Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Meta-regression analysis of the initial bone height for predicting implant survival rates of two sinus elevation procedures.

AIM To undertake a systematic review for the association between the initial alveolar bone height and the success of dental implants with sinus elevation procedures. MATERIALS AND METHODS An online search was performed using the following electronic databases: PubMed, Medline, Science Direct, and Blackwell synergy. Two investigators independently assessed publications for inclusion and extracted data. Meta-regression analyses were used to test the associations between the initial alveolar bone height and implant survival with lateral window or osteotome sinus elevation procedures. RESULTS Of 635 studies, 21 were included for analysis. A quadratic curve-fitting meta-regression showed an increasing trend of implant survival rate with greater initial bone height for the lateral window technique (p<0.0001, adjusted R(2)=0.97). The result of the meta-regression for hazard rates showed a decreasing trend (p=0.0041, adjusted R(2)=0.89). No association was found for the osteotome technique. CONCLUSIONS For the lateral window technique, meta-regression analysis suggested a positive association between the initial alveolar bone height and implant survival rates. No relationship was found between the initial alveolar bone height and implant survival rate for the osteotome technique due to a lack of data below 4 mm of initial bone height.
Multi-Stage Message Passing Algorithm for SCMA Downlink Receiver

Sparse code multiple access (SCMA) is a novel non- orthogonal access technique for future multiple access, which increases the spectral efficiency by directly mapping data streams of multiple users to sparse codewords in different SCMA layers, and these SCMA layers are imposed on the same SCMA block composed of limited resource elements (REs). As the sparsity of codewords, message passing algorithm (MPA) can be employed to detect multiple users' data with near optimal performance. But the complexity of MPA is still high, especially in the case of overload, where the downlink user receiver needs to implement the whole iterative process of MPA to get its data although the rest users' data is unnecessary for it. In this paper, we propose a novel multi-stage MPA algorithm, which sorts the level of signal to noise ratio (SNR) of imposed users to decide the detection order and iterations of each stage. Further by reconstructing the factor graph, it can realize downlink user detection without processing the whole MPA, which reduces the complexity by decreasing iterations. Combined with multi-stage MPA, power allocation should be reconsidered according to user's channel condition, which can further improve the performance of the proposed algorithm. The simulation results demonstrate that the performance of proposed detection algorithm is close to MPA at the low SNR region, and gains about 1dB over max-log-MPA, while the complexity is decreased around a half than MPA.
Staged deployment in mirage, an integrated software upgrade testing and distribution system

Despite major advances in the engineering of maintainable and robust software over the years, upgrading software remains a primitive and error-prone activity. In this paper, we argue that several problems with upgrading software are caused by a poor integration between upgrade deployment, user-machine testing, and problem reporting. To support this argument, we present a characterization of softwareupgrades resulting from a survey we conducted of 50 system administrators. Motivated by the survey results, we present Mirage, a distributed framework for integrating upgrade deployment, user-machine testing, and problem reporting into the overall upgrade development process. Our evaluation focuses on the most novel aspect of Mirage, namely its staged upgrade deployment based on the clustering of usermachines according to their environments and configurations. Our results suggest that Mirage's staged deployment is effective for real upgrade problems.
Isogeometric analysis for simulation of progressive damage in composite laminates

The increasing popularity of composite materials in aerospace applications is creating the need for a new class of predictive methods and tools for the simulation of progressive damage in laminated fiber-reinforced composite structures. The unique challenges associated with modeling damage in these structures may be addressed by means of thin-shell formulations which are naturally developed in the context of Isogeometric Analysis. In this paper, we further validate our recently developed Isogeometric Analysis-based multi-layer shell model for progressive damage simulations using experimental data for low-velocity impact on a 24-ply flat panel. The validation includes a careful comparison of delamination and matrix damage patterns predicted by the Isogeometric Analysis-based simulation and those obtained from post-impact non-destructive evaluation of the damaged coupon. The Isogeometric Analysis-based formulation is then deployed on two additional examples: a stiffened panel and a full-scale UAV wing, to demonstrate its suitability for, and ease of application to, typical aerospace composite structures.
Grain Boundary Analysis of Inconel 718 Using a Novel Atom Probe Design

