Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An Analysis of the 180° Peel Test for Measuring Sealant Adhesion

Sealant adhesion to different substrates is often assessed by using a 180{degree} peel test. It is known that the peel force is a function of the viscoelastic response of the adhesive joint coupled with the intrinsic strength of the interphase. Measurement of the fracture energy as a function of straining rate can yield material properties by separating the bulk effects from the interphase strength. The results of this study highlight some important deficiencies of the ASTM peel test method. In particular, the fracture energy of a silicone sealant to glass and aluminum was measured at different rates, peel thicknesses and sealant moduli using the 180 peel test. It was determined that the sealant failed cohesively when tested on glass. For instances of cohesive failure, a plot of fracture energy vs. strain rate fit a power law model. The rate dependence of the fracture energy was shown to be proportional to the amount of uncrosslinked polymer in the sealant and this suggested an increase in dissipation. It was further shown that as the modulus of the sealant decreases the fracture energy increases. However, at low strain rates, the trend reverses and the high modulus sealant has better adhesion to glass thanmore » some of the low modulus sealants. Tests on specimens with aluminum substrates failed in accordance with specific test conditions: adhesive failure was more likely to occur when the strained thickness was small: when the strain rates were slow; or when the modulus was high. This study clearly demonstrated that peel testing at one rate and thickness can not adequately compare one sealant to another. « less
Isolation of an insertion sequence (IS1051) from Xanthomonas campestris pv. dieffenbachiae with potential use for strain identification and characterization

A new insertion sequence was isolated from Xanthomonas campestris pv. dieffenbachiae. Sequence analysis showed that this element is 1,158 bp long and has 15-bp inverted repeat ends containing two mismatches. Comparison of this sequence with sequences in data bases revealed significant homology with Escherichia coli IS5. IS1051, which detected multiple restriction fragment length polymorphisms, was used as a probe to characterize strains from the pathovar dieffenbachiae.
Persistent Inward Currents in Spinal Motoneurons and Their Influence on Human Motoneuron Firing Patterns

Persistent inward currents (PICs) are present in many types of neurons and likely have diverse functions. In spinal motoneurons, PICs are especially strong, primarily located in dendritic regions, and subject to particularly strong neuromodulation by the monoamines serotonin and norepinephrine. Because motoneurons drive muscle fibers, it has been possible to study the functional role of their PICs in motor output and to identify PIC-mediated effects on motoneuron firing patterns in human subjects. The PIC markedly amplifies synaptic input, up to fivefold or more, depending on the level of monoaminergic input. PICs also tend to greatly prolong input time course, allowing brief inputs to initiate long-lasting self-sustained firing (i.e., bistable behavior). PIC deactivation usually requires inhibitory input and PIC amplitude can increase to repeated activation. All of these behaviors markedly increase motoneuron excitability. Thus, in the absence of monoaminergic input, motoneuron excitability is very low. Yet PICs have another effect: once active, they tend to sharply limit efficacy of additional synaptic input. All of these PIC effects have been detected in motoneuron firing patterns in human subjects and, hence, PICs are likely a fundamental component of normal motor output. NEUROSCIENTIST 14(3):264–275, 2008. DOI: 10.1177/1073858408314986
Improved-Power-Quality Bridgeless-Converter-Based Multiple-Output SMPS

This paper deals with the design, analysis, simulation, and development of a power-factor-correction (PFC) multiple-output switched-mode power supply (SMPS) using a bridgeless buck-boost converter at the front end. Single-phase ac supply is fed to a pair of back-to-back-connected buck-boost converters to eliminate the diode bridge rectifier, which results in reduction of conduction losses and power quality improvement at the front end. The operation of the bridgeless buck-boost converter in discontinuous conduction mode ensures inherent PFC operation and reduces complexity in control. The performance of the proposed multiple-output SMPS is evaluated under varying input voltages and loads by simulating this circuit in MATLAB/Simulink environment, and the results obtained through simulation are validated experimentally on a developed prototype. Both simulation and experimental results demonstrate the improved performance of the proposed SMPS.
The Politeness Effect: Pedagogical Agents and Learning Gains

