Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Hydrotalcites: a highly efficient ecomaterial for effluent treatment originated from carbon nanotubes chemical processing

It has been reported that a mixture of carboxylated carbonaceous fragments (CCFs), so called oxidation debris, are generated during carbon nanotubes chemical processing using oxidant agents such as HNO3. The elimination of these fragments from carbon nanotubes surface has been point out to be a crucial step for an effective functionalization of the nanotubes as well as for improving the material. However, this process can introduce a potential environmental problem related water contamination because these CCFs can be viewed as a mixture of carbonaceous polyaromatic systems similar to humic substances and dissolved organic matter (DOM). The negative aspects of humic substances and DOM to water quality and wastewater treatment are well known. Since carbon nanotubes industry expands at high rates it is expected that effluent containing oxidation debris will increase since HNO3 chemical processing is the most applied method for purification and functionalization of carbon nanotubes. In this work, we have demonstrated that Hydrotalcites (HT) are highly efficient to remove oxidation debris from effluent solution originated from HNO3-treated multiwalled carbon nanotubes. The strategy presented here is a contribution towards green chemistry practices and life cycle studies in carbon nanotubes field.
Analysis of Reach-to-Grasp by School-Aged Children with Down Syndrome Elucidates Limitations in Upper Extremity Motor Control

ABSTRACT Aims: To identify limitations in preparatory planning (PP) and movement execution that constrain performance of reach-to-grasp (RTG) movements in school-aged children with Down syndrome (DS) and examine the effect of chronological age (CA) on performance. Methods: Nine children with DS ages 6 to 12 years and nine with typical development (TD) participated in this pilot descriptive study. Three-dimensional kinematic analysis was applied to RTG movements performed in the context of two functional tasks. Results: PP variables focused on the coordination of reach and grasp. Compared to the group with TD, the group with DS demonstrated significant limitations in anticipatory slowing down of hand transport and orientation of the hand in preparation for object contact. There was also relatively late onset of preparatory grip formation in the group with DS. In regard to movement execution, reach trajectories of the group with DS showed significantly greater deviation from the straight path. Correlations of study variables with CA were low and insignificant in both groups. Conclusions: Motor control mechanisms that mediate both PP and execution of the fundamental RTG movement are potential factors limiting upper extremity activity in school-aged children with DS. They should be addressed in future intervention-based research.
Diagnosis, assessment, and phenotyping of COPD: beyond FEV1

COPD is now widely recognized as a complex heterogeneous syndrome, having both pulmonary and extrapulmonary features. In clinical practice, the diagnosis of COPD is based on the presence of chronic airflow limitation, as assessed by post-bronchodilator spirometry. The severity of the airflow limitation, as measured by percent predicted FEV1, provides important information to the physician to enable optimization of management. However, in order to accurately assess the complexity of COPD, there need to be other measures made beyond FEV1. At present, there is a lack of reliable and simple blood biomarkers to confirm and further assess the diagnosis of COPD. However, it is possible to identify patients who display different phenotypic characteristics of COPD that relate to clinically relevant outcomes. Currently, validated phenotypes of COPD include alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, and “frequent exacerbators”. Recently, a definition and assessment of a new phenotype comprising patients with overlapping features of asthma and COPD has been suggested and is known as “asthma COPD overlap syndrome”. Several other phenotypes have been proposed, but require validation against clinical outcomes. Defining phenotypes requires the assessment of multiple factors indicating disease severity, its impact, and its activity. Recognition and validation of COPD phenotypes has an important role to play in the selection of evidence-based targeted therapy in the future management of COPD, but regardless of the diagnostic terms, patients with COPD should be assessed and treated according to their individual treatable characteristics.
Associative Attitude Learning: A Closer Look at Evidence and How It Relates to Attitude Models

