Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Changes in wood-water relationship due to heat treatment assessed on micro-samples of three Eucalyptus species

Abstract Wood-water relationship of untreated and heat-treated wood was studied. Specimens of Eucalyptus grandis, E. saligna, and E. citriodora were submitted to five conditions of heat treatment: 180°C and 220°C with air; 220°C, 250°C, and 280°C with N2. The wood-water relationships were accurately studied in a special device, in which the moisture content (MC) of the sample was measured with a highly sensitive electronic microbalance placed in a climatic chamber. The dimensions of the sample were collected continuously without contact by means of two high-speed laser scan micrometers. Sorption curves and shrinkage-MC relationships were observed. To study the effects of heat treatment, the following parameters were also determined: fiber saturation point (FPS), wood anisotropy (T/R ratio), shrinkage slope, reduction in hygroscopicity, and anti-shrink efficiency (ASE). The physical properties were significantly affected only at 220°C and above. At heat temperature levels higher than 220°C, the reduction in hygroscopicity and ASE are higher than 40% and continue to be reduced with increasing temperature level. This work also demonstrates that heat treatment does not change the slope of the curves “shrinkage vs. MC”, proving that heat treatment affects the domain of alterations in wood properties, but not the behavior within this domain.
Influence of Relative Humidity on Textile Antenna Performance

The next generation of garments is sensorized, and therefore requires an adapted wireless communication tool such as a textile antenna. However, when integrating this flexible antenna into clothing, stable and reliable functioning in the operating frequency range is required. Climatic changes, especially altering relative humidity, might influence the textile antenna performance. This effect has to be taken into consideration when selecting the textile materials that comprise the antenna. A variety of antenna substrate materials has been investigated in this paper. It was found that antennas based on materials with a small moisture regain (less than 3 %) provided a more stable antenna characteristic, and can therefore preferably be applied as antenna substrate.
Reduced specificity and enhanced subjective experience of future thinking in ageing: the influence of avoidance and emotion-regulation strategies

ABSTRACT Future thinking in older adults is characterised by a lack of specificity of imagined events and by an equal or even higher subjective experience, compared to younger adults. We considered whether this lack of specificity stemmed partly from the avoidance of a somewhat disturbing future and then examined the extent to which certain types of emotion-regulation strategies, namely positive reappraisal and positive refocusing, contributed to the subjective experience of future thinking. Middle-aged and older adults completed an adapted version of the AMT, in which temporal distance and cue word valence were manipulated, thus resulting in future conditions assumed to represent varying degrees of discomfort. Results indicate that distant future and negative cues restricted both the specificity and the subjective experience of future thinking. In addition, the use of avoidance strategies predicted the nature of future thoughts in the context of a supposed uncomfortable future (i.e., a distant future induced by negative cues), although it followed quite different age-related patterns. Together with the findings that positive reappraisal and positive refocusing (to a lesser extent) contributed to the subjective experience of future thinking, this study indicates that how individuals imagine their personal future also relies on affect- and emotion-regulation strategies.
Transcriptional repression by the human bZIP factor E4BP4: definition of a minimal repression domain

The bZIP factor E4BP4 overlaps in DNA binding site specificity with the transcriptional activator CREB and members of the ATF family of transcription factors, but is an active transcriptional repressor. In this study we have mapped the repressing activity of E4BP4 to a small 'domain' of 65 amino acids that retains its ability to repress transcription when transferred to the heterologous DNA binding domain of the yeast transcriptional activator GAL4. This segment of the E4BP4 polypeptide contains a high proportion of charged amino acids and does not resemble the repression domains that have been characterized so far from other active transcriptional repressors such as the Drosophila Krüppel, Engrailed or Even-skipped proteins. A mutation which changes the charge configuration of this repression module resulted in a complete loss of repressor activity. The E4BP4-GAL4 fusion protein is able to repress the residual transcription from minimal promoters containing the adenovirus E4 or E1b TATA box. This is consistent with a mechanism of action whereby E4BP4 interacts with some component of the general transcription machinery to cause repression of basal and activated transcription. Although a number of nuclear proteins are able to interact with the E4BP4 repression domain in vitro, these proteins do not appear to include the general transcription factors TFIIB or TBP.
The Influence of Particle Size on the Mechanical Properties of Dental Glass Ionomer Cements

