Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Development of Data Driven Models for Hydromorphology and Sediment Transport

One of the weakest aspects of hydromorphological models is the use of empirical formulae for calculating sediment transport rates, which are of limited generality. In many cases, unreasonable morphological changes are predicted and the results of the different formulae often strongly vary. The reasons arise from the complexity of the interaction between flow and sediment transport, and in the limitations of the nonlinear regression applied in these methods. In contrast to most traditional empirical methods, which need prior knowledge about the nature of the relationships within the data, the data-driven models (e.g. Artificial Neural Networks) learn from the data examples presented to them in order to capture the subtle functional relationships between the data. This can be determined even if the underlying relationships are unknown or the physical meaning is difficult to explain. The main objective of this study is to develop optimal Artificial Neural Network models (ANNs), able to be integrated into a hydromorphological model system and adequately predict the morphological changes in alluvial channels under different flow conditions. To achieve this aim, the open source finite element system, TELEMAC-MASCARET, was applied to simulate different complex hydrodynamic and morphodynamic situations. The calibrated results were then used as input-data in ANN to obtain ANN-based approximators for the new proposed schemes of hydromorphodynamic-model system. In the first scheme, 2 or 3 ANN models might be utilized for hydrodynamic calculations. At each time step, the hydrodynamic variables including velocity field and water depth were transferred into the morphodynamic model (ANN-based approximator), which then sent back the updated bed elevation to the hydrodynamic model. In the second scheme, only one ANN based approximator model was integrated into the sediment transport model SISYPHE while the TELEMAC-2D/3D remained unchanged for hydrodynamic calculations. The time-step of morphodynamic part (ANN-based approximator) was much larger than the time step of TELEMAC-2D/3D and during the flow computation, the bed level was assumed to stay constant. The novelty of the proposed schemes is that they reduce the computation costs significantly in the prediction of both hydrodynamic and morphodynamic variables. To evaluate the prediction qualities of the proposed models, a comparative study evaluating the errors associated with the model was carried out. A statistical parameter included in this study was the measurement of goodness-of-fit between the estimated bed change and TELEMAC simulation.
HIV Related Stigma and Collectivism Orientation Acting as Predictors of Unemployment of People Living with HIV/AIDS

HIV related stigma is regarded as one of the major barriers that prevent PLWHA from returning back to normal life. The current study builds on previous research regarding barriers to employment among PLWHA by investigating the role of perceived incompetence in addition to the fear of contagion from the viewpoint of employers in charge of recruiting new employees, which is crucial in verifying the perception of PLWHA and helpful in overcoming employment barriers. The function of collectivism is also discussed in this paper.
Parental expectations of the Swedish municipal school of arts

This article draws on a study designed to analyse parental expectations of the Swedish municipal school of arts (hereafter MSA) (in Swedish: kommunal musik- och kulturskola). The study is based on in-depth interviews conducted and informed by grounded theory. Although parental expectations are scarcely uniform, the study reveals a hope that the whole child will be nurtured, both musically and socially. It also transpires that parental expectations vary according to the activities offered by the particular school. The MSAs are administered and financed by the local authorities, and parents therefore expect them to be distinguished not only by their educational ambitions and the range of cultural choices available, but also by their democratic norms and values.
An EPC Gen 2 compatible passive/semi-active UHF RFID transponder with embedded FeRAM and temperature sensor

A fully integrated passive and battery powered semi-active UHF RFID transponder chip supporting EPC Gen 2 protocol is presented. The proposed transponder works as a passive RFID tag when the generated RF-power is sufficient to operate, otherwise it operates in semi-active mode using battery power. The chip has re-writeable non-volatile memory bank formed by FeRAM and on-chip temperature sensor. The memory consists of EPC memory bank for EPC functionality and temperature bank for storing sensed data. The standby current in semi-active is about 0.5 muA, the lifetime in semi-active mode is in excess of 2 year with a 10 mA-hr thin film battery.
The geometry of multiple images - the laws that govern the formation of multiple images of a scene and some of their applications

From the Publisher: with contributions from Theo Papadopoulo Over the last forty years, researchers have made great strides in elucidating the laws of image formation, processing, and understanding by animals, humans, and machines. This book describes the state of knowledge in one subarea of vision, the geometric laws that relate different views of a scene. Geometry, one of the oldest branches of mathematics, is the natural language for describing three-dimensional shapes and spatial relations. Projective geometry, the geometry that best models image formation, provides a unified framework for thinking about many geometric problems relevant to vision. The book formalizes and analyzes the relations between multiple views of a scene from the perspective of various types of geometries. A key feature is that it considers Euclidean and affine geometries as special cases of projective geometry. Images play a prominent role in computer communications. Producers and users of images, in particular three-dimensional images, require a framework for stating and solving problems. The book offers a number of conceptual tools and theoretical results useful for the design of machine vision algorithms. It also illustrates these tools and results with many examples of real applications.
Italian cardiovascular mortality charts of the CUORE project: are they comparable with the SCORE charts?

