Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Discovering Critical Situations in Online Social Networks - A Neuro Fuzzy Approach to Alert Marketing Managers

More and more people are exchanging their opinions in online social networks and influencing each other. It is crucial for companies to observe opinion formation concerning their products. Thus, risks can be recognized early on and counteractive measures can be initiated by marketing managers. A neuro fuzzy approach is presented which allows the detection of critical situations in the process of opinion formation and the alerting of marketing managers. Rules for identifying critical situations are learned on the basis of the opinions of the network members, the influence of the opinion leaders and the structure of the network. The opinions and characteristics of the network are identified by text mining and social network analysis. The approach is illustrated by an exemplary application.
General public awareness of heart failure: results of questionnaire survey during Heart Failure Awareness Day 2011

Introduction General public views about heart failure (HF) alone and in comparison with other chronic conditions are largely unknown; thus we conducted this survey to evaluate general public awareness about HF and HF disease burden relative to common chronic disease. Material and methods This was a cross-sectional survey during European Heart Failure Awareness Day 2011. People visiting the stands and other activities in 12 Slovenian cities were invited to complete a 14-item questionnaire. Results The analysis included 850 subjects (age 56 ±15 years, 44% men, 55% completed secondary education or higher). Overall, 83% reported to have heard about HF, 58% knew someone with HF, and 35% believed that HF is a normal consequence of ageing. When compared to other chronic diseases, HF was perceived as less important than cancer, myocardial infarction, stroke and diabetes with only 6%, 12%, 7%, and 5% of subjects ranking HF as number 1 in terms of prevalence, cost, quality of life, and survival. A typical patient with HF symptoms was recognized by 30%, which was comparable to the description of myocardial ischemia (33%) and stroke (39%). Primary care physicians (53%) or specialists (52%) would be primary sources of information about HF. If experiencing HF, 83% would prefer their care to be focused on quality of life rather than on survival (14%). Conclusions Many participants reported to have heard about heart failure but the knowledge was poor and with several misbeliefs. Heart failure was perceived as less important than several other chronic diseases, where cancer appears as a main concern among the general public.
Effectiveness of Low Frequency Electromagnetic Shielding of Concrete with the Functionally Primitives Materials of Short Carbon Fibers and Graphite

The electromagnetic shielding properties of short carbon fibers and graphite concrete were investigated, and the influence of the contents of the short carbon fibers and graphite on the electromagnetic shielding effectiveness of the concrete in low frequency was studied. The mechanism causing the influence of the short carbon fibers adulteration on the electromagnetic shielding effectiveness of the graphite concrete at low frequency was investigated. The maximum electromagnetic shielding effectiveness was up to 8.5dB in the low frequency range of 1MHz～1.8GH. The results of the investigation provide the basis for further designing and producing of high-powered electromagnetic shielding concrete at low frequency.
Effects of septal deviation on the airflow characteristics: Using computational fluid dynamics models

Abstract Conclusions: Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) methods can provide detailed information on airflow characteristics in models of septal deviation. Different locations of septal deviation lead to variation of nasal airflow. Both the location of the septal deviation and the inferior turbinate hypertrophy in the concave side may play an important role in airflow patterns and airflow velocity. Objective: To investigate the airflow patterns and air velocity in different septal deviation models during inspiration, using CFD methods. Methods: Commercial software was used to construct three-dimensional (3D) models of nasal cavities with paranasal sinuses from the computed tomography (CT) scans of 15 patients with septal deviation and 4 controls. Considering the location of the most prominent point of the nasal septum, patients were classified into caudal, anterior, and media deviation groups. Results: Unlike airflow in the controls, airflow in the septal deviation models showed asymmetry in bilateral nasal cavities. The airflow patterns varied in the convex and concave sides in different septal deviation models. Caudal septal deviation models had the maximal peak velocity, while the the minimal peak velocity was found in the media deviation models. The peak velocity was not always located in the convex side, but was sometimes in the concave side.
Sharply bent optical waveguide silicon-on-insulator substrate

