Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Detection and Electrical Characterization of Defects at the SiO2/4H-SiC Interface

Two electrical measurement techniques are frequently employed for the characteri- zation of traps at the SiO2/SiC interface: the thermal dielectric relaxation current (TDRC) and the conductance method (CM). When plotting Dit as a function of the energy position Eit in the bandgap both techniques reveal comparable results for deep interface traps (ECEit > 0:3 eV). For shallower traps, CM always shows a strong increase of Dit which originates from near interface traps (NIT). TDRC provides a contradictory result, namely a slight decrease of Dit. In this paper, we show that the position of NITs in the oxide close to the interface is responsible for the invisibility of these traps in TDRC spectra. We further show that NITs become detectable by the TDRC method by using a discharging voltage Vdis close to the accumulation regime. However, due to the Shockley-Ramo-Theorem the contribution of NITs to the Dit in TDRC spectra is strongly suppressed and can be increased by using thin oxides.
VELOCITY FIELD OF A ROUND TURBULENT TRANSVERSE JET

Direct numerical simulations are used to study a round turbulent jet in a laminar crossflow. The velocity ratio is 5.7 and the Reynolds number is 5000. Mean velocity and turbulent intensity profiles available from experiment (Su & Mungal 2004) are compared to simulation results, and good agreement is observed. A two-dimensional model problem is used to study the evolution of the jet cross-section and the counter-rotating vortex pair (CVP). The model problem shows how the trailing edge of the jet deforms and yields a CVP at later times. The initial stages of the evolution are at constant acceleration; i.e. pressure-driven while the later stages are at constant velocity; i.e. momentum driven. The model problem is used to suggest a pressure-based argument for CVP formation.
Maturation capacity, morphology and morphometric assessment of human immature oocytes after vitrification and in-vitro maturation

Background: In general, 15% of oocytes collected in ART cycles are immature. These oocytes may be cryopreserved further for use in in-vitro maturation (IVM) program. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine maturation capacity, morphometric parameters and morphology of human immature oocytes in both fresh IVM (fIVM) and vitrified-IVM (vIVM) oocytes. Materials and Methods: 93 women who underwent controlled ovarian stimulation for ART were included. The immature oocytes (n=203) were divided into two groups: the first group (n=101) directly matured in vitro; and the second group (n=102) first vitrified, then matured in vitro. All oocytes underwent IVM in Ham’s F10 supplemented with LH+FSH and human follicular fluid. After 48h of incubation, the oocyte maturation rates, as well as morphometric and morphologic characteristics were assessed using cornus imaging and were compared. Results: Oocyte maturation rates were reduced in vIVM, (40.4%), in comparison with fIVM (59.4%, p<0.001). Following morphometric assessment, there was no difference in the mean oocyte diameters (µm) between fIVM and vIVM, 156.3±6.8 and 154.07±9.9, respectively. Other parameters of perimeters, egg areas, as well as oocyte and ooplasm volumes were similar in two groups. In addition, more morphologic abnormalities, such as, vacuole, and dark oocyte were observed in vIVM oocytes. Conclusion: fIVM was more successful than vIVM groups. No statistical differences were noticed in morphometry assessment in two groups. This suggests that morphometric parameters can not be applied as prognosis factor in oocyte maturation outcome in IVM program.
A portable diagnostic device for cardiac magnetic field mapping

In this paper we present a portable magnetocardiography device. The focus of this development was delivering a rapid assessment of chest pain in an emergency department. The aim was therefore to produce an inexpensive device that could be rapidly deployed in a noisy unshielded ward environment. We found that induction coil magnetometers with a coil design optimised for magnetic field mapping possess sufficient sensitivity ( 104 fT Hz − 1 / 2 noise floor at 10 Hz) and response ( 813 fT μ V − 1 at 10 Hz) for cycle averaged magnetocardiography and are able to measure depolarisation signals in an unshielded environment. We were unable to observe repolarisation signals to a reasonable fidelity. We present the design of the induction coil sensor array and signal processing routine along with data demonstrating performance in a hospital environment.
Elucidating Individual Intention to Use Interactive Information Technologies: The Role of Network Externalities

