Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The effect of morphology on the flame‐retardant behaviors of melamine cyanurate in PA6 composites

Three types of melamine cyanurate (MCA) with micrometer-size sphere-like, micrometer-scale rod-like, and nanometer-scale flake-like morphologies were synthesized by changing the chemical circumstances of the reactions. The microcosmic morphologies of MCA were characterized via scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. After the MCAs with different morphologies were incorporated into polyamide 6 (PA6), the flame-retardant properties of the MCA/PA6 composites were investigated using the limited oxygen index (LOI), UL94, and cone calorimeter tests. The MCA/PA6 composites with nanometer-scale flake-like MCA obtained an LOI value of 29.5% and a UL94 V-0 rating, which were higher than those with micrometer-size sphere-like and rod-like MCAs. However, the different morphologies did not affect the heat release rate, total smoke release, average carbon monoxide yield, and average carbon dioxide yield based on the cone calorimeter. The flame-retardant mechanism of MCAs with different morphologies was investigated via thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and TGA-Fourier transform infrared spectra. The results show that the different morphologies of MCA resulted in different dispersed evenness of MCA. Further, the nanometer-scale flake-like morphology of MCA brought more interactions of hydrogen bond between MCA and PA6, which resulted in the delay of MCA decomposition and the enhancement of MCA flame-retardant effect. The nanometer-scale flake-like MCA had a better performance compared with the other samples because of the delaying and even release of flame-retardant effect by the decomposition of evenly dispersed MCA. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014, 131, 40558.
Study on the Influence Factors of the Dispersion of Carbon Nanotubes in Aqueous Solution

In this paper, the optimal ratio of surfactant and carbon nanotubes (CNTs), the best ultrasonic time and the effects of three different surfactants were studied based on which the CNTs dispersion method was recommended. For each surfactant, optimal mix ratio of surfactant and CNTs could be found. The results of UV-Vis spectrophotometer test and centrifugation showed that the best CNTs dispersion could be obtained with OP, and the optimal mass ratio between OP and CNTs was about 0.7, and when the concentration of CNTs was 1g/L, the optimal ultrasonic time was about 1 hour. With the concentration of CNTs increased, the optimal ultrasonic time also increased.
Why is Software Late? An Empirical Study of Reasons For Delay in Software Development

A study of the reasons for delay in software development is described. The aim of the study was to gain an insight into the reasons for differences between plans and reality in development activities in order to be able to take actions for improvement. A classification was used to determine the reasons. 160 activities, comprising over 15000 hours of work, have been analyzed. The results and interpretations of the results are presented. Insight into the predominant reasons for delay enabled actions for improvements to be taken in the department concerned. Because the distribution of reasons for delay varied widely from one department to another, it is recommended that every department should gain an insight into its reasons for delay in order to be able to take adequate actions for improvement. >
Dynamic variability management in mobile multicore processors under lifetime constraints

Variability is a key issue in modern multiprocessors, resulting in performance and lifetime uncertainty, and high design margins. The margins can be reduced by exposing variability to software and then adapting at runtime. In this work we use sensors to monitor the variable operating conditions and the degradation rate. Based on the sensor data, our variability-aware OS scheduling algorithm assigns the workload to the cores and sets the power/performance tradeoffs to meet the mobile processor's lifetime constraints while adjusting to variability and improving the overall performance. We implement our algorithm in Android OS on a mobile phone and show that it achieves up to 160% performance improvement over the state-of-the-art while meeting the lifetime constraints.
Learning Math Concepts by Visually Programming Robots

For improving the use of visual programming language many are the systems that have been built for the primary school users. Some applications are about science learning and some deals with Mathematics. This paper presents an educational environment developed by AgentSheets system, devoted to math learning for elementary students and it is a follow up of a computational system in which an autonomous robotic agent, through its sensors and a simple set of behaviours, is able to develop a specific sensorial language. The environment is so organized. There is a pedagogical agent which explores the environment and classifies the objects it finds. The objects are stored in the system memory and the agent makes mathematical operations on this stored information. The agent has all math rules for calculus, formal logic, sets theory, topology and space concepts. These rules are displayed on the worksheets since the agent creates enganging situations and are transferred to the users by demonstration, through and highly dynamic interaction. In fact, the user can interact with the system and learning by
Detecting Complex Predicates in Hindi using POS Projection across Parallel Corpora

