Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
AFRL-ML-WP-TP-2007-427 OFF-AXIS CREEP BEHAVIOR OF OXIDE / OXIDE NEXTEL TM 720 / AS-0 ( PREPRINT )

Oxide/Oxide Ceramic Matrix Composites (CMC) are currently being demonstrated in high-temperature aerospace applications where their oxidation resistance is critical to a successful design. Many applications are engine components that are axisymmetric in shape and subject to axisymmetric thermal and mechanical loadings. Traditionally woven CMC materials used in these components are typically made from 0°/90° fiber architectures. In many cases the highest stresses are not always coincident with the orientation of the reinforcing fibers. Therefore, these components may experience stress states that approach the off-axis tensile and creep strengths of the material. The oxide/oxide CMC investigated in this study was NextelTM720/AS. NextelTM720/AS is composed of an Alumina-Silica matrix reinforced with an eight-harness satin weave (8HSW) of NextelTM720 fibers. Tensile and creeps tests at 1100°C on ±45° NextelTM720/AS were performed to characterize the off-axis material behavior. The ±45° orientation has approximately two thirds the ultimate tensile strength of the 0°/90° orientation. However, the tensile toughness of the ±45° orientation was higher than the 0°/90° orientation by a factor of 2X. The creep rupture strength at 100 hrs for the ±45° orientation was approximately one third that of the 0°/90° orientation.
Safety, tolerability and risk benefit analysis of tiotropium in COPD

COPD is a chronic disease and, like many other chronic diseases, there is no treatment to reverse the severity of the disease except for lung transplant. To date, no inhaled medications have been shown to improve survival. Tiotropium bromide is a long-acting inhaled anticholinergic drug for the treatment of COPD that can improve lung function, reduce symptoms and exacerbations, and improve quality of life with once-daily dosing. It was initially approved and marketed in several countries in Europe in 2002 and then approved in the US in 2004. Tiotropium is generally well tolerated with dry mouth being the main adverse effect. Other adverse effects include constipation, tachycardia, blurred vision, urinary retention and increased intraocular pressure. Despite the recently raised concerns about an excess risk of cardiovascular adverse events with inhaled anticholinergic agents, the risk/benefit ratio of tiotropium appears still favorable given the favorable safety profile demonstrated in the UPLIFT study. However, caution should be advised in patients at high risk for cardiovascular disease given the paucity of data in such patients.
k-essence and the coincidence problem

$k$-essence has been proposed as a possible means of explaining the coincidence problem of the Universe beginning to accelerate only at the present epoch. We carry out a comprehensive dynamical systems analysis of the k-essence models given so far in the literature. We numerically study the basin of attraction of the tracker solutions and we highlight the behavior of the field close to sound speed divergences. We find that, when written in terms of parameters with a simple dynamical interpretation, the basins of attraction represent only a small region of the phase space.
Periportal Fibrosis in Human Schistosoma mansoni Infection Is Associated with Low IL-10, Low IFN-γ, High TNF-α, or Low RANTES, Depending on Age and Gender 1

Schistosoma mansoni infection is highly endemic in parts of Uganda, and periportal fibrosis is common in communities along the shore of Lake Albert. In this study, we have identified cellular immune responses associated with fibrosis. A cohort of 199 individuals aged 6–50, resident in the village for at least 10 years or since birth, were examined for evidence of periportal fibrosis by ultrasound using the Niamey protocol. Whole-blood samples were assayed for levels of nine cellular immune molecules (IL-3, IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, IL-13, TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-1β, and RANTES) in the absence of in vitro Ag stimulation, and after stimulation with egg and worm Ags. A lack of Ag specificity allowed the number of variables in the analysis to be reduced by factor analysis. The resulting factor scores were then entered into a risk analysis using a classification tree algorithm. Children, adult males, and adult females had different factors associated with fibrosis. Most cases of fibrosis in children (eight of nine) were associated with low (<47th percentile) IL-10 factor scores. Adult females at lowest risk had relatively high IFN-γ factor scores (>83rd percentile), whereas those at highest risk had a combination of intermediate (32nd to 83rd percentile) IFN-γ and relatively high (>60th percentile) TNF-α factor scores. Adult males at lowest risk of fibrosis had moderate TNF-α factor scores (55th to 82nd percentile), and a high risk was associated with either high TNF-α factor scores (>82nd percentile), or intermediate TNF-α combined with low RANTES factor scores (<58th percentile). These results demonstrate that periportal fibrosis is associated with cytokine production profiles that vary with both age and gender.
Biochemically silent abdominal paragangliomas in patients with mutations in the succinate dehydrogenase subunit B gene.

