Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The influence of screw configuration and screw speed of co-rotating twin screw extruder on the properties of products obtained by thermomechanical reclaiming of ground tire rubber

The results of our investigations on the process of continuous thermomechanical reclaiming of ground tire rubber (GTR) carried out using a twin screw extruder are presented. We used a co-rotating twin screw extruder with a special configuration of plasticizing unit, enabling generation of considerable shear forces. The influence of screw configuration and screw speed on breaking of chemical crosslink bonds contained in ground tire rubber are characterized by extrusion parameters, the acetone extract content, the content of the soluble fraction, the degree of reclaiming and the crosslink density of the obtained products. The effect of a secondary curing on the mechanical properties (tensile strength, elongation at break, hardness, resilience and abrasion resistance) of the obtained materials was also determined. It has been established that the thermomechanical reclaiming process depends on shear forces acting on the rubber particles, while the degree of reclaiming increase with the increasing screw speed. A change in screw configuration significantly affects the processing of ground tire rubber during reclaiming process. For example, preliminary pulverization of the fine rubber particles in the first zone of barrel facilitates further processing in the twin screw extruder, which is beneficial in order to decrease the screw torque and the energy consumption in the production of reclaimed rubber. Thermogravimetry analysis (TG/DTG) showed that thermal stability of obtained reclaimed GTR depends strongly on the screw configuration.
Revealing Hidden Diversity of the Underestimated Neotropical Ichthyofauna: DNA Barcoding in the Recently Described Genus Megaleporinus (Characiformes: Anostomidae)

Molecular studies have improved our knowledge on the neotropical ichthyofauna. DNA barcoding has successfully been used in fish species identification and in detecting cryptic diversity. Megaleporinus (Anostomidae) is a recently described freshwater fish genus within which taxonomic uncertainties remain. Here we assessed all nominal species of this genus using a DNA barcode approach (Cytochrome Oxidase subunit I) with a broad sampling to generate a reference library, characterize new molecular lineages, and test the hypothesis that some of the nominal species represent species complexes. The analyses identified 16 (ABGD and BIN) to 18 (ABGD, GMYC, and PTP) different molecular operational taxonomic units (MOTUs) within the 10 studied nominal species, indicating cryptic biodiversity and potential candidate species. Only Megaleporinus brinco, Megaleporinus garmani, and Megaleporinus elongatus showed correspondence between nominal species and MOTUs. Within six nominal species, a subdivision in two MOTUs was found, while Megaleporinus obtusidens was divided in three MOTUs, suggesting that DNA barcode is a very useful approach to identify the molecular lineages of Megaleporinus, even in the case of recent divergence (< 0.5 Ma). Our results thus provided molecular findings that can be used along with morphological traits to better define each species, including candidate new species. This is the most complete analysis of DNA barcode in this recently described genus, and considering its economic value, a precise species identification is quite desirable and fundamental for conservation of the whole biodiversity of this fish.
Sum-capacity computation for the Gaussian vector broadcast channel via dual decomposition

A numerical algorithm for the computation of sum capacity for the Gaussian vector broadcast channel is proposed. The sum capacity computation relies on a duality between the Gaussian vector broadcast channel and the sum-power constrained Gaussian multiple-access channel. The numerical algorithm is based on a Lagrangian dual decomposition technique and it uses a modified iterative water-filling approach for the Gaussian multiple-access channel. The algorithm converges to the sum capacity globally and efficiently
Proteinase-3 mRNA expressed by glomerular epithelial cells correlates with crescent formation in Wegener's granulomatosis.