Complex Predicates or CPs are multiword complexes functioning as single verbal units. CPs are particularly pervasive in Hindi and other Indo-Aryan languages, but an usage account driven by corpus-based identification of these constructs has not been possible since single-language systems based on rules and statistical approaches require reliable tools (POS taggers, parsers, etc.) that are unavailable for Hindi. This paper highlights the development of first such database based on the simple idea of projecting POS tags across an English-Hindi parallel corpus. The CP types considered include adjective-verb (AV), noun-verb (NV), adverb-verb (Adv-V), and verb-verb (VV) composites. CPs are hypothesized where a verb in English is projected onto a multi-word sequence in Hindi. While this process misses some CPs, those that are detected appear to be more reliable (83% precision, 46% recall). The resulting database lists usage instances of 1439 CPs in 4400 sentences.
Does Inverse Lighting Work Well under Unknown Response Function?

Inverse lighting is a technique for recovering the lighting environment of a scene from a single image of an object. Conventionally, inverse lighting assumes that a pixel value is proportional to radiance value, i.e. the response function of a camera is linear. Unfortunately, however, consumer cameras usually have unknown and nonlinear response functions, and therefore conventional inverse lighting does not work well for images taken by those cameras. In this study, we propose a method for simultaneously recovering the lighting environment of a scene and the response function of a camera from a single image. Through a number of experiments using synthetic images, we demonstrate that the performance of our proposed method depends on the lighting distribution, response function, and surface albedo, and address under what conditions the simultaneous recovery of the lighting environment and response function works well.
Semi-centralized control for multi-robot formation and theoretical lower bound

Multi-robot formation control enables robots to cooperate as a working group in completing complex tasks, which has been widely used in both civilian and military scenarios. Before moving to reach a given formation, each robot should choose a position from the formation so that the whole system cost is minimized. To solve the problem, we formulate an optimization problem in terms of the total moving distance and give a solution by the Hungarian method. To analyze the deviation of the achieved formation from the ideal one, we obtain the lower bound of formation bias with respect to system's parameters based on notions in information theory. As an extension, we discuss methods of transformation between different formations. Some theoretical results are obtained to give a guidance of the system design.
PBL curriculum improves medical students’ participation in small-group tutorials

Background: Group learning is the core of problem-based learning (PBL) but has not been extensively studied, especially in Asian students. Methods: This study compared students of PBL and non-PBL curricula in students’ talking time and participation in small-group tutorials in a medical school in Asia. The proportions of student talking of 46 tutorials in three teaching rotations of the PBL curriculum and those of 43 corresponding tutorials in the non-PBL curriculum were counted. Twelve videotapes of tutorials (six from each curriculum), stratified for tutor, case scenario and students' learning stage, were randomly selected and transcribed. They were rated with the group-interaction (5 items) and active-participation (four items) tutorial assessment scales developed by Valle et al. These outcomes were compared between the students of PBL and non-PBL curricula. Results: Students from the PBL curriculum talked significantly more. In only two (4.7%) of 43 tutorials in the non-PBL curriculum did the students talk more than the tutors; but students talked more than the tutors in 17 (37.0%) of 46 tutorials in the PBL curriculum. PBL students scored significantly higher than non-PBL students in all items except one item (respect to peers) of the tutorial assessment scales, and in the mean scores of both the group interaction scale (items 1–5) and the active participation scale (items 6–9). Conclusions: The results suggested that PBL starting from the early years of a medical curriculum was associated with more active student participation, interaction and collaboration in small-group tutorials.
Nhlh2: A Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factor Controlling Physical Activity