CONTEXT Patients with adrenal and extra-adrenal abdominal paraganglioma (PGL) almost invariably have increased plasma and urine concentrations of metanephrines, the O-methylated metabolites of catecholamines. We report four cases of biochemically silent abdominal PGL, in which metanephrines were normal despite extensive disease. OBJECTIVE Our objective was to identify the mechanism underlying the lack of catecholamine hypersecretion and metabolism to metanephrines in biochemically silent PGL. DESIGN This is a descriptive study. SETTING The study was performed at a referral center. PATIENTS One index case and three additional patients with large abdominal PGL and metastases but with the lack of evidence of catecholamine production, six patients with metastatic catecholamine-producing PGL and a mutation of the succinate dehydrogenase subunit B (SDHB) gene, and 136 random patients with catecholamine-producing PGL were included in the study. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Plasma, urine, and tumor tissue concentrations of catecholamines and metabolites were calculated with electron microscopy and tyrosine hydroxylase immunohistochemistry. RESULTS All four patients with biochemically silent PGL had an underlying SDHB mutation. In the index case, the tumor tissue concentration of catecholamines (1.8 nmol/g) was less than 0.01% that of the median (20,410 nmol/g) for the 136 patients with catecholamine-producing tumors. Electron microscopy showed the presence of normal secretory granules in all four biochemically silent PGLs. Tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactivity was negligible in the four biochemically silent PGLs but abundant in catecholamine-producing PGLs. CONCLUSIONS Patients with SDHB mutations may present with biochemically silent abdominal PGLs due to defective catecholamine synthesis resulting from the absence of tyrosine hydroxylase. Screening for tumors in patients with SDHB mutations should not be limited to biochemical tests of catecholamine excess.
Antiinflammatory actions of HDL: a new insight.

Atherosclerosis is an inflammatory disorder characterized by the accumulation of macrophages and T-lymphocytes in the arterial intima. The macrophages are derived from blood monocytes that adhere to, and transmigrate across, an activated or injured endothelial surface. The firm adhesion of monocytes to the endothelium requires expression of integrins such as CD11/CD18 on the monocyte surface and endothelial expression of the adhesion molecules vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), and E-selectin. Monocytes that are firmly tethered to the endothelium transmigrate into the subendothelial space in a process that is dependent on endothelial expression of chemokines such as monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1). 1 See accompanying article on page 2071 After entering the artery wall, monocytes differentiate into macrophages in processes that are mediated by macrophage colony stimulating factor (CSF) and granulocyte-macrophage CSF.2 Macrophages express a range of scavenger receptors that bind and internalize modified LDL in an unregulated manner. This leads to a progressive accumulation of lipids in the macrophages and the formation of foam cells: the hallmark cells of atherosclerotic lesions. The results of numerous epidemiological studies have established that …
Torque Density and Efficiency Improvements of a Switched Reluctance Motor Without Rare-Earth Material for Hybrid Vehicles

A machine design of a switched reluctance motor having competitive torque and efficiency as well as compactness with respect to an interior permanent-magnet (IPM) synchronous motor (IPMSM) in a hybrid electric vehicle (Toyota Prius 2003) has been investigated. A torque of 400 N·m is set as a target with an outer diameter of 269 mm with an axial length of 156 mm, including coil end lengths. In addition, a 50-kW field weakening capability must be competitive to the IPMSM. The highest efficiency of 95% is also aimed. Stator and rotor structures and iron material are investigated. Test machines are built. Static and light load tests are carried out.
Nutritional management in MND/ALS patients: an evidence based review

