Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Size Effect on Flexural Fracture of Polyolefin Fibre-Reinforced Concrete

The reinforcement of concrete by using polyolefin fibres may be considered in structural design to meet the requirements of the applicable code rules. To achieve a reliable use of such a composite material, use of full-scale real structures is needed. The conversion of lab testing data into real practice properties is challenging and significantly influenced by various aspects, among which the size effect is a key one. Given that the available literature does not report coinciding conclusions about such an effect on quasi-brittle materials reinforced with fibres, further research is justified. Therefore, this work studies the behaviour of notched beams with three proportional sizes by using self-compacting polyolefin reinforced concrete with a fibre volume fraction of 1.1%. Flexural testing was carried out according to the standard EN-14651, with the results revealing the existence of the size effect. In addition, a reduction of the residual strength identified in the larger specimens was observed in fracture surfaces with equal fibre content.
A Wearable Sensor Network for Gait Analysis: A Six-Day Experiment of Running Through the Desert

This paper presents a new system for analysis of walking and running gaits. The system is based on a network of wireless nodes with various types of embedded sensors. It has been designed to allow long-term recording in outdoor environments and was tested during the 2010 “Sultan Marathon des Sables” desert race. A runner was fitted with the sensory network for six days of the competition. Although technical problems have limited the amount of data recorded, the experiment was nevertheless successful: the system did not interfere with the runner, who finished with a high ranking, the concept was validated and high quality data were acquired. It should be noted that the loss of some of the measurements was mainly due to problems with the cable connectors between the nodes and batteries. In this paper, we describe the technical aspects of the system developed, the experimental conditions under which it was validated, and give examples of the data obtained with some preliminary processing.
Neuropsychologic and Adaptive Functioning in Adolescents and Young Adults Shunted for Congenital Hydrocephalus

The major aim of this study was to assess whether the syndrome of nonverbal learning disabilities described in hydrocephalic children is observed in adulthood. Eleven adults shunted for congenital hydrocephalus related to spina bifida and eight adults shunted for hydrocephalus related to aqueductal stenosis were administered an extensive neuropsychologic battery to investigate discrepancies between verbal and visuospatial cognition, verbal and visuospatial long-term memory, and psycho-social adaptive abilities. The results showed no discrepancies between Wechsler Performance IQ or Verbal IQ in either hydrocephalic group. Nevertheless, the subjects with spina bifida appeared more cognitively impaired than the subjects with aqueductal stenosis, who performed normally on the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised. Memory assessment using Signoret's Memory Battery revealed no discrepancy between verbal and visuospatial memory in the hydrocephalic group. Nevertheless, the subjects with spina bifida had poorer verbal and visuospatial memory performance than the subjects with aqueductal stenosis. There were no differences on the Vineland Adaptive Behavioral Scale between subjects with spina bifida and those with aqueductal stenosis in autonomy, socialization, and daily living skills. These results suggest that shunted congenital hydrocephalus is not characterized by nonverbal learning disabilities syndrome in adolescence or in adulthood. (J Child NeuroL 1999;14:144-150).
Transvaginal Surgery : Do Women Want It ?

