Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Power-efficient collaborative distribution of social videos over wireless community cloud

The prevalence of social networking services dramatically changes the landscape of video distribution, in which social video contents spread much faster than traditional video-sharing portals. The pervasive wireless connectivity further enables users to view and generate videos from anywhere at any time. In this paper, we focus on the problem of collaborative distribution of social videos in a wireless community cloud. We aim to minimize the total power consumption of all participants in the community. To this purpose, we first analyze the distribution problem using a Markovian model and study how the soft deadline threshold impacts the total power consumption. We derive the closed-form expression to reveal the relationship between the optimal power allocation strategy and the soft deadline threshold. Our numerical results show that the minimum power consumption increases convexly as the soft deadline threshold approaches one. Moreover, we also observe that when more paths are used for parallel transmission, the total power consumption increases in spite that the power consumption of each individual path is reduced.
Mucoadhesive drug delivery: mechanism and methods of evaluation

This article gives a brief idea bioadhesive delivery systems based on hydrogels to biological surfaces that are covered by mucus. Techniques that are frequently used to evaluate the mucoadhesive drug delivery systems are discussed. Mucoadhesion can be defined as a state in which two components, of which one is of biological origin are held together for extended periods of time by the help of interfacial forces. Mucoadhesion is a complex phenomenon which involves wetting, adsorption and interpenetration of polymer chains. The concept of mucoadhesion in drug delivery was introduced in the early 1980s. Thereafter, several researchers have focused on the investigations of the interfacial phenomena of mucoadhesion with the mucus. Mucoadhesive drug delivery systems is one of the most important novel drug delivery systems with its various advantages and it has a lot of potential in formulating dosage forms for various chronic diseases.
Supporting Search-As-You-Type Using SQL in Databases

A search-as-you-type system computes answers on-the-fly as a user types in a keyword query character by character. We study how to support search-as-you-type on data residing in a relational DBMS. We focus on how to support this type of search using the native database language, SQL. A main challenge is how to leverage existing database functionalities to meet the high-performance requirement to achieve an interactive speed. We study how to use auxiliary indexes stored as tables to increase search performance. We present solutions for both single-keyword queries and multikeyword queries, and develop novel techniques for fuzzy search using SQL by allowing mismatches between query keywords and answers. We present techniques to answer first-N queries and discuss how to support updates efficiently. Experiments on large, real data sets show that our techniques enable DBMS systems on a commodity computer to support search-as-you-type on tables with millions of records.
Size of Mica Domains and Distribution of the Adsorbed Na-Ca Ions

Mica domains have received less attention in the literature than smectite quasi-crystals. This study was conducted to determine whether mica crystals form domains in suspension, the conditions in which those domains exist, and the distribution of adsorbed Na and Ca ions in the domains. Particle size distributions and electrophoretic mobilities (EM) of Silver Hill illite in suspension densities of 0.5 g liter−1 were determined by photon correlation spectroscopy (PCS). Solutions at salt concentration from 2 to 10 mmolc liter−1, sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) from 0 to ∞ (mmol liter−1)0.5, and pH values 5, 7, and 9 were used to prepare the clay suspensions. The particle size of Silver Hill illite suspensions showed a bimodal distribution. Through PCS measurements at low angles, the second peak of the bimodal distribution of the illite was found to be associated with the rotational movement of the b-dimension of the particles. Illite domains broke down in the range of SAR 10 to 15 (mmol liter−1)0.5 equivalent to exchangeable sodium percentages (ESP) of 13 to 18. Illite thus demonstrates a similar stability to smectites that require ESP ≈ 15 to disaggregate quasi-crystals. The EM of the illite particles increased drastically when the SAR increased from 2 to 10 (mmol liter−1)0.5. This increase in EM could not be explained exclusively by the change in the particle size. Cation demixing is required to explain the increase of the zeta potential at the shear plane. The EM of the Silver Hill illite was doubled when the pH increased from 5 to 9 at SAR > 15, but no pH effect was found when SAR < 15. The effect of pH on the EM at SAR values > 15 can be understood if we consider that at SAR > 15 most of the particles are single platelets. The relative importance of variable charge on single platelets or crystals is apparently greater than on domains because the pH affected the mobility of the individual crystals but not the mobility of the domains. The combination of particle size distribution and EM data gives additional information about the zero point of charge of the variable charge, also called point of zero net proton charge (PZNPC) of the clay. For Silver Hill illite, we estimate a PZNPC value between 5 and 7.
Development of Microbial Fuel Cells and Electrode Designs with Waste Water Anaerobes