BACKGROUND Wegener's granulomatosis (WG) is characterized by systemic vasculitis with crescentic glomerulonephritis (CGN) and circulating autoantibodies directed against neutrophil cytoplasmic antigens (ANCA). Proteinase 3 (PR-3), a neutral serine proteinase in neutrophils implicated in the growth control of myeloid cells, has been identified as the target antigen for ANCA in WG. Since the kidneys are frequently involved in WG, we studied the in situ expression of PR-3 by renal parenchymal cells. METHODS We assessed the expression of PR-3 in kidney biopsies of 15 patients with WG by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and in situ hybridization (ISH). Normal kidney tissue served as the control. RESULTS We detected PR-3 mRNA and PR-3 protein in distal tubular epithelial cells (TECs) and glomerular epithelial cells (GECs) in normal kidney tissue and in CGN. Furthermore, a strong glomerular PR-3mRNA expression restricted to the site of cellular crescents was detected in patients with WG. The analysis of 144 glomeruli with cellular or sclerotic crescents revealed a positive correlation of glomerular PR-3mRNA expression with the percentage of cellular crescents per glomerulus. The capability of human TECs and GECs to synthesize PR-3 was confirmed by Northern blot and ISH on cultured cells. CONCLUSION These data provide evidence that nonhematopoetic renal parenchymal cells express PR-3 and that glomerular expression of PR-3 is associated with crescent formation in WG. Our findings suggest that renal parenchymal cells may directly be involved in the pathogenesis of CGN in WG.
Communication-based leashing of real flying robots

Aerial robots are often required to remain within the communication range of a base station on the ground to exchange commands, sensor data or as a safety mechanism. For this purpose, we propose a minimal control strategy for steering flying robots using only communication hardware (e.g. WiFi module or radio modem) instead of GPS or cameras. To avoid being dependent on the specifics of the communication hardware or its driver, we propose to measure the number of messages the robot receives from the base as a control input. Leashing is then performed by having the robot react to low message rates by moving towards the base in order to improve the communication. Results show both in theory and reality that this strategy can leash the robot to the base in scenarios with limited wind or base mobility.
Teamwork in Cyberspace: Using TEAMCORE to Make Agents Team-Ready

In complex, dynamic and uncertain environments extending from disaster rescue missions, to future battlefields, to monitoring and surveillance tasks, to virtual training environments, to future robotic space missions, intelligent agents will play a key role in information gathering and filtering, as well as in task planning and execution. Although physically distributed on a variety of platforms, these agents will interact with information sources, network facilities, and other agents via cyberspace, in the form of the Internet, Intranet, the secure defense communication network, or other forms of cyberspace. Indeed, it now appears well accepted that cyberspace will be (if it is not already) populated by a vast number of such distributed, individual agents.
VEGF Promotes Malaria-Associated Acute Lung Injury in Mice

The spectrum of the clinical presentation and severity of malaria infections is broad, ranging from uncomplicated febrile illness to severe forms of disease such as cerebral malaria (CM), acute lung injury (ALI), acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), pregnancy-associated malaria (PAM) or severe anemia (SA). Rodent models that mimic human CM, PAM and SA syndromes have been established. Here, we show that DBA/2 mice infected with P. berghei ANKA constitute a new model for malaria-associated ALI. Up to 60% of the mice showed dyspnea, airway obstruction and hypoxemia and died between days 7 and 12 post-infection. The most common pathological findings were pleural effusion, pulmonary hemorrhage and edema, consistent with increased lung vessel permeability, while the blood-brain barrier was intact. Malaria-associated ALI correlated with high levels of circulating VEGF, produced de novo in the spleen, and its blockage led to protection of mice from this syndrome. In addition, either splenectomization or administration of the anti-inflammatory molecule carbon monoxide led to a significant reduction in the levels of sera VEGF and to protection from ALI. The similarities between the physiopathological lesions described here and the ones occurring in humans, as well as the demonstration that VEGF is a critical host factor in the onset of malaria-associated ALI in mice, not only offers important mechanistic insights into the processes underlying the pathology related with malaria but may also pave the way for interventional studies.
Mechanical identification of layer-specific properties of mouse carotid arteries using 3D-DIC and a hyperelastic anisotropic constitutive model