In this work, we present a study of correlative grain boundary segregation analysis for an Inconel 718 superalloy using a newly-designed atom probe. The EIKOSTM atom probe provides a simpler design than the CAMECA’s Local Electrode Atom Probe (LEAPTM) and is primarily targeted towards metallurgical applications. The specimen carrier uses a wire geometry, which is well-suited for electropolishing methods of sample preparation, but can also accommodate focused ion beam (FIB) prepared liftout specimens. In addition, the EIKOSTM atom probe also offers a novel design where the specimen and counter-electrode are integrated within the same specimen carrier. The specimen-counter electrode assembly is aligned ex-situ, allowing for no moving stage parts within the UHV analysis chamber. The specimen assembly is attached directly to a cryogenic cooler during analysis, providing high data quality without the need for complicated cryogenically cooled moving stage parts. A 532 nm green laser can also be used to assist field evaporation of poor electrical conductivity materials such as semiconductors and oxides. Data analysis is performed using CAMECA’s Integrated Visualization and Analysis Software (IVASTM).
1 “ All Can Win ” Theorems – Why Biased Scheduling is Fair

The problem: The SYNC (Scheduling Your Network Connections) project is largely motivated by a single question: Is it possible to reduce the expected response time of every job/request in a Web server, simply by changing the order in which we schedule the requests? In this section we focus on static requests, of the form " Get me a file, " while Section 3 deals with requests involving dynamic content. Our idea Our idea is simple: Traditionally, requests at a Web server are scheduled independently of their size. The requests are time-shared (processor-sharing, PS), with each request receiving a fair share of the web server resources. We propose to modify existing Web servers to implement biased scheduling, in which priority is given to short requests, or those requests which have short remaining time, in accordance with the well-known algorithm Shortest-Remaining-Processing-Time-first (SRPT). The controversy It has long been known that SRPT has the lowest mean response time of any scheduling policy, for any arrival sequence and job sizes [38, 40]. Despite this fact, applications have shied away from using this policy for fear that SRPT " starves " big jobs [7, 41, 42, 39]. It is often stated that the huge average performance improvements of SRPT over other policies stem from the fact that SRPT unfairly penalizes the large jobs in order to help the small jobs. Conservation laws are often quoted in arguments that the performance of small jobs cannot be improved without hurting the large jobs. The truth – analysis In [5] we show that this fear that SRPT penalizes large jobs as compared with PS is unfounded in many common situations, particularly heavier-tailed workloads. Consider for example an M/G/1 queue, where jobs sizes (service requirements) are distributed like Web requests, according to a Bounded-Pareto job size distribution with α-parameter near 1, exhibiting very high variability [6]. In this case, we find that every single job, including a job of the maximum possible size, prefers SRPT to PS in expectation (unless the load, ρ, is very close to 1), see Figure 1. This surprising result provably extends to all job size distributions when ρ < 0.5 [5], and, in the case of unbounded Pareto job size distributions, it extends to all values of load ρ [9, 24]. Which queue does Max prefer ? Max Bounded Pareto () α = 1.1 Figure 1: All-can-win theorem. Jobs of all sizes prefer SRPT …
Reducing safety risk among underserved caregivers with an Alzheimer's home safety program