The toughening potential of a particle‐size reduction is investigated on experimental glass ionomer cements (GICs). A reduction of the particle size results in a reduced fracture toughness. The use of bimodal particle‐size distributions is proposed for the development of tough and workable cements, where small particles provide the reactive surface area and large particles are responsible for crack deflection. Characterization of a GIC‐restored tooth with reference to a composite restoration by nanoindentation demonstrates the clinical relevance of the study. The elastic properties of GICs are well adapted for application in contact with dentine.
Overview of the NTCIR-6 Cross-Lingual Question Answering (CLQA) Task

This paper describes an overview of the NTCIR-6 Cross-Lingual Question Answering (CLQA) Task, an evaluation campaign for Cross-Lingual Question Answering technology. In NTCIR-5, the first CLQA task targeting Chinese, English, and Japanese languages was carried out. Following the success of NTCIR-5 CLQA, NTCIR-6 hosted the second campaign on the CLQA task. Since the handling of Named Entities is a major issue in CLQA, we aimed to promote research on cross-lingual Question Answering technology capable of Named Entities in East Asian languages. We conducted evaluations of seven subtasks: E-J, J-J, J-E, E-C, C-C, C-E, and EE subtask, where C, E, and J stand for Chinese, English, and Japanese, respectively, and X-Y indicates that questions are given in language X and answers are extracted from documents written in language Y. For the purpose of system development, we provided participants with the sample question/answer pairs and the formal run question/answer pairs used at the previous CLQA task. The Formal Run evaluation was conducted during November 1-7, 2006 with 200 and 150 test questions for Japanese-related CLQA and Chineserelated CLQA, respectively. As a result, 12 research groups world-wide participated in CLQA, and 91 runs were submitted in total.
Shared moments: opportunities for mobile phones in religious participation

The near ubiquity of mobile phones in the world and in people's lives, have created new opportunities for reinterpretation of what these devices are and what they do. One area that has recently emerged is the use of mobile phones in religious practices. Researchers and designers have yet to develop a concrete framework or strategies for designing in this space. This research explores the appropriate role for a mobile phone in religious practice looking specifically at an American Soto Zen Buddhist community. Despite the assumed dysfunction between mobile technology and the Buddhist philosophy of "living in the here and now," we found many opportunities for the phone to help maintain and enhance the bonds between members of religious communities, helping them feel a stronger sense of participation.
Effects of Kollicoat IR® and hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin on the dissolution rate of omeprazole from its microparticles and enteric-coated capsules

Omeprazole microparticles were prepared by different drying techniques using Kollicoat IR® and hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin hydrophilic polymers. Physico-chemical properties were investigated using differential scanning calorimetry and powder X-ray diffractometry. Dissolution rate was determined and compared to the physical mixtures and the morphology was studied using a scanning electron microscope. Omeprazole transformed from the crystalline state to the amorphous state as confirmed by the disappearance of its melting peak and the characteristic of the crystalline peaks. Omeprazole dissolution rate was enhanced significantly from its spray- and freeze-dried microparticles as compared to the corresponding physical mixtures and drug alone (P < 0.05). F3 and F5 formula possessed superior release rate over other formulations. In acidic medium, the release of drug from enteric-coated capsules was not detectable, while it is completely released within 40 min after changing dissolution medium to phosphate buffer (pH 7.4). The transformation of OME from crystalline to amorphous state by using either Kollicoat IR® or hydroxylpropyl-β-cyclodextrin is considered a promising way to improvement of drug dissolution.
RFID Privacy Using User-Controllable Uniqueness

In this paper, we propose two approaches to protect privacy in the 'Digitally Named World', which is the environment in which 'radio frequency ID's (RFIDs) are attached to any objects in the world, and any objects in the real world can be found by the readers of the RFIDs and the networked database system. One is the approach to conceal the permanent ID under a private ID that users give. The other approach is to assign partial ID sequence to a object, and the rest is given by user-assignable RFID tags. These approaches both attempt to give users the controllability of the uniqueness of IDs from local to global, thereby enabling IDs private or public ones in the required stage of the object's life cycle.
μ1A‐adaptin‐deficient mice: lethality, loss of AP‐1 binding and rerouting of mannose 6‐phosphate receptors

