Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
EXPERIMENTAL MECHANICS OF MEMS AND THIN FILMS Direct and Local Sub-Micron Strain Measurements

The novel thin film materials manufactured for MEMS sensors, actuators, and multifunctional coatings demand the development of novel methodologies for the characterization of their anisotropic mechanical properties, which dominate as submicron sized devices become technologically feasible. While the limitations of continuum mechanics are experimentally still unexplored, material anisotropy and scale-dependence of deformations require a combined experimental, analytical, and numerical approach with the development of novel instrumentation being at the forefront of this effort. The local character of many phenomena at the nanoscale imposes the challenge to employ methodologies that can specifically and directly address the scale limitations and requirements. This limits our current inventory to techniques and methodologies that provide resolution beyond the optical diffraction limit and include either probe or electron microscopes. The high resolution imaging capabilities of these tools provide the basis for new developments but their ability to furnish quantitative information remains largely unexplored. While such instruments may replace macroscopic cameras employed to conduct full- field measurements, the large-scale test apparatuses need to be also adapted to the new scale demands. These direct approaches and their potential to succeed in the nanoscale mechanics arena are discussed in this chapter. The methodologies of global (average) property measurements and local, nanometer-level, measurements of local constitutive properties are discussed with reference to typical MEMS materials. Special emphasis is given to the full-field methodology with an update to the most recent developments. Finally, the scale-related failure properties of brittle MEMS materials and their implication to thin film material and device design and implementation are discussed.
Probenpräparation für die Rückstreuelektronen-Kikuchi-Beugung (Electron Backscatter Diffraction, EBSD) / Specimen Preparation for Electron Backscatter Diffraction — Part I: Metals

This paper deals with specimen preparation for Electron Backscatter Diffraction (EBSD). Due to the very low information depth of EBSD the standard metallographic preparation is typically not sufficient. It affords an adjustment in order to achieve a very flat and fully distortion free sample surface. Compared to metals the preparation of ceramics is a bit more delicate. Therefore it will be published separately [01aKat].
An evidence-based evaluation on the use of platelet rich plasma in orthopedics – a review of the literature

Within orthopedics, the use of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has been rapidly increasing in popularity, however, its true effectiveness has yet to be fully established. Several studies find that injecting PRP to the site of injury does not provide any significant benefit with respect to clinical outcomes; however, many others report the contrary. Due to the conflicting evidence and multiple meta-analyses conducted on the topic, a literature review of high-quality evidence on the use of PRP for common orthopaedic conditions was performed. Thus far, the evidence appears to suggest that PRP may provide some benefit in patients who present with knee osteoarthritis or lateral epicondylitis. On the other hand, evidence appears to be inconsistent or shows a minimal benefit for PRP usage in rotator cuff repair, patellar and Achilles tendinopathies, hamstring injuries, anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) repair, and medial epicondylitis. There is limited confidence in the conclusions from the published meta-analyses due to issues with statistical pooling, and limited subgroup analyses exploring the substantial heterogeneity across studies. Evidence-based clinicians considering the use of PRP in their patients with musculoskeletal injuries should be weary that the literature appears to be inconsistent and thus far, inconclusive.
Dental size variability in Central African Pygmy hunter-gatherers and Bantu-speaking farmers.

OBJECTIVES Odontometric studies of African populations show high within-group variation in tooth size. Overall, North Africans exhibit smaller dimensions than groups from eastern and southern sub-Saharan regions, but no previous studies have analyzed the full dental metrics among extant African Pygmy hunter-gatherers and Bantu-speaking farmers. Furthermore, the population variability in tooth crown sizes from equatorial rainforest regions remains to be elucidated. MATERIALS AND METHODS The mesiodistal and buccolingual diameters of the permanent teeth (I1-M2) were measured in vivo using high-resolution replicas from Baka Pygmies and Mvae and Yassa Bantu-speakers from Cameroon (western Africa). Analyses of variance were used to record sex-related and population-level differences in tooth sizes, and a principal component analysis of geometrically scaled measures was used to plot the odontometric variability among groups. RESULTS Cameroonian Baka Pygmies differ in dental size from their Bantu-speaking neighbors. Molar teeth are larger in Pygmies than in Bantu individuals, while the anterior dentition is larger in the Bantu. Baka males exhibit significantly larger teeth than females, whereas sexual dimorphism in non-Pygmies is only present in the anterior dentition. DISCUSSION Odontometric patterns and the degree of sexual dimorphism in dental size differ among Central African groups, indicating adaptation to their different forager and farmer lifestyles. In particular, the admixture of Bantu-speakers in Baka populations is smaller than that in other western Pygmy groups. The greater dental phenetic diversity in Baka compared to that of the smaller-toothed farmers suggests that ecogenetic and microevolutionary factors are influencing a particular divergence scenario.
Adaptive Background Estimation using Intensity Independent Features

