pinecone/core-2020-05-10-deduplication huggingface dataset:
Visualization and Characterization of Heterogeneous Water Flow in Double-Porosity Media by Means of X-ray Computed Tomography Porous media

International audienceThree-dimensional visualization of dynamic water transport process in soil by 1 computed tomography (CT) technique is still limited by its low temporal resolution. In order 2 to monitor dynamically water transport in soil, a compromise has to be found between water 3 flow velocity and CT acquisition time. Furthermore, an efficient image analysis method is 1 4 necessary. In this work, we followed the water transport in three dimensions by CT imaging 5 across a double-porosity media constituted of two distinct materials, i.e. sand and porous 6 clay spheres. The CT acquisition parameters were adjusted to the water pore velocity so that 7 we succeeded to register the water front displacement per time range of 25 min. We also used 8 the image subtraction method to extract water distribution evolution with time with a space 9 resolution of 6 × 10 −3 cm. Both time and space resolution are relatively high compared with 10 other dynamic studies. The water content profiles showed that the clay spheres remained 11 in their dry state during water infiltration, while the water transport only occurred in the 12 sand matrix. These results are consistent with macroscopic experiments. The water front 13 visualized by CT showed a non-symmetrical shape which was related to water transfer in 14 non-equilibrium as shown by column displacement experiments
Join forces or cheat: evolutionary analysis of a consumer-resource system

International audienceIn this contribution we consider a seasonal consumer-resource system and focus on the evolution of consumer behavior. It is assumed that consumer and resource individuals live and interact during seasons of fixed lengths separated by winter periods. All individuals die at the end of the season and the size of the next generation is determined by the the consumer-resource interaction which took place during the season. Resource individuals are assumed to reproduce at a constant rate, while consumers have to trade-off between foraging for resources, which increases their reproductive abilities, or reproducing. Firstly, we assume that consumers cooperate in such a way that they maximize each consumer's individual fitness. Secondly, we consider the case where such a population is challenged by selfish mutants who do not cooperate. Finally we study the system dynamics over many seasons and show that mutants eventually replace the original cooperating population, but are finally as vulnerable as the initial cooperating consumers
Pharmacokinetics and exposure-effect relationships of capecitabine in elderly patients with breast or colorectal cancer.
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Population pharmacokinetics of capecitabine in elderly

International audiencePURPOSE: The aims of the present study were (1) to investigate the impact of great age on pharmacokinetics of capecitabine and its metabolites and (2) to evaluate the exposure-effect relationship of capecitabine in elderly patients. METHODS: Data collected from 20 elderly patients (75-92 years old) with breast or colorectal cancer who received oral capecitabine were analyzed. In order to study the old age effect on pharmacokinetics, data collected from two phase I studies involving 40 younger adults (<75 years old) with metastatic cancer who received oral capecitabine were added in the database. The population pharmacokinetic analysis was based on a four-compartment model describing the sequence of capecitabine and three of its metabolites. RESULTS: The absorption rate constant was found lower in the oldest patient group (≥75 years) compared with the youngest group, and the constant rate elimination of the 5-fluorouracil metabolite was found decreased over time (i.e., after 2 consecutive weeks of capecitabine administration). This time effect was not found different between the two age groups. In elderly patients, the exposure-safety analysis showed, from the second cycle of chemotherapy, significantly higher median exposures of capecitabine and its metabolites (5'-deoxy-5-fluorocytidine, 5'-deoxy-5-fluorouridine and 5-fluorouracil) in patients who experienced hand-foot syndrome compared with patients who did not. CONCLUSION: This study puts forward new arguments for the treatment of elderly cancer patients who could benefit from capecitabine chemotherapy with acceptable toxicity
Novel transcript profiling of diffuse alveolar damage induced by hyperoxia exposure in mice: Normalization by glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase

Under mechanical ventilation with high-inspired oxygen concentration, diffuse
alveolar damage (DAD) was found to take place in some patients. To clarify the
molecular pathophysiology of this condition we investigated the time course of gene
expression changes induced by hyperoxia exposure in mouse lung using real-time
quantitative polymerase chain reaction (real-time qPCR). Our results normalized by
glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase showed that mRNA levels of cysteine rich
protein 61 (CYR61) and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) were significantly
up-regulated, while those of surfactant-associated protein C (SFTPC), cytochrome
P450, 2F2 (CYP2F2), Claudin 1, (CLDN1), membrane-associated zonula occludens
protein-1 (ZO-1), lysozyme (LYZS), and P lysozyme structural (LZP-S) were
significantly down-regulated. Increasing level of mRNAs, each encoding CYR61 and
CTGF, suggests a serious risk of fibrosing alveolitis. Decrease in levels of mRNAs for
SFTPC, CYP2F2, CLDN1, ZO-1, LYZS, and LZP-S suggests alveolar dysfunction
and disruption of the immune system. Moreover we confirmed apoptotic conditions,
such as significant up-regulations of mRNA levels in Myc and Galectin-3. Hyperoxic
condition probably yielded reactive oxygen species (ROS), which resulted in a malignant cycle of ROS production by Myc overexpression
Gene expression profiling of diabetic and galactosaemic cataractous rat lens by microarray analysis