A model of interactive information technology (IT) usage that integrates network externalities with traditional usage motivations is proposed and is validated by a survey of instant messaging (IM) usage by university students in Taiwan. Network benefit, found to be a significant usage motivation, arises from direct and indirect sources, conceptualized as referent network size and perceived complementarity, respectively. Network benefit has a direct effect on user intention to use interactive IT and an indirect effect mediated by perceived enjoyment, and in turn it is affected by perceived complementarity. IT vendors can enhance product value by investing in value-added complementary products and services. Implications for IT usage theories and managerial practice are discussed.
Basic principles of sensorimotor adaptation to different distortions with different effectors and movement types: a review and synthesis of behavioral findings

This article reviews seemingly conflicting behavioral data about sensorimotor adaptation. Some earlier studies assert that one common mechanism exists for multiple distortions, and others that multiple mechanisms exist for one given distortion. Some but not others report that adaptation is direction-selective. Some submit that adaptation transfers across effectors, and others that a single effector can adapt to multiple distortions. A model is proposed to account for all these findings. It stipulates that adaptive mechanisms respond to multiple distortions, consist of directionally tuned special-purpose modules, can be switched in dependence on contextual cues, and are connected to practiced movement types with a higher weight than to unpracticed ones.
Visual and Audiovisual Effects of Isochronous Timing on Visual Perception and Brain Activity

Understanding how the brain extracts and combines temporal structure (rhythm) information from events presented to different senses remains unresolved. Many neuroimaging beat perception studies have focused on the auditory domain and show the presence of a highly regular beat (isochrony) in “auditory” stimulus streams enhances neural responses in a distributed brain network and affects perceptual performance. Here, we acquired functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) measurements of brain activity while healthy human participants performed a visual task on isochronous versus randomly timed “visual” streams, with or without concurrent task-irrelevant sounds. We found that visual detection of higher intensity oddball targets was better for isochronous than randomly timed streams, extending previous auditory findings to vision. The impact of isochrony on visual target sensitivity correlated positively with fMRI signal changes not only in visual cortex but also in auditory sensory cortex during audiovisual presentations. Visual isochrony activated a similar timing-related brain network to that previously found primarily in auditory beat perception work. Finally, activity in multisensory left posterior superior temporal sulcus increased specifically during concurrent isochronous audiovisual presentations. These results indicate that regular isochronous timing can modulate visual processing and this can also involve multisensory audiovisual brain mechanisms.
Aging of silicone rubber composite insulators on 400 kV transmission lines

A number of silicone rubber composite insulators have been examined following 15 years of service on a coastal 400 kV transmission line in the UK. Extensive measurements of their hydrophobicity, as determined by contact angle, are given along with a description of their appearance. The hydrophobicity change varied from the low voltage end to the high voltage end with the lowest contact angles being found in the middle of the string. The sheds also aged differently around their circumference and this was reflected in discoloration differences on different sides of the insulator, in addition to hydrophobicity changes. The greatest change to properties was witnessed on the core of the insulators on which contact angles of less than 70 degrees were recorded
Situation of Diabetes and Related Disease Surveillance in Rural Areas of Jilin Province, Northeast China

Background: Several studies have investigated the prevalence and awareness of diabetes mellitus (DM) in China, but little is known about the situation of DM in the northeastern rural areas. Our present study investigated the prevalence, awareness and associated characteristics of DM in rural areas of Jilin Province, aiming to suggest more efforts for the prevention and control of DM. Methods: A multistage stratified random cluster sampling design was used in this cross-sectional study which took place in 2012. Data were collected by face-to-face interviews and physical examinations. Rao-Scott Chi-square test, t test and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used. Results: The estimated prevalence of DM in rural areas of Jilin province was 7.2%. DM was positively associated with age, Body mass index (BMI), hypotension, dyslipidemia and was high in participants with a family history of diabetes and those who exercise frequently, but low for high education level and married participants. 69.0% participants with DM were aware of their diabetes status, 88.2% of whom received treatment and 34.4% of whom had received treatment controlled their DM status. Conclusions: We observed a high prevalence and low awareness status of DM among the rural residents in Jilin Province, but the rate of effective control in those who have received treatment was considerable. The low rate of disease surveillance should draw health authority’s attention.
A Phase II, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Study of Vismodegib as Maintenance Therapy in Patients with Ovarian Cancer in Second or Third Complete Remission

