Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Determination of median levels of the free β subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin in women from mainland China using a new time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay

Abstract Background: The free β subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin (free β-hCG) is an important serum marker for biochemical screening. Its weekly median value varies with ethnicity. Most of the fluorometers for lanthanide chelates are designed for the detection of signals from europium (Eu3+) chelates only. Methods: We developed a two-site, one-step assay using two monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against free β subunit and β subunit with Eu3+ chelates as labels. Using the present assay, we evaluated 24,634 normal serum samples in Chinese pregnant women during 8–20 weeks of gestation. Results: The detection limit using this assay was <0.05 ng/mL. The within-run and between-run imprecision was <6.0% and 7.0% using control material. Free β-hCG concentrations measured using the current assay in 999 maternal serum samples correlated well with those obtained by samarium (Sm3+)-labeled DELFIA free hCGβ assay (r=0.987). The medians for 8–20 weeks for maternal serum free β-hCG were higher in the women from mainland China compared to reports from other countries. Conclusions: The present assay is suitable for use in biochemical screening of women in mainland China. Our study on the median concentrations of free β-hCG will help establish reference values that are specific for ethnic populations from the Chinese mainland. These will be useful for studying the importance of ethnic factors in biochemical screening. Clin Chem Lab Med 2010;48:109–14.
A simple method for forecast of cooling time of high‐density polyethylene during gas‐assisted injection molding

Gas-assisted injection molding (GAIM) is an innovative plastic processing technology, which was developed from the conventional injection molding, and has currently found wide industrial applications. About 70% of the whole gas-assisted injection molding cycle is actually occupied by the cooling stage. The quality and production efficiency of molded parts are considerably affected by the cooling stage. Hence, it is necessary to study the solidification behaviors during the cooling stage. In this work, a simple experimental method was designed to simulate the solidification behaviors of high-density polyethylene during cooling stage of GAIM. The enthalpy transformation approach, coupled with the control-volume/finite difference techniques, was adopted to deal with the transient heat transfer problems with phase change effects. In situ measurements of the temperature decreases in the cavity were also carried out. Reasonable agreements between the experimental values and the simulated results such as cooling time, cooling rates, and temperature curves were obtained, which proved that this simple experimental method was effective. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010
Analysis of a Complete Library of Putative Drug Transporter Genes in Escherichia coli

ABSTRACT The complete sequencing of bacterial genomes has revealed a large number of drug transporter genes. In Escherichia coli, there are 37 open reading frames (ORFs) assumed to be drug transporter genes on the basis of sequence similarities, although the transport capabilities of most of them have not been established yet. We cloned all 37 putative drug transporter genes in E. coli and investigated their drug resistance phenotypes using anE. coli drug-sensitive mutant as a host. E. coli cells transformed with a plasmid carrying one of 20 ORFs, i.e., fsr, mdfA, yceE,yceL, bcr, emrKY,emrAB, emrD, yidY,yjiO, ydhE, acrAB, cusA(formerly ybdE), yegMNO,acrD, acrEF, yhiUV,emrE, ydgFE, and ybjYZ, exhibited increased resistance to some of the 26 representative antimicrobial agents and chemical compounds tested in this study. Of these 20 ORFs,cusA, yegMNO, ydgFE,yceE, yceL, yidY, andybjYZ are novel drug resistance genes. The fsr, bcr, yjiO, ydhE, acrD, and yhiUVgenes gave broader resistance spectra than previously reported.
Effects of fire retardant chemicals on the bending properties of wood at elevated temperatures.

