Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Point-defect and stacking-fault properties in body-centred-cubic metals with n-body interatomic potentials

Abstract The properties of vacancies, self-interstitial atoms and translation stacking faults have been studied by computer simulation using the n-body empirical potentials recently developed for the body-centred-cubic transition metals by Finnis and Sinclair. Vacancy formation energy, formation volume and migration energy have been computed and the results are compared with other theoretical and known experimental values. Formation energy and volume have been calculated for six possible interstitial configurations and, although the expected 〈110〉 dumbbell is most stable in Mo and α-Fe, the 〈111〉 crowdion is favoured in Ta, Cr and W. The energetics of interstitial migration have been studied in detail for Mo, and the migration steps which lead to two-dimensional diffusion do not have the lowest migration energy. The n-body potentials predict the absence of stable translation stacking faults on the {110} and {112} planes.
Systems Integration for a Developing Country: Failure or Success? A Malaysian Case Study

This paper presents the findings of a case study on three government departments. The study focuses on the triggering factors, obstacles and success factors of systems integration innovation and diffusion. The paper starts with a definition on systems integration and a brief explanation on the need for integration. This is followed by a description of each department studied. The subsequent sections dwell on the triggering factors, obstacles and success factors for systems integration. The paper concludes with a recommendation that most of the obstacles to the successful implementation of systems integration can be resolved through inter‐organizational cooperation, inter‐organizational structures and a change in business processes.
Evaluation of a new, fully automated immunoassay for detection of HTLV‐I and HTLV‐II antibodies

Screening blood donations for human T‐lymphotropic virus types I and II (HTLV‐I/II) continues to be important in protecting the safety of blood products and controlling the global spread of these retroviruses. We have developed a fully automated, third generation chemiluminescent immunoassay, ARCHITECT rHTLV‐I/II, for detection of antibodies to HTLV‐I/II. The assay utilizes recombinant proteins and synthetic peptides and is configured in a double antigen sandwich assay format. Specificity of the assay was 99.98% (9,254/9,256, 95% CI = 99.92–100%) with the negative specimens from the general population including blood donors, hospital patients and pregnant women from the US, Japan and Nicaragua. The assay demonstrated 100% sensitivity by detecting 498 specimens from individuals infected with HTLV‐I (n = 385) and HTLV‐II (n = 113). ARCHITECT rHTLV‐I/II results were in complete agreement with the Murex HTLV‐I/II reference assay and 99.7% agreement with the Genelabs HTLV Blot 2.4 confirmatory assay. Analytical sensitivity of the assay was equivalent to Murex HTLV‐I/II assay based on end point dilutions. Furthermore, using a panel of 397 specimens from Japan, the ARCHITECT rHTLV‐I/II assay exhibited distinct discrimination between the antibody negative (Delta Value = −7.6) and positive (Delta Value = 7.6) populations. Based on the excellent specificity and sensitivity, the new ARCHITECT rHTLV‐I/II assay should be an effective test for the diagnosis of HTLV‐I/II infection and also for blood donor screening. J. Med. Virol. 80:484–493, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
InContext: simple parallelism for distributed applications

As networking services, such as DHTs, provide increasingly complex functionality, providing acceptable performance will require parallelizing their operations on individual nodes. Unfortunately, the event-driven style in which these applications have traditionally been written makes it difficult to reason about parallelism, and providing safe, efficient parallel implementations of distributed systems remains a challenge. In this paper, we introduce a declarative programming model based on contexts, which allows programmers to specify the sharing behavior of event handlers. Programs that adhere to the programming model can be safely parallelized according to an abstract execution model, with parallel behavior that is well-defined with respect to the expected sequential behavior. The declarative nature of the programming model allows conformance to be captured as a safety property that can be verified using a model checker. We develop a prototype implementation of our abstract execution model and show that distributed applications written in our programming model can be automatically and efficiently parallelized. To recover additional parallelism, we present an optimization to the implementation based on state snapshots that permits more events to proceed in parallel. We evaluate our prototype implementation through several case studies and demonstrate significant speedup over optimized sequential implementations.
The Free-play Sandbox: a Methodology for the Evaluation of Social Robotics and a Dataset of Social Interactions

