Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Continuous monitoring at 600 °C by CaBi4Ti4O15/Pb(Zr,Ti)O3 Sol-gel composite ultrasonic transducer

Ultrasound non-destructive testing is mainly used because it can detect internal defects, however on-line monitoring for industrial plants is difficult due to high temperatures such as 600 °C. In previous study, CaBi4Ti4O15(CBT)/Pb(Zr,Ti)O3(PZT) sol-gel composites has been developed for NDT at 600 °C and it survived after 36 h at 600 °C, though sensitivity and signal to noise ratio (SNR) was very poor so that improvement of sensitivity and SNR is required. CBT/PZT sol-gel composite film was fabricated on a titanium substrate by spray coating. A platinum top electrode was fabricated on the film, and platinum wires were connected with a top electrode and titanium substrate for high temperature durability test. Every platinum wires were bonded to platinum top electrode and the titanium substrate by high temperature silver paste. Then the CBT/PZT transducer was tested in the furnace from room temperature to 600 °C. The thermal cycle was repeated three times. After that, CBT/PZT transducer was tested in the furnace at 600 °C for 36 h. As a result, the performance of the CBT/PZT sol-gel composite ultrasonic transducer showed superior thermal durability as compared with previous study. Therefore, CBT/PZT could be a good candidate as ultrasonic transducers for continuous monitoring at 600 °C.
TNF receptor type 1 regulates RANK ligand expression by stromal cells and modulates osteoclastogenesis

TNFα is a major osteoclastogenic cytokine and a primary mediator of inflammatory osteoclastogenesis. We have previously shown that this cytokine directly targets osteoclasts and their precursors and that deletion of its type‐1 receptor (TNFr1) lessens osteoclastogenesis and impacts RANK signaling molecules. Osteoclastogenesis is primarily a RANK/RANKL‐dependent event and occurs in an environment governed by both hematopoietic and mesenchymal compartments. Thus, we reasoned that TNF/TNFr1 may regulate RANKL and possibly RANK expression by stromal cells and osteoclast precursors (OCPs), respectively. RT‐PCR experiments reveal that levels of RANKL mRNA in WT stromal cells are increased following treatment with 1,25‐VD3 compared to low levels in TNFr1‐null cells. Expression levels of OPG, the RANKL decoy protein, were largely unchanged, thus supporting a RANKL/OPG positive ratio favoring WT cells. RANK protein expression by OCPs was lower in TNFr1‐null cells despite only subtle differences in mRNA expression in both cell types. Mix and match experiments of different cell populations from the two mice phenotypes show that WT stromal cells significantly, but not entirely, restore osteoclastogenesis by TNFr1‐null OCPs. Similar results were obtained when the latter cells were cultured in the presence of exogenous RANKL. Altogether, these findings indicate that in the absence of TNFr1 both cell compartments are impaired. This was further confirmed by gain of function experiments using TNFr1‐ null cultures of both cell types at which exogenous TNFr1 cDNA was virally expressed. Thus, restoration of TNFr1 expression in OCPs and stromal cells was sufficient to reinstate osteoclastogenesis and provides direct evidence that TNFr1 integrity is required for optimal RANK‐mediated osteoclastogenesis. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Robustness analysis of flexible assembly/disassembly processes with non-ordinary Petri nets

Many manufacturing systems are formed by interconnection of assembly and/or disassembly subprocesses. How to develop effective methodologies to analyze the dynamic behaviours of the overall processes is a challenge due to the complexity. We consider manufacturing processes formed based on flexible interconnection of assembly/disassembly subprocesses. A non-ordinary flexible assembly/disassembly Petri net (NFADPN) model based on non-ordinary Petri nets has been proposed for this class of systems. To quickly respond to resource failures, we concentrate on robustness analysis for NFADPN. Robustness analysis provides an alternative way to analyze a perturbed system without re-analysis. Although we have analyzed the robustness properties of several subclasses of assembly Petri nets, the subclass of NFADPN has not been considered. In this paper, we will extend robustness analysis to NFADPN by exploiting its structure. We identify several patterns of resource failures and characterize the conditions to maintain operation in the presence of resource failures.
Acute effects of walking, cycling, and yoga exercise on cognition in persons with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis without impaired cognitive processing speed

