Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Numerical investigation of smart auxetic three-dimensional meta-structures based on shape memory polymers via topology optimization

Today, the human being endeavors to manufacture devices and materials capable of doing something in an intelligent way. Shape memory polymers are a series of smart materials, capable of retrieving their original shape from a temporary form by applying external stimuli, for example, heat, electricity, magnetism, light, pH, and humidity. In this research, the behavior of temperature-sensitive shape memory polymer–based structures with positive and negative Poisson’s ratio has been analyzed. The purpose is the material design of smart structures with tunable Poisson’s ratio using topology optimization. In this study, a meta-structure is designed, which is made by a smart material. Not only does this structure have shape memory effects, but also it has negative Poisson’s ratio, which can be used in new sensors, actuators, and biomedical applications. After creation of the unit cell and the representative volume element and formation of final three-dimensional structure, finite element modeling is conducted based on a thermo-visco-hyperelastic constitutive model at large deformations. Examining the behavior of structures in tensile pre-strains of 20%, 10%, and 5%, it is observed that pre-strain has no considerable effect on Poisson’s ratio, but under compressive strain of 20%, it is concluded that the type of loading is effective on Poisson’s ratio and the results are different in tension and compression modes. Finally, the influence of temperature rate on the behavior of structures is inspected, and it is concluded that the more slowly the temperature changes, the more strain or shape recovery is accomplished at a specific temperature.
Demonstrating and Mitigating the Risk of an FEC-Based Hardware Trojan in Wireless Networks

We discuss the threat that malicious circuitry (a.k.a. hardware Trojan) poses in wireless communications and propose a remedy for mitigating the risk. First, we present and theoretically analyze a stealthy hardware Trojan embedded in the forward error correction (FEC) block of an 802.11a/g transceiver. FEC seeks to shield the transmitted signal against noise and other imperfections. This capability, however, may be exploited by a hardware Trojan to establish a covert communication channel with a knowledgeable rogue receiver. At the same time, the unsuspecting legitimate receiver continues to correctly recover the original message, despite experiencing a slight reduction in signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and, therefore, remains oblivious to the attack. Next, we implement this hardware Trojan on an experimental setup based on the Wireless Open Access Research Platform (WARP) and we demonstrate (i) attack robustness, i.e., the ability of the rogue receiver to correctly receive the leaked information and (ii) attack inconspicuousness, i.e., imperceptible impact on the legitimate transmission. Lastly, we theoretically analyze and experimentally evaluate a Trojan-agnostic detection mechanism, namely, channel noise profiling, which monitors the noise distribution to identify inconsistencies caused by hardware Trojans, regardless of their implementation details. The effectiveness of channel noise profiling is experimentally assessed using the proposed hardware Trojan under various channel conditions and a different covert Wi-Fi attack previously proposed in the literature.
Proportional Representation, Gini Coefficients, and the Principle of Transfers

While various authors have appealed to Dalton's Principle of Transfers, the Lorenz curve, and the Gini Coefficient to assess disproportionality in proportional representation systems, some additional clarifications are warranted with regard to these concepts and their proper application to the disproportionality issue. This article shows that the three concepts keep their full power and internal consistency if one considers the proportional representation problem as one of maximizing equality of seat/vote ratios among individual voters. Inconsistencies arise if parties are taken as the relevant unit of account. If one insists on comparing parties, then the appropriate concern is rather with their `deviation from proportionality'. To assess that concept, measures of seat mobility are better suited than genuine inequality measures.
How to use mixed precision in Ocean Models

Abstract. Mixed-precision approaches can provide substantial speed-ups for both computing- and memory-bound codes requiring little effort. Most scientific codes have overengineered the numerical precision leading to a situation where models are using more resources than required without having a clue about where these resources are unnecessary and where are really needed. Consequently, there is the possibility to obtain performance benefits from using a more appropriate choice of precision and the only thing that is needed is a method to determine which real variables can be represented with fewer bits without affecting the accuracy of the results. This paper presents a novel method to enable modern and legacy codes to benefit from a reduction of precision without sacrificing accuracy. It consists in a simple idea: if we can measure how reducing the precision of a group of variables affects the outputs, we can evaluate the level of precision this group of variables need. Modifying and recompiling the code for each case that has to be evaluated would require an amount of effort that makes this task prohibitive. Instead, the method presented in this paper relies on the use of a tool called Reduced Precision Emulator (RPE) that can significantly streamline the process . Using the RPE and a list of parameters containing the precisions that will be used for each real variable in the code, it is possible within a single binary to emulate the effect on the outputs of a specific choice of precision. Once we have the potential of emulating the effects of reduced precision, we can proceed with the design of the tests required to obtain knowledge about all the variables in the model. The number of possible combinations is prohibitively large and impossible to explore. The alternative of performing a screening of the variables individually can give certain insight about the precision needed by the variables, but on the other hand some more complex interactions that involve several variables may remain hidden. Instead, we use a divide-and-conquer algorithm that identifies the parts that cannot handle reduced precision and builds a set of variables that can. The method has been put to proof using two state-of-the-art ocean models, NEMO and ROMS, with very promising results. Obtaining this information is crucial to build afterwards an actual mixed precision version of the code that will bring the promised performance benefits.
Influence of salt concentration on membrane lipids of halophilic bacteria

