Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Determination of the Effects of Bagasse Ash on the Properties of Portland Cement

During processing of sugar cane factories in Sudan, the waste of bagasse ash which is normally disposed in landfills is increasing. These wastes in landfills have an adverse effect on the environment, creating air pollution due to smell and dust. Using bagasse ash as a pozzolanic material to replace clinker can reduce the consumption of cement and reduce landfill area requirements and CO2 emissions. It is well known that CO2 is a major contributor to the greenhouse effect and the global warming of the earth. This study tests the use of bagasse ash (BA) as a pozzolanic material for producing high-strength mortar according to the requirements of BS EN 196-1: 2005. The study investigated the physical properties and chemical composition of BA as well as compressive strength properties of the mortar produced by percentage (5, 10, 15, 20 and 30)% by weight of replacement Portland clinker with bagasse ash. The mortar cubes were tested at the ages of 2, 7 and 28 days. The results showed that BA is a good pozzolana with combined SiO2, Al2O3 and Fe2O3 of 78.12%. The compressive strength increased with decreasing Portland clinker replacing 5% and 10%. An optimum value of 45.5N/mm2 at 28days was obtained for mortar with 10% BA replacement. It was concluded that 10% BA substitution is adequate to enjoy maximum benefit of strength observed.
MonoTouch: Single Capacitive Touch Sensor that Differentiates Touch Gestures

We show a capacitive touch sensor called MonoTouch, which differentiates taps, swipe gestures, and swipe directions. MonoTouch consists of only an electrode and a circuit. To differentiate touch gestures with a single electrode, we designed the electrode's layout to satisfy the following two requirements: (1) The number of responses is different between the gestures; (2) The response time is different between swipe directions. We then developed an electrode that differentiates taps and four directional swipe gestures. When our MonoTouch electrode is downsized, gesture differentiation accuracy decreases because a finger might cross two or more conductive parts. To solve this "Multiple Crossing Problem", we added embossments on the electrode surface. Our evaluation of the MonoTouch sensor indicates that using the embossments solved the "Multiple Crossing Problem".
Running title page Running title : Functional stability of CYP P 450 enzymes in HepaRG cells

INSERM U620, Rennes, France (SA, AG), Université de Rennes 1, Faculté des Sciences Pharmaceutiques et Biologiques, Rennes, France (SA, AG, CG-G) ; Biopredic International, Rennes, France (CC, RL, SC) ; Unidad Mixta Fundación Hospital La Fe-Advancell, Valencia, Spain (AL, LP) ; Novamass Ltd., Oulu, Finland (AT, JU) ; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland (MT) ; INSERM U522, Hôpital Pontchaillou, Rennes, France (CG-G). DMD Fast Forward. Published on December 17, 2009 as doi:10.1124/dmd.109. 030197
Thermal optimization using adaptive approximate computing for video coding

This paper presents a thermal optimization technique that adaptively employs varying degree of approximations at both algorithm and data levels in order to reduce the temperature associated with the high efficiency video coding process while maintaining good quality results. The technique evaluates, at run-time, the regions of a video sequence, frame-by-frame, in terms of tolerance to imprecise computations. It adapts the amount of approximation errors based on the video sequence properties and application-specific knowledge. The proposed technique adaptively controls the strength of approximations (at both algorithm and data levels) depending upon the varying resilience properties of coding different regions with different texture/motion properties. Our content-driven approximate computing technique demonstrates the potential to improve the thermal profile of a chip. Experimental results show that our technique improves temperature profiles by reducing the on-chip temperature by about 10° C on average, while maintaining good quality results.
Instantaneous channel fluctuation based scheduling for bursty traffic in OFDMA system

