Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Temperature distribution in a brake disc with variable contact pressure

The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of the time of pressure increase during single braking on the temperature in a brake disc. The case of linear pressure increase from zero to nominal value in the initial stage of braking and maintaining this value to standstill was considered. The time distribution of the sliding velocity of frictional elements was determined from the differential equation of motion with the initial condition. Based on the time distributions of pressure and sliding velocity, the intensity of the frictional heat flux, which affects on the disc surface, was determined. Spatio-temporal distribution of the temperature in a brake disc was found from analytical solution of the heat conduction boundary–value problem for semi–space heated on the outer surface heat flux with known a priori intensity. The numerical analysis conducted allowed to determine engineering equation, which describes relation between maximum temperature and the time of pressure increase.
Perinatal Lead (Pb) Exposure Results in Sex-Specific Effects on Food Intake, Fat, Weight, and Insulin Response across the Murine Life-Course

Developmental lead (Pb) exposure has been associated with lower body weight in human infants and late onset obesity in mice. We determined the association of perinatal Pb exposure in mice with changes in obesity-related phenotypes into adulthood. Mice underwent exposure via maternal drinking water supplemented with 0 (control), 2.1 (low), 16 (medium), or 32 (high) ppm Pb-acetate two weeks prior to mating through lactation. Offspring were phenotyped at ages 3, 6, and 9 months for energy expenditure, spontaneous activity, food intake, body weight, body composition, and at age 10 months for glucose tolerance. Data analyses were stratified by sex and adjusted for litter effects. Exposed females and males exhibited increased energy expenditure as compared to controls (p<0.0001 for both). In females, horizontal activity differed significantly from controls (p = 0.02) over the life-course. Overall, food intake increased in exposed females and males (p<0.0008 and p<0.0001, respectively) with significant linear trends at 9 months in females (p = 0.01) and 6 months in males (p<0.01). Body weight was significantly increased in males at the medium and high exposures (p = 0.001 and p = 0.006). Total body fat differed among exposed females and males (p<0.0001 and p<0.0001, respectively). Insulin response was significantly increased in medium exposure males (p<0.05). Perinatal Pb exposure at blood lead levels between 4.1 µg/dL and 32 µg/dL is associated with increased food intake, body weight, total body fat, energy expenditure, activity, and insulin response in mice. Physiological effects of developmental Pb exposure persist and vary according to sex and age.
Nonlinear identification of neuron models

The paper discusses when and how a nonlinear autonomous system can be uniquely identified from periodic data. This is a central problem in systems biology, where it e.g. arises when the dynamics of spiking neurons are modeled. The paper illustrates the problem by least squares identification of two autonomous neuron models, of order 4 and 2. The Hodgkin-Huxley model is well established, however it is of fourth order. As previously proved, this may not allow a unique identification from spiking neuron data. The paper illustrates this conclusion numerically, by least squares identification of a second order polynomial autonomous model, using spiking data generated by a fourth order Hodgkin-Huxley model. Further support is provided by identification of the second order FitzHugh-Nagumo model which can be exactly described by the model structure of the applied least squares algorithm. The Fitz-Hugh-Nagumo model can hence be uniquely identified from spiking neuron data. The paper also discusses computational complexity and provides results on the noise sensitivity of the applied least squares algorithm, when the sampling period is varied.
Optimal semi-oblique tiling

For 2-D iteration space tiling, we address the problem of determining the tile parameters that minimize the total execution time under the BSP model. We consider uniform dependency computations, tiled so that (at least) one of the tile boundaries is parallel to the domain boundary. We determine the optimal tile size as a closed form solution. In addition, we determine the optimal number of processors and also the optimal slope of the oblique tile boundary. Our predictions are validated, among other examples, on a sequence alignment problem specialized to similar sequences using Ficket's “k-band” algorithm, for which, our optimal semi-oblique tiling yields an improvement over orthogonal tiling by a factor of 2.5. Our optimal solution requires a block-cyclic distribution of tiles to processors. The best one can obtain with only block distribution (as many authors require) is 3 times slower.
A network-reactive model for distributed telemicroscopy

