Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Small gold clusters on graphene, their mobility and clustering: a DFT study

Motivated by the experimentally observed high mobility of gold atoms on graphene and their tendency to form nanometer-sized clusters, we present a density functional theory study of the ground state structures of small gold clusters on graphene, their mobility and clustering. Our detailed analysis of the electronic structures identifies the opportunity to form strong gold–gold bonds and the graphene-mediated interaction of the pre-adsorbed fragments as the driving forces behind gold’s tendency to aggregate on graphene. While clusters containing up to three gold atoms have one unambiguous ground state structure, both gas phase isomers of a cluster with four gold atoms can be found on graphene. In the gas phase the diamond-shaped Au4D cluster is the ground state structure, whereas the Y-shaped Au4Y becomes the actual ground state when adsorbed on graphene. As we show, both clusters can be produced on graphene by two distinct clustering processes. We also studied in detail the stepwise formation of a gold dimer out of two pre-adsorbed adatoms, as well as the formation of Au3. All reactions are exothermic and no further activation barriers, apart from the diffusion barriers, were found. The diffusion barriers of all studied clusters range from 4 to 36 meV only, and are substantially exceeded by the adsorption energies of − 0.1 to − 0.59 eV. This explains the high mobility of Au1 − 4 on graphene along the C–C bonds.
Infrared Human Posture Recognition Method for Monitoring in Smart Homes Based on Hidden Markov Model

Smart homes are the most important sustainability technology of our future. In smart homes, intelligent monitoring is an important component. However, there is currently no effective method for human posture detection for monitoring in smart homes. So, in this paper, we provide an infrared human posture recognition method for monitoring in sustainable smart homes based on a Hidden Markov Model (HMM). We also trained the model parameters. Our model can be used to effectively classify human postures. Compared with the traditional HMM, this paper puts forward a method to solve the problem of human posture recognition. This paper tries to establish a model of training data according to the characteristics of human postures. Accordingly, this complex problem can be decomposed. Thereby, it can reduce computational complexity. In practical applications, it can improve system performance. Through experimentation in a real environment, the model can identify the different body movement postures by observing the human posture sequence, matching identification and classification process. The results show that the proposed method is feasible and effective for human posture recognition. In addition, for human movement target detection, this paper puts forward a human movement target detection method based on a Gaussian mixture model. For human object contour extraction, this paper puts forward a human object contour extraction method based on the Sobel edge detection operator. Here, we have presented an experiment for human posture recognition, and have also examined our cloud-based monitoring system for elderly people using our method. We have used our method in our actual projects, and the experimental results show that our method is feasible and effective.
Differences in taste sensitivity between obese and non-obese children and adolescents

Background Taste sensitivity varies between individuals. Several studies describe differences between obese and non-obese subjects concerning their taste perception. However, data are partly contradictory and insufficient. Therefore, in this study taste sensitivity of obese and non-obese children/adolescents was analysed. Methods In a cross-sectional study gustatory sensitivity of n=99 obese subjects (body mass index (BMI) >97th percentile) and n=94 normal weight subjects (BMI <90th percentile), 6–18 years of age, was compared. Sensitivity for the taste qualities sweet, sour, salty, umami and bitter was analysed by means of impregnated ‘taste strips’ in different concentrations. A total score was determined for all taste qualities combined as well as for each separately. Furthermore, the possible influence of sex, age and ethnicity on taste perception was analysed. An intensity rating for sweet was performed on a 5-point rating scale. Results Obese subjects showed—compared to the control group—a significantly lower ability to identify the correct taste qualities regarding the total score (p<0.001). Regarding individual taste qualities there was a significantly lower detection rate for salty, umami and bitter by obese subjects. Furthermore, the determinants age and sex had a significant influence on taste perception: older age and female sex was associated with better ability to identify taste qualities. Concerning the sweet intensity rating obese children gave significantly lower intensity ratings to three of the four concentrations. Conclusions Obese and non-obese children and adolescents differ in their taste perception. Obese subjects could identify taste qualities less precisely than children and adolescents of normal weight.
Temperature insensitive long-period grating sensors in photonic crystal fibre