Future wireless communication system will provide a wide range of multimedia service while guaranteeing the required QoS of mobile users. Scheduling is one of key techniques and plays an important role in QoS provision. In OFDMA system, conventional subcarrier allocation method does not consider the impact of scheduling results on the following subcarriers, while the performance will be influenced by the order of subcarrier allocation, especially for bursty traffic. In this paper, an instantanous channel fluctuation based scheduling scheme is proposed, which exploits resource plane and user plane instantaneous channel fluctuation for bursty traffic in OFDMA system. These two schemes can be jointly used simultaneously to further enhanced both cell average and cell edge user throughput. Simulation results demonstrate that a large potential gain can be exploited for bursty traffic with our proposed scheduling scheme.
Role of stress fiber-like structures in assembling nascent myofibrils in myosheets recovering from exposure to ethyl methanesulfonate

When day 1 cultures of chick myogenic cells were exposed to the mutagenic alkylating agent ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS) for 3 d, 80% of the replicating cells were killed, but postmitotic myoblasts survived. The myoblasts fused to form unusual multinucleated "myosheets": extraordinarily wide, flattened structures that were devoid of myofibrils but displayed extensive, submembranous stress fiber-like structures (SFLS). Immunoblots of the myosheets indicated that the carcinogen blocked the synthesis and accumulation of the myofibrillar myosin isoforms but not that of the cytoplasmic myosin isoform. When removed from EMS, widely spaced nascent myofibrils gradually emerged in the myosheets after 3 d. Striking co-localization of fluorescent reagents that stained SFLS and those that specifically stained myofibrils was observed for the next 2 d. By both immunofluorescence and electron microscopy, individual nascent myofibrils appeared to be part of, or juxtaposed to, preexisting individual SFLS. By day 6, all SFLS had disappeared, and the definitive myofibrils were displaced from their submembranous site into the interior of the myosheet. Immunoblots from recovering myosheets demonstrated a temporal correlation between the appearance of the myofibrillar myosin isoforms and the assembly of thick filaments. The assembly of definitive myofibrils did not appear to involve desmin intermediate filaments, but a striking aggregation of sarcoplasmic reticulum elements was seen at the level of each I-Z-band. Our findings suggest that SFLS in the EMS myosheets function as early, transitory assembly sites for nascent myofibrils.
Peeling back the mystery of DNA overstretching

When a single DNA molecule is stretched beyond its normal B-form contour length, it will undergo one of two types of conformational transitions at high or low force, depending on its attachment and ability to rotate. The structure of the DNA during these transitions is difficult to measure with traditional structural methods because it only occurs on a single molecule. More than a decade after its discovery, van Mameren et al. (1) have, in this issue of PNAS, directly visualized the mechanics of DNA overstretching for the first time by combining single-molecule force spectroscopy and fluorescence imaging. They show that, regardless of whether or not the molecule can freely rotate, when DNA is stretched to high force it will melt, as the work done by the force to increase the length of the DNA converts double-stranded duplex DNA into ssDNA.
FlashCache: a NAND flash memory file cache for low power web servers

We propose an architecture that uses NAND flash memory to reduce main memory power in web server platforms. Our architecture uses a two level file buffer cache composed of a relatively small DRAM, which includes a primary file buffer cache, and a flash memory secondary file buffer cache. Compared to a conventional DRAM-only architecture, our architecture consumes orders of magnitude less idle power while remaining cost effective. This is a result of using flash memory, which consumes orders of magnitude less idle power than DRAM and is twice as dense. The client request behavior in web servers, allows us to show that the primary drawbacks of flash memory? endurance and long write latencies? can easily be overcome. In fact the wear-level aware management techniques that we propose are not heavily used.
Robot-aided assessment of walking function based on an adaptive algorithm