We fabricated optical waveguides with a relative refractive index difference of maximally 45 percent on a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrate. We designed the Si channel using the finite difference time domain simulation and fabricated using electron beam lithography and inductively coupled plasma etching. The single or quasi-single mode propagation was observed for channel width of 0.3 - 1.0 microns and thickness of 0.32 microns at a wavelength of 1.55 microns. Propagation loss evaluated using the Fabry-Perot resonance method was of 10 inverse cm order for these channel widths. The large effective index of the guided mode over 4.5 was also observed, which well agreed with the simulation. When channel width was 0.5 microns, the bend loss of 0 - 1 dB was roughly evaluated even though the bend radius was 0.5 - 9.5 microns. The similar low loss was also confirmed for half circular disk waveguides butt-joined to use as 90-degree-bends. These results suggest the potential of an ultra-high density optical wiring in lightwave circuits.
Fabrication and testing of porous Ti microneedles for drug delivery

Porous metal microneedles were fabricated by an incorporated process of cutting and wet etching. Each microneedle is comprised of many connecting microholes that can deliver drugs into organisms conveniently and efficiently. The microneedle height is larger than 400 μm, the pitch distance is about 800 μm and the microholes in each microneedle are about 20 μm in diameter. In force testing, the microneedles could resist large shear forces and pierce into skins easily; in the in vivo experiment, the insulin was efficiently injected into rats by a patch of the microneedles. The testing and the experiment demonstrated that the microneedles could deliver drugs into organisms to treat diseases without fracture.
The β- and γ-isoforms of type I PIP5K regulate distinct stages of Ca2+ signaling in mast cells

Crosslinking of IgE receptors by antigen initiates Ca2+ mobilization in mast cells by activating phospholipase-Cγ-mediated hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate [PtdIns(4,5)P2]. The resulting inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate-mediated Ca2+ release from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) activates store-operated Ca2+ entry, which is necessary for exocytotic release of inflammatory mediators. To investigate roles for PtdIns(4,5)P2-synthesizing isozymes of the type I phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate 5-kinase family (PIP5K-I) in mast cell signaling, we compared the ectopic expression of wild-type and catalytically inactive PIP5K-Iβ in RBL-2H3 mast cells. Surprisingly, both antigen and thapsigargin-stimulated Ca2+ influx were reduced by overexpression of active PIP5K-Iβ, whereas antigen-stimulated Ca2+ release from ER stores was unaffected. Consistent with these results, Ca2+ entry stimulated by antigen or thapsigargin was enhanced by expression of a plasma-membrane-associated inositol polyphosphate 5′-phosphatase, whereas antigen-stimulated Ca2+ release from stores was reduced. To investigate the role of PIP5K-Iγ in antigen-stimulated Ca2+ mobilization, we used bone-marrow-derived mast cells from PIP5K-Iγ–/– mice. Antigen-stimulated Ca2+ release from ER stores was substantially reduced in the absence of PIP5K-Iγ, but thapsigargin-mediated Ca2+ entry was unaffected. In summary, PIP5K-Iγ positively regulates antigen-stimulated Ca2+ release from ER stores, whereas PIP5K-Iβ negatively regulates store-operated Ca2+ entry, suggesting that these different PIP5K-I isoforms synthesize functionally distinct pools of PtdIns(4,5)P2 at the plasma membrane.
ABCG Transporters Are Required for Suberin and Pollen Wall Extracellular Barriers in Arabidopsis[C][W]