Presented are long-period gratings (LPGs) fabricated in pure silica photonic crystal fibre (PCF) using an electric arc. Two different varieties of PCF have been investigated, an endlessly single mode PCF and a large-mode area PCF. The LPGs have been characterised for their sensitivity to a variety of external measurands. The LPGs in both fibres have been found to have negligible temperature sensitivity whilst exhibiting good sensitivity to bending and strain.
Carbazochrome sodium sulphonate (AC‐17) decreases the accumulation of tissue‐type plasminogen activator in culture medium of human umbilical vein endothelial cells

This study investigated the effect of carbazochrome sodium sulphonate (AC-17) on the accumulation of tissue-type plasminogen activator antigen (t-PA:Ag) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 antigen (PAI-l:Ag) in culture medium of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). HUVEC were cultured in the presence of AC-17, and the concentration of t-PA:Ag and PAI-1:Ag in the medium was measured by an enzyme-linked immunoassay. AC-17, after 48 and 72 h incubation, significantly decreased the t-PA:Ag in the culture medium, while it had no significant effect on the PAI-1:Ag. The result of fibrin zymography was consistent with the result obtained by ELISA. It also revealed that all of the t-PA present in the culture medium formed complexes with PAI-1, indicating that AC-17 did not interfere with t-PA/PAI-1 complex formation. Furthermore, AC-17 did not inhibit the activities of t-PA and plasmin when measured by a fibrin plate method. These results suggest that AC-17 may modulate the fibrinolytic balance of blood through changing the function of endothelial cells, a new aspect of action of AC-17 as a haemostatic drug.
3 Productivity – investment fluctuations and structural change

In this chapter, we review the growth experience in the last two decades of 3 European countries compare it with that of Japan and the US. The stylized facts of these economies (reviwed in Sections3.5–3.6) exhibit dynamic discontinuities in whose interpretation we employ concepts imported from dynamical systems and bifurcation theories. Relying upon a framework of cross-regime dynamics (introduced in Sections 3.2–3.6) where regime switches represent structural changes, our approach departs from traditional and modern growth theories also in two other respects. On one side, we use a sectorally disaggregated description of the economies. On the other, we focus on observed sectoral paths which are typically fluctuating, instead of looking for long run, steady states homogeneous within the dynamic structure of a given economy. In fact, dynamic heterogeneity turns out to be so pervasive that it has surfaced in recent growth literature.1 From a methodological point of view, the present exercise goes in the direction of developing qualitative econometrics as suggested by R. H. Day (e.g. in (1992), (1993), (1994)). This approach to modelling stresses emulation of qualitative properties of given historic data sets rather than quantitative estimation and prediction. We make an attempt at marrying it with an inductive framework which focuses upon the interdependence between structure and dynamics. Sections 3.10–3.14 experiment with recent techniques for the econometric modelling of structural change, while the last section reviews some of the open issues in the research agenda on multi-regime dynamics for large scale model economies.
Resonant acoustic profiling for biological detection and diagnostics

We have employed bulk acoustic wave and surface acoustic wave devices for the sensitive and specific detection of biological agents in complex liquid media. We have produced a robotic liquid delivery system coupled to a multi-layer microfluidic manifold that delivers liquids in a controlled manner to pairs of resonant acoustic sensors in a dasiaUSBpsila type docking station. These resonators were fabricated on a single wafer of piezoelectric material, and a rapid switching process between active areas employed to eliminate cross talk and interference. System performance was enhanced using a proprietary FPGA-based network analyzer with internal digital synthesizer, RF switches and calibration elements. Before the signal was sent to the sensor interface, the impedance of the signal path was transferred to match the sensor interface impedance. The sensors are coated with proprietary planar surface chemistries and polymeric interfaces optimised for biological compatibility, shear modulus and penetration depth to maximise acoustic coupling of a binding signal to the sensor. An optimised elastomeric mounting was developed to minimise the impact of thermal and motional stress on the piezoelectric material, whilst simultaneously providing a sub-microlitre microfluidic dead volume above the sensor. Herein we demonstrate the utility of the system using analytes at each end of the molecular weight range: small molecular weight drug candidates binding to a protein receptor and high molecular weight bacteria binding to an antibody.
Model Design of Piezoelectric Micromachined Modal Gyroscope