The problem of subtracting the background in an image sequence is central to computer vision. The general idea is to model the values of each pixel as a random variable. This approach has proved to be efficient when treating slowly varying changes or changes that are fairly periodic. In this paper we propose a novel method for background and foreground estimation that efficiently handles changes that also occur with non periodicity and fast. Furthermore, the method makes only very mild assumptions about the scene making it able to operate in a wide variety of conditions. This is done by introducing a novel set of invariants that are independent to the over all intensity level in the images. By using these features instead of the raw pixel data we automatically obtain a background estimator that is insensitive to rapid changes in lighting conditions. Furthermore, the features can be computed very efficiently using the so called integral image. Inspired by the work in [17] we update the probability model over time to make it able to handle new objects entering the background, but here we work directly with the histogram which reduces the execution time considerably. Finally, we present test data that shows that the model works well in some outdoor scenes. In particular it is shown that it can handle difficult outdoor scenes with rapidly bypassing clouds.
The emerging role of skeletal muscle extracellular matrix remodelling in obesity and exercise

Skeletal muscle extracellular matrix remodelling has been proposed as a new feature associated with obesity and metabolic dysfunction. Exercise training improves muscle function in obesity, which may be mediated by regulatory effects on the muscle extracellular matrix. This review examined available literature on skeletal muscle extracellular matrix remodelling during obesity and the effects of exercise. A non‐systematic literature review was performed on PubMed of publications from 1970 to 2015. A total of 37 studies from humans and animals were retained. Studies reported overall increases in gene and protein expression of different types of collagen, growth factors and enzymatic regulators of the skeletal muscle extracellular matrix in obesity. Only two studies investigated the effects of exercise on skeletal muscle extracellular matrix during obesity, with both suggesting a regulatory effect of exercise. The effects of exercise on muscle extracellular matrix seem to be influenced by the duration and type of exercise training with variable effects from a single session compared with a longer duration of exercise. More studies are needed to elucidate the mechanisms behind skeletal muscle extracellular matrix remodelling during obesity and the effects of exercise.
The end of the line? A case of drug resistance to third-line antiretroviral therapy

HIV drug resistance has been described in all antiretroviral drug classes and threatens the long-term success of HIV treatment. Here, we describe the first reported case of acquired resistance to the integrase strand transfer inhibitors in South Africa. This case illustrates the dilemma of treatment in the context of inadequate adherence and poor psychosocial support and highlights the potential risk of transmission of multidrug-resistant virus.
In-vitro testing of RF-enabled low force mechanical thrombectomy for ischemic stroke

Mechanical thrombectomy for ischemic stroke has high recanalization rate, long treatment time window and low hemorrhage risk. However, the clot engagement approach of caging the clot against the vessel wall can cause vessel stenosis and stroke recurrence. A device with reduced radial stenting force that reduces vessel wall friction would minimize stenosis and damage. The use of localized Radio Frequency (RF) to enable clot engagement and retrieval with minimal stenting force is explored in this study. New mechanical thrombectomy devices enabled with RF (Patent No.: US 62/172,043) were built and tested on human blood clots in vessels ex vivo. Test results showed that the RF-mechanical thrombectomy successfully and reproducibly captured and retrieved the clots without relying on stent caging of the clot against the vessel wall. Further work will be conducted on animals to compare vessel wall damage between conventional and RF-mechanical thrombectomy.
Complications and Socioeconomic Costs Associated With Falls in the Elderly Population

Objective To explore the incidence, characteristics, complications and socioeconomic impacts associated with falls in community-dwelling elderly. Methods From September 1, 2015 to October 12, 2015, a questionnaire-based survey was conducted involving a total of 2,012 elderly who lived in Guro-gu (Seoul), Yeongdeungpo-gu (Seoul), Yangpyeong-gu (Gyeonggi-do), Dalseong-gu (Daegu), and Jung-gu (Daegu). The subjects were interviewed using a structured questionnaire to obtain demographic characteristics and comprehensive falling histories. The socioeconomic cost related to falls was estimated using the statistical data provided by the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service. Results Falls were recorded in 666 out of the 2,012 subjects (33.1%) during the past year. Frequent falls occurred during December, in the afternoons, when the floor was slippery. The most common injuries included the low back and the most common injury type was sprain. The total direct costs related to falls involving the 2,012 subjects were 303,061,019 KRW (Korean won). The average medical cost related to falls in the 2,012 subjects was 150,627 KRW and the average medical cost of 666 subjects who experienced falls was 455,047 KRW. Estimates of the total population over the age of 60 years showed that the annual direct costs associated with falls in Korea over the age of 60 years were about 1.378 trillion KRW. Conclusion This study was conducted to explore the incidence, characteristics, complications, and socioeconomic impacts of falls in community-dwelling elderly. This study is expected to be used as a source of basic data for the establishment of medical policy for the elderly and the development of a fall prevention program for the elderly in Korea.
Reaction Time and Mortality from the Major Causes of Death: The NHANES-III Study