Two designs of microbial fuel cells have been developed. In the first type, a Single Chambered-Microbial Fuel Cell of 200ml capacity was constructed with the cathode and anode made of carbon brushes in a ‘T’ shaped configuration, attached in Cloth Electrode Assembly. In the second type, multiple anodes attached in a circuit, were used in developing a Multi Anode Single Chambered-Microbial Fuel Cell of 100ml capacity along with a common cathode made of graphite powder and adhesive, hardened by air drying. The generation of voltage and current was observed with both designs. Three types of substrates viz Carboxy-Methyl-Cellulose, Dextrose and Sodium Acetate were used with anaerobic micro-organisms grown from waste water. Nernst Equation have been used to calculate maximum cell voltage due to ionic reaction of sodium acetate. The main purpose of the study was to validate workability of a novel MFC design in terms of current generation and cheap materials, hence showing current generation could be increased with multiple anodes sharing a common cathode and also providing possibility for serial connectivity for increasing voltage output.
Age group classification and gender detection based on forced expiratory spirometry

This paper investigates the utility of forced expiratory spirometry (FES) test with efficient machine learning algorithms for the purpose of gender detection and age group classification. The proposed method has three main stages: feature extraction, training of the models and detection. In the first stage, some features are extracted from volume-time curve and expiratory flow-volume loop obtained from FES test. In the second stage, the probabilistic models for each gender and age group are constructed by training Gaussian mixture models (GMMs) and Support vector machine (SVM) algorithm. In the final stage, the gender (or age group) of test subject is estimated by using the trained GMM (or SVM) model. Experiments have been evaluated on a large database from 4571 subjects. The experimental results show that average correct classification rate performance of both GMM and SVM methods based on the FES test is more than 99.3 % and 96.8 % for gender and age group classification, respectively.
Increase of the filler content in papermaking by using a silica-coated PCC filler

Abstract The increase of filler content in paper without significantly sacrificing the paper mechanical resistances is of high interest for papermakers. In this work, precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC) modified with silica was used as filler for papermaking. Handsheets based on a eucalyptus kraft pulp furnish with different amounts of the modified filler, ranging from 16 to 40%, were produced. For similar levels of filler content it was found that the strength properties of the handsheets produced with the modified PCC were always significantly better than those obtained with the unmodified PCC. In particular, for handsheets with a filler content of 30%, the tensile index and the Scott bond internal resistance improved by ca. 20% and 39%, respectively. Some decrease of the light scattering and opacity values was noted when using the modified PCC, but the brightness was roughly the same, for each filler level evaluated. The enhanced fibre-tofiller bonding can be due to the hydrogen bonding between the cellulosic fibres and the hydroxyl groups of the silica film coating the calcium carbonate crystals, during the sheet formation. The present results with the new modified PCC provide a possibility to increase the filler amount in the papermaking industry.
The structural and optical properties of neodymium doped lithium niobate and yttrium aluminum garnet single crystals