This paper reports a novel kind of solid-state microgyroscope, which is called piezoelectric micromachined modal gyroscope (PMMG). PMMG has large stiffness and robust resistance to shake and strike because there is no evident mass-spring component in its structure. This work focused on quantitative optimization of the gyroscope, which is still blank for such gyroscope. The modal analysis by the finite element method (FEM) was firstly conducted. A set of quantitative indicators were developed to optimize the operation mode. By FEM, the harmonic analysis was conducted to find the way to efficiently actuate the operational mode needed. The optimal configuration of driving electrodes was obtained. At last, the Coriolis analysis was conducted to show the relation between angular velocity and differential output voltage by the Coriolis force under working condition. The results obtained in this paper provide theoretical basis for realizing this novel kind of micromachined gyroscope.
On Integration Repositories, Build Sheriffs, and Patch Backouts

If a developer commits a patch that breaks the build (i.e., that does not compile or causes tests to fail), the given patch should be backed out in order to keep the repository stable while the developer writes a fix. In 2011 Firefox adopted rapid release cycles and changed its code integration model. Previously, developers committed code to the central repository off which patches branched; in 2011, they started committing to a separate integration repository. Now, only patches that successfully build are merged by dedicated build sheriffs into the central repository. This liberates developers from needing to perform comprehensive testing prior to committing patches [3]. Khomh et al. [1] studied Firefox’s process changes and concluded that bug fix patches were released quicker after 2011. Mantyla et al. [2] showed that Firefox’s rapid releases left less time for manual testing, which became focused on specific areas. This study also observed Firefox’s changes. Analyzing commits for 41,305 issues from 2009 to 2013, we determined that the proportion of issues with commits backed out because of broken builds increased from 3.5% (2009–2011) to 8.3% (2011–2013). This is a result of less comprehensive developer testing and sheriffs backing out broken patches. This increase in backouts, however, is a non-issue. Under the new process, those backouts are performed in the integration repository prior to merging. The central repository became even more stable: in the same period, the proportion of issues with commits backed out later, during manual testing, dropped from 3.1% to 1.5%. BODY Integration repositories and build sheriffs allow developers to test less comprehensively while keeping the main repository stable.
Xenotransplantation: Today and Tomorrow

Xenotransplantation using pig cells, tissues or organs is at present thought to be the best approach to alleviate the increasing shortage of human tissues and organs for the treatment of tissue and organ failure. This shortage is the reason that approximately 25% of the patients on a waiting list die before they could be treated with an appropriate donor organ. In the US, 30,974 organ transplants were performed in 2015, however 118,066 people need a lifesaving organ transplant [1].
Failure of nitazoxanide to cure trichomoniasis in three women.

NITAZOXANIDE IS A NEW nitrothiazolide antiparasitic agent that shows excellent in vitro activity against a wide variety of protozoa and helminths by blocking anaerobic metabolism in eukaryocytes.1 Like metronidazole, nitazoxanide is a nitro-derivative, but nitazoxanide has a nitrothiazolyl ring instead of the nitroimidazole ring of metronidazole, which could enhance its efficacy and decrease its toxicity.2 The drug is given by the oral route with good bioavailability, and is well tolerated with primarily mild gastrointestinal side effects.1 At present, there are no documented drug interactions. Nitazoxanide has been licensed for the treatment of Giardia intestinalis and Cryptosporidum infections for which the routine adult regimen is 500 mg bid for 3 days (Alinia package insert). The in vitro activity of nitazoxanide against Trichomonas vaginalis was recently reported.2 These properties of nitazoxanide, together with increasing need to expand the arsenal of antitrichomonal drugs, motivated us to use this agent in selected cases of trichomoniasis. We performed a retrospective review of charts of patients treated with nitazoxanide for trichomoniasis at the Vaginitis Clinics in the Detroit Medical Center and Wolfson Hospital (Holon, Israel). “Metronidazole-resistant trichomoniasis” was defined clinically as failure to respond to conventional therapy with oral metronidazole, 500 mg bid for 7 days (total dose 7 g). “Failure to respond” was defined as persistence or recurrence (within 28 days) of symptoms and signs of vaginitis together with the following confirmatory laboratory features of vaginal trichomoniasis: high vaginal pH, increased numbers of polymorphonuclear leukocytes, and a visualization of motile trichomonads using microscopy. In vitro Trichomonas cultures of individual specimens were performed using Diamond’s Medium Modified (Remel) or the InPouch TV culture system (Biomed Diagnostics). In total, 3 patients were treated with nitazoxanide for trichomoniasis at our clinics.
Lipid Oxidation in Homogeneous and Micro-Heterogeneous Media in Presence of Prooxidants, Antioxidants and Surfactants

