Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The effect of steel bar corrosion on the bond strength of concrete manufactured with cement replacement materials

This thesis presents a study of the bond strength between corroded and uncorroded steel reinforcement and the surrounding concrete within steel reinforced structures. The work is based on concretes manufactured with different types of cement replacement materials, and investigates the influence of the corrosion rate of steel as predicted by concrete permeability. The cement replacement binders included CEM II, blended cements of fly ash (PFA), ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS), metakaolin (MK) and silica fume (SF). The experimental work was conducted by placing 200mm cube test specimens in a saline solution (3.5% NaCl) for different exposure times (3, 7, 10, 14 and 20 days) with an applied external current of 10 mA between the reinforcing steel and a stainless steel counter electrode. Pull-out tests were conducted to evaluate the bond strength between the concrete and the steel reinforcement. The permeability coefficients of concretes were investigated using a relative gas permeability test. The specimens used for determining permeability were cylindrical 100mm diameter and 100mm length, which were oven dried at 105 oC. The experimental results indicated that the bond strength was governed by concrete properties. Furthermore, the bond strength of the corroded specimens was found to depend on the corrosion levels and varied across all concrete types, depending on the concrete microstructure. Moreover, when the corrosion level exceeded 1.74%, the bond strength began to decline. Thereafter, the bond strength continued to reduce as the corrosion time of the reinforced concrete increased. The relationship between the compressive strength and gas permeability of concretes was inconclusive but the latter does depends on the cement replacement levels. The PFA concretes had the lowest permeability compared to the other two types of concrete (CEM II and GGBS). The permeability of concretes and corrosion rates with different types and levels of cement replacement materials significantly decreased as the age of concretes increased. The improvements in gas permeability and corrosion rate were observed when 40% of cement weight was replaced with PFA. The ABAQUS program was used to model the bond-slip behaviour of different concrete mixes, in addition to a plastic damage model. A cohesive zone element was employed for the steel-concrete interface. During analysis, the numerical model was validated against the results obtained from the experimental tests. The numerical results showed good agreement with the experimental results for CEM II, GGBS and SF concrete specimens, but in the case of PFA concrete where the numerical result of bond strength was overestimated by to the experimental ones.
Gamer Retention in Social Games using Aggregate DAU and MAU data : A Bayesian Data Augmentation Approach

With an estimated market size of over $6 billion in 2011, “social” games (games played over social networks such as Facebook or Google+) have become increasingly popular recently. Understanding gamer retention and churn is important for game developers, as retention rate is a key input to gamer lifetime value. However, as individual-level data on gaming behavior are not publicly available, developers generally rely on only aggregate statistics such as DAU (daily active users) and MAU (monthly active users), and compute ad hoc metrics such as the DAU/MAU ratio to assess retention rate, often resulting in very inaccurate estimates. I propose a Bayesian approach to estimate retention rates of social games using only aggregate DAU and MAU data. The proposed method is based on a BG/BB model (Fader et al. 2010) at the individual level in conjunction with a data augmentation approach to estimate the model parameters. After validating the performance of the proposed method through a simulation study, I apply the proposed approach to a sample of 379 social games. I find that the average 1-day and 7-day retention rates for new players across games are 59.0% and 10.5%, respectively. Further, my results suggest that the median break-even acquisition cost per gamer is about 13.1 cents. In addition, giving out a “daily bonus” or limiting the amount of time that gamers can play each day may increase 1-day retention rate by 6.3% and 6.9%, respectively.
Decreased ability in the segregation of dynamically changing vowel-analog streams: a factor in the age-related cocktail-party deficit?