A Neodymium doped Lithium Niobate (LiNbO3) single crystal of composition (48.6 - y) Li2CO3 + (51.4) Nb2O5 + (y) Nd2O3, (y = 0.5, y = 1.0) and a Neodymium doped Yttrium Aluminum Garnet (YAG) single crystal of composition (31 - y) Y2O3 + (69.0) Al2O3+ (y) Nd2O3, (y = 0.5, y = 1.0) were prepared by using Czochralski technique. The structural and optical properties of the crystals along the boule were investigated. The dopant concentration is varied along the crystal boule. The FTIR spectra of the Nd: LiNbO3 crystals show that there are slight to the peaks at peaks of 3243 cm-1 - 3251 cm-1 when the content of Nd2O3 is increased and this shows the existence of OH bond stretching. In addition, the presence of the IR band in the range of 3567 cm-1 - 3572 cm-1 shows that the OH bond is due to the defect of the crystals while fundamental stretching of OH groups can be assigned to a band in the range of 3846 cm-1 - 3866 cm-1. As for the Nd: YAG crystals, sharp peaks are observed at 698 cm-1 and 748 cm-1 which can be assigned to Y – O symmetrical stretching and Y – O asymmetrical stretching, respectively. The first peak shifts slightly from 698 cm-1- 699 cm-1 and the second peak from 748 cm-1 - 751 cm-1 as the content of Nd2O3 in the system is increased. In addition, a band in the range of 801 cm-1 - 803 cm-1 is assigned to Y – O bonds which have strong metal-oxygen stretching vibrations in tetrahedral arrangement. The IR peaks at 3290 cm-1 - 3369 cm-1 show the fundamental stretching of OH groups. The UV–Vis–NIR spectroscopy of Nd: LiNbO3 crystals show that the values of indirect optical band gaps lie between 2.78 eV to 2.57 eV and those of the direct optical band gaps are between 3.82 eV to 3.71 eV. The Urbach energy for the Nd: LiNbO3 crystal decreases from 0.69 eV to 0.48 eV. The UV–Vis–NIR spectroscopy of Nd: YAG crystals show that the values of indirect optical band gaps lie between 1.99 eV to 2.10 eV and those of the direct optical band gaps lie between 4.83 eV to 4.85 eV. The Urbach energy for the Nd: YAG crystal decreases from 2.44 eV to 2.09 eV. The change in band gaps is associated with the structural change occurring after the addition of Nd2O3 as the dopant in the crystal system. Luminescence spectra of Nd: LiNbO3 crystals show that there is a 2G9/2 ? 4I9/2 transition corresponding to a green emission at 492 nm and a 2H11/2 ? 4I9/2 transition corresponding to an orange emission at 621 nm. As for Nd: YAG crystals, there is a 2G11/2 ? 4I9/2 transition corresponding to a blue emission at 449 nm and a 2G9/2 ? 4I9/2 transition corresponding to a cyan emission at 490 nm. As a conclusion, the two crystal systems show that the increase of Nd2O3 dopant from 0.5% mol to 1.0% mol will contribute to the decrease of crystal defects.
The molecular characterization of porcine egg precursor cells

Female-factor infertility can be caused by poor oocyte quality and depleted ovarian reserves. Egg precursor cells (EPCs), isolated from the ovarian cortex, have the potential to be used to overcome female infertility. We aimed to define the origins of EPCs by analyzing their gene expression profiles and mtDNA content using a mini-pig model. We characterized FAC-sorted DDX4+-derived porcine EPCs by performing RNA-sequencing and determined that they utilize pathways important for cell cycle and proliferation, which supports the existence of adult mitotically active oogonial cells. Expression of the pluripotent markers Sox2 and Oct4, and the primitive germ cell markers Blimp1 and Stella were not detected. However, Nanog and Ddx4 were expressed, as were the primitive germ cell markers Fragilis, c-Kit and Tert. Moreover, porcine EPCs expressed self-renewal and proliferation markers including Myc, Esrrb, Id2, Klf4, Klf5, Stat3, Fgfr1, Fgfr2 and Il6st. The presence of Zp1, Zp2, Zp3 and Nobox were not detected, indicating that porcine EPCs are not indicative of mature primordial oocytes. We performed mitochondrial DNA Next Generation Sequencing and determined that one mtDNA variant harbored by EPCs was present in oocytes, preimplantation embryos and somatic tissues over three generations in our mini-pig model indicating the potential germline origin of EPCs.
Trait emotional intelligence profiles of students from different university faculties

