Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
UNIVERSITÉ DES SCIENCES ET TECHNOLOGIES DE LILLE

For miniaturization considerations, e mergence of MEMS has been observed. The objective o f this study is to examine a very promising active ma teri l for such applications, with exceptional electromechanical properties: PMN-PT. The developme nt of thin layers of PMN-PT has been optimized. The study shows that it is possible to c rystallize PMN-PT at 400 ° C independently of the considered PT percentage or bottom electrode nature (TiOx / Pt and LNO). Volumic nucleation, which could be at the origin of a quite atypical crystall iz tion mechanism, has been highlighted in thin fil ms. The dielectric, ferroelectric and electromechanical performances comparison of PMN-PT deposited on TiOx / Pt (sputtering) and LNO (sol-gel), shows a stron g dependence of these properties with respect to the orientation and interfaces films / electrode , with an advantage for films deposited on LNO. Relaxor behavior is more and more pronounced as ann eali g temperature becomes optimal. LNO Sputtering deposition have permit to improve PMN-PT performances, in particular through top electrodes achievement. This underline the importan ce of the role played by the interfaces in the overall response of the structure electrode / PMN-P T / electrode. Discipline : Micro-ondes et Micro-technologies Mots-clés : PMN-PT, couches minces, cristallisation basse temp érature, relaxation diélectrique, interfaces, MEMS, intégration sur sil icium
Issues Related to Recent Dengue Vaccine Development

Dengue fever (DF) and dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) are mosquito-transmitted diseases of global importance. Despite significant research efforts, no approved vaccines or antiviral drugs against these diseases are currently available. This brief article reviews the status of dengue vaccine development, with particular emphasis on the vaccine strategies in more advanced stages of evaluation; these include traditional attenuation, chimerization and engineered attenuation. Several aspects of these vaccine design strategies, including concerns about vaccine candidates inducing infection-enhancing antibodies, are also presented.
Perineural spread of rhino-orbitocerebral mucormycosis caused by Apophysomyces elegans

Rhino-orbitocerebral mucormycosis (ROCM) is a fungal infection commonly affecting individuals with diabetes and those in immunocompromised states. However, infections caused by Apophysomyces elegans can involve immunocompetent individuals. The invasion pattern of cerebral mucormycosis is somewhat predictable and may occur by direct invasion or hematogenous spread. Perineural spread of the disease is unusual. Here, we report the first case of perineural extension of ROCM caused by A. elegans along the trigeminal nerve in a 25-year-old immunocompetent, nondiabetic individual.
Generalized pipeline for preview and rendering of synthetic holograms

We describe a general pipeline for the computation and display of either fully-computed holograms or holographic stereograms using the same 3D database. A rendering previewer on a Silicon Graphics Onyx allows a user to specify viewing geometry, database transformations, and scene lighting. The previewer then generates one of two descriptions of the object--a series of perspective views or a polygonal model--which is then used by a fringe rendering engine to compute fringes specific to hologram type. The images are viewed on the second generation MIT Holographic Video System. This allows a viewer to compare holographic stereograms with fully-computed holograms originating from the same database and comes closer to the goal of a single pipeline being able to display the same data in different formats.
Total Hip Arthroplasty in Teenagers: An Alternative to Hip Arthrodesis

Debilitating arthritis in teenage patients is a complex problem with limited surgical options. Hip arthrodesis is unpopular amongst patients, and contemporary total hip arthroplasty (THA) may be a promising alternative. We report on the outcomes of THA in patients less than 20 years of age. All consecutive teenage patients undergoing THA at a tertiary referral centre were reviewed. Mean follow-up was 3.4 years (range 0.6–6.8) and 9 patients had at least 5 years follow-up. There were 51 THAs in 43 patients with a mean age of 17 years (range 12–19). The commonest indication was osteonecrosis (35 cases), mostly secondary to slipped upper femoral epiphysis (15 cases). Forty-six were uncemented and 5 were reverse hybrid THAs of which 7 were computer assisted design/manufacture (CADCAM) components. The commonest bearing surface used was ceramic on ceramic (40 cases). The survival rate was 96% and there were 2 complications. At latest follow-up, the mean Harris hip score was 90 (range 68–99) and UCLA activity score was 6 (range 4–9). Radiological analysis showed 2 patients with lucent lines around the acetabular component, but no signs of osteolysis or wear. We report good short to intermediate term survivorship and outcomes, and feel THA represents a valid alternative option to hip arthrodesis.
The Pathophysiology of Aldosterone in the Cardiovascular System

