Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Influence of nonrubber constituents on tack of natural rubber. I. At very short times of contact (pendulum test)

The effect of nonrubber constituents such as proteins and lipids on tack of natural rubber (NR) was studied. Tack or adhesion at short contact time was determined for contact between crosslinked rubbers and glass plates. Various types of natural rubber, with or without nonrubber constituents, were prepared. Synthetic polyisoprene was used as a reference because of its chemical similarity. In this work, the impact pendulum test was carried out to study very short contact times tc of the order of milliseconds. The results show an increase of tack energy with tc for all the rubbers. This is attributed to an increase in true contact area with time and to a modification of the interfacial energy. Furthermore, the natural rubber without lipids and also polyisoprene exhibited the highest tack values while whole natural rubber remained always the less tacky. These results cannot be explained by differences in either the bulk viscoelastic properties of the crosslinked materials or their overall surface energy. The presence of a thin layer of varying composition at the surface of the rubbers appears to be the essential factor that affects the tack properties of the crosslinked materials. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 78: 1486–1494, 2000
A Two-stage and Parameter-free Binarization Method for Degraded Document Images

Binarization plays an important role in document image processing, especially in degraded documents. For degraded document images, adaptive binarization methods often incorporate local information to determine the binarization threshold for each individual pixel in the document image. We propose a two-stage parameter-free window-based method to binarize the degraded document images. In the first stage, a proposed scheme is used to determine a proper window size beyond which no substantial increase in the local variation of pixel intensities is observed. In the second stage, based on the determined window size, a noise-suppressing scheme delivers the final binarized image by contrasting two binarized images which are produced by two adaptive thresholding schemes depending on the change rate of the number of binarized foreground pixels. Empirical results demonstrate that the proposed method is competitive when compared to the existing adaptive binarization methods and achieves better performance in F-measure.
Updated clinical recommendations for the use of tibolone in Asian women

Tibolone, which is indicated for the relief of climacteric symptoms and the prevention of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women, has a tissue-specific mode of action different to that of conventional hormone replacement therapy (HRT). A large proportion of Asian postmenopausal women experience symptoms that most frequently include musculoskeletal pain, insomnia, forgetfulness, hot flushes and sexual dysfunction, and there is a need to address their specific requirements. Recent studies show that, in comparison to HRT, tibolone is as effective in alleviating menopausal symptoms and preventing bone loss, has a greater positive effect on sexual dysfunction and is associated with less vaginal bleeding, but it is rarely mentioned in guidelines for menopausal treatment. Levels of awareness amongst women about treatments for menopausal symptoms vary between Asian countries but, even in countries where awareness is high, HRT usage is much lower than in the West. To provide a practical approach to the use of tibolone in Asian postmenopausal women, a panel of experts in the management of menopause from 11 Asia Pacific countries has developed recommendations for its use, based on the evidence from clinical studies published since 2005. However, as much of the clinical data reviewed are from international studies, the recommendations and the treatment algorithm presented here are widely applicable.
Involuntary-blink detection method robust against dynamically change of frame rate

This paper proposes a robust method to detect involuntary blinks for visual display terminal (VDT) users using Web camera, even if the Web-camera's frame rate dynamically changes and becomes slow. Conventional methods which are widely used for drivers and paralyzed person with higher-performance camera, calculates correlation between an open eye template and cureent eye image at each frame, and judge the blink to have occurred when the correlation score falled below a pre-defined threshold value. In our proposal aimed to use for Web camera build-in personal devices and widely used inexpensive Web camera for the threshold value is dynamically controlled according to varying frame rate and effective value of the correlation score. We implemented a blink detection system into laptop PC with build-in Web camera. The experimental result show that the proposed method imporved blink detection accuracy at low frame rate.
Competitive prefetching for concurrent sequential I/O