Evaluating human-robot social interactions in a rigorous manner is notoriously difficult: studies are either conducted in labs with constrained protocols to allow for robust measurements and a degree of replicability, but at the cost of ecological validity; or in the wild, which leads to superior experimental realism, but often with limited replicability and at the expense of rigorous interaction metrics. We introduce a novel interaction paradigm, designed to elicit rich and varied social interactions while having desirable scientific properties (replicability, clear metrics, possibility of either autonomous or Wizard-of-Oz robot behaviours). This paradigm focuses on child-robot interactions, and builds on a sandboxed free-play environment. We present the rationale and design of the interaction paradigm, its methodological and technical aspects (including the open-source implementation of the software platform), as well as two large open datasets acquired with this paradigm, and meant to act as experimental baselines for future research.
Influence of Exogenous Cortisol and Triglyceride Feeding on Glucose Homeostasis in the Fasted Newborn Rat

Summary: The effects of cortisol injection (0.2 mg/g body wt) at birth and of triglyceride feeding (20 mg/g body wt) 13 hr after birth have been studied in 16-hr-old fasted newborn rats. Cortisol produced a 10% decrease in body weight and in protein concentrations of carcass, hindlimb muscle, and liver. Furthermore, cortisol induced a 60% fall in carcass lipid levels. Cortisol caused a 2-fold increase in fasting blood glucose level. This effect resulted from a stimulation of gluconeogenesis (as shown by the 2− to 3-fold rise in the rate of conversion of labeled lactate or alanine to glucose). Several factors influenced this response: 1) increase in circulating gluconeogenic substrates (lactate, pyruvate, alanine,' proline, and glutamine), 2) increase in plasma glucagon, 3) a small rise in plasma free fatty acids (FFA) arising from the catabolism of endogenous lipids, thereby providing additional energy for the hepatic conversion of gluconeogenic substrates to glucose. A concurrent decrease in glucose utilization was unlikely since: 1) the rate of glucose disappearance after an ip glucose load was similar in fasted and cortisol-treated newborns, and 2) the rise in plasma insulin occurring after cortisol injection would ordinarily tend to increase glucose utilization.Triglyceride feeding was associated with a 2-fold rise in fasting blood glucose. This effect was secondary to a stimulation of gluconeogenesis by provision of free FFA, as demonstrated by the 2.5-fold increase hi the conversion in vivo of labeled lactate and alanine into glucose.In newborn rats injected with cortisol, the levels of both plasma FFA and blood ketone bodies remained far below those in suckling newborns of the same age. The combination of cortisol injection at birth with triglyceride feeding 13 hr after birth caused a 3-fold increase in blood glucose levels in the 16-hr-old newborn rats. The stimulating effects of cortisol on gluconeogenesis were potentiated by triglyceride feeding, as shown by the 3− to 4-fold increase in the rate of lactate or alanine conversion to glucose. However, cortisol markedly decreased the ketosis induced by triglyceride feeding and increased plasma triglycerides.Speculation: Corticosteroids have been used in the treatment of symptomatic hypoglycemia in newborn infants. In fasted newborn rats, cortisol partially prevents hypoglycemia, but at the cost of increased protein catabolism. Moreover, cortisol has an antiketogenic effect, thus decreasing the availability of ketones as alternate fuel for brain metabolism and as precursor for brain lipid synthesis. If such data can be extrapolated to the human newborn, the prolonged use of corticosteroids in the treatment of neonatal hypoglycemia seems less physiologic than adequate parenteral energy substrate provision in the form of intralipid and gluconeogenic precursors (lactate, ammo acids, and glycerol).
Amorphous Nitrogen Doped Carbon Films: A Novel Corrosion Resistant Coating Material

