Fontan groups. ILT patients had slower HRrecovery, and ILT patients with the more extensive baffle technique had more atrial arrhythmias and more sinus pauses. The significance of asymptomatic ventricular arrhythmias in this young population remains to be determined.
Fifty years in the archaeology of the eastern African coast: a methodological history

Research on the archaeology of the coast of eastern Africa is closely associated with the earliest days of the British Institute in Eastern Africa and in many ways quickly became synonymous with the Institute's journal — Azania. This is not surprising given that Neville Chittick, the first Director of the Institute and initial editor of Azania, was most actively engaged with research on the eastern African Swahili coast. Since those early years, many researchers have described the changing paradigms of coastal archaeology, often through the lens of wider political and theoretical changes and framed with reference to periods of colonialism, independence and post-colonialism. In this paper, we seek instead to document and describe the methodological and analytical changes that have occurred in the archaeology of eastern Africa over the decades that Azania has been published. We focus on three broad methodological areas and chart their emergence, use and transformation over time: urban archaeology, ceramics and typology and survey and reconnaissance. We then offer a discussion of the diversity of current methodologies and the introduction of scientific techniques and how they have served to shape the type of questions that can be asked and answered. Finally, we call for a continued commitment to local dissemination for coastal researchers: a job for which Azania retains its important role.
Serum sTREM‐1 level is quite higher in Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever, a viral infection

Members of triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells (TREM) family are known as immunmodulators in several infectious or noninfectious inflammatory disorders. The information about their role in viral infections is very limited. To enlighten if there is a relation between soluble TREM‐1(sTREM‐1) and a viral infection, Crimean Congo Haemorrhagic Fever (CCHF), we investigated the levels of sTREM‐1 in the sera of 39 CCHF patients both at admission and at recovery and compared with 40 healthy controls by using microELISA technique. Statistical analysis was made by using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) for Windows 20 programme. Value of P < 0.05 was accepted as significant for statistical analyses. Median sTREM‐1 level was higher in CCHF group when compared to the control group (1,961 vs. 151.1 pg/ml, respectively; P < 0.001). In CCHF patients, sTREM‐1 levels were significantly decreased at recovery compared to initial level measured at hospital admission (1,961 vs. 948 pg/ml, respectively; P = 0.019). ΔsTREM‐1 is correlated with ΔCRP, ΔWBC, and ΔPlt. We found that serum levels of sTREM‐1 higher than 405.9 pg/ml existed as a cut off point for differentiating CCHF patients and control group with a sensitivity of 94.9% and specifity of 87.5%. It is proved that sTREM‐1 is increased and correlates with the clinical and laboratory findings in CCHF, a viral infection characterized by activation of inflammation. This finding may lead new studies to enlighten the pathogenesis of infections developing by activation of inflammatory cascades and high level cytokine releases, especially. J. Med. Virol. 88:1473–1478, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Carbon nanotube conductance model in parabolic band structure

Fermi dirac integral is applied to study the parabolic band structure of Carbon Nanotube (CNT) which is in the range of minimum band energy. In this letter electronic transport property of one dimensional carbon nanotube with parabolic band structures near the charge neutrality point is investigated. The temperature dependent conductance model which shows minimum conductance near the charge neutrality point and decreases by decreasing the temperature is presented. CNTs with micrometer length exhibit nondegenerate behavior on fundamental band structure similar to the conventional long channel devices.
Temperature effects on the heterotrophic bacteria, heterotrophic nanoflagellates, and microbial top predators of the NW Mediterranean

Prokaryotes and protists are important players in the carbon biogeochemistry of mar- ine ecosystems, and temperature is one of the physical factors most influential in the metabolism and composition of plankton communities. Small changes in temperature can change the flow of carbon and the community structure of planktonic ecosystems, and climatological models predict a rise in temperature of 2 to 5°C toward the end of the century in the NW Mediterranean. Labora- tory culture experiments have shown that warming can increase the transfer of carbon between bacteria and protists and alter the community composition of microbial top predators (i.e. ciliates and dinoflagellates) by increasing the abundance of bacterivores and producing the extinction of herbivores. Here, we tested whether a small rise in temperature would produce these effects in the coastal Mediterranean. Between March 2003 and February 2004, we established 12 micro- cosm experiments with water from the Bay of Blanes. The samples were incubated for 48 h at ambient and warmer temperatures (~2.7°C higher than in situ values), and the net and gross growth rates of bacteria and heterotrophic nanoflagellates (HNF) were measured using unfiltered and 0.8 µm filtered treatments. Warming increased the rates of bacterial gross production and bacterial losses to grazing with a clear seasonality; the largest increments in the rates were observed during the cooler months of the year. Warming did not change the net growth rates of dinoflagellates. It decreased the net production of HNF and the net growth rates of ciliates but did not promote the extinction of herbivorous protists. Temperature changed the microbial food web function in NW Mediterranean waters, with small alterations in the community composition of microbial top predators.
Neuromuscular Characteristics and Fatigue During 10 km Running