Background The aim of this study was to build risk charts for the assessment of cardiovascular mortality of the CUORE project, an Italian longitudinal study, and to compare them with the systematic coronary risk evaluation (SCORE) project charts for low risk European countries. Design Random population samples enrolled in the 1980s and 1990s in Italy were included in the analysis: 7520 men and 13 127 women aged 35-69 years without previous cardiovascular events and with a mean follow-up period of 10 years for cardiovascular disease. ICD-9 codes of death certificates similar to those of the SCORE project were considered when they appear as first cause of death. Methods Sex-stratified Cox proportional hazard model including age, systolic blood pressure, ratio between total and HDL cholesterol, and smoking habit as risk factors was used to assess cardiovascular mortality. Results Analysis showed that all risk factors included in the model were statistically significant. The corresponding area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.825 (95% confidence interval: 0.803-0.846) for men and 0.850 (0.823-0.877) for women. The CUORE project charts yielded similar results to the corresponding charts of the SCORE project: Lin's coefficient was 0.929 for men and 0.935 for women. Conclusion The comparison between CUORE and SCORE mortality risk charts shows that SCORE charts reflect quite well the Italian cardiovascular mortality and, correspondingly, Italian cohorts of the CUORE project are quite representative of European countries at low risk for cardiovascular mortality.
An experimental microgrid for laboratory activities

This paper introduces development of a small scale microgrid which consists of a PV system, an energy storage device, and a load. The system is intended for conducting experiments to demonstrate and/or investigate different design and control issues related to microgrids. The system has also a data acquisition and power management component in order to facilitate monitoring and management of the system in different operating conditions. Hence, the system can be used for both education and research purposes. Two experiments have been provided to illustrate the flexibility of the proposed microgrid.
Battery Storage Technologies for Electrical Applications: Impact in Stand-Alone Photovoltaic Systems

Batteries are promising storage technologies for stationary applications because of their maturity, and the ease with which they are designed and installed compared to other technologies. However, they pose threats to the environment and human health. Several studies have discussed the various battery technologies and applications, but evaluating the environmental impact of batteries in electrical systems remains a gap that requires concerted research efforts. This study first presents an overview of batteries and compares their technical properties such as the cycle life, power and energy densities, efficiencies and the costs. It proposes an optimal battery technology sizing and selection strategy, and then assesses the environmental impact of batteries in a typical renewable energy application by using a stand-alone photovoltaic (PV) system as a case study. The greenhouse gas (GHG) impact of the batteries is evaluated based on the life cycle emission rate parameter. Results reveal that the battery has a significant impact in the energy system, with a GHG impact of about 36–68% in a 1.5 kW PV system for different locations. The paper discusses new batteries, strategies to minimize battery impact and provides insights into the selection of batteries with improved cycling capacity, higher lifespan and lower cost that can achieve lower environmental impacts for future applications.
Sports Science Exchange 96 VOLUME 18 ( 2005 ) NUMBER 1 HERBS AND ATHLETES

KEY POINTS * Herbs are non-woody plants or plant parts claimed to have medicinal, therapeutic, or performanceenhancing values. Herbs can be sold as fresh or dried products, liquid or solid extracts, tablets, capsules, powders, in drinks, in energy bars, or in tea bags. * In the United States, herbs are not required to be standardized, so there is little consistency among different batches of products from different manufacturers. However, herbs are regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as dietary supplements as part of the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) that became law in 1994. * Herbs have a long history of use, especially in China. However, in most cases, double-blind, placebo-controlled human research on herb use by athletes is limited or non-existent, making it difficult to assess the value of herbs for improving athletic performance. * Concerns over safety, side effects, and potential drug/herb interactions make it essential for athletes to discuss the use of herbal products with their health-care team. * Accessing reputable information about herbs and performance is difficult but critical when educating athletes about potential benefits and adverse side effects of herbs.
Changes in the antigenic and genetic structure of influenza viruses: analysis of surveillance data of influenza A and B in Russia in 2006-2013

