Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Impact response of adhesive reversible joints made of thermoplastic nanomodified adhesive

ABSTRACT The impact response of a reversible adhesive joint is experimentally assessed in this work. Joint reversibility is improved with a system that uses nanomodification of the thermoplastic adhesive used for bonding plastic components. This system, coupled with electromagnetic induction, is able to guarantee the separation of joints without any damage to the substrates. Drop dart tests at different impact velocities are carried out on neat and nanomodified bonded joints in order to compare the impact behavior before and after the introduction of nanoparticles. Experimental results show that the impact response, assessed in terms of peak load, absorbed energy, and flexural stiffness, can be affected by the introduction of nanoparticles. This work shows that adhesive nanomodified joints represent an effective and applicable solution for the reversible assembling of semi-structural components subjected to low-velocity impact loads.
Locally robustable gain scheduling in nonlinear systems with uncertain time varying inputs

In this paper, we propose a gain scheduling control law in nonlinear systems with bounded uncertain time varying inputs. A matching condition is presented to cancel the uncertainty which appears in the term linked directly with the control inputs. If the nonlinear systems are locally robustable, using the proposed control law, the output error can be reduced to the desired bound. Finally, an illustrating example for the regulation problem is provided.
Impact of Age on the Cancer-Specific Survival of Patients with Localized Renal Cell Carcinoma: Martingale Residual and Competing Risks Analysis

Background Age at diagnosis has been shown to be an independent prognostic factor of localized renal cell carcinoma (RCC) in several studies. We used contemporary statistical methods to reevaluate the effect of age on the cancer-specific survival (CSS) of localized RCC. Methods and Findings 1,147 patients with localized RCC who underwent radical nephrectomy between 1993 and 2009 were identified in our four institutions. The association between age and CSS was estimated, and the potential threshold was identified by a univariate Cox model and by martingale residual analysis. Competing risks regression was used to identify the independent impact of age on CSS. The median age was 52 years (range, 19–84 years). The median follow-up was 61 months (range, 6–144 months) for survivors. A steep increasing smoothed martingale residual plot indicated an adverse prognostic effect of age on CSS. The age cut-off of 45 years was most predictive of CSS on univariate Cox analysis and martingale residual analysis (p = 0.005). Age ≤45 years was independently associated with a higher CSS rate in the multivariate Cox regression model (HR = 1.59, 95% CI = 1.05–2.40, p = 0.027) as well as in competing risks regression (HR = 3.60, 95% CI = 1.93–6.71, p = 0.001). Conclusions Increasing age was associated with a higher incidence of cancer-specific mortality of localized RCC. Age dichotomized at 45 years would maximize the predictive value of age on CSS, and independently predict the CSS of patients with localized RCC.
Requirement of the p130CAS-Crk Coupling for Metastasis Suppressor KAI1/CD82-mediated Inhibition of Cell Migration*

KAI1/CD82 protein is a member of the tetraspanin superfamily and has been rediscovered as a cancer metastasis suppressor. The mechanism of KAI1/CD82-mediated suppression of cancer metastasis remains to be established. In this study, we found that migration of the metastatic prostate cancer cell line Du145 was substantially inhibited when KAI1/CD82 was expressed. The expression of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and Lyn, a Src family tyrosine kinase and substrate of FAK, was up-regulated at both RNA and protein levels upon KAI1/CD82 expression. The activation of FAK and Lyn, however, remained unchanged in Du145-KAI1/CD82 cells. As a downstream target of FAK-Lyn signaling, the p130CAS (Crk-associated substrate) protein was decreased upon the expression of KAI1/CD82. Consequently, less p130CAS-CrkII complex, which functions as a “molecular switch” in cell motility, was formed in Du145-KAI1/CD82 cells. To confirm that the p130CAS-CrkII complex is indeed important for the motility inhibition by KAI1/CD82, overexpression of p130CAS in Du145-KAI1/CD82 cells increased the formation of p130CAS-CrkII complex and largely reversed the KAI1/CD82-mediated inhibition of cell motility. Taken together, our studies indicate the following: 1) signaling of FAK-Lyn-p130CAS-CrkII pathway is altered in KAI1/CD82-expressing cells, and 2) p130CAS-CrkII coupling is required for KAI1/CD82-mediated suppression of cell motility.
Amyloid Oligomers and Mature Fibrils Prepared from an Innocuous Protein Cause Diverging Cellular Death Mechanisms*

