Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
System-Level Biochip for Impedance Sensing and Programmable Manipulation of Bladder Cancer Cells

This paper develops a dielectrophoretic (DEP) chip with multi-layer electrodes and a micro-cavity array for programmable manipulations of cells and impedance measurement. The DEP chip consists of an ITO top electrode, flow chamber, middle electrode on an SU-8 surface, micro-cavity arrays of SU-8 and distributed electrodes at the bottom of the micro-cavity. Impedance sensing of single cells could be performed as follows: firstly, cells were trapped in a micro-cavity array by negative DEP force provided by top and middle electrodes; then, the impedance measurement for discrimination of different stage of bladder cancer cells was accomplished by the middle and bottom electrodes. After impedance sensing, the individual releasing of trapped cells was achieved by negative DEP force using the top and bottom electrodes in order to collect the identified cells once more. Both cell manipulations and impedance measurement had been integrated within a system controlled by a PC-based LabVIEW program. In the experiments, two different stages of bladder cancer cell lines (grade III: T24 and grade II: TSGH8301) were utilized for the demonstration of programmable manipulation and impedance sensing; as the results show, the lower-grade bladder cancer cells (TSGH8301) possess higher impedance than the higher-grade ones (T24). In general, the multi-step manipulations of cells can be easily programmed by controlling the electrical signal in our design, which provides an excellent platform technology for lab-on-a-chip (LOC) or a micro-total-analysis-system (Micro TAS).
Use both lanes: Multi-channel beaconing for message dissemination in vehicular networks

We study the feasibility of multi-channel beaconing for efficient data dissemination in vehicular networks. Beaconing, i.e., sending small one-hop broadcasts in a periodic fashion, is now a state of the art method for information dissemination in vehicular networks. The main research challenge is to minimize the communication delay while efficiently using the wireless medium without ever overloading the wireless channel. Currently, several approaches to meet these demands can be identified, but they all share the disadvantage of using only a single wireless channel. This is a major bottleneck at high vehicle densities, leading to high delays or packet loss. In this work, we investigate the potentials of a multi-channel approach by extending the delay sensitive and congestion aware Adaptive Traffic Beacon (ATB) protocol to make full use of IEEE 802.11p/1609.4 DSRC/WAVE. We present a novel channel scheduling algorithm and incorporate it into an improved information dissemination protocol. We evaluate our approach in simulations, employing the extended protocol to allow vehicles to dynamically adapt their route to changing traffic conditions. We are able to demonstrate the feasibility of this multi-channel approach, showing that it successfully reduces the channel utilization and observed packet collisions without sacrificing the goodput.
Microscopic theory of linear, entangled polymer chains under rapid deformation including chain stretch and convective constraint release

A refined version of the Doi and Edwards tube model for entangled polymer liquids is presented. The model is intended to cover linear chains in the full range of deformation rates from linear to strongly nonlinear flows. The effects of reptation, chain stretch, and convective constraint release are derived from a microscopic stochastic partial differential equation that describes the dynamics of the chain contour down to the length scale of the tube diameter. Contour length fluctuations are also included in an approximate manner. Predictions of mechanical stresses as well as the single chain structure factor under flow are shown. A comparison with experimental data is made in which all model parameters are fixed at universal values or are obtained from linear oscillatory shear measurements. With no parameter modification the model produces good agreement over a wide range of rheological data for entangled polymer solutions, including both nonlinear shear and extension.
A Degree-Based Strategy for Constrained Pinning Control of Complex Networks

In this paper, a modified degree-based strategy is proposed for pinning control of complex networks under constrained control capacity. Limited by the total control strength, the pinning strategy design problem is reconsidered as a constrained optimization problem. To provide a fast and effective solution, a decrease-and-conquer approach has been designed to assign the best control strengths to the pinned highest-degree nodes. Simulation results have demonstrated that the obtained strategy provides an outperformed control effect on various kinds of complex networks, as compared with strategies derived from degree, betweenness or closeness using evenly-distributed control strength.
Angiotensin-converting enzyme signalling in human preadipocytes and adipocytes

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE, kininase II) is a plasma membrane zinc metallopeptidase that acts as a key enzyme for the extracellular conversion of vasoactive peptides. Recently, ACE outside-in signalling in endothelial cells has been described. The present study tested the hypothesis that ACE signalling is not restricted to endothelial cells and may act as an additional peptide receptor on human preadipocytes and adipocytes. ACE protein levels were not changed during adipose conversion of human primary preadipocytes. The enzyme was primarily localized to the non-detergent-resistant fraction of the membrane and phosphorylated in non-dividing cells. Antibody arrays of whole cell lysate detected putative ACE-interacting proteins, which all share important roles in cell cycle control and/or apoptosis. These findings suggest that ACE is a versatile molecule, involved both in the regulation of extracellular peptide concentrations and direct intracellular signalling. In human adipose cells ACE may potentially influence exit from the cell cycle, differentiation, and programmed cell death signalling.
A Systematic Comparison of 18F-C-SNAT to Established Radiotracer Imaging Agents for the Detection of Tumor Response to Treatment