Pedagogical agent research seeks to exploit Reeves and Nass's Media Equation, which holds that users respond to interactive media as if they were social actors. Investigations have tended to focus on the media used to realize the pedagogical agent, e.g., the use of animated talking heads and voices, and the results have been mixed. This paper focuses instead on the manner in which a pedagogical agent communicates with learners, on the extent to which it exhibits social intelligence. A model of socially intelligent tutorial dialog was developed based on politeness theory, and implemented in an agent interface. A series of Wizard-of-Oz studies were conducted in which subjects either received polite tutorial feedback that promotes learner face and mitigates face threat, or received direct feedback that disregarded learner face. The polite version yielded better learning outcomes, and the effect was amplified in learners who expressed a preference for indirect feedback. These results confirm the hypothesis that learners tend to respond to pedagogical agents as social actors, and suggest that research should perhaps focus less on the media in which agents are realized, and place more emphasis on the agents' social intelligence.
Booster seat or seat belt? Motor vehicle injuries and child restraint laws in preschool and early school-age children.

ISSUES AND PURPOSE Despite numerous interventions to reduce motor vehicle injuries and deaths in children living in the United States, unintentional motor vehicle injuries continue to be the leading cause of death of U.S. children. CONCLUSION Even though child restraint laws have been enacted, many children 5 to 9 years of age continue to be injured in motor vehicle crashes. These injuries are related to the improper use of child restraints. Reasons for injuries in this age group were explored by a review of the current literature. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS Nurses have a unique role in educating families about proper restraint and in contributing to the evidence base for practice.
Differences in progesterone concentrations and mRNA expressions of progesterone receptors in bovine endometrial tissue between the uterine horns ipsilateral and contralateral to the corpus luteum

Because the establishment of pregnancy begins at the uterine horn ipsilateral to the corpus luteum (ipsi-horn) in cattle, levels of progesterone (P4) and receptor expression in the endometrial tissue, which regulate the intrauterine environment for embryo development, may differ between the ipsi-horn and the uterine horn contralateral to corpus luteum (contra-horn). The aim of the present study was to determine the endometrial tissue P4 concentrations and nuclear progesterone receptor (PGR), progesterone receptor membrane component 1 (PGRMC1) and PGRMC2 mRNA expressions in the cranial and middle parts of the uterine horns during the luteal phase. The results showed higher endometrial tissue P4 concentrations in the cranial part of the ipsi-horn than in that of the contra-horn (P<0.01); however, no change in the endometrial tissue P4 concentrations was evident during the luteal phase. The PGR mRNA expression was higher during the early luteal phase (P<0.05), but no differences between the horns were evident. However, PGRMC1 mRNA expression during the early luteal phase was higher in the cranial part of the ipsi-horn than in that of the contra-horn (P<0.05). In the middle part, there were no changes in the endometrial tissue P4 concentrations and P4 receptor expressions during the luteal phase. In conclusion, the differences in dynamics of endometrial tissue P4 concentrations and P4 receptor expressions between the uterine horns ipsilateral and contralateral to the ovary containing a corpus luteum may cause differences in the intrauterine environment for both the ipsi- and contra-horns.
Smart caching for web browsers

This paper presents smart caching schemes for Web browsers. For modern Web applications, the style formatting and layout calculation often account for substantial amounts of the local computation in order to render a Web page. In this paper, we propose two caching schemes to reduce the computation of style formatting and layout calculation, named smart style caching and layout caching, respectively. The stable style data and layout data for DOM (Document Object Model) elements are recorded to construct the caches when a Web page is browsed. The cached data is checked in the granularity of DOM elements and applied directly if the identified DOM element is not changed in the sequent visits to the same page. We have implemented a prototype of the proposed caching schemes based on the Webkit layout engine. The experimental results with Web pages from the Top 25 Web sites show that, with the smart style caching scheme enabled, the time consumed for style formatting is reduced by 64% on average; with both the smart style caching scheme and layout caching scheme enabled, the time consumed for layout calculation are reduced by 61% on average, and the overall performance improvement is about 46%.
Complex cellular and subcellular regulation of notch expression during embryonic and imaginal development of Drosophila: implications for notch function