We have developed a network-reactive robotic telemicroscopy system that uses high-speed image processing and quality of service (QoS) feedback to maximize performance. In tests, four magnifications (4×, 10×, 40×, 60×) of a section stained with haematoxylin and eosin were used. Up to 25 clients, distributed across two Internet domains, accessed the server. When given control of the microscope, any of the clients could direct the microscope to change focus and objectives within 3 s and move the stage to any x-y position within 1 s. Transmission rates of 50-200 kbit/s were achieved for video (320 × 240 pixels at 24 bit/pixel). Performance varied according to the complexity of the images being transmitted. The 25 simultaneous users were supported without affecting the operation of the server and the system overhead was relatively small. The server's message-processing time and the network transmission delay amounted to 83 ms. The compression ratio of five previously stored video-sequences ranged from 336:1 to 1213:1. The underlying model for this system could serve a wide range of telemedicine and distance-learning applications.
Methods and Tools for Detection and Evaluation of the Risks of Porcine Endogenous Retrovirus in Porcine to Human Xenotransplantation

Xenotransplantation has been defined by the Public Health Service as any procedure that involves the transplantation, implantation, or infusion into a human recipient of either (a) live cells, tissues, or organs from a nonhuman animal source, or (b) human body fluids, cells, tissues or organs that have had ex vivo contact with live nonhuman animal cells, tissues or organs (PHS 2001). The promise of xenotransplantation is to provide a replenishable, controlled source of cells, tissues, and organs, in order to alleviate the chronic shortage available for human allotransplantation.
A Decomposition Approach for Mining Frequent Itemsets

In this paper, instead of proposing the fastest mining algorithm in the world, we present a new approach in mining association rules. We propose a new algorithm - GRA (Gradational Reduction Approach). It adopts three mechanisms to increase the performance of mining. First, GRA algorithm uses a hash based technique, Hash MAP, which is similar to Hash Table to increase the access efficiency. Second, GRA algorithm uses an infrequent itemsets filtering mechanism to avoid generating a great deal of infrequent sub-itemsets of transaction records. Third, in order to reduce the size of database, GRA algorithm uses gradational reduction mechanism which uses the frequent itemsets as the information of filtration mechanisms to erase the infrequent items from database at every phase. GRA algorithm can decrease a large number of non-frequent itemsets and increase the utility rate of memory.
On Coding Navigation Paths for In-Memory Navigation in Persistent Object Stores

We consider matrix index and navigation index approaches to in-memory navigation of persistent object stores. We demonstrate that both approaches can be re-formulated independently from the used coding technique. We expose the limitations of fixed length coding and the inefficiency of simple continued fractions as a variable length coding technique. The conclusion is that alternative variable length coding techniques, possibly based on known compression algorithms, should be explored. The architecture of persistent object stores should permit plugging in and configuring coding algorithms to optimise the operation of a particular system.
Self-Explonations: How Students Study and Use Examples in Learning to Solve Problems

The present paper analyzes the self-generated explanations (from talk-aloud protocols) that “Good” ond “Poor” students produce while studying worked-out exomples of mechanics problems, and their subsequent reliance on examples during problem solving. We find that “Good” students learn with understanding: They generate many explanations which refine and expand the conditions for the action ports of the exomple solutions, ond relate these actions to principles in the text. These self-explanations are guided by accurate monitoring of their own understanding and misunderstanding. Such learning results in example-inde-pendent knowledge and in a better understanding of the principles presented in the text. “Poor” students do not generate sufficient self-explonations, monitor their learning inaccurately, and subsequently rely heovily an examples. We then discuss the role of self-explanations in facilitating problem solving, as well OS the adequacy of current Al models of explanation-based learning to account for these psychological findings.
Semantic and Syntactic Interference in Sentence Comprehension: A Comparison of Working Memory Models