Plants make tough barriers outside their cells in precise anatomical locations to control water and solute movement through their tissues. This work demonstrates that a family of transport proteins is required in Arabidopsis to form such barriers in roots and in seed coats and to make a functional pollen wall. Effective regulation of water balance in plants requires localized extracellular barriers that control water and solute movement. We describe a clade of five Arabidopsis thaliana ABCG half-transporters that are required for synthesis of an effective suberin barrier in roots and seed coats (ABCG2, ABCG6, and ABCG20) and for synthesis of an intact pollen wall (ABCG1 and ABCG16). Seed coats of abcg2 abcg6 abcg20 triple mutant plants had increased permeability to tetrazolium red and decreased suberin content. The root system of triple mutant plants was more permeable to water and salts in a zone complementary to that affected by the Casparian strip. Suberin of mutant roots and seed coats had distorted lamellar structure and reduced proportions of aliphatic components. Root wax from the mutant was deficient in alkylhydroxycinnamate esters. These mutant plants also had few lateral roots and precocious secondary growth in primary roots. abcg1 abcg16 double mutants defective in the other two members of the clade had pollen with defects in the nexine layer of the tapetum-derived exine pollen wall and in the pollen-derived intine layer. Mutant pollen collapsed at the time of anther desiccation. These mutants reveal transport requirements for barrier synthesis as well as physiological and developmental consequences of barrier deficiency.
Automated outreach to increase primary adherence to cholesterol-lowering medications.

BACKGROUND Primary nonadherence occurs when new prescriptions are not dispensed. Little is known about how to reduce primary nonadherence. We performed a randomized controlled trial to evaluate an automated system to decrease primary nonadherence to statins for lowering cholesterol. METHODS Adult members of Kaiser Permanente Southern California with no history of statin use within the past year who did not fill a statin prescription after 1 to 2 weeks were passively enrolled. The intervention group received automated telephone calls followed 1 week later by letters for continued nonadherence; the control group received no outreach. The primary outcome was a statin dispensed up to 2 weeks after delivery of the letter. Secondary outcomes included refills at intervals up to 1 year. Intervention effectiveness was determined by intent-to-treat analysis and Fisher exact test. Subgroups were examined using logistic regression. RESULTS There were 2606 participants in the intervention group and 2610 in the control group. Statins were dispensed to 42.3% of intervention participants and 26.0% of control participants (absolute difference, 16.3%; P < .001). The relative risk for the intervention vs control group was 1.63 (95% CI, 1.50-1.76). Intervention effectiveness varied slightly by age (P = .045) but was effective across all age strata. Differences in the frequency of statin dispensations persisted up to 1 year (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS The intervention was effective in reducing primary nonadherence to statin medications. Because of low marginal costs for outreach, this strategy appears feasible for reducing primary nonadherence. This approach may generalize well to other medications and chronic conditions.
Stroke Symptoms in Individuals Reporting No Prior Stroke or Transient Ischemic Attack Are Associated With a Decrease in Indices of Mental and Physical Functioning

Background and Purpose— Stroke symptoms in the absence of recognized stroke are common, but potential associated dysfunctions have not been described. Methods— We assessed quality-of-life measures using the Physical and Mental Component Summary scores of the Short Form 12 (PCS-12 and MCS-12) in the REasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) cohort. Differences in mean PCS-12 and MCS-12 scores were assessed among participant groups symptoms-free (n=16 090); history of stroke symptoms but free of stroke/transient ischemic attack (n=3404); history of stroke (n=1491); and history of transient ischemic attack (n=818). Results— Participants with symptoms (but no diagnosis) had average PCS-12 scores 5.5 (95% CI: 5.2 to 5.9) points lower than those without symptoms, a difference similar to transient ischemic attack (6.0; 95% CI: 5.3 to 6.7) and over one half the effect of stroke (8.4; 95% CI: 8.0 to 9.0). MCS-12 scores were 2.7 (95% CI: 2.4 to 3.0) points lower for those with symptoms, −0.5 for transient ischemic attack (95% CI: 0.0 to −1.1), and −1.6 for stroke (95% CI: −1.2 to −2.0). Differences in demographic and vascular risk factors, health behaviors, physiological measures, and indices of socioeconomic status did not fully explain these differences. Those reporting history of weakness or numbness had larger current decrements in physical functioning, and those reporting history of inability to express themselves or understand language had larger current decrements in mental functioning. Conclusions— Individuals with clinically consistent symptoms but no stroke diagnosis have a lower quality of life than those without symptoms. The difference in physical functioning is substantial with a smaller decline in mental functioning. Apart from so-called “silent stroke,” there appear to be many individuals with possibly symptomatic cerebrovascular disease—either stroke or transient ischemic attack—who are not being diagnosed. Furthermore, these symptomatic but undiagnosed strokes may not be benign.
Chronic antidepressant administration increases the expression of cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) in rat hippocampus