Purpose: An early readout of tumor response to therapy through measurement of drug or radiation-induced cell death may provide important prognostic indications and improved patient management. It has been shown that the uptake of 18F-C-SNAT can be used to detect early response to therapy in tumors by positron emission tomography (PET) via a mechanism of caspase-3–triggered nanoaggregation. Experimental Design: Here, we compared the preclinical utility of 18F-C-SNAT for the detection of drug-induced cell death to clinically evaluated radiotracers, 18F-FDG, 99mTc-Annexin V, and 18F-ML-10 in tumor cells in culture, and in tumor-bearing mice in vivo. Results: In drug-treated lymphoma cells, 18F-FDG, 99mTc-Annexin V, and 18F-C-SNAT cell-associated radioactivity correlated well to levels of cell death (R2 > 0.8; P < 0.001), with no correlation measured for 18F-ML-10 (R2 = 0.05; P > 0.05). A similar pattern of response was observed in two human NSCLC cell lines following carboplatin treatment. EL-4 tumor uptake of 99mTc-Annexin V and 18F-C-SNAT were increased 1.4- and 2.1-fold, respectively, in drug-treated versus naïve control animals (P < 0.05), although 99mTc-Annexin V binding did not correlate to ex vivo TUNEL staining of tissue sections. A differential response was not observed with either 18F-FDG or 18F-ML-10. Conclusions: We have demonstrated here that 18F-C-SNAT can sensitively detect drug-induced cell death in murine lymphoma and human NSCLC. Despite favorable image contrast obtained with 18F-C-SNAT, the development of next-generation derivatives, using the same novel and promising uptake mechanism, but displaying improved biodistribution profiles, are warranted for maximum clinical utility. Clin Cancer Res; 21(17); 3896–905. ©2015 AACR.
Rectal absorption of insulin suppositories in rabbits

When insulin solutions (100 U kg−1) at various pH values were placed in the rectum of rabbits, a large decrease in blood glucose concentration was observed except at the pH close to the iso‐electric point of insulin. The effect of surface‐active agents on the rectal absorption of insulin was examined by measuring the blood glucose concentration after the administration of 2 or 5 U kg−1. Non‐ionic ether type, anionic, cationic and amphoteric surfactants as well as bile acids increased the absorption. The optimal effect with suppositories was reached with the addition of 1% polyoxyethylene (9) lauryl alcohol ether. Insulin suppositories containing agents enhancing rectal absorption were compared with the insulin for intravenous, intramuscular and subcutaneous injection. The changes of blood glucose and plasma immuno‐reactive insulin concentration after rectal administration of insulin were similar to those after intravenous injection.
Correlation between malaria incidence and prevalence of soil-transmitted helminths in Colombia: an ecologic evaluation.

INTRODUCTION Recent studies have suggested an association between the soil-transmitted helminth infections and malaria incidence. However, published evidence is still insufficient and diverging. Since 1977, new ecologic studies have not been carried out to explore this association. Ecologic studies could explore this correlation on a population level, assessing its potential importance on public health. OBJECTIVES The aim of this evaluation is to explore the association between soil-transmitted helminths prevalence and malaria incidence, at an ecologic level in Colombia. MATERIALS AND METHODS Using data from the National Health Survey, which was carried out in 1980 in Colombia, we calculated Spearman correlation coefficients between the prevalence of: Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura and hookworm, with the 1980 malaria incidence data of the same year provided from the Colombian Malaria National Eradication Service. A robust regression analysis with least trimmed squares was performed. RESULTS Falciparum malaria incidence and Ascaris lumbricoides prevalence had a low correlation (R²= 0.086) but this correlation was stronger into the clusters of towns with prevalence of Ascaris lumbricoides infection above 30% were only included (R²= 0.916). CONCLUSION This work showed an ecologic correlation in Colombia between malaria incidence and soil-transmitted helminths prevalence. This could suggest that either there is an association between these two groups of parasites, or could be explained by the presence of common structural determinants for both diseases.
AN ANALYTICAL MODEL FOR PENETRATION INTO CYLINDRICAL METALLIC THICK TARGET BY RIGID SHARP-NOSED PROJECTILES