This systematic review addresses the evidence in regard to the management of nutrition for patients with motor neurone disease (MND), in particular amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The aim is to help establish recommendations for patient and carer based guidelines for the clinical management of nutrition for MND/ALS patients. It also highlights the many areas in which more research is required.
Ethanol consumption increases the expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase, inducible nitric oxide synthase and metalloproteinases in the rat kidney

Objectives The effects of longterm ethanol consumption on the levels of nitric oxide (NO) and the expression of endothelial NO synthase (eNOS), inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and metalloproteinase‐2 (MMP‐2) were studied in rat kidney.
Evolution and changing trends in surgery for benign Parotid tumors

The ideal extent of surgical intervention for benign parotid tumors remains a matter of controversy. The aim of the study was to trace the development of surgical therapy in a large cohort, explore its changes in a single institution specializing in salivary gland pathologies over the last 12 years, and determine the extent to which a possible shift in the surgical therapy of parotid benign tumors toward less radical methods was correlated with a change in the incidence of facial palsy and Frey's syndrome.
Fast matching of sensor data with manual observations

In systems and trials concerning wearable sensors and devices used for medical data collection, the validation of sensor data with respect to manual observations is very important. However, this is often problematic because of feigned behavior, errors in manual recording (misclassification), gaps in recording (missing readings), missed observations and timing mismatch between manual observations and sensor data due to a difference in time granularity. Using sleep activity pattern monitoring as an example we present a fast algorithm for matching sensor data with manual observations. Major components include a) signal analysis to classify states of sleep activity pattern, b) matching of states with Sleep Diary (SD) and c) automated detection of anomalies and reconciliation of mismatches between the SD and the sensor data.
Sex Bias in Susceptibility to MCMV Infection: Implication of TLR9

Toll-like receptor (TLR)-dependent pathways control the activation of various immune cells and the production of cytokines and chemokines that are important in innate immune control of viruses, including mouse cytomegalovirus (MCMV). Here we report that upon MCMV infection wild-type and TLR7−/− male mice were more resistant than their female counterparts, while TLR9−/− male and female mice showed similar susceptibility. Interestingly, 36 h upon MCMV infection TLR9 mRNA expression was higher in male than in female mouse spleens. MCMV infection led to stronger reduction of marginal zone (MZ) B cells, and higher infiltration of plasmacytoid dendritic cells and neutrophils in wild-type male than female mice, while no such sex differences were observed in TLR9−/− mice. In accordance, the serum levels of KC and MIP-2, major neutrophil chemoattractants, were higher in wild-type, but not in TLR9−/−, male versus female mice. Wild-type MCMV-infected female mice showed more severe liver inflammation, necrosis and steatosis compared to infected male mice. Our data demonstrate sex differences in susceptibility to MCMV infection, accompanied by a lower activation of the innate immune system in female mice, and can be attributed, at least in a certain degree, to the lower expression of TLR9 in female than male mice.
Supersaturation of Dissolved Hydrogen and Methane in Rumen of Tibetan Sheep