ABSTRACT Objectives: Older adults living with Alzheimer's disease (AD) experience more of the types of accidents and injuries prevalent among older adults. Relatively few studies specifically on safety risks have included older adults of color and tested interventions. This pilot study tested the feasibility and evaluability of educating Hispanic and African American caregivers of patients living with AD about reducing safety risks in their homes. Methods: This outpatient memory clinic-based intervention study included a pre-/post-test survey design with two nonequivalent groups and predominately serves Hispanic and African Americans. Of 60 eligible caregivers, 67% participated in a tailored, safety training class with an optional follow-up call. Results: The results indicate a reduction in some safety risks compared to baseline and/or a no intervention group, respectively, including leaving patients at home alone part-time (p < .01 and p < .01), getting lost (p < .05 and p < .05), going outdoors alone less often (p < .05 and p < .01), and giving themselves medicine (p < .05 and p < .01). At post-test, 47 clinically significant instances occurred, in which caregivers who participated in the intervention self-reported patients living with AD to be ‘completely safe’ in one or more of the safety risk items compared to 8 instances among those who did not. Conclusions: This pilot pre/post design with non-equivalent groups study needs refinement in a future randomized control trial. Despite limitations, this pilot study demonstrates the first feasible and evaluable intervention with both statistically and clinically significant results that suggest potential for reducing safety risks among at-risk minority patients living with AD in future research.
Corrosion of Sn-Zn-Bi Lead Free Solder in KOH Electrolyte

The corrosion of Sn-Zn-Bi lead free solder in 6M KOH electrolyte was conducted. The study was done using 3 different KOH concentrations (3M, 6M and 9M) and the immersion technique was used to produce corrosion. Due to the nature of immersion, the solder material was prepared by punching it into small billets size after melting it homogenously on a commercial hotplate. The immersion was set to 7, 14 and 21 days. After the specific days have fulfilled the sample billets were removed and tested. The corrosion of this solder was measured using various method such as graphical analysis, surface roughness, corrosion penetration rate (CPR) and optical microscope. In this research, it was found out that the sample billets taken from 6M concentration compared to 3M and 9M showed more corrosion this was supported by the outcome of the test. The 6M believed to provide best corrosion on the solder billets because of its high ionic conductivity value.
Ultra-small mechanical deformation sensor using a hybrid fiber optic-based triangular photonic crystal structure

Nowadays embedding smart devices into various structures is making great strides: from skyscrapers and bridges to lab-on- a-chip and many biomedical fields. Out of a wide variety of sensors, this study aims to design, simulate, and analyze a mechanical elongation one. Classical elongation sensors tend to rely on Bragg peak wavelength variations, which in many cases are reported with respect to strain variation. In this paper, using a 2D triangular photonic crystal structure embedded perpendicularly into a fiber optic core, we rely on a different sensing mechanism. The optimized 2D photonic crystal structure was simulated using EM Explorer, a specialized electromagnetic (EM) wavelength propagation equations solver. The simulations performed have shown that measuring the phase variations of the EM components can provide very accurate information of ultra-small mechanical deformations. In contrast, other sensors have been relying on amplitude variations for such measurements. The EM propagation through the photonic crystal embedded into a fiber optic core has been simulated at ten different elongation forces, spanning from 1 N to 10 N. The applied force changes the geometry of the lattice structure. The geometric coordinates of the photonic crystal structure are used as input values for EM Explorer, which solves the EM wavelength propagation. The simulation results have shown that the phase of the electrical field exhibits a steep change (highly non-linear) when a particular elongation force is applied. The phase of the electrical field varied from 3.089 to –3.058 radians for a force variation of 1 N. This means that the proposed mechanical deformation sensor had a phase variation of Δθ = 6.14 radians for a mechanical deformation of ΔL = 3.55 nm (1 N loading force). Hence, the sensitivity of the sensor is about 10 pm/°.
Fabrication of novel dental nanocomposites and investigation their physicochemical and biological properties

This article evaluates physicochemical, mechanical, and biological properties of a series of novel dental nanocomposites that fabricated from multifunctional methacrylate-based dental monomers, triethyleneglycol dimethacrylate (TEGDMA) monomer, and modified silica nanoparticles (SiO2 NPs). The antibacterial activities of the monomers were investigated against lactobacillus plantarum by standard agar disk diffusion method. The cytotoxicity characteristics of the monomers and fabricated nanocomposites were evaluated by MTT and trypan blue cell viability tests, respectively against NIH3T3 cell line. In addition, the mechanical properties, as well as physicochemical characteristics including water sorption, sol fraction, and double bond conversion were also investigated. According to the results, the formulated nanocomposites have potential to apply as dental nanocomposites mainly due to their acceptable physicochemical, mechanical and biological characteristics.
CAGW Peptide Modified Biodegradable Cationic Copolymer for Effective Gene Delivery

