Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Corrosion Protective Properties of Hydrotalcites Doped Hybrid Sol-Gel Coatings on Aluminium Substrates

Hydrotalcite-like compound that belongs to anionic clay family was prepared by classical co-precipitation method using magnesium and aluminium nitrates as precursors. Different weight percentages of hydrotalcite with Mg/Al ratio of 2.5 was added (1, 5 and 10 % wt.) to hybrid sols prepared by copolymerization of 3-Glycydoxypropyltrimethoxysilane (GPTMS) and tetra-n-propoxyzirconium (TPOZ). The aim of this work was to study the effect of the hydrotalcite incorporation to hybrid sol-gel coatings on aluminium alloys as substitution of chromate inhibitors. Hybrid sol-gel coatings were deposited by dip coating method on AA2024-T3 substrates. By Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and mechanic profilometry it was possible to see the distribution of HTCP agglomerates which varies from nanometres to micrometers. The corrosion performance was evaluated by the accelerated test salt fog spray chamber (SSFC) and by Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS). The obtained results show the corrosion resistance improvement at higher weight percentages of HTCP.
Microparticles in Hemostasis and Thrombosis

Blood contains microparticles (MPs) derived from a variety of cell types, including platelets, monocytes, and endothelial cells. In addition, tumors release MPs into the circulation. MPs are formed from membrane blebs that are released from the cell surface by proteolytic cleavage of the cytoskeleton. All MPs are procoagulant because they provide a membrane surface for the assembly of components of the coagulation protease cascade. Importantly, procoagulant activity is increased by the presence of anionic phospholipids, particularly phosphatidylserine (PS), and the procoagulant protein tissue factor (TF), which is the major cellular activator of the clotting cascade. High levels of platelet-derived PS+ MPs are present in healthy individuals, whereas the number of TF+, PS+ MPs is undetectable or very low. However, levels of PS+, TF+ MPs are readily detected in a variety of diseases, and monocytes appear to be the primary cellular source. In cancer, PS+, TF+ MPs are derived from tumors and may serve as a useful biomarker to identify patients at risk for venous thrombosis. This review will summarize our current knowledge of the role of procoagulant MPs in hemostasis and thrombosis.
Circadian Levels of Serum Melatonin and Cortisol in relation to Changes in Mood, Sleep, and Neurocognitive Performance, Spanning a Year of Residence in Antarctica

Background. Altered circadian cortisol and melatonin rhythms in healthy subjects exposed to an extreme polar photoperiod results in changes in mood and sleep, which can influence cognitive performance. Materials and Methods. We assessed the circadian rhythm of 20 subjects who wintered over at Maitri (70°S, 11°E), India's permanent Antarctic station, from November 2010 to December 2011. Serum cortisol and melatonin levels were measured by radioimmunoassay at 8 am, 3 pm, 8 pm, and 2 am in a single day, once each during the polar summer and winter photoperiods. Conventional psychological tests, Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-42), Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), and a computerized neurocognitive test battery were used to measure mood, sleep, and cognitive performance. Results. The mean scores for DASS42 were higher during midwinter suggesting the presence of “overwintering. ” Mean diurnal cortisol levels during summer and winter were comparable, but the levels of melatonin were markedly higher during winter. Higher 8 am melatonin levels were associated with better sleep quality, lower depression scores, and better performance in tasks like attention, visual memory, and arithmetic. Conclusion. Timing of artificial light exposure and usage of melatonin supplements in improving sleep and cognitive performance in expedition teams are of future research interest.
Evaluation Methodology for Multiclass Novelty Detection Algorithms