Hydrogen (H2) is an essential substrate for methanogens to produce methane (CH4), and also influences pathways of volatile fatty acids (VFA) production in the rumen. Dissolved H2 (H2 (aq)) is the form of H2 available to microbes, and dissolved CH4 (CH4 (aq)) is important for indicating methanogens activity. Rumen H2 (aq) concentration has been estimated by assuming equilibrium with headspace gaseous H2 (H2 (g)) concentration using Henry's law, and has also been directly measured in the liquid phase in some in vitro and in vivo experiments. In this in vivo study, H2 (aq) and CH4 (aq) concentration measured directly in rumen fluid and their corresponding concentrations estimated from their gaseous phase concentrations, were compared to investigate the existence of equilibrium between the gas and liquid phases. Twenty-four Tibetan sheep were randomly assigned to two mixed diets containing the same concentrate mixed with oat grass (OG diet) or barley straw (BS diet). Rumen gaseous phase and contents were sampled using rumenocentesis and oral stomach tubing, respectively. Rumen H2 (aq) and CH4 (aq) concentration and VFA profile differed between sheep fed OG and BS diets. Measured H2 (aq) and CH4 (aq) concentration were greater than H2 (aq) and CH4 (aq) concentrations estimated using gas concentrations, indicating lack of equilibrium between gas and liquid phase and supersaturation of H2 and CH4 in rumen fluid. As a consequence, Gibbs energy changes (ΔG) estimated for various metabolic pathways were different when calculated using dissolved gases concentrations directly measured and when using dissolved gases concentrations assuming equilibrium with the gaseous phase. Dissolved CH4, but not CH4 (g), was positively correlated with H2 (aq). Both H2 (aq) and H2 (g) concentrations were positively correlated with the molar percentage of butyrate and negatively correlated with the molar percentage of acetate. In summary, rumen fluid was supersaturated with both H2 and CH4, and H2 (aq) was closely associated with the VFA profile and CH4 (aq) concentration. The assumption of equilibrium between dissolved gases and gaseous phase affected ΔG estimation.
Spatial Acuity and Prey Detection in Weakly Electric Fish

It is well-known that weakly electric fish can exhibit extreme temporal acuity at the behavioral level, discriminating time intervals in the submicrosecond range. However, relatively little is known about the spatial acuity of the electrosense. Here we use a recently developed model of the electric field generated by Apteronotus leptorhynchus to study spatial acuity and small signal extraction. We show that the quality of sensory information available on the lateral body surface is highest for objects close to the fish's midbody, suggesting that spatial acuity should be highest at this location. Overall, however, this information is relatively blurry and the electrosense exhibits relatively poor acuity. Despite this apparent limitation, weakly electric fish are able to extract the minute signals generated by small prey, even in the presence of large background signals. In fact, we show that the fish's poor spatial acuity may actually enhance prey detection under some conditions. This occurs because the electric image produced by a spatially dense background is relatively “blurred” or spatially uniform. Hence, the small spatially localized prey signal “pops out” when fish motion is simulated. This shows explicitly how the back-and-forth swimming, characteristic of these fish, can be used to generate motion cues that, as in other animals, assist in the extraction of sensory information when signal-to-noise ratios are low. Our study also reveals the importance of the structure of complex electrosensory backgrounds. Whereas large-object spacing is favorable for discriminating the individual elements of a scene, small spacing can increase the fish's ability to resolve a single target object against this background.
Persistent acid and bile reflux in asymptomatic patients with Barrett esophagus receiving proton pump inhibitor therapy.

HYPOTHESIS Symptom control does not reflect elimination of abnormal acid reflux or abnormal bile reflux in patients with long-segment Barrett esophagus receiving proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). DESIGN Prospective survey. SETTING University hospital. PATIENTS Thirty-two patients with long-segment Barrett esophagus who were asymptomatic with PPIs. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Twenty-four-hour ambulatory pH and bile reflux monitoring while continuing PPIs. RESULTS Abnormal acid reflux (pH <4 for 11.9% [interquartile range, 6.8%-19.6%) of 24 hours] persisted in 15 patients (47%) who could not be distinguished from those with normal acid reflux (pH <4 for <4.5% of 24 hours) by any endoscopic, manometric, or therapeutic characteristic. Abnormal bile reflux (absorbance >0.14 for 8.7% [interquartile range, 3.9%-8.7%] of 24 hours) was detected in 11 (48%) of 23 patients, such that both normal bile reflux (absorbance >0.14 for <1.8% of 24 hours) and normal acid reflux were observed in only 8 patients (35%). There was no association between abnormal acid reflux and abnormal bile reflux. CONCLUSIONS Despite symptom control with PPIs, both acid reflux and bile reflux were controlled in only one third of patients. Posttherapeutic monitoring of acid and bile reflux is recommended in future clinical trials of PPI treatment vs laparoscopic antireflux surgery.
Identification of Susceptibility Genes for Peritoneal, Ovarian, and Deep Infiltrating Endometriosis Using a Pooled Sample-Based Genome-Wide Association Study