Chemical reaction occurs when metal surface comes in ditions should afford graphene-based films with superior contact with oxygen in air or ions in solutions, resulting metals being oxidized and corroded. The challenge in developing protection barriers from corrosion is to develop an efficient method for the coatingmaterial. Graphene is a very light nanostructured material with extraordinary strength, low friction coefficient, and remarkable transparent conducting properties. It has attracted much attention for the possibility of being the thinnest anti-corrosion coating films. Previously, several groups have reported that graphene materials could significantly improve the corrosion resistance of metals. Theoretically, graphene film could act as a molecular barrier to effectively prevent the direct contact between metals and reactive ions/molecules. However, Schriver et al. recently reported that the galvanic corrosion process of metals could be enhanced by graphene materials after a long-term exposure to aqueous media, possibly due to their high electron mobility. Plus, Wlasny et al. suggested that lattice defects present in the graphene films could play a pivotal role in the local corrosion process, which would dramatically limit the latent applications of graphene material in nano-scaled devices. One viable approach to surmount these hurdles is to enhance the barrier effect of graphene, while maintaining the film thickness to prevent the permeation of reactive molecules. Because chemical functionalization and doping reactions are powerful methodologies for structural modification, the in-plane functionalizing or doping processes under appropriate con-
Expression and Characterization of Functional Recombinant Bet v 1.0101 in the Chloroplast of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

Background: Allergen immunotherapy (AIT) still plays a minor role in the treatment of allergic diseases. To improve the acceptance of AIT by allergic patients, the treatment has to become more convenient and efficacious. One possibility is the oral application of allergens or derivatives thereof. Therefore, we sought to produce a recombinant allergen in the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii as a novel production platform. Methods: The major birch pollen allergen Bet v 1 was selected as candidate molecule, and a codon-optimized gene was synthesized and stably integrated into the microalga C. reinhardtii FUD50. Positive transformants were identified by PCR, cultured, and thereafter cells were disrupted by sonication. Bet v 1 was purified from algal total soluble protein (TSP) by affinity chromatography and characterized physicochemically as well as immunologically. Results: All transformants showed expression of the allergen with yields between 0.01 and 0.04% of TSP. Algal-derived Bet v 1 displayed similar secondary structure elements as the Escherichia coli-produced reference allergen. Moreover, Bet v 1 produced in C. reinhardtii showed binding comparable to human IgE as well as murine Bet v 1-specific IgG. Conclusion: We could successfully produce recombinant Bet v 1 in C. reinhardtii. As microalgae are classified as GRAS (generally recognized as safe), the pilot study supports the development of novel allergy treatment concepts such as the oral administration of allergen-containing algal extracts for therapy.
Development and In Vitro Evaluation of Pantoprazole-Loaded Microspheres

Pantoprazole is a proton pump inhibitor prodrug used in the treatment of gastric ulcers and gastroesophageal disease. Pantoprazole must be absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract and because it is unstable under acidic conditions, enteric delivery systems are required. The purpose of this study was to prepare pantoprazole-loaded microspheres by emulsion-solvent evaporation technique using two different types of enteric-coating polymers: Eudragit S 100 and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose phtalate. The microspheres have been characterized in terms of their morphology, encapsulation efficiency, and ability of stabilizing pantoprazole in acidic media. Pantoprazole determinations were carried out using a validated spectrophotometric method for the analysis of drug in dissolution media. All microspheres, except F2 formulation, were successfully obtained. The in vitro assay showed that especially F1 and F4 microspheres were more effective in protecting the drug than F3 microspheres in acidic media.
Managing social influences through argumentation-based negotiation