This study investigated the trait emotional intelligence (trait EI or trait emotional self-efficacy) profiles of 512 students from five university faculties: technical studies, natural sciences, social sciences, arts, and humanities. Using the Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire, it was hypothesised that (a) social sciences would score higher than technical studies in Emotionality, (b) arts would score higher than technical studies in Emotionality, (c) arts would score lower than technical studies in Self-control, and (d) there would be an interaction between gender and faculty, whereby female students would score higher than male students within the social sciences only. Several other exploratory comparisons were also performed. Results supported hypotheses (a), (b), and (d), but not hypothesis (c), although the differences were in the predicted direction.
Hypoxic Inhibition of Nonsense-Mediated RNA Decay Regulates Gene Expression and the Integrated Stress Response

ABSTRACT Nonsense-mediated RNA decay (NMD) rapidly degrades both mutated mRNAs and nonmutated cellular mRNAs in what is thought to be a constitutive fashion. Here we demonstrate that NMD is inhibited in hypoxic cells and that this inhibition is dependent on phosphorylation of the α subunit of eukaryotic initiation factor 2 (eIF2α). eIF2α phosphorylation is known to promote translational and transcriptional up-regulation of genes important for the cellular response to stress. We show that the mRNAs of several of these stress-induced genes are NMD targets and that the repression of NMD stabilizes these mRNAs, thus demonstrating that the inhibition of NMD augments the cellular stress response. Furthermore, hypoxia-induced formation of cytoplasmic stress granules is also dependent on eIF2α phosphorylation, and components of the NMD pathway are relocalized to these granules in hypoxic cells, providing a potential mechanism for the hypoxic inhibition of NMD. Our demonstration that NMD is inhibited in hypoxic cells reveals that the regulation of NMD can dynamically alter gene expression and also establishes a novel mechanism for hypoxic gene regulation.
The Alkali Desizing of Woven Cotton Fabrics

The alkali metal hydroxides LiOH, NaOH and KOH have been studied in the desizing of woven cotton fabrics under different treatment conditions. The % fabric weight loss, the TEGEVA rating on the desized fabric, the effect of desizing bath pH and the molarity of the alkalis to the desizing results, and the starch removal rate of the treatments was studied. It was found that the removal of starch size from the warp yams of the woven cotton fabric is not only bath pH dependent, but also depending on the nature of the alkali that used, in that NaOH has the best desizing ability among the others. In addition, the temperature of the desizing bath is the most important in order to obtain a good desizing result. Although alkali desizing can improve the water absorption and the whiteness of the grey cotton fabric, it is not good enough for use in subsequent coloration processes.
Data location optimization for a self-organized distributed storage system

Swarm-inspired algorithms allow the creation of complex systems that are scalable in many dimensions, adaptable to changing conditions, and robust against failure. These properties make them suitable for the challenges inherent in distributed storage systems. However, these swarm-based approaches reach their impressive performance by trading away correctness guarantees, occasionally leading to misplaced data items. In order to achieve consistent storage, there is a need for a constant optimization of the store's data structure. In this paper, we describe a fully distributed and scalable heuristic for the optimization of the location of stored data items within a distributed storage system based on the brood sorting method used by ants. We evaluate our heuristic using best- and worst-case test data sets to determine whether our location optimization method converges and whether it improves the location and organization of data inside a large-scale storage network.
The Use of Microwave Energy to Polymerize Acrylic Resins

Microwave-processed acrylic resins were introduced in dental practice as an alternative for conventional heat-processed in order to provide easier and faster processing. Microwave polymerized acrylic resins seem to possess adequate physical and biological properties. This paper presents a literature revision about acrylic resin polymerization by microwave energy, establishing a comparison between this method and the traditional water bath polymerization in the aspects of mechanic, biologic and physical properties.
Low pH impairs complement-dependent cytotoxicity against IgG-coated target cells