The Notch gene in Drosophila encodes a transmembrane protein with homology to EGF that appears to mediate cell-cell interactions necessary for proper epidermal vs. neural fate decisions. In this study, we examine Notch expression in detail throughout embryonic and imaginal development using confocal laser-scanning microscopy and specific mAb probes. We find that Notch is expressed in a tissue- specific manner as early as the cellular blastoderm stage, when cells of the presumptive mesoderm clearly express less Notch than adjacent ectodermal precursors. Notch is abundantly expressed during the initial determination of neuronal lineages, such as the embryonic neuroblasts and the precursors of sensory neurons in the imaginal disc epithelia, but expression quickly decreases during subsequent differentiation. These changing patterns of Notch expression do not correlate well with cell movements, and thus do not appear to support the notion that the major function of Notch is to maintain epithelial integrity via adhesive mechanisms. Our data suggest instead that Notch may act as a cell-surface receptor, perhaps functioning in the lateral inhibition mechanism that is necessary for proper spacing of neuronal precursors.
Identification of the Pr1 Gene Product Completes the Anthocyanin Biosynthesis Pathway of Maize

In maize, mutations in the pr1 locus lead to the accumulation of pelargonidin (red) rather than cyanidin (purple) pigments in aleurone cells where the anthocyanin biosynthetic pathway is active. We characterized pr1 mutation and isolated a putative F3′H encoding gene (Zmf3′h1) and showed by segregation analysis that the red kernel phenotype is linked to this gene. Genetic mapping using SNP markers confirms its position on chromosome 5L. Furthermore, genetic complementation experiments using a CaMV 35S::ZmF3′H1 promoter–gene construct established that the encoded protein product was sufficient to perform a 3′-hydroxylation reaction. The Zmf3′h1-specific transcripts were detected in floral and vegetative tissues of Pr1 plants and were absent in pr1. Four pr1 alleles were characterized: two carry a 24 TA dinucleotide repeat insertion in the 5′-upstream promoter region, a third has a 17-bp deletion near the TATA box, and a fourth contains a Ds insertion in exon1. Genetic and transcription assays demonstrated that the pr1 gene is under the regulatory control of anthocyanin transcription factors red1 and colorless1. The cloning and characterization of pr1 completes the molecular identification of all genes encoding structural enzymes of the anthocyanin pathway of maize.
Minimizing the Net Present Cost of Deploying and Operating Wireless Sensor Networks

Minimizing the cost of deploying and operating a wireless sensor network (WSN) involves deciding how to partition a budget between competing expenses such as node hardware, energy, and labor. Most commercial network operators account for interest rates in their budgeting exercises, providing a financial incentive to defer some costs until a later time. In this paper, we propose a net present cost (NPC) model for WSN capital and operating expenses that accounts for interest rates. Our model optimizes the number, size, and spacing between expenditures in order to minimize the NPC required for the network to achieve a desired operational lifetime. In general, this optimization problem is non-convex, but if the spacing between expenditures is linearly proportional to the size of the expenditures, and the number of maintenance cycles is known in advance, the problem becomes convex and can be solved to global optimality. If non-deferrable recurring costs are low, then evenly spacing the expenditures can provide near-optimal results. With the provided models and methods, network operators can now derive a payment schedule to minimize NPC while accounting for various operational parameters. The numerical examples show substantial cost benefits under practical assumptions.
Dynamic path planning

Path planning is dynamic when the path is continually recomputed as more information becomes available. A computational framework for dynamic path planning is proposed which has the ability to provide navigational directions during the computation of the plan. Path planning is performed using a potential field approach. We use a specific type of potential function-a harmonic function-which has no local minima. The implementation is parallel and consists of a collection of communicating processes, across a network of SPARC & SGI workstations using a message passing software package called PVM. The computation of the plan is performed independently of the execution of the plan. A hierarchical coarse-to-fine procedure is used to guarantee a correct control strategy at the expense of accuracy. We have successfully navigated a Nomad robot around our lab space with no a priori map in real-time. The result of the described approach is a parallel implementation which permits dynamic path planning using available processor resources.
The lysP gene encodes the lysine-specific permease

