Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Use of waste materials in highway construction

An overview of recycling waste materials for use in highway construction, this book also summarizes the experiences of several state highway agencies in such applications. Evaluations and recommendations are also presented for the use of various waste products, including rubber tires, waste glass, reclaimed paving materials, slags and ashes, building rubble, sewage sludge and incinerator residue.
A SILAC-Based Screen for Methyl-CpG Binding Proteins Identifies RBP-J as a DNA Methylation and Sequence-Specific Binding Protein

Background DNA methylation is an epigenetic modification that plays a crucial role in a variety of biological processes. Methylated DNA is specifically bound by Methyl-CpG Binding Proteins (MBPs). Three different types of MBPs have been identified so far: the Methyl-CpG Binding Domain (MBD) family proteins, three BTB/POZ-Zn-finger proteins, and UHRF1. Most of the known MBPs have been identified via homology with the MBD and Zn-finger domains as present in MeCP2 and Kaiso, respectively. It is conceivable that other proteins are capable of recognizing methylated DNA. Methodology/Principal Findings For the purpose of identifying novel ‘readers’ we set up a methyl-CpG pull-down assay combined with stable-isotope labeling by amino acids in cell culture (SILAC). In a methyl-CpG pull-down with U937 nuclear extracts, we recovered several known MBPs and almost all subunits of the MBD2/NuRD complex as methylation specific binders, providing proof-of-principle. Interestingly, RBP-J, the transcription factor downstream of Notch receptors, also bound the DNA in a methylation dependent manner. Follow-up pull-downs and electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSAs) showed that RBP-J binds methylated DNA in the context of a mutated RBP-J consensus motif. Conclusions/Significance The here described SILAC/methyl-CpG pull-down constitutes a new approach to identify potential novel DNAme readers and will advance unraveling of the complete methyl-DNA interactome.
DTaP5-IPV-Hib-HepB, a hexavalent vaccine for infants and toddlers

ABSTRACT Introduction: Combination vaccines reduce the ‘shot burden’ and simplify the childhood immunization schedule. Only 5-valent DTaP-based vaccines are licensed in the U.S. Areas covered: A new combination vaccine – DTaP5-IPV-Hib-HepB – is described, which induces antibody responses in infants (given in different schedules, including a 2, 4, and 6-month schedule) that are similar to the respective component vaccines. The vaccine appears to be safe and would be expected to protect against six diseases: diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis B, H influenzae type b, and polio. Administration is associated with higher rates of mild fever, but without significant safety signals. Expert commentary: Incorporation of this hexavalent vaccine into the U.S. schedule could improve coverage rates and timeliness, and addition to the E.U. market would add depth to the available repertoire of combination vaccines.
A mechanism for sequence specificity in plant‐mediated interactions between herbivores

Summary Herbivore communities are shaped by indirect plant‐mediated interactions whose outcomes are strongly dependent on the sequence of herbivore arrival. However, the mechanisms underlying sequence specificity are poorly understood. We examined the mechanisms that govern sequence‐specific effects of the interaction between two specialist maize herbivores, the leaf feeder Spodoptera frugiperda and the root feeder Diabrotica virgifera virgifera. In the field, S. frugiperda reduces D. v. virgifera abundance, but only when it arrives on the plant first. In behavioral experiments, D. v. virgifera larvae continued feeding on plants that they had infested before leaf infestation, but refused to initiate feeding on plants that were infested by S. frugiperda before their arrival. Changes in root‐emitted volatiles were sufficient to elicit this sequence‐specific behavior. Root volatile and headspace mixing experiments showed that early‐arriving D. v. virgifera larvae suppressed S. frugiperda‐induced volatile repellents, which led to the maintenance of host attractiveness to D. v. virgifera. Our study provides a physiological and behavioral mechanism for sequence specificity in plant‐mediated interactions and suggests that physiological canalization of behaviorally active metabolites can drive sequence specificity and result in strongly diverging herbivore distribution patterns.
Personalization in e-campaigning: A cross-national comparison of personalization strategies used on candidate websites of 17 countries in EP elections 2009