Fire retardant chemicals are designed to lower the temperature at which thermal degradation occurs. When these chemicals are used for roof sheathing, the combination of chemicals, elevated temperatures, and moisture can sometimes prematurely activate the fire retardant mechanism. The objectives of our study were to determine what kind of fire retardant chemicals are most susceptible to accelerating thermal degradation and at what temperature or temperatures this acceleration occurs. Small, clear Southern Pine specimens were treated with six different fire retardant chemicals and exposed to three environments for up to 160 days. The exposure conditions were (1) 80°F (27°C), 30 percent relative humidity, (2) 130°F (54°C), 73 percent relative humidity, and (3) 180°F (82°C), 50 percent relative humidity. Static bending tests were performed on the treated specimens and untreated controls to determine the effect of treatment and exposure on modulus of
A review on effects of the atmospheric turbulence on laser beam propagation — An analytic approach

The main effects of atmospheric turbulence on the laser beams propagation are scintillation, beam wandering, and phase front distortion. The first two can be compensated simply by using aperture averaging, whereas the later, which is of high importance in high data rates free space optics communications, is much more complex. This paper gives a review of principal analytical methods used to simulate and characterize the optical beam propagation through the turbulence channel focussing on phase front distortion. The paper presents simple models suitable for computer simulations of beam wandering and scintillation. This is followed by more complex theoretical approaches in analysing the turbulence induced phase front distortion and the calculation of the mutual coherence function of partially coherent beams propagating through an inhomogeneous medium. The theoretical analysis of beam coherence and phase front distortion due to turbulence represents the first step for elaboration of the mitigation methods.
Integration of Genetic Algorithm with Tabu Search for Job Shop Scheduling with Unordered Subsequence Exchange Crossover

Problem statement: The problem of scheduling n jobs on m machines with each job having specific machine route has been researched over the decade. The Job Shop Scheduling (JSS) is one of the hardest combinatorial optimization problems. Each resource can process at most one job at a time. Approach: This study proposes a new approach to solve a Job Shop Scheduling problem with the help of integrating Genetic Algorithm (GA) and Tabu Search (TS). After an initial schedule is obtained the GA, the result is given as an input to TS to improve the status of the initial schedule. The objective of this study is to minimize the makespan, process time and the number of iterations. This approach achieves a better result with the help of efficient chromosome representation, powerful crossover strategies and neighborhood strategies. Results: This research resolves the allocation of operation to different machine and the sequence of operation based on machine sequence. Job Scheduling is the process of completing jobs over a time with allocation of shared resources. It is mainly used in manufacturing environment, in which the jobs are allocated to various machines. Jobs are the activities and a machine represents the resources. It is also used in transportation, services and grid scheduling. Conclusion/Recommendations: The result and performance of the proposed work is compared with the other conventional algorithm and it is also testing using standard benchmark problems.
FPGA implementation of stochastic flash A-to-D converter and its evaluation

We report a hardware implementation of stochastic flash A-to-D converter (SFADC) with dynamic element matching (DEM) technique. For fast prototyping, the SFADC hardware was implemented on an FPGA board with 64 on-chip inverters using as comparators. The DEM circuit is implemented by analog multiplexer, which is put in front of the main SFADC. Measured histogram of comparator offset voltage resembles the normal distribution, but actually it is not, according to χ2 test result for 5% p-value. However, the linearization and DEM works nicely and SFDR is improved more than 5 dB by proposed SFADC with DEM, even for non-normal distribution.
Indolealkylamines in the coordination of nematode behavioral activities.

Nematode movements result from spontaneous myogenic depolarizations, neuromuscular coordination, and localized hydrostatic changes. These components are integrated into activities which are mutually exclusive or interdependent. Nervous connection is not known between all the organ systems, and the pharynx and female tract are somewhat autonomous. This problem is discussed, as is the limitation of a theory involving only cholinergic transmission. Serotonin, 5-hydroxytryptophan (5HTP), and epinephrine were all found to induce rapid and prolonged contractions in the female vagina/vulva of Caenorhabditis elegans, Aphelenchus avenae, Panagrellus redivivus, and Oswaldocruzia filiformis. It also caused spicule extension in males of P. redivivus. The responses are fully described together with dose-response data and the effect of adult age. The potential significance of indolealkylamines in nematode behavioral coordination is discussed, together with the relevance of anthelmintic formulation and the basis of immu.
Haemodynamic analysis of femoral artery bifurcation models under different physiological flow waveforms