Associative attitude learning is typically viewed as a low-level process that automatically registers mere co-occurrences between stimuli, independent of their validity and relational meaning. This view invites to critically examine how attitude formation conforms to four operating conditions (i.e., unawareness, efficiency, goal independence, and uncontrollability) and two operating principles (i.e., unqualified registration of mere co-occurrences between stimuli and formation of direct stimulus–response links), which is the main purpose of the present contribution. The general discussion examines how contemporary attitude models endorse these conditions and principles. Overall, this contribution calls for (a) a nuanced understanding of the nature and scope of associative attitude learning, (b) a fine-grained understanding of how contemporary attitude models endorse conditions and principles reviewed here and find them relevant to their theorization of attitude formation, (c) a clarification of how direct and indirect evaluative measures relate to these conditions and principles, and (d) enhanced efforts in specifying contemporary attitude formation models.
Low Si-OH ORMOCER ®s for Dielectrical and Optical Interconnection Technology

ORMOCER ®* s (inorganic-organic hybrid polymers) with low Si-OH content were synthesized by a new sol-gel route. Optimization of the sol-gel process parameters (catalyst, temperature etc.) was performed in order to achieve reproducible low cost materials which are photo-patternable even in higher layer thicknesses up to 150 μm within one step without cracking or delamination. The materials combine low losses in the NIR region (0.2 dB/cm at 1310 nm and 0.5 dB/cm at 1550 nm without fluorination! ) with low dielectric constants (3.3 at 10 kHz). Beside the dielectric and optical properties the materials have a variety of additional advantages for interconnection technology: good wetting and adhesion on various substrates (e.g. glass, silicon and several polymers), low processing temperatures (postbake below 160 °C), high thermal stability (up to 270 °C) and a tunable refractive index. Details of chemical synthesis and characterization as well as photo-lithographic processing of ORMOCER ® materials are presented.
Uncovering Bugs in P4 Programs with Assertion-based Verification

Recent trends in software-defined networking have extended network programmability to the data plane through programming languages such as P4. Unfortunately, the chance of introducing bugs in the network also increases significantly in this new context. Existing data plane verification approaches are unable to model P4 programs, or they present severe restrictions in the set of properties that can be modeled. In this paper, we introduce a data plane program verification approach based on assertion checking and symbolic execution. Network programmers annotate P4 programs with assertions expressing general security and correctness properties. Once annotated, these programs are transformed into C-based models and all their possible paths are symbolically executed. Results show that the proposed approach, called ASSERT-P4, can uncover a broad range of bugs and software flaws. Furthermore, experimental evaluation shows that it takes less than a minute for verifying various P4 applications proposed in the literature.
Are applicative languages inefficient?

Side-effects are forbidden in applicative languages like Prolog [3], FP [2], pure Lisp [9], and SISAL [8]. Algorithms can often be reformulated applicatively with no loss of efficiency. It is not known whether this is always the case. Here are seven problems which have been resistant to efficient reformulation. The reader is invited to produce an efficient applicative program or lower-bound argument for any of these.
BAGAN: Data Augmentation with Balancing GAN

Image classification datasets are often imbalanced, characteristic that negatively affects the accuracy of deep-learning classifiers. In this work we propose balancing GAN (BAGAN) as an augmentation tool to restore balance in imbalanced datasets. This is challenging because the few minority-class images may not be enough to train a GAN. We overcome this issue by including during the adversarial training all available images of majority and minority classes. The generative model learns useful features from majority classes and uses these to generate images for minority classes. We apply class conditioning in the latent space to drive the generation process towards a target class. The generator in the GAN is initialized with the encoder module of an autoencoder that enables us to learn an accurate class-conditioning in the latent space. We compare the proposed methodology with state-of-the-art GANs and demonstrate that BAGAN generates images of superior quality when trained with an imbalanced dataset.
Characterization of immobilized DNA probes on the surface of silicon compatible materials