Candidate websites provide politicians with opportunities to present themselves in an individual way. To a greater or lesser extent politicians share personal information in their biographies and provide options to connect with citizens by putting links on their websites to their social networking sites (SNS). In this paper, although acting on different levels, both strategies are indicated as forms of personalization strategies used by politicians in their online communication. This cross-national study explores the use of these strategies on candidate websites in 17 countries during the elections for the European Parliament (EP) in June 2009. This is a comparative study of the personalized and individualized campaigning styles used during elections. Findings show that three general dimensions of personalization can be distinguished; ‘professional’, ‘home and family’ and ‘personal preferences’. While the first two dimensions show a higher level of use among candidates, the third dimension on private information is hardly used. Results show also that countries from Central Europe inform their citizens more about their professional and personal circumstances, and Mediterranean countries use personalization strategies the least. Furthermore, the overall findings show that SNS were not frequently used during the 2009 e-campaigning. West European countries use links to SNS more frequently than countries in other regions. In general these findings suggest cross-cultural differences regarding online personalized political campaigning.
Completeness of carotid intima media thickness measurements depends on body composition: the RADIANCE 1 and 2 trials.

AIM Ultrasound protocols to measure carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) differ considerably with regard to the inclusion of the number of carotid segments and angles used. Detailed information on the completeness of CIMT information is often lacking in published reports, and at most, overall percentages are presented. We therefore decided to study the completeness of CIMT measurements and its relation with vascular risk factors using data from two CIMT intervention studies: one among familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) patients, the Rating Atherosclerotic Disease change by Imaging With A New CETP Inhibitor (RADIANCE 1), and one among mixed dyslipidemia (MD) patients, the Rating Atherosclerotic Disease change by Imaging With A New CETP Inhibitor (RADIANCE 2). METHODS We used baseline ultrasound scans from the RADIANCE 1 (n=872) and RADIANCE 2 (n=752) studies. CIMT images were recorded for 12 artery-wall combinations (near and far walls of the left and right common carotid artery (CCA), bifurcation (BIF) and internal carotid artery (ICA) segments) at 4 set angles, resulting in 48 possible measurements per patient. The presence or absence of CIMT measurements was assessed per artery-wall combination and per angle. The relation between completeness and patient characteristics was evaluated with logistic regression analysis. RESULTS In 89% of the FH patients, information on CIMT could be obtained on all twelve carotid segments, and in 7.6%, eleven segments had CIMT information (nearly complete 96.6%). For MD patients this was 74.6% and 17.9%, respectively (nearly complete: 92.5%). Increased body mass index and increased waist circumference were significantly (p=0.01) related to less complete data in FH patients. For MD patients, relations were seen with increased waist circumference (p<0.01). Segment-specific data indicated that in FH patients, completeness was less for the near wall of the left (96%) and right internal carotid artery (94%) as compared to other segments (all >98%). In MD patients, completeness was lower for the near wall of both the right and left carotid arteries: 86.0% and 90.8%, respectively, as compared to other segments (all >97%). CONCLUSIONS With the current ultrasound protocols it is possible to obtain a very high level of completeness. Apart from the population studied, body mass index and waist circumference are important in achieving complete CIMT measurements.
Animal models for auditory streaming

Sounds in the natural environment need to be assigned to acoustic sources to evaluate complex auditory scenes. Separating sources will affect the analysis of auditory features of sounds. As the benefits of assigning sounds to specific sources accrue to all species communicating acoustically, the ability for auditory scene analysis is widespread among different animals. Animal studies allow for a deeper insight into the neuronal mechanisms underlying auditory scene analysis. Here, we will review the paradigms applied in the study of auditory scene analysis and streaming of sequential sounds in animal models. We will compare the psychophysical results from the animal studies to the evidence obtained in human psychophysics of auditory streaming, i.e. in a task commonly used for measuring the capability for auditory scene analysis. Furthermore, the neuronal correlates of auditory streaming will be reviewed in different animal models and the observations of the neurons’ response measures will be related to perception. The across-species comparison will reveal whether similar demands in the analysis of acoustic scenes have resulted in similar perceptual and neuronal processing mechanisms in the wide range of species being capable of auditory scene analysis. This article is part of the themed issue ‘Auditory and visual scene analysis’.
GOTaxon: Representing the evolution of biological functions in the Gene Ontology