Abstract: Until relatively recently, the mineralocorticoid hormone aldosterone was thought to be produced uniquely in the adrenal cortex and to act exclusively on epithelia to promote sodium retention and potassium excretion. However, it is now known that aldosterone also acts on nonepithelial tissues, such as brain, heart, and blood vessels, and that enzymes required for aldosterone biosynthesis are expressed in these same tissues, which may be consistent with local aldosterone production acting in a paracrine fashion. A number of studies indicate that aldosterone exerts clearly deleterious effects when levels are inappropriate for salt status. For example, aldosterone in a high‐salt environment initiates a vascular inflammation response that leads to cardiac and vascular pathologies. In experimental models of hypertension and heart failure, the nonepithelial effects of aldosterone are mediated via classical mineralocorticoid receptors, and are largely or completely abolished by administration of the selective aldosterone blocker eplerenone or by reduction of circulating aldosterone by adrenalectomy. In the present manuscript, we review some of the most recent discoveries in the field of aldosterone biology, with special emphasis on the mechanisms involved in the deleterious actions of this mineralocorticoid in cardiovascular tissues.
Two effective feature selection criteria for multispectral remote sensing

Distance measures which are useful for feature selection are considered, giving attention to the divergence distance measure and the Jeffreys-Matusita (JM) distance. Experimental studies show that the JM-distance yields more reliable results than other distance measures. A number of questions which are not solved by the experiments are discussed. The investigation provides an explanation for previous observations that the JM-distance and a saturating transform of divergence are highly useful for feature selection in the multiclass case.
Angiotensin II type 1a receptor is involved in the occurrence of reperfusion arrhythmias.

BACKGROUND A growing body of evidence has suggested that the renin-angiotensin system plays an important role in the development of cardiac hypertrophy induced by hemodynamic overload and left ventricular remodeling after myocardial infarction. The role of the renin-angiotensin system in ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury, however, has not been established. METHODS AND RESULTS To determine the role of angiotensin II (Ang II) in IR injury, we examined infarct size and arrhythmias after IR using Ang II type 1a receptor (AT1a) knockout mice. The left coronary artery was occluded for 30 minutes followed by reperfusion for 120 minutes. There were no significant differences in infarct size between wild-type and knockout mice determined by dual staining with triphenyltetrazolium chloride and Evans blue dye. The number of ventricular premature beats after reperfusion in knockout mice, however, was much less than in wild-type mice. Treatment with a selective AT1 antagonist, CV-11974, before ischemia blocked reperfusion arrhythmias in wild-type mice but had no effects on infarct size. CONCLUSIONS Ang II may be critically involved in the induction of ventricular arrhythmias but not in the determination of infarct size after IR.
A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Efficacy and Safety of Novel Interleukin Inhibitors in the Management of Psoriatic Arthritis