Abstract Thrombus in a femoral artery may form under stagnant flow conditions which vary depending on the local arterial waveform. Four different physiological flow waveforms – poor (blunt) monophasic, sharp monophasic, biphasic and triphasic – can exist in the femoral artery as a result of different levels of peripheral arterial disease progression. This study aims to examine the effect of different physiological waveforms on femoral artery haemodynamics. In this regard, a fluid–structure interaction analysis was carried out in idealised models of bifurcated common femoral artery. The results showed that recirculation zones occur in almost all flow waveforms; however, the sites at where these vortices are initiated, the size and structure of vortices are highly dependent on the type of flow waveform being used. It was shown that the reverse diastolic flow in biphasic and triphasic waveforms leads to the occurrence of a retrograde flow which aids in ‘washout’ of the disturbed flow regions. This may limit the likelihood of thrombus formation, indicating the antithrombotic role of retrograde flow in femoral arteries. Furthermore, our data revealed that the flow particles experience considerably higher residence time under blunt and sharp monophasic waveforms than under biphasic and triphasic waveforms. This confirms that the risk of atherothrombotic plaque initiation and development in femoral arteries is higher under blunt and sharp monophasic waveforms than under biphasic and triphasic flow waveforms.
Proximal 19q Trisomy: A New Syndrome of Morbid Obesity and Mental Retardation

Aims: To report on the clinical and metabolic characteristic and the unique chromosomal defect of a mentally retarded and morbidly obese patient. Methods: A 13-year follow-up, including insulin sensitivity, lipid profile and polysomnography studies and various therapeutic interventions are described. The presence of a supernumerary marker in karyotype preparation was further studied by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) was used to identify the source of the chromosomal marker. Results: Insulin resistance was found by the homeostatic model assessment (HOMA) and the quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI). M-FISH identified euchromatin derived from chromosome 19, and CGH confirmed the FISH results and demonstrated that the supernumerary marker derived from 19q12 to 19q13.2. Conclusion: The clinical and metabolic characteristics in association with partial chromosomal trisomy differ our patient from the currently known syndromes of obesity and mental retardation. The metabolic impairments in this case can derive from unbalanced expression of several genes in the 19q12–19q13.2 region, genes that are related to adipose tissue homeostasis and insulin resistance. The clinical and genetic similarities to a previously reported case may suggest that partial 19q trisomy is a new syndrome of obesity and mental retardation.
Bugram: Bug detection with n-gram language models

To improve software reliability, many rule-based techniques have been proposed to infer programming rules and detect violations of these rules as bugs. These rule-based approaches often rely on the highly frequent appearances of certain patterns in a project to infer rules. It is known that if a pattern does not appear frequently enough, rules are not learned, thus missing many bugs. In this paper, we propose a new approach - Bugram - that leverages n-gram language models instead of rules to detect bugs. Bugram models program tokens sequentially, using the n-gram language model. Token sequences from the program are then assessed according to their probability in the learned model, and low probability sequences are marked as potential bugs. The assumption is that low probability token sequences in a program are unusual, which may indicate bugs, bad practices, or unusual/special uses of code of which developers may want to be aware. We evaluate Bugram in two ways. First, we apply Bugram on the latest versions of 16 open source Java projects. Results show that Bugram detects 59 bugs, 42 of which are manually verified as correct, 25 of which are true bugs and 17 are code snippets that should be refactored. Among the 25 true bugs, 23 cannot be detected by PR-Miner. We have reported these bugs to developers, 7 of which have already been confirmed by developers (4 of them have already been fixed), while the rest await confirmation. Second, we further compare Bugram with three additional graph- and rule-based bug detection tools, i.e., JADET, Tikanga, and GrouMiner. We apply Bugram on 14 Java projects evaluated in these three studies. Bugram detects 21 true bugs, at least 10 of which cannot be detected by these three tools. Our results suggest that Bugram is complementary to existing rule-based bug detection approaches.
Efficacy of mGlu2‐positive allosteric modulators alone and in combination with levetiracetam in the mouse 6 Hz model of psychomotor seizures