The Gene Ontology aims to define the universe of functions known for gene products, at the molecular, cellular and organism levels. While the ontology is designed to cover all aspects of biology in a "species independent manner", the fact remains that many if not most biological functions are restricted in their taxonomic range. This is simply because functions evolve, i.e. like other biological characteristics they are gained and lost over evolutionary time. Here we introduce a general method of representing the evolutionary gain and loss of biological functions within the Gene Ontology. We then apply a variety of techniques, including manual curation, logical reasoning over the ontology structure, and previously published "taxon constraints" to assign evolutionary gain and loss events to the majority of terms in the GO. These gain and loss events now almost triple the number of terms with taxon constraints, and currently cover a total of 76% of GO terms, including 40% of molecular function terms, 78% of cellular component terms, and 89% of biological process terms. Database URL: GOTaxon is freely available at this https URL
Micro-indentation fracture from flat-ended cylindrical indenter

Unlike a Hertzian ring crack induced by a spherical indenter in absence of a singular stress field, a ring crack generated by a rigid flat cylindrical indenter can be explicitly linked to a K-dominant singular stress field at the perimeter of the flat indenter. This means microcrack initiation induced by a flat indenter and relevant properties such as the critical indentation load and fracture toughness can be formulated explicitly using the fracture mechanics approach. It is shown in this paper that the indentation stress intensity factor, K i I , for such a stress field is similar to that of a mode I crack. Based on the energy-releasing rate and the Griffith's theorem, a flat indentation cracking model has been proposed; the critical load and critical cracking angle for crack initiation are derived. A new concept of fracture toughness for negative mode I singular stress field,K i IC , has been defined and a relationship between K i and the traditional K IC has been derived. The experimental investigation validates the existence of such K i ,f rom which theK IC value of the glass had been determined to be 0.772 ± 0.003 MPa m 1/2 , agreeing well with the literature data. This analysis for indentation fracture or crack initiation due to surface contact of a flat indenter is particularly useful in determining K IC of brittle materials with dimensions in micro/nanoscales, e.g. thin films and other microstructures as flat micro/nano-indenters are available and can be used on various nano-indentation machines.
Simulation Test of Equipment of Non-Contact Detection with GPR

The composite lining model of railway tunnel is set up and then simulation test is presented by non-contact detection with the simple detection equipment of ground penetrating radar (GPR) to study the main technique parameters of the equipment. The results show that the lining can be detected by the way, and the quality of GPR scan obtained in the simulation test decreases with the detection distance increasing. In the GPR scan obtained when keeping ground-coupled shielding antenna of 400MHz 20cm away from the ground(the distant from the bottom of GPR antenna to the surface of lining specimen), a variety of work conditions that has been preset in the experimental design can be identified, moreover, the location and range of both uncompacted backfill and cavity behind the lining etc. approach those that can be get when the antenna sticking to the lining, thus providing satisfactory qualitative interpretation of GPR scan. In addition, the deviation range of GPR non-contact detection is close to that when the antenna sticking to the lining, thus ensuring the detection value accuracy of lining thickness.
Two-layer structure for high spatial frequency optical data recording based on multinary chalcogenide semiconductors