The penetration of thick mental targets with finite planner dimensions by a rigid sharp-nose was investigated in the consideration of the lateral free boundary of the target. Based on the Finite Cylindrical Cavity Expansion (FCCE) theory and the linear strain-hardening material model, analytical solutions of radial pressure on the cavity wall were obtained, and an engineering model for rigid sharp-nosed projectile penetration into cylindrical thick metal targets was presented. The penetration depths from the present model are in a good agreement with those from the published ballistic experiments and numerical simulation. Based on the model, the influence of a target radius on penetration depth and penetration resistance was studied. The results show that the penetration resistance and the penetration depth are obviously affected by the ratio of the target radius to the projectile radius when the ratio is less than 20, they can not be calculated as an unlimited-size target. When the ratio of the target radius to the projectile radius is larger than 20, the target radius has less effects on the penetration depth and penetration resistance, that can be approximately calculated as an unlimited-size target.
Identifying significant facilitators of dark network evolution

Social networks evolve over time with the addition and removal of nodes and links to survive and thrive in their environments. Previous studies have shown that the linkformation process in such networks is influenced by a set of facilitators. However, there have been few empirical evaluations to determine the important facilitators. In a research partnership with law enforcement agencies, we used dynamic social-network analysis methods to examine several plausible facilitators of co-offending relationships in a large-scale narcotics network consisting of individuals and vehicles. Multivariate Cox regression and a two-proportion z-test on cyclic and focal closures of the network showed that mutual acquaintance and vehicle affiliations were significant facilitators for the network under study.We also found that homophily with respect to age, race, and gender were not good predictors of future link formation in these networks. Moreover, we examined the social causes and policy implications for the significance and insignificance of various facilitators including common jails on future co-offending.These findings provide important insights into the link-formation processes and the resilience of social networks. In addition, they can be used to aid in the prediction of future links. The methods described can also help in understanding the driving forces behind the formation and evolution of social networks facilitated by mobile and Web technologies.
Spectral methods to determine the exact scaling factor of resampled digital images

This paper combines analytical models of periodic interpolation artifacts with recent empirical findings on the spectral energy distribution of rescaled images to infer exact transformation parameters in a passive-blind forensic setting. We present a measure to solve a long-known ambiguity between upscaling and downscaling in the forensic analysis of resampled signals and thus substantially limit the range of candidate scaling factors. The effectiveness of our method is backed with empirical evidence on a large set of images and scaling factors.
Plasmodium falciparum Clearance Rates in Response to Artesunate in Malian Children With Malaria: Effect of Acquired Immunity

BACKGROUND Artemisinin resistance, a long parasite clearance half-life in response to artemisinin, has been described in patients with Plasmodium falciparum malaria in southeast Asia. Few baseline half-lives have been reported from Africa, where artemisinins were recently introduced. METHODS We treated P. falciparum malaria in 215 Malian children aged 0.5-15 years with artesunate (0, 24, 48 hours) and amodiaquine (72, 96, 120 hours). We estimated half-life by measuring parasite density every 6 hours until undetectable and evaluated the effects of age, sex, ethnicity, and red blood cell (RBC) polymorphisms on half-life. We quantified the proportion of parasitized RBCs recognized by autologous immunoglobulin G (IgG). RESULTS The geometric mean half-life was 1.9 hours (95% confidence interval, 1.8-2.0) and did not correlate with parasite ex vivo susceptibility to artemisinins. In a linear model accounting for host factors, half-life decreased by 4.1 minutes for every 1-year increase in age. The proportion of parasitized RBCs recognized by IgG correlated inversely with half-life (r = -0.475; P = .0006). CONCLUSIONS Parasite clearance in response to artesunate is faster in Mali than in southeast Asia. IgG responses to parasitized RBCs shorten half-life and may influence this parameter in areas where age is not an adequate surrogate of immunity and correlates of parasite-clearing immunity have not been identified. CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION NCT00669084.
‘They wouldn’t know how it feels . . .’: characteristics of quality care from young people’s perspectives: a participatory research project

Literature suggests there is a need to hear from children themselves about the quality of healthcare they receive and, although their views are increasingly sought, little is known about children’s definitions of ‘high or low quality care’. This article reports on a participatory, qualitative study that set out to explore with children and young people whether they could be involved in monitoring the quality of hospital care. Nine young people played an active role in the research process, collecting data from an additional 129 participants aged between 9 and 14. Five characteristics of quality care were identified: ‘technical expertise’, ‘friendly staff ’, ‘respect’, ‘choice’ and ‘explanations’.
Haptics in Robot-Assisted Surgery: Challenges and Benefits

