Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ageing of polymer modified bitumen (PMB)

Abstract: To realize the ageing of polymer modified bitumens (PMBs) correctly is of great significance for academicians and technicians. This chapter begins by discussing the main causes of ageing for PMBs. It then illustrates simulative ageing methods, ageing performance and characterization, as well as the means for improving the ageing resistance of PMBs. The chapter finally outlines a short commentary on likely future trends and provides some sources of further information and advice.
Exacerbation of Hypertension by High Chloride, Moderate Sodium Diet in the Salt‐Sensitive Spontaneously Hypertensive Rat

In salt-sensitive spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR-S) of the Okamoto strain, dietary salt loading causes an exacerbation of hypertension that is associated with a decrease in noradrenergic input to the depressor neurons in the anterior hypothalamus. In the present study, the contribution of chloride to the salt-induced hypertensive response was examined in the SHR-S, in order to test the hypothesis that diets high in chloride but moderate in sodium elevate blood pressure in genetically predisposed subjects. SHR-S were fed diets high in NaCl (1.97% Na+, 2.93% Cl”; 5% NaCI), high in chloride (2.93%) but moderate in sodium (0.39%) or moderate in NaCl (0.39% Na+, 0.61% CI”; 1% NaCl). After 2 weeks, rats on the high (5%) NaCl diet exhibited a significant elevation in blood pressure compared to rats on the moderate (1 %) NaCl diet, and this elevation was maintained throughout the next 3 weeks. SHR-S on the high chloride diet were not significantly more hypertensive than 1% NaCl-fed SHR-S during the first 3 weeks, but during the fourth and fifth weeks, SHR-S on the high chloride diet displayed a significant exacerbation of hypertension. The diet-induced elevation in blood pressure in groups fed either the 5% NaCl or high chloride (compared to 1 % NaCl) diets was associated with significant decreases in norepinephrine stores in the anterior hypothalamic region, but no other changes in monoamines or monoamine metabolites in this region or in the posterior hypothalamic region. The high chloride diet did not increase blood pressure in normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats. These data demonstrate that diets high in chloride and moderate in sodium can increase blood pressure in SHR-S and suggest that this increase is related to a reduction in noradrenergic input to sympathoinhibitory neurons in the anterior hypothalamus.
Thickness of human articular cartilage in joints of the lower limb

OBJECTIVES (a) To determine the topographical variations in cartilage thickness over the entire surfaces of cadaveric lower limb joints, and (b) to examine the correlations between: cartilage thickness and its site specific modulus; cartilage thickness and donor age, weight, height, and body mass index. METHODS The cartilage thickness of 11 sets of cadaveric human joints each comprising an ankle, knee, and hip was measured using a needle probe technique. Statistical analysis was used to compare the cartilage thickness of the different lower limb joints and the differences in cartilage thickness over the surface of individual joints. It was further examined whether cartilage had a correlation with its stiffness, and any of the details of the specimen donors such as age, weight, height, and body mass index. RESULTS The mean cartilage thickness of the knee was significantly greater than that of the ankle and hip (p<0.001) in all 11 sets of joints, while the cartilage thickness of the hip was significantly greater than that of the ankle in 10 sets of joints (p<0.001). The mass of specimen donors was found to correlate with the mean cartilage thickness of all three lower limb joints. A correlation was also found between the height of donors and the mean cartilage thickness of the knee and hip joints, while only in the ankle joint was a correlation found between the mean cartilage thickness and the body mass index of the specimen donors. A further correlation was found between cartilage thickness and its modulus; the thinner the cartilage, the higher the modulus. CONCLUSIONS The thickness of articular cartilage seems to be related to the congruance of a joint; thin cartilage is found in congruent joints such as the ankle, whereas thick cartilage is found in incongruent joints such as the knee. The correlations in this study imply that the larger and heavier was a donor the thicker was the cartilage in the lower limb joints. The data further suggest the presence of an inverse relation between the mean cartilage thickness and mean compressive modulus in each of the joints examined.
Virtual Communities of Practice as a Support for Knowledge Sharing in Social Networks