Novelty detection is a useful ability for learning systems, especially in data stream scenarios, where new concepts can appear, known concepts can disappear and concepts can evolve over time. There are several studies in the literature investigating the use of machine learning classification techniques for novelty detection in data streams. However, there is no consensus regarding how to evaluate the performance of these techniques, particular for multiclass problems. In this study, we propose a new evaluation approach for multiclass data streams novelty detection problems. This approach is able to deal with: i) multiclass problems, ii) confusion matrix with a column representing the unknown examples, iii) confusion matrix that increases over time, iv) unsupervised learning, that generates novelties without an association with the problem classes and v) representation of the evaluation measures over time. We evaluate the performance of the proposed approach by known novelty detection algorithms with artificial and real data sets.
A supervisory control approach in economic MPC design for refrigeration systems

A model predictive control at supervisory level is proposed for refrigeration systems including distributed local controllers. Prediction of the electricity price and outdoor temperature are assumed available. The control objective is to minimize the overall energy cost within the prediction horizon. The method is mainly developed for demand-side management in the future smart grid, but a simpler version can be applied in the current electricity market. Due to the system nonlinearity, the minimization is in general a complicated nonconvex optimization problem. A new supervisory control structure as well as an algorithmic pressure control scheme is presented to rearrange the problem to facilitate convex programming. A nonlinear continuous time model validated by real data is employed to simulate the system operation. The results show a considerable economic saving as well as a trade-off between the saving level and the design complexity.
A Model to Incorporate Emotional Sensitivity into Human Computer Interactions

Human machine interaction has started receiving much attention in recent years. The 'Link' which plays a major role in interfacing and facilitating human machine interaction, is getting more and more equipped with different modalities (such as natural language processing , intelligent reasoning etc.) so as to shift the cognitive load of understanding from human to machine. This makes machines not only be able to respond in more appropriate and relevant ways but also reduces the human efforts (in making the system understand and act) to the extent possible. This research work contributes to the design and implementation of the interface by presenting a unified model that takes human machine interaction to a advanced level of understanding with an intelligent interface that not only consists of incorporating emotional intelligence into machines but also identifying contextual information, intention recognition (for a given user's textual response) leading to strategic adaptive dialogue management. The motivation for the system proposed is to provide an inexpensive, unobtrusive means for human beings to interact with computer applications in a meaningful way that requires minimal effort. Research work is completely dedicated to provide a baseline mechanism for achieving stress free satisfying interaction between human and machines. Our system is tested against the existing IVR technology and corresponding results are captured.
Effect of Sesamin Supplementation on Glycemic Status, Inflammatory Markers, and Adiponectin Levels in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

ABSTRACT Background: Sesamin is one of the most abundant lignans in sesame and has multiple functions and high values such as antioxidative effect and promoting-immunity function. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of sesamin supplementation on glycemic status, serum levels of inflammatory markers and adiponectinin patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Material and Methods: Forty-eight patients with type 2 diabetes participated in this double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Subjects were randomly assigned to two groups: intervention group (sesamin capsules; 200 mg/day, n = 24) and control group (placebo capsules; 200 mg/day starch, n = 24). Anthropometric indices and serum levels of fasting blood sugar (FBS), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), insulin, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-6 (IL-6), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and adiponectin were assessed at the baseline and after 8 weeks. Result: Sesamin supplementation caused a significant reduction in FBS, HbA1C and TNF-α levels compared with the placebo (p < 0.05). Waist circumference, hip circumference, body adiposity index (BAI), FBS, HbA1c, TNF-α, and IL-6 levels were decreased, and adiponectin levels were increased significantly in the intervention group at the end of study (p < 0.05). Conclusion: According to the beneficial effects of sesamin supplement on glycemic status and inflammatory factors, it may be considered as a supplementary therapeutic approach for diabetic patients. However, future investigations are needed in this field.
First Stellar Abundances in NGC 6822 from VLT-UVES and Keck-HIRES Spectroscopy

