Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Water Permeability and Autogenous Healing of Cracks in Concrete

The well-known practical phenomenon of autogenous healing in cracks plays a significant role in relation to the functional reliability of structures subjected to water-pressure loads. Because of the autogenous healing, the water flow through the cracks gradually reduces with time, and in extreme cases, the cracks seal completely. In the past, there has been no deliberate technical exploitation of self-healing, because too little is known about the phenomenon itself and about the chemical/physical processes involved. Based on theoretical and experimental research, the effect of crack healing was investigated on a larger scale for the first time. The experimental studies showed the formation of calcite in the crack to be almost the sole cause for the autogenous healing. A comprehensive theoretical discussion of the laws, which govern the calcite nucleation and the subsequent crystal growth of water-bearing cracks in concrete, revealed that the crystal growth responds to two different crystal growth processes that are determined by the changes in the chemical and physical conditions in the crack. Further, the crystal growth rate is dependent on the crack width and water pressure, whereas concrete composition and water hardness have no influence on autogenous healing. On the basis of the experimental studies, an algorithm that can be used to estimate the reduction in water over time as a result of autogenous healing was developed.
Energy Neutral Wireless Bolt for Safety Critical Fastening

Thermoelectric generators (TEGs) are now capable of powering the abundant low power electronics from very small (just a few degrees Celsius) temperature gradients. This factor along with the continuously lowering cost and size of TEGs, has contributed to the growing number of miniaturized battery-free sensor modules powered by TEGs. In this article, we present the design of an ambient-powered wireless bolt for high-end electro-mechanical systems. The bolt is equipped with a temperature sensor and a low power RF chip powered from a TEG. A DC-DC converter interfacing the TEG with the RF chip is used to step-up the low TEG voltage. The work includes the characterizations of different TEGs and DC-DC converters to determine the optimal design based on the amount of power that can be generated from a TEG under different loads and at temperature gradients typical of industrial environments. A prototype system was implemented and the power consumption of this system under different conditions was also measured. Results demonstrate that the power generated by the TEG at very low temperature gradients is sufficient to guarantee continuous wireless monitoring of the critical fasteners in critical systems such as avionics, motorsport and aerospace.
H19 long noncoding RNA alters trophoblast cell migration and invasion by regulating TβR3 in placentae with fetal growth restriction

Fetal growth restriction (FGR) is a well-recognized risk factor for perinatal mortality and morbidity, as well as neurodevelopmental impairment and adulthood onset disorders. Here we report that the H19 long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) is significantly decreased in placentae from pregnancies with FGR. Downregulation of H19 leads to reduced migration and invasion of extravillous trophoblast (EVT) cells in vitro. This is consistent with reduced trophoblast invasion that has been observed in FGR. Genome-scale transcriptome profiling of EVT cells reveals significantly decreased expression of the type III TGF-β receptor (TβR3) following H19 knockdown. Decreased TβR3 expression is also seen in FGR placentae. TβR3 repression decreases EVT cell migration and invasion, owing to impaired TGF-β signaling through a non-canonical TGF-β signaling pathway. Further, we identify TβR3 as a novel regulatory target of microRNA let-7. We propose that dysregulation of this newly identified H19/TβR3-mediated regulatory pathway may contribute to the molecular mechanism of FGR. Our findings are the first to show a lncRNA-based mechanism of FGR, holding promise for the development of novel predictive, diagnostic, and therapeutic modalities for FGR.
An evolutionary analysis of the relationship between spite and altruism

We investigate the selective pressures on a social trait when evolution occurs in a population of constant size. We show that any social trait that is spiteful simultaneously qualifies as altruistic. In other words, any trait that reduces the fitness of less related individuals necessarily increases that of related ones. Our analysis demonstrates that the distinction between ‘Hamiltonian spite’ and ‘Wilsonian spite’ is not justified on the basis of fitness effects. We illustrate this general result with an explicit model for the evolution of a social act that reduces the recipient's survival (‘harming trait’). This model shows that the evolution of harming is favoured if local demes are of small size and migration is low (philopatry). Further, deme size and migration rate determine whether harming evolves as a selfish strategy by increasing the fitness of the actor, or as a spiteful/altruistic strategy through its positive effect on the fitness of close kin.
Détection de la fumée et du feu par réseau de neurones convolutifs

