Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Liquid Mixture Monitoring Using A Capacitive Sensor System

In this paper design and operation of a capacitive cell sensor for liquid mixture monitoring is reported. The capacitive effect of small drop of different liquids in tap water was studied using this capacitive sensor. A small percentage of a contaminating agents such as oil in tap water is determined with a good sensitivity. Important factors concerning operation of the sensor such as the precision, reproducibility, and stability are reported. Output variation of the measured values with the temperature (27-73.5 ˚C) are also investigated for tap water and different water mixtures. An averaged variation of 0.8348 µF/˚C in output measurement for tap water is obtained. Our results indicate an averaged variation of 0.4324 µF/˚C for the fresh oil and a variation of 0.5121 µF/˚C for the used water oil mixture. An averaged variation of 0.4840 µF/˚C for methanol, 0.5048 µF/˚C for the ethanol, and 0.8250 µF/˚C for water antifreeze mixtures are obtained. For water + salt mixture our data shows that the sensitivity change exhibits a factor of 12.69 increase in sensitivity when temperature increases from 24.7 ˚C to 40.0˚C. Hence to determine a trace impurity, this methodology provides more accurate results at low temperatures (room temperature) and requires less temperature compensation for calibration.
Metastatic Uveal Melanoma

Metastatic melanoma (stage IV in Tumor, Node, Metastasis Classification) is believed to be the unresolved problem in managing patients with malignant melanoma of the choroid and ciliary body. More than half of these patients will eventually develop hematogenous metastases, which only exceptionally are curable. Metastasis is the single leading cause of death of patients with uveal melanoma, both short term and long term. Kaplan-Meier estimates of 5and 15-year melanoma-related mortality range from 26% to 32% and from 45% to 50%, respectively (see ). However, this method does not take into account competing causes of death. By 15 years, these competing causes gradually outnumber annual melanoma-related deaths, but metastases still amount to one third of annual deaths long term. Overall, 7 and 2 times as many patients die of uveal melanoma as die of second cancer and nonneoplastic disease, respectively. The first site of metastasis is the liver in approximately 90% of patients, but later spread to the lungs, bone, and skin is frequent. Of patients with newly diagnosed metastases who participate in annual reviews that include liver imaging, 80% have only hepatic metastases, 12% have hepatic and extrahepatic, and 8% have only extrahepatic dissemination. This pattern of dissemination differs from that of cutaneous melanoma, which typically metastasizes to the lymph nodes, lungs, and brain, and it is important to understand that these 2 are distinct diseases. Uveal melanoma rarely metastasizes to the regional lymph nodes, but it can do so if it invades the conjunctiva. This focused review summarizes the latest findings with regard to epidemiology, kinetics, diagnostic screening, staging, and management of metastases from uveal melanoma.
Pain inhibition by blocking leukocytic and neuronal opioid peptidases in peripheral inflamed tissue

Inflammatory pain can be controlled by endogenous opioid peptides. Here we blocked the degradation of opioids in peripheral injured tissue to locally augment this physiological system. In rats with hindpaw inflammation, inhibitors of aminopeptidase N (APN; bestatin) or neutral endopeptidase (NEP; thiorphan), and a dual inhibitor, NH2‐CH‐Ph‐P(O)(OH)CH2‐CH‐CH2Ph(p‐Ph)‐CONH‐CH‐CH3‐COOH (P8B), were applied to injured paws. Combined bestatin (1.25–5 mg)/thiorphan (0.2–0.8 mg) or P8B (0.0625–1 mg) alone elevated mechanical nociceptive thresholds to 307 and 227% of vehicle‐treated controls, respectively. This analgesia was abolished by antibodies to methionine‐enkephalin, leucine‐enkephalin, and dynorphin A 1–17, by peripherally restricted and by selective μ‐, δ‐, and κ‐opioid receptor antagonists. Flow cytometry and photospectrometry revealed expression and metabolic activity of APN and NEP on macrophages, granulocytes, and sciatic nerves from inflamed tissue. Radioimmunoassays showed that inhibition of leukocytic APN and NEP by bestatin (5–500 μM)/thiorphan (1–100 μM) combinations or by P8B (1–100 μM) prevented the degradation of enkephalins. Blockade of neuronal peptidases by bestatin (0.5–10 mM)/thiorphan (0.1–5 mM) or by P8B (0.1–10 mM) additionally hindered dynorphin A 1–17 catabolism. Thus, leukocytes and peripheral nerves are important sources of APN and NEP in inflamed tissue, and their blockade promotes peripheral opioid analgesia. —Schreiter, A. , Gore, C. , Labuz, D. , Fournie‐Zaluski, M. ‐C. , Roques, B. P., Stein, C. , Machelska, H. Pain inhibition by blocking leukocytic and neuronal opioid peptidases in peripheral inflamed tissue. FASEB J. 26, 5161–5171 (2012). www.fasebj. org
Impedance audiometry in a young population. The effect of age, sex, and tympanogram abnormalities.