The role of mechanics is known to be of primary order in many arterial diseases; however, determining mechanical properties of arteries remains a challenge. This paper discusses the identifiability of the passive mechanical properties of a mouse carotid artery, taking into account the orientation of collagen fibres in the medial and adventitial layers. On the basis of 3D digital image correlation measurements of the surface strain during an inflation/extension test, an inverse identification method is set up. It involves a 3D finite element mechanical model of the mechanical test and an optimisation algorithm. A two-layer constitutive model derived from the Holzapfel model is used, with five and then seven parameters. The five-parameter model is successfully identified providing layer-specific fibre angles. The seven-parameter model is over parameterised, yet it is shown that additional data from a simple tension test make the identification of refined layer-specific data reliable.
Induction of Plasmodium falciparum-Specific CD4+ T Cells and Memory B Cells in Gabonese Children Vaccinated with RTS,S/AS01E and RTS,S/AS02D

The recombinant circumsporozoite protein (CS) based vaccine, RTS,S, confers protection against Plasmodium falciparum infection in controlled challenge trials and in field studies. The RTS,S recombinant antigen has been formulated with two adjuvant systems, AS01 and AS02, which have both been shown to induce strong specific antibody responses and CD4 T cell responses in adults. As infants and young children are particularly susceptible to malaria infection and constitute the main target population for a malaria vaccine, we have evaluated the induction of adaptive immune responses in young children living in malaria endemic regions following vaccination with RTS,S/AS01E and RTS,S/AS02D. Our data show that a CS-specific memory B cell response is induced one month after the second and third vaccine dose and that CS-specific antibodies and memory B cells persist up to 12 months after the last vaccine injection. Both formulations also induced low but significant amounts of CS-specific IL-2+ CD4+ T cells one month after the second and third vaccine dose, upon short-term in vitro stimulation of whole blood cells with peptides covering the entire CS derived sequence in RTS,S. These results provide evidence that both RTS,S/AS01E and RTS,S/AS02D induced adaptive immune responses including antibodies, circulating memory B cells and CD4+ T cells directed against P. falciparum CS protein. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00307021
Setting Players' Behaviors in World of Warcraft through Semi-Supervised Learning

Digital games are one of the major and most important fields on the entertainment domain, which also involves cinema and music. Numerous attempts have been done to improve the quality of the games including more realistic artistic production and computer science. Assessing the player's behavior, a task known as player modeling, is currently the need of the hour which leads to possible improvements in terms of: (i) better game interaction experience, (ii) better exploitation of the relationship between players, and (iii) increasing/maintaining the number of players interested in the game. In this paper we model players using the basic four behaviors proposed in \cite{BartleArtigo}, namely: achiever, explorer, socializer and killer. Our analysis is carried out using data obtained from the game "World of Warcraft" over 3 years (2006 $-$ 2009). We employ a semi-supervised learning technique in order to find out characteristics that possibly impact player's behavior.
BareDroid: Large-Scale Analysis of Android Apps on Real Devices

To protect Android users, researchers have been analyzing unknown, potentially-malicious applications by using systems based on emulators, such as the Google's Bouncer and Andrubis. Emulators are the go-to choice because of their convenience: they can scale horizontally over multiple hosts, and can be reverted to a known, clean state in a matter of seconds. Emulators, however, are fundamentally different from real devices, and previous research has shown how it is possible to automatically develop heuristics to identify an emulated environment, ranging from simple flag checks and unrealistic sensor input, to fingerprinting the hypervisor's handling of basic blocks of instructions. Aware of this aspect, malware authors are starting to exploit this fundamental weakness to evade current detection systems. Unfortunately, analyzing apps directly on bare metal at scale has been so far unfeasible, because the time to restore a device to a clean snapshot is prohibitive: with the same budget, one can analyze an order of magnitude less apps on a physical device than on an emulator. In this paper, we propose BareDroid, a system that makes bare-metal analysis of Android apps feasible by quickly restoring real devices to a clean snapshot. We show how BareDroid is not detected as an emulated analysis environment by emulator-aware malware or by heuristics from prior research, allowing BareDroid to observe more potentially malicious activity generated by apps. Moreover, we provide a cost analysis, which shows that replacing emulators with BareDroid requires a financial investment of less than twice the cost of the servers that would be running the emulators. Finally, we release BareDroid as an open source project, in the hope it can be useful to other researchers to strengthen their analysis systems.
Close the Gaps: A Learning-while-Doing Algorithm for a Class of Single-Product Revenue Management Problems