Knowledge as a result of people’s interaction is an essential factor for organizations facing actual business complexity. Social networks, whose creation and usage have been facilitated from the development of information and communication technologies, improved the conditions for interactive and collaborative answers at a very fast pace. In this sense, virtual communities of practice appear as an important way to share knowledge among groups of people joined by common interests, such as the search for solutions for problems, development of competences, professional relationship upgrades, growth of productivity, and general working quality. However, some barriers have emerged to the social network members, such as lack of trust, real incentives, and time to dedicate in order to contribute in these communities. In this chapter, aiming to evaluate such scenarios, a multiple case study methodology was conducted, starting from a literature review of main concepts, giving support for a final assessment of cases to provide better understanding and identification of the main benefits and barriers for the participation and collaboration in these new platforms. As a result of the present study, these reflections could lead to a better comprehension of the application of the social networks structured over virtual communities of practice in the business environment. Yóris Linhares de Souza UNA University, Brazil Fernanda Farinelli Unisys, Brazil George Leal Jamil FUMEC University, Brazil Maria Celeste Reis Lobo de Vasconcelos Faculdades Pedro Leopoldo, Brazil DOI: 10.4018/978-1-4666-5942-1.ch020 Gutenberg Marques Dias AF2G, Brazil
POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL INFLUENCES MICROBIAL INTERACTIONS WITH INTESTINAL EPITHELIUM

There is emerging evidence that polyethylene glycol (PEG), widely used as a bowel preparation before surgery, may protect the intestinal epithelium from microbial invasion. Experiments were designed to study the effects of both low-molecular-weight (LMW; 3.35 kd) and high-molecular-weight (HMW; 15-20 kd) PEG on interactions of Escherichia coli, Candida albicans, and Candida glabrata with intestinal epithelium (these three intestinal microbes are frequently involved in systemic infection in shock and trauma patients.) In vitro experiments studied the effects of PEG on mature Caco-2 enterocytes. Using the gentamicin protection assay, both HMW and LMW PEG inhibited E. coli internalization by Caco-2 enterocytes. Using an immunosorbent assay, both HMW and LMW PEG inhibited C. albicans and C. glabrata adherence to Caco-2 enterocytes. Scanning electron micrographs of Caco-2 cells incubated in HMW or LMW PEG showed globular material distributed randomly over the epithelial surface, and apical microvilli seemed distorted. As an in vivo correlate to these experiments, separate groups of antibiotic-treated mice were orally associated with either E. coli, C. albicans, or C. glabrata, and cohort groups were given drinking water containing 5% HMW or 5% LMW PEG. Cecal colonization of E. coli was decreased in mice given HMW but not LMW PEG. Cecal colonization with C. albicans or C. glabrata was decreased in mice given either HMW or LMW PEG. These data provide further evidence that PEG may decrease microbial colonization and microbial interactions with intestinal epithelium.
Microtubule-associated proteins: subunits of the cytomatrix

Microtubules isolated from brain tissue are composed of tubulin and a variety ofnontubulin proteins known as microtubule-associated proteins (MAPS). ' The most prominent MAPs in brain microtubule preparations are known as the high molecular weight MAPs (8, 50) because of their large subunit size (300,000 daltons) . Brain microtubules also contain a smaller amount of a group of proteins ofMr 55,00062,000 known as the tau MAPs (10, 63), as well as a number of minor protein species. However, because of the relative abundance and interesting morphology ofthe high molecular weight MAPs, these have been the most intensely studied of all of the known MAPs. The high molecular weight MAPs appear as fine filamentous arms on the surface of purified microtubules when examined by thin-section electron microscopy (13, 34), rapidfreeze, deep-etch electron microscopy (21), or metal shadowing (61, 66) . Their appearance suggests that these proteins play a role in mediating the interaction of microtubules with other cellular organelles . As extensively discussed in this supplement, a considerable body of evidence points to the existence of a network of interconnections between the various structural components of the cell, including microtubules. In investigating the high molecular weight brain MAPs, therefore, we are presumably examining isolated components of this "cytomatrix . " It is our hope that this line of investigation will eventually contribute to an understanding of how the cytomatrix functions and, perhaps of even greater interest ultimately, how its behavior is modulated . The high molecular weight brain MAPs have an additional property that has stimulated considerable research effort in a number of laboratories, that of promoting the polymerization of tubulin to form microtubules . Thus, these proteins may be multifunctional, increasing the inherent interest in their isolation and characterization .
Heat Strain Is Exacerbated on the Second of Consecutive Days of Fire Suppression