Static compliance, and acoustic reflex thresholds, were studied retrospectively in 883 subjects, aged one to 20 years. Age was a factor in both measurements. In 523 subjects with normal middle ear fuction, static compliance increased as a function of age. Acoustic reflex thresholds for pure tone signals improved with age, while acoustic reflex thresholds for broad band noise (BBN) tended to decrease. Minor tympanogram abnormalities exerted a distinct influence on static compliance and acoustic reflex thresholds. Static compliance was increased, and highly variable, in 93 subjects with A-deep tympanograms. In 212 subjects with either A-deep tympanograms, or slight negative pressure (i.e. -50 to -100 mm H2O), acoustic reflex thresholds were elevated for both pure tone, and BBN signals. In 132 sensorineural impaired subjects, the sensitivity loss differentially affected acoustic reflex thresholds for pure tone vs BBN signals. In view of the potential influence of age, and, especially, minor middle ear abnormalities, on static compliance and acoustic reflex measures, these factors should be seriously considered when interpreting impedance audiometry findings in children.
Effects of moderate and high doses of alcohol on attention, impulsivity, discriminability, and response bias in immediate and delayed memory task performance.

BACKGROUND Prior studies that examined the effects of alcohol on Continuous Performance Test (CPT) performance have resulted in inconsistent outcomes. Most studies that examined the effects of alcohol on concentrated attention tasks (like the CPT) found little effect of alcohol on performance measures, even when doses that exceeded 0.8 g/kg were used. One likely reason for these inconsistencies is the varying difficulty (and sensitivity) of the task used, and as a result, comparisons between studies are difficult. This study is one in a series that examines the effects of alcohol on attention by using a difficult version of the CPT (Immediate and Delayed Memory Task--IMT/DMT). Our purpose for these studies has been two-fold, examining the effects of alcohol (1) on concentrated attention (i.e., correct detections) and (2) on errors (i.e., commission errors) previously correlated with impulsive behaviors. The first is important because previous studies have shown little effect of alcohol on attention, and the second is important because commission errors have been related to impulsive behaviors. METHODS In the IMT/DMT, participants respond to a briefly displayed number when it is identical to the one displayed before it. The procedure includes immediate and delayed conditions where successive stimuli to be matched are delayed by 0.5 sec or by 3.5 sec. The three stimulus types included target (identical match), catch (four of five digits match), and filler (no match) stimuli. Twenty subjects completed this task after consuming either a placebo drink or a drink that contained 0.5 g/kg or 1.0 g/kg of alcohol on different days. RESULTS The main findings were that (1) alcohol decreased the percentage of correct identifications of target stimuli; (2) alcohol increased the percentage of commission errors in relation to the number of correct target responses; and (3) alcohol decreased discriminability whereas response bias became more conservative. CONCLUSIONS These results clearly demonstrated a time-course effect of the 1.0 g/kg alcohol dose on attention, impulsivity, discrimination, and response criteria when a variety of dependent measures are used.
THE 2014 ALMA LONG BASELINE CAMPAIGN: AN OVERVIEW