In this paper, the objectives and methodologies of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) analysis based on micro arrays produced by microelectronic fabrication technology is reviewed. The important issue of material compatibility between DNA material and silicon based material is addressed. With a special surface treatment, DNA probes have been successfully attached (or immobilized) on the surface of silicon compatible materials (mainly silicon dioxide). Through the use of optical labels that emit optical fluorescence under the illumination of a UV light source, the number of DNA probes immobilized on the silicon dioxide surface can be quantified. The results are further analyzed with atomic force microscopy to visualize the surface conditions. The successful immobilization of DNA probes on silicon wafers is very important for the fabrication of DNA chips for DNA analysis.
Comparison of primary rabbit kidney and MRC-5 cells and two stain procedures for herpes simplex virus detection by a shell vial centrifugation method

By using a conventional tissue culture method as a standard, four shell vial centrifugation culture (SVC) formats were compared for herpes simplex virus (HSV) detection in 300 clinical samples. Both MRC-5 and primary rabbit kidney (PRK) cells were used in the conventional and SVC systems. In addition, both a direct monoclonal fluorescent antibody to HSV (MAb-FA; Syva Corporation, Palo Alto, Calif.) and an indirect HSV polyclonal antibody-horseradish peroxidase stain (poly-HRP; Difco Laboratories, Detroit, Mich.) were used to stain shell vials of both cell types. Conventional tubes were incubated for up to 7 days with daily examination for cytopathic effect, which was confirmed as HSV by staining with an MAb-FA. Shell vials were inoculated, centrifuged, incubated for 16 to 24 h, and stained directly with MAb-FA or indirectly with a poly-HRP stain. Of the 300 specimens examined, 82 (27%) were HSV positive by conventional tissue culture. PRK cells detected 81 (99%) positive specimens, compared with 74 (90%) specimens detected with MRC-5 cells. Of the 82 positive specimens by conventional culture, the SVC formats detected 68 by MRC-5 and MAb-FA, 74 by MRC-5 and poly-HRP, 64 by PRK and MAb-FA, and 77 by PRK and poly-HRP. Therefore, PRK stained by an indirect method with poly-HRP was the most sensitive of the SVC formats tested, detecting 94% of the positive specimens.
Optokinetic nystagmus suppression as an index of the allocation of visual attention.

PURPOSE To use the suppression of optokinetic nystagmus (OKN) as an objective measure of subjects' ability to distribute their visual attention to different elements-static or dynamic, simple or complex-in their visual environment. METHODS Large-field, constant-velocity projected images, along with a stationary central fixation target were presented to 25 young participants (13 women). Images were either black O's with a few X's or red C's, blue T's, and a few red T's, with the X's and red T's as the search targets. Stationary targets at either 0° or ±12.5° were either blinking squares or a rapid succession of colored shapes-blinks or green stars were the target events. Central fixation was maintained at all times. OKN gain was calculated for all tasks and analyzed in a mixed 4-way ANOVA, with the sex of the subjects as the group variable and dynamism, location, and complexity as within-subject effects. RESULTS There was no effect of sex; all three main within-subject effects were significant, as were the two-way interactions between them and an interaction between dynamism and sex. The most striking result was that there was little difference across static tasks but that dynamic tasks showed significantly more OKN breakthrough, particularly for the complex search presented centrally. CONCLUSIONS In this group of normal-sighted young subjects, OKN breakthrough was sensitive to a range of stimulus characteristics. This finding allows a single outcome measure to be used across a wide range of possible tasks and may be useful in assessing the effects of age and disease.
Materials for : Host-microbe interactions shape genetic risk for inflammatory bowel disease

1. Generation of IBD locus list . 3 1a. GWAS data and analysis . 3 i. Cohorts and samples . 3 ii. QC and imputation.3 iii. Principal component analysis.4 iv. Association analysis . 4 1b. Immunochip data and analysis . 4 i. Description of immunochip . 4 ii. Cohorts, samples and genotyping . 5 iii. Genotype calling and QC . 5 iv. Principal component analysis . 6 v. Association analysis . 6 1c. GWAS/Immunochip replication meta-analysis . 7 i. Analysis of primary signals.7 ii. Combination of independent signals into loci . 7 1d. Crohn’s disease/Ulcerative colitis likelihood modeling . 8 1e. Comparison of this locus list to previous CD and UC lists.9 1f. Epistasis analysis in IBD, UC and CD datasets . 10
In-vitro and in-vivo Studies on Novel Chitosan-g-Pluronic F-127 Copolymer Based Nanocarrier of Amphotericin B for Improved Antifungal Activity