During concurrent I/O workloads, sequential access to one I/O stream can be interrupted by accesses to other streams in the system. Frequent switching between multiple sequential I/O streams may severely affect I/O efficiency due to long disk seek and rotational delays of disk-based storage devices. Aggressive prefetching can improve the granularity of sequential data access in such cases, but it comes with a higher risk of retrieving unneeded data. This paper proposes a competitive prefetching strategy that controls the prefetching depth so that the overhead of disk I/O switch and unnecessary prefetching are balanced. The proposed strategy does not require a-priori information on the data access pattern, and achieves at least half the performance (in terms of I/O throughput) of the optimal offline policy. We also provide analysis on the optimality of our competitiveness result and extend the competitiveness result to capture prefetching in the case of random-access workloads. We have implemented the proposed competitive prefetching policy in Linux 2.6. 10 and evaluated its performance on both standalone disks and a disk array using a variety of workloads (including two common file utilities, Linux kernel compilation, the TPC-H benchmark, the Apache web server, and index searching). Compared to the original Linux kernel, our competitive prefetching system improves performance by up to 53%. At the same time, it trails the performance of an oracle prefetching strategy by no more than 42%.
RIPE: runtime intrusion prevention evaluator

Despite the plethora of research done in code injection countermeasures, buffer overflows still plague modern software. In 2003, Wilander and Kamkar published a comparative evaluation on runtime buffer overflow prevention technologies using a testbed of 20 attack forms and demonstrated that the best prevention tool missed 50% of the attack forms. Since then, many new prevention tools have been presented using that testbed to show that they performed better, not missing any of the attack forms. At the same time though, there have been major developments in the ways of buffer overflow exploitation. In this paper we present RIPE, an extension of Wilander's and Kamkar's testbed which covers 850 attack forms. The main purpose of RIPE is to provide a standard way of testing the coverage of a defense mechanism against buffer overflows. In order to test RIPE we use it to empirically evaluate some of the newer prevention techniques. Our results show that the most popular, publicly available countermeasures cannot prevent all of RIPE's buffer overflow attack forms. ProPolice misses 60%, LibsafePlus+TIED misses 23%, CRED misses 21%, and Ubuntu 9.10 with nonexecutable memory and stack protection misses 11%.
Study on the Machined Surface Geometry Generated by Multi-Axis Ball End Milling Process

This paper investigated the surface generated by single factor experiment under multi-axis finish milling condition, and the effects of cutting parameters on surface textures, 2D and 3D surface topographies and surface roughness characteristics were analyzed. Surface features evaluation indicators of Ra, Rq, Rt, surface heights histogram, maximum valley depth and maximum peak height corresponding to various cutting parameters were presented and discussed. The machining marks are closely related with tool orientation angles. The orderly distributions of concave and convex patterns on the machined surface are produced by the special cutting orientation of the cutting edges. The feed per tooth, spindle speed, tilt angle, and lead angle apparently affect surface roughness, while depth of cut and radial width of cut have no obvious effects on the surface roughness when the two parameters values vary in a small range.
Yoga & Physical Therapy Tai Chi Exercise to Improve Non-Motor Symptoms of Parkinson ’ s Disease

© 2013 Nocera JR, et al. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits distribution of derivative works, making multiple copies, distribution, public display, and publicly performance, provided the original work is properly cited. This license requires credit be given to copyright holder and/or author, copyright and license notices be kept intact.
Bag‐in‐box packaging for wine: Analysis of transport stress in barrier films