La recherche dans le domaine de la detection du feu et de la fumee devient un sujet de plus en plus traite. Les algorithmes conventionnels utilisent exclusivement des modeles bases sur des vecteurs de caracteristiques. Ces vecteurs restent difficiles a definir et dependent largement du type de feu observe. Ces methodes donnent des resultats avec un faible taux de detection et un haut taux de fausse classification. Une approche innovante pour resoudre ce probleme est d'utiliser un algorithme permettant de determiner automatiquement les caracteristiques utiles pour classifier le feu et la fumee. Dans cet article, nous proposons un reseau de neurones convolutif pour identifier le feu et la fumee d'une video en temps reel. Les reseaux de neurones convolutifs ont montre leur grande performance dans le domaine de la classification des objets. Testee sur des sequences videos reelles, l'approche proposee atteint une meilleure performance de classification que les methodes conventionnelles. Ces resultats indiquent clairement que l'utilisation des reseaux de neurones convolutifs pour la detection du feu et de la fumee est tres prometteuse. Mots Clef Feu, fume, detection, reseau de neurones convolutifl, apprentissage profond, cartes de caracteristiques, dropout, maxpooling. Abstract Research on video analysis for fire detection has become a hot topic in computer vision. However, the conventional algorithms use exclusively rule-based models and features vector to classify whether a frame is fire or not. These features are difficult to define and depend largely on the kind of fire observed. The outcome leads to low detection rate and high false-alarm rate. A different approach for this problem is to use a learning algorithm to extract the useful features instead of using an expert to build them. In this paper, we propose a convolutional neural network (CNN) for identifying fire in videos. Convolutional neural network are shown to perform very well in the area of object classification. This network has the ability to perform feature extraction and classification within the same architecture. Tested on real video sequences, the proposed approach achieves better classification performance as some of relevant conventional video fire detection methods and indicates that using CNN to detect fire in videos is very promising. It's the English version of the abstract.
Biochemistry and hematology parameters of the San Cristóbal Galápagos tortoise (Chelonoidis chathamensis)

The San Cristóbal Galapagos tortoise, Chelonoidis chathamensis, is native to San Cristóbal, the most eastern and oldest island of the Galapagos Archipelago. Although numerous studies on the ecology, behavior and genetics of Galapagos tortoises have been published, little is known about the health status of these animals. Here we report blood values from clinically healthy tortoises.
Unequal Probability Marking Approach to Enhance Security of Traceback Scheme in Tree-Based WSNs

Fog (from core to edge) computing is a newly emerging computing platform, which utilizes a large number of network devices at the edge of a network to provide ubiquitous computing, thus having great development potential. However, the issue of security poses an important challenge for fog computing. In particular, the Internet of Things (IoT) that constitutes the fog computing platform is crucial for preserving the security of a huge number of wireless sensors, which are vulnerable to attack. In this paper, a new unequal probability marking approach is proposed to enhance the security performance of logging and migration traceback (LM) schemes in tree-based wireless sensor networks (WSNs). The main contribution of this paper is to overcome the deficiency of the LM scheme that has a higher network lifetime and large storage space. In the unequal probability marking logging and migration (UPLM) scheme of this paper, different marking probabilities are adopted for different nodes according to their distances to the sink. A large marking probability is assigned to nodes in remote areas (areas at a long distance from the sink), while a small marking probability is applied to nodes in nearby area (areas at a short distance from the sink). This reduces the consumption of storage and energy in addition to enhancing the security performance, lifetime, and storage capacity. Marking information will be migrated to nodes at a longer distance from the sink for increasing the amount of stored marking information, thus enhancing the security performance in the process of migration. The experimental simulation shows that for general tree-based WSNs, the UPLM scheme proposed in this paper can store 1.12–1.28 times the amount of stored marking information that the equal probability marking approach achieves, and has 1.15–1.26 times the storage utilization efficiency compared with other schemes.
Assessing the Contribution of Malaria Vector Control and Other Maternal and Child Health Interventions in Reducing All-Cause Under-Five Mortality in Zambia, 1990–2010

Abstract. Under-five mortality in Zambia has declined since 1990, with reductions accelerating after 2000. Zambia’s scale-up of malaria control is viewed as the driver of these gains, but past studies have not fully accounted for other potential factors. This study sought to systematically evaluate the impact of malaria vector control on under-five mortality. Using a mixed-effects regression model, we quantified the relationship between malaria vector control, other priority health interventions, and socioeconomic indicators and district-level under-five mortality trends from 1990 to 2010. We then conducted counterfactual analyses to estimate under-five mortality in the absence of scaling up malaria vector control. Throughout Zambia, increased malaria vector control coverage coincided with scaling up three other interventions: the pentavalent vaccine, exclusive breast-feeding, and prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV services. This simultaneous scale-up made statistically isolating intervention-specific impact infeasible. Instead, in combination, these interventions jointly accelerated declines in under-five mortality by 11% between 2000 and 2010. Zambia’s scale-up of multiple interventions is notable, yet our findings highlight challenges in quantifying program-specific impact without better health data and information systems. As countries aim to further improve health outcomes, there is even greater need—and opportunity—to strengthen routine data systems and to develop more rigorous evaluation strategies.
Reconstructing historical trends of PAH deposition in a remote area of Spain using moss material from a herbarium