Objective Studies examining the relation of information processing speed, as measured by reaction time, with mortality are scarce. We explored these associations in a representative sample of the US population. Methods Participants were 5,134 adults (2,342 men) aged 20–59 years from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III, 1988–94). Results Adjusted for age, sex, and ethnic minority status, a 1 SD slower reaction time was associated with a raised risk of mortality from all-causes (HR = 1.25, 95% CI 1.12, 1.39) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) (HR = 1.36, 95% CI 1.17, 1.58). Having 1 SD more variable reaction time was also associated with greater risk of all-cause (HR = 1.36, 95% CI 1.19, 1.55) and CVD (HR = 1.50, 95% CI 1.33, 1.70) mortality. No associations were observed for cancer mortality. The magnitude of the relationships was comparable in size to established risk factors in this dataset, such as smoking. Interpretation Alongside better-established risk factors, reaction time is associated with increased risk of premature death and cardiovascular disease. It is a candidate risk factor for all-cause and cause-specific mortality.
An overview of the clinical safety profile of atorvastatin (lipitor), a new HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor.

BACKGROUND Statins (3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A [HMG-CoA] reductase inhibitors) have been used for a decade to lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels and to improve cardiovascular disease and clinical outcomes. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the safety profile of atorvastatin (Lipitor). METHODS Data were pooled for 21 completed (2502 patients) and 23 ongoing (1769 patients) clinical trials of atorvastatin conducted in US and international community- and university-based research centers. In these trials, patients with lipid disorders received atorvastatin at dosages of 10 to 80 mg/d. The majority of patients had moderate to severe hypercholesterolemia and were treated from 4 weeks to more than 24 months. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Transaminase and creatine phosphokinase levels and adverse events were recorded. RESULTS Atorvastatin was well tolerated; fewer than 2% of the atorvastatin-treated patients withdrew due to drug-attributable adverse events. The overall adverse event profile for atorvastatin was similar to that observed with other statins. The most common adverse events with atorvastatin as well as with other statins tested were constipation, flatulence, dyspepsia, and abdominal pain. Approximately 5% of atorvastatin-treated patients had serious adverse events; only 2 of these events were possibly associated with treatment. Thirty patients (0.7%) had confirmed transaminase elevations greater than 3 times the upper limit of the normal range. Most elevations occurred within 16 weeks of beginning treatment. No patients had a conclusive characterization of drug-induced myopathy. CONCLUSIONS The safety profile of atorvastatin was consistent with that of all statins tested and was similar to that seen in all compounds of this class.
Fabrication and Analysis of ZnO Based Ultra Violet Photo Detectors on (100) Si Substrates

Device fabrication and analysis of thin film zinc oxide (ZnO) based ultraviolet (UV) photo detectors on (100) silicon substrates are presented and electrical characteristics along with optical responses of the devices are investigated. Two types of devices are investigated; one exploits the linear transport characteristics of an Ohmic-ZnO junction (photoresistor), and the other uses the nonlinear characteristics of a metal-ZnO junction. ZnO has a direct wide bandgap of 3.37 eV which makes it a promising material for UV optoelectronic applications [1]. We have employed pulsed laser deposition (PLD) at optimized growth temperature and oxygen pressure to grow high quality ZnO thin films on oxide removed (100) n and p-type Si substrates. The electrical properties of the devices as well as their photo responses under dark and UV illumination conditions are examined. For these conductometric devices, the principle of operation relies on the modulation of ZnO conductivity due to UV illumination [2] [3]. More specifically, excess carriers generated by UV illumination affect the film conductivity which in turn affects the output characteristics of our devices including the resistance or the slope of the IV characteristics for photoresistors and rectification properties for Schottky diodes. Photoresistors are fabricated by deposition of two Ohmic contacts on ZnO to exploit linear IV properties while Schottky diodes use the rectification properties of the metal-semiconductor (MS) junction; thus, for one of the two contacts of the device, a Schottky material is used. Standard lithography process has been employed to etch ZnO thin film and deposit metal contacts. Following the band alignment theory and the reported values of ZnO’s electron affinity (χe= 4.5 eV), bandgap, and the work functions of several materials [4], Al (ФM= 4.06 — 4.26 eV) was selected as the Ohmic contact for ZnO/n-Si and Schottky for ZnO/p-Si devices. Au (ФM= 5.31 — 5.47 eV), on the other hand, was selected as the Ohmic contact for ZnO/p-Si and Schottky for ZnO/n-Si devices [5]. Our results confirm the successful fabrication of Ohmic and Schottky devices with an average contact resistance of 9.4 Ωcm 2 for Al/ZnO/n-Si structure and significantly lower resistance of 2.0 Ωcm 2 for Au/ZnO/p-Si devices. Based on our experimental calculations, Schottky barriers of 3.5 eV for Al/ZnO/p-Si and 0.88 eV for Au/ZnO/n-Si are formed which are in good agreement with theoretical values [6]. Finally, optical modulations of the output characteristics are observed for photoresistors and Schottky diodes. Maximum sensitivities of 1.51 Ω. μW for the photoresistor and 78 V -1 at -81 mV for the diode were both achieved at 365 nm UV illumination. Figures 1 and 2 show the output characteristics of a photoresistor and a Schottky diode under dark and UV illuminated conditions respectively. Acknowledgments—the support of the National Science Foundation through Grant ECS#0823996 is gratefully acknowledged. Authors would like to thank Dr. Marc Dandin for his assistance with the optical measurements.
Efeito da adição de argila nas propriedades de biofilme de quitosana Effect of clay addition on the properties of chitosan biofilm