We have obtained the first high-resolution spectra of individual stars in the dwarf irregular galaxy NGC 6822. The spectra of the two A-type supergiants were obtained at the Very Large Telescope and Keck Observatories, using the Ultraviolet-Visual Echelle Spectrograph and the High Resolution Echelle Spectrometer, respectively. A detailed model atmospheres analysis has been used to determine their atmospheric parameters and elemental abundances. The mean iron abundance from these two stars is = -0.49 ± 0.22 (±0.21), with Cr yielding a similar underabundance, = -0.50 ± 0.20 (±0.16). This confirms that NGC 6822 has a metallicity that is slightly higher than that of the SMC and is the first determination of the present-day iron group abundances in NGC 6822. The mean stellar oxygen abundance, 12 + log(O/H) = 8.36 ± 0.19 (±0.21), is in good agreement with the nebular oxygen results. Oxygen has the same underabundance as iron, = +0.02 ± 0.20 (±0.21). This O/Fe ratio is very similar to that seen in the Magellanic Clouds, which supports the picture that chemical evolution occurs more slowly in these lower mass galaxies, although the O/Fe ratio is also consistent with that observed in comparatively metal-poor stars in the Galactic disk. Combining all of the available abundance observations for NGC 6822 shows that there is no trend in abundance with galactocentric distance. However, a subset of the highest quality data is consistent with a radial abundance gradient. More high-quality stellar and nebular observations are needed to confirm this intriguing possibility.
Online Random Ferns for robust visual tracking

Recently many appearance based visual tracking algorithms have been investigated, aimed at building robust appearance models against challenges brought by the varying appearance of the target as well as the unconstrained environment. More often adaptive appearance models were used to capture these variances over time, but this may sometimes result in losing the target (drifting) due to inappropriate update of the model. In this paper an online form of Random Ferns classifier is proposed to accomplish the task of robust appearance modeling with a constrained updating strategy against the potential incorrect update induced by runtime noise. Experiments on challenging benchmark video sequences have been conducted and improvement is observed when compared with recent state-of-the-art algorithms.
Plasmonic photonic crystal with a complete band gap for surface plasmon polariton waves

A dielectric plasmonic photonic crystal for manipulating surface plasmon polariton (SPP) fields has been designed, fabricated, and tested. The band structure of SPP fields inside the plasmonic photonic crystal has been calculated using the plane wave expansion method and validated by full wave numerical simulations. The fabricated device was characterized using our far-field SPP imaging technique. The transmittance of incident SPP waves is about 5% at 1520 nm (a designed band gap frequency), confirming the designed band structure. The results show, both experimentally and theoretically, a complete two-dimensional band gap for in-plane SPP waves. The SPP fields at frequencies within this specified 0. 14ωa/2πc-wide band gap frequency range are forbidden to propagate through the plasmonic photonic crystal.
Sticky Prices, Marginal Cost, and the Behavior of Inflation

In models with sticky prices and monopolistic competition, the cyclical behavior of real marginal cost is a key determinant of firms’ pricing decisions. Necessarily then, such behavior is closely linked to the corresponding cyclical behavior of inflation. Recent empirical work on this link provides support for the models. However, that support is weakened by the implausible assumption of an extreme form of price stickiness. More plausible forms of price stickiness may yet be shown to be consistent with the data but will require revised estimates of the behavior of marginal cost.
Modeling time-sensitive information diffusion in online social networks

After a piece of information is released in Online Social Networks (OSNs), will it spread to the entire network or reach only a small population of users? In a time window of interest, how many users will forward or comment on this information? Limited effort has been made at this point to develop an effective model to address these issues, as the time-sensitive nature of information spreading and the complexity of network structure make it a very challenging task. In this paper, we propose a continuous-time model for information diffusion with time-varying diffusion (infection) rate to address these issues, and provide an interface between our proposed model and the well-studied SI model with constant diffusion rate. We prove that there exists an elegant time-rescaling relationship between these two cases, such that any available result on the standard SI model can readily carry over to our time-varying case. We then show how the shape of the time-dependent infection rate will influence the temporal evolution of the size of infection and the time until the information reaches a given node on a graph. This also explains why some information stops spreading before reaching the entire population. Simulation results on Digg graph validate our findings.
Effect of moyamoya disease on neuropsychological functioning in adults.