Valid, sensitive and reliable assessments of walking recovery are needed to monitor the progresses of the patients throughout the whole rehabilitation course. Although instrumented assessment methods of walking and walking-related functions exist, they are seldom used in the clinical practice due to the long time required to administer them. The long-term goal of this project is to develop real-time assessment algorithm of walking ability that can be integrated in therapy with a robotic gait trainer. The assessment method is based on an adaptive controller that modifies the level of support as provided by i) the mechanical impedance of the robot's hip and knee joints and ii) the body weight support provided by the device. The level of support is adapted according to the subjects' ability to maintain a physiological walking pattern. We hypothesize that the required level of support is proportional to the walking impairment of the patient. A measure of the robotic assistance necessary for walking in a robotic gait trainer can be used as an assessment of the residual capacity of the subject. We present a first experimental evaluation of the assessment algorithm in 8 healthy subjects using the Lokomat (Hocoma AG, Switzerland), a commercially-available robotic gait trainer. Our results suggest that this method can be a promising tool to objectively assess walking function during training in the clinical practice.
Training multi-loop networks

In this paper we investigate the training of time-lagged recurrent networks having multiple feedback paths and tapped-delay inputs. Network structures of this type are useful in approximating nonlinear dynamical systems. The introduction of additional feedback loops into a network structure may improve the modeling capability of the network, but a significant price can be paid in complexity and computational burden when calculating the dynamic derivatives needed for training. The focus of this paper is on the calculation of the dynamic derivatives which must be determined or approximated in order to use any of the popular methods employed in training neural networks. In this paper we illustrate the effect of multiple feedback loops on the formulation of the equations needed for calculating the dynamic derivatives. We also investigate the effect on network performance and computational complexity when various dynamic derivative approximations are used in training multiple feedback loop networks.
A Randomized Controlled Trial of an Educational Intervention for Managing Fatigue in Women Receiving Adjuvant Chemotherapy for Early Stage Breast Cancer

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of a psychoeducational intervention in improving cancer-related fatigue. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A randomized controlled trial involving 109 women commencing adjuvant chemotherapy for stage 1 or 2 breast cancer in five day-chemotherapy treatment centers. Intervention group patients received an individualized fatigue education and support program delivered in the clinic and by phone over three 10-20 minute sessions one week apart. Instruments included: a numeric rating scale assessing confidence with managing fatigue; 11-point numeric rating scales measuring fatigue at worst, average, and best; FACT-F and Piper Fatigue Scales; Cancer Self-efficacy Scale; EORTC QLQ-C30; and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. For each outcome, separate analyses of covariance of change scores between baseline (T1) and the three follow-up time points (T2,T3,T4) were conducted, controlling for the variable’s corresponding baseline value. RESULTS: Compared to the intervention group, mean difference scores between baseline (T1) and immediate post-test (T2) assessments increased significantly more for the control group for worst and average fatigue, FACT-F and Piper fatigue severity and interference measures. These differences were not observed between baseline and T3 and T4 assessments. No significant differences were identified for any pre-post test change scores for confidence with managing fatigue, cancer self-efficacy, anxiety, depression, or quality of life. CONCLUSION: Preparatory education and support has the potential to assist women to cope with cancer-related fatigue in the short term. However, further research is needed to identify ways to improve the potency and sustainability of psychoeducational interventions for managing cancer-related fatigue.
Slug is a direct Notch target required for initiation of cardiac cushion cellularization

Snail family proteins are key regulators of epithelial-mesenchymal transition, but their role in endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is less well studied. We show that Slug, a Snail family member, is expressed by a subset of endothelial cells as well as mesenchymal cells of the atrioventricular canal and outflow tract during cardiac cushion morphogenesis. Slug deficiency results in impaired cellularization of the cardiac cushion at embryonic day (E)–9.5 but is compensated by increased Snail expression at E10.5, which restores cardiac cushion EMT. We further demonstrate that Slug, but not Snail, is directly up-regulated by Notch in endothelial cells and that Slug expression is required for Notch-mediated repression of the vascular endothelial cadherin promoter and for promoting migration of transformed endothelial cells. In contrast, transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) induces Snail but not Slug. Interestingly, activation of Notch in the context of TGF-β stimulation results in synergistic up-regulation of Snail in endothelial cells. Collectively, our data suggest that combined expression of Slug and Snail is required for EMT in cardiac cushion morphogenesis.
Policies to Enhance Computer and Network Forensics