Purpose We tested the hypothesis that physiological and perceptual heat strain is exacerbated on the second of back-to-back days of fire suppression work despite evidence of full recovery. Methods Twenty-six career and volunteer firefighters (age = 31 ± 8 yr) completed 20 min of near maximal fire suppression work on consecutive days. Dependent variables were core temperature, heart rate, perceived exertion, and thermal sensation, which were measured before and after fire suppression. Urine specific gravity and body mass were also measured upon arrival at the fire academy as an index of hydration and recovery between days. Results Urine specific gravity (1.007 ± 0.006 vs 1.005 ± 0.006), body mass (87.7 ± 16.1 vs 87.8 ± 16.0 kg), heart rate (77 ± 14 vs 76 ± 14 bpm), and core temperature (37.2°C ± 0.4°C vs 37.1°C ± 0.7°C) were not different upon arrival on day 1 compared with day 2 (P ≥ 0.26). The increase in core temperature during fire suppression was higher on day 2 (0.7°C ± 0.3°C vs 1.1°C ± 0.5°C, P < 0.01). Heart rate did not differ (after fire suppression: day 1 = 174 ± 19, day 2 = 169 ± 30 bpm, P = 0.60). The magnitude of increase in perceived exertion during fire suppression was greater on day 2 (6.7 ± 1.6 vs 7.4 ± 1.6 a.u., P < 0.01). Absolute thermal sensation at the end of fire suppression was greater on day 2 (3.8 ± 0.8 vs 4.3 ± 0.6 a.u., P < 0.01). Conclusions Physiological and perceptual heat strain is higher on the second of back-to-back days of fire suppression work.
Primary prevention of sudden death with implantable defibrillator therapy in patients with cardiac disease: Can we afford to do it? (Can we afford not to?).

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is a major public health problem in North America, responsible for approximately 400 000 deaths annually.1,2 Most episodes of SCD in ambulatory populations result from ventricular tachyarrhythmias,3 whereas bradyarrhythmias may be important in some populations, notably hospitalized patients with advanced heart failure4 (Figure 1). A prior article in this series by Zipes and Wellens2 provides a detailed review of the pathogenesis of SCD, its underlying causes, and treatment strategies. Figure 1. Mechanisms of SCD in ambulatory persons. Most SCDs result from ventricular fibrillation. VT, bradyarrhythmias, and other mechanisms account for the remainder. ### ICD Therapy The availability of a therapy that reliably terminates the vast majority of life-threatening tachyarrhythmic and bradyarrhythmic events has tremendous clinical appeal. The implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) represents such a therapy. Despite its appeal, the ICD is imperfect. Currently, systems are costly, have a limited life expectancy, and are subject to complications in the long term.5,6 Furthermore, many patients at risk for SCD are at risk of dying from causes that the ICD would not alter. The impact of ICD shocks also merits consideration. Evidence links multiple shocks with myocardial injury7 and fibrosis,8 and sporadic shocks are associated with significant, independent reductions in quality of life. Compared with patients not having shocks, patients in the Antiarrhythmics Versus Implantable Defibrillators (AVID) trial who had ≥1 shocks in the initial year of follow-up had significant declines in self-perceived physical functioning and mental well-being, independent of ejection fraction (EF), social circumstances, and medication use. The reduction in quality of life associated with shocks was of a magnitude similar to clinically important adverse effects from amiodarone.9 Cost-efficacy is a vital issue in settings of limited or restricted health care resources6 and is particularly relevant as ICD use is expanded to …
Understanding of the retarded oxidation effects in silicon nanostructures