This study was conducted on bag-in-box packages for wine to show how the transport stress changes the oxygen permeability of the bags and the possible consequences for the wine's shelf-life. Bags from five leading bag suppliers/film producers were tested. The bags were subjected to two types of transport stress–simulated vibration testing in the laboratory and actual road transport (1000 km) and the same type of corrugated fibreboard box was used throughout. During road transport a red French table wine was used. Emphasis was placed on leakage and O2 permeability in the investigation of the bags. The study showed no visible bag leakage. Measurement of the O2 permeability revealed that the bag with an Al-laminated barrier film had the lowest permeability. The ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH) bags were more permeable than the Al-laminated bags, while metallized polyester (Met. PET) had the highest O2 permeability. Chemical analysis of the wine included the measurement of free and total SO2, oxygen and colour, carried out 1, 4.5 and 9 months after filling. Sensory analysis was carried out as a series of rank order tests performed 5 and 9 months after filling. The chemical and sensory measurements showed small differences between the various bag types. Regarding wine quality, none of the tested bag types distinguished themselves either in a positive or a negative direction in relation to similar table wine stored in glass bottles. The analysis after 9 months of storage showed that none of the wines were oxidized to an unacceptable quality compared to the quality of the same wine stored in glass bottles (not transported) for the same period. The shelf-life of wine is often calculated on the basis of the measured values for oxygen permeability. The theoretical shelf-life of wine is 130-450 days for new bags of Met. PET and 30-130 days for worn (transported) bags. The analysis of the wine showed a longer shelf-life than the theoretical calculations. This is because phenolics, which prevent oxidation, are not accounted for in the formula. The formula is therefore probably best suited for white wines. The selection of barrier material for bag-in-box bags (Met. PET, EVOH or Al-lami-nates) does not seem to be critical for the shelf-life of a red table wine with a rather high content of phenolic components if the wine is stored for less than 9 months.
Dissociative disorders and other psychopathological groups: exploring the differences through the Somatoform Dissociation Questionnaire (SDQ-20).

OBJECTIVE The Somatoform Dissociation Questionnaire is a self-report questionnaire that has proven to be a reliable and valid instrument. The objectives of this study were to validate the Portuguese version and to determine its capability to distinguish patients with dissociative disorders from others with psychopathological disorders. METHOD 234 patients answered the translated version of Somatoform Dissociation Questionnaire. The Portuguese Dissociative Disorders Interview Schedule was used to validate clinical diagnosis. Patients with dissociative disorder (n = 113) were compared to a control group of 121 patients with various anxiety and depression disorders. RESULTS Reliability measured by Cronbach's a was 0.88. The best performance of the Portuguese form was at a cut-off point of 35, which distinguishes between dissociative disorder and neurotic disorders with a good diagnostic efficacy (sensitivity = 0.73). The somatoform dissociation was significantly more frequent in dissociative disorder patients, conversion disorder patients and post-traumatic stress disorder patients. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that dissociative disorders can be differentiated from other psychiatric disorders through somatoform dissociation. The Portuguese version of the Somatoform Dissociation Questionnaire has fine psychometric features that sustain its cross-cultural validity.
A New Approach to the Quantitative Measurement of Software Reliability

Software flexibility is the ease with which a software system can be modified for use in applications or environments other than those for which it was specifically designed. Software flexibility is not an absolute term. It is an important aspect of software quality. Quantifying software flexibility is increasingly becoming necessary. We have recently proposed a new approach ( referred to as SDA Flex&Rel ) to the development of reliable yet flexible software. In this paper, a new approach is proposed to quantitatively measure the flexibility of the software developed using SDA Flex&Rel , thereby making precise informal claims on the flexibility improvement. Moreover, the effectiveness of the proposed measurement approach is empirically investigated in the multi-lift case study that has already been conducted to demonstrate the feasibility of SDA Flex&Rel . The results confirm the flexibility improvement promised by SDA Flex&Rel .
Sketch-Based Articulated 3D Shape Retrieval

Sketch-based queries are a suitable and superior alternative to traditional text- and example-based queries for 3D shape retrieval. The authors developed an articulated 3D shape retrieval method that uses easy-to-obtain 2D sketches. In contrast to existing sketch-based retrieval systems that lower the 3D database models to 2D, their algorithm implicitly lifts the 2D query to 2.5D by inferring depth information from possibly self-intersecting sketches using a good continuation rule. It does not require 3D example models to initiate queries, but results show that it achieves accuracy comparable to a state-of-the-art example-based 3D shape retrieval method.
Aortic elasticity and size are associated with aortic regurgitation and left ventricular dysfunction in tetralogy of Fallot after pulmonary valve replacement

