Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Nonlinear surface and nonlocal piezoelasticity theories for vibration of embedded single-layer boron nitride sheet using harmonic differential quadrature and differential cubature methods

Surface stress and small-scale effects on nonlinear vibration analysis of a single-layer boron nitride sheet are investigated based on theories of nonlocal and surface piezoelasticity. The single-layer boron nitride sheet is embedded in an elastic medium which is simulated by Pasternak model. Considering electromechanical coupling, the discretize governing equations of motion are obtained by Hamilton’s principal. Two numerical methods, harmonic differential quadrature and differential cubature, are employed to determine the nondimensional nonlinear frequency of single-layer boron nitride sheet. The detailed study parameters are conducted to investigate the influences of the small-scale, temperature change, surface effects, elastic medium, vibrational mode, aspect ratio, and smartness of sheet on the nonlinear nonlocal vibration characteristics of single-layer boron nitride sheet. It is concluded that ignoring surface and small-scale effects lead to inaccurate results in vibrational response of the single-layer boron nitride sheet. Furthermore, differential cubature method yields accurate results with less computational effort with respect to harmonic differential quadrature method. The obtained results of this study may be useful for designing of nano-electro mechanical system or micro-electro mechanical system and other nano-/micro-smart structures.
28 GHz Millimeter-Wave Channel Models in Urban Microcell Environment Using Three-Dimensional Ray Tracing

The millimeter-wave (mmWave) band has attracted great attention as promising spectrum for the next-generation cellular systems. However, mmWave communication systems have encountered several challenges because of different electromagnetic characteristics compared with existing spectrum below-6 GHz systems. In order to evaluate the technical feasibility of mmWave provision, 28 GHz mmWave band channel models were presented by developing an efficient three-dimensional (3-D) ray-tracing simulation. The accuracy of 3-D ray-tracing simulation was verified by comparing its results with actual measurements. The path loss (PL) agreed well in both line-of-sight (LOS) and non-line-of-sight (NLOS) regions, whereas the shadowing factor exhibited differences in the NLOS regions. The contributions of this work include confirmation of the applicability of single- and dual-slope LOS and NLOS PL models with different threshold distances for NLOS regions with low root-mean-square errors.
A Deep Learning Based Method For 3D Human Pose Estimation From 2D Fisheye Images

We propose a deep learning based method to directly estimate the human joint positions in 3D space from 2D fisheye images captured in an egocentric manner. The core of our method is a novel network architecture based on Inception-v3 [4], featuring the asymmtric convolutional filter size, the long short-term memory module, and the anthropomorphic weights on the training loss. We demonstrate our method outperform state-of-the-art method under different tasks. Our method can be helpful to develop useful deep learning network for human-machine interaction and VR/AR applications.
Comparative subproteomic analysis of clinically acquired fluoroquinolone resistance and ciprofloxacin stress in Salmonella Typhimurium DT104B

Antimicrobial resistance is a worldwide public health threat and Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serotype Typhimurium phage type DT104B multiresistant strains with additional quinolone resistance have been responsible for global outbreaks and high mortality. Quinolone resistance is known to be multifactorial but is still far from a complete understanding. To give new insights about the resistance mechanisms involved, this work aimed to evaluate subproteome changes between an S. Typhimurium DT104B clinical strain that acquired fluoroquinolone resistance after treatment (Se20) and its pretreatment parental strain (Se6), and also subproteome variations in Se20 under ciprofloxacin (CIP) stress (Se20+CIP).
A microfluidic approach to the study of cellular responses to oxidative stress