A major goal of the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) is to make accurate images with resolutions of tens of milliarcseconds, which at submillimeter (submm) wavelengths requires baselines up to ∼15 km. To develop and test this capability, a Long Baseline Campaign (LBC) was carried out from 2014 September to late November, culminating in end-to-end observations, calibrations, and imaging of selected Science Verification (SV) targets. This paper presents an overview of the campaign and its main results, including an investigation of the short-term coherence properties and systematic phase errors over the long baselines at the ALMA site, a summary of the SV targets and observations, and recommendations for science observing strategies at long baselines. Deep ALMA images of the quasar 3C 138 at 97 and 241 GHz are also compared to VLA 43 GHz results, demonstrating an agreement at a level of a few percent. As a result of the extensive program of LBC testing, the highly successful SV imaging at long baselines achieved angular resolutions as fine as 19 mas at ∼350 GHz. Observing with ALMA on baselines of up to 15 km is now possible, and opens up new parameter space for submm astronomy.
Binding of Radioactive Benzylpenicillin to Sporulating Bacillus Cultures: Chemistry and Fluctuations in Specific Binding Capacity

The chemistry of the binding of 14C-benzylpenicillin to sporulating cultures of Bacillus megaterium and B. subtilis is similar to that in a 4-hr vegetative culture of Staphylococcus aureus. Unlabeled penicillins prevent the binding of 14C-benzylpenicillin, but benzylpenicilloic acid and benzylpenilloic acid do not. Bound antibiotic can be removed from cells with neutral hydroxylamine at 25 C. Sporulating cultures display two intervals of enhanced binding, whereas binding to stationaryphase S. aureus cells remains constant. The first period of increased binding activity occurs during formation of the spore septum or cell wall primordium development, and the second coincides with cortex biosynthesis.
Proprioception of the knee before and after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to determine, first, if there is measurable deficit in proprioception in an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)-deficient knee, either compared to the contralateral knee or external controls; second, if this deficit, if present, improves after ACL reconstruction; and third, if improvement occurs, what the time course of improvement is. TYPE OF STUDY Prospective cohort study. METHODS Patients undergoing ACL reconstruction at the University of Chicago, demonstrating a full and painless range of motion and no other knee ligament injury or history of previous knee surgery, were eligible. Twenty-six patients, with an average age of 25 years (range, 16 to 48) were enrolled. Average time from injury to reconstruction was 8 weeks. The patients' contralateral knee served as an internal control, and 26 age-matched and gender-matched healthy volunteers were enrolled as an external control group. ACL reconstructions were performed using a single-incision technique with either bone-patellar tendon-bone or quadrupled hamstring autograft. They were allowed immediate weightbearing as tolerated and participated in a standardized rehabilitation program, with the goal of returning to sport at approximately 6 months. Proprioception testing was carried out using an electrogoniometer, in a seated position. Joint position sense (JPS) and threshold to detection of passive motion (TDPM) were measured preoperatively and at 3 and 6 weeks and 3 and 6 months postoperatively. RESULTS Mean KT-2000 values 6 months postoperatively were 1.38 mm (+/-2). Modified Lysholm score improved significantly (P <.01). Calculated r values were 0.65 for JPS and 0.96 for TDPM. No significant differences in postoperative proprioception were found between hamstring and patellar tendon grafts or among patients with meniscus injury, meniscus repair, or chondral injury. Preoperatively, the mean TDPM in both the injured and contralateral knees was significantly higher (worse) than in the external control knees (P =.008; P =.016). Evaluation of changes in proprioception from preoperative to 6 months postoperative showed significant improvement in both injured and contralateral knees (P =.04; P =.01). At 6-month follow-up, there was no significant difference from controls. CONCLUSIONS TDPM was a more reliable method than JPS for testing proprioception before and after ACL reconstruction in this study. Bilateral deficits in knee joint proprioception (TDPM) were documented after unilateral ACL injury. Reconstruction of a mechanical restraint (ACL graft) was believed to have a significantly positive impact on early and progressive improvement in proprioception.
Smartphone-Derived Heart-Rate Variability and Training Load in a Women's Soccer Team.