This study investigated neuromuscular characteristics and fatigue during 10 km running (10 K) performance in well-trained endurance athletes with different distance running capability. Nine high (HC) and ten low (LC) caliber endurance athletes performed the 10 K on a 200 m indoor track, constant velocity lap (CVL, 4.5 m x s(-1)) 5 times during the course of the 10 K and maximal 20 m speed test before (20 m(b)) and after (20 m(a)) the 10 K. Running velocity (V), ground contact times (CT), ground reaction forces (F) and electromyographic activity (EMG) of the leg muscles (vastus lateralis; VL, biceps femoris; BF, gastrocnemius; GA) were measured during 20 m(b), 20 m(a), and CVLs. The 10 K times differed (p<0.001) between HC and LC (36.3+/-1.2 and 39.2+/-2.0 min, respectively) but no differences were observed in 20 m(b) velocity. The 10 K led to significant (p<0.05) decreases in V, F and integrated EMG (IEMG) and increases in CTs of 20 m(a) in both groups. No changes were observed in HC or LC in F and IEMG during the CVLs but HC showed shorter (p<0.05) mean CT of CVLs than LC. A significant correlation (r = -0.56, p<0.05) was observed between the mean CT of CVLs and velocity of 10 K (V10K). Pre-activity of GA in relation to the IEMG of the total contact phase during the CVLs was higher (p<0.05) in HC than LC. The relative IEMGs of VL and GA in the propulsion phase compared to the IEMG of the 20 m(b) were lower (p<0.05) in HC than LC. In conclusion, marked fatigue took place in both HC and LC during the 10 K but the fatigue-induced changes in maximal 20 m run did not differentiate endurance athletes with different V10K. However, a capability to produce force rapidly throughout the 10 K accompanied with optimal preactivation and contact phase activation seem to be important for 10 km running performance in well trained endurance athletes.
Stability analysis of switched-linear hybrid systems

In this paper we develop general techniques to study stability of hybrid systems with linear continuous dynamics. These techniques are based on matrix analysis and study of differentiable manifolds. These techniques operate on the space of switching times of the hybrid systems. Some special techniques for hybrid systems with three dimensional state space are also developed.
Preliminary Favorable Outcome for Medically and Surgically Managed Extensively Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis, France, 2009–2014

We report 20 cases of extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis managed in France. Treatment was individualized and included bedaquiline and linezolid for most patients and surgery in 8 patients. At last follow-up (22 months), 19 patients had achieved conversion from positive to negative on culture testing. These promising results of comprehensive management obtained in a small series deserve confirmation.
and Hypopharyngeal pH Effects of Proton Pump Inhibitor Therapy for Laryngopharyngeal Reflux on Posttreatment Symptoms

Objective. To determine the effect of twice-daily proton pump inhibitor (PPI) treatment on the relationship between laryngopharyngeal pH environment and symptoms in patients with laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR). Study Design and Setting. Retrospective analysis of records from consecutive patients seen at a single clinical site between 2009 and 2012. Subjects and Methods. Forty-three records of patients diagnosed with LPR who underwent preand posttreatment pH studies were included. Prior to treatment, all had a Reflux Symptom Index (RSI) . 13 and an abnormal pH study. Patients were treated for 4 weeks with twice-daily PPIs. Following treatment, patients completed a second RSI and pH study. Results. Most patients (67.4%) had symptom normalization; however, most patients (60.5%) did not have pH normalization. For all patients whose symptoms did not normalize, pH scores also did not normalize; 32.6% of patients showed no subjective or objective treatment response. For individuals whose symptoms normalized but whose pH scores did not normalize, there was a significant decrease in upright pH score. For the entire group, pretreatment symptom and upright pH scores were strongly positively correlated. Improvements in symptom and upright pH scores following treatment were moderately positively correlated. Conclusion. Laryngopharyngeal pH failed to normalize for most individuals after PPI treatment; only pH improvement was necessary for symptom normalization. Many patients had no treatment response. Laryngopharyngeal reflux patients may make up a heterogeneous group, and PPI responsivity may help explain conflicting results from previous studies. Posttreatment pH monitoring is recommended in studies investigating the efficacy of PPI therapy for LPR.
Jazz, Realism, and the Modernist Lyric: The Poetry of Langston Hughes