The present communication is focusing on development of safe nanotemplates for sustained delivery of amphotericin B (AmB). We synthesized a block copolymer based on chitosan and Pluronic F-127 (PEO–b–PPO–b–PEO). Selection of Pluronic F-127 was based upon the criteria’s that it has smaller size, higher aqueous solubility and stability whereas; chitosan is a natural, non toxic, biodegradable polysaccharide. AmB loaded micelles were prepared by direct dissolution and pH dependent method. Various formulations were prepared using different drug polymer ratio to optimize the size, size distribution, zeta potential and drug loading efficiency. Optimized formulation was characterized for drug release pattern, haemolytic potential, in-vitro anti fungal activity and, in-vivo toxicity and compared with the marketed formulation (fungizone). The particle size and zeta potential of the micelles were found in the range between 90.2±10.21 to 148.7±21.03 and -16.3±4.24 to +31.1±6.10, respectively. The drug loading was found between 16.7±4.76% to 33.3±2.67% for all the developed formulations. Developed formulations showed negligible hemolytic toxicity with comparison to marketed formulation. In vitro antifungal studies demonstrated that micelles were more active than fungizone against C. albicans and A. fumigatus. Furthermore, AmB showed less nephrotoxicity when encapsulated in micelles in comparison to marketed formulation. These results together revealed that the developed formulation would be a safe and efficacious alternative to current marketed formulation to ameliorate the treatment of fungal infection.
Adolescent Sympathetic Activity and Salivary C-Reactive Protein: The Effects of Parental Behavior

Objective: This study utilized a novel multisystem approach to investigate the effect of observed parental behavior on the relationship between biological mechanisms associated with disease processes (i.e., autonomic physiology and immune response) among their adolescent children. Method: Thirty-three adolescents (23 males), aged 11–13, and their parents participated in a laboratory session in which adolescents provided baseline measures of autonomic (sympathetic) activity, and adolescents and 1 parent participated in a laboratory based dyadic conflict resolution interaction task. This included 3 male parent/male adolescent dyads, 20 female parent/male adolescent dyads, 3 male parent/female adolescent dyads, and 7 female parent/female adolescent dyads. Approximately 3 years later, adolescents provided a salivary measure of C-Reactive Protein (sCRP) to index inflammation. Results: Analyses revealed a positive association between sympathetic activity and sCRP, as well as a moderating role of positive parental behavior in this relationship, such that the association between sympathetic activity and sCRP was greater among adolescents whose parents displayed shorter duration of positive affect. Conclusions: Overall findings indicate parental behavior may influence the association between adolescent sympathetic activity and inflammatory processes. These findings have important implications for understanding the impact of psychosocial factors on biological mechanisms of disease.
An algorithm to calculate phase and amplitude of tag on RFID protocol conformance test system

Nowadays, RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology is widely used in logistics management, tolling system as well as authorization management. But either the performance of reader or tag is the largest influence factor in RFID systems compared with other components, so this paper mainly works on how to calculate tag phase and amplitude by signal with CFO that have an obvious influence on signal. This paper propose, an algorithm reducing influence CFO and carrier frequency drift have based on RFID protocol conformance test system and RFID signal analysis system. We find the change of signal with statistical idea and piecewise linear fitting to solve CFO. The difficulty is how to pinpoint location where rate of change changes and locate the start and end of signal. We use rate of change of tag phase and tag amplitude to separate tag signal to correct it, and we use cluster to get center points of signal to calculate tag phase. This algorithm has been used in our system. In this paper, we finished segmentation of signal and analysis of signal. To separate tag signal and reader signal more accurately, we filter signal firstly and then use state transition model. We calculate the value of carrier roughly with simple cluster firstly. Then we start work with state transition model. Finally, we get right location of reader signal and tag signal. And we introduce how to get the phase and amplitude of 18000-6C tag signal and 18000-6B tag signal. We analysis the influence on 18000-6c signal and 18000-6B that CFO and frequency drift have, and propose algorithms for different protocol. We get that 18000-6b IQ signals approximately periodic, but period is a little fluctuate. We use statistical idea to find the period accurately and use fitting curve to fit the change of phase. We get that tag-phase of 18000-6C signal increased linearly in a symbol. So with 18000-6c signal, we adopt piecewise linear fitting not linear regression in a whole of tag signal. After we modify the phase and then we get the correct tag amplitude and tag phase.
United States Army Rangers in Somalia: an analysis of combat casualties on an urban battlefield.