The heterotetrameric AP‐1 complex is involved in the formation of clathrin‐coated vesicles at the trans‐Golgi network (TGN) and interacts with sorting signals in the cytoplasmic tails of cargo molecules. Targeted disruption of the mouse μ1A‐adaptin gene causes embryonic lethality at day 13.5. In cells deficient in μ1A‐adaptin the remaining AP‐1 adaptins do not bind to the TGN. Polarized epithelial cells are the only cells of μ1A‐adaptin‐deficient embryos that show γ‐adaptin binding to membranes, indicating the formation of an epithelial specific AP‐1B complex and demonstrating the absence of additional μ1A homologs. Mannose 6‐phosphate receptors are cargo molecules that exit the TGN via AP‐1–clathrin‐coated vesicles. The steady‐state distribution of the mannose 6‐phosphate receptors MPR46 and MPR300 in μ1A‐deficient cells is shifted to endosomes at the expense of the TGN. MPR46 fails to recycle back from the endosome to the TGN, indicating that AP‐1 is required for retrograde endosome to TGN transport of the receptor.
Communication in Network using Wavelet Transform

Huge amounts of digital visual data are stored on different media and exchanged over various sorts of networks nowadays. We propose new measures and techniques for encryption of image. We show that both statistical and pattern classification techniques using our proposed measures provide reasonable discrimination schemes for detecting embedding of different levels. We propose the use of wavelet transforms for steganalysis. As a consequence, techniques are required to provide security functionalities like privacy, integrity, or authentication especially suited for these data types. A relatively new field, denoted “Multimedia Security”, is aimed towards these emerging technologies and applications. Several dedicated international meetings have emerged as a forum to present and discuss recent developments in this field, among them “Security, Steganography, and Watermarking of Multimedia
A Survey on Mobile Social Networks: Applications, Platforms, System Architectures, and Future Research Directions

Mobile social networks (MSNs) have become increasingly popular in supporting many novel applications since emerging in the recent years. Their applications and services are of great interest to service providers, application developers, and users. This paper distinguishes MSNs from conventional social networks and provides a comprehensive survey of MSNs with regard to platforms, solutions, and designs of the overall system architecture. We review the popular MSN platforms and experimental solutions for existing MSN applications and services and present the dominant mobile operating systems on which MSNs are implemented. We then analyze and propose the overall architectural designs of conventional and future MSN systems. In particular, we present the architectural designs from two perspectives: from the client side to the server side, and from the wireless data transmission level to the terminal utilization level. We further introduce and compare the unique features, services, and key technologies of two generations of architectural designs of MSN systems. Then, we classify the existing MSN applications and propose one special form of MSN, i.e., vehicular social network, and demonstrate its unique features and challenges compared with common MSNs. Finally, we summarize the major challenges for on-going MSN research and outline possible future research directions.
Inhalation versus endovenous sedation in subarachnoid hemorrhage patients: Effects on regional cerebral blood flow*