Background: Although oligomers are considered more important, mature fibrils also show evidence as cytotoxic agents in neurodegenerative diseases. Results: Oligomers and fibrils both kill PC12 cells albeit mechanistically differently. In vivo, only oligomers inhibit hippocampal long term potentiation. Conclusion: Protein aggregates, even those irrelevant to disease, are capable of inducing different toxic actions in neuronal cells. Significance: Understanding these toxic mechanisms is vital in improving amyloidosis therapy. Despite significant advances, the molecular identity of the cytotoxic species populated during in vivo amyloid formation crucial for the understanding of neurodegenerative disorders is yet to be revealed. In this study lysozyme prefibrillar oligomers and fibrils in both mature and sonicated states have been isolated through an optimized ultrafiltration/ultracentrifugation method and characterized with various optical spectroscopic techniques, atomic force microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. We examined their level and mode of toxicity on rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells in both differentiated and undifferentiated states. We find that oligomers and fibrils display cytotoxic capabilities toward cultured cells in vitro, with oligomers producing elevated levels of cellular injury toward undifferentiated PC12 cells (PC12undiff). Furthermore, dual flow cytometry staining experiments demonstrate that the oligomers and mature fibrils induce divergent cellular death pathways (apoptosis and secondary necrosis, respectively) in these PC12 cells. We have also shown that oligomers but not sonicated mature fibrils inhibit hippocampal long term potentiation, a form of synaptic plasticity implicated in learning and memory, in vivo. We conclude that our in vitro and in vivo findings confer a level of resistance toward amyloid fibrils, and that the PC 12-based comparative cytotoxicity assay can provide insights into toxicity differences between differently aggregated protein species.
SIX-MINUTE WALK TEST DEMONSTRATES MOTOR FATIGUE IN SPINAL MUSCULAR ATROPHY

2010;74;833-838 Neurology Neuromuscular Clinical Research Network Vivo, P. Kaufmann, R. S. Finkel and For the Muscle Study Group and the Pediatric De Quigley, M. J. Montgomery, D. Sproule, R. Tawil, W. K. Chung, B. T. Darras, D. C. J. Montes, M. P. McDermott, W. B. Martens, S. Dunaway, A. M. Glanzman, S. Riley, J. Six-Minute Walk Test demonstrates motor fatigue in spinal muscular atrophy This information is current as of April 19, 2010 http://www.neurology. org/cgi/content/full/74/10/833 located on the World Wide Web at: The online version of this article, along with updated information and services, is All rights reserved. Print ISSN: 0028-3878. Online ISSN: 1526-632X. since 1951, it is now a weekly with 48 issues per year. Copyright © 2010 by AAN Enterprises, Inc. ® is the official journal of the American Academy of Neurology. Published continuously Neurology
The Stromelysin-1 5A/6A Promoter Polymorphism Is a Disease Marker for the Extent of Coronary Heart Disease

Background. Matrix metalloproteinases, such as stromelysin-1, are implicated in the pathogenesis of coronary artery disease (CAD) and acute myocardial infarction (MI). A 5A/6A promoter polymorphism can regulate the transcription of the stromelysin-1 gene in an allele-specific manner. Evidence has been presented that the 6A allele is associated with the progression of coronary heart disease (CHD). In contrast, the 5A allele may be linked to the risk of MI. Results. To analyse the relation of the 5A/6A polymorphism with the risk and severity of CHD and the risk of MI, a case-control study of 515 healthy controls and 1848 participants who underwent coronary angiography for diagnostic purposes was conducted. In the total sample, the mean CHD scores—according to Gensini—were different between 5A/6A genotypes: 5A5A homozygotes had the lowest, 6A6A genotypes the highest and 5A6A heterozygotes intermediate scores. These differences were even more pronounced when the participants were restricted to individuals with a high coronary risk profile (high apoB levels, high Lp(a) levels, high glucose levels, combinations of either high apoB and Lp(a) levels or high apoB, Lp(a) and glucose plasma levels). Mean values were used as cut points for high-risk populations, respectively. In contrast, the 5A allele was not associated with the risk of CHD or MI. Even when angiographically controlled individuals without MI were compared with MI patients in subpopulations of participants with no, single, double and triple vessel disease, the frequencies of the 5A/6A and/or the 5A5A genotypes were not higher in each subgroup, respectively. Conclusions. The present results do not confirm an association of the 5A allele with the risk of MI, observed in another investigation, but strengthen the hypothesis of earlier studies that the 6A allele is a disease marker for progression of coronary heart disease. Further investigations should evaluate whether 6A allele carriers and especially 6A homozygotes might benefit from a more aggressive therapy against CHD progression.
Common Estrogen Receptor Polymorphism Augments Effects of Hormone Replacement Therapy on E-Selectin but Not C-Reactive Protein