Purpose: Hedgehog pathway inhibition has been suggested as a potential maintenance treatment approach in ovarian cancer through disruption of tumor–stromal interactions. Vismodegib is an orally available Hedgehog pathway inhibitor with clinical activity in advanced basal cell carcinoma and medulloblastoma. This phase II, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was designed to provide a preliminary estimate of efficacy in patients with ovarian cancer in second or third complete remission (CR). Experimental Design: Patients with recurrent epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer in second or third CR were randomized 1:1 to vismodegib (GDC-0449; 150 mg daily) or placebo three to 14 weeks after completing chemotherapy. Treatment continued until radiographic progression or toxicity. The primary endpoint was investigator-assessed progression-free survival (PFS). Results: One hundred four patients were randomized to vismodegib (n = 52) or placebo (n = 52); median PFS was 7.5 months and 5.8 months, respectively [HR 0.79; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.46–1.35]. The HR was 0.66 (95% CI, 0.36–1.20) for second CR patients (n = 84) and 1.79 (95% CI, 0.50–6.48) for third CR patients (n = 20). The most common adverse events in the vismodegib arm were dysgeusia/ageusia, muscle spasms, and alopecia. Grade 3/4 adverse events occurred in 12 patients (23.1%) with vismodegib and six (11.5%) with placebo. Hedgehog expression was detected in 13.5% of archival tissues. Conclusions: In this study, the sought magnitude of increase in PFS was not achieved for vismodegib maintenance versus placebo in patients with ovarian cancer in second or third CR. The frequency of Hedgehog ligand expression was lower than expected. Clin Cancer Res; 18(23); 6509–18. ©2012 AACR.
Incidence of adverse events and negligence in hospitalized patients: results of the Harvard Medical Practice Study I*

Background: As part of an interdisciplinary study of medical injury and malpractice litigation, we estimated the incidence of adverse events, defined as injuries caused by medical management, and of the subgroup of such injuries that resulted from negligent or substandard care. Methods: We reviewed 30 121 randomly selected records from 51 randomly selected acute care, non-psychiatric hospitals in New York State in 1984. We then developed population estimates of injuries and computed rates according to the age and sex of the patients as well as the specialties of the physicians. Results: Adverse events occurred in 3.7% of the hospitalizations (95% confidence interval 3.2 to 4.2), and 27.6% of the adverse events were due to negligence (95% confidence interval 22.5 to 32.6). Although 70.5% of the adverse events gave rise to disability lasting less than 6 months, 2.6% caused permanently disabling injuries and 13.6% led to death. The percentage of adverse events attributable to negligence increased in the categories of more severe injuries (Wald test χ2 = 21.04, p<0.0001). Using weighted totals we estimated that among the 2 671 863 patients discharged from New York hospitals in 1984 there were 98 609 adverse events and 27 179 adverse events involving negligence. Rates of adverse events rose with age (p<0.0001). The percentage of adverse events due to negligence was markedly higher among the elderly (p<0.01). There were significant differences in rates of adverse events among categories of clinical specialties (p<0.0001), but no differences in the percentage due to negligence. Conclusions: There is a substantial amount of injury to patients from medical management, and many injuries are the result of substandard care.
Persistent Decreases in Adult Subventricular and Hippocampal Neurogenesis Following Adolescent Intermittent Ethanol Exposure