In mice, targeted deletion of the basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor, nescient helix-loop-helix 2 (Nhlh2), leads to adult-onset obesity and reduced physical activity. We propose the novel hypothesis that transcriptional activity by Nhlh2 (NHLH2 in humans) controls either the ability or the motivation for exercise.
Sofalcone Upregulates the Nuclear Factor (Erythroid-Derived 2)–Like 2/Heme Oxygenase-1 Pathway, Reduces Soluble fms–Like Tyrosine Kinase-1, and Quenches Endothelial Dysfunction: Potential Therapeutic for Preeclampsia

Preeclampsia is a severe complication of pregnancy, characterized by hypertension, oxidative stress, and severe endothelial dysfunction. Antiangiogenic factors, soluble fms–like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1) and soluble endoglin, play key pathophysiological roles in preeclampsia. Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is a cytoprotective, antioxidant enzyme reported to be downregulated in preeclampsia. Studies propose that inducing HO-1 may also decrease sFlt-1 production. Sofalcone, a gastric antiulcer agent in clinical use, is known to induce HO-1 in gastric epithelium. We aimed to investigate whether sofalcone induces HO-1 and reduces sFlt-1 release from primary human placental and endothelial cells and blocks endothelial dysfunction in vitro. We isolated human trophoblasts and endothelial cells (human umbilical vein endothelial cells) and also used uterine microvascular cells. We investigated the effects of sofalcone on (1) HO-1 production, (2) activation of the nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)–like 2 pathway, (3) sFlt-1 and soluble endoglin release, (4) tumor necrosis factor &agr;–induced monocyte adhesion and vascular cell adhesion molecule upregulation, and (5) endothelial tubule formation. Sofalcone potently increased HO-1 mRNA and protein in both primary trophoblasts and human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Furthermore, sofalcone treatment caused nuclear translocation of nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)–like 2 and transactivation of other nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)–like 2 responsive genes (NQO1, TXN, and GCLC). Importantly, sofalcone significantly decreased the secretion of sFlt-1 from primary human trophoblasts. Sofalcone potently suppressed endothelial dysfunction in 2 in vitro models, blocking tumor necrosis factor &agr;–induced monocyte adhesion and vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 expression in human umbilical vein endothelial cells. These results indicate that in primary human tissues, sofalcone can potently activate antioxidant nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)–like 2/HO-1 pathway, decrease sFlt-1 production, and ameliorate endothelial dysfunction. We propose that sofalcone is a novel therapeutic candidate for preeclampsia.
Accuracy of free-energy perturbation calculations in molecular simulation. I. Modeling

We examine issues involved in applying and interpreting free-energy perturbation (FEP) calculations in molecular simulation. We focus in particular on the accuracy of these calculations, and how the accuracy differs when the FEP is performed in one or the other direction between two systems. We argue that the commonly applied heuristic, indicating a simple average of results taken for the two directions, is poorly conceived. Instead, we argue that the best way to proceed is to conduct the FEP calculation in one direction, namely that in which the entropy of the target is less than the entropy of the reference. We analyze the behavior of FEP calculations in terms of the perturbation-energy distribution functions, and present several routes to characterize the calculations in terms of these distributions. We also provide prescriptions for the selection of an appropriate multistage FEP scheme based on how the important phase-space regions of the target and reference systems overlap one another.
Characterization of a 140-kD avian cell surface antigen as a fibronectin-binding molecule

A 140,000-D protein cell surface antigen (140k) complex has been implicated in fibronectin-mediated cell-substratum attachment. We have used three different experimental systems to evaluate the hypothesis that this 140k complex can function as a fibronectin receptor. A monoclonal antibody that binds to the 140k complex specifically inhibits the direct binding of 3H-labeled 75,000-D fibronectin cell- binding fragment (f75k) to chicken embryo fibroblasts in suspension. The 140k complex is retarded in its passage through an affinity column consisting of immobilized f75k, and this interaction is specifically inhibited by a synthetic peptide that contains the fibronectin cell- recognition signal sequence. Finally, exogenous purified 140k complex inhibits the attachment and spreading of chicken embryo fibroblasts on fibronectin-coated substrates. Thus, our results indicate that the 140k complex can bind directly to fibronectin and is likely to be a fibronectin receptor for chicken cells.
Treatment of poor risk acute leukemia with sequential high-dose ARA-C and asparaginase.