Escherichia coli transports lysine by two distinct systems, one of which is specific for lysine (LysP) and the other of which is inhibited by arginine ornithine. The activity of the lysine-specific system increases with growth in acidic medium, anaerobiosis, and high concentrations of lysine. It is inhibited by the lysine analog S-(beta-aminoethyl)-L-cysteine (thiosine). Thiosine-resistant (Tsr) mutants were isolated by using transpositional mutagenesis with TnphoA. A Tsr mutant expressing alkaline phosphatase activity in intact cells was found to lack lysine-specific transport. This lysP mutation was mapped to about 46.5 min on the E. coli chromosome. The lysP-phoA fusion was cloned and used as a probe to clone the wild-type lysP gene. The nucleotide sequence of the 2.7-kb BamHI fragment was determined. An open reading frame from nucleotides 522 to 1989 was observed. The translation product of this open reading frame is predicted to be a hydrophobic protein of 489 residues. The lysP gene product exhibits sequence similarity to a family of amino acid transport proteins found in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes, including the aromatic amino acid permease of E. coli (aroP) and the arginine permease of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (CAN1). Cells carrying a plasmid with the lysP gene exhibited a 10- to 20-fold increase in the rate of lysine uptake above wild-type levels. These results demonstrate that the lysP gene encodes the lysine-specific permease.
Practical Remarks on Gout, Rheumatic Fever, and Chonic Rheumatism of the Joints; Being the Substance of the Croonian Lectures for the Present Year, Delivered at the College of Physicians

Whoever takes a comprehensive and candid view of theJiistory of medical theory and practice, and the revolutions which they have undergone, will have little difficulty in admitting that the humoral pathology was subverted and discarded with too much precipitancy and too little regard to its real merits. Of that theory it was the misfortune, as it has been of many others, that it explained too much, and was extensively and indiscriminately applied, when it ought to have been restricted and confined to certain departments only; and every one knows that a theory so employed cannot be well or justly applied in all cases. An evil
Facial landmark detection system using interest-region model and edge energy function

In this paper, we proposed a new facial landmark-detection system using as edge energy function. The facial landmark-detection system is divided into a learning stage and a detection stage. The learning stage creates an interest-region model, to set up a search region of each landmark, as pre-information necessary for a detection stage and creates a detector for each landmark to detect a landmark in a search region. The detection stage sets up a search region of each landmark in an input image with an interest-region model created in the learning stage. Because a landmark to detect from a system has the characteristics of an edge as both edge of an eye, both edge of a mouth and both edges of eyebrows, we have detected a landmark by applying an edge energy function to the Bayesian discrimination method. We have implemented aforementioned technique by abstracting 800 impassive images from the FERET database and have measured data in which the normalized average error distance is less than 0.1 occupying 98 % of the total data.
Critical Role of TrkB and Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor in the Differentiation and Survival of Retinal Pigment Epithelium

In the vertebrate eye, the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and the neural retina arise from a single layer of neuroectoderm. Factors influencing the differentiation of retinal neurons have been identified; however, little is known about molecules directing the differentiation of the RPE. Here we have found that the neurotrophin brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) plays an autocrine role in the differentiation and survival of Xenopus laevis RPE. Fluorescent in situ hybridization studies showed a precise co-expression of BDNF and its receptor trkB in the retinal neuroepithelium and actively differentiating RPE; in vitro studies demonstrated survival- and differentiation-promoting effects in serum-free explants and dissociated cultures. When a dominant negative mutant of the trkB receptor was expressed in developing embryos, severe arrest of RPE differentiation was seen with persistence of nestin- andNotch-positive neuroblasts.
Current tools for predicting cancer-specific T cell immunity