Objective The aim of this study was to systemically review the efficacy and safety of inhibitors of interleukin 6 (IL-6): clazakizumab, IL-12/23: ustekinumab, and IL-17A: secukinumab, brodalumab, and ixekizumab in psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Methods The literature search was conducted using MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Scopus, and Web of Science. We included randomized controlled trials that assessed the efficacy of IL inhibitors and reported American College of Rheumatology 20 response at 24 weeks. Meta-analysis was done using random-effects model utilizing the DerSimonian and Laird method. Quality assessment was done using RobotReviewer Cochrane Risk-of-Bias Assessment Tool. Heterogeneity was assessed with Q statistic and quantified with I2. Publication bias was assessed with a funnel plot. Results Eight studies including 2722 subjects demonstrate the efficacy of IL inhibitors clazakizumab, secukinumab, ixekizumab, brodalumab, and ustekinumab in the treatment of PsA. The American College of Rheumatology 20/50/70 risk ratios were 2.02 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.65–2.47; P = 0.000), 2.95 (95% CI, 2.32–3.73; P = 0.00), and 5.14 (95% CI, 3.28–8.06; P = 0.00), respectively, in favor of treatment versus placebo. There was no evidence of significant heterogeneity between trials. Subgroup analysis showed efficacy in patients who were tumor necrosis factor naive, as well as tumor necrosis factor nonresponders or inadequate responders. The number of adverse events was higher in the treatment groups versus placebo, the majority were mild and did not require treatment adjustment (risk ratio, 1.17; 95% CI, 1.06–1.28; P = 0.001). There was no significant difference in drug withdrawals. Conclusions Our meta-analysis shows that the inhibitors of IL-6 (clazakizumab), IL-12/23 (ustekinumab), and IL-17A (secukinumab, brodalumab, ixekizumab) are efficacious and generally well tolerated when used to treat patients with PsA.
A Randomized Trial to Reduce the Prevalence of Depression and Self-Harm Behavior in Older Primary Care Patients

PURPOSE We wanted to determine whether an educational intervention targeting general practitioners reduces the 2-year prevalence of depression and self-harm behavior among their older patients. METHODS Our study was a cluster randomized controlled trial conducted between July 2005 and June 2008. We recruited 373 Australian general practitioners and 21,762 of their patients aged 60 years or older. The intervention consisted of a practice audit with personalized automated audit feedback, printed educational material, and 6 monthly educational newsletters delivered over a period of 2 years. Control physicians completed a practice audit but did not receive individualized feedback. They also received 6 monthly newsletters describing the progress of the study, but they were not offered access to the educational material about screening, diagnosis and management of depression, and suicide behavior in later life. The primary outcome was a composite measure of clinically significant depression (Patient Health Questionnaire score ≥10) or self-harm behavior (suicide thoughts or attempt during the previous 12 months). Information about the outcomes of interest was collected at the baseline assessment and again after 12 and 24 months. We used logistic regression models to estimate the effect of the intervention in a complete case analysis and intention-to-treat analysis by imputed chain equations (primary analysis). RESULTS Older adults treated by general practitioners assigned to the intervention experienced a 10% (95% CI, 3%–17%) reduction in the odds of depression or self-harm behavior during follow-up compared with older adults treated by control physicians. Post hoc analyses showed that the relative effect of the intervention on depression was not significant (OR = 0.93; 95% CI, 0.83–1.03), but its impact on self-harm behavior over 24 months was (OR = 0.80; 95% CI, 0.68–0.94). The beneficial effect of the intervention was primarily due to the relative reduction of self-harm behavior among older adults who did not report symptoms at baseline. The intervention had no obvious effect in reducing the 24-month prevalence of depression or self-harm behavior in older adults who had symptoms at baseline. CONCLUSIONS Practice audit and targeted education of general practitioners reduced the 2-year prevalence of depression and self-harm behavior by 10% compared with control physicians. The intervention had no effect on recovery from depression or self-harm behavior, but it prevented the onset of new cases of self-harm behavior during follow-up. Replication of these results is required before we can confidently recommend the roll-out of such a program into normal clinical practice.
MOVEMENT-PRODUCED STIMULATION IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF VISUALLY GUIDED BEHAVIOR.

Full and exact adaptation to sensory rearrangement in adult human Ss requires movement-produced sensory feedback. Riesen's work suggested that this factor also operates in the development of higher mammals but he proposed that sensory-sensory associations are the prerequisite. To test these alternatives, visual stimulation o f the active member (A) o f each of 10 pairs of neonatal kittens was allowed to vary with its locomotor movements while equivalent stimulation o f the second member (P) resulted from passive motion. Subsequent tests of visually guided paw placement, discrimination on a visual cliff, and the blink response were normal for A but failing in P. When other alternative explanations are excluded, this result extends the conclusions of studies of adult rearrangement to neonatal development. Hebb's writing (1949) has stirred interest
Cyclic hardening and softening of annealed and 9%-prestrained AISI 304 stainless steel during high strain cycling at room temperature