Background: Aortic wall pathology and concomitant aortic dilatation have been described in tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) patients, which may negatively affect aortic valve and left ventricular systolic function. Objective: To assess aortic dimensions, aortic elasticity, aortic valve competence and biventricular function in repaired TOF patients after pulmonary valve replacement (PVR) using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Methods: MRI was performed in 16 patients with TOF after PVR (10 male; mean age 31 years (SD 15)) and 16 age and gender-matched healthy subjects. Results: TOF patients showed aortic root dilatation (mean difference 7.8–8.8 mm, p<0.01 at all four predefined levels) and reduced aortic elasticity (pulse wave velocity in aortic arch 5.5 m/s (1.2) vs 4.6 m/s (0.9), p = 0.04; aortic root distensibility 1.4/10−3 mm Hg (1.7) vs 5.7/10−3 mm Hg (3.6), p<0.01). Minor degrees of aortic regurgitation (AR) (AR fraction 6% (8) vs 1% (1), p<0.01) and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) were present (51% (8) vs 58% (6), p = 0.01), whereas right ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF) was within normal limits (47% (8) vs 52% (7), p = 0.06). The degree of AR fraction was associated with dilatation of the aortic root (r = 0.39–0.49, p<0.05) and reduced aortic root distensibility (r = 0.44, p = 0.02), whereas reduced LVEF was correlated with degree of AR and RVEF (r = 0.41, p = 0.02 and r = 0.49, p<0.01, respectively). Conclusions: Aortic root dilatation and reduced aortic elasticity are frequently present in patients with TOF, in addition to minor degrees of AR and reduced left ventricular systolic function. Aortic wall pathology in repaired TOF patients may therefore represent a separate mechanism leading to left ventricular dysfunction, as part of a multifactorial process of left ventricular dysfunction.
Hydrolyzed Versus Nonhydrolyzed Protein Diet in Short Bowel Syndrome in Children

Background There is no consensus regarding the optimal enteral formula in patients with neonatal short bowel syndrome. The common practice in many centers is to give a semielemental diet. Methods To test the hypothesis that hydrolyzed protein is not superior to standard formula in promoting growth and development of children with short bowel syndrome, 10 children aged 4.08 ± 2.45 months (mean ± SD) underwent a prospective, randomized, crossover, double-blind study lasting 60 days (with crossover on day 31). Two enteral formulas, which differed only with respect to the nitrogen form—hydrolyzed and nonhydrolyzed whey protein—were used. The endpoints of the study were nitrogen balance and intestinal permeability measured by the sugar absorption test (lactulose/mannitol excretion ratio). Results Energy intake from enteral formula in patients fed hydrolyzed and nonhydrolyzed formula was the same and amounted to about 31% of total intake. The ratio of total energy intake (enteral and parenteral) to resting energy expenditure was 1.7 ± 0.5 and 1.5 ± 0.3 in patients fed hydrolyzed and non hydrolyzed formula respectively. Nitrogen balance was 0.28 ± 0.05 g/kg/d and 0.29 ± 0.05 g/kg/day, respectively. Lactulose/mannitol ratio before the study was 0.85 ± 0.85 and after hydrolyzed and nonhydrolyzed formula was 0.59% ± 0.51% and 0.69% ± 0.72%, respectively. Conclusion Intestinal permeability, energy, and nitrogen balance in short bowel syndrome were not influenced in the short term by hydrolysis of the enteral nitrogen source.
Modulation of maximal glycogenolysis in perfused rat liver by adenosine and ATP.