© 2012 Kancheva and Kasaikina, licensee InTech. This is an open access chapter distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Lipid Oxidation in Homogeneous and Micro-Heterogeneous Media in Presence of Prooxidants, Antioxidants and Surfactants
Acquisition automatique de traductions d'unités lexicales complexes à partir du Web. (Automatic Web acquisition of complex lexical units translations)

Les systemes de traduction automatique ont connu des progres recents avec la prise en compte d'expressions complexes telles que " vol a main armee " ("armed robbery" en anglais). Cependant, des que l'on sort de ces listes d'expressions figees, on retombe rapidement dans des erreurs de traduction. Par exemple, le traducteur Systran traduit " caisse centrale " par "central case" au lieu de "central fund". Cette expression aurait pu etre automatiquement traduite grâce au Web. Le but de cette etude est la creation d'une base bilingue francais-anglais de traduction automatique d'unites lexicales complexes a partir du Web. Nous axerons notre etude sur les difficultes de traduction telles que la polysemie ou le caractere idiomatique et proposerons des traitements adaptes. Au-dela des aspects linguistiques et technologiques, nous analyserons les utilisations du Web dans le domaine de la linguistique.
A new method for frame synchronization in OFDMA mode of WMAN

In this paper, we propose a new method for frame synchronization in OFDMA mode of WMAN. The scheme is based on the preamble suggested for OFDMA mode of WMAN where the preamble consists of real subsymbols and OFDMA data symbols contain complex subsymbols for each frame. The proposed method is independent of frequency offset and results in sharp peak at the frame boundary. A simple approach for selecting appropriate threshold to detect the frame boundary is presented. Simulations are conducted for AWGN and frequency selective channels to demonstrate the performance of the proposed method. Further, the performance of the proposed method is compared with that of the existing methods and it is found that the proposed method exhibits better performance as compared to that of existing methods.
Performance evaluation of web browsers in iOS platform

The number of mobile users have grown tremendously in the past few years. Nowadays, mobile phones are not just used for the purpose of making calls, rather they have become an important modern gadget which helps people in various aspects of their lives. With this increase, a lot of time on mobile is spent in browsing the internet websites through mobile web browsers. Hence, mobile web browsers actually play an important role in the mobile market, and in the lives of the users. In this paper, we have analyzed the performance of six web browsers present in the iOS platform. These web browsers are selected based on their market share in the iOS platform and their popularity. We have evaluated them on different parameters such as browser features, speed, security, performance benchmark tests, plugin support and video streaming. We propose the best web browser based on each parameter used for performance evaluation. Also, we recommend the best web browser based on the overall performance evaluation.
Successful treatment of childhood high-risk hepatoblastoma with dose-intensive multiagent chemotherapy and surgery: final results of the SIOPEL-3HR study.