The metabotropic glutamate receptor subtype 2 (mGlu2) possesses both orthosteric and allosteric modulatory sites, are expressed in the frontal cortex and limbic structures, and can affect excitatory synaptic transmission. Therefore, mGlu2 is a potential therapeutic target in the treatment of epilepsy. The present study seeks to evaluate the anticonvulsant potential of mGlu2‐acting compounds.
The Relationship between the 24-hour Fluctuations in Schlemm’s Canal and Intraocular Pressure: An Observational Study using High-Frequency Ultrasound Biomicroscopy

ABSTRACT Purpose: To assess 24-hour fluctuations in Schlemm’s canal (SC) parameters (cross-sectional area, perimeter) and intraocular pressure (IOP) and the relationship between these fluctuations in healthy individuals. Methods: SC and IOP were examined in 29 participants at 2:30, 5:30, 11:30, 17:30, and 23:30 within one day. The superior, inferior, nasal, and temporal SC quadrants were evaluated using 80-MHz ultrasound biomicroscopy. Results: SC parameters and IOP fluctuated significantly within 24 hours (all P < 0.05). After age, gender, axial length, and central corneal thickness were adjusted, compared with the baseline (23:30) value, the change in SC cross-sectional area was negatively associated with the change in IOP at 2:30, 5:30, 11:30, and 17:30 (β = −0.072[−0.094, −0.049], −0.070[−0.102, −0.038], −0.046[−0.079, −0.013], and −0.033[−0.062, −0.004], respectively; P < 0.001, < 0.001, = 0.009, and = 0.028, respectively). The nasal (175.6 ± 36.0 pixels) and inferior (174.8 ± 36.0 pixels) SC cross-sectional areas were significantly larger than the superior area (156.2 ± 27.1 pixels) (P = 0.018 and 0.048, respectively) at 23:30. The observable SC proportion did not change among the quadrants or measurement time points (all P > 0.05). Conclusions: SC cross-sectional area fluctuated throughout the day and was negatively associated with changes in IOP.
Carotenoid Profile of Tomato Sauces: Effect of Cooking Time and Content of Extra Virgin Olive Oil

The consumption of carotenoid-rich vegetables such as tomatoes and tomato sauces is associated with reduced risk of several chronic diseases. The predominant carotenoids in tomato products are in the (all-E) configuration, but (Z) isomers can be formed during thermal processing. The effect of cooking time (15, 30, 45 and 60 min) and the addition of extra virgin olive oil (5% and 10%) on the carotenoid extractability of tomato sauces was monitored using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS) and LC-ultraviolet detection (LC-UV). The thermal treatment and the addition of extra virgin olive oil increased the levels of antioxidant activity, total carotenoids, Z-lycopene isomers, α-carotene and β-carotene. These results are of particular nutritional benefit since higher lycopene intake has been associated with a reduced risk of lethal prostate and a reduction of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels. Moreover, β-carotene has been reported to suppress the up-regulation of heme oxygenase-1 gene expression in a dose dependent manner and to suppress UVA-induced HO-1 gene expression in cultured FEK4.
The Mechanism of (R,R) ZX-5 on Increasing NO Release

(R,R) ZX-5 has been proven to have positive effects on choroidal blood flow without affecting the sclera and ciliary bodies in New Zealand white rabbits. This study was designed to investigate the mechanisms of (R,R) ZX-5 on improving the choroidal blood flow and promoting NO production. HUVECs (human umbilical vein endothelial cells) were used to determine the production of eNOS, p-eNOS, AKT and Erk1/2 by Western blot analysis. iNOS and eNOS mRNA levels were investigated by RT-PCR and the effect of (R,R) ZX-5 on NO production were determined by eNOS activity assay. We found (R,R) ZX-5 upregulated protein expression of eNOS and iNOS, increased NO production, and reduced ERK and Akt protein level. Therefore, (R,R) ZX-5 may promote the choroidal blood flow in New Zealand white rabbits without affecting the blood flow in the iris or ciliary bodies via increasing NO production. These results suggest that (R,R) ZX-5 may function to cure and prevent Age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
Slow CD4+ T-Cell Recovery in Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Hepatitis B Virus-Coinfected Patients Initiating Truvada-Based Combination Antiretroviral Therapy in Botswana