Neurogenesis in hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG) and subventricular zone (SVZ) matures during adolescence to adult levels. Binge drinking is prevalent in adolescent humans, and could alter brain neurogenesis and maturation in a manner that persists into adulthood. To determine the impact of adolescent binge drinking on adult neurogenesis, Wistar rats received adolescent intermittent ethanol (AIE) exposure (5.0 g/kg/day, i.g., 2 days on/2 days off from postnatal day, P25–P54) and sacrificed on P57 or P95. Neural progenitor cell proliferation, differentiation, survival and maturation using immunohistochemistry was determined in the DG and SVZ. We found that AIE exposure decreased neurogenesis in both brain regions in adulthood (P95). In the DG at P57, AIE exposure resulted in a significant reduction of SOX2+, Tbr2+, Prox1+ and parvalbumin (PV)+IR expression, and at P95 decreased DCX+ and PV+IR expression. AIE exposure also reduced the expression of two cell proliferation markers (Ki67+ and BrdU+IR with 300 mg/kg, 2 h) at P95. The immune signaling molecule β-2 microglobulin+ and the cell death marker activated caspase-3+IR were significantly increased in the DG by AIE exposure. In the SVZ, AIE exposure decreased SOX2+, Mash1+, DCX+ and Dlx2+IR expression at P95, but not at P57. Thus, in adulthood both brain regions have reduced neurogenesis following AIE exposure. To assess progenitor cell survival and maturation, rats were treated with BrdU (150 mg/kg/day, 14 days) to label proliferating cells and were sacrificed weeks later on P95. In the hippocampus DG, AIE exposure increased survival BrdU+ cells which differentiated into Iba1+ microglia. In contrast, SVZ had decreased BrdU+ cells similar to decreased DCX+ neurogenesis. These data indicate that AIE exposure causes a lasting decrease in both adult hippocampal DG and forebrain SVZ neurogenesis with brain regional differences in the AIE response that persist into adulthood.
Concordance of KRAS/BRAF Mutation Status in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer before and after Anti-EGFR Therapy

Anti-EGFR targeted therapy is a potent strategy in the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) but activating mutations in the KRAS gene are associated with poor response to this treatment. Therefore, KRAS mutation analysis is employed in the selection of patients for EGFR-targeted therapy and various studies have shown a high concordance between the mutation status in primary CRC and corresponding metastases. However, although development of therapy related resistance occurs also in the context of novel drugs such as tyrosine kinase-inhibitors the effect of the anti-EGFR treatment on the KRAS/BRAF mutation status itself in recurrent mCRC has not yet been clarified. Therefore, we analyzed 21 mCRCs before/after anti-EGFR therapy and found a pre-/posttherapeutic concordance of the KRAS/BRAF mutation status in 20 of the 21 cases examined. In the one discordant case, further analyses revealed that a tumor mosaicism or multiple primary tumors were present, indicating that anti-EGFR therapy has no influence on KRAS/BRAF mutation status in mCRC. Moreover, as the preselection of patients with a K R A S wt genotype for anti-EGFR therapy has become a standard procedure, sample sets such ours might be the basis for future studies addressing the identification of potential anti-EGFR therapy induced genetic alterations apart from KRAS/BRAF mutations.
Cell-scale dynamic recycling and cortical flow of the actin–myosin cytoskeleton for rapid cell migration