2 Abbreviations . 9 List of tables . 20 List of schemes . 20 Acknowledgements . 21 Author’s declaration . 22 CHAPTER 1 Introduction . 23 1.1 Oxidative stress, diseases and photochemistry . 23 1.1.1 Reactive chemical species and oxidative stress . 23 1.1.1.1 Classes of reactive species . 25 1.1.1.2 Types of reactive oxygen species (ROS) . 27 1.1.1.3 Detecting and measuring common ROS . 33 1.1.2 Generation of ROS using photosensitisation . 35 1.1.2.1 Photochemistry . 35 1.1.2.2 Photosensitisers . 38 1.1.3 Cellular oxidative stress . 44 1.1.3.1 Effects of ROS on the cellular components . 46 1.1.3.2 Measuring cellular oxidative stress . 54 1.1. 4 Chemical and biological antioxidants . 56 1.2 Cancer, PDT, Oxidative stress and Immunology . 58 1.2.1 Cancer . 58 1.2.1.1 Stages in the development of cancer . 60 1.2.1.2 Characteristics of cancer . 62 1.2.1.3 Cancer treatments . 65 1.2.2 Photodynamic therapy (PDT) . 67 1.2.2.1 Treating cancer using PDT . 69 1.2.2.2 Localisation of photosensitisers and targets of photodamage . 71 1.2.2.3 Delivering light energy . 74 1.2.2.4 The effects of PDT on cancer. 76 1.2.3 Oxidative stress (PDT) induced activation of immune system . 77 1.2.3.1 Antitumour immunity . 78
Single-Band and Switchable Dual-/Single-Band Tunable BPFs With Predefined Tuning Range, Bandwidth, and Selectivity

This paper presents a new kind of highly flexible frequency-agile bandpass filters (FA-BPFs) based on the novel synchronously tuned dual-mode resonator (STDR). The bandwidth (BW), BW variation tendency, passband selectivity (stopband rejection level), and frequency tuning range of the filter can be predefined individually. Benefiting from the unique characteristics of the STDR, the FA-BPF with very simple and highly flexible design/control procedures is achieved. Due to the proposed geometry, two self-adaptive transmission zeros are introduced and move with the passband. The predefined mechanism is investigated in detail, and the simple design and predefined procedures are summarized. Then, three 0.75–1.7 GHz single-band examples with elliptic response are developed to achieve three predefined absolute BWs (ABW). The design techniques and filter superiority are confirmed by the experiments. Moreover, aiming at China 2G/3G/4G cellular wireless/mobile communication system (up to band 40:0.825–2.65 GHz), a novel intrinsically switchable single-/dual-band FA-BPF is presented based on the proposed STDR. An example with a constant ABW1 dB and a fractional bandwidth1 dB (FBW1 dB is designed to validate the theory and analysis. The FA-BPF is able to operate as a highly selective dual-band FA-BPF with 0.76–1.78 GHz/1.61–2.63 GHz tuning ranges, and also can be switched to single-band operation with the continuous tuning range of 0.76–2.63 GHz.
The role of human papillomavirus in laryngeal cancer in Southern China

To delineate the role of human papillomavirus (HPV) in laryngeal cancer in Southern Chinese, a retrospective cross‐sectional study was conducted in a major otorhinolaryngology referral center in Hong Kong. Eighty‐five Chinese patients with histology‐confirmed laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) diagnosed between 2005 and 2010 were examined for the status of HPV by PCR, and the expression of p16 and p53 by immunohistochemistry. The HPV, p16 and p53 findings were correlated with clinicopathological features, recurrence and 5‐year survival. HPV DNA was detected in one patient (1.2%, 95%CI: 0.2‐6.4%) who had glottic cancer and harbored HPV‐6. Overexpression of p16 and p53 were detected in 11 (12.9%) and 47 (55.3%) cases, respectively. Recurrence occurred in 22.4% of patients at a median of 13 months. The 5‐year overall survival and disease‐specific survival were 55.7% and 72.4%, respectively. Overexpression of p16 or p53 was not associated with clinicopathological features, recurrence or overall survival. HPV plays a limited role in laryngeal cancer in Hong Kong Southern Chinese. In contrast to oropharyngeal cancer, p16 cannot be used as a surrogate marker for oncogenic involvement of HPV and cannot predict survival in laryngeal cancer.
Prognostic role of matrix metalloproteinases in bladder carcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Recent studies have shown that matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) might be a biomarker for predicting outcomes of bladder cancer. However, the prognostic value of overexpression of MMPs in bladder cancer is debatable and the studies are inconsistent. Therefore, this meta-analysis was performed to clarify the specific association and prognostic value of overexpression of MMPs in bladder carcinoma. Relevant studies were identified by searching PubMed, EMBASE, and the Web of Science. Pooled hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for disease-specific survival (DSS), overall survival (OS), disease/recurrence-free survival (DFS/RFS), and progression/metastasis-free survival (PFS/MFS) were analyzed to determine the prognostic value of MMPs. In total, eighteen applicable studies were included in this meta-analysis. We found that high expression of MMPs significantly correlated with a poor DSS and OS (HR=1.66; 95% CI = 1.38–2.01 and HR= 1.67; 95%CI= 1.26–2.22). MMPs also predicted tumor progression and metastasis with a pooled HR of 3.03 (95% CI 1.98–4.64). However, high MMPs expression had no pivotal impact on DFS/RFS (HR= 1.21; 95% CI= 0.96–1.53). With the purpose of better understanding the prognostic role of MMPs in patients wirh bladder carcinoma, we carried out this systematic review and meta-analysis.
#DebateNight: The Role and Influence of Socialbots on Twitter During the 1st 2016 U.S. Presidential Debate