Pairs of harmonic complexes with different fundamental frequencies f0 (105 and 189 Hz or 105 and 136 Hz) but identical bandwidth (0.25–3 kHz) were band-pass filtered using a filter having an identical center frequency of 1 kHz. The filter's center frequency was modulated using a triangular wave having a 5-Hz modulation frequency fmod to obtain a pair of vowel-analog waveforms with dynamically varying single-formant transitions. The target signal S contained a single modulation cycle starting either at a phase of −π/2 (up-down) or π/2 (down-up), whereas the longer distracter N contained several cycles of the modulating triangular wave starting at a random phase. The level at which the target formant's modulating phase could be correctly identified was adaptively determined for several distracter levels and several extents of frequency swing (10–55%) in a group of experienced normal-hearing young and a group of experienced elderly individuals with hearing loss not exceeding one considered moderate. The most important result was that, for the two f0 differences, all distracter levels, and all frequency swing extents tested, elderly listeners needed about 20 dB larger S/N ratios than the young. Results also indicate that identification thresholds of both the elderly and the young listeners are between 4 and 12 dB higher than similarly determined detection thresholds and that, contrary to detection, identification is not a linear function of distracter level. Since formant transitions represent potent cues for speech intelligibility, the large S/N ratios required by the elderly for correct discrimination of single-formant transition dynamics may at least partially explain the well-documented intelligibility loss of speech in babble noise by the elderly.
An experimental evaluation of Akamai adaptive video streaming over HSDPA networks

Adaptive video streaming is a relevant advancement with respect to classic progressive download streaming such as the one employed by YouTube. Building upon its content delivery network (CDN), Akamai recently started to offer High Definition (HD) adaptive video streaming using HTTP. Nowadays, not only the amount of Internet video traffic is always increasing but also the number of users accessing the Internet using wireless links. In this paper we experimentally investigate the switching algorithm employed by Akamai to implement video quality adaptation over a High Speed Downlink Data Packet Access (HSDPA) link. In order to assess the Quality of Experience we measure goodput, TCP friendliness, and video reproduction continuity. Main results are: 1) Akamai flows are not able to achieve the fair share when competing with a TCP greedy flow due to the conservativeness of the stream-switching algorithm; 2) when the link is shared with a greedy TCP connection in 50% of the experiments the video reproduction was paused for more than 19% of the experiment duration.
The Norwegian 22 July 2011 Terror Acts and Mass Murder: Insanity, Evilness or Both?

This review presents unique information rarely seen in a description of a politically extreme right wing terrorist. During the trial following the terror acts in Norway on July 22nd 2011, the author, a forensic psychiatrist was at the time engaged by a national Norwegian newspaper to comment on the court proceedings. The author has later thoroughly gone through all available background material such as the terrorist’s childhood, relationship to his mother, childhood psychological evaluation, the interviews made by the forensic psychiatrists and information from the police documents. This information is shared in the review. The author also discusses how it was possible for two pairs of court appointed experienced forensic psychiatrists to arrive at completely different conclusions. One pair concluded with insanity due to Paranoid Schizophrenia and the second pair found no signs of psychotic disorder at all and concluded with Narcissistic Personality Disorder. The court found the terrorist capable to stand trial and sentenced him to 21 years in preventive detention with 10 years to be served before the possibility to apply for an appeal.
Optical properties of intercalated single‐wall carbon nanotubes

The optical properties of alkali‐metal intercalated single‐wall carbon nanotubes have been investigated using high‐resolution electron energy‐loss spectroscopy in transmission. The modulation of the filling of the van Hove singularities in the electronic density of states is reflected by the intensity variations of the optical excitations and the appearance of a charge carrier plasmon. The low‐energy loss function can be described using a Drude‐Lorentz model. Within this model, the optical conductivity at zero frequency σ0 of Na, K, Rb, and Cs intercalated SWCNT samples were determined and give similar values for maximum intercalation. This model has also been used to derive the dielectric background and the effective (optical) charge carrier mass of the intercalated SWCNTs which is found to be two to three times bigger than in the corresponding graphite intercalation compounds.
Psychiatrist and patient responses to suspected medication nonadherence in schizophrenia spectrum disorders.