In recent years, gene therapy has become a promising technology to enhance endothelialization of artificial vascular grafts. The ideal gene therapy requires a gene carrier with low cytotoxicity and high transfection efficiency. In this paper, we prepared a biodegradable cationic copolymer poly(d,l-lactide-co-glycolide)-graft-PEI (PLGA-g-PEI), grafted Cys-Ala-Gly-Trp (CAGW) peptide onto this copolymer via the thiol-ene Click-reaction, and then prepared micelles by a self-assembly method. pEGFP-ZNF580 plasmids (pDNA) were condensed by these micelles via electrostatic interaction to form gene complexes. The CAGW peptide enables these gene complexes with special recognition for endothelial cells, which could enhance their transfection. As a gene carrier system, the PLGA-g-PEI-g-CAGW/pDNA gene complexes were evaluated and the results showed that they had suitable diameter and zeta potential for cellular uptake, and exhibited low cytotoxicity and high transfection efficiency for EA.hy926 cells.
Mycosphaerella graminicola: latent infection, crop devastation and genomics.

UNLABELLED summary Mycosphaerella graminicola is an important pathogen of wheat, causing septoria leaf blotch disease. This review summarizes the current knowledge on disease development and control of the fungus, and discusses how molecular tools and genomics are being employed to uncover the genetic basis of pathogenicity. TAXONOMY Mycosphaerella graminicola (Fuckel) J. Schröt. in Cohn (anamorph: Septoria tritici Roberge in Desmaz.). Kingdom Fungi, Phylum Ascomycota, Class Loculoascomycetes (filamentous ascomycetes), Order Dothideales, Genus Mycosphaerella, Species graminicola. HOST RANGE Bread and durum wheat (Triticum aestivum L. and T. turgidum ssp. durum L.) Disease symptoms: Initiating with the appearance of chlorotic flecks on leaves that develop into irregular sunken necrotic lesions peppered with tiny black spots (pycnidia). In addition to the necrotic tissue, the disease results in early leaf tissue senescence and therefore reduced photosynthetic capacity. USEFUL WEBSITES , , .
Change detection of polarimetric SAR images applied to specific land cover type

In this paper, we will propose a novel PolSAR change detection method applied to specific land cover type, i.e., from class ωi to class ωj. Firstly, a new distance measure is derived to extract the difference map belonging to the specified change. Then, Kittler and Illingworth (KI) minimum error threshold segmentation method is applied to obtain the binary change mask. Two Radarsat-2 fully polarimetric images in Suzhou city, China, acquired on April 9, 2009 and June 15, 2010 separately, are used for our experiment. It is shown that the proposed change detection method will give a good performance to achieve the specified change areas of PoSAR images.
Protective Effects of Cassia Seed Ethanol Extract against Carbon Tetrachloride-induced Liver Injury in Mice

Oxidative stress has been recognized as a critical patho-genetic mechanism for the initiation and the progression of hepatic injury in a variety of liver disorders. Antioxi-dants, including many natural compounds or extracts, have been used to cope with liver disorders. The present study was designed to investigate the hepatoprotective effects of cassia seed ethanol extract (CSE) in carbon tetrachloride (CCl 4)-induced liver injury in mice. The animals were pre-treated with different doses of CSE (0.5, 1.0, 2.0 g/kg body weight) or distilled water for 5 days, then were injected intraperitoneally with CCl 4 (0.1% in corn oil, v/v, 20 ml/kg body weight), and sacrificed at 16 hours after CCl 4 exposure. The serum aminotrans-ferase activities, histopathological changes, hepatic and mitochondrial antioxidant indexes, and cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) activities were examined. Consistent with previous studies, acute CCl 4 administration caused great lesion to the liver, shown by the elevation of the serum aminotransferase activities, mitochondria membrane permeability transition (MPT), and the ballooning degeneration of hepatocytes. However, these adverse effects were all significantly inhibited by CSE pretreat-ment. CCl 4-induced decrease of the CYP2E1 activity was dose-dependently inhibited by CSE pretreatment. Furthermore , CSE dramatically decreased the hepatic and mitochondrial malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, increased the hepatic and mitochondrial glutathione (GSH) levels , and restored the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione reductase (GR), and glutathione S-transferase (GST). These results suggested that CSE could protect mice against CCl 4-induced liver injury via enhancement of the antioxidant capacity.
Physicians’ confidence in discussing do not resuscitate orders with patients and surrogates