Background—The estrogen receptor-&agr; (ER-&agr;) IVS1-401 polymorphism identifies a group of women (≈20%) who have augmented effects of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on levels of HDL cholesterol. This study sought to determine if this augmentation extends to HRT regulation of E-selectin and C-reactive protein (CRP) and to explore possible mechanisms by which this polymorphism might influence estrogen action. Methods and Results—Serum levels of soluble E-selectin and CRP were measured at baseline and 1 year in 264 postmenopausal women randomized to treatment with oral conjugated equine estrogen (0.625 mg/d), estrogen plus progestin (medroxyprogesterone acetate 2.5 mg/d), or placebo. Women with the ER-&agr; IVS1-401 C/C genotype receiving HRT had nearly a 2-fold greater reduction in E-selectin compared with C/T or T/T women (P for interaction=0.02). In contrast, there was no augmentation of the HRT-associated increase in CRP among the C/C women compared with C/T or T/T women (P for interaction=0.54). Of luciferase reporter constructs containing sequences spanning the IVS1-401 T/C polymorphism, expression of the construct containing the C allele was enhanced >10-fold, with cotransfection of a constitutively expressed B-myb vector. In contrast, B-myb resulted in only a 2.5-fold increase in expression of the T allele construct. Conclusions—Women with the ER-&agr; IVS1-401 C/C genotype have greater reductions in E-selectin but no further increases in CRP with HRT. The C allele produces a functional binding site for the transcription factor B-myb. The impact of this polymorphism on ER-&agr; transcription and other estrogen-sensitive intermediate and clinical end points has not yet been established.
Fortune at the Bottom of the Pyramid: A Mirage

The popular ‘bottom of the pyramid’ (BOP) proposition argues that large companies can make a fortune by selling to poor people and simultaneously help eradicate poverty. While a few market opportunities do exist, the market at the BOP is generally too small monetarily to be very profitable for most multinationals. At the same time, the private sector can play a key role in poverty alleviation by viewing the poor as producers, and emphasize buying from them, rather than selling to them.
The Hill–Robertson Effect and the Evolution of Recombination

In finite populations, genetic drift generates interference between selected loci, causing advantageous alleles to be found more often on different chromosomes than on the same chromosome, which reduces the rate of adaptation. This “Hill–Robertson effect” generates indirect selection to increase recombination rates. We present a new method to quantify the strength of this selection. Our model represents a new beneficial allele (A) entering a population as a single copy, while another beneficial allele (B) is sweeping at another locus. A third locus affects the recombination rate between selected loci. Using a branching process model, we calculate the probability distribution of the number of copies of A on the different genetic backgrounds, after it is established but while it is still rare. Then, we use a deterministic model to express the change in frequency of the recombination modifier, due to hitchhiking, as A goes to fixation. We show that this method can give good estimates of selection for recombination. Moreover, it shows that recombination is selected through two different effects: it increases the fixation probability of new alleles, and it accelerates selective sweeps. The relative importance of these two effects depends on the relative times of occurrence of the beneficial alleles.
Effects of Three Amplification Strategies on Speech Perception by Children With Severe and Profound Hearing Loss