Background: Past studies comparing attitudes toward transvaginal natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery (NOTES ; American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy [Oak Brook, IL] and Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons [Los Angeles, CA]) to laparoscopic surgery have produced a wide variety of conflicting results, with some studies showing a preference for NOTES, a preference for transgastric NOTES only, or a rejection of NOTES. Given the disparity in results, our study aimed to identify demographic data as well as clinical factors, such as risk of infection, need for postsurgical abstinence from sexual activity, and risk of infertility, that significantly affect women’s opinions. Materials and Methods: At outpatient general surgery clinics, 142 women completed a survey regarding their opinions about transvaginal NOTES and their main concerns regarding surgery. Women rated their concerns using a 5-point Likert scale. De-identified demographic, social, and medical history data were also collected. Fisher’s exact test and multiple logistic regression analysis were used to test associations between women’s concerns and their choice for transvaginal NOTES over standard laparoscopic surgery. Results: Age was statistically significant in determining a woman’s choice, and the interaction variable of age · cosmesis showed a trend toward significance. Thirty-five percent of women <36 years of age would choose transvaginal NOTES, whereas 63% and 61% of women 36–55 and >55 years of age, respectively, would choose the transvaginal technique (P = .024). Women who felt that cosmesis was a concern were much more likely to choose NOTES, especially if they were in the 36–55or q56-year-old age groups. The comprehensive model showed that age q36 years, concern for adhesions, and concern for cosmesis made a woman more likely to choose NOTES. Similarly, concerns for hernia risk and abstinence made a woman less likely to choose NOTES. Conclusions: Women generally have a positive perception of NOTES. However, because NOTES procedures are not yet widespread, further studies need to be done to investigate and to elucidate why this technique is not yet widely utilized despite these opinions and its potential benefits.
Semantic visual SLAM in populated environments

We propose a visual SLAM (Simultaneous Localization And Mapping) system able to perform robustly in populated environments. The image stream from a moving RGB-D camera is the only input to the system. The computed map in real-time is composed of two layers: 1) The unpopulated geometrical layer, which describes the geometry of the bare scene as an occupancy grid where pieces of information corresponding to people have been removed; 2) A semantic human activity layer, which describes the trajectory of each person with respect to the unpopulated map, labelling an area as "traversable" or "occupied". Our proposal is to embed a real-time human tracker into the system. The purpose is twofold. First, to mask out of the rigid SLAM pipeline the image regions occupied by people, which boosts the robustness, the relocation, the accuracy and the reusability of the geometrical map in populated scenes. Secondly, to estimate the full trajectory of each detected person with respect to the scene map, irrespective of the location of the moving camera when the person was imaged. The proposal is tested with two popular visual SLAM systems, C2TAM and ORBSLAM2, proving its generality. The experiments process a benchmark of RGB-D sequences from camera onboard a mobile robot. They prove the robustness, accuracy and reuse capabilities of the two layer map for populated scenes.
‘Undifferentiated progenitor cells’ in focal nodular hyperplasia of the liver

Focal nodular hyperplasia is a tumour like lesion, characterized by a central fibrous scar with irradiating fibrous septa that surround hyperplastic nodules and contain multiple bile ductules. The origin of the bile ductular structures is not clear. Recently, we found evidence for the existence of human counterparts of rat oval cells (potential stem cells) that have the ability of differentiating towards both bile duct cells and hepatocytes. These cells were found in regenerating human liver as well as in chronic cholestatic conditions. Because cholestatic features are seen in focal nodular hyperplasia, we initiated an immunohistochemical study on 23 surgical specimens using antibodies specific for cytokeratins 7 and 19 (bile duct type cytokeratins), OV6 (rat oval cell marker), chromogranin‐A (shown to be positive in reactive bile ductules and human oval‐like cells) and neural cell adhesion molecule—NCAM (shown to be positive in reactive bile ductules) to investigate whether ‘undifferentiated progenitor cells’ are also present in focal nodular hyperplasia. Electronmicroscopy was applied in five cases. Bile ductules invariably showed immunoreactivity for CK7 and 19, OV6, chromogranin‐A and NCAM. In addition, small individual cells with an oval nucleus and a small rim of cytoplasm, in the vicinity of the septa, were immunoreactive for chromogranin‐A, CK7 and 19 and OV6. These cells were hardly recognizable on routine light microscopy. Clusters of periseptal hepatocytes, seemingly in continuity with bile ductular structures, had a transitional phenotype: they stained positive for chromogranin‐A, CK7 and OV6 and sometimes formed liver cell rosettes. The number of OV6‐positive hepatocytes was greater than the number of chromogranin‐A and CK7 positive hepatocytes. This indicates that, in human liver, OV‐6 is not purely a marker of progenitor cells. Ultrastructurally, small immature cells, highly resembling rat oval cells, were recognized in the vicinity of septa. In addition, transitional cells displaying characteristics both of hepatocytes and bile duct cells were also present. These results confirm the presence of ‘undifferentiated progenitor cells’ in focal nodular hyperplasia and suggest that the ductular reaction in these lesions results, at least partly, from activation of these cells.
Diversion of Flux toward Sesquiterpene Production in Saccharomyces cerevisiae by Fusion of Host and Heterologous Enzymes