Serious concerns have been raised about the role of `socialbots' in manipulating public opinion and influencing the outcome of elections by retweeting partisan content to increase its reach. Here we analyze the role and influence of socialbots on Twitter by determining how they contribute to retweet diffusions. We collect a large dataset of tweets during the 1st U.S. presidential debate in 2016 and we analyze its 1.5 million users from three perspectives: user influence, political behavior (partisanship and engagement) and botness. First, we define a measure of user influence based on the user's active contributions to information diffusions, i.e. their tweets and retweets. Given that Twitter does not expose the retweet structure -- it associates all retweets with the original tweet -- we model the latent diffusion structure using only tweet time and user features, and we implement a scalable novel approach to estimate influence over all possible unfoldings. Next, we use partisan hashtag analysis to quantify user political polarization and engagement. Finally, we use the BotOrNot API to measure user botness (the likelihood of being a bot). We build a two-dimensional "polarization map" that allows for a nuanced analysis of the interplay between botness, partisanship and influence. We find that not only are socialbots more active on Twitter -- starting more retweet cascades and retweeting more -- but they are 2.5 times more influential than humans, and more politically engaged. Moreover, pro-Republican bots are both more influential and more politically engaged than their pro-Democrat counterparts. However we caution against blanket statements that software designed to appear human dominates politics-related activity on Twitter. Firstly, it is known that accounts controlled by teams of humans (e.g. organizational accounts) are often identified as bots. Secondly, we find that many highly influential Twitter users are in fact pro-Democrat and that most pro-Republican users are mid-influential and likely to be human (low botness).
GAT‐1 mediated GABA uptake in rat oligodendrocytes

Stimulated by the results of a recent paper on the effects of tiagabine, a selective inhibitor of the main GABA transporter GAT‐1, on oligodendrogenesis, we verified the possibility that GAT‐1 may be expressed in oligodendrocytes using immunocytochemical methods and functional assays. Light microscopic analysis of the subcortical white matter of all animals revealed the presence of numerous GAT‐1+ cells of different size (from 3 to 29 µm) and morphology. An electron microscope analysis revealed that, besides fibrous astrocytes and interstitial neurons, GAT‐1 immunoreactivity was present in immature and mature oligodendrocytes. Co‐localization studies between GAT‐1 and markers specific for oligodendrocytes (NG2 and RIP) showed that about 12% of GAT‐1 positive cells in the white matter were immature oligodendrocytes, while about 15% were mature oligodendrocytes. In vitro functional assays showed that oligodendrocytes exhibit tiagabine‐sensitive Na+‐dependent GABA uptake. Although relationships between GABA and oligodendrocytes have been known for many years, this is the first demonstration that GAT‐1 is expressed in oligodendrocytes. The present results on the one hand definitely closes the era of “neuronal” and “glial” GABA transporters, on the other they suggest that oligodendrocytes may contribute to pathophysiology of the several diseases in which GAT‐1 have been implicated to date. GLIA 2017;65:514–522
Effects of livestock on the feeding ecology of endemic culpeo foxes (Pseudalopex culpaeus smithersi) in central Argentina