OBJECTIVE Long-term results in schizophrenia treatment continue to be unsatisfactory, with many patients nonadherent to treatment and relapsing frequently. This study aimed to examine how perceived nonadherence leads psychiatrists to implement adherence-enhancing measures and to identify barriers and facilitators for the implementation of adherence-enhancing measures. METHODS A cross-sectional survey was conducted with German hospital psychiatrists and their inpatients who had a diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. RESULTS Interviews were conducted with 121 psychiatrists or resident psychiatrists and their 213 inpatients. Psychiatrists recognized nonadherence as an important factor for hospital admission only when directly asked about it. Psychiatrists implemented a plethora of adherence interventions that in many cases constituted only intensive talks and no structured interventions. Of four core interventions addressed in the survey-depot administration of medication, psychoeducation for patients, psychoeducation for relatives, and arrangement of first follow-up visit-the implementation rates were surprisingly high for depot prescription of antipsychotics (>30%) and psychoeducation for patients but dramatically low for arrangement of follow-up visits and psychoeducation for relatives. Patients with poor previous adherence (according to the physician's estimate) received more adherence measures. In addition, patients with involuntary admission were more likely to receive depot medications, and psychoeducation was more often implemented for younger patients and for patients at university hospitals. CONCLUSIONS Treatment nonadherence is often underestimated by psychiatrists. Obstacles to the implementation of adherence-enhancing interventions occur in routine daily care. Integrated-care programs addressing adherence issues, communication between inpatient and outpatient treatment, implementation of adherence measures, and better involvement of patients in clinical decisions may help to overcome these barriers.
Replication study of 10 genetic polymorphisms associated with coronary heart disease in a specific high-risk population with familial hypercholesterolemia.

AIMS Recent large association studies have revealed associations between genetic polymorphisms and myocardial infarction and coronary heart disease (CHD). We performed a replication study of 10 polymorphisms and CHD in a population with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH), individuals at extreme risk of CHD. METHODS AND RESULTS We genotyped 10 polymorphisms in 2145 FH patients and studied the association between these polymorphisms and CHD in Cox proportional hazards models. We confirmed the associations between four polymorphisms and CHD, the rs1151640 polymorphism in the olfactory receptor family 13 subfamily G member 1 (OR13G1) gene (HR 1.14, 95% CI 1.01-1.28, P = 0.03), the rs11881940 polymorphism in the heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein U-like 1 (HNRPUL1) gene (HR 1.27, 95% CI 1.07-1.51, P = 0.007), the rs3746731 polymorphism in the complement component 1 q subcomponent receptor 1 (CD93) gene (HR 1.26, 95% CI 1.06-1.49, P = 0.01), and the rs10757274 polymorphism near the cyclin-dependent kinase N2A and N2B (CDKN2A and CDKN2B) genes (HR 1.39, 95% CI 1.15-1.69, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION We confirmed previously found associations between four polymorphisms and CHD, but refuted associations for six other polymorphisms in our large FH population. These findings stress the importance of replication before genetic information can be implemented in the prediction of CHD.
Diet, nutrition and the prevention of osteoporosis

Abstract Objective: To review the evidence on diet and nutrition relating to osteoporosis and provide recommendations for preventing osteoporosis, in particular, osteopototic fracture. Approach: Firstly, to review the definition, diagnosis and epidemiology of osteoporosis, to discuss the difficulties in using bone mineral density to define osteoporosis risk in a world-wide context and to propose that fragility fracture should be considered as the disease endpoint. Secondly, to provide an overview of the scientific data, the strengths and weaknesses of the evidence and the conceptual difficulties in interpreting studies linking diet, nutrition and osteoporosis. The following were considered: calcium, vitamin D, phosphorus, magnesium, protein and fluorine. Other potential dietary influences on bone health were also discussed, including vitamins, trace elements, electrolytes, acid–base balance, phyto-oestrogens, vegetarianism and lactose intolerance. Conclusions: There is insufficient knowledge linking bone mineral status, growth rates or bone turnover in children and adolescents to long-term benefits in old age for these indices to be used as markers of osteoporotic disease risk. For adults, the evidence of a link between intakes of any dietary component and fracture risk is not sufficiently secure to make firm recommendations, with the exception of calcium and vitamin D. For other aspects of the diet, accumulating evidence suggests that current healthy-eating advice to decrease sodium intake, to increase potassium intake, and to consume more fresh fruits and vegetables is unlikely to be detrimental to bone health and may be beneficial.
Effect of 100 Hz electroacupuncture on salivary immunoglobulin A and the autonomic nervous system