ABSTRACT The ability to transfer metabolic pathways from the natural producer organisms to the well-characterized cell factory Saccharomyces cerevisiae is well documented. However, as many secondary metabolites are produced by collaborating enzymes assembled in complexes, metabolite production in yeast may be limited by the inability of the heterologous enzymes to collaborate with the native yeast enzymes. This may cause loss of intermediates by diffusion or degradation or due to conversion of the intermediate through competitive pathways. To bypass this problem, we have pursued a strategy in which key enzymes in the pathway are expressed as a physical fusion. As a model system, we have constructed several fusion protein variants in which farnesyl diphosphate synthase (FPPS) of yeast has been coupled to patchoulol synthase (PTS) of plant origin (Pogostemon cablin). Expression of the fusion proteins in S. cerevisiae increased the production of patchoulol, the main sesquiterpene produced by PTS, up to 2-fold. Moreover, we have demonstrated that the fusion strategy can be used in combination with traditional metabolic engineering to further increase the production of patchoulol. This simple test case of synthetic biology demonstrates that engineering the spatial organization of metabolic enzymes around a branch point has great potential for diverting flux toward a desired product.
Regulating Individual Charges for Long-Term Residential Care In Canada

Abstract Provinces and territories differ in how publicly regulated long-term residential care is financed. Although the costs of “care” are funded publicly, all provinces and territories except Nunavut require contributions from individuals to cover so-called accommodation costs. These vary widely. This paper examines trends and variations in long-term residential care fee structures and the implications for equity (within and across jurisdictions), including gender equity.
Declining inequality in Latin America: structural shift or temporary phenomenon?

Abstract Latin America has been traditionally characterized as a region with high levels of income inequality. Since the early 2000s, however, inequality has started to decline in most countries, basically due to an expansion of the income share of the poorest deciles at the expense of the richest 10%. This paper addresses the question of whether the improvements are driven by long-term secular trends or structural changes which could be expected to continue to generate inequality-reducing effects for years to come; or alternatively, if the changes are driven by short-term variables which could move unexpectedly in the opposite direction and reverse the gains observed so far. From our statistical analysis, we conclude that the improvements are associated with both long- and short-term factors – with the short-term factors recently having greater inequality-reducing changes.
Maximum cardiac performance of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) at temperatures approaching their upper lethal limit

Numerous studies have examined the effect of temperature on in vivo and in situ cardiovascular function in trout. However, little information exists on cardiac function at temperatures near the trout's upper lethal limit. This study measured routine and maximum in situ cardiac performance in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) following acclimation to 15, 18 and 22 °C, under conditions of tonic (30 nmol l-1), intermediate (60 nmol l-1) and maximal (200 nmol l-1) adrenergic stimulation. Heart rate increased significantly with both temperature and adrenaline concentration. The Q10 values for heart rate ranged from 1.28 at 30 nmol l-1 adrenaline to 1.36 at 200 nmol l-1 adrenaline. In contrast to heart rate, maximum stroke volume declined by approximately 20 % (from 1.0 to 0.8 ml kg-1) as temperature increased from 15 to 22 °C. This decrease was not alleviated by maximally stimulating the heart with 200 nmol l-1 adrenaline. Because of the equal and opposite effects of increasing temperature on heart rate and stroke volume, maximum cardiac output did not increase between 15 and 22 °C. Maximum power output decreased (by approximately 10-15 %) at all adrenaline concentrations as temperature increased. This reduction reflected a poorer pressure-generating ability at temperatures above 15 °C. These results, in combination with earlier work, suggest (1) that peak cardiac performance occurs around the trout's preferred temperature and well below its upper lethal limit; (2) that the diminished cardiac function concomitant with acclimation to high temperatures was associated with inotropic failure; (3) that Q10 values for cardiac rate functions, other than heart rate per se, have a limited predictive value at temperatures above the trout's preferred temperature; and (4) that heart rate is a poor indicator of cardiac function at temperatures above 15 °C.
Down‐regulation of hepatocyte nuclear factor‐4α and defective zonation in livers expressing mutant Z α1‐antitrypsin