PURPOSE This study evaluated the 7-d mean and coefficient of variation (CV) of supine and standing ultrashort log-transformed root mean square of successive R-R intervals multiplied by 20 (lnRMSSDx20) obtained with a smartphone application (app) in response to varying weekly training load (TL). In addition, the authors aimed to determine if these values could be accurately assessed in as few as 5 or 3 d/wk. METHODS Nine women from a college soccer team performed daily heart-rate-variability measures with an app in supine and standing positions over 3 wk of moderate, high, and low TL. The mean and CV over 7, 5, and 3 d were compared within and between weeks. RESULTS The 5- and 3-d measures within each week provided very good to nearly perfect intraclass correlations (ICCs .74-.99) with typical errors ranging from 0.64 to 5.65 when compared with the 7-d criteria. The 7, 5, and 3-d supine CV and the 7-day standing CV were moderately lower during the low-load than the high-load week (P .003-.045, effect sizes 0.86-0.92), with no significant changes occurring in the other measures. CONCLUSION This study supports the use of the mean and CV of lnRMSSD measured across at least 5 d for reflecting weekly values. The supine lnRMSSDx20 CV as measured across 7, 5, and 3 d was the most sensitive marker to the changes in TL in the 3-wk period.
CHRONIC INFLAMMATORY DISEASES IN CHILDREN ARE MORE SEVERE IN GIRLS

In humans and animal models, females express higher immune reactivity and more robust inflammatory responses. We analyzed the expression of current inflammatory markers in 149 children (74 girls and 75 boys) with three chronic inflammatory diseases: 50 with asthma, 47 with cystic fibrosis, and 52 with sickle cell anemia to evaluate the potential differences in clinical response according to sex. Data including temperature, neutrophil count (NC), and C-reactive protein were recorded for each patient at several time points according to his/her disease. In asthma, NC was higher in girls than in males (P < 0.02), as were doses of cortisone (P < 0.04) or inhaled bronchodilators (P < 0.01) received at recovery. In cystic fibrosis, NC became significantly higher in girls at age 5 years (P < 0.003), whereas episodes of infection and antibiotic administration were already significantly more frequent in girls at age 2 years (P < 0.02 and P < 0.05, respectively). In sickle cell anemia, the number of crises since diagnosis and number of acute chest syndrome episodes were significantly higher in girls (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05, respectively). Our study extends the documentation of a relationship between sex, inflammatory markers, and clinical outcome in prepubescent children, suggesting a genetic predetermination is more likely than hormonal influence.
Nonspecific immune responses and mechanisms of resistance to Eimeria papillata infections in mice

Severe combined immunodeficient (SCID)-beige mice inoculated with the intracellular parasite Eimeria papillata produced significantly more oocysts during primary infections than inoculated immunodeficient SCID mice. Therefore, the addition of the beige mutation, which detrimentally affects neutrophil and natural killer (NK) cell functions, enhanced the parasites' ability to reproduce within the small intestine. To identify which of these two cell types is responsible for a protective immune response during primary infection, the following groups of mice were inoculated: (i) SCID mice depleted of neutrophils with antigranulocyte monoclonal antibody (RB6-8C5), (ii) C57BL/6 mice depleted of NK cells with the anti-NK-1.1 monoclonal antibody (PK136), and (iii) transgenic Tg epsilon26++ mice (T and NK cell deficient). To identify the mechanisms of immunity during primary and secondary infections, gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) knockout and perforin knockout mice were inoculated. Oocyst output was found to be significantly higher during primary infection for mice depleted of NK cells by administration of anti-NK-1.1 antibodies, for Tg epsilon26++ mice, and for IFN-gamma knockout mice. During secondary infections, only perforin knockout mice produced significantly more oocysts compared to control mice. Our observations suggest that NK cells inhibit E. papillata oocyst output during primary infection by the production of IFN-gamma and that this inhibition is independent of perforin. Immunity to reinfection does not require IFN-gamma but appears to be mediated, at least in part, by a perforin-dependent mechanism.
Please Scroll down for Article Applied Economics Letters Robust Correlates of County-level Growth in the United States Robust Correlates of County-level Growth in the United States