We report a photosensitive composite structure consisting of chalcogenide glassy semiconductors and copolymeric thermoplastic materials. Our researches were aimed to find out new approaches of using photothermoplastic materials. (PTPM) as two-layered media for holographic and optical data recording. This approach was based on creating the modified PTPM structures with enhanced characteristics as well as on performing the new processes of recording onto PTPM. Some modifications in the recording procedure and equipment setup were carried out. It is established that PTPM systems based on donor-acceptor layers have a photosensitivity of 10-3 to 10-4 J/cm2. The introduction into them an additive of photochromic dye increases the photosensitivity of donor-acceptor systems by 2 - 3 times. The essential growth in photosensitivity is observed in the blue-to-green range of spectrum. A method of photothermoplastic recording of holograms on a PTPM with a photosensitive layer of chalcogenide glassy semiconductors is proposed. Storing the whole data file of holograms followed by their development does the recording of optical information.
The Properties of Nanocarbontubes Cement Mortar Incorporating Mineral Additives

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the influence of mineral additives i.e. metakaolin, silica fume, rice ash and fly ash incorporating with nanocarbontubes mortar composites. The effects on compressive strength at 28 days were also discussed and presented. Cement content of 500 kg/m3, water/cement ratio of 0.6 and aggregate/cement ratio of 2.75 were adopted for the mix propotion. 1%, 3% and 5% of nanocarbontubes in mortar were combined with 15% of mineral additives. The results show that mixtures of nanocarbontubes with 15% of metakaolin produce better strength compared to normal mortar. Meanwhile with addition of fly ash and rice husk ash the strength were decreased. The electrical resistance for all mixes at 28 days were also discussed and presented. The higher percentages of nanocarbon with addition of all mineral additives resulted in lower electrical resistance properties
Antroquinonol Exerts Immunosuppressive Effect on CD8+ T Cell Proliferation and Activation to Resist Depigmentation Induced by H2O2

Antroquinonol was investigated as antioxidant and inhibition of inflammatory responses. Our study was to evaluate its immunosuppressive effect on CD8+ T cells and protective effect on depigmentation. CD8+ T cells were treated with antroquinonol in vitro, and C57BL/6 mice were treated with antroquinonol with or without H2O2 in vivo for 50 consecutive days. We found antroquinonol could inhibit proliferation of CD8+ T cells and suppress the production of cytokines IL-2 and IFN-γ and T cell activation markers CD69 and CD137 in vitro. H2O2 treatment induced depigmentation and reduced hair follicle length, skin thickness, and tyrosinase expression in vivo. Whereas, antroquinonol obviously ameliorated depigmentation of mice skin and resisted the reduction of hair follicle length, skin thickness, and tyrosinase expression induced by H2O2. Antroquinonol decreased CD8+ T cell infiltration in mice skin, inhibited the production of IL-2 and IFN-γ, and decreased the expression of CXCL10 and CXCR3. Summarily, our data shows antroquinonol inhibits CD8+ T cell proliferation in vitro. It also reduces CD8+ T cell infiltration and proinflammatory cytokine secretion and suppresses the thinning of epidermal layer in vivo. Our findings suggest that antroquinonol exerts immunosuppressive effects on CD8+ T cell proliferation and activation to resist depigmentation induced by H2O2.
The dose makes the poison: from glutamate-mediated neurogenesis to neuronal atrophy and depression

Abstract Experimental evidence has demonstrated that glutamate is an essential factor for neurogenesis, whereas another line of research postulates that excessive glutamatergic neurotransmission is associated with the pathogenesis of depression. The present review shows that such paradox can be explained within the framework of hormesis, defined as biphasic dose responses. Low glutamate levels activate adaptive stress responses that include proteins that protect neurons against more severe stress. Conversely, abnormally high levels of glutamate, resulting from increased release and/or decreased removal, cause neuronal atrophy and depression. The dysregulation of the glutamatergic transmission in depression could be underlined by several factors including a decreased inhibition (γ-aminobutyric acid or serotonin) or an increased excitation (primarily within the glutamatergic system). Experimental evidence shows that the activation of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDA) and α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) receptors (AMPAR) can exert two opposite effects on neurogenesis and neuron survival depending on the synaptic or extrasynaptic concentration. Chronic stress, which usually underlies experimental and clinical depression, enhances glutamate release. This overactivates NMDA receptors (NMDAR) and consequently impairs AMPAR activity. Various studies show that treatment with antidepressants decreases plasma glutamate levels in depressed individuals and regulates glutamate receptors by reducing NMDAR function by decreasing the expression of its subunits and by potentiating AMPAR-mediated transmission. Additionally, it has been shown that chronic treatment with antidepressants having divergent mechanisms of action (including tricyclics, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, and ketamine) markedly reduced depolarization-evoked glutamate release in the hippocampus. These data, taken together, suggest that the glutamatergic system could be a final common pathway for antidepressant treatments.
Effects of Tactile Augmentation and Self-Body Visualization on Affective Property Evaluation of Virtual Mobile Phone Designs