α1‐Antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency is one of the most common genetic disorders and the liver disease due to the Z mutant of AAT (ATZ) is a prototype of conformational disorder due to protein misfolding with consequent aberrant intermolecular protein aggregation. In the present study, we found that livers of PiZ transgenic mice expressing human ATZ have altered expression of a network of hepatocyte transcriptional factors, including hepatocyte nuclear factor‐4α, that is early down‐regulated and induces a transcriptional repression of ATZ expression. Reduced hepatocyte nuclear factor‐4α was associated with activation of β‐catenin, which regulates liver zonation. Livers of PiZ mice and human patients with AAT deficiency were both found to have a severe perturbation of liver zonation. Functionally, PiZ mice showed a severe defect of ureagenesis, as shown by increased baseline ammonia, and reduced urea production and survival after an ammonia challenge. Down‐regulation of hepatocyte nuclear factor‐4α expression and defective zonation in livers have not been recognized so far as features of the liver disease caused by ATZ and are likely involved in metabolic disturbances and in the increased risk of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with AAT deficiency. Conclusion: The findings of this study are consistent with the concept that abnormal AAT protein conformation and intrahepatic accumulation have broad effects on metabolic liver functions. (Hepatology 2017;66:124–135).
ANALYSING THE RELATIONSHIPS AMONG TOURISM, TRADE, AND ECONOMIC GROWTH IN INDIAN PERSPECTIVE

The relationship between economic growth and international trade have been discussed intensively in the literature in Indian as well as at the international perspective over years, however the relationship between tourism and economic growth or international trade have not attracted much attention in the literature. This study has made an attempt to test the short-run and long-run relationships among tourism, trade and real income growth in India for the period 1996 to 2009 using quarterly data. The cointegration analysis results indicate the existence of a long-run relationship among the study variables. But we could not find any short-run relationship among the study variables in the VECM analysis, despite the significant error correction term.
Characterization of extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli isolated from captive wild felids with bacteremia

Diseases caused by extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli (ExPEC) in wild felids are rarely reported. Although urinary tract infections are infrequently reported in domestic cats, such infections when present are commonly caused by ExPEC. The present work characterized ExPEC strains isolated from 2 adult felines, a snow leopard (Panthera uncia) and a black leopard (Panthera pardus melas), that died from secondary bacteremia associated with urinary tract infections. Isolates from both animals were classified into the B2 phylogenetic group and expressed virulence genotypes that allowed them to cause severe disease. In addition, strains from the black leopard showed multidrug resistance.
Viral Economics: An Epidemiological Model of Knowledge Diffusion in Economics

We model the diffusion of economic knowledge using an epidemiological model of susceptible, exposed, infected/inspired, and recovered populations (SEIR). Treating peer-reviewed journal publications as evidence of a scholar’s infection/inspiration with energy for an idea or theme, we estimate the coefficients of a four-equation simultaneous system for each of 759 sub-fields of economics. Results show that some sub-fields of economics (or viruses, here) grow endogenously much faster than others, and just over half have basic reproduction properties sufficient to ensure survival without the annual addition of new protege scholars.
Intermediate Filament Protein Domain Interactions as Revealed by Two-hybrid Screens (*)