Aims/hypothesis  Osmotic and oxidative stress is associated with the progression and advancement of diabetic cataract. In the present study, we used a cDNA microarray method to analyse gene expression patterns in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats and galactose-fed cataractous lenses. In addition, we investigated the regulation and interaction(s) of anti-oxidant protein 2 and lens epithelium-derived growth factor in these models.
	Methods  To identify differential gene expression patterns, one group of Sprague–Dawley rats was made diabetic with streptozotocin and a second group was made galactosaemic. Total RNA was extracted from the lenses of both groups and their controls. Labelled cDNA was hybridised to Atlas Rat Arrays. Changes in gene expression level were analysed. Real-time PCR and western analysis were used to validate the microarray results.
	Results  The expression of 31 genes was significantly modulated in hyperglycaemic lenses compared with galactosaemic lenses. Notably, transcript and protein levels of B-cell leukaemia/lymphoma protein 2 and nuclear factor-B were significantly elevated in rat lenses at 4 weeks after injection of streptozotocin. At a later stage, mRNA and protein levels of TGF- were elevated. However, levels of mRNA for IGF-1, lens epithelium-derived growth factor and anti-oxidant protein 2 were diminished in streptozotocin-induced diabetic cataract.
	Conclusions/interpretations  These results provide evidence that progression of sugar cataract involves oxidative- and TGF--mediated signalling. These pathways may promote abnormal gene expression in the hyperglycaemic and galactosaemic states and thus may contribute to the symptoms associated with these conditions. Since oxidative stress seems to be a major event in cataract formation, supply of anti-oxidant may postpone the progression of such disorders
Supercritical fluid coating of API on excipient enhances drug release

A process to coat particles of active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) onto microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) excipient shows promise as a new way to dosage forms showing enhanced drug release. The process consists of a fluidized bed operated at elevated pressure in which API particles are precipitated from a Supercritical Anti-Solvent process (SAS). MCC particles were used as an excipient in the fluidized bed and collect the SAS-generated API particles. Naringin was selected as the model API to coat onto MCC. A number of operational parameters of the process were investigated: fluidization velocity, coating pressure, temperature, concentration of drug solution, drug solution flow rate, drug mass, organic solvent, MCC mass and size and CO2-to-organic solution ratio. SEM and SPM analyses showed that the MCC particle surfaces were covered with near-spherical nanoparticles with a diameter of approximately 100–200 nm, substantially smaller than the as-received API material. XRD showed that naringin changed from crystalline to amorphous during processing. The coated particles resulting from the SAS fluidized bed process have a higher loading of API, gave faster release rates and higher release ratios in comparison with those produced using a conventional fluidized bed coating process. The approach could be transferred to other industries where release is important such as agrochemical, cosmetic and food
Noise-induced transitions in rugged energy landscapes

We consider the problem of an overdamped Brownian particle moving in multiscale potential with N+1 characteristic length scales: the macroscale and N separated microscales. We show that the coarse-grained dynamics is given by an overdamped Langevin equation with respect to the free energy and with a space-dependent diffusion tensor, the calculation of which requires the solution of N fully coupled Poisson equations. We study in detail the structure of the bifurcation diagram for one-dimensional problems, and we show that the multiscale structure in the potential leads to hysteresis effects and to noise-induced transitions. Furthermore, we obtain an explicit formula for the effective diffusion coefficient for a self-similar separable potential, and we investigate the limit of infinitely many small scales
Stranski-Krastanov InN/InGaN quantum dots grown directly on Si(111)

The authors discuss and demonstrate the growth of InN surface quantum dots on a high-In-content In0.73Ga0.27N layer, directly on a Si(111) substrate by plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy. Atomic force microscopy and transmission electron microscopy reveal uniformly distributed quantum dots with diameters of 10–40 nm, heights of 2–4 nm, and a relatively low density of ∼7 × 109 cm−2. A thin InN wetting layer below the quantum dots proves the Stranski-Krastanov growth mode. Near-field scanning optical microscopy shows distinct and spatially well localized near-infrared emission from single surface quantum dots. This holds promise for future telecommunication and sensing devices
Effect of roof-mounted solar panels on the wind energy exploitation on high-rise buildings.