A review of salt-dependent changes in membrane lipid composition of halotolerant, moderately halophilic, and extremely halophilic bacteria is presented. The biosynthetic and regulatory mechanisms underlying the observed changes are discussed. Possible implications for the evolution of extreme halophiles and other Archaebacteria are also discussed.
Compartmental Architecture and Dynamics of

Background. Blood cell formation is maintained by the replication of hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) that continuously feed downstream ‘‘compartments’’ where amplification and differentiation of cells occurs, giving rise to all blood lineages. Whereas HSC replicate slowly, committed cells replicate faster as they become more differentiated. Methodology/Significant Finding. We propose a multi-compartment model of hematopoiesis, designed on the principle of cell flow conservation under stationary conditions. Cells lost from one compartment due to differentiation are replaced by cells from the upstream compartment. We assume that there is a constant relationship between cell input and output in each compartment and fix the single parameter of the model using data available for granulocyte maturation. We predict that ,31 mitotic events separate the HSC from the mature cells observed in the circulation. Besides estimating the number of compartments, our model allows us to estimate the size of each compartment, the rate of cell replication within each compartment, the mean time a given cell type contributes to hematopoiesis, the amplification rate in each compartment, as well as the mean time separating stem-cell replication and mature blood-cell formation. Conclusions. Despite its simplicity, the model agrees with the limited in vivo data available and can make testable predictions. In particular, our prediction of the average lifetime of a PIG-A mutated clone agrees closely with the experimental results available for the PIG-A gene mutation in healthy adults. The present elucidation of the compartment structure and dynamics of hematopoiesis may prove insightful in further understanding a variety of hematopoietic disorders.
Physical activity measurements in adolescents: accelerometry vs PAI

Background: Practicing physical activity (PA) has shown to present health benefits at all ages, namely in paediatrics. There are several methods to evaluate PA, however the most frequently used are the self-report questionnaires and accelerometry. The latter is an objective measuring tool, however it requires the use of relatively expensive devices. Questionnaires are easy and quick to apply, and therefore a useful tool to evaluate PA. Despite the existence of some questionnaires to evaluate PA in adolescents, there is still none validated against accelerometry for the Portuguese population. This validation is important, since questionnaires present an error associated to inaccuracies in recall activity. Aims: To validate the Physical Activity Index (PAI), by comparing it with accelerometry in adolescents according to gender and to explore if adolescents follow the physical activity recommendations established for their age. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, adolescents were recruited from 3 basketball teams, 2 classrooms from a school in Aveiro, and an orchestra band classroom. Socio-demographic, anthropometric data and spirometry were collected from the adolescents who participated in this study. Physical Activity (PA) was assessed with accelerometers (Actigraph model -GT3XPlus, Actigraph MTI, Manufacturing Technology Inc., Pensacola, FL, USA) worn during 7 days and the PAI. Pearson correlation coefficients (rs) were calculated to explore the correlations of moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) (min.day -1 ) and steps per day vs. the PAI. To analyse participants’ ability to follow the recommendations of PA levels, 60 minutes of MVPA and 10,000 to 11,700 steps per day were considered. Chi-square (χ 2 ) tests were used to explore differences between male and female’s ability to reach international recommendations of physical activity levels. Results: Forty nine adolescents (57.14% female; mean age 14.43 ±0.96 years old) participated in this study. Female and male presented similar PA levels measured with a subjective or an objective measure. Correlations between objective and subjective measures were significant and positive only for male (MVPA: r=. 514, p=. 017;
Exoproteomic profiling uncovers critical determinants for virulence of livestock-associated and human-originated Staphylococcus aureus ST398 strains