Objective: Isoflurane is a volatile anesthetic that has a vasodilating effect on cerebral vessels producing a cerebral blood flow increase. Furthermore, it has been shown in animal studies that isoflurane, when used as a preconditioning agent, has neuroprotective properties, inducing tolerance to ischemia. However, it is not routinely used in neurointensive care because of the potential increase in intracranial pressure caused by the rise in cerebral blood flow. Nevertheless, subarachnoid hemorrhage patients who are at risk for vasospasm may benefit from an increase in cerebral blood flow. We measured regional cerebral blood flow during intravenous sedation with propofol and during sedation with isoflurane in patients with severe subarachnoid hemorrhage not having intracranial hypertension. Design: The study is a crossover, open clinical trial (NCT00830843). Setting: Neurointensive care unit of an academic hospital. Patients: Thirteen patients with severe subarachnoid hemorrhage, (median Fisher scale 4), monitored on clinical indication with intracranial pressure device and a thermal diffusion probe for the assessment of regional cerebral blood flow. An intracranial pressure >18 mm Hg was an exclusion criterion. Interventions: Cerebral and hemodynamic variables were assessed at three steps. Step 1: sedation with propofol 3–4 mg/kg/hr; step 2: after 1hr of propofol discontinuation and isoflurane 0.8%; step 3: after 1hr of propofol at the same previous infusion rate. Cerebral perfusion pressure and arterial PCO2 were maintained constant. Mean cerebral artery flow velocity and jugular vein oxygen saturation were measured at the end of each step. Measurements and Main Results: Regional cerebral blood flow increased significantly during step 2 (39.3±29mL/100 hg/min) compared to step 1 (20.8±10.7) and step 3 (24.7±8). There was no difference in regional cerebral blood flow comparing step 1 vs. step 3. No significant difference in intracranial pressure, mean cerebral artery transcranial Doppler velocity, PaCO2, cerebral perfusion pressure between the different steps. Conclusions: Isoflurane increases regional cerebral blood flow in comparison to propofol. Intracranial pressure did not change significantly in the population not affected by intracranial hypertension.
KARAKTERISTIK EDIBLE FILM DARI EKSTRAK KACANG KEDELAI DENGAN PENAMBAHAN TEPUNG TAPIOKA DAN GLISEROL SEBAGAI BAHAN PENGEMAS MAKANAN

One way to solve the environment issue in the usage of nonbiodegradable plastic is by using biodegradable packaging. Edible film is a thin layer which is overlay the food. In this research, edible film made from mixture of soybean extract with starch and glycerol. The process of making edible films is began with producing soybean protein extract producing soy milk. Soy milk added by tapioca flour and glyserol variations : 2; 4; 6; 8 and 10 (ml/100 ml soy milk). Then , the mixture stirred by using magnetic stirer, formed and dried in the oven at the temperature of 40 ° C ± 2 days. After that , the characteristics test of edible film done by checking the thickness, the tensile strength and e longation at brea k . The results of research shows that the addition of glycerol influence the edible film’s thickness, tensile strength and elongation at break . The thickness obtained from the increas ing o f the addition glycerol . They are 0,208 mm; 0,228 mm; 0,248 mm; 0,274 mm and 0,294 mm. The tensile strength will decrease if the thickness of the edible film increase. They are 0,105 MPa; 0,134 MPa; 0,088 MPa; 0,072 MPa and 0,048 MPa. The elongation at break which is obtained will increase by increasing of edible film’s thickness . They are 1,839%; 3,270%; 3,842%; 5,779 %, and 6,158%. The characteristic ’ s test shows that the best thickness of edible film is 0,228 mm.
Acoustic Noise/Vibration Reduction of a Single-Phase SRM Using Skewed Stator and Rotor

This paper presents a single-phase switched reluctance motor (SRM) with skewed stator and rotor so that the acoustic noise and vibration have been significantly reduced. The motor has the same skew angle for both stator and rotor laminations. The main source of acoustic noise and vibration is the rapid change of radial magnetic force along the air gap between the stator and rotor poles. Since the radial force (RF) is most intensified on the stator yoke near the salient poles, the abrupt change of the RF can be mitigated by skewing the stator and/or rotor laminations. Therefore, the RF can be more distributed throughout the stator core, and in turn, the peak value of the RF is reduced. In this paper, the distribution of the RF with respect to the skew angles is analyzed through the finite-element method simulation to design a single-phase SRM with the significantly reduced vibration and noise. Based on the simulation results, prototype motors with three different skew angles (0°, 30°, and 64°) have been constructed and tested, validating that the proposed design is effective in mitigating acoustic noise and vibration.
Tbx1 expression in pharyngeal epithelia is necessary for pharyngeal arch artery development