Objective: Traditionally in the United Kingdom, children with severe and profound hearing loss have been fitted with linear, analog hearing aids. Fast-acting, wide-dynamic-range compression (WDRC) has been shown to give better discrimination of speech than linear amplification for moderately hearing-impaired young adults. For severe and profound hearing losses, higher compression ratios are needed. The resultant distortion of the temporal envelope and reduced modulation depth may offset improvements in audibility offered by WDRC. In this study, speech recognition and discrimination were assessed for severely and profoundly hearing-impaired children, using three different amplification strategies, including WDRC. Design: Fifteen children (ages 7 to 15 yr) with severe and profound hearing loss were fitted bilaterally with high-power, multichannel compression hearing aids, incorporating one of three different amplification strategies: linear with peak clipping, linear with compression limiting, or WDRC. Output responses were matched to Desired Sensation Level (DSL i/o) targets. The children wore hearing aids programmed with each of the amplification strategies in turn, for at least 1 wk, in a counterbalanced order across children. After using a particular amplification strategy for at least 1 wk, speech perception tests were carried out. Results: Speech scores on closed-set testing for the profound group showed significant benefit for WDRC over the other two algorithms. None of the other results showed a statistically significant effect of algorithm on speech performance. Conclusions: WDRC amplification sometimes led to better performance than linear amplification with peak clipping or output limiting, and it never led to poorer performance. Therefore, it appears to be safe to use well-designed WDRC for hearing-impaired children with severe or profound hearing loss.
The perimenopausal atherosclerosis transition: relationships between calcified and noncalcified coronary, aortic, and carotid atherosclerosis and risk factors and hormone levels

ObjectiveWomen of perimenopause age experience an upward transition of cardiovascular risk possibly in association with changing hormonal status. We examined the cross-sectional relationships between the atherosclerotic plaque within the coronary and carotid arteries and aorta and the menopausal hormone levels among asymptomatic perimenopausal women. MethodsThe Assessment of the Transition of Hormonal Evaluation with Noninvasive Imaging of Atherosclerosis was a prospective substudy of the Prospective Army Coronary Calcium project. We screened 126 asymptomatic perimenopausal women (mean age, 50 y) using contrast-enhanced CT angiography (multidetector CT) and carotid ultrasound. Women had coronary calcium data from 5 to 10 years earlier. The measures included cardiovascular risk factors, serum hormone levels, 64-slice multidetector CT, and carotid ultrasound. ResultsThe prevalence of any coronary plaque was 35.5%. The prevalence of noncalcified plaque was 30.2%, and noncalcified plaque was the only manifestation of coronary artery disease in 10.7%. Markers of androgenicity (increased free testosterone and reduced sex hormone–binding globulin) were associated with an increased extent of calcified and noncalcified coronary artery plaque and aortic plaque. However, these relationships were not independent of cardiovascular risk factors. Follicle-stimulating hormone was directly associated with the number of aortic plaques. The levels of estrogen hormones were unrelated to plaque presence or extent. ConclusionsCoronary, aortic, and carotid arterial plaque is prevalent in perimenopausal women without cardiac symptoms. The assessment of perimenopausal hormone status was not independently associated with subclinical atherosclerosis beyond standard cardiovascular risk factors.
Investigation of Physical, Mechanical and Thermal Properties of Building Wall Materials

This research concentrates to the effect of changing sand proportion on the physical, mechanical and thermal properties of building wall materials (Cellular lightweight concrete). The density, water absorption and compressive strength of the 7.0 cm x 7.0 cm x 7.0 cm concrete sample were studied. It was found that there are an increase of density and a reduction of water absorption with an increase of sand content. The higher compressive strength can be confirmed by higher density and lower water absorption. The physical and mechanical properties of lightweight concrete conditions conformed to the Thai Industrial Standard 2601-2013. The phases of CaCO3 and calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H) in the material indicate an important factor in thermal insulating performance.
High Intensity Interval Training Improves Glycaemic Control and Pancreatic β Cell Function of Type 2 Diabetes Patients