This study investigated the nature of the underlying working memory system supporting sentence processing through examining individual differences in sensitivity to retrieval interference effects during sentence comprehension. Interference effects occur when readers incorrectly retrieve sentence constituents which are similar to those required during integrative processes. We examined interference arising from a partial match between distracting constituents and syntactic and semantic cues, and related these interference effects to performance on working memory, short-term memory (STM), vocabulary, and executive function tasks. For online sentence comprehension, as measured by self-paced reading, the magnitude of individuals' syntactic interference effects was predicted by general WM capacity and the relation remained significant when partialling out vocabulary, indicating that the effects were not due to verbal knowledge. For offline sentence comprehension, as measured by responses to comprehension questions, both general WM capacity and vocabulary knowledge interacted with semantic interference for comprehension accuracy, suggesting that both general WM capacity and the quality of semantic representations played a role in determining how well interference was resolved offline. For comprehension question reaction times, a measure of semantic STM capacity interacted with semantic but not syntactic interference. However, a measure of phonological capacity (digit span) and a general measure of resistance to response interference (Stroop effect) did not predict individuals' interference resolution abilities in either online or offline sentence comprehension. The results are discussed in relation to the multiple capacities account of working memory (e.g., Martin and Romani, 1994; Martin and He, 2004), and the cue-based retrieval parsing approach (e.g., Lewis et al., 2006; Van Dyke et al., 2014). While neither approach was fully supported, a possible means of reconciling the two approaches and directions for future research are proposed.
Production of Retroviral and Lentiviral Gene Therapy Vectors: Challenges in the Manufacturing of Lipid Enveloped Virus

Gamma-retroviral vectors, commonly designated retroviral vectors, were the first viral vector employed in Gene Therapy clinical trials in 1990 and are still one of the most used. More recently, the interest in lentiviral vectors, derived from complex retroviruses such as the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), has been growing due to their ability to transduce non-dividing cells (Lewis et al. 1992; Naldini et al. 1996), an attribute that distinguishes them from other viral vectors, including their simple counterparts, gammaretroviral vectors. Retroviral and lentiviral vectors most attractive features as gene transfer tools include the capacity for large genetic payload (up to 9 kb), minimal patient immune response, high transducing efficiency in vivo and in vitro, and the ability to permanently modify the genetic content of the target cell, sustaining a long-term expression of the delivered gene (Coroadinha et al. 2010; Schweizer and Merten 2010). According to the most recent updates, retroviral and lentiviral vectors represent 23% of all the vector types and 33% of the viral vectors used in Gene Therapy clinical trials. Moreover, retroviral vectors are currently the blockbuster vectors for the treatment of monogenic and infectious diseases and gene marking clinical trials (Edelstein 2010). Retroviruses are double stranded RNA enveloped viruses mainly characterized by the ability to “reverse-transcribe” their genome from RNA to DNA. Virions measure 100-120 nm in diameter and contain a dimeric genome of identical positive RNA strands complexed with the nucleocapsid (NC) proteins. The genome is enclosed in a proteic capsid (CA) that also contains enzymatic proteins, namely the reverse transcriptase (RT), the integrase (IN) and proteases (PR), required for viral infection. The matrix proteins (MA) form a layer outside the capsid core that interacts with the envelope, a lipid bilayer derived from the host cellular membrane, which surrounds the viral core particle (Coffin et al. 1997). Anchored on this bilayer, are the viral envelope glycoproteins (Env) responsible for recognizing specific receptors on the host cell and initiating the infection process. Envelope proteins are formed by two subunits, the transmembrane (TM) that anchors the protein into the lipid membrane and the surface (SU) which binds to the cellular receptors (Fig. 1).
A non-destructive grammar modification approach to modularity in grammatical evolution

Modularity has proven to be an important aspect of evolutionary computation. This work is concerned with discovering and using modules in one form of grammar-based genetic programming, grammatical evolution (GE). Previous work has shown that simply adding modules to GE's grammar has the potential to disrupt fit individuals developed by evolution up to that point. This paper presents a solution to prevent the disturbance in fitness that can come with modifying GE's grammar with previously discovered modules. The results show an increase in performance from a previously examined grammar modification approach and also an increase in performance when compared to standard GE.
Clinical Vignette: PTH(1–34) Replacement Therapy in a Child With Hypoparathyroidism Caused by a Sporadic Calcium Receptor Mutation