AbstractTestpieces of annealed and 9%-prestrained AISI 304 stainless steel were subjected to high strain cycling at room temperature. The material did not obey the rule of the unique stress/strain curve. The saturation stress levels in the stress response curves were different for the annealed and the prestrained steel. The dislocation substructures developing during cycling were studied by high-voltage electron microscopy. In both the annealed and the 9%-prestrained material the main components of the substructure were dislocation cell structures, which formed within the first few % of fatigue life. In the prestrained material bands probably containing stacking faults and/or e-martensite plates were also observed that were not removed by the strain cycling. The cell structures of the prestrained material were less regular and less well defined than those of the annealed material.
Positive Organizational Behavior in the Workplace

Drawing from the foundation of positive psychology and the recently emerging positive organizational behavior, two studies (N = 1,032 and N = 232) test hypotheses on the impact that the selected positive psychological resource capacities of hope, optimism, and resilience have on desired work-related employee outcomes. These outcomes include performance (self-reported in Study 1 and organizational performance appraisals in Study 2), job satisfaction, work happiness, and organizational commitment. The findings generally support that employees' positive psychological resource capacities relate to, and contribute unique variance to, the outcomes. However, hope, and, to a lesser extent, optimism and resilience, do differentially contribute to the various outcomes. Utility analysis supports the practical implications of the study results.
Branched Polyethylenimine-Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles (bPEI-SPIONs) Improve the Immunogenicity of Tumor Antigens and Enhance Th1 Polarization of Dendritic Cells

Nanoparticles in the field of dendritic cell (DC) research are emerging as a promising method of enhancing the efficacy of cancer immunotherapy. We investigated the effect of branched polyethylenimine-superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (bPEI-SPIONs) on tumor cells loaded onto DCs. The tumor antigens were prepared as follows: (1) apoptotic U266 cells with ultraviolet B (UVB) irradiation followed by a 2 h incubation in the absence (2 h postirradiated cells) or (2) presence of bPEI-SPIONs (bPEI-SPION 2 h postirradiated cells) and (3) apoptotic U266 cells with UVB irradiation followed by an overnight 16 h incubation (16 h postirradiated cells). bPEI-SPIONs render U266 cells sensitive to UVB irradiation through reactive oxygen species production to accelerate apoptotic death. The 2 h postirradiated cells and bPEI-SPION 2 h postirradiated cells released immunogenic proteins, including Hsp70, Hsp90, and HMGB1. The DCs loaded with bPEI-SPION 2 h postirradiated cells showed the highest IL-12p70 production and Th1 polarization compared with other DCs. These results suggest that bPEI-SPIONs are a promising method of enhancing the immunogenicity of tumor cells and promoting Th1 polarization of DCs loaded with these tumor cells.
Phenotypic Analysis of Mice Deficient in the Type 2 Galanin Receptor (GALR2)

ABSTRACT Galanin is a neuropeptide implicated in the regulation of feeding, reproduction, cognition, nociception, and seizure susceptibility. There are three known galanin receptor (GALR) subtypes (GALR1, GALR2, and GALR3), which bind to galanin with different affinities and have their own unique distributions, signaling mechanisms, and putative functions in the brain and peripheral nervous system. To gain further insight into the possible physiological significance of GALR2, we created mutant mice that were deficient in GALR2 and compared their phenotype to that of wild-type (WT) littermate or age-matched controls, with respect to basic motor and sensory function, feeding behavior, reproduction, mood, learning and memory, and seizure susceptibility. Phenotypic analysis revealed that animals bearing a deletion of GALR2 did not differ significantly from their WT controls in any of the measured variables. We conclude that either GALR2 plays no role in these physiological functions or through redundancy or compensation these mutant animals can adapt to the congenital absence of GALR2. It is also conceivable that GALR2 plays only a subtle role in some of these functions and that the impact of its loss could not be detected by the analytical procedures used here.
Modulation of Visually Evoked Cortical fMRI Responses by Phase of Ongoing Occipital Alpha Oscillations