The goal of this research project was to study the natural variability of human influenza A and B viruses based on the analysis of the population structure of influenza viruses, circulating in Russia in 2006-2013, in order to determine the direction of their genetic and antigenic drift by comparison to the WHO reference strains. Our results proved that during that period significant changes occurred in the genetic structure of influenza viruses, their phylogenetic affiliation, as well as their sensitivity to antiviral drugs. According to the surveillance data, the percentage of influenza A(H1N1) viruses among patients with influenza-like illness or acute respiratory infection gradually decreased from 42% of the total number of influenza viruses in 2006-2007 to 19% in 20082009. Influenza A(H1N1) viruses are characterized by «silent» variability that manifests in the gradual accumulation of amino acid substitutions in the minor undetectable group of viruses. The share of influenza A(H3N2) viruses varied from 10% in the 1st post pandemic year to approx. 60% in 2008-2009 and 20112012 epidemic seasons. All of the influenza A strains isolated during the last years of the period, covered in this study, were found to be susceptible to neuraminidase inhibitors and resistant to adamantane antivirals. Influenza B viruses of both Yamagata and Victoria lineages circulated in Russia in the period from 2006 to 2013. The vast majority of these influenza B viruses belonged to the Victoria lineage. Phylogenetic and antigenic analyses of influenza B viruses have demonstrated a gradual drift of Russian isolates from the reference strains. No changes leading to resistance to oseltamivir or zanamivir were found in influenza B strains isolated until 2013.
Définir, dénommer et traduire l'onctuosité : regards croisés sur une propriété gustative et ses dénominations en français, anglais et allemand

Un simple coup d'œil sur les rayons cremerie d'un supermarche ou sur les prospectus publicitaires suffit a s'en convaincre : onctueux est un attribut fort prise en marketing alimentaire. Un test rapide sur google le confirme par ailleurs : pour les seules structures N + A, le moteur de recherche fournit une multitude d'occurrences pour ce domaine avec des syntagmes comme fromage blanc onctueux, potage onctueux mais aussi buche de Noel au cœur onctueux, riz onctueux ou encore beurre de pomme onctueux. L'objectif de cette contribution est ainsi d'interroger les multiples emplois de l'adjectif onctueux en francais et d'en envisager les equivalents possibles en anglais et en allemand en restreignant cependant le champ d'investigation au domaine des desserts brasses. Pour ce faire, le point de depart est fourni par les definitions lexicographiques proposees tant par les dictionnaires de langue usuelle que par les dictionnaires specialises. Le resultat de l'analyse des traits semantiques et des processus d'analogie reconnus dans ces definitions est alors confronte au regard porte par les specialistes du gout sur cette propriete gustative, analysable en termes d'attributs primaires et secondaires. La derniere etape de ce travail consiste a envisager les equivalents proposes en anglais et en allemand par les dictionnaires bilingues et les bases de donnees terminologiques. Est alors examinee la structuration semantique du champ de l'onctuosite dans ces deux langues a la fois au niveau du systeme – en reprenant le travail sur les traits semantiques contenus dans les definitions de dictionnaires – et au niveau de l'emploi, en partant en particulier des phenomenes collocationnels observables autour des adjectifs retenus.
Effects of temperature on Escherichia coli overproducing beta-lactamase or human epidermal growth factor

The effects of temperature on strains of Escherichia coli which overproduce and excrete either beta-lactamase or human epidermal growth factor were investigated. E. coli RB791 cells containing plasmid pKN which has the tac promoter upstream of the gene for beta-lactamase were grown and induced with isopropyl-beta-D-thiogalactopyranoside in batch culture at 37, 30, 25, and 20 degrees C. The lower temperature greatly reduced the formation of periplasmic beta-lactamase inclusion bodies, increased significantly the total amount of beta-lactamase activity, and increased the purity of extracellular beta-lactamase from approximately 45 to 90%. Chemostat operation at 37 and 30 degrees C was difficult due to poor cell reproduction and beta-lactamase production. However, at 20 degrees C, continuous production and excretion of beta-lactamase were obtained for greater than 450 h (29 generations). When the same strain carried plasmid pCU encoding human epidermal growth factor, significant cell lysis was observed after induction at 31 and 37 degrees C, whereas little cell lysis was observed at 21 and 25 degrees C. Both total soluble and total human epidermal growth factor increased with decreasing temperature. These results indicate that some of the problems of instability of strains producing high levels of plasmid-encoded proteins can be mitigated by growth at lower temperatures. Further, lower temperatures can increase for at least some secreted proteins both total plasmid-encoded protein formed and the fraction that is soluble.
Dopamine Selectively Modulates the Outcome of Learning Unnatural Action–Valence Associations

Learning the contingencies between stimulus, action, and outcomes is disrupted in disorders associated with altered dopamine (DA) function in the BG, such as Parkinson disease (PD). Although the role of DA in learning to act has been extensively investigated in PD, the role of DA in “learning to withhold” (or inhibit) action to influence outcomes is not as well understood. The current study investigated the role of DA in learning to act or to withhold action to receive rewarding, or avoid punishing outcomes, in patients with PD tested “off” and “on” dopaminergic medication (n = 19) versus healthy controls (n = 30). Participants performed a reward-based learning task that orthogonalized action and outcome valence (action–reward, inaction–reward, action–punishment, inaction–punishment). We tested whether DA would bias learning toward action, toward reward, or to particular action–outcome interactions. All participants demonstrated inherent learning biases preferring action with reward and inaction to avoid punishment, and this was unaffected by medication. Instead, DA produced a complex modulation of learning less natural action–outcome associations. “Off” DA medication, patients demonstrated impairments in learning to withhold action to gain reward, suggesting a difficulty to overcome a bias toward associating inaction with punishment avoidance. On DA medication, these patterns changed, and patients showed a reduced ability to learn to act to avoid punishment, indicating a bias toward action and reward. The current findings suggest that DA in PD has a complex influence on the formation of action–outcome associations, particularly those involving less natural linkages between action and outcome valence.
Age-Dependent Susceptibility to Alcohol-Induced Cerebral Artery Constriction