– The Internet is growing explosively, as is the number of crimes committed against or using computers. As a response to the growth of computer crime, the field of Computer and Network Forensics emerged. Computer forensics is the art of discovering and retrieving information about a crime in such a way to make it admissible in court. It is after-the-fact in that the only preventative capability of computer forensics is as a crime deterrent. In this paper, we propose enterprise network and computer related policies that will deter computer crime and enhance recovery from attacks by facilitating computer and network forensics.
Consideration of User Preference on Internet-based Overlay Network

As the number of Internet users increases, they exchange and share information more and more frequently. In such an environment, reliable transactions are an important consideration. However, if individual users do not reflect their preferences, transactions cannot occur despite the users' trustworthiness. Considering this, most conventional research focuses on which providers are trustworthy. Users are then classified, and providers offer this information to requesters and consumers who require such information. As time goes by, computing environments have become advanced to the state of personalization. Therefore, we consider user preferences in internet-based overlay networks to identify reliable and preferable providers. In this paper, we propose a newly-considered overlay network and explore how it works.
Expression and Characterization of a 70-kDa Fragment of the Insulin Receptor That Binds Insulin

In order to characterize regions of the insulin receptor that are essential for ligand binding and possibly identify a smaller insulin-binding fragment of the receptor, we have used site-directed mutagenesis to construct a series of insulin receptor deletion mutants. From 112 to 246 amino acids were deleted from the α-subunit region comprising amino acids 469–729. The receptor constructs were expressed as soluble insulin receptor IgG fusion proteins in baby hamster kidney cells and were characterized in binding assays by immunoblotting and chemical cross-linking with radiolabeled insulin. The shortest receptor fragment identified was a free monomeric α-subunit deleted of amino acids 469–703 and 718–729 (exon 11); the mass of this receptor fragment was found by mass spectrometry to be 70 kDa. This small insulin receptor fragment bound insulin with an affinity (K d ) of 4.4 nm, which is similar to what was found for the full-length ectodomain of the insulin receptor (5.0 nm). Cross-linking experiments confirmed that the 70-kDa receptor fragment specifically bound insulin. In summary we have minimized the insulin binding domain of the insulin receptor by identifying a 70-kDa fragment of the ectodomain that retains insulin binding affinity making this an interesting candidate for detailed structural analysis.
RuCl(3)x H(2)O-catalyzed direct arylation of arenes with aryl chlorides in the presence of triphenylphosphine.

Development of a catalytic system utilizing inexpensive and readily available catalysts and reagents has been a challenge in organic synthesis. Direct arylation of arenes with organic coupling reagents through C H bond activation has recently emerged as a promising alternative to traditional cross-coupling reactions using organometallic reagents and coupling partners such as aryl iodides, bromides, triflates, and other electrophiles due to generation of less toxic wastes. Aryl chlorides are considered as the ideal coupling partners for an economically attractive cross-coupling process because they are usually cheap and readily available. However, given that they are much less reactive than other coupling reagents, their utilization requires the implementation of specific experimental conditions. To date, ruthenium still shows the greatest potential for the direct regioselective functionalization of arenes under C H activation, even though palladium and rhodium have been also applied for the same purpose. [{RuCl2ACHTUNGTRENNUNG(p-cymene)}2] and Ru complexes were reported to catalyze arylation of arenes with aryl chlorides in the presence of K2CO3 [6–8] or KOAc. RuCl3 is known to mediate the oxidative arylation of arenes with aryl iodides. RuCl3·xH2O was documented to promote arylation of arenes with aryl bromides, but it is inefficient for the same goal with aryl chlorides, although it can effect alkylation of activated C ACHTUNGTRENNUNG(sp3) H bonds with alcohols. Herein, we report an economically attractive catalytic system RuCl3·xH2O/PPh3/Na2CO3/N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone for direct arylation of arenes with aryl chlorides. In our initial studies, the phenylation of benzo[h]quinoline (1) with chlorobenzene (2a) was investigated (Scheme 1).
SLAVE: a genetic learning system based on an iterative approach