Autosomal dominant hypocalcemia (ADH) is an inherited form of hypoparathyroidism caused by activating mutations in the calcium‐sensing receptor (CaR). Treatment with PTH(1–34) may be superior to conventional therapy but is contraindicated in children, and long‐term effects on the skeleton are unknown. The patient is a 20‐yr‐old female with ADH treated with PTH continuously since 6 yr and 2 mo of age. A bone biopsy was obtained for histomorphometry and quantitative backscattered electron imaging (qBEI). Her data were compared with one age‐, sex‐, and length of hypoparathyroidism‐matched control not on PTH and two sex‐matched ADH controls before and after 1 yr of PTH. The patient's growth was normal. Hypercalciuria and hypermagnesuria persisted despite normal or subnormal serum calcium and magnesium levels. Nephrocalcinosis, without evidence of impaired renal function, developed by 19 yr of age. Cancellous bone volume was dramatically elevated in the patient and in ADH controls after 1 yr of PTH. BMD distribution (BMDD) by qBEI of the patient and ADH controls was strikingly shifted toward lower mineralization compared with the non‐ADH control. Moreover, the ADH controls exhibited a further reduction in mineralization after 1 yr of PTH. These findings imply a role for CaR in bone matrix mineralization. There were no fractures or osteosarcoma. In conclusion, long‐term PTH replacement in a child with ADH was not unsafe, increased bone mass without negatively impacting mineralization, and improved serum mineral control but did not prevent nephrocalcinosis. Additionally, this may be the first evidence of a role for CaR in human bone.
Acoustic Multitarget Tracking Using Direction-of-Arrival Batches

In this paper, we propose a particle filter acoustic direction-of-arrival (DOA) tracker to track multiple maneuvering targets using a state space approach. The particle filter determines its state vector using a batch of DOA estimates. The filter likelihood treats the observations as an image, using template models derived from the state update equation, and also incorporates the possibility of missing data as well as spurious DOA observations. Multiple targets are handled using a partitioned state-vector approach. The particle filter solution is compared with three other methods: the extended Kalman filter, Laplacian filter, and another particle filter that uses the acoustic microphone outputs directly. In addition, we demonstrate an autonomous system for multiple target DOA tracking with automatic target initialization and deletion. The initialization system uses a track-before-detect approach and employs matching pursuit to initialize multiple targets. Computer simulations are presented to compare the performance of the algorithms
Relation of Odor Identification with Alzheimer's Disease Markers in Cerebrospinal Fluid and Cognition.

BACKGROUND Impaired olfactory function is an early characteristic of Alzheimer's disease (AD), but it remains unclear if odor identification also relates to early markers of AD in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). OBJECTIVE To investigate the association between odor identification and amyloid-β 1-42 (Aβ42) and total tau (t-tau) concentrations in CSF. In addition, to examine the relation between odor identification and cognitive function at baseline and at follow-up, and whether these associations are moderated by CSF Aβ42 and t-tau and apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotype. METHODS We included 160 individuals (40 with normal cognition, 45 with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), 42 with AD-type dementia, and 26 individuals with non-AD dementia) from the EDAR study. Individuals were recruited from six memory clinics across Europe. Odor identification was tested with the brief University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test. CSF Aβ42 and t-tau were assessed with INNO-BIA AlzBio3 Luminex assay. Neuropsychological assessment included tests for verbal memory, verbal fluency, attention, executive function, and visuoconstruction. Follow-up was performed within 3 years after baseline. RESULTS Lower odor identification scores correlated with increased CSF t-tau concentrations and with lower scores on all cognitive measures at baseline independent of diagnostic group. Lower odor identification scores predicted decline on the MMSE in the total group, and decline on wordlist learning and delayed recall in APOE ɛ4 carriers and in individuals with abnormal Aβ42. CONCLUSION Odor identification impairment may be an indicator of neuronal injury rather than amyloid pathology.
Oncogenesis of T-ALL and nonmalignant consequences of overexpressing intracellular NOTCH1