Resistance of leukemia cells to cytosine arabinoside (ARA-C) may be due to any one or combination of biochemical processes, which in certain instances may be substantially reversed by an appropriate increase in ARA-C dosage. Based on these and other laboratory observations indicating pharmacologic synergy between sequential high-dose ARA-C and asparaginase (HiDAC----ASNase), a therapeutic program was developed for the treatment of patients with acute nonlymphocytic leukemia (ANLL) refractory to conventional doses of ARA-C, as well as patients with high risk ANLL and advanced acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL). Treatment consisted of 3-hr intravenous infusions of 3 g/sq m of ARA-C given at 12-hr intervals for 4 doses, followed by 6,000 IU/sq m ASNase given i.m. at hour 42. The same schedule was repeated on day 8. In 32 induction attempts, only 4 patients proved to be truly refractory, i.e., failed to achieve substantial leukemia cell cytoreduction. Complete remissions were achieved with HiDAC---- ASNase in 9 of 13 patients with refractory ANLL, 6 of 9 patients with antecedent hematologic disorders, and 3 of 10 patients with advanced ALL. These include 9 of 14 patients who had either failed induction or who had relapsed on active ARA-C therapy and 6 of 8 patients who had had no prior exposure to ARA-C. The median duration of unmaintained remission in ANLL was 5 mo. In a patient with central nervous system (CNS) leukemia, there was clearance of cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) blasts without intrathecal therapy, suggesting a role for HiDAC in CNS prophylaxis. In general, toxicity was tolerable and reversible. These data suggest that HiDAC----ASNase is an exceptionally effective and well tolerated regimen in leukemic patients with antecedent hematologic disorders and in those refractory to conventional doses of ARA-C.
Glycogen availability does not affect the TCA cycle or TAN pools during prolonged, fatiguing exercise.

The hypothesis that fatigue during prolonged exercise arises from insufficient intramuscular glycogen, which limits tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA) activity due to reduced TCA cycle intermediates (TCAI), was tested in this experiment. Seven endurance-trained men cycled at approximately 70% of peak O(2) uptake (Vo(2 peak)) until exhaustion with low (LG) or high (HG) preexercise intramuscular glycogen content. Muscle glycogen content was lower (P < 0.05) at fatigue than at rest in both trials. However, the increase in the sum of four measured TCAI (>70% of the total TCAI pool) from rest to 15 min of exercise was not different between trials, and TCAI content was similar after 103 +/- 15 min of exercise (2.62 +/- 0.31 and 2.59 +/- 0.28 mmol/kg dry wt for LG and HG, respectively), which was the point of volitional fatigue during LG. Subjects cycled for an additional 52 +/- 9 min during HG, and although glycogen was markedly reduced (P < 0.05) during this period, no further change in the TCAI pool was observed, thus demonstrating a clear dissociation between exercise duration and the size of the TCAI pool. Neither the total adenine nucleotide pool (TAN = ATP + ADP + AMP) nor IMP was altered compared with rest in either trial, whereas creatine phosphate levels were not different when values measured at fatigue were compared with those measured after 15 min of exercise. These data demonstrate that altered glycogen availability neither compromises TCAI pool expansion nor affects the TAN pool or creatine phosphate or IMP content during prolonged exercise to fatigue. Therefore, our data do not support the concept that a decrease in muscle TCAI during prolonged exercise in humans compromises aerobic energy provision or is the cause of fatigue.
Picrorhiza kurroa Enhances β-Cell Mass Proliferation and Insulin Secretion in Streptozotocin Evoked β-Cell Damage in Rats