Background Age has been recognized as an important contributor into susceptibility to alcohol-driven pathology. Purpose We aimed at determining whether alcohol-induced constriction of cerebral arteries was age-dependent. Study design We used rat middle cerebral artery (MCA) in vitro diameter monitoring, patch-clamping and fluorescence labeling of myocytes to study an age-dependent increase in the susceptibility to alcohol in 3 (50 g), 8 (250 g), and 15 (440 g) weeks-old rats. Results An age-dependent increase in alcohol-induced constriction of MCA could be observed in absence of endothelium, which is paralleled by an age-dependent increase in both protein level of the calcium-/voltage-gated potassium channel of large conductance (BK) accessory β1 subunit and basal BK channel activity. Ethanol-induced BK channel inhibition is increased with age. Conclusions We demonstrate an increased susceptibility of MCA to ethanol-induced constriction in a period equivalent to adolescence and early adulthood when compared to pre-adolescence. Our work suggests that BK β1 constitutes a significant contributor to age-dependent changes in the susceptibility of cerebral arteries to ethanol.
Aberrant expression of genes necessary for neuronal development and notch signaling in an epileptic mind bomb zebrafish

Mutation within an ubiquitin E3 ligase gene can lead to a failure in Notch signaling, excessive neurons, and depletion of neural progenitor cells in mind bomb mutants. Using mibhi904 zebrafish, we reported seizures and a down‐regulation of γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA) signaling pathway genes. A transcriptome analysis also identified differential expression pattern of genes related to Notch signaling and neurodevelopment. Here, we selected nine of these genes (her4.2, hes5, bhlhb5, hoxa5a, hoxb5b, dmbx1a, dbx1a, nxph1, and plxnd1) and performed a more thorough analysis of expression using conventional polymerase chain reaction, real‐time polymerase chain reaction and in situ hybridization. Transgenic reporter fish (Gfap:GFP and Dlx5a‐6a:GFP) were used to assess early brain morphology in vivo. Down‐regulation of many of these genes was prominent throughout key structures of the developing mibhi904 zebrafish brain including, but not limited to, the pallium, ventral thalamus, and optic tectum. Brain expression of Dlx5a‐6a and Gfap was also reduced. In conclusion, these expression studies indicate a general down‐regulation of Notch signaling genes necessary for proper brain development and suggest that these mutant fish could provide valuable insights into neurological conditions, such as Angelman syndrome, associated with ubiquitin E3 ligase mutation. Developmental Dynamics 240:1964–1976, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Prematurity and low birth weight as risk factors for the development of affective disorder, especially depression and schizophrenia: a register study

Larsen JK, Bendsen BB, Foldager L, Munk-Jørgensen P. Prematurity and low birth weight as risk factors for the development of affective disorder, especially depression and schizophrenia: a register study. Background: The present study examined whether low birth weight, prematurity or low birth weight adjusted for gestational age are risk factors for the subsequent development of affective disorder, especially depression. Methods: A population-based case–control design was applied to the Danish Medical Birth Register and the Danish Psychiatric Central Register to identify all individuals born between 1 January 1974 and 31 December 1990 and diagnosed prior to 29 August 2003 with affective disorder alone (ICD-10 F3; 4297 females, 1861 males), schizophrenia alone (ICD-10 F2; 1364 females, 2292 males) or both disorders (ICD-10 F3 + F2; 450 females, 405 males). The association between low birth weight and the risk of developing affective disorder and/or schizophrenia was analysed by conditional logistic regression analysis. Results: Low birth weight was found to be associated with a significantly elevated risk of developing schizophrenia alone (p = 0.021) and both affective disorder and schizophrenia (p = 0.024), and a non-significantly elevated risk of developing affective disorder alone (p = 0.063). The effect remained significant in the affective disorder and schizophrenia groups (p = 0.039) when correcting for gestational age (premature birth), but was lost in the group with both disorders. Premature birth per se was found to be associated with a significantly elevated risk of developing both affective disorder and schizophrenia (p = 0.00018), an effect that remained significant after adjustment for low birth weight. Conclusion: Prematurity and low birth weight were found to be risk factors for subsequent development of affective disorder (especially depression) and schizophrenia.