The application of biofilms as packaging is directly related to their characteristics and the possible interactions of these with the product and the environment. There is evidence that chitosan is a viable alternative to be applied to the coating of fruits by their characteristics antifungal, antibacterial, among others, and its direct action as a barrier to water vapor, which is the latest in aging fruit. The clay, and increases the permeability to water vapor, enables a greater adhesion of the biofilm on the surface of the fruit. Determination of degree of deacetylation (DD) of chitosan was made by conductimetric titration. Biofilms were obtained by dissolving moderate agitation in 0.5 M acetic acid at concentrations of 1, and chitosan 2%. The method "casting" was used for the formation of biofilms, which was deposited in 5 mL chitosan gel in Plexiglas plates with 5.55 cm diameter, and were left at room temperature until all the water was completely evaporated. Four different treatments were performed to analyze the effect of the concentration of the chitosan and clay on the analysis of the staining study, opacity, thickness, solubility and permeability to water vapor. The lightness (L*) was changed with the addition of clay to the chitosan films, which did not differ significantly with respect to a* coordinate. The b * value increased significantly with the increase in chitosan concentration and the addition of clay. The opacity was only affected when clay was added to the biofilm. The thicknesses increased with higher amounts of deposited material. And the addition of clay not helped barrier to water vapor, as can be seen with increasing values of permeability to water vapor.
Street Audits to Measure Neighborhood Disorder: Virtual or In-Person?

Neighborhood conditions may influence a broad range of health indicators, including obesity, injury, and psychopathology. In particular, neighborhood physical disorder-a measure of urban deterioration-is thought to encourage crime and high-risk behaviors, leading to poor mental and physical health. In studies to assess neighborhood physical disorder, investigators typically rely on time-consuming and expensive in-person systematic neighborhood audits. We compared 2 audit-based measures of neighborhood physical disorder in the city of Detroit, Michigan: One used Google Street View imagery from 2009 and the other used an in-person survey conducted in 2008. Each measure used spatial interpolation to estimate disorder at unobserved locations. In total, the virtual audit required approximately 3% of the time required by the in-person audit. However, the final physical disorder measures were significantly positively correlated at census block centroids (r = 0.52), identified the same regions as highly disordered, and displayed comparable leave-one-out cross-validation accuracy. The measures resulted in very similar convergent validity characteristics (correlation coefficients within 0.03 of each other). The virtual audit-based physical disorder measure could substitute for the in-person one with little to no loss of precision. Virtual audits appear to be a viable and much less expensive alternative to in-person audits for assessing neighborhood conditions.
S Ecosystem engineering in space and time

Alan Hastings,* James E. Byers, Jeffrey A. Crooks, Kim Cuddington, Clive G. Jones, John G. Lambrinos, Theresa S. Talley and William G. Wilson Abstract The ecosystem engineering concept focuses on how organisms physically change the abiotic environment and how this feeds back to the biota. While the concept was formally introduced a little more than 10 years ago, the underpinning of the concept can be traced back to more than a century to the early work of Darwin. The formal application of the idea is yielding new insights into the role of species in ecosystems and many other areas of basic and applied ecology. Here we focus on how temporal, spatial and organizational scales usefully inform the roles played by ecosystem engineers and their incorporation into broader ecological contexts. Two particular, distinguishing features of ecosystem engineers are that they affect the physical space in which other species live and their direct effects can last longer than the lifetime of the organism – engineering can in essence outlive the engineer. Together, these factors identify critical considerations that need to be included in models, experimental and observational work. The ecosystem engineering concept holds particular promise in the area of ecological applications, where influence over abiotic variables and their consequent effects on biotic communities may facilitate ecological restoration and counterbalance anthropogenic influences.