The present study demonstrates that chronic, but not acute, adminstration of several different classes of antidepressants, including serotonin- and norepinephrine-selective reuptake inhibitors, increases the expression of cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) mRNA in rat hippocampus. In contrast, chronic administration of several nonantidepressant psychotropic drugs did not influence expression of CREB mRNA, demonstrating the pharmacological specificity of this effect. In situ hybridization analysis demonstrates that antidepressant administration increases expression of CREB mRNA in CA1 and CA3 pyramidal and dentate gyrus granule cell layers of the hippocampus. In addition, levels of CRE immunoreactivity and of CRE binding activity were increased by chronic antidepressant administration, which indicates that expression and function of CREB protein are increased along with its mRNA. Chronic administration of the phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitors rolipram or papaverine also increased expression of CREB mRNA in hippocampus, demonstrating a role for the cAMP cascade. Moreover, coadministration of rolipram with imipramine resulted in a more rapid induction of CREB than with either treatment alone. Increased expression and function of CREB suggest that specific target genes may be regulated by these treatments. We have found that levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and trkB mRNA are also increased by administration of antidepressants or PDE inhibitors. These findings indicate that upregulation of CREB is a common action of chronic antidepressant treatments that may lead to regulation of specific target genes, such as BDNF and trkB, and to the long-term effects of these treatments on brain function.
Preparation of Ni-Base Alloy Coatings on Monel Alloy by Laser Cladding

Abstract. The paper presents the results of a study concerned with the surface hardening of Inconel 625 alloys and Ni-base alloy powder on Monel alloy by electro spark deposition and laser cladding processes. The microstructure, the phase composition and the microhardness of samples are investigated by SEM, EDS, XRD and microhardness instrument. It is shown that, the matrix phase is mainly made up of dendritic structure (γ-Ni), interdendritic eutectic phase (Ni3(B,Fe,Si)) and some precipitates (Cr7C3, Cr23C6). Additional, the microhardness of laser cladding layer can be substantially increased, duo to formation of precipitates.
Análise da influência da velocidade de mergulho na retificação de aços endurecidos utilizando refrigeração otimizada

The Grinding, final process of grinding of a piece, is used a lot of cut fluids with the lubrication purpose, cooling and removal of shavings. However, these are extremely aggressive with the middle. With the technological progress the world tendency is to produce pieces more and more sophisticated, with high degree of tolerance geometric, dimensional, with good superficial finish, with low cost and, mainly, without causing damages to the middle. For so much, to the rectification process it is intrinsic the recycling of the cut fluid, that he/she stands out for his/her cost. Through the variation of the dive speed in the external cylindrical plunge grinding expresses of the steel ABNT D6, rationalizing the application of two cut fluids more used now and using an CBN wheel it was evaluated the exit parameters tangential cutting force acoustic emission, roughness, roundness, wear and tear of the tool, the residual stress and the microscopic images of the surface. With the analysis of the flowing acting, I sway and dive speed was the best grinding conditions propitiating the decrease of the volume of cut fluid, decrease of the time of work without harming the parameters geometric, dimensional, the superficial finish and the surface integrity of the components.
AVOIDING CORROSION DAMAGE IN REINFORCED CONCRETE

Steel used in the construction of buildings and bridges is not immune to corrosion. Corrosion requires water, oxygen and a catalyst such as salt. The authors suggest several ways to prevent altogether or reduce significantly corrosion damage: eliminate chloride from the concrete environment, avoid or reduce exposure to water, reduce concrete's permeability by reducing the water-cement ratio and/or add a pozzolan or blended cement, avoid electrical currents, protect the steel with appropriate coatings and use a corrosion inhibitor.
The extensor tibiae muscle of the stick insect: biomechanical properties of an insect walking leg muscle