In 1940 Richard Wright, praising Langston Hughes’s contribution to the development of modern American literature, observed that Hughes’s “realistic position” had become the “dominant outlook of all those Negro writers who have something to say. ”1 Nineteen years later James Baldwin faulted Hughes for failing to follow through consistently on the artistic premises laid out in his early verse. The problem with his unsuccessful poems, Baldwin said, was that they “take refuge, finally, in a fake simplicity in order to avoid the very difficult simplicity of experience. ” In succumbing to the idiomatic demands of a sociological perspective— the pressure, that is, to “hold the experience outside him”—they did not fulfill an essential criterion of Baldwin’s realism, namely, the evocation of a point of view that stands “within the experience and outside it at the same time. ” To argue his point, Baldwin cited the last line of a jazz poem by Hughes called “Dream Boogie,” which first appeared as part of Montage of a Dream Deferred in 1951. “Hughes,” said Baldwin, “knows the bitter truth behind these hieroglyphics, what they are designed to protect, what they are designed to convey. But he has not forced them into the realm of art where their meaning would become clear and overwhelming. ‘Hey, pop! / Re-bop! / Mop! ’ conveys much more on Lenox Avenue than it does in this book, which is not the way it ought to be. ”2
Bacteriologic assessment of the lower respiratory tract in intubated patients

Twelve patients with an endotracheal tube and a new infiltrate were assessed for differences in the bacterio-logic information that could be obtained by routine tracheal suctioning (RTS), a double-lumen protected-sheath brush passed through a flexible fiberoptic bron-choscope (B-FFB), and suctioning through a flexible fiberoptic bronchoscope (S-FFB). Gram stains and cultures were performed on all specimens. There was 100% agreement for the culture results obtained by RTS and S-FEB. It is concluded that RTS obtains comparable information to that obtained by the more expensive and more personnel-intensive B-FFB.
Changes in muscle strength in elderly women after proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation based training

Introduction Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) can be used to improve the quality of life of both healthy and diseased subjects, including the elderly, who suffer muscular weakness due to aging, leading to an impairment in functional capacity. Objective Verify the effectiveness of PNF as a tool for functional conditioning. Materials and methods We evaluated a total of ten elderly women aged 60–70 years, clinically healthy and physically active. They had the force of motion of hip flexion with knee extension analyzed by an analog dynamometer. They were then randomly and equally divided into experimental (EG) and control group (CG). The GC was instructed to continue with their normal activities while the GE held 15 training sessions in the lower limb (LL) based on the diagonal D1 and D2. Finally, a new collection wrench the two groups was performed and the data compared. Results There was a significant increase in the average strength of GE, on the order of 31% (p 0.05). Discussion : The results confirm that the FNP through initial work of readjustment and proprioceptive neuromuscular activation, and after that, conditioning of the muscle fibers (mainly resistive) is capable of amplifying the force developed by the muscle. Conclusion The PNF was effective as training to gain muscle strength, should be better analyzed as a tool fitness, not to cause health risks, have low cost and easy application.
Binding hot spots in the HA 1 protein in complex with the 2 D 1 antibody : A mutation view from 1918 H 1 N 1 to 2009 H 1 N 1

Motivation: The 2009 H1N1 influenza A attacked worldwide population and caused substantial mortality. The epitope conservation in the HA1 protein allows antibodies to cross-neutralize the 1918 and 2009 H1N1 viruses. However, few works have thoroughly studied the binding hot spots in the two antigen-antibody interfaces which are responsible for the antibody cross neutralization. Results: We apply predictive methods to identify binding hot spots at the epitope sites of the HA1 proteins and at the paratope sites of the 2D1 antibody. We find that the six mutations at the HA1’s epitopes from 1918 to 2009 do not contribute greatly to the 2D1 antibody binding. However, the change of binding free energy on the whole exhibits an increased tendency after these mutations, making the binding stronger. This is consistent with the observation that the 1918 H1N1 neutralizing antibody can cross-react to 2009 H1N1. We have identified five distinguished hot spot residues, including Lys166, which are common between the two epitopes. These common hot spots again can be used to explain why the 2D1 antibody can cross-react. We believe that these hot spot residues are mutation candidates which may help H1N1 viruses evade the immune system. We have also identified seven residues at the paratope site of the 2D1 antibody, four from the heavy chain and three from the light chain. All of them are predicted to be energetically important in HA1 recognition. The identification of these hot spot residues and their structural analysis are potentially beneficial to future drug design against H1N1 viruses. Contact: dcslij@nus.edu. sg
Effects of leukotriene C4 on the bioelectric properties and ion transport of equine tracheal epithelium.