Mutations resulting in overexpression of intracellular Notch1 (ICN1) are frequently observed in human T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL). We have determined the consequences of ICN1 overexpression from retroviral vectors introduced into bone marrow cells. Early consequences are the generation of polyclonal nontumorigenic CD4+8+ T cell receptor (TCR)-αβ+ cells that do not qualify as tumor precursors despite the observation that they overexpress Notch 1 and c-Myc and degrade the tumor suppressor E2A by posttranslational modification. The first tumorigenic cells are detected among more immature CD4−8+TCR-αβ− cells that give rise to monoclonal tumors with a single, unique TCR-β chain and diverse TCR-α chains, pinpointing malignant transformation to a stage after pre-TCR signaling and before completion of TCR-α rearrangement. In T-ALL, E2A deficiency is accompanied by further transcriptional up-regulation of c-Myc and concomitant dysregulation of the c-Myc-p53 axis at the transcriptional level. Even though the tumors consist of phenotypically heterogeneous cells, no evidence for tumor stem cells was found. As judged by array-based comparative genomic hybridization (array CGH) and spectral karyotype (SKY) analysis, none of the tumors arise because of genomic instability.
Tumor uptake of copper-diacetyl-bis(N(4)-methylthiosemicarbazone): effect of changes in tissue oxygenation.

UNLABELLED We showed previously that, in vitro, copper-diacetyl-bis(N(4)-methylthiosemicarbazone) (Cu-ATSM) uptake is dependent on the oxygen concentration (pO2). We also showed that, in vivo, Cu-ATSM uptake is heterogeneous in animal tumors known to contain hypoxic fractions. This study was undertaken to confirm the pO2 dependence of this selective uptake in vivo by correlating Cu-ATSM uptake with measured tumor pO2. METHODS Experiments were performed with the 9L gliosarcoma rat model using a needle oxygen electrode to measure tissue pO2. Using PET and electronic autoradiography, Cu-ATSM uptake was measured in tumor tissue under various pO2 levels. The oxygen concentration within implanted tumors was manipulated by chemical means or by altering the inhaled oxygen content. RESULTS A good correlation between low pO2 and high Cu-ATSM accumulation was observed. Hydralazine administration in animals caused a decrease in the average tumor pO2 from 28.61 +/- 8.74 mm Hg to 20.81 +/- 7.54 mm Hg in untreated control animals breathing atmospheric oxygen. It also caused the tumor uptake of Cu-ATSM to increase by 35%. Conversely, in animals breathing 100% oxygen, the average tumor pO2 increased to 45.88 +/-15.9 mm Hg, and the tumor uptake of Cu-ATSM decreased to 48% of that of the control animals. PET of animals treated in a similar fashion yielded time-activity curves showing significantly higher retention of the tracer in hypoxic tissues than in oxygenated tissues. CONCLUSION These data confirm that Cu-ATSM uptake in tissues in vivo is dependent on the tissue pO2, and that significantly greater uptake and retention occur in hypoxic tumor tissue. Therefore, the possible use of Cu-ATSM PET as a prognostic indicator in the management of cancer is further validated.
Suivi du procédé de la fabrication Liquid Resin Infusion (LRI) sur simulateur industriel par capteurs distribués = Monitoring the Liquid Resin Infusion (LRI) manufacturing process under industrial environment using distributed sensors

Les procedes par infusion de resine LRI (Liquid Resin Infusion) sont des procedes de fabrication particulierement interessants pour les pieces en composites complexes ou de grandes dimensions. Ils sont bases sur l'ecoulement d'une resine liquide, a travers son epaisseur, du a une depression. Pour ameliorer notre comprehension de l'ecoulement de resine dans la preforme, dans ce present papier, une nouvelle approche directe est proposee pour detecter le front de resine lors du procede de LRI sous environnement industriel. Pour detecter l'evolution du front de resine plus precisement et verifier les resultats qui sont deduits de mesure indirecte avec des micro-thermocouples dans l'environnement industriel, la fibre optique telle qu'un capteur de reflexion de Fresnel est utilise. Les resultats obtenus en particulier prouvent que les micro-thermocouples donnent des informations pertinentes sur le front de fluide.