Physical activity improves the regulation of glucose homeostasis in both type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients and healthy individuals, but the effect on pancreatic β cell function is unknown. We investigated glycaemic control, pancreatic function and total fat mass before and after 8 weeks of low volume high intensity interval training (HIIT) on cycle ergometer in T2D patients and matched healthy control individuals. Study design/method: Elderly (56 yrs±2), non-active T2D patients (n = 10) and matched (52 yrs±2) healthy controls (CON) (n = 13) exercised 3 times (10×60 sec. HIIT) a week over an 8 week period on a cycle ergometer. Participants underwent a 2-hour oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). On a separate day, resting blood pressure measurement was conducted followed by an incremental maximal oxygen uptake (V˙O2max) cycle ergometer test. Finally, a whole body dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) was performed. After 8 weeks of training, the same measurements were performed. Results: in the T2D-group, glycaemic control as determined by average fasting venous glucose concentration (p = 0.01), end point 2-hour OGTT (p = 0.04) and glycosylated haemoglobin (p = 0.04) were significantly reduced. Pancreatic homeostasis as determined by homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and HOMA β cell function (HOMA-%β) were both significantly ameliorated (p = 0.03 and p = 0.03, respectively). Whole body insulin sensitivity as determined by the disposition index (DI) was significantly increased (p = 0.03). During OGTT, the glucose continuum was significantly reduced at -15 (p = 0.03), 30 (p = 0.03) and 120 min (p = 0.03) and at -10 (p = 0.003) and 0 min (p = 0.003) with an additional improvement (p = 0.03) of its 1st phase (30 min) area under curve (AUC). Significant abdominal fat mass losses were seen in both groups (T2D: p = 0.004 and CON: p = 0.02) corresponding to a percentage change of -17.84%±5.02 and -9.66%±3.07, respectively. Conclusion: these results demonstrate that HIIT improves overall glycaemic control and pancreatic β cell function in T2D patients. Additionally, both groups experienced abdominal fat mass losses. These findings demonstrate that HIIT is a health beneficial exercise strategy in T2D patients. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02333734 http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02333734
APOE ε4 Is Associated with Disproportionate Progressive Hippocampal Atrophy in AD

Objectives To investigate whether APOE ε4 carriers have higher hippocampal atrophy rates than non-carriers in Alzheimer's disease (AD), mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and controls, and if so, whether higher hippocampal atrophy rates are still observed after adjusting for concurrent whole-brain atrophy rates. Methods MRI scans from all available visits in ADNI (148 AD, 307 MCI, 167 controls) were used. MCI subjects were divided into “progressors” (MCI-P) if diagnosed with AD within 36 months or “stable” (MCI-S) if a diagnosis of MCI was maintained. A joint multi-level mixed-effect linear regression model was used to analyse the effect of ε4 carrier-status on hippocampal and whole-brain atrophy rates, adjusting for age, gender, MMSE and brain-to-intracranial volume ratio. The difference in hippocampal rates between ε4 carriers and non-carriers after adjustment for concurrent whole-brain atrophy rate was then calculated. Results Mean adjusted hippocampal atrophy rates in ε4 carriers were significantly higher in AD, MCI-P and MCI-S (p≤0.011, all tests) compared with ε4 non-carriers. After adjustment for whole-brain atrophy rate, the difference in mean adjusted hippocampal atrophy rate between ε4 carriers and non-carriers was reduced but remained statistically significant in AD and MCI-P. Conclusions These results suggest that the APOE ε4 allele drives atrophy to the medial-temporal lobe region in AD.
Sexually transmitted diseases among men who have sex with men: A retrospective analysis from Suraksha clinic in a tertiary care hospital

Background: Men who have sex with men (MSMs) are a vulnerable population for spread of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Apart from being important for HIV transmission, they tend to have a different distribution patterns of STDs. Few Indian studies have looked into this aspect. Objective: We retrospectively analyzed the available data on MSM from Suraksha clinic of a tertiary care hospital in a metropolitan city from 2004 to 2010. Materials and Methods: A total of 75 MSM constituting 11.4% of the total 660 patients visited our Suraksha clinic in these 6 years. The clinical and behavioral profile of each patient along with the pattern of STDs was evaluated. Observations and Results: 75% of the MSMs were promiscuous; one-third of them indulging in only homosexual activities. Syphilis was the most common STD, followed by condyloma acuminata, herpes genitalis, and gonorrhea. On comparing the data on the STD profiles of the heterosexual males, predisposition toward bacterial STDs among MSMs was observed. Conclusion: Identification of MSMs is important as most of them are bisexual and promiscuous, thereby playing a role in spread of STDs in vast number of partners. The profile of STDs also differs in MSM, which makes it all the more important to identify them.