Background A previous study has reported that low-frequency (LF) electroacupuncture (EA) influences salivary secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) and the autonomic nervous system (ANS). The ANS is known to control the secretion volume of sIgA; however, the effect of high-frequency (HF) EA on salivary sIgA has not been determined. We investigated whether HF EA affects salivary sIgA levels and the ANS. Method Sixteen healthy subjects were randomly classified into two groups: a control group and an EA group. After a 5 min rest, subjects in the EA group received EA at 100 Hz bilaterally at LI4 and LI11 for 15 min before resting for a further 40 min post-stimulation. Subjects in the control group rested for a total of 60 min. Measurements of the ANS and sIgA levels in both groups were made before, immediately after, 20 min after, and 40 min after rest or 15 min EA treatment. HF and LF components of heart rate variability were analysed as markers of ANS function. LF/HF ratio and HF were taken as indices of sympathetic and parasympathetic nerve activity, respectively. Salivary protein concentrations and sIgA levels were determined by Bradford protein assay and ELISA, respectively. Results LF/HF ratio was significantly increased immediately after EA. HF was significantly increased at 20 min after EA and sIgA level was significantly increased at 40 min after EA. In addition, HF and salivary sIgA level were positively correlated with each another. Conclusions HF EA exerted sequential positive effects on sympathetic nerve activity, parasympathetic nerve activity, and salivary sIgA level (immediately and after 20 and 40 min, respectively). HF EA may increase salivary sIgA levels by influencing parasympathetic nerve activity.
Multiple Particle Tracking in 3-D+ Microscopy: Method and Application to the Tracking of Endocytosed Quantum Dots

— We propose a method to detect and track multiple moving biological spot-like particles showing different kinds of dynamics in image sequences acquired through multidimensional ﬂu-orescence microscopy. It enables the extraction and analysis of information such as number, position, speed, movement, and diffusion phases of, e.g., endosomal particles. The method consists of several stages. After a detection stage performed by a three-dimensional (3-D) undecimated wavelet transform, we compute, for each detected spot, several predictions of its future state in the next frame. This is accomplished thanks to an interacting multiple model (IMM) algorithm which includes several models corresponding to different biologically realistic movement types. Tracks are constructed, thereafter, by a data association algorithm based on the maximization of the likelihood of each IMM. The last stage consists of updating the IMM ﬁlters in order to compute ﬁnal estimations for the present image and to improve predictions for the next image. The performances of the method are validated on synthetic image data and used to characterize the 3-D movement of endocytic vesicles containing quantum dots.
Sleep apnoea is common in severe peripheral arterial disease

Background Atherosclerotic conditions have been demonstrated to be associated with sleep- disordered breathing (SDB). Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) represents severe atherosclerosis with a high mortality. In early stages of PAD a substantial prevalence of sleep apnoea has already been shown. Here, we sought to determine the frequency of undiagnosed sleep apnoea in a homogeneous group of advanced PAD patients undergoing percutaneous revascularization. Methods 59 consecutive patients (mean age: 71.1 ± 9.8 years, 67.8% males) with PAD in Fontaine stages IIb-IV that underwent percutaneous transluminal angioplasty at our department were enrolled for pre-procedural polygraphy. Results Patients appertained to Fontaine clinical stage IIb, III and IV in 54.2%, 23.8% and 22. % of cases, respectively, and were principally intervened for femoropopliteal occlusive disease (71.2% of total study population). Polygraphy revealed sleep apnoea in 48 out of 59 patients (81.4%), of whom 60.4% offered a primarily obstructive-driven genesis. Among those patients with polygraphically confirmed sleep apnoea, mean apnoea hypopnoea index (AHI) and mean oxygen desaturation index (ODI) averaged 28.2 ± 19.5/h and 26.7 ± 18.8/h, respectively. 18 patients even offered an AHI ≥30/h that is indicative of severe sleep apnoea. For obstructive-driven apnoeic events, AHI correlated significantly with PAD severity stages (p = 0.042). Conclusions In our PAD collective, sleep apnoea was frequent and obstructive sleep apnoea´s severity correlated with PAD severity stages. Long-term results regarding the vasoprotective impact of CPAP treatment on PAD course remains to be determined.
SOLID SELF MICROEMULSIFYING DRUG DELIVIRY SYSTEM: A REVIEW