All intermediate filament proteins possess three distinct domains: heads, rod and tail, and subdomains within the rod called helices 1A, 1B, 2A, and 2B. Subunit packing within a filament is a consequence of interactions among these domains. Several such interactions are known, but probably many more contribute to stabilizing filament structure. We examined a number of such potential interactions using the yeast two-hybrid system. Domains or subdomains of murine vimentin, a Type III intermediate filament protein, were fused with either the DNA-binding or trans-activating domain of GAL4, a transcription factor. Interaction between the vimentin domains/subdomains functionally reconstituted GAL4, thereby activating transcription of a GAL1-LacZ reporter gene. The oligomeric state at which the interactions took place, i.e. whether the domains/subdomains were dimeric or tetrameric as they interacted, was also determined. These studies revealed a number of interesting interactions, among which was a strong homotypic binding of helix 2B to form tetramers. They also demonstrated a lack of interaction among others expected to do so based on current structural models. From these results we deduced which of the candidates for interactions, suggested by current models, were true protein-protein interactions and which represented nearest-neighbors only. Thus, the A and A modes of molecular alignment identified by Steinert et al. (Steinert, P. M., Marekov, L. N., Fraser, R. D. B., and Parry, D. A. D.(1993) J. Mol. Biol. 230, 436-452) are probably true interactions, whereas the A and A modes may describe adjacent but non-interacting molecules.
Hearing loss in patients with extracranial complications of chronic otitis media.

OBJECTIVE A pure tone audiomety analysis of patients with extracranial complications of chronic suppurative otitis media (ECCSOM). MATERIAL AND METHODS We retrospectively analyzed audiometric data performed before treatment from 63 patients with ECCSOM (56 single, 7 multiple complications) including groups of frequencies. RESULTS The greatest levels of hearing loss were noted for 6 and 8 kHz (79.0 and 75.7 dBHL) and for the frequency groups high tone average (76.1 dBHL). As regards the severity of hearing impairment in pure tone average the prevalence of complications was as follows: labyrinthitis (77.8±33.6 dBHL), facial palsy (57.1±14.3 dBHL), perilymphatic fistula (53.9±19.9 dBHL) and mastoiditis (42.2±9.5 dBHL) (p=0.023). CONCLUSIONS Hearing loss in ECCSOM is dominated by mixed, high-tone, moderate type of hearing loss, most profound in labyrinthitis. In 11% of patients the complication causes total deafness.
Maximum Aperture Power Transmission in Lossy Homogeneous Matters

We apply array signal processing techniques to the transmitting aperture field modes in order to determine the optimal field distribution that maximizes the power transmission through lossy media between a transmitting and an ideally receiving antenna aperture. The optimal aperture distribution is then used as a reference field for developing curves applicable to the design of many near-field systems, such as for the detection of foreign objects in lossy matters (e.g., food contamination detectors), wireless charging of batteries of human body implanted devices, and for in-body communication systems.
Rejection for connected digit recognition based on GPD segmental discrimination

Connected digit recognition is an area that has attracted significant attention because of its importance in automating a wide range of applications. In an actual application, the performance of the connected digit recognizer must be measured along two dimensions: its recognition accuracy over connected digit strings, and its rejection rate over utterances with no digits. This paper presents a rejection method for connected digit recognition. This rejection method is a post-processor to an HMM-based recognizer and consists of two stages: a digit/non-digit classification stage, and a string verification stage. The digit/non-digit classifier is discriminatively trained to determine if a given digit segment in the recognized string actually contains a digit. The string verification stage combines the results of the digit/non-digit classifier to make the final rejection decision. Experimental results on two independent databases, show that this rejection method is successful in not only rejecting speech with no connected digits, but also in rejecting putative errors, which would have resulted in misrecognition. <<ETX>>