In this work, we consider a retailer selling a single product with limited on-hand inventory over a nite selling season. Customer demand arrives according to a Poisson process, the rate of which is inuenced by a single action taken by the retailer (such as price adjustment, sales commission, advertisement intensity, etc.). The relation between the action and the demand rate is not known in advance. The retailer will learn the optimal action policy \on the y" as she maximizes her total expected revenue based on observed demand reactions. Using the pricing problem as an example, we propose a dynamic \learning-while-doing" algorithm to achieve a near optimal performance. Furthermore, we prove that the convergence rate of our algorithm is almost the fastest among all possible algorithms in terms of asymptotic \regret" (the relative loss comparing to the full information optimal solution). Our result closes the performance gaps between parametric and non-parametric learning and between a postprice mechanism and a customer-bidding mechanism. Important managerial insights from this research are that the value of information on 1) the parametric form of demand function and 2) each customer’s exact reservation price are rather marginal. It also suggests the rms would be better o to perform concurrent dynamic learning and doing, instead of learning-rst and doing-second in practice.
A new approach for the H∞ control of Markov jump linear systems with partial information

This paper features new results on H∞ analysis and control of linear systems with Markov jump disturbances, in a scenario of partial observations of the jump process. We consider the situations in which the jump process can only be measured through a suitable detector. The approach here is general enough to encompass particular scenarios such as that of perfect information and cluster observations of the Markov jump process. The main results, comprising a new Bounded Real Lemma and a condition for state feedback synthesis, are expressed via linear matrix inequality-based optimization problems.
Pathway Analyses Implicate Glial Cells in Schizophrenia

Background The quest to understand the neurobiology of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder is ongoing with multiple lines of evidence indicating abnormalities of glia, mitochondria, and glutamate in both disorders. Despite high heritability estimates of 81% for schizophrenia and 75% for bipolar disorder, compelling links between findings from neurobiological studies, and findings from large-scale genetic analyses, are only beginning to emerge. Method Ten publically available gene sets (pathways) related to glia, mitochondria, and glutamate were tested for association to schizophrenia and bipolar disorder using MAGENTA as the primary analysis method. To determine the robustness of associations, secondary analyses were performed with: ALIGATOR, INRICH, and Set Screen. Data from the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (PGC) were used for all analyses. There were 1,068,286 SNP-level p-values for schizophrenia (9,394 cases/12,462 controls), and 2,088,878 SNP-level p-values for bipolar disorder (7,481 cases/9,250 controls). Results The Glia-Oligodendrocyte pathway was associated with schizophrenia, after correction for multiple tests, according to primary analysis (MAGENTA p = 0.0005, 75% requirement for individual gene significance) and also achieved nominal levels of significance with INRICH (p = 0.0057) and ALIGATOR (p = 0.022). For bipolar disorder, Set Screen yielded nominally and method-wide significant associations to all three glial pathways, with strongest association to the Glia-Astrocyte pathway (p = 0.002). Conclusions Consistent with findings of white matter abnormalities in schizophrenia by other methods of study, the Glia-Oligodendrocyte pathway was associated with schizophrenia in our genomic study. These findings suggest that the abnormalities of myelination observed in schizophrenia are at least in part due to inherited factors, contrasted with the alternative of purely environmental causes (e.g. medication effects or lifestyle). While not the primary purpose of our study, our results also highlight the consequential nature of alternative choices regarding pathway analysis, in that results varied somewhat across methods, despite application to identical datasets and pathways.
Decentralized waypoint-based multi-robot coordination