OBJECTIVE Moyamoya disease is a cerebrovascular disorder characterized by progressive occlusion of vessels comprising the circle of Willis, resulting in formation of collaterals that have a cloudy appearance on angiography. Neuropsychological research on the cognitive effects of the disorder in adults has been limited in scope and generalizability; only a few case studies have been published. The current study was intended to more comprehensively document the nature of cognitive impairment in moyamoya disease by assessing a large number of adult cases with a neuropsychological assessment test battery. METHODS Thirty-six adult patients with neurodiagnostically confirmed moyamoya disease were given presurgical neuropsychological assessments. RESULTS Mean group performances were within normal limits for all measures assessed. The highest rate of impairment was for measures of executive functioning. The lowest rates occurred with memory and perception measures. Cognitive impairment was present in 11 (31%) of the patients; it was judged to be moderate to severe in four patients (11%). Five patients reported a mild level of depression, and two patients reported a moderate level. CONCLUSION The present findings suggest that moyamoya disease diagnosed in adults can impair cognition but that the effect is not as severe as in pediatric cases. Executive functioning is most affected. Memory and, to a large extent, intellect are spared. The current pattern of results suggests brain region-behavior correlations that deserve further study.
Mental health and stigma in the medical profession

Until recently, much of the recent upsurge in interest in physician health has been motivated by concerns about improving patient care and patient safety and reducing medical errors. Increasingly, more attention has turned to examining how the management of mental illness among physicians might be improved within the medical profession and one key direction for change is the reduction of stigma associated with mental illness. I begin this article by presenting a brief overview of the stigma process from the general sociological literature. Next, I provide evidence that illustrates how the stigma of mental illness thrives in the medical profession as a result of the culture of medicine and medical training, perceptions of physicians and their colleagues, and expectations and responses of health care systems and organizations. Lastly, I discuss what needs to change by proposing ways of educating and raising awareness regarding mental illness among physicians, discussing approaches to assessing and identifying mental health concerns for physicians and by examining how safe and confidential support and treatment can be offered to physicians in need. I rely on strategically selected studies to effectively draw attention to and support the central themes of this article.
A FRAMEWORK FOR HUMAN RELIABILITY IN AIRCRAFT INSPECTION

Maintaining civil aircraft air-worthiness requires the reliability of a complex, socio-technic system. This system's reliability is dependent on the reliability of its components (i.e, equipment, inspectors, the physical environment), and on how reliably these components interact. Error is the measurement counterpart of reliability, and most, if not all, errors can be classified at some stages as human errors. This paper uses the data collected from the task analyses of many inspection tasks (Shepherd, et al., 1991), and the human factors literature on human errors to derive an overall framework for error studies in inspection. This framework interprets the hangar-floor observations in terms of current theories of human error causation, and then uses this interpretation to list strategies for reducing or eliminating errors. The ultimate aim of this work is to ensure that data and theories of human error from other fields (e.g., nuclear power, chemical plants, transportation systems) can contribute to reducing the error potential of aviation maintenance and inspection.
Tetrodotoxin, an Extremely Potent Marine Neurotoxin: Distribution, Toxicity, Origin and Therapeutical Uses

Tetrodotoxin (TTX) is a potent neurotoxin responsible for many human intoxications and fatalities each year. The origin of TTX is unknown, but in the pufferfish, it seems to be produced by endosymbiotic bacteria that often seem to be passed down the food chain. The ingestion of contaminated pufferfish, considered the most delicious fish in Japan, is the usual route of toxicity. This neurotoxin, reported as a threat to human health in Asian countries, has spread to the Pacific and Mediterranean, due to the increase of temperature waters worldwide. TTX, for which there is no known antidote, inhibits sodium channel producing heart failure in many cases and consequently death. In Japan, a regulatory limit of 2 mg eq TTX/kg was established, although the restaurant preparation of “fugu” is strictly controlled by law and only chefs qualified are allowed to prepare the fish. Due to its paralysis effect, this neurotoxin could be used in the medical field as an analgesic to treat some cancer pains.
Glucose-sensing neurons of the hypothalamus