Social influences play an important part in the actions that an individual agent may perform within a multi-agent society. However, the incomplete knowledge and the diverse and conflicting influences present within such societies, may stop an agent from abiding by all its social influences. This may, in turn, lead to conflicts that the agents need to identify, manage, and resolve in order for the society to behave in a coherent manner. To this end, we present an empirical study of an argumentation-based negotiation (ABN) approach that allows the agents to detect such conflicts, and then manage and resolve them through the use of argumentative dialogues. To test our theory, we map our ABN model to a multi-agent task allocation scenario. Our results show that using an argumentation approach allows agents to both efficiently and effectively manage their social influences even under high degrees of incompleteness. Finally, we show that allowing agents to argue and resolve such conflicts early in the negotiation encounter increases their efficiency in managing social influences.
Missing Covariates in Longitudinal Data with Informative Dropouts: Bias Analysis and Inference

Summary We consider estimation in generalized linear mixed models (GLMM) for longitudinal data with informative dropouts. At the time a unit drops out, time‐varying covariates are often unobserved in addition to the missing outcome. However, existing informative dropout models typically require covariates to be completely observed. This assumption is not realistic in the presence of time‐varying covariates. In this article, we first study the asymptotic bias that would result from applying existing methods, where missing time‐varying covariates are handled using naive approaches, which include: (1) using only baseline values; (2) carrying forward the last observation; and (3) assuming the missing data are ignorable. Our asymptotic bias analysis shows that these naive approaches yield inconsistent estimators of model parameters. We next propose a selection/transition model that allows covariates to be missing in addition to the outcome variable at the time of dropout. The EM algorithm is used for inference in the proposed model. Data from a longitudinal study of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)–infected women are used to illustrate the methodology.
Providing moisture and fungal protection to wood-based composites

The use of wood-based composites in structural applications is often limited because of their sensitivity to excessive levels of moisture and decay. The environmental conditions that exist in certain use categories can be so adverse that the performance of these composites is negatively affected. This paper discusses the evaluation of various water-repellent preservative systems as furnish treatments for a single-layer strandboard. After treating aspen strands and fabricating them into composite panels, we conducted physical, mechanical, and efficacy property tests on specimens cut from the experimental panels. The panels were tested for thickness swell, water absorption, modulus of rupture, and modulus of elasticity. Efficacy performance was evaluated in bioassay tests against deuteromycete and basidiomycete fungi. One of the waterbased treatments (WB-1) substantially improved the water-resistant properties of these panels. The thickness swell of control samples after 24 hours of water soaking was 23.8 percent compared to a thickness swell value of 8 percent for treatment WB-1. Similar results were obtained for the water absorption test. No significant deterioration in static bending properties was observed. Our studies showed that a water-repellent preservative system could be effectively applied to furnish that is subsequently used in strand panel production. The physical and fungal resistance properties of the panels were enhanced without decreasing their mechanical properties.
On path selection in combinational logic circuits

The authors have developed a polynomial-time algorithm to find a minimum cardinality path set that can be used to verify the correct operation of a digital circuit. Although they have assumed that the circuit under consideration is a combinational logic circuit constructed from AND, OR, NAND, NOR, and NOT gates, circuits containing other types of gates can be accommodated by using an appropriate circuit model for such gates. The algorithms are also directly applicable to sequential circuits that use the so-called scan design, since in such circuits it is only necessary to test the combinational circuit embedded between latches. <<ETX>>
COMBINED INTRAARTERIAL CISPLATIN INFUSION AND RADIATION THERAPY FOR INVASIVE BLADDER CANCER