SUMMARY We investigated the properties of the extensor tibiae muscle of the stick insect (Carausius morosus) middle leg. Muscle geometry of the middle leg was compared to that of the front and hind legs and to the flexor tibiae, respectively. The mean length of the extensor tibiae fibres is 1.41±0.23 mm and flexor fibres are 2.11±0.30 mm long. The change of fibre length with joint angle was measured and closely follows a cosine function. Its amplitude gives effective moment arm lengths of 0.28±0.02 mm for the extensor and 0.56±0.04 mm for the flexor. Resting extensor tibiae muscle passive tonic force increased from 2 to 5 mN in the maximum femur–tibia (FT)-joint working range when stretched by ramps. Active muscle properties were measured with simultaneous activation (up to 200 pulses s–1) of all three motoneurons innervating the extensor tibiae, because this reflects most closely physiological muscle activation during leg swing. The force–length relationship corresponds closely to the typical characteristic according to the sliding filament hypothesis: it has a plateau at medium fibre lengths, declines nearly linearly in force at both longer and shorter fibre lengths, and the muscle's working range lies in the short to medium fibre length range. Maximum contraction velocity showed a similar relationship. The force–velocity relationship was the traditional Hill curve hyperbola, but deviated from the hyperbolic shape in the region of maximum contraction force close to the isometric contraction. Step-like changes in muscle length induced by loaded release experiments characterised the non-linear series elasticity as a quadratic spring.
Somatomedin: Inhibition of Adenylate Cyclase Activity in Subcellular Membranes of Various Tissues

Somatomedin in concentrations between 3 and 20 units per milliliter significantly inhibits the basal activity of adenylate cyclase in crude membrane preparations obtained from homogenates of fat cells, liver, and spleen lymphocytes of the rat, and from chondrocytes and cartilage of chick embryos. The enzyme activity measured in the presence of stimulating hormones (epinephrine, prostaglandin PGE1, parathyroid hormone) is also inhibited in these preparations by somatomedin. These observations may be relevant in a general way to the mechanism of action of growth-prmoting substances and to the processes which normally regulate cell growth.
Experiments on Embryonic Induction: III. A Note on Inductions by Chick Primitive Streak Transplanted to the Rabbit Embryo

The communication describes two cases of induction by pieces of the chick primitive streak grafted into the embryonic shield of the rabbit (7½ days after copulation, long primitive streak stage) and discusses the technical difficulties raised by such experiments. The results show that the ectoderm of the rabbit at this stage possesses the capacity of reacting to an inducing stimulus by the formation of neural plate (i.e. is "competent" (Waddington, 1932) to form neural plate), and thus make it probable that the embryonic development of the mammals is influenced by factors similar to those which have become familiar in the Amphibia and birds. They are also a demonstration of the lack of species specificity of the inducing agents involved in embryonic organisers.
Metrics for the quality of footprint-matched passive microwave measurements

In developing footprint matching schemes for the NPOESS (National Polar-orbiting Operational Satellite System) CMIS (Conical-scanning Microwave Imager Sounder) and ATMS (Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder) instruments, we have set up an array of tests for evaluating spatial weighting patterns, radiometric fidelity, and retrieval skill for composite passive microwave measurements. The purpose of the tests is two-fold. First, footprint-matching methods can be tuned to adjust both the degree of match to a target pattern and the level of composite measurement radiometric noise. Useful measures of each of these factors are needed in order to trade-off the benefits of each, complete the matching algorithm design, and run retrieval algorithms that use measurement error characteristics as a constraint. Second, environmental parameter retrieval skill depends on the quality of the footprint matching design, and we need to be able to evaluate what radiometric and spatial quality levels are optimal with respect to retrieval performance. To evaluate the diagnostic parameters, we simulated composite footprints from sensor patterns projected on a spherical-Earth from a fixed satellite altitude. Spatial quality metrics include measures of fit to the target pattern, 3dB contour size, side-lobe level, proportional weight within the 3dB contour, and weight beyond specified linear boundaries (e.g., X km from center)