To cite this version: Foan, Louis and Sablayrolles, Caroline and Simon, Valerie and Elustondo, D. and Lasheras, E. and Gonzalez, L and Ederra, A. and Santamaria, J.M. Reconstructing historical trends of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon deposition in a remote area of Spain using herbarium moss material. (2010) Atmospheric Environment, vol. 44 (n° 26). pp. 3207-3214. ISSN 1352-2310 Open Archive Toulouse Archive Ouverte (OATAO) OATAO is an open access repository that collects the work of Toulouse researchers and makes it freely available over the web where possible.
Users' guides to the medical literature XVI. How to use a treatment recommendation

Clinicians can often find treatment recommendations in traditional narrative reviews and the discussion sections of original articles and metaanalyses. Making a treatment recommendation involves framing a question, identifying management options and outcomes, collecting and summarizing evidence, and applying value judgments or preferences to arrive at an optimal course of action. Each step in this process can be conducted systematically (thus protecting against bias) or unsystematically (leaving the process open to bias). Clinicians faced with a plethora of recommendations may wish to attend to those that are less likely to be biased. Therefore, we propose a hierarchy of rigor of recommendations to guide clinicians when judging the usefulness of particular recommendations. Recommendations with the highest rigor consider all relevant options and outcomes, include a comprehensive collection of the methodologically highest quality data with an explicit strategy for summarizing the data (that is, a systematic review), and make an explicit statement of the values or preferences involved in moving from evidence to action. High rigor recommendations come from systematically developed, evidence-based practice guidelines or rigorously conducted decision analyses. Systematic reviews, which typically do not consider all relevant options and outcomes or make the preferences underlying recommendations explicit, offer intermediate rigor recommendations. Traditional approaches in which the collection and assessment of evidence remains unsystematic, all relevant options and outcomes may not be considered, and values remain implicit, provide recommendations of weak rigor. In an era in which clinicians are barraged by recommendations as to how to manage their patients, this hierarchy provides a potentially useful set of guides.
Light-controlled motility in prokaryotes and the problem of directional light perception

Abstract The natural light environment is important to many prokaryotes. Most obviously, phototrophic prokaryotes need to acclimate their photosynthetic apparatus to the prevailing light conditions, and such acclimation is frequently complemented by motility to enable cells to relocate in search of more favorable illumination conditions. Non-phototrophic prokaryotes may also seek to avoid light at damaging intensities and wavelengths, and many prokaryotes with diverse lifestyles could potentially exploit light signals as a rich source of information about their surroundings and a cue for acclimation and behavior. Here we discuss our current understanding of the ways in which bacteria can perceive the intensity, wavelength and direction of illumination, and the signal transduction networks that link light perception to the control of motile behavior. We discuss the problems of light perception at the prokaryotic scale, and the challenge of directional light perception in small bacterial cells. We explain the peculiarities and the common features of light-controlled motility systems in prokaryotes as diverse as cyanobacteria, purple photosynthetic bacteria, chemoheterotrophic bacteria and haloarchaea.
Thermophysiological, haematological, biochemical and behavioural stress responses of sheep transported on road

The study was conducted to evaluate the thermophysiological, haematological, biochemical and behavioural stress responses of sheep transported on road. A total of 44 Chamarita breed adult ewes were randomly allotted to one of two groups, one control group (untransported) and transported group (journey of 4 h), and blood stress indicators were measured 1 day before transport and at four time points post-transport (0, 4 and 24 h). Thermophysiological profiles of ewes were measured by temperature buttons (iButton Thermochron® ) and placed in intravaginal sponges. Direct observations, with a combination of scan and behaviour sampling, were carried out to collect information on individual behaviour and the time it took the ewes to drink water, eat and rest after returning to their pen respectively. Transported ewes lost approximately 1 kg live weight compared to controls and had higher body temperatures until 12 h post-transport. Cortisol, glucose, non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) concentrations as well as the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (N/L) and other physiological indicators were higher immediately after unloading in transported ewes but mostly returned to normal after 4 h, with complete recovery after 24 h. Behavioural analysis post-transport demonstrated that transported ewes chose to eat before drinking and spent less time resting than controls in the first 3 h after unloading. The study demonstrates that transportation even under short-journey conditions induced behavioural, physiological and thermophysiological responses indicative of the induction of significant stress, leading to live weight shrinkage that may jeopardize farmer's incomes. Finally, results of this study validated the use of iButton Thermochron® data loggers for monitoring the stress response during transport.
Spatial and temporal patterns in civil violence: Guatemala, 1977–1986