Combined intraarterial cisplatin infusion and radiation therapy were performed as the initial treatment for 23 patients (mean age: 70 years) with invasive bladder cancers (T2 in 17, T3 in 6) who were suitable for total cystectomy. Of these patients, five who had multiple invasive cancers without laterality had their intrapelvic hemodynamics altered by embolizing a contralateral internal iliac artery. Cisplatin (50 mg) was infused into the internal iliac artery through a subcutaneous reservoir twice a week over three weeks while concurrent radiation therapy with 30 Gy, delivered in 15 fractions, was performed. Additional cisplatin infusions were given in six patients. After this combined therapy, total cystectomy and ileal conduit was performed in six patients and transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) in 17. Two of the patients who underwent total cystectomy were found to exhibit a complete response. Therefore, the overall response rate was 87%, including 13 complete responses and seven partial responses. The complete response rates in patients with clinical stage T2 and T3 disease were 53 and 67%, respectively. The complete response rate was slightly higher in patients with a non‐papillary cancer than in those with a papillary one. Toxic reactions included a decrease in bladder capacity in two patients and severe diarrhea due to methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus colitis in one. Other forms of toxicity, including nausea, vomiting, neurotoxicity in the gluteal region, nephrotoxicity and myelosuppression, were tolerable. All but one of the patients are alive. This patient died of distant metastasis and seven other patients had a local recurrence of bladder cancer. One patient who developed invasive bladder cancer reaching the prostatic urethra underwent total cystectomy and ileal conduit. One who had a recurrence at the same site as the previous tumor underwent partial cystectomy. Five patients who had superficial bladder cancer were easily controlled by TURBT. Finally, bladder function was preserved in 65% of all patients in this study at a mean follow‐up time of 29 months.
Partially Phosphorylated Pho4 Activates Transcription of a Subset of Phosphate-Responsive Genes

A cell's ability to generate different responses to different levels of stimulus is an important component of an adaptive environmental response. Transcriptional responses are frequently controlled by transcription factors regulated by phosphorylation. We demonstrate that differential phosphorylation of the budding yeast transcription factor Pho4 contributes to differential gene expression. When yeast cells are grown in high-phosphate growth medium, Pho4 is phosphorylated on four critical residues by the cyclin–CDK complex Pho80–Pho85 and is inactivated. When yeast cells are starved for phosphate, Pho4 is dephosphorylated and fully active. In intermediate-phosphate conditions, a form of Pho4 preferentially phosphorylated on one of the four sites accumulates and activates transcription of a subset of phosphate-responsive genes. This Pho4 phosphoform binds differentially to phosphate-responsive promoters and helps to trigger differential gene expression. Our results demonstrate that three transcriptional outputs can be generated by a pathway whose regulation is controlled by one kinase, Pho80–Pho85, and one transcription factor, Pho4. Differential phosphorylation of Pho4 by Pho80–Pho85 produces phosphorylated forms of Pho4 that differ in their ability to activate transcription, contributing to multiple outputs.
Complex relation of HLA-DRB1*1501, age at menarche, and age at multiple sclerosis onset

Objective: To examine the relationship between 2 markers of early multiple sclerosis (MS) onset, 1 genetic (HLA-DRB1*1501) and 1 experiential (early menarche), in 2 cohorts. Methods: We included 540 white women with MS or clinically isolated syndrome (N = 156 with genetic data available) and 1,390 white women without MS but with a first-degree relative with MS (Genes and Environment in Multiple Sclerosis [GEMS]). Age at menarche, HLA-DRB1*1501 status, and age at MS onset were analyzed. Results: In both cohorts, participants with at least 1 HLA-DRB1*1501 allele had a later age at menarche than did participants with no risk alleles (MS: mean difference = 0.49, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [0.03–0.95], p = 0.036; GEMS: mean difference = 0.159, 95% CI = [0.012–0.305], p = 0.034). This association remained after we adjusted for body mass index at age 18 (available in GEMS) and for other MS risk alleles, as well as a single nucleotide polymorphism near the HLA-A region previously associated with age of menarche (available in MS cohort). Confirming previously reported associations, in our MS cohort, every year decrease in age at menarche was associated with a 0.65-year earlier MS onset (95% CI = [0.07–1.22], p = 0.027, N = 540). Earlier MS onset was also found in individuals with at least 1 HLA-DRB1*1501 risk allele (mean difference = −3.40 years, 95% CI = [−6.42 to −0.37], p = 0.028, N = 156). Conclusions: In 2 cohorts, a genetic marker for earlier MS onset (HLA-DRB1*1501) was inversely related to earlier menarche, an experiential marker for earlier symptom onset. This finding warrants broader investigations into the association between the HLA region and hormonal regulation in determining the onset of autoimmune disease.