This article may be used for research, teaching and private study purposes. Any substantial or systematic reproduction, redistribution , reselling , loan or sub-licensing, systematic supply or distribution in any form to anyone is expressly forbidden. The publisher does not give any warranty express or implied or make any representation that the contents will be complete or accurate or up to date. The accuracy of any instructions, formulae and drug doses should be independently verified with primary sources. The publisher shall not be liable for any loss, actions, claims, proceedings, demand or costs or damages whatsoever or howsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connection with or arising out of the use of this material. Higgins et al. (2006), report several statistically significant partial correlates with US per capita income growth. However, Levine and Renelt (1992) demonstrate that such correlations are hardly ever robust to changing the combination of conditioning variables included. We ask, whether the same is true for the variables identified as important by Higgins et al. Using the extreme bounds analysis of Levine and Renelt, we find that the majority of the partial correlations can be accepted as robust. The variables associated with those partial correlations stand solidly as variables of interest for future studies of US growth.
Chapter 3 Primary chronic venous disorders

Primary chronic venous disorders, which according to the CEAP classification are those not associated with an identifiable mechanism of venous dysfunction, are among the most common in Western populations. Varicose veins without skin changes are present in about 20% of the population while active ulcers may be present in as many as 0.5%. Primary venous disorders are thought to arise from intrinsic structural and biochemical abnormalities of the vein wall. Advanced cases may be associated with skin changes and ulceration arising from extravasation of macromolecules and red blood cells leading to endothelial cell activation, leukocyte diapedesis, and altered tissue remodeling with intense collagen deposition.
Exploring the Dynamic Nature of Mobile Nodes for Predicting Route Lifetime in Mobile Ad Hoc Networks

In mobile ad hoc networks, a host may exhaust its power or move away without giving any notice to its cooperative nodes, causing changes in network topology, and thus, these changes may significantly degrade the performance of a routing protocol. Several routing protocol studies based on node lifetime and link lifetime have been done to address this problem. We propose a new algorithm to evaluate the node lifetime and the link lifetime utilizing the dynamic nature, such as the energy drain rate and the relative mobility estimation rate of nodes. Integrating these two performance metrics by using the proposed route lifetime-prediction algorithm, we select the least dynamic route with the longest lifetime for persistent data forwarding. Finally, we implement our proposed route lifetime-prediction algorithm in an exploring dynamic nature routing (EDNR) protocol environment based on dynamic source routing (DSR) and compare the performance through simulations. The EDNR protocol outperforms the conventional DSR protocols that are implemented with lifetime-prediction routing (LPR) and signal-stability-based adaptive (SSA) routing mechanisms.
Hypertonic saline resuscitation attenuates neutrophil lung sequestration and transmigration by diminishing leukocyte-endothelial interactions in a two-hit model of hemorrhagic shock and infection.

BACKGROUND Hypertonic saline (HTS) attenuates polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN)-mediated tissue injury after hemorrhagic shock. We hypothesized that HTS resuscitation reduces early in vivo endothelial cell (EC)-PMN interactions and late lung PMN sequestration in a two-hit model of hemorrhagic shock followed by mimicked infection. METHODS Thirty-two mice were hemorrhaged (40 mm Hg) for 60 minutes and then given intratracheal lipopolysaccharide (10 microg) 1 hour after resuscitation with shed blood and either HTS (4 mL/kg 7.5% NaCl) or Ringer's lactate (RL) (twice shed blood volume). Eleven controls were not manipulated. Cremaster intravital microscopy quantified 5-hour EC-PMN adherence, myeloperoxidase assay assessed lung PMN content (2 1/2 and 24 hours), and lung histology determined 24-hour PMN transmigration. RESULTS Compared with RL, HTS animals displayed 55% less 5-hour EC-PMN adherence (p = 0.01), 61% lower 24-hour lung myeloperoxidase ( p= 0.007), and 57% lower mean 24-hour lung histologic score ( p= 0.027). CONCLUSION Compared with RL, HTS resuscitation attenuates early EC-PMN adhesion and late lung PMN accumulation in hemorrhagic shock followed by inflammation. HTS resuscitation may attenuate PMN-mediated organ damage.