A new understanding of the retarded or self-limited oxidation phenomenon observed during the oxidation of silicon nanostructures is proposed. The wet thermal oxidation of various silicon nanostructures such as nanobeams, concave/convex nanorings and nanowires exhibits an extremely different and complex behaviour. Such effects have been investigated by the mode\-lling of the mechanical stress generated during the oxidation process explaining the retarded or quasi self-limited regime. The proposed model describes the oxidation kinetics of silicon nanowires down to a few nanometers while predicting reasonable and physical stress levels at the Si/SiO$_{2}$ interface by correctly taking into account the relaxation effects in silicon oxide through plastic flow. Finally, this study gives more insight into the retarded or self-limiting oxidation phenomenon.
The Cervical Range of Motion as a Factor Affecting Outcome in Patients With Congenital Muscular Torticollis

Objective To investigate the factors affecting rehabilitation outcomes in children with congenital muscular torticollis (CMT). Methods We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 347 patients who were clinically suspected as having CMT and performed neck ultrasonography to measure sternocleidomastoid (SCM) muscle thickness. Fifty-four patients met the inclusion criteria. Included were demographic characteristics as well as measurements of cervical range of motion (ROM), SCM muscle thickness, and the abnormal/normal (A/N) ratio, defined as the ratio of SCM muscle thickness on the affected to the unaffected side. Results Subjects were divided into three groups depending on degree of cervical ROM (group 1A: ROM>60, n=12; group 1B: 60≥ROM>30, n=31; group 1C: ROM≤30, n=11), the SCM muscle thickness (Th) (group 2A: Th<1.2 cm, n=23; group 2B: 1.2≤Th<1.4 cm, n=18; group 2C: Th≥1.4 cm, n=13), and the A/N ratio (R) (group 3A: R<2.2, n=19; group 3B: 2.2≤R<2.8, n=20; group 3C: R≥2.8, n=15). We found that more limited cervical ROM corresponded to longer treatment duration. The average treatment duration was 4.55 months in group 1A, 5.87 months in group 1B, and 6.50 months in group 1C. SCM muscle thickness and the A/N ratio were not correlated with treatment duration. Conclusion Infants with CMT who were diagnosed earlier and had an earlier intervention had a shorter duration of rehabilitation. Initial cervical ROM is an important prognostic factor for predicting the rehabilitation outcome of patients with CMT.
LifeCLEF Plant Identification Task 2014

The LifeCLEFs plant identication task provides a testbed for a system-oriented evaluation of plant identication about 500 species trees and herbaceous plants. Seven types of image content are considered: scan and scan-like pictures of leaf, and 6 kinds of detailed views with unconstrained conditions, directly photographed on the plant: ower, fruit, stem & bark, branch, leaf and entire view. The main originality of this data is that it was specically built through a citizen sciences initiative conducted by Tela Botanica, a French social network of amateur and expert botanists. This makes the task closer to the conditions of a realworld application. This overview presents more precisely the resources and assessments of task, summarizes the retrieval approaches employed by the participating groups, and provides an analysis of the main evaluation results. With a total of ten groups from six countries and with a total of twenty seven submitted runs, involving distinct and original methods, this fourth year task confirms Image & Multimedia Retrieval community interest for biodiversity and botany, and highlights further challenging studies in plant identication
Comparison of three tests for faecal calprotectin in children and young adults: a retrospective monocentric study

Objective Faecal calprotectin is used as a sensitive marker for gastrointestinal mucosal inflammation. We compared the performance of three different assays in a large cohort of symptomatic paediatric patients. Design Retrospective monocentric study. Setting Inpatients and outpatients of a tertiary referral centre for paediatric gastroenterology. Participants 304 symptomatic patients (163 males, aged 2–20 years) with active inflammatory bowel disease (IBD/A, n=130), IBD in clinical remission (IBD/R, n=62), other intestinal diseases (n=45) and controls without identified intestinal disease (n=67). Interventions Calprotectin was measured in homogenised faecal samples with three tests (A: EliA Calprotectin, Phadia AB, Sweden; B: PhiCal, Calpro AS, Norway; C: EK-Cal, Bühlmann Laboratories, Switzerland). Outcomes Concordance between tests was calculated using Kendall's τ coefficient. Results IBD/A and controls were correctly classified as 97.7%/82.1% (A), 97.7%/85.1% (B) and 98.4%/62.7% (C; not significant). Test C tended to have higher calprotectin values with a lower specificity compared to tests A and B. The concordance between two tests was 0.835 for tests A and B, 0.782 for tests A and C and 0.765 for tests B and C. Conclusions All three tests are very sensitive for detecting mucosal inflammation, but major differences exist between specificity and absolute values. It is highly advisable to use the test of the same manufacturer for follow-up and to monitor for disease activity.
Sampling Outdoor, Resting Anopheles gambiae and Other Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in Western Kenya with Clay Pots