SLAVE is an inductive learning algorithm that uses concepts based on fuzzy logic theory. This theory has been shown to be a useful representational tool for improving the understanding of the knowledge obtained from a human point of view. Furthermore, SLAVE uses an iterative approach for learning based on the use of a genetic algorithm (GA) as a search algorithm. We propose a modification of the initial iterative approach used in SLAVE. The main idea is to include more information in the process of learning one individual rule. This information is included in the iterative approach through a different proposal of calculus of the positive and negative example to a rule. Furthermore, we propose the use of a new fitness function and additional genetic operators that reduce the time needed for learning and improve the understanding of the rules obtained.
Systems biology—opportunities and challenges: the application of proteomics to study the cardiovascular extracellular matrix

Systems biology approaches including proteomics are becoming more widely used in cardiovascular research. In this review article, we focus on the application of proteomics to the cardiac extracellular matrix (ECM). ECM remodelling is a hallmark of many cardiovascular diseases. Proteomic techniques using mass spectrometry (MS) provide a platform for the comprehensive analysis of ECM proteins without a priori assumptions. Proteomics overcomes various constraints inherent to conventional antibody detection. On the other hand, studies that use whole tissue lysates for proteomic analysis mask the identification of the less abundant ECM constituents. In this review, we first discuss decellularization-based methods that enrich for ECM proteins in cardiac tissue, and how targeted MS allows for accurate protein quantification. The second part of the review will focus on post-translational modifications including hydroxylation and glycosylation and on the release of matrix fragments with biological activity (matrikines), all of which can be interrogated by proteomic techniques.
Liver Hypertrophy

Preclinical toxicity studies have demonstrated that exposure of laboratory animals to liver enzyme inducers during preclinical safety assessment results in a signature of toxicological changes characterized by an increase in liver weight, hepatocellular hypertrophy, cell proliferation, and, frequently in long-term (life-time) studies, hepatocarcinogenesis. Recent advances over the last decade have revealed that for many xenobiotics, these changes may be induced through a common mechanism of action involving activation of the nuclear hormone receptors CAR, PXR, or PPARα. The generation of genetically engineered mice that express altered versions of these nuclear hormone receptors, together with other avenues of investigation, have now demonstrated that sensitivity to many of these effects is rodent-specific. These data are consistent with the available epidemiological and empirical human evidence and lend support to the scientific opinion that these changes have little relevance to man. The ESTP therefore convened an international panel of experts to debate the evidence in order to more clearly define for toxicologic pathologists what is considered adverse in the context of hepatocellular hypertrophy. The results of this workshop concluded that hepatomegaly as a consequence of hepatocellular hypertrophy without histologic or clinical pathology alterations indicative of liver toxicity was considered an adaptive and a non-adverse reaction. This conclusion should normally be reached by an integrative weight of evidence approach.
A unified codebook for fast beam searching in millimeter-wave communications

With the feature of multi-Gbps data rate, 60GHz communication has drawn a great interest both in academic and industrial area. To remedy pass loss and reduce co-channel interference, a fast beam searching algorithm is proposed to accelerate the beam training stage. Unfortunately, the fast beam searching algorithm requires the control of each antenna elements, which will increase the realization complexity. To avoid controlling each antenna elements, this article proposes a beam codebook design scheme, which could design codebooks that satisfy the fast beam searching algorithm's demand. Simulation result validates that the codebook based fast beam searching algorithm not only has no loss in performance, but also can significantly reduce the realization complexity.