El ganado puede afectar la ecologia trofica de los carnivoros en forma directa, siendo una presa potencial, e indirecta, modificando la seleccion de otras presas. La seleccion de otras presas es modificada a traves de efectos negativos del ganado sobre el alimento y la cobertura, reduciendo la densidad e incrementando la vulnerabilidad de presas silvestres. Pseudalopex culpaeus smithersi es una subespecie endemica de zorro culpeo del centro de Argentina que es perseguida debido a su depredacion sobre ganado. Estudiamos los efectos directos e indirectos del ganado sobre la ecologia trofica de P. c. smithersi evaluando su dieta y disponibilidad y seleccion de presas en dos sitios con diferente abundancia de ganado-un parque nacional y una estancia adyacente de ovinos y vacunos en el pastizal de Pampa de Achala. Estudiamos la dieta a partir de heces y utilizamos coeficientes de conversion para estimar el numero y biomasa de presas consumidas. Los culpeos depredaron principalmente sobre roedores nativos (cuises y cricetidos) de acuerdo con el numero y la biomasa de presas consumidas. Las diferencias en consumo, disponibilidad y seleccion de presas entre sitios estuvieron fuertemente asociadas con efectos del ganado. Los culpeos consumieron mas carrona de ganado y aves en la estancia y tucos (Ctenomys sp.) unicamente en el parque. La densidad de ganado fue alta en la estancia y baja en el parque, las densidades de cricetidos y tucos fueron significativamente mayores en el parque y las densidades de liebre europea (Lepus europaeus) fueron similares entre sitios. De acuerdo con el numero de presas consumidas los culpeos no parecieron ser selectivos, pero de acuerdo con la biomasa consumieron mas cricetidos y menos liebres que lo esperado en ambos sitios y mas ovejas que lo esperado en el parque. El ganado podria reducir las densidades e incrementar la vulnerabilidad de cricetidos y de los cavicolas tucos en Achala a traves del pisoteo del suelo que destruye cuevas, la competencia por forraje y la reduccion de la cobertura de pastos
Associations Between Lifestyle Characteristics and the Presence of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Case-Control Study.

BACKGROUND Dietary and physical activity (PA) habits have been suggested as important factors for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Published data are mainly focused on the effect of either diet or exercise, whereas data on other aspects like sleep remain sparse. The aim of this study was to explore potential associations between dietary intake, PA, and sleeping habits, and the presence of NAFLD. METHODS One hundred patients with ultrasound-proven NAFLD and 55 healthy controls matched for age, sex, and body mass index were included. Dietary habits were assessed through a semiquantitative validated food frequency questionnaire. PA level was assessed with a validated questionnaire. Total night sleep hours and duration of midday rest were also recorded. Optimal sleep duration was defined as sleep hours ≥7 and ≤9 hr/day. RESULTS Patients compared to controls consumed less vegetables and nuts, more sweets, drank less coffee and alcohol (all P < 0.05), and exhibited a lower level of PA (P = 0.006). PA level [odds ratio (OR) per 100 metabolic equivalent of task-min/day = 0.74, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.61-0.89, P = 0.002] was associated with lower probability of having NAFLD, whereas sweets consumption (OR = 2.13, 95% CI 1.22-3.71, P = 0.008) was associated with increased probability, after adjusting for several confounders, including body weight status. Optimal sleep duration was marginally and inversely associated with NAFLD presence (OR = 0.38, 95% CI 0.14-1.01, P = 0.05). CONCLUSION Higher PA level and optimal sleep duration are associated with lower likelihood, whereas sweets consumption is associated with higher likelihood of having NAFLD. These associations are independent of body weight status and energy intake.
Combining apps targeting professionals and senior citizens to improve housing accessibility and influence housing provision policies