Purpose: Physicians are often reluctant to discuss “Do Not Resuscitate” (DNR) orders with patients. Although perceived self-efficacy (confidence) is a known prerequisite for behavioural change, little is understood about the confidence of physicians regarding DNR discussions. Subjects and methods: A survey of 217 internal medicine attendings and 132 housestaff at two teaching hospitals about their attitudes and confidence regarding DNR discussions. Results: Participants were significantly less confident about their ability to discuss DNR orders than to discuss consent for medical procedures (p<0.001), and this was true for both attendings (p = 0.002) and housestaff (p<0.001). In a multivariate logistic model of confidence regarding DNR discussions, women were less confident than men (OR = 0.52, CI = 0.29 to 0.92); house officers were less confident than attendings (OR = 0.35, CI = 0.20 to 0.61), those who were less confident of their ability to discuss medical procedures were less confident discussing DNR (OR = 0.12, CI = 0.06 to 0.25), and those who found talking to patients about DNR orders very difficult reported less confidence than those who did not (OR = 0.06, CI = 0.02 to 0.16). Conclusion: We conclude that physicians’ confidence regarding DNR discussions is low compared with their confidence regarding other medical discussions and that confidence varies by sex and perceived difficulty of the task. Efforts to improve DNR discussions should explore the need to tailor educational interventions to fit these characteristics.
The Virtual Storyteller: story creation by intelligent agents

The Virtual Storyteller is a framework for story creation by co-operating intelligent agents. In this framework, a collection of agents is responsible for the creation of dierent story levels: plot, narrative,and presentation. In the Virtual Storyteller, plots are automatically created based on the actions of autonomous characters whose plot creation is only constrained by general plot requirements. This approach lacks the disadvantages of pure character-based plot development, where the characters are fully autonomous, and of scripted approaches, where the plot content is pre-dened and the characters have no autonomy at all.
Regulated adhesion as a driving force of gastrulation movements

Recent data have reinforced the fundamental role of regulated cell adhesion as a force that drives morphogenesis during gastrulation. As we discuss, cell adhesion is required for all modes of gastrulation movements in all organisms. It can even be instructive in nature, but it must be tightly and dynamically regulated. The picture that emerges from the recent findings that we review here is that different modes of gastrulation movements use the same principles of adhesion regulation, while adhesion molecules themselves coordinate the intra- and extracellular changes required for directed cell locomotion.
Privacy Violations of Video Communications in a Ubiquitous Environment

Media Space is a network application in which video images are continuously sent, received, and shared by coworkers. Therefore, Media Space is considered to have a high risk of giving its users a sense of privacy violation. So far, maintaining reciprocity of the communication is considered to have the most significant effect for perceived risk of privacy violation. In this research, we implemented the cellular-phone-based connection to Media Space. However, because a cellular phone can only act as a viewer of images, the reciprocity cannot be achieved. Therefore, this implementation may increase the risk of computer users’ privacy violation by cellular phone users. Seventeen people used this application for nine months, and then a questionnaire survey was conducted. Through a questionnaire survey, we found it phenomenal that the users are less sensitive about their own privacy being violated by others, but are more sensitive about violating other people’s privacy.