Oral route still remains the favorite route of drug administration in many diseases and till today it is the first way investigated in the development of new dosage forms. The major problem in oral drug formulations is low and erratic bioavailability, which mainly results from poor aqueous solubility. As a consequence of modern drug discovery techniques, there has been a steady increase in the number of new pharmacologically active lipophilic compounds that are poorly water soluble. It is a great challenge for pharmaceutical scientist to convert those molecules into orally administered formulation with sufficient bioavailability. Among the several approaches to improve oral bioavailability of these molecules, self-micron emulsifying drug delivery system (SMEDDS) is one of the approaches usually used to improve the bioavailability of lipophillic drugs. However, conventional SMEDDS are mostly prepared in a liquid form, which can have some disadvantages. Hence, solid SMEDDS (S-SMEDDS) prepared by solidification of liquid/semisolid self-micron emulsifying ingredients into powders, have gained popularity. This article gives an overview of the recent advances in the study of S-SMEDDS, especially the related solidification techniques and the development of solid self-micron emulsifying dosage forms. Finally, the existing problems and the possible future research directions in this field are pointed out. Thus S-SMEDDS could be used as an effective oral solid dosage form to improve the bioavailability of hydrophobic drugs.Keywords: solid SMEDDS, self emulsification, solubility enhancement, bioavailability, lipophilic
The physician's role in the vocational rehabilitation process

Purpose : To describe and analyse physicians' experiences of working with sick-listing and vocational rehabilitation, their perceptions of their co-actors and the interaction they participate in. Method : Thematic interviews with 14 physicians in Västerbotten County, northern Sweden. The physicians were active in primary or occupational health care, or as hospital doctors. The interviews were conducted during the autumn of 1996. The interviews were tape recorded and analysed according to Grounded theory. Results : Feelings of isolation and diminished control, lack of time and increased demands are all seen as obstacles for doing an optimal job with sick-listing and rehabilitation. Other obstacles are insufficient knowledge regarding the labour market and the social insurance legislation. Interaction between primary and in-patient care does not function satisfactorily. The doctors believe in their patients and a majority of the doctors feel that the patients' own understanding of/need for sick-listing guides the doctor in his or her position regarding sick-listing. To facilitate return to work, the doctors encourage part-time sick-listing. Conclusions : The interviews show that the physicians experience a growing discrepancy between ideal and reality. They want to be able to act as 'team players', but experience increasing demands due to the increased number of patients who are sicker than before. The doctors experience that decision latitude has diminished and this has been followed by less time for patients.
Structural Properties and Applications of Self-Assembling Peptides

In 1993, one• of us (Shuguang Zhang) reported that a short peptide segment Q1 called EAK16 from the yeast protein Zuotin [1] could undergo self-assembly to form scaffolds visible to the naked eye which were similar to amyloid deposits in terms of β-sheet structure and fibrillar architecture [2]. We have subsequently expanded designer self-assembling peptide materials using the 20 natural L-amino acids and some D-amino acids. Applications include (i) 3D tissue cell cultures, (ii) cell and tissue engineering, (iii) controlled drug delivery and regenerative medicine, and (iv) trauma emergency. This chapter focuses on self-assembling peptides with regards to principles of design, structural transitions, and diverse applications.