The analysis of the wind flow around buildings is of great interest in the field of renewable energies. This work presents an investigation of the effects of roof-mounted solar panels on the wind flow on building roofs, from the point of view of the wind energy exploitation. CFD simulations of the wind flow around an isolated building are performed with OpenFOAM. The simulations are compared with two wind tunnel experiments for validation: an isolated building and an array of solar panels. The wind flow on an empty roof is compared with roof-mounted solar panels cases. The solar panels are tested with tilt angles of 10° and 30°, the most adequate inclination for solar panels in the Mediterranean region. The analysis is carried out both quantitatively and qualitatively. The full-scale building results are compared with a reduced-scale model and scaling issues are reported. The most adequate wind turbine for each roof region is suggested
Matrix Gla Protein and Alkaline Phosphatase Are Differently Modulated in Human Dermal Fibroblasts from PXE Patients and Controls

Mineralization of elastic fibers in pseudoxanthoma elasticum (PXE) has been associated with low levels of carboxylated matrix gla protein (MGP), most likely as a consequence of reduced vitamin K (vit K) availability. Unexpectedly, vit K supplementation does not exert beneficial effects on soft connective tissue mineralization in the PXE animal model. To understand the effects of vit K supplementation and in the attempt to interfere with pathways leading to the accumulation of calcium and phosphate within PXE-mineralized soft connective tissues, we have conducted in vitro studies on dermal fibroblasts isolated from control subjects and from PXE patients. Cells were cultured in standard conditions and in calcifying medium (CM) in the presence of vit K1 and K2, or levamisole, an alkaline phosphatase (ALP) inhibitor. Control and PXE fibroblasts were characterized by a similar dose-dependent uptake of both vit K1 and vit K2, thus promoting a significant increase of total protein carboxylation in all cell lines. Nevertheless, MGP carboxylation remained much less in PXE fibroblasts. Interestingly, PXE fibroblasts exhibited a significantly higher ALP activity. Consistently, the mineralization process induced in vitro by a long-term culture in CM appeared unaffected by vit K, whereas it was abolished by levamisole
Spatiotemporal development of the bacterial community in a tubular longitudinal microbial fuel cell.

The spatiotemporal development of a bacterial community in an exoelectrogenic biofilm was investigated in sucrose-fed longitudinal tubular microbial fuel cell reactors, consisting of two serially connected modules. The proportional changes in the microbial community composition were assessed by polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and DNA sequencing in order to relate them to the performance and stability of the bioelectrochemical system. The reproducibility of duplicated reactors, evaluated by cluster analysis and Jaccard's coefficient, shows 80-90% similarity in species composition. Biofilm development through fed-batch start-up and subsequent stable continuous operation results in a population shift from γ-Proteobacteria- and Bacteroidetes- to Firmicutes-dominated communities, with other diverse species present at much lower relative proportions. DGGE patterns were analysed by range-weighted richness (Rr) and Pareto-Lorenz evenness distribution curves to investigate the evolution of the bacterial community. The first modules shifted from dominance by species closely related to Bacteroides graminisolvens, Raoultella ornithinolytica and Klebsiella sp. BM21 at the start of continuous-mode operation to a community dominated by Paludibacter propionicigenes-, Lactococcus sp.-, Pantoea agglomerans- and Klebsiella oxytoca-related species with stable power generation (6.0 W/m(3)) at day 97. Operational strategies that consider the dynamics of the population will provide useful parameters for evaluating system performance in the practical application of microbial fuel cells
Methods of measuring residual stresses in components

Residual stresses occur in many manufactured structures and components. Large number of investigations have been carried out to study this phenomenon and its effect on the mechanical characteristics of these components.\ud
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Over the years, different methods have been developed to measure residual stress for different types of components in order to obtain reliable assessment. The various specific methods have evolved over several decades and their practical applications have greatly benefited from the development of complementary technologies, notably in material cutting, full-field deformation measurement techniques, numerical methods and computing power. These complementary technologies have stimulated advances not only in measurement accuracy and reliability, but also in range of application; much greater detail in residual stresses measurement is now available. This paper aims to classify the different residual stresses measurement methods and to provide an overview of some of the recent advances in this area to help researchers on selecting their techniques among destructive, semi destructive and non destructive techniques depends on their application and the availabilities of those techniques. For each method scope, physical limitation, advantages and disadvantages are summarized. In the end this paper indicates some promising directions for future developments
Dislocation Dynamics in Non-conves Domains using Finite Elements with Embedded Discontinuities

The standard strategy developed by Van der Giessen and Needleman (1995 Modelling Simul. Mater. Sci. Eng. 3 689) to simulate dislocation dynamics in two-dimensional finite domains was modified to account for the effect of dislocations leaving the crystal through a free surface in the case of arbitrary non-convex domains. The new approach incorporates the displacement jumps across the slip segments of the dislocations that have exited the crystal within the finite element analysis carried out to compute the image stresses on the dislocations due to the finite boundaries. This is done in a simple computationally efficient way by embedding the discontinuities in the finite element solution, a strategy often used in the numerical simulation of crack propagation in solids. Two academic examples are presented to validate and demonstrate the extended model and its implementation within a finite element program is detailed in the appendix
In situ analysis of the influence of twinning on the strain hardening rate and fracture mechanism in AZ31B magnesium alloy