This paper describes a decentralized approach based on Alternative Waypoint Generating (AWG) for planning separate kinematic paths to multiple robots to alleviate the waiting situation problems. The basic thought of this approach is straight-forward: If a robot request a target waypoint that has already been assigned to another robot, then this robot will consider this waypoint as an obstacle and attempt to get an alternative one around it. The proposed strategy has been implemented and evaluated in simulation. The experimental results demonstrated that the waiting situation problems have been decreased and the overall system performance has been improved.
Normalized emphysema scores on low dose CT: Validation as an imaging biomarker for mortality

The purpose of this study is to develop a computed tomography (CT) biomarker of emphysema that is robust across reconstruction settings, and evaluate its ability to predict mortality in patients at high risk for lung cancer. Data included baseline CT scans acquired between August 2002 and April 2004 from 1737 deceased subjects and 5740 surviving controls taken from the National Lung Screening Trial. Emphysema scores were computed in the original scans (origES) and after applying resampling, normalization and bullae analysis (normES). We compared the prognostic value of normES versus origES for lung cancer and all-cause mortality by computing the area under the receiver operator characteristic curve (AUC) and the net reclassification improvement (NRI) for follow-up times of 1–7 years. normES was a better predictor of mortality than origES. The 95% confidence intervals for the differences in AUC values indicated a significant difference for all-cause mortality for 2 through 6 years of follow-up, and for lung cancer mortality for 1 through 7 years of follow-up. 95% confidence intervals in NRI values showed a statistically significant improvement in classification for all-cause mortality for 2 through 7 years of follow-up, and for lung cancer mortality for 3 through 7 years of follow-up. Contrary to conventional emphysema score, our normalized emphysema score is a good predictor of all-cause and lung cancer mortality in settings where multiple CT scanners and protocols are used.
Fabrication of Millimeter Wave Components Via Ceramic Stereo- and Microstereolithography Processes

Complex ceramic parts, designed by 3D electromagnetic simulations for microwave devices of high performances, are difficult, even impossible, to elaborate by classical ceramic processing routes. This paper demonstrates the direct fabrication of useful complex microwave devices in millimeter and submillimeter wavelength domains, with a high dimensional resolution, by the numerical techniques of stereolithography and microstereolithography. Alumina and zirconia formulations have been developed with a powder loading 450 vol%, a suitable rheology to spread thin (25-50 lm) and homogeneous layers, and with a sufficient reactivity to UV for polymerization. Devices built with a satisfying manufacturing accuracy have presented excellent experimental electrical behaviors in good agreement with the theoretical ones.
Analysis of 16S rRNA Genes Revealed by Pyrosequencing-Based as Composition of German Grassland Soils, Horizon-Specific Bacterial Community

Published Ahead of Print 20 August 2010. 10.1128/AEM.01063-10. 2010, 76(20):6751. DOI: Appl. Environ. Microbiol. Gutknecht, Tesfaye Wubet, François Buscot and Rolf Daniel Nacke, Nadine Herold, Marion Schrumpf, Jessica Christiane Will, Andrea Thürmer, Antje Wollherr, Heiko Analysis of 16S rRNA Genes Revealed by Pyrosequencing-Based as Composition of German Grassland Soils, Horizon-Specific Bacterial Community
An nD-systems approach to global polynomial optimization with an application to H2model order reduction

The problem of finding the global minimum of a multivariate polynomial can be approached by the matrix method of Stetter-Möller, which reformulates it as a large eigenvalue problem. The linear operators involved in this approach are studied using the theory of nD-systems. This supports the efficient application of iterative methods for solving eigenvalue problems such as Arnoldi methods and Jacobi-Davidson methods. This approach is demonstrated by an example which addresses optimal H2-model reduction of a linear dynamical model of order 10 to order 9.