Introduction: Cognitive impairment is a highly prevalent, disabling, and poorly managed consequence of multiple sclerosis (MS). Exercise training represents a promising approach for managing cognitive impairment in this population. However, there is limited evidence supporting an optimal exercise stimulus for improving cognition in MS. The current study compared the acute effects of moderate-intensity treadmill walking, moderate-intensity cycle ergometry, and guided yoga with those of quiet rest on executive control in 24 persons with relapsing-remitting MS without impaired cognitive processing speed using a within-subjects, repeated measures design. Method: Participants completed four experimental conditions that consisted of 20 minutes of moderate-intensity treadmill walking exercise, moderate-intensity cycle ergometer exercise, guided yoga, and quiet rest in a randomized, counterbalanced order. Participants underwent a modified-flanker task as a measure of executive control immediately prior to and following each condition. Results: Repeated measures analyses of variance (ANOVAs) indicated general pre-to-post improvements in reaction time, but not accuracy, on the modified-flanker task for all three exercise modalities compared with quiet rest. However, there were additional, selective pre-to-post reductions in the cost of interfering stimuli on reaction time on the modified-flanker task for treadmill walking, F(1, 23) = 4.67, p = . 04, ηp2 = . 17, but not cycle ergometry, F(1, 23) = 0.12, p = . 73, ηp2 < . 01, or guided yoga, F(1, 23) = 0.73, p = . 40, ηp2 = . 03, compared with quiet rest. Conclusions: The present results support treadmill walking as the modality of exercise that might exert the largest beneficial effects on executive control in persons with relapsing-remitting MS without impaired cognitive processing speed. This represents an exciting starting point for delineating the appropriate exercise stimulus (i.e., modality and intensity) for inclusion in a subsequent longitudinal exercise training intervention for improving cognitive performance in this population.
Influence of the intensity of the conditioning regimen on the characteristics of acute and chronic graft‐versus‐host disease after allogeneic transplantation

The graft‐versus‐host disease (GVHD) characteristics of 150 consecutive patients undergoing reduced intensity conditioning allogeneic (allo‐RIC) transplants and 88 patients undergoing myeloablative conditioning regimen were analysed. All patients received the same GVHD prophylaxis and peripheral blood stem cells from a human leucocyte antigen identical sibling. The cumulative incidence of acute GVHD (aGVHD) was 67% and 44% in the myeloablative and allo‐RIC regimen groups, respectively (P < 0·001), and was 39% vs. 29%, respectively (P = 0·043), for grades 2–4 aGVHD. Only conditioning type (myeloablative versus allo‐RIC) significantly influenced the incidence of aGVHD in multivariate analysis: Hazard ratio (HR) = 2·16 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1·52–3·07], P < 0·0001. The cumulative incidence of chronic GVHD (cGVHD) was 63% and 71% among myeloablative and allo‐RIC patients respectively (P = 0·084). This trend was because of the higher incidence of limited cGVHD, but not extensive cGVHD among allo‐RIC recipients [HR = 3·3 (95% CI: 1·42–8·08), P = 0·0017]. Moreover, among patients who developed cGVHD, the cumulative incidence of limited cGVHD was significantly lower in the myeloablative group than in the allo‐RIC group (7% vs. 25%, P = 0·007). Duration of immunosuppression was shorter among allo‐RIC patients (35·5% vs. 68·8% required systemic immunosuppression 36 months after transplant, P = 0·028). Although prospective controlled trials are required to further evaluate the effect of the conditioning regimen on GVHD, our results suggest that RIC modifies the incidence and characteristics of both acute and cGVHD after allogeneic transplantation, and decreases the immunosuppression requirements in long‐term follow up when compared with myeloablative conditioning.
Bacterial hemagglutination by Neisseria gonorrhoeae