Robotic surgery is transforming the current surgical practice, not only by improving the conventional surgical methods but also by introducing innovative robot-enhanced approaches that broaden the capabilities of clinicians. Being mainly of man-machine collaborative type, surgical robots are seen as media that transfer pre- and intraoperative information to the operator and reproduce his/her motion, with appropriate filtering, scaling, or limitation, to physically interact with the patient. The field, however, is far from maturity and, more critically, is still a subject of controversy in medical communities. Limited or absent haptic feedback is reputed to be among reasons that impede further spread of surgical robots. In this paper, objectives and challenges of deploying haptic technologies in surgical robotics are discussed, and a systematic review is performed on works that have studied the effects of providing haptic information to the users in major branches of robotic surgery. It attempts to encompass both classical works and the state-of-the-art approaches, aiming at delivering a comprehensive and balanced survey both for researchers starting their work in this field and for the experts.
Crystalline phase and electrical properties of lead‐free piezoelectric KNN‐based films with different orientations

Lead-free piezoelectric 0.915K0. 5Na0.5NbO3-0.075BaZrO3-0.01Bi0. 5Na0.5TiO3 (KNN-BZ-BNT) films were grown on Nb-doped SrTiO3 substrates with different orientations. The thin films show highly preferential orientations in accordance with the orientations of single crystalline substrates. The films all exhibit a weak contrast and remarkable homogeneity in the local static out-of-plane piezoresponse phase images, suggesting a strong self-polarization. Combining with the analysis of XRD-RSM, TEM and PFM, the crystalline phase of our samples was determined to be rhombohedral, which has the spontaneous polarization along [111] direction. Thus, the (100)-oriented film demonstrates the most superior piezoelectric properties. Our detailed studies on structural and electrical properties of KNN-BZ-BNT films further clarify the structure-property relationship and make a step closer to use this lead-free material for many piezoelectric applications.
Two arms are better than one: parasite variation leads to combined inducible and constitutive innate immune responses

Parasites represent a major threat to all organisms which has led to the evolution of an array of complex and effective defence mechanisms. Common to both vertebrates and invertebrates are innate immune mechanisms that can be either constitutively expressed or induced on exposure to infection. In nature, we find that a combination of both induced and constitutive responses are employed by vertebrates, invertebrates and, to an extent, plants when they are exposed to a parasite. Here we use a simple within-host model motivated by the insect immune system, consisting of both constitutive and induced responses, to address the question of why both types of response are maintained so ubiquitously. Generally, induced responses are thought to be advantageous because they are only used when required but are too costly to maintain constantly, while constitutive responses are advantageous because they are always ready to act. However, using a simple cost function but with no a priori assumptions about relative costs, we show that variability in parasite growth rates selects for a strategy that combines both constitutive and induced defences. Differential costs are therefore not necessary to explain the adoption of both forms of defence. Clearly, hosts are likely to be challenged by variable parasites in nature and this is sufficient to explain why it is optimal to deploy both arms of the innate immune system.
The Origins of Social Phobia

A greater understanding of the origins of social phobia is much needed. The research to date is limited by the relatively small number of studies that sample clinical populations of individuals with social phobia. There is, however, research derived from related areas such as shyness, social anxiety, self-consciousness, peer neglect, and social withdrawal that contributes to a richer understanding of the etiology of social fears. Combining these areas of research, this review addresses four main factors that may be important to the origins of social phobia: (a) genetic factors; (b) family factors; (c) other environmental factors; and (d) developmental factors.
Section Ii-exercise Physiology & Sports Medicine Tracking Changes in Maximal Oxygen Consumption with the Heart Rate Index in Female Collegiate Soccer Players

Authors submitted their contribution of the article to the editorial board. The purpose of this study was to determine if the HRindex Method (VO2max = [6 x HRindex – 5] x 3.5, where HRindex = HRmax/HRrest) was accurate for tracking changes in VO2max following 8-weeks of endurance training among collegiate female soccer players. Predicted VO2max via the HRindex Method and observed VO2max from a maximal exercise test on a treadmill were determined for a group of female soccer athletes (n = 15) before and following an 8-week endurance training protocol. The predicted (pVO2max) and observed (aVO2max) values were compared at baseline and within 1-week post-training. Change values (i.e., the difference between pre to post) for each variable were also determined and compared. There was a significant difference between aVO2max before (43.2 ± 2.8 ml. kg. min-1) and following (46.2 ± 2.1 ml. kg. min-1) the 8-week training program (p < 0.05). However, pVO2max did not significantly change following training (pre = 43.4 ± 4.6 ml. kg. min-1 , post = 42.9 ± 4.1 ml. kg. min-1 , p = 0.53). Furthermore, the correlation between the change in aVO2max and the change in pVO2max was trivial and non-significant (r = 0.30, p = 0.28). The HRindex Method does not appear to be suitable for predicting changes in VO2max following 8-weeks of endurance training in female collegiate soccer players.