Two separate apps that address the increasingly important issue of accessible housing for senior citizens have been developed in different project settings. One of the apps was developed to facilitate the process for professional raters to assess housing accessibility in the context of individual housing adaptations. The other app was developed for senior citizens to raise their awareness of possible accessibility problems in their current dwelling and in other apartments within the available housing stock. Both apps were developed with a high degree of active user involvement in processes utilizing multiple state of the art methods. The results are two well accepted prototype apps perceived as user-friendly and appropriate for the intended user groups. By combining these two apps, our ambition is for the professional raters to benefit by gaining knowledge of their clients' perceived needs and desires, and for senior citizens to benefit by getting access to a database of professionally rated dwellings. The ultimate goal is the generation of sound knowledge reflecting the needs and desires of senior citizens and professional requirements regarding accessible housing as a means to inform and influence housing provision policies.
SHEILA policy framework: informing institutional strategies and policy processes of learning analytics

This paper introduces a learning analytics policy development framework developed by a cross-European research project team - SHEILA (Supporting Higher Education to Integrate Learning Analytics), based on interviews with 78 senior managers from 51 European higher education institutions across 16 countries. The framework was developed using the RAPID Outcome Mapping Approach (ROMA), which is designed to develop effective strategies and evidence-based policy in complex environments. This paper presents three case studies to illustrate the development process of the SHEILA policy framework, which can be used to inform strategic planning and policy processes in real world environments, particularly for large-scale implementation in higher education contexts.
An NLP-based Reading Tool for Aiding Non-native English Readers

This paper describes a text-reading tool that makes extensive use of widelyavailable NLP tools and resources to aid non-native English speakers overcome language related hindrances while reading a text. It is a web-based tool, that can be accessed from browsers running on PCs or tablets, and provides the reader with an intelligent e-book functionality.
A Linear Objective Function-Based Heuristic for Robotic Exploration of Unknown Polygonal Environments

This work presents a heuristic for describing the next best view location for an autonomous agent exploring an unknown environment. The approach considers each robot as a point mass with omnidirectional and unrestricted vision of the environment and line-of-sight communication operating in a polygonal environment which may contain holes. The number of robots in the team is always sufficient for full visual coverage of the space. The technique employed falls in the category of distributed visibility-based deployment algorithms which seek to segment the space based on each agent’s field of view with the goal of deploying each agent into the environment to create a visually connected series of agents which fully observe the previously unknown region. The contributions made to this field are a technique for utilizing linear programming methods to determine the solution to the next best observation (NBO) problem as well as a method for calculating multiple NBO points simultaneously. Both contributions are incorporated into an algorithm and deployed in a simulated environment built with MATLAB for testing. The algorithm successfully deployed agents into polygons which may contain holes. The efficiency of the deployment method was compared with random deployment methods to establish a performance metric for the proposed tactic. It was shown that the heuristic presented in this work performs better the other tested strategies.
Endogenous Oxytocin Release Eliminates In-Group Bias in Monetary Transfers With Perspective-Taking

Oxytocin (OT) has been shown to facilitate trust, empathy and other prosocial behaviors. At the same time, there is evidence that exogenous OT infusion may not result in prosocial behaviors in all contexts, increasing in-group biases in a number of studies. The current investigation seeks to resolve this inconsistency by examining if endogenous OT release is associated with in-group bias. We studied a large group of participants (N = 399) in existing groups and randomly formed groups. Participants provided two blood samples to measure the change in OT after a group salience task and then made computer-mediated monetary transfer decisions to in-group and out-group members. Our results show that participants with an increase in endogenous OT showed no bias in monetary offers in the ultimatum game (UG) to out-group members compared to in-groups. There was also no bias in accepting UG offers, though in-group bias persisted for a unilateral monetary transfer. Our analysis shows that the strength of identification with one’s group diminished the effects that an increase in OT had on reducing bias, but bias only recurred when group identification reached 87% of its maximum value. Our results indicate that the endogenous OT system appears to reduce in-group bias in some contexts, particularly those that require perspective-taking.