Using simultaneous electroencephalography as a measure of ongoing activity and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) as a measure of the stimulus-driven neural response, we examined whether the amplitude and phase of occipital alpha oscillations at the onset of a brief visual stimulus affects the amplitude of the visually evoked fMRI response. When accounting for intrinsic coupling of alpha amplitude and occipital fMRI signal by modeling and subtracting pseudo-trials, no significant effect of prestimulus alpha amplitude on the evoked fMRI response could be demonstrated. Regarding the effect of alpha phase, we found that stimuli arriving at the peak of the alpha cycle yielded a lower blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) fMRI response in early visual cortex (V1/V2) than stimuli presented at the trough of the cycle. Our results therefore show that phase of occipital alpha oscillations impacts the overall strength of a visually evoked response, as indexed by the BOLD signal. This observation complements existing evidence that alpha oscillations reflect periodic variations in cortical excitability and suggests that the phase of oscillations in postsynaptic potentials can serve as a mechanism of gain control for incoming neural activity. Finally, our findings provide a putative neural basis for observations of alpha phase dependence of visual perceptual performance.
Effect of decompression-induced bubble formation on highly trained divers microvascular function

We previously showed microvascular alteration of both endothelium‐dependent and ‐independent reactivity after a single SCUBA dive. We aimed to study mechanisms involved in this postdive vascular dysfunction. Ten divers each completed three protocols: (1) a SCUBA dive at 400 kPa for 30 min; (2) a 41‐min duration of seawater surface head immersed finning exercise to determine the effect of immersion and moderate physical activity; and (3) a simulated 41‐min dive breathing 100% oxygen (hyperbaric oxygen [HBO]) at 170 kPa in order to analyze the effect of diving‐induced hyperoxia. Bubble grades were monitored with Doppler. Cutaneous microvascular function was assessed by laser Doppler. Endothelium‐dependent (acetylcholine, ACh) and ‐independent (sodium nitroprusside, SNP) reactivity was tested by iontophoresis. Endothelial cell activation was quantified by plasma Von Willebrand factor and nitric oxide (NO). Inactivation of NO by oxidative stress was assessed by plasma nitrotyrosine. Platelet factor 4 (PF4) was assessed in order to determine platelet aggregation. Blood was also analyzed for measurement of platelet count. Cutaneous vascular conductance (CVC) response to ACh delivery was not significantly decreased by the SCUBA protocol (23 ± 9% before vs. 17 ± 7% after; P = 0.122), whereas CVC response to SNP stimulation decreased significantly (23 ± 6% before vs. 10 ± 1% after; P = 0.039). The HBO and immersion protocols did not affect either endothelial‐dependent or ‐independent function. The immersion protocol induced a significant increase in NO (0.07 ± 0.01 vs. 0.12 ± 0.02 μg/mL; P = 0.035). This study highlighted change in microvascular endothelial‐independent but not ‐dependent function in highly trained divers after a single air dive. The results suggest that the effects of decompression on microvascular function may be modified by diving acclimatization.
Increase of Renal Cell Carcinoma Incidence in Central Europe

Objective: In recent years the incidence of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) diagnosis has increased about 15–20%. It remains to be established whether this increase of incidence is reality or not. The main aim of this study was to analyze the reason for the increase of incidence. Methods: In the present study, 23, 247 autopsies performed in the years 1985–1995 in the area of Jena (Germany) (14,793 autopsies) and Hradec Králové (Czech Republic) (8,454 autopsies) were analyzed. Results: In this autopsy series comprising 23,247 autopsies, the percentage of patients who died of RCC is 1.76% in Jena and 1.55% in Hradec Králové (200,000 inhabitants each). Over this time the incidence of RCC in autopsies has increased. Conclusion: In spite of the increased amount of incidentally found RCCs since beginning widespread use of ultrasonography, the percentage of clinically recognized RCCs in the total of all found RCCs in autopsies is nearly constant over the 11-year period in Jena and 10-year period in Hradec Králové. Thus, the increased number of radical nephrectomies is not only caused by widespread use of ultrasonography. The increasing trend of the incidence of RCC seems to be real.