Autoimmune destruction of insulin producing pancreatic β-cells leads to insulin insufficiency and hyperglycemia in type 1 diabetes mellitus. Regeneration of β-cells is one of the proposed treatment for type 1 diabetes and insulin insufficiency. Picrorhiza kurroa is a medicinal herb and is traditionally being used for the treatment of various diseases. Previous studies reported the hypoglycemic potential of P. kurroa. However, its potential role in β-cell induction in insulin secretion have not been fully investigated. Here, we characterized the hydro alcoholic extract of P. kurroa rhizome (PKRE) and further studied its β-cell regeneration and induction of insulin secretion potential in streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rats as well as in insulin producing Rin5f cells. 1H-NMR revealed the presence of more than thirty metabolites including picroside I and II in PKRE. Further, we found that PKRE treatment (100 and 200 mg/kg dose for 30 days) significantly (p ≤ 0.05) protected the pancreatic β-cells against streptozotocin (STZ) evoked damage and inhibited the glucagon receptor expression (Gcgr) in hepatic and renal tissues. It significantly (p ≤ 0.05) enhanced the insulin expression and aids in proliferation of insulin producing Rin5f cells with elevated insulin secretion. Furthermore it significantly (p ≤ 0.05) increased insulin mediated glucose uptake in 3T3L1 and L6 cells. On the contrary, in diabetic rats, PKRE significantly (p ≤ 0.05) decreased high blood glucose and restored the normal levels of serum biochemicals. Altogether, our results showed that PKRE displayed β-cell regeneration with enhanced insulin production and antihyperglycemic effects. PKRE also improves hepatic and renal functions against oxidative damage.
Functional Analysis of the Lactobacillus casei BL23 Sortases

ABSTRACT Sortases are a class of enzymes that anchor surface proteins to the cell wall of Gram-positive bacteria. Lactobacillus casei BL23 harbors four sortase genes, two belonging to class A (srtA1 and srtA2) and two belonging to class C (srtC1 and srtC2). Class C sortases were clustered with genes encoding their putative substrates that were homologous to the SpaEFG and SpaCBA proteins that encode mucus adhesive pili in Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG. Twenty-three genes encoding putative sortase substrates were identified in the L. casei BL23 genome with unknown (35%), enzymatic (30%), or adhesion-related (35%) functions. Strains disrupted in srtA1, srtA2, srtC1, and srtC2 and an srtA1 srtA2 double mutant were constructed. The transcription of all four sortase encoding genes was detected, but only the mutation of srtA1 resulted in a decrease in bacterial surface hydrophobicity. The β-N-acetyl-glucosaminidase and cell wall proteinase activities of whole cells diminished in the srtA1 mutant and, to a greater extent, in the srtA1 srtA2 double mutant. Cell wall anchoring of the staphylococcal NucA reporter protein fused to a cell wall sorting sequence was also affected in the srtA mutants, and the percentages of adhesion to Caco-2 and HT-29 intestinal epithelial cells were reduced for the srtA1 srtA2 strain. Mutations in srtC1 or srtC2 result in an undetectable phenotype. Together, these results suggest that SrtA1 is the housekeeping sortase in L. casei BL23 and SrtA2 would carry out redundant or complementary functions that become evident when SrtA1 activity is absent.
Improvement and analysis of iterative decision-feedback differential demodulation

In this letter, we consider iterative decision-feedback differential demodulation (iterative DFDM), which was proposed previously as a low-complexity solution for power-efficient transmission over flat fading channels without channel state information at the receiver. We devise a modified demodulator (inner decoder), which improves both the achievable bit-error rate performance and the convergence of iterative DFDM without increasing complexity. We also establish an equivalent decoder model for iterative DFDM which enables a convergence analysis by means of extrinsic information transfer charts.
Crystal structure of 3-methoxycarbonyl-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-8-oxo-1-azaspiro[4.5]deca-1,6,9-trien-1-ium-1-olate

The title compound, C18H17NO5, was prepared by a synthetic strategy based on the Heck reaction from Morita–Baylis–Hillman adducts. The five-membered ring adopts a slightly twisted conformation on the Ca—Cm (a = aromatic and m = methylene) bond. The dihedral angle between the five-membered ring and the spiro aromatic ring is 89.35 (7)°; that between the five-membered ring and the 4-methoxybenzene ring is 4.65 (7)°. Two short intramolecular C—H⋯O contacts occur. In the crystal, molecules are linked by C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds to generate a three-dimensional network.