Abstract Clay pots were analyzed as devices for sampling the outdoor resting fraction of Anopheles gambiae Giles (Diptera: Culicidae) and other mosquito species in a rural, western Kenya. Clay pots (Anopheles gambiae resting pots, herein AgREPOTs), outdoor pit shelters, indoor pyrethrum spray collections (PSC), and Colombian curtain exit traps were compared in collections done biweekly for nine intervals from April to June 2005 in 20 housing compounds. Of 10,517 mosquitoes sampled, 4,668 An. gambiae s.l. were sampled in total of which 63% were An. gambiae s.s. (46% female) and 37% were An. arabiensis (66% female). The clay pots were useful and practical for sampling both sexes of An. gambiae s.l. Additionally, 617 An. funestus (58% female) and 5,232 Culex spp. (males and females together) were collected. Temporal changes in abundance of An. gambiae s.l. were similarly revealed by all four sampling methods, indicating that the clay pots could be used as devices to quantify variation in mosquito population density. Dispersion patterns of the different species and sexes fit well the negative binomial distribution, indicating that the mosquitoes were aggregated in distribution. Aside from providing a useful sampling tool, the AgREPOT also may be useful as a delivery vehicle for insecticides or pathogens to males and females that enter and rest in them.
Barriers faced by expanded practice dental hygienists in Oregon.

PURPOSE Oregon allows dental hygienists to provide services without the supervision of a dentist if they hold an expanded practice permit (EPP). This study surveyed practicing and non-practicing EPP holders with the purpose of assessing perceived barriers to practicing independently and better educating students to begin independent practice upon graduation. METHODS A survey was developed, approved by the institutional review board and pilot tested with current Expanded Practice Dental Hygienists (EPDHs). A list of EPDHs was obtained from the Oregon State Dental Board, and 181 surveys were mailed in November 2011. RESULTS The response rate was 39% (n=71). Data from this study indicate a large number of new EPP holders, with 62% (n=41) holding their permit for 3 years or less, but only 41% (n=29) of respondents are actually providing care in a setting requiring an EPP. Responding practicing EPDHs reported barriers including: challenges with insurance reimbursement, lack of knowledge/acceptance, equipment cost/maintenance, difficulty obtaining a collaborative agreement/cooperating facility, advertising and inability to make a living wage. Responding non-practicing EPDHs reported barriers including: currently working in another setting, lack of business knowledge, time, start-up cost, inability to make a living wage, lack of opportunity, reimbursement difficulties and lack of experience. CONCLUSION Perceived barriers to practicing independently differ between those practicing utilizing their EPP and those not practicing. Ways to eliminate barriers for both practicing and non-practicing EPDHs should be explored. There is potential to reduce the barriers to independent practice through curricular changes, public health partnerships among EPDHs, and new health care systems that specifically address barriers found through this study.
Simulation of Mosca Speciications in Ada

mosca is an experimental language to extend the Vienna Development Method specii-cation language VDM-SL to be applicable in the area of developing distributed, parallel and real-time systems. As is generally known, plain VDM is not adequate for these application areas since it lacks facilities to specify multiple threads of control and it does not allow the use of time within speciications. mosca is designed to overcome these restrictions. The paper reports on the development of a mechanical transformation of mosca speci-cations into executable Ada programs. The paper highlights the transformation of mosca types, the implementation of pattern matching, the realisation of mosca agents through Ada tasks and the realisation of time.