Local acidosis is a common feature of allergic, vascular, autoimmune, and cancer diseases. However, few studies have addressed the effect of extracellular pH on the immune response. Here, we analyzed whether low pH could modulate complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC) against IgG-coated cells. Using human serum as a complement source, we found that extracellular pH values of 5.5 and 6.0 strongly inhibit CDC against either B lymphoblast cell lines coated with the chimeric anti-CD20 mAb rituximab or PBMCs coated with the humanized anti-CD52 mAb alemtuzumab. Suppression of CDC by low pH was observed either in cells suspended in culture medium or in whole blood assays. Interestingly, not only CDC against IgG-coated cells, but also the activation of the complement system induced by the alternative and lectin pathways was prevented by low pH. Tumor-targeting mAbs represent one of the most successful tools for cancer therapy, however, the use of mAb monotherapy has only modest effects on solid tumors. Our present results suggest that severe acidosis, a hallmark of solid tumors, might impair complement-mediated tumor destruction directed by mAb.
The Role of Interfaces in Nanomaterials Behavior at Extremes

The main statements of nanomaterials concept are shortly considered. Current developments in the metallic nanomaterials stability under thermal, irradiation, deformation and corrosion actions are generalized and discussed in detail. Special attention is paid to possible prediction of thermal grain growth characteristics using the regular solution approximation. The key role of nanotwinned interfaces in the stability increase at extremes is described and pointed out. The attention is paid to unresolved and insufficiently studied problems.
Further Evidence for the Validity of a Response Inconsistency Scale for the Personality Inventory for DSM–5 in Italian Community-Dwelling Adolescents, Community-Dwelling Adults, and Clinical Adults

Response inconsistency represents a major component of careless responding. Keeley, J. W. , Webb, Peterson, Roussin, and Flanagan (2016) proposed a measure of response inconsistency for the Personality Inventory for DSM–5 (PID-5-VRIN). In order to evaluate the ability of the PID-5-VRIN scale to detect inconsistent responding, we examined 3 independent archival samples of Italian community-dwelling adolescents (N = 1,264), community-dwelling adults (N = 2,143), and clinical adults (N = 706) who were administered the PID-5. The impact of PID-5-VRIN scores on the associations with interview-based personality disorder (PD) scores was also assessed among clinical adults. PID-5-VRIN item pairs showed correlational values of at least medium size by conventional standards. Moreover, the PID-5-VRIN seemed to be efficient in discriminating real data from random responses in all samples. In line with Keeley and colleagues’ findings, a PID-5-VRIN total score of 17 represented the best balance between sensitivity and specificity in all samples. Clinical adult participants who met this threshold for invalidity also obtained significantly higher scores on the majority of PID-5 trait scales. When the correlations between selected PID-5 trait scale scores and the corresponding interview-based ratings of DSM–5 Section II PDs were considered, appreciable differences in the magnitude and/or direction of association were observed between participants scoring below the PID-5-VRIN cutoff and those meeting the threshold for invalidity (≥17). As a whole, our data suggest that the PID-5-VRIN represents an efficient means of assessing inconsistent responding on the PID-5.
Mobile Platform Pelvic Robot

After neurological damage muscle activation control can be severely impaired which may impose considerable constraints to human locomotion mechanisms and force the patients to adjust their gait accordingly. Rehabilitation robots seem to successfully complement conventional therapist gait assisted rehabilitation they however typically focus on movement of the extremities and rarely handle also the movement of the pelvis or the trunk. We propose a mobile platform pelvic robot that preserves 6 DOF movement of the pelvis and at the same time is capable to deliver adjustable force field or perturbation impulses to subject pelvis during over ground walking. Preliminary testing has shown that stable haptic interaction can be achieved and that the level of performance variability if perturbation impulses are delivered in different directions is low and is comparable to performance variability of normal walking without perturbations.