OBJECTIVE To determine effects of leukotriene (LT) C(4) on ion transport across equine tracheal epithelium. Sample-Tracheal epithelium from cadavers of 24 horses considered free of respiratory tract disease. PROCEDURES Mucosae were mounted into Ussing chambers, and short-circuit current (I(sc)) was monitored over time. Effects of LTC(4) were examined for various conditions, including addition of amiloride (10μM) to the mucosal bath solution, addition of bumetanide (10μM) to the serosal bath solution, addition of barium (1mM) to the serosal bath solution, and substitution of gluconate for chloride and HEPES for bicarbonate in bath solutions. Electrolyte transport was assessed via (22)Na and (36)Cl isotope fluxes. RESULTS Addition of LTC(4) (50nM) to the serosal bath solution caused an increase in I(sc) for basal conditions and a larger increase after pretreatment with amiloride. The increase was negated in part by the addition of bumetanide to the serosal bath solution and further reduced by substitution of HEPES for bicarbonate in bath solutions. Remaining current was reduced to values less than those before treatment with LTC(4) by the addition of barium to the serosal solution. There was a small increase in I(sc) after the addition of amiloride and substitution of gluconate for chloride. Radioisotope flux indicated that addition of LTC(4) to the serosal bath solution increased chloride secretion and reduced sodium absorption. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE LTC(4) stimulated chloride secretion through a predominately bumetanide-sensitive pathway, with a smaller contribution from a bicarbonate-dependent pathway. Thus, LTC(4) appears to be a potential mediator of airway hypersecretion in horses.
Hepatitis B immunization and hepatocellular carcinoma: The Gambia hepatitis Intervention Study

The Gambia Hepatitis Intervention Study (GHIS) was initiated by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) in 1986. It consisted of a randomized trial in the Gambian population, aiming to evaluate the protection provided by HBV vaccination administered during the first year of life against primary infection, the development of chronic carriage, and primary liver cancer. The results, reported at 9 years from the introduction of the vaccine as conferring a high degree of protection (83% against primary infection and 95% against chronic carriage), are briefly discussed. It is expected that HBV vaccination will result in a reduction of mortality from hepatocellular carcinoma, the most frequent cancer in males in sub‐Sahara Africa. J. Med. Virol. 67:444–446, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Title A Recursive Elimination Method for Finite-Horizon OptimalControl Problems of Discrete-Time Rational Systems

In this technical note, a method of solving finite-horizon optimal control problems involving discrete-time rational systems is proposed. Sequences of algebraic equations for the control input and costate at each time are constructed backward, starting from the terminal condition, by the recursive elimination of variables in the optimality conditions. This recursive elimination can be viewed as a generalization of the classical backward sweepmethod to obtain the discretetime Riccati equation for finite-horizon linear quadratic control. Sufficient conditions are given for the existence and uniqueness of locally optimal state feedback laws in the form of algebraic functions of the state.
The pattern of cell proliferation in neoplastic and nonneoplastic lesions of ulcerative colitis

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the colon characterized by repeated episodes of inflammation and epithelial regeneration. Patients with long‐standing UC have an increased risk for the development of dysplasia and subsequent colon carcinoma. Because dysplasia likely results from deregulated cell proliferation, the authors examined Ki‐67 immunoreactivity in tissues from UC patients to examine patterns of proliferation in neoplastic and nonneoplastic lesions.
Emotional Information Processing and Visual Evoked Brain Potentials

Visual evoked potentials to emotional slides presented for 2 sec. were investigated in 13 subjects. 73 emotional slides (pleasant, unpleasant, and neutral) were selected from a standardized set of photographic slides, the 1988 International Affective Picture System of Lang, Öhman, and Vaitl. Visual evoked potentials were recorded from three head locations, frontal, central and parietal (Fz, Cz, and Pz). Analyses were performed in the two latency ranges: 300–400 msec. and 400–500 msec. Analyses showed an arousal effect, as indicated by a quadratic trend, indicating that emotional slides (both pleasant and unpleasant) gave higher cortical positivity than neutral ones, for all components. In addition, in the two latency epochs, larger positivities were found at Pz, compared to Fz and Cz, whereas Fz and Cz did not differ from each other.