Specialized subgroups of hypothalamic neurons exhibit specific excitatory or inhibitory electrical responses to changes in extracellular levels of glucose. Glucose-excited neurons were traditionally assumed to employ a ‘β-cell’ glucose-sensing strategy, where glucose elevates cytosolic ATP, which closes KATP channels containing Kir6.2 subunits, causing depolarization and increased excitability. Recent findings indicate that although elements of this canonical model are functional in some hypothalamic cells, this pathway is not universally essential for excitation of glucose-sensing neurons by glucose. Thus glucose-induced excitation of arcuate nucleus neurons was recently reported in mice lacking Kir6.2, and no significant increases in cytosolic ATP levels could be detected in hypothalamic neurons after changes in extracellular glucose. Possible alternative glucose-sensing strategies include electrogenic glucose entry, glucose-induced release of glial lactate, and extracellular glucose receptors. Glucose-induced electrical inhibition is much less understood than excitation, and has been proposed to involve reduction in the depolarizing activity of the Na+/K+ pump, or activation of a hyperpolarizing Cl− current. Investigations of neurotransmitter identities of glucose-sensing neurons are beginning to provide detailed information about their physiological roles. In the mouse lateral hypothalamus, orexin/hypocretin neurons (which promote wakefulness, locomotor activity and foraging) are glucose-inhibited, whereas melanin-concentrating hormone neurons (which promote sleep and energy conservation) are glucose-excited. In the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus, excitatory actions of glucose on anorexigenic POMC neurons in mice have been reported, while the appetite-promoting NPY neurons may be directly inhibited by glucose. These results stress the fundamental importance of hypothalamic glucose-sensing neurons in orchestrating sleep-wake cycles, energy expenditure and feeding behaviour.
Diagnosis of Multiple Fixture Faults in Panel Assembly

This paper presents a modeling procedure and diagnostic algorithm for fixture related faults in panel assembly. From geometric information about the panel and fixture, a fixture fault model can be constructed off-line. Combining the fault model with in-line panel dimensional measurements, the algorithm is capable of detecting and classifying multiple fixture faults. The algorithm, which relies heavily on the fault model, is based on least squares estimation. Consequently, the test is of relatively simple form and is easily implemented and analyzed. A theoretical analysis demonstrates the performance of the test, in terms of probability of detecting faults and probability of false alarms.
A new model for SOS-induced mutagenesis: how RecA protein activates DNA polymerase V

In Escherichia coli, cell survival and genomic stability after UV radiation depends on repair mechanisms induced as part of the SOS response to DNA damage. The early phase of the SOS response is mostly dominated by accurate DNA repair, while the later phase is characterized with elevated mutation levels caused by error-prone DNA replication. SOS mutagenesis is largely the result of the action of DNA polymerase V (pol V), which has the ability to insert nucleotides opposite various DNA lesions in a process termed translesion DNA synthesis (TLS). Pol V is a low-fidelity polymerase that is composed of UmuD′2C and is encoded by the umuDC operon. Pol V is strictly regulated in the cell so as to avoid genomic mutation overload. RecA nucleoprotein filaments (RecA*), formed by RecA binding to single-stranded DNA with ATP, are essential for pol V-catalyzed TLS both in vivo and in vitro. This review focuses on recent studies addressing the protein composition of active DNA polymerase V, and the role of RecA protein in activating this enzyme. Based on unforeseen properties of RecA*, we describe a new model for pol V-catalyzed SOS-induced mutagenesis.