During embryonic life, the initially paired pharyngeal arch arteries (PAAs) follow a precisely orchestrated program of persistence and regression that leads to the formation of the mature aortic arch and great vessels. When this program fails, specific cardiovascular defects arise that may be life threatening or mild, according to the identity of the affected artery. Fourth PAA-derived cardiovascular defects occur commonly in DiGeorge syndrome and velocardiofacial syndrome (22q11DS), and in Tbx1+/– mice that model the 22q11DS cardiovascular phenotype. Tbx1 is expressed in pharyngeal mesoderm, endoderm and ectoderm, and, in addition, we show that it is expressed in precursors of the endothelial cells that line the PAAs, thus expanding the number of tissues in which Tbx1 is potentially required for fourth PAA development. In this study, we have used cell fate mapping and tissue-specific gene deletion, driven by six different Cre lines, to explore Tbx1 gene-dosage requirements in the embryonic pharynx for fourth PAA development. Through this approach, we have resolved the spatial requirements for Tbx1 in this process, and we show pharyngeal epithelia to be a critical tissue. We also thereby demonstrate conclusively that the role of Tbx1 in fourth PAA development is cell non-autonomous.
Thermal dosimetry predictive of efficacy of 111In-ChL6 nanoparticle AMF--induced thermoablative therapy for human breast cancer in mice.

UNLABELLED Antibody (mAb)-linked iron oxide nanoparticles (bioprobes) provide the opportunity to develop tumor specific thermal therapy (Rx) for metastatic cancer when inductively heated by an externally applied alternating magnetic field (AMF). To evaluate the potential of this Rx, in vivo tumor targeting, efficacy, and predictive radionuclide-based heat dosimetry were studied using (111)In-ChL6 bioprobes (ChL6 is chimeric L6) in a human breast cancer xenograft model. METHODS Using carbodiimide, (111)In-DOTA-ChL6 (DOTA is dodecanetetraacetic acid) was conjugated to polyethylene glycol-iron oxide-impregnated dextran 20-nm particles and purified as (111)In-bioprobes. (111)In doses of 740-1,110 kBq (20-30 muCi) (2.2 mg of bioprobes) were injected intravenously into mice bearing HBT3477 human breast cancer xenografts. Pharmacokinetic (PK) data were obtained at 1, 2, 3, and 5 d. AMF was delivered 72 h after bioprobe injection at amplitudes of 1,410 (113 kA/m), 1,300 (104 kA/m), and 700 (56 kA/m) oersteds (Oe) at 30%, 60%, and 90% "on" time (duty), respectively, and at 1,050 Oe (84 kA/m) at 50% and 70% duty over the 20-min treatment. Treated and control mice were monitored for 90 d. Tumor total heat dose (THD) from activated tumor bioprobes was calculated for each Rx group using (111)In-bioprobe tumor concentration and premeasured particle heat response to AMF amplitudes. Tumor growth delay was analyzed by Wilcoxon rank sum comparison of time to double, triple, and quintuple tumor volume in each group, and all groups were compared with the controls. RESULTS Mean tumor concentration of (111)In-bioprobes at 48 h was 14 +/- 2 percentage injected dose per gram; this concentration 24 h before AMF treatment was used to calculate THD. No particle-related toxicity was observed. Toxicity was observed at the highest AMF amplitude-duty combination of 1,300 Oe and 60% over 20 min; 6 of 10 mice died acutely. Tumor growth delay occurred in all of the other groups, correlated with heat dose and, except for the lowest heat dose group, was statistically significant when compared with the untreated group. Electron microscopy showed (111)In-bioprobes on tumor cells and cell death by necrosis at 24 and 48 h after AMF. CONCLUSION mAb-guided bioprobes (iron oxide nanoparticles) effectively targeted human breast cancer xenografts in mice. THD, calculated using empirically observed (111)In-bioprobe tumor concentration and in vitro nanoparticle heat induction by AMF, correlated with tumor growth delay.
Forensics and SIM Cards: An Overview

Nowadays there are many tools for the extraction of data objects [SWGDE] from SIM cards; unfortunately, most of them are proprietary, or their use is restricted to law enforcement and this is contrary to the Daubert test for acceptability from the scientific community. In this paper, we present an open source tool for data objects extraction from SIM and USIM cards which is capable of extracting all observable memory and all the non-standard files that are found in every SIM card. First, a description of the tool from a digital forensics perspective will be provided. Then, the technological background of the tool will be sketched. After that, the core algorithms will be described and explained. Then, motivations for the choice of an XML format for output will be given and the format described. In conclusion, the possible lines of evolution will be presented.