PURPOSE The primary objective was to determine the efficacy of a newly designed preoperative chemotherapy regimen in an attempt to improve the cure rate of children with high-risk hepatoblastoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS High risk was defined as follows: tumor in all liver sections (ie, Pretreatment Extension IV [PRETEXT-IV]), or vascular invasion (portal vein [P+], three hepatic veins [V+]), or intra-abdominal extrahepatic extension (E+), or metastatic disease, or alpha-fetoprotein less than 100 ng/mL at diagnosis. Patients were treated with alternating cycles of cisplatin and carboplatin plus doxorubicin (preoperatively, n = 7; postoperatively, n = 3) and delayed tumor resection. RESULTS Of the 151 patients (150 evaluable for response) 118 (78.7%) achieved a partial response to chemotherapy. Complete resection of the liver tumor could be achieved in 115 patients (76.2%) either by partial hepatectomy (55.6%) or by liver transplantation (20.6%). In 106 children (70.2%), complete resection of all tumor lesions (including metastases) was achieved. Among the patients with initial lung metastases, 52.2% achieved complete remission of the lung lesions with chemotherapy alone. In half of the patients with initial PRETEXT-IV tumor as the only high-risk feature, the tumor could be completely resected with partial hepatectomy. Event-free (EFS) and overall survival (OS) estimates at 3 years were 65% (95% CI, 57% to 73%) and 69% (95% CI, 62% to 77%) for the whole group. EFS and OS for all patients with PRETEXT-IV tumor were 68% and 69%, respectively, and they were 56% and 62%, respectively, for patients with metastasis. CONCLUSION The applied treatment rendered a great proportion of tumors resectable, and, in comparison with previously published results, led to an improved survival in patients with high-risk hepatoblastoma.
Large surface proteins of hepatitis B virus containing the pre-s sequence

The sequence of hepatitis B virus DNA contains an open reading frame which codes for a not-yet-identified protein of at least 389 amino acids. Only the products starting at the third (GP33/GP36) or the fourth (P24/GP27) initiation signal have been characterized as components of the viral surface antigen. We found a larger protein, P39, and its glycosylated form, GP42, in hepatitis B virus particles and viral surface antigen filaments. Immunological cross-reactions showed that P39/GP42 is partially homologous to P24/GP27 and GP33/GP36. The unique portion of its sequence bound monoclonal antibodies which had been induced by immunization with hepatitis B virus particles. Proteolytic cleavage patterns and subtype-specific size differences suggested that the sequence of P39 starts with the first initiation signal of the open reading frame. Its amino-terminal part (pre-s coded) is exposed at the viral surface and, probably, is highly immunogenic. A model is presented of how the open reading frame for the viral envelope leads to defined amounts of three different proteins.
Introduced Avian Diseases, Climate Change, and the Future of Hawaiian Honeycreepers

The Hawaiian archipelago is isolated in the central Pacific and consists of 7 large islands and a chain of low coral atolls and small rocky islets that extend in a long arc from Hawaii Island in the southeast to Kure Atoll in the northwest. The archipelago is the most isolated island system in the world, separated from the nearest continental landmass by more than 2000 miles of ocean.1 The islands range in elevation from just above sea level for atolls in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands to peaks that exceed 4000 m on Hawaii Island. The interaction of extreme topographic relief, trade winds, and local climatic patterns creates a wide diversity of habitats, ranging from alpine deserts on the highest peaks to montane rain forests with precipitation exceeding 7600 mm per year. The endemic passerine avifauna of the Hawaiian Islands, particularly the endemic Hawaiian hon eycreepers (subfamily Drepanidinae) is often heralded as an outstanding example of adaptive radiation, equal to Darwin's finches from the Galapagos Islands in terms of diversity of bill types and number of species that descended from a common founder.2 From an initial colonization by only a few individuals of a single ancestral cardueline finch, this group radiated throughout the diverse habitats on the islands, specializing on a variety of food resources that included nectar, fruits, and insects. Based on recent studies of subfossils, the diversity of this group may have reached 20 genera with more than 50 species prior to human contact with the islands.3 Remarkably, a new genus and species of honeycreeper, the po'ouli {Melamprosops phaeosoma), was described in the 1970s from remote rain forests on Maui.4 Today, the endemic Hawaiian avifauna faces one of the highest rates of extinction in the world.