Characterizing genetic contributions to endometriosis might help to shorten the time to diagnosis, especially in the most severe forms, but represents a challenge. Previous genome-wide association studies (GWAS) made no distinction between peritoneal endometriosis (SUP), endometrioma (OMA), and deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE). We therefore conducted a pooled sample-based GWAS and distinguished histologically confirmed endometriosis subtypes. We performed an initial discovery step on 10-individual pools (two pools per condition). After quality control filtering, a Monte-Carlo simulation was used to rank the significant SNPs according to the ratio of allele frequencies and the coefficient of variation. Then, a replication step of individual genotyping was conducted in an independent cohort of 259 cases and 288 controls. Our approach was very stringent but probably missed a lot of information due to the Monte-Carlo simulation, which likely explained why we did not replicate results from “classic” GWAS. Four variants (rs227849, rs4703908, rs2479037, and rs966674) were significantly associated with an increased risk of OMA. Rs4703908, located close to ZNF366, provided a higher risk of OMA (OR = 2.22; 95% CI: 1.26–3.92) and DIE, especially with bowel involvement (OR = 2.09; 95% CI: 1.12–3.91). ZNF366, involved in estrogen metabolism and progression of breast cancer, is a new biologically plausible candidate for endometriosis.
Crambescin C1 Exerts a Cytoprotective Effect on HepG2 Cells through Metallothionein Induction

The Mediterranean marine sponge Crambe crambe is the source of two families of guanidine alkaloids known as crambescins and crambescidins. Some of the biological effects of crambescidins have been previously reported while crambescins have undergone little study. Taking this into account, we performed comparative transcriptome analysis to examine the effect of crambescin-C1 (CC1) on human tumor hepatocarcinoma cells HepG2 followed by validation experiments to confirm its predicted biological activities. We report herein that, while crambescin-A1 has a minor effect on these cells, CC1 protects them against oxidative injury by means of metallothionein induction even at low concentrations. Additionally, at high doses, CC1 arrests the HepG2 cell cycle in G0/G1 and thus inhibits tumor cell proliferation. The findings presented here provide the first detailed approach regarding the different effects of crambescins on tumor cells and provide a basis for future studies on other possible cellular mechanisms related to these bioactivities.
Load Balancing by Allocation of User Login Sessions

Most current load balancing systems are based on process placement or process migration. We introduce placement of user login sessions as a load balancing approach, and compare it to the process placement and process migration approaches. A load balancing system based on user placement is described, and some experimental results are given. We conclude that user placement has several advantages over process placement and process migration, and that user placement should provide good load balancing for some types of workload.
Power line data based grid identification using signal processing

Power recordings obtained from different grids have different patterns which are not clearly predictable. These power line data can be used to identify the region of recordings by detecting their pattern. Normally The Electric Network Frequency(ENF) of power distribution network is used to estimate the location of recordings. Existing techniques estimate ENF around the base frequency of 50/60Hz. In this paper a technique is proposed to classify the grids by exploiting the ENF at different harmonics of nominal frequency. This method does not rely on power references to differentiate amongst various power grids. It applies feature extraction techniques of clean power signal which can be measured directly from the power mains through electrical outlet using a step-down transformer and voltage divider.
Resolving Convection in a Global Hypohydrostatic Model

Abstract Convection cannot be explicitly resolved in general circulation models given their typical grid size of 50 km or larger. However, by multiplying the vertical acceleration in the equation of motion by a constant larger than unity, the horizontal scale of convection can be increased at will, without necessarily affecting the larger-scale flow. The resulting hypohydrostatic system has been recognized for some time as a way to improve numerical stability on grids that cannot well resolve nonhydrostatic gravity waves. More recent studies have explored its potential for better representing convection in relatively coarse models. The recent studies have tested the rescaling idea in the context of regional models. Here the authors present global aquaplanet simulations with a low-resolution, nonhydrostatic model free of convective parameterization, and describe the effect on the global climate of very large rescaling of the vertical acceleration. As the convection expands to resolved scales, a deepening o.