The influence of twinning on the strain hardening rate and fracture mechanism in AZ31B magnesium alloy was studied in this work by in situ microstructural analysis during tensile testing in a chamber of scanning electron microscope. Three types of samples used in this study were obtained by (1) extrusion (as-supplied), (2) I-ECAP and (3) I-ECAP followed by side upsetting. Microstructures, textures and mechanical properties were examined after each processing step. An analytical equation was used to describe flow stress curves of the samples which exhibited various modes of deformation (1) only by slip, (2) dominated by tensile twinning followed by slip and (3) dominated by contraction twinning followed by slip. It was shown that tensile twinning increases strain hardening rate, while the opposite is observed for contraction twinning. The effective Schmid factors for slip in volumes deformed by tensile and contraction twinning were determined in this work using modelling approach as 0.215 and 0.45, respectively. Contraction twinning was also revealed to be responsible for an earlier fracture of the extruded sample subjected to tension, since microcracking was shown explicitly to be initiated within twins
3D transient thermal modelling of laser microchannel fabrication in lime-soda glass

Laser-fabricated microchannels in glass offer a wide range of bioengineering and telecommunication applications. A 1.5 kW CO2 laser with 10.6 μm wavelength was used in this study to fabricate micorchannels on the surface of soda-lime glass sheets. A thermal model of the process was developed based on transient heat conduction due to a pulsed heat input. The resulting equation predicted the temperature distribution in the regions surrounding the laser focus. Temperature – time curves were drawn from those equations, which were useful in estimating the thermal history in the processed samples. The temperature distribution was also used to predict the channel geometry (based on the vaporisation temperature of glass). Most of the laser power used was consumed in bringing the glass to the vaporisation temperature. The model was able to predict the channel width, depth and surface roughness. These laser-fabricated channel characteristics were measured and compared to the results obtained from the thermal model. The laser power, frequency, pulse width and translation speed were the control parameters in both studies; hence a direct comparison was established between the model and the experimental results
Identification of rare variants in KCTD13 at the schizophrenia risk locus 16p11.2

Duplications in 16p11.2 are a risk factor for schizophrenia (SCZ). Using genetically modified zebrafish, Golzio and colleagues identified KCTD13 within 16p11.2 as a major driver of the neuropsychiatric phenotype observed in humans. The aims of the present study were to explore the role of KCTD13 in the development of SCZ and to provide a more complete picture of the allelic architecture at this risk locus. The exons of KCTD13 were sequenced in 576 patients. The mutations c.6G<T and c.598G<A were identified in one patient each. Both mutations were predicted to be functionally relevant and were absent from the 1000 Genomes Project data and the Exome Variant Server. The mutation c.6G<T was predicted to abolish a potential transcription factor-binding site for specifity protein 1. Altered specifity protein 1 expression has been reported in SCZ patients compared with controls. Further studies in large cohorts are warranted to determine the relevance of the two identified mutations
A model based two-stage classifier for airborne particles analyzed with computer controlled scanning electron microscopy

Computer controlled scanning electron microscopy (CCSEM) is a widely-used method for single airborne particle analysis. It produces extensive chemical and morphological data sets, whose processing and interpretation can be very time consuming. We propose an automated two-stage particle classiﬁcation procedure based on elemental compositions of individual particles. A rule-based classiﬁer is applied in the ﬁrst stage to form the main classes consisting of particles containing the same elements. Only elements with concentrations above a threshold of 5 wt% are considered. In the second stage, data of each main class are isometrically log-ratio transformed and then clustered into subclasses, using a robust, model-based method. Single particles which are too far away from any more densely populated region are excluded during training, preventing these particles from distorting the deﬁnition of the suﬃciently populated subclasses. The classiﬁer was trained with over 55,000 single particles from 83 samples of manifold environments, resulting in 227 main classes and 465 subclasses in total. All these classes are checked manually by inspecting the ternary plot matrix of each main class. Regardless of the size of training data, some particles might belong to still undeﬁned classes. Therefore, a classiﬁer was chosen which can declare particles as unknown when they are too far away from all classes deﬁned during training
Structural rehabilitation of columns with reinforced concrete jacketing

Strengthening and rehabilitation by reinforced concrete jacketing of columns is assessed, considering different practical aspects: anchoring and slab crossing of the added longitudinal reinforcement, interface surface preparation, spacing of added stirrups, temporary shoring of the structure and addition of new concrete. Recent research on these topics and the main recommendations to achieve good RC jacketing are presented. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/pse.14