Civil violence is a complex and often horrific phenomenon whose characteristics have varied by era, setting, and circumstance. Its objective analysis has rarely been feasible at spatial and temporal scales great enough and resolutions fine enough to reveal patterns useful in prevention, intervention, or adjudication. An extraordinary data set simultaneously meeting scale and resolution criteria was collected during conflict in Guatemala from 1977 through 1986. Reported here is its spatial-temporal analysis; reported as well is a putatively novel method for estimating power-law exponents from aggregate data. Analysis showed that the relationship between ethnic mix and killing was smooth yet highly nonlinear, that the temporal texture of killings was rough, and that the distribution of killing-event sizes was dichotomous, with nongenocidal and genocidal conflict periods displaying Zipf and non-Zipf distributions, respectively. These results add statistical support to claims that the Guatemalan military operated under at least two directives with respect to killing and that one of these effected a genocidal campaign against an indigenous people, the Mayans. Implications for group-behavioral modeling, conflict prevention, peace-keeping intervention, human-rights monitoring, and transitional justice are noted.
Using Illness Rating Systems to Predict Discharge Location Following Total Knee Arthroplasty

Purpose Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is increasing in frequency and cost. Optimization of discharge location may reduce total expenditure while maximizing patient outcomes. Although preoperative illness rating systems—including the American Society for Anesthesiologists Physical Classification System (ASA), severity of illness scoring system (SOI), and Mallampati rating scale (MP)—are associated with patient morbidity and mortality, their predictive value for discharge location, length of stay (LOS), and total costs remains unclear. Materials and Methods We conducted a retrospective analysis of 677 TKA patients (550 primary and 127 revision) treated at a single institution. The influence of ASA, SOI, and MP scores on discharge locations, LOS, and total costs was assessed using multivariable regression analyses. Results None of the systems were significant predictors of discharge location following TKA. SOI scores of major or higher (β=2.08 days, p<0.001) and minor (β=−0.25 days, p=0.009) significantly predicted LOS relative to moderate scores. Total costs were also significantly predicted by SOI scores of major or higher (β=$6,155, p=0.022) and minor (β=−$1,163, p=0.007). Conclusions SOI scores may be harnessed as a predictive tool for LOS and total costs following TKA, but other mechanisms are necessary to predict discharge location.
Fate of abstracts presented at Association of Paediatric Surgeons of Nigeria annual meetings.

BACKGROUND The purpose of this study was to examine the characteristics of abstracts presented at the annual scientific meetings of Association of Paediatric Surgeons of Nigeria and their final publication rate. MATERIALS AND METHODS All abstracts accepted for presentation at the Association of Paediatric Surgeons of Nigeria meetings from 2004 to 2009 were identified from literature, search engines and other online materials. Abstracts accepted for the meetings but not presented during the meetings were excluded. RESULTS A total of 153 abstracts were examined, of which 52 (34%) resulted in publication in peer-reviewed journals. Median time from presentation to publication was 2 years (range 1-5 years). The median number of abstracts presented per year was 30 (range 25-40). About three quarters of abstracts were presented by consultants (114, 74.5%) and 39 (25.4%) by surgical trainees. Approximately three-quarters of the abstracts were case series (111, 75.8%). Case reports accounted for 22.8% of the abstracts. Thirty-two (39.5%) of 81 retrospective studies, 8/31 (25.8%) prospective studies, and 11/35 (31.4%) case reports were converted to full publication (P = 0.403). Abstracts on surgical infection, paediatric surgical oncology, and gastrointestinal tract had the highest publication rates (54.5% [6/11], 46.2% [6/13], and 33.3% [22/66], respectively, P = 0.237). The largest numbers of the reports were published in the African Journal of Paediatric Surgery (16 of 48; 33%), the official Journal of the Association. CONCLUSIONS Only a third of presented abstracts were subsequently published in peer-reviewed journals. Effort to encourage the publication rates of presented abstracts by improving quality of research work as well as encouraging preconference submission of full-length articles for accepted abstracts, for publication in a conference supplement of the Association's journal is advised.
MetaTrans - Multilingual Meta-Translator

This paper presents MetaTrans, a meta-search engine for online dictionaries. With this software, users are able to find translations in a number of online dictionaries simultaneously. The MetaTrans features a web interface which is easy to use. The modular design of the tool enables adding support for more online dictionaries with minimal effort. MetaTrans also utilizes information from text corpora, WordNets and a morphological analyzer.