Direct bacterial hemagglutination was investigated with 20 clinical isolates of Neisseria gonorrhoeae. The hemagglutination tests were performed by both a macrotechnique with glass slides and a microtechnique with autotrays. Only organisms from form type 1 or 2 colonies caused hemagglutination. There was no statistical difference at a 10% or higher level in hemagglutination powers of type 1 and type 2 organisms, of male urethral and female cervical isolates, and of the eight major human blood types (ABO-Rh). Of seven erythrocyte species tested, only human cells were agglutinated. D-Mannose did not prevent the agglutination. Rabbit antigonococcal serum and high-titer antigonococcal human sera inhibited the hemagglutination. The results suggest the pili are the mediators of hemagglutination and that their specific agglutination of human erythrocytes may be a correlate of their adherence to human mucosal cells in natural infection. Also, although the procedure is presently insensitive, it is possible to detect human antigonococcal antibody by inhibition of direct bacterial hemagglutination.
Covariation between brain size and immunity in birds: implications for brain size evolution

Parasitism can negatively affect learning and cognition, setting the scene for coevolution between brain and immunity. Greater susceptibility to parasitism by males may impair their cognitive ability, and relatively greater male investment in immunity could compensate for greater susceptibility to parasites, in particular when males have a relatively large brain. We analysed covariation between relative size of immune defence organs and brain in juvenile and adult birds. The relative size of the bursa of Fabricius and the spleen in adults covaried positively with relative brain size across bird species. The relative size of these two immune defence organs covaried with sex differences in relative size of the brain, indicating that the relationship between immune defence and brain size was stronger for males. In contrast, liver and heart size or sexual size dimorphism in size did not covary with immune defence. Thus, species in which males have relatively large brains also have relatively large immune defence organs.
Modern Farming in the Vale of Evesham

HE market-gardening and fruitgrowing district of the Vale of Evesham, occupying the Worcestershire section of the Avon Valley, is unique among agricultural regions of Great Britain. It is a major fruit-growing area of Britain; its orchards at blossom-time draw sightseers from all over the Midlands. It is the leading asparagus growing area in the country, the second sprout-growing area and important producer of crops ranging from radishes to gilliflowers, from leeks to loganberries. In terms of aggregate human and mechanical power applied per unit area it is probably one of the most intensively cultivated spots on the earth's surface. Most important of all it is home of one of the most
Compensation for nonstationary detector response in analytical varying focal-length fan-beam SPECT reconstruction

In this study, a nonstationary filtering technique was developed to compensate for spatially variant detector response in varying focal-length fan-beam (VFF) collimated SPECT. First a collimator coordinate system was introduced in order to derive the geometric transfer function and the frequency-distance relation for the VFF collimator from its parallel-beam and fan-beam counterparts, and then the Fourier transform of the detector response was computed and used to construct a Wiener filter. The filter was applied to the blurred projection data before image reconstruction. Experimental results demonstrated improved resolution in reconstructed images after nonstationary filtering.
Broadband Design of Circularly Polarized Microstrip Patch Antenna Using Artificial Ground Structure With Rectangular Unit Cells

This paper presents a broadband circularly polarized patch antenna using an artificial ground (AG) structure with rectangular unit cells as a reflector. The AG structure changes the reflection phase in accordance with the polarization state of the incident wave. By properly combining the transmitted wave from the antenna and the reflected wave from the AG structure, broadband circular polarization can be obtained. The AG structure and the antenna are simulated using a full-wave solver and the results show a 10 dB return loss bandwidth of 48.6% and a 3 dB axial ratio bandwidth of 20.4%. The measured results are in good agreement with the simulated results. The radiation characteristics of the antenna are almost the same as those for an antenna with a PEC reflector.
Enhanced bioactivity and osseointegration of PEEK with accelerated neutral atom beam technology.

Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) is growing in popularity for orthopedic, spinal, and trauma applications but has potential significant limitations in use. PEEK is biocompatible, similar in elasticity to bone, and radiolucent, but is inert and therefore does not integrate well with bone. Current efforts are focusing on increasing the bioactivity of PEEK with surface modifications to improve the bone-implant interface. We used a novel Accelerated Neutral Atom Beam (ANAB) technology to enhance the bioactivity of PEEK. Human osteoblast-like cells seeded on ANAB-treated PEEK result in significantly enhanced proliferation compared with control PEEK. Cells grown on ANAB-treated PEEK increase osteogenic expression of ALPL (1.98-fold, p < 0.002), RUNX2 (3.20-fold, p < 0.002), COL1A (1.94-fold, p < 0.015), IBSP (2.78-fold, p < 0.003), and BMP2 (1.89-fold, p < 0.004). Cells grown on these treated surfaces also lead to an increased mineralization (6.4-fold at 21 days, p < 0.0005). In an ovine study, ANAB-treated PEEK implants resulted in enhanced bone-in-contact by 3.09-fold (p < 0.014), increased push-out strength (control 1959 ± 1445 kPa; ANAB 4068 ± 1197 kPa, p < 0.05), and evidence of bone ingrowth at both the early (4 weeks) and later (12 weeks) time points. Taken together, these data suggest that ANAB treatment of PEEK has the potential to enhance its bioactivity, leading to bone formation and significantly decreasing osseointegration time of orthopedic and spinal implants. ANAB treatment, therefore, may significantly enhance the performance of PEEK medical implants and lead to improved clinical outcomes. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 105B: 531-543, 2017.
Outcomes After Injury to the Thumb Ulnar Collateral Ligament—A Systematic Review

Objectives:Rupture of the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) is a frequent injury of the hand. When untreated, this injury may lead to decreased pinch strength, pain, instability, and osteoarthritis. There is currently no consensus on treatment of acute or chronic UCL injuries. Our primary purpose was to compare nonoperative treatment with surgical repair and surgical reconstruction of thumb UCL injuries. A secondary purpose was to compare graft choice and surgical technique for reconstruction. Data Sources:A systematic review of multiple medical databases was performed using PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines with specific inclusion and exclusion criteria. Clinical outcome studies after nonoperative or operative treatment of thumb UCL injuries, with a minimum of 2 years mean follow-up, were included. Pain, range of motion, key-pinch strength, and stability testing were used as outcome measures. Main Results:Fourteen articles were included and analyzed (293 thumbs). All but 2 were level IV evidence. Mean Quality Appraisal Tool score was 13.1 (55% overall rating study methodological quality). Thirty-two thumbs were treated nonoperatively and 261 operatively. Mean subject age was 33.9 years. There were 200 acute injuries and 93 chronic injuries. Mean study follow-up was 42.8 months. Nonoperative treatment often failed, necessitating surgery. Acute UCL repair and autograft UCL reconstruction for chronic injury led to excellent clinical outcomes, without a significant difference between the 2 groups. After significant delay to treatment or even failed nonoperative treatment, excellent clinical outcomes can be achieved, without a difference between initially treating the injury surgically. Complications after surgery were rare. Conclusions:This review has demonstrated excellent clinical outcomes after surgical treatment of both acute and chronic UCL injury, without any significant difference between repair and reconstruction for acute and chronic injury, respectively.
Collections Frameworks for Points-To Analysis

Points-to information is the basis for many analyses and transformations, e.g., for program understanding and optimization. Collections frameworks are part of most modern programming languages' infrastructures and used by many applications. The richness of features and the inherent structure of collection classes affect both performance and precision of points-to analysis negatively. In this paper, we discuss how to replace original collections frameworks with versions specialized for points-to analysis. We implement such a replacement for the Java Collections Framework and support its benefits for points-to analysis by applying it to three different points-to analysis implementations. In experiments, context-sensitive points-to analyses require, on average, 16-24% less time while at the same time being more precise. Context-insensitive analysis in conjunction with in lining also benefits in both precision and analysis cost.
Deletion hotspot in the argininosuccinate lyase gene: association with topoisomerase II and DNA polymerase α sites