Background. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) coinfection has emerged as an important cause of morbidity and mortality. We determined the response to Truvada-based first-line combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) in HIV/HBV-coinfected verus HIV-monoinfected patients in Botswana. Methods. Hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg), HBV e antigen (HBeAg), and HBV deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) load were determined from baseline and follow-up visits in a longitudinal cART cohort of Truvada-based regimen. We assessed predictors of HBV serostatus and viral suppression (undetectable HBV DNA) using logistic regression techniques. Results. Of 300 participants, 28 were HBsAg positive, giving an HIV/HBV prevalence of 9.3% (95% confidence interval [CI], 6.3–13.2), and 5 of these, 17.9% (95% CI, 6.1–36.9), were HBeAg positive. There was a reduced CD4+ T-cell gain in HIV/HBV-coinfected compared with HIV-monoinfected patients. Hepatitis B virus surface antigen and HBeAg loss was 38% and 60%, respectively, at 24 months post-cART initiation. The HBV DNA suppression rates increased with time on cART from 54% to 75% in 6 and 24 months, respectively. Conclusions. Human immunodeficiency virus/HBV coinfection negatively affected immunologic recovery compared with HIV-1C monoinfection. Hepatitis B virus screening before cART initiation could help improve HBV/HIV treatment outcomes and help determine treatment options when there is a need to switch regimens.
System and circuit level power modeling of energy-efficient 3D-stacked wide I/O DRAMs

JEDEC recently introduced its new standard for 3D-stacked Wide I/O DRAM memories, which defines their architecture, design, features and timing behavior. With improved performance/power trade-offs over previous generation DRAMs, Wide I/O DRAMs provide an extremely energy-efficient green memory solution required for next-generation embedded and high-performance computing systems. With both industry and academia pushing to evaluate and employ these highly anticipated memories, there is an urgent need for an accurate power model targeting Wide I/O DRAMs that enables their efficient integration and energy management in DRAM stacked SoC architectures. In this paper, we present the first system-level power model of 3D-stacked Wide I/O DRAM memories that is almost as accurate as detailed circuit-level power models of 3D-DRAMs. To verify its accuracy, we experimentally compare its power and energy estimates for different memory workloads and operations against those of a circuit-level 3D-DRAM power model and show less than 2% difference between the two sets of estimates.
Opus: University of Bath Online Publication Store Minimal Clinically Important Difference on the Beck Depression Inventory – Ii According to the Patient's Perspective

This version is made available in accordance with publisher policies. Please cite only the published version using the reference above. Background. The Beck Depression Inventory, 2nd edition (BDI-II) is widely used in research on depression. However, the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) is unknown. MCID can be estimated in several ways. Here we take a patient-centred approach, anchoring the change on the BDI-II to the patient's global report of improvement. Method. We used data collected (n = 1039) from three randomized controlled trials for the management of depression. Improvement on a 'global rating of change' question was compared with changes in BDI-II scores using general linear modelling to explore baseline dependency, assessing whether MCID is best measured in absolute terms (i.e. difference) or as percent reduction in scores from baseline (i.e. ratio), and receiver operator characteristics (ROC) to estimate MCID according to the optimal threshold above which individuals report feeling 'better'. Results. Improvement in BDI-II scores associated with reporting feeling 'better' depended on initial depression severity, and statistical modelling indicated that MCID is best measured on a ratio scale as a percentage reduction of score. We estimated a MCID of a 17.5% reduction in scores from baseline from ROC analyses. The corresponding estimate for individuals with longer duration depression who had not responded to antidepressants was higher at 32%. Conclusions. MCID on the BDI-II is dependent on baseline severity, is best measured on a ratio scale, and the MCID for treatment-resistant depression is larger than that for more typical depression. This has important implications for clinical trials and practice.