Product design is an iterative process that involves, among other things, evaluation. In addition to the intended functionality of the product, its affective properties (or Kansei) have emerged as important evaluation criteria for the successful marketing of the product. Affective properties refer to consumers' psychological feelings about a product, and they can be mapped into perceptual design elements for possible design modification toward higher customer satisfaction. Affective properties of products in design can partially be assessed using the near photorealistic graphic rendering feature of the desktop computer-aided design tools, or rapid prototyping tools that can produce physical mock-ups. Recently, immersive virtual reality systems have been suggested as an ideal platform for affective analysis of an evolving design because of, among other things, the natural style of interaction they offer when examining the product, such as the use of direct and proprioceptive interaction, head tracking and first-person viewpoint, and multimodality. In this paper, the effects of tactile augmentation and self-body visualization on the evaluation of the affective property are investigated by comparing three types of virtual environments for evaluating the affective properties of mobile phones. Each virtual environment offers different degrees of tactile and self-body realism. The effectiveness of these virtual environments is evaluated, compared to a control condition: the affective assessment of using the real product. The experiment has shown that the virtual affective evaluation results from the three systems correlated very highly with that of the real product, and no statistically significant differences could be found among the three systems. This finding indicates that tactile augmentation and the high-fidelity self-body visualization had no effect on the evaluation of the affective property. Nevertheless, the experimental results have indicated the importance of enhanced interaction with tactile augmentation for evaluating the property of texture, and have shown that VR systems have the potential for use as affective evaluation platforms.
Elastohydrodynamic film thickness measurements of artificially produced nonsmooth surfaces

Optical interferometry is used to measure the elastohydrodynamic (EHD) film thickness associated with artificially produced, nonsmooth surfaces. The nonsmooth surfaces are produced by modifying the surfaces of highly-polished balls with irregularities in the form of multiple grooves and dents. By closely spacing these irregularities, it is possible not only to produce depressions on the surface of the balls but also to generate pseudo asperities. The average “roughness” wavelength of this artificially-produced, nonsmooth surface approximates the average fundamental roughness wavelength, found on surfaces of some mechanical elements operating under concentrated contact. By comparing the measured film thickness profiles to the stylus traces of the irregularities, it is possible to observe the local deformations associated with micro-EHD pressure generation. In both pure rolling and pure sliding conditions, the artificially-produced “asperities” are deformed and complete separation exists between them and th.
Brillouin scattering from amorphous bisphenol‐A polycarbonate

Brillouin scattering has been studied from amorphous bisphenol-A polycarbonate in the temperature interval 60–240°C. Both longitudinal and transverse Brillouin peaks are observed over the entire range. The behavior of both types of Brillouin splittings, Δωl and Δωt, in the region of the glass–rubber relaxation is typical of an amorphous polymer. Equilibrium values of Δωl and Δωt were obtained 20°C below the glass-transition temperature Tg determined at cooling rates of 20°C/hr. Comparison of the present results with previous ultrasonic data reveals a considerable dispersion in the longitudinal phonon velocity below Tg. The origin of the large transverse Brillouin intensities is related to the structure of polycarbonate.