ABSTRACT Tumor exome and RNA sequencing data provide a systematic and unbiased view on cancer-specific expression, over-expression, and mutations of genes, which can be mined for personalized cancer vaccines and other immunotherapies. Of key interest are tumor-specific mutations, because T cells recognizing neoepitopes have the potential to be highly tumoricidal. Here, we review recent developments and technical advances in identifying MHC class I and class II-restricted tumor antigens, especially neoantigen derived MHC ligands, including in silico predictions, immune-peptidome analysis by mass spectrometry, and MHC ligand validation by biochemical methods on T cells.
APPLICATION OF A FAST NUMERICAL GRÖBNER BASES IMPLEMENTATION IN KINEMATIC SYNTHESIS

In many fields of engineering, for instance kinematic analysis, it is necessary to solve systems of polynomial equations. Mathematics software mostly uses the Buchberger Algorithm to find a lexicographic Gröbner Basis and subsequently compute the solutions. Although in theory the Buchberger Algorithm eventually terminates, the effort to compute Gröbner Bases from equations of higher degree or several unknowns grows rapidly. In fact for many problems it consumes so much performance, that powerful computers fail to produce results. This paper introduces the free software gfloat which numerically computes the Gröbner Basis and the solutions. It is suited for problems which have zero dimensional solutions i.e. there exists a finite set of solution points. Two techniques are used to reduce the demand of computer memory and processor time. These are (1) the use of floating point/modular arithmetic and (2) computing a lexicographic Gröbner Basis indirectly using a conversion algorithm. Section 6 demonstrates an application with a problem from kinematic synthesis.
PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF ADAPTIVE LDPC CODED MODULATION COOPERATIVE WIRELESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEM WITH BEST-RELAY SELECTION

In this paper the performance of a cooperative wireless communication system based on combined best relay selection (BRS) and adaptive LDPC coded modulation (ACM) scheme is investigated. These investigations are focused on evaluating the performance of the proposed cooperative wireless communication system over independent non-identical Rayleigh fading channels in terms of bit-error rate (BER) using MATLAB® computer simulations and comparing the system performance with ACM direct transmission and ACM cooperative with single relay. The simulations results show that the proposed cooperative scheme achieves lower signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) values for desired bit-error rate (BER) and high spectral efficiency as compared to ACM direct transmission and ACM cooperative with single relay.
A Comparison of Vasopressin, Terlipressin, and Lactated Ringers for Resuscitation of Uncontrolled Hemorrhagic Shock in an Animal Model

Aim The aim of this study is to compare the effect of lactated ringer (LR), vasopressin (Vaso) or terlipressin (Terli) on uncontrolled hemorrhagic shock (UHS) in rats. Methods 48 rats were divided into four treatment groups for UHS study. Vaso group was given bolus vasopressin (0.8 U/kg); the Terli group was given bolus terlipressin (15 mcg/kg); LR group was given LR and the sham group was not given anything. Mean arterial pressure (MAP), serum lactate level, plasma cytokine levels, lung injury and mortality are investigated for these different treatment groups. Results Compared with LR group, vasopressin and terlipressin-treated groups were associated with higher MAP, lowered mortality rates, less lung injury, lowered serum lactate level, less proinflammatory and more anti-inflammatory cytokine production at certain time points. Comparing between vasopressin and terlipressin treated groups, there is no statistical difference in mortality rates, lung injury, serum lactate level and cytokine level. However, there is a difference in the length of time in maintaining a restored level of MAP (80 to 110 mmHg). The terlipressin treated rats can maintain this restored level of MAP for 45 minutes, but the vasopressin treated rats can only maintain this restored level of MAP for 5 minutes before decreasing gradually to the MAP observed in LR group (40 mmHg). Conclusion Early optimization of hemodynamics with terlipressin or vasopressin in an animal model of UHS was associated with improved hemodynamics and inflammatory cytokine profile than the LR control. Compared with vasopressin, terlipressin has the advantage of ease of use and sustained effects.