Summary Actin and myosin II play major roles in cell migration. Whereas pseudopod extension by actin polymerization has been intensively researched, less attention has been paid to how the rest of the actin cytoskeleton such as the actin cortex contributes to cell migration. In this study, cortical actin and myosin II filaments were simultaneously observed in migrating Dictyostelium cells under total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy. The cortical actin and myosin II filaments remained stationary with respect to the substratum as the cells advanced. However, fluorescence recovery after photobleaching experiments and direct observation of filaments showed that they rapidly turned over. When the cells were detached from the substratum, the actin and myosin filaments displayed a vigorous retrograde flow. Thus, when the cells migrate on the substratum, the cortical cytoskeleton firmly holds the substratum to generate the motive force instead. The present studies also demonstrate how myosin II localizes to the rear region of the migrating cells. The observed dynamic turnover of actin and myosin II filaments contributes to the recycling of their subunits across the whole cell and enables rapid reorganization of the cytoskeleton.
An Environment-Wide Association Study (EWAS) on Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Background Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) and other chronic diseases are caused by a complex combination of many genetic and environmental factors. Few methods are available to comprehensively associate specific physical environmental factors with disease. We conducted a pilot Environmental-Wide Association Study (EWAS), in which epidemiological data are comprehensively and systematically interpreted in a manner analogous to a Genome Wide Association Study (GWAS). Methods and Findings We performed multiple cross-sectional analyses associating 266 unique environmental factors with clinical status for T2D defined by fasting blood sugar (FBG) concentration ≥126 mg/dL. We utilized available Centers for Disease Control (CDC) National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) cohorts from years 1999 to 2006. Within cohort sample numbers ranged from 503 to 3,318. Logistic regression models were adjusted for age, sex, body mass index (BMI), ethnicity, and an estimate of socioeconomic status (SES). As in GWAS, multiple comparisons were controlled and significant findings were validated with other cohorts. We discovered significant associations for the pesticide-derivative heptachlor epoxide (adjusted OR in three combined cohorts of 1.7 for a 1 SD change in exposure amount; p<0.001), and the vitamin γ-tocopherol (adjusted OR 1.5; p<0.001). Higher concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) such as PCB170 (adjusted OR 2.2; p<0.001) were also found. Protective factors associated with T2D included β-carotenes (adjusted OR 0.6; p<0.001). Conclusions and Significance Despite difficulty in ascertaining causality, the potential for novel factors of large effect associated with T2D justify the use of EWAS to create hypotheses regarding the broad contribution of the environment to disease. Even in this study based on prior collected epidemiological measures, environmental factors can be found with effect sizes comparable to the best loci yet found by GWAS.
Effects of A-D conversion nonidealities on distributed sampling in dense sensor networks

We address the effect of the errors occurring at the analog-to-digital converter (ADC), from quantization noise, circuit noise, aperture uncertainty and comparator ambiguity, on the accuracy of sensor field reconstruction. We focus on the oversampling of bandlimited sensor fields in a distributed processing environment. It has previously been shown that pulse code modulation (PCM) style sampling fails to decrease the quantization error above some finite sampling rate. We show that the dither-based scheme, developed to decrease the quantization error, fails to decrease random errors associated with circuit noise, aperture uncertainty and comparator ambiguity. We propose an advanced dither-based sampling scheme with the goal of reducing both kinds of errors by increasing the density of the sensor nodes. It is based on distributing the task of improving the quantization error and random error among the nodes. The error of the scheme is shown to be O(1/rfrac12) for oversampling rate r. The maximum energy consumption per node is O(log(r)). Finally, the bit rate of the scheme is O(1/rfrac12log(r)) and it offers robustness to node failures in terms of a graceful degradation of reconstruction error
Facilitated downstream processing of a histidine-tagged protein from unclarified E. coli homogenates using immobilized metal affinity expanded-bed adsorption.

The facilitated downstream processing of an intracellular, polyhistidine-tagged protein, glutathione S-transferase [GST-(His)(6)], direct from unclarified E. coli homogenates using expanded beds of STREAMLINE chelating, has been investigated. A series of pilot experiments were used to develop preparative-scale separations of GST-(His)(6), initially in packed and then in expanded beds. Packed beds of Ni(2+)-loaded STREAMLINE chelating proved to have the highest 5% dynamic capacity for GST-(His)(6), of 357 U mL(-1) (36 mg mL(-1)). When using immobilized Cu(2+) or Zn(2+), metal ion transfer was observed from the iminodiacetate ligands to the high-affinity chelator, GST-(His)(6). The subsequent metal affinity precipitation of this homodimer resulted in operational problems. An equilibrium adsorption isotherm demonstrated the high affinity of GST-(His)(6) for immobilized Ni(2+), with a q(m) of 695 U mL(-1) (70 mg mL(-1)) and a K(d) of 0.089 U mL(-1) (0.0089 mg mL(-1)). Ni(2+)-loaded STREAMLINE chelating was therefore selected to purify GST-(His)(6) from unclarified E. coli homogenate, resulting in an eluted yield of 80% and a 3.34-fold purification. The high dynamic capacity in the expanded mode of 357 U mL(-1) (36 mg mL(-1)) demonstrates that this specific interaction was not affected by the presence of E. coli cell debris.