BACKGROUND This study was undertaken to determined the differences in injury patterns between soldiers equipped with modern body armor in an urban environment compared with the soldiers of the Vietnam War. METHODS From July 1998 to March 1999, data were collected for a retrospective analysis on all combat casualties sustained by United States military forces in Mogadishu, Somalia, on October 3 and 4, 1993. This was the largest and most recent urban battle involving United States ground forces since the Vietnam War. RESULTS There were 125 combat casualties. Casualty distribution was similar to that of Vietnam; 11% died on the battlefield, 3% died after reaching a medical facility, 47% were evacuated, and 39% returned to duty. The incidence of bullet wounds in Somalia was higher than in Vietnam (55% vs. 30%), whereas there were fewer fragment injuries (31% vs. 48%). Blunt injury (12%) and burns (2%) caused the remaining injuries in Somalia. Fatal penetrating injuries in Somalia compared with Vietnam included wounds to the head and face (36% vs. 35%), neck (7% vs. 8%), thorax (14% vs. 39%), abdomen (14% vs. 7%), thoracoabdominal (7% vs. 2%), pelvis (14% vs. 2%), and extremities (7% vs. 7%). No missiles penetrated the solid armor plate protecting the combatants' anterior chests and upper abdomens. Most fatal penetrating injuries were caused by missiles entering through areas not protected by body armor, such as the face, neck, pelvis, and groin. Three patients with penetrating abdominal wounds died from exsanguination, and two of these three died after damage-control procedures. CONCLUSION The incidence of fatal head wounds was similar to that in Vietnam in spite of modern Kevlar helmets. Body armor reduced the number of fatal penetrating chest injuries. Penetrating wounds to the unprotected face, groin, and pelvis caused significant mortality. These data may be used to design improved body armor.
Genetic Constraints and Selection Acting on Tolerance to Herbivory in the Common Morning Glory Ipomoea purpurea

Tolerance to herbivory minimizes the effects of herbivory on plant fitness. In the presence of herbivores, maximal levels of tolerance may be expected to evolve. In many plant species, however, tolerance is found at an intermediate level. Tolerance may be prevented from evolving to a maximal level by genetic constraints or stabilizing selection. We report on a field study of Ipomoea purpurea, the common morning glory, in which we measured three types of costs that may be associated with tolerance and the pattern of selection acting on tolerance to two types of herbivore damage: apical meristem damage and folivory. We used genetic correlations to test for the presence of three types of costs: a trade‐off between tolerance and fitness in the absence of herbivore damage, a trade‐off between tolerance and resistance, and genetic covariances among tolerance to different types of damage. We found no evidence that tolerance to apical meristem damage or tolerance to folivory was correlated with resistance, although these two types of tolerance were positively correlated with one another. Tolerance to both types of damage involved costs of lower fitness in the absence of herbivory. Selection acting on tolerance to either type of herbivory was not detected at natural levels of herbivory. Selection is expected to act against tolerance at reduced levels of herbivory and favor tolerance at elevated levels of herbivory. In addition, significant correlational selection gradients indicate that the pattern of selection acting on tolerance depends on values of resistance. Although we found no evidence for stabilizing selection, fluctuating selection resulting from fluctuating herbivore loads may be responsible for maintaining tolerance at an intermediate level.