Molecular analysis of argininosuccinate lyase (ASAL) deficiency has led to the identification of a deletion hotspot in the ASL gene. Six individuals with ASAL deficiency had alleles that led to a complete absence of exon 13 from the ASL mRNA; each had a partial deletion of exon 13 in the genomic DNA. In all six patients, the deletions begin 18 bp upstream of the 3′ end of exon 13. In four cases, the deletions were 13 bp in length, and ended within exon 13, whereas in two other patients the deletions were 25 bp and extended into intron 13. The sequence at which these deletions begin overlaps both a putative topoisomerase II recognition site and a DNA polymerase α mutation/frameshift site. Moreover, the topoisomerase II cut site is situated precisely at the beginning of the deletions, which are flanked by small (2‐ and 3‐bp) direct repeats. We note that a similar concurrence of these two putative enzyme sites can be found in a number of other deletion sites in the human genome, most notably the ΔF508 deletion in the CFTR gene. These findings suggest that the joint presence of these two enzyme sites represents a DNA sequence context that may favor the occurrence of small deletions. Hum Mutat 27(11), 1065–1071, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Assessment of Agricultural Taxes Reform on Sudan’s Economy

This study evaluates the effects of agricultural taxes changes on Sudan economy. It uses the Computable General Equilibrium model as analytical tool; with Sudan Social Accounting Matrix for year 2004 constitutes the core database. The activity and commodity accounts are disaggregated into agriculture (sesame, sorghum, cotton, wheat and other agriculture), industry and service accounts. The model results show that reduction of wheat import tariff increases wheat imports, output and export of cotton, sesame, industrial and services sectors. The overall effect of this policy is improvement of GDP, balance of trade and investment. The results reveal that reduction of production tax or value added tax for each crop would increase its domestic output and exports and reduce those of the other crops, except for sorghum. The overall effect of reducing these taxes improves the GDP and private consumption despite the mixed effect on investment and balance of trade. The study recommends reduction of taxes on agriculture and increasing direct taxes on private companies to compensate government revenue loss.
Resistance genes traveling the microbial internet: down the drain, up the food chain?

Only a fraction of antibiotics are correctly used for treatment of infectious diseases in humans; more are used for treatment of farm and aquaculture infections, and in this case the share of infections preventable by hygienic measures is even larger. If we add up the huge quantities used unnecessarily in community medicine, and the many other uses, from growth promoters to cell culture additives, it is easy to understand why antibiotic resistance in the micro biome of human and animal hosts is on the rise, as might be the case for microbes living in waters and soil. Also, anyone that has unsuccessfully tried to find a nonanti bacterial soap on the grocery shelves is probably well aware that humans are imprudently at war with all microorganisms, not just pathogens, whether or not they are deemed to possess weapons of mass destruction [1].
Non-invasive quantification of liver perfusion with dynamic computed tomography and a dual-input one-compartmental model.

Various liver diseases lead to significant alterations of the hepatic microcirculation. Therefore, quantification of hepatic perfusion has the potential to improve the assessment and management of liver diseases. Most methods used to quantify liver perfusion are invasive or controversial. This paper describes and validates a non-invasive method for the quantification of liver perfusion using computed tomography (CT). Dynamic single-section CT of the liver was performed after intravenous bolus administration of a low-molecular-mass iodinated contrast agent. Hepatic, aortic and portal-venous time-density curves were fitted with a dual-input one-compartmental model to calculate liver perfusion. Validation studies consisted of simultaneous measurements of hepatic perfusion with CT and with radiolabelled microspheres in rabbits at rest and after adenosine infusion. The feasibility and reproducibility of the CT method in humans was assessed by three observers in 10 patients without liver disease. In rabbits, significant correlations were observed between perfusion measurements obtained with CT and with microspheres (r=0.92 for total liver perfusion, r=0.81 for arterial perfusion and r=0.85 for portal perfusion). In patients, total liver plasma perfusion measured with CT was 112+/-28 ml.min(-1). 100 ml(-1), arterial plasma perfusion was 18+/-12 ml.min(-1). 100 ml(-1) and portal plasma perfusion was 93+/-31 ml.min(-1). 100 ml(-1). The measurements obtained by the three observers were not significantly different from each other (P>0.1). Our results indicate that dynamic CT combined with a dual-input one-compartmental model provides a valid and reliable method for the non-invasive quantification of perfusion in the normal liver.