ABSTRACT Staphylococcus aureus: with the sequence type (ST) 398 was previously associated with livestock carriage. However, in recent years livestock-independent S. aureus ST398 has emerged, representing a potential health risk for humans especially in nosocomial settings. Judged by whole-genome sequencing analyses, the livestock- and human originated strains belong to two different S. aureus ST398 clades but, to date, it was not known to what extent these clades differ in terms of actual virulence. Therefore, the objective of this study was to profile the exoproteomes of 30 representative S. aureus ST398 strains by mass spectrometry, to assess clade-specific differences in virulence factor secretion, and to correlate the identified proteins and their relative abundance to the strains’ actual virulence. Although the human-originated strains are more heterogeneous at the genome level, our observations show that they are more homogeneous in terms of virulence factor production than the livestock-associated strains. To assess differences in virulence, infection models based on larvae of the wax moth Galleria mellonella and the human HeLa cell line were applied. Correlation of the exoproteome data to larval killing and toxicity toward HeLa cells uncovered critical roles of the staphylococcal Sbi, SpA, SCIN and CHIPS proteins in virulence. These findings were validated by showing that sbi or spa mutant bacteria are attenuated in G. mellonella and that the purified SCIN and CHIPS proteins are toxic for HeLa cells. Altogether, we show that exoproteome profiling allows the identification of critical determinants for virulence of livestock-associated and human-originated S. aureus ST398 strains.
Origins and escalation of herbivory in fishes: a functional perspective

Abstract One of the central goals in paleoecology is to understand the nature and consequences of biotic interactions. In marine systems, it has been argued that one of the major steps in the escalation of biotic interactions was marked by the origins of grazing fishes in the Cenozoic. Here I investigate the origins of herbivory and grazing in marine fishes using analyses of functional morphospace. Closing and opening lever ratios and relative length of the lower jaw are used to construct a plot of functional morphospace, a quantitative description of the potential feeding modes of fishes. Four fish faunas were examined, spanning the Mesozoic and Cenozoic (Triassic, Jurassic, Eocene and Recent). All three fossil faunas are from conservation Lagerstätten in the central Tethys, in the vicinity of coral reefs or coral-bearing hardgrounds. Changes in functional morphospace occupation reveal a marked shift in the Cenozoic, with the appearance of fishes with relatively small forceful jaws. In Recent faunas, this functional morphospace is occupied almost exclusively by grazing herbivores. This taxon-independent morphological signal of herbivory was lacking in the Mesozoic faunas, was first recorded in the Eocene, and persisted throughout the Cenozoic. This suggests that the Cenozoic did indeed witness the appearance and proliferation of herbivory and grazing by marine fishes. The arrival of these piscine herbivores had the potential to fundamentally alter the dynamics of benthic marine communities.
Disentangling the process of epistemic change: The role of epistemic volition.

BACKGROUND Many interventions on epistemic beliefs (i.e., individual beliefs about knowledge and knowing) are based on Bendixen and Rule's Integrative Model for Personal Epistemology Development. Empirically, however, the model is still insufficiently validated. This is especially true for its epistemic volition component - a will or desire to actively change one's beliefs. AIMS To experimentally scrutinize the role of epistemic volition, we investigated (incremental) effects on epistemic change of an epistemic volition intervention. SAMPLE 412 psychology students enrolled at German universities completed the study. METHODS We employed a randomized pre-post design with three experimental groups that differed in the administered epistemic volition and resolvable controversies interventions. The purpose of the latter was to initiate an epistemic change process, thereby laying the foundation for the epistemic volition intervention. Both data collection and interventions were conducted online. In addition to self-report measures, we applied a complementary source evaluation task to analyse epistemic change. RESULTS Even though we found small- to medium-sized changes in epistemic beliefs, these changes did not differ between experimental conditions. Exploratory analyses suggested, however, that source evaluation task performance might have been promoted by the epistemic volition intervention and that - across experimental groups - manipulation check measures on both interventions interacted positively. CONCLUSION Ultimately, we failed to separate the effects that our epistemic volition intervention had on epistemic change from these of the resolvable controversies intervention. Nonetheless, our study makes some strong contributions to - and interconnects - the growing bodies of research on epistemic change and multiple source use.
Assessment of Diet Quality and Adherence to Dietary Guidelines in Gastrointestinal Cancer Survivors: A Cross-Sectional Study

Diet quality among short- and long-term gastrointestinal (GI) cancer survivors with different tumor sites was investigated compared to a reference population cohort. Diet quality of GI cancer survivors (n = 307) was compared to an age- and sex-matched reference population with no history of cancer (n = 3070). All were selected from Lifelines, a population-based cohort. GI cancers were defined as having a history of cancer of the bowel, esophagus, or stomach. Diet quality was assessed by a self-administrated food frequency questionnaire in terms of: (i) Lifelines Diet (LLD) scores, where higher scores indicate higher diet quality; (ii) the adherence to dietary guidelines, quantified by the percentage of meeting dietary recommendations, as given by Dutch dietary guidelines; and (iii) the mean daily intake of food components. All analyses were adjusted for lifestyle factors. Diet scores in GI cancer survivors were not different from the reference population (OR = 0.97, 95% CI: 0.73–1.23). Stratification for time since diagnosis and tumor site gave similar results. The intake of vegetables, unsweetened dairies, and nuts and legumes was almost 50% lower than the recommended amount, and the mean intake of unhealthy food components was at least one serving/day among GI cancer survivors, as well as in the reference population. In the long run, GI cancer survivors do not differ from the reference population in their diet quality. In conclusion, both groups can improve their diet quality.
Neuronal and synaptic morphological alterations in the hippocampus of cannabinoid receptor type 1 knockout mice

Cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1R) modulates synaptic activity and is widely distributed in brain areas such as the hippocampus, cerebellum, cerebral cortex, and striatum, among others. CB1R is involved in processes such as memory, learning, motor coordination, and mood. Genetic deletion of CB1R causes behavioral alterations. In this work, we evaluated neuronal morphology and synaptic structure in the hippocampus of adult male CB1R knockout mice (CB1R−/−). Morphological changes in the CB1R−/− hippocampus evidenced a decrease in the expression of cytoskeletal proteins neurofilaments 160 KDa, neurofilaments 200 KDa, and microtubule‐associated protein 2. CA1 neurons showed decreased arborization and changes in synaptic structure such as lower thickness of postsynaptic density and a reduction in synaptophysin levels. Results obtained in the present work provide evidence of the participation of CB1R in the establishment of neuronal structure and networks that could have an important role in neuronal plasticity. In addition, these changes observed in CB1R−/− could be correlated with behavioral alterations reported.
Prothrombin Time, Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time, and Fibrinogen Reference Intervals for Inbred Strain 13/N Guinea Pigs (Cavia porcellus) and Validation of Low Volume Sample Analysis

Inbred strain 13/N guinea pigs are used as small animal models for the study of hemorrhagic fever viruses. Coagulation abnormalities, including prolonged clotting times and bleeding, are characteristic of hemorrhagic fever in humans; patients often meet criteria for disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). Comprehensively evaluating coagulation function is critical in model development and studies of viral pathogenesis and therapeutic efficacy. Here, using the VetScan VSpro veterinary point-of-care platform, we developed reference intervals in both juvenile and adult strain 13/N guinea pigs for three coagulation parameters: prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), and fibrinogen. In addition, for situations or species with limited availability of blood for clinical analysis, we investigated the validity of a modified collection approach for low-volume (0.1 mL) blood sample analysis of PT and aPTT.
Leveraging contextual information for cold‐start Web service recommendation

Web service recommendation becomes an increasingly important issue when more and more services are published on the Internet. Many Web service recommendation methods have been proposed in recent years, most of which adopted collaborative filtering (CF) techniques. In general, these approaches have two limitations. Firstly, they rarely leverage user ratings since this kind of explicit feedback is difficult to collect for Web services. Secondly, the new user cold‐start problem is an inherent limitation of CF because the new users have not yet cast sufficient numbers of votes. In this paper, pseudo ratings of services constructed based on plenty of user‐service interactions, also known as a kind of implicit feedback, are provided to represent users' preferences on services. Based on these pseudo ratings, we present a novel Web service recommendation approach, which can alleviate the cold‐start problem by integrating contextual information and an online learning model. Experiments conducted on a real world data set show that, compared with the method without contextual information, our proposed approach that handles the cold start problem by integrating contextual information can achieve better F‐Measure performance (5.08 times increase on average). Moreover, the proposed online recommendation approach can dramatically decrease the time overhead while keeping the similar recommendation performance.
Quantification of Colletotrichum fioriniae in orchards and deciduous forests indicates it is primarily a leaf endophyte.

Colletotrichum fioriniae of the C. acutatum species complex is an important hemi-biotrophic pathogen of vegetables and fruits in temperate regions world-wide. In apple, it is one of the primary species responsible for bitter rot disease. Understanding the disease cycle is complicated because many broadleaf plants can be hosts of C. fioriniae. By detecting and quantifying rain-splashed C. acutatum species complex conidia in over 500 samples from heavily bitter-rot-infected apple orchards and nearby forested woodlots over two summers we show that conidial quantities were higher in the woodlots than in the orchards. Testing of over 1,000 surface disinfected leaves of apple and 24 different forest plant species showed that overall C. fioriniae was an abundant leaf endophyte, with high variation in leaf colonization area. Endophytic isolates from leaves were pathogenic on apples, and multi-locus sequence analysis showed 100% identity between most isolates from leaves and diseased fruits. Apple leaves endophytically infected with C. fioriniae were present in a conventionally managed orchard and abundant in an untreated orchard. These lines of evidence, in the context of previously published research, lead us to hypothesize that the main ecological role of C. fioriniae is that of a leaf endophyte, which we present as a generalized C. fioriniae infection cycle that provides an updated framework for its integrated management in agricultural systems.