Rat livers perfused at constant flow via the portal vein with dibutyryl cyclic AMP produced glucose equivalents at a steady maximal rate (6 mumol/min per g of liver). Addition of adenosine (150 microM) caused a biphasic effect. (i) First, the glycogenolytic rate rose transiently, to a mean peak of 150% of control levels after 2 min. This glycogenolytic burst was reproduced by two P1-receptor agonists, but not by ATP, and was blocked by a P1-antagonist (8-phenyltheophylline), as well as by inhibitors of eicosanoid synthesis (indomethacin, ibuprofen or aspirin). It did not occur in phosphorylase-kinase-deficient livers. The adenosine-induced glycogenolytic burst coincided with moderate and transient changes in portal pressure (+6 cmH2O) and O2 consumption (-20%), but it could not be explained by an increase in cytosolic Pi, since the n.m. r. signal fell precipitously. (ii) Subsequently, the rate of glycogenolysis decreased to one-third of the preadenosine value, in spite of persistent maximal activation of phosphorylase. The decrease could be linked to the decline in cytosolic Pi: both changes were prevented by the adenosine kinase inhibitor 5-iodotubercidin, whereas they were not affected by ibuprofen or 8-phenyltheophylline, and were not reproduced by non-metabolized adenosine analogues. In comparison with adenosine, ATP caused a slower decrease of Pi and of glycogenolysis. The fate of the cytosolic Pi was unclear, especially with administered ATP, which did not increase the n.m. r. -detectable intracellular ATP.
VISTA: a system for interactive code improvement

Software designers face many challenges when developing appli¿cations for embedded systems. A major challenge is meeting the conflicting constraints of speed, code density, and power consump¿tion. Traditional optimizing compiler technology is usually of little help in addressing this challenge. To meet speed, power, and size constraints, application developers typically resort to hand-coded assembly language. The results are software systems that are not portable, less robust, and more costly to develop and maintain. This paper describes a new code improvement paradigm imple¿mented in a system called vista that can help achieve the cost/performance trade-offs that embedded applications demand. Unlike traditional compilation systems where the smallest unit of compilation is typically a function and the programmer has no con¿trol over the code improvement process other than what types of code improvements to perform, the vista system opens the code improvement process and gives the application programmer, when necessary, the ability to finely control it. In particular, vista allows the application developer to (1) direct the order and scope in which the code improvement phases are applied, (2) manually specify code transformations, (3) undo previously applied transformations, and (4) view the low-level program representation graphically. vista can be used by embedded systems developers to produce applications, by compiler writers to prototype and debug new low-level code transformations, and by instructors to illustrate code transformations (e.g., in a compilers course).
Parkinson's Disease, the Subthalamic Nucleus, Inhibition, and Impulsivity

Although Parkinson's disease (PD) is primarily considered a disorder of initiation of actions, patients also have deficits in inhibitory control, both in the motor and cognitive domains. Impulse control disorders, which can develop in association with dopaminergic medication in a small proportion of patients with PD, are the symptoms most commonly considered as representing inhibitory deficits. However, there is now also a body of evidence suggesting a role for the subthalamic nucleus (STN), which is ordinarily hyperactive in PD, in inhibitory control. Here, we review evidence from animal studies, imaging studies, and investigations recording STN activity intra‐ or perioperatively in patients with PD having surgery for DBS of the STN (STN‐DBS). We also highlight relevant hypotheses about the role of the STN and consider evidence from studies that have examined the effect of STN‐DBS in patients with PD on performance of experimental tasks requiring inhibition of prepotent or habitual responses or decision making under conflict, as well as the psychiatric side effects of STN‐DBS. Though the results are not always consistent, nevertheless, this body of evidence supports the role of the STN in inhibitory and executive control. © 2014 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
Magnetic Properties of Itinerant Ferromagnet La12Fe57.5As41

We successfully synthesized the single crystal of the itinerant ferromagnetic compound La12Fe57.5As41 by Sn-flux method and studied its magnetic properties by magnetization measurements. The temperature dependence of magnetic susceptibility obeys the modified Curie-Weiss law, χ−1 = (χ0 + C/(T − θ))−1, quite well in the high temperature region. The effective moment Peff and the Weiss temperature θ are estimated to be 1.13 μB/Fe and 128.5 K, respectivelly. The magnetization of La12Fe57.5As41 shows the convex behavior when plotted in a form of M2 vs H/M at low temperatures, while the M4 shows the linear relation against H/M in a wide temperature range near TC.