Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Erythrocytes in Hb SC disease are microcytic and hyperchromic

We have used the new Technicon H.1 Hematology Analyzer to determine the indices of erythrocytes obtained from 18 nonthalassemic (αα/αα genotype) adult patients with Hb SC disease. Controls were 14 normal black adults and 29 white adults. The data showed that SC erythrocytes are significantly smaller than normal RBC (P < .001) with a significantly higher MCHC value (P < .001) than controls. These features of SC RBC could not be reproduced by an Ortho ELT‐8 electonic counter. Hb SC erythrocytes have unique indices which are best demonstrated either by semimanual methods or by the H.1 system.
The characteristics of supermarket shoppers in Beijing

Retail shopping establishments in the West have evolved through many different stages, in close association with Western lifestyles. The growth of supermarkets has been an important part of this trend, and in the 1980s, they were introduced in China. With their distinctive business environment, it is significant to study the success of the distribution technology transfer and how the Chinese consumers have received the Western shopping approach. This study examines supermarket shoppers in Beijing. The results provide an insight into the shopping patterns of Chinese consumers and identify potential problems for international retailers.
100 V class multiple stepped oxide field plate trench MOSFET (MSO-FP-MOSFET) aimed to ultimate structure realization

For low-voltage power MOSFETs technology, Field Plate (FP) and Superjunction (SJ) structures have been applied to reduce on-resistance drastically. As one of the approach for the ultimate structure realization, we propose a multiple stepped oxide FP-MOSFET (MSO-FP-MOSFET) that is extremely close to ideal gradient oxide structure. We have validated an optimum device structure by TCAD simulation and achieved lowest on-resistance of 28.5 mΩmm2 at breakdown voltage of 115.2 V. This performance indicates 25 % improvement compared to conventional devices. Moreover, to demonstrate the MSO-FP-MOSFET characteristics for the first time, we present some measurement data of TEG samples.
Some results related to isomonodromic deformations

L'objet de ce memoire, redige en anglais, est de presenter les travaux de recherche recents de l'auteure, en vue de l'Habilitation a diriger des recherches. Les themes abordes s'inscrivent dans la theorie des deformations et des espaces de modules, de fibres vectoriels sur des courbes ainsi que de structures associees comme les connexions integrables et les champs de Higgs. Le fil conducteur de la presentation est le lien des differents problemes abordes avec le domaine vaste des deformations isomonodromiques. Le memoire est organise en trois parties. La premiere partie etudie la variation du type de fibre sous les deformations isomonodromiques, ce qui est un probleme de type Riemann-Hilbert generalise. La deuxieme partie s'interesse a l'algebraisabilite du germe de deformation isomonodromique universelle, et de son lien avec les orbites dans la variete des caracteres sous l'action du groupe modulaire. La troisieme partie traite plusieurs aspects geometriques des champs de modules de fibres plats de rang deux sur des courbes de genre deux. Cette partie contient egalement le resultat suivant : dans l'espace de modules de sl2-connexions holomorphes irreductibles sur des courbes de genre deux, le feuilletage isomonodromique est transverse au lieu du fibre trivial et transverse au lieu des fibres plats non semistables.
DELTA's Virtual Physics Laboratory: a comprehensive learning platform on physics and astronomy

Perhaps the most effective instrument to simplify and to clarify the comprehension of any complex mathematical or scientific theory is through visualisation. Moreover using interactivity and 3D real time representations, one can easily explore and hence learn quickly in the virtual environments. The concept of virtual and safe laboratories has vast potentials in education. With the aid of computer simulations and 3D visualisations, many dangerous or cumbersome experiments may be implemented in the virtual environments, with rather small effort. Nonetheless visualisation alone is of little use if the respective simulation is not scientifically accurate. Hence a rigorous combination of precise computation as well as sophisticated visualisation, presented through some intuitive user interface is required to realise a virtual laboratory for education. We introduce Delta's Virtual Physics Laboratory, comprising a wide range of applications in the field of physics and astronomy, which can be implemented and used as an interactive learning tool on the World Wide Web.
Attenuation of nontargeted cell-kill using a high-density lipoprotein-mimicking peptide--phospholipid nanoscaffold.

UNLABELLED Research in the development of nanoscale drug carriers primarily focuses on maximizing drug delivery efficiency to tumor tissues. However, less attention has been given to minimizing drug toxicity to non-targeted cells to enhance therapeutic selectivity. AIM Herein, we report on the use of a newly developed high-density lipoprotein-mimicking peptide-phospholipid nanoscaffold (HPPS) to deliver a lipophilic drug, paclitaxel oleate (PTXOL). METHOD & RESULTS The formulated PTXOL HPPS (120:1) drastically increased therapeutic selectivity by reducing cytotoxicity of PTXOL to nontargeted cells. Using mice bearing targeted (KB) and nontargeted (HT1080) tumors as models, we demonstrated that tumor volume of nontargeted cells was decreased to 57% by PTXOL treatment but increased to 1220% by PTXOL HPPS treatment. However, upon treatment of paclitaxel, PTXOL and PTXOL HPPS, tumor volumes of targeted groups were reduced to 85, 50 and 63%, respectively. CONCLUSION These data strongly suggest that HPPS can attenuate toxicity of anticancer drugs to nontargeted cells, resulting in cell-killing efficacy only on targeted cells.
Cathepsin B/L-, elastase-, tryptase-, trypsin- and dipeptidyl peptidase IV-like activities in gingival crevicular fluid: correlation with clinical parameters in untreated chronic periodontitis patients.

20 untreated chronic periodontitis patients were given a full periodontal examination, including measurements of probing depth (PD), clinical attachment loss (CAL), gingival index (GI), bleeding index (BI) and plaque index (Pl.I.). At a second visit, gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) was collected on filter paper strips from the deepest accessible probing site of each tooth. GCF volumes were determined and the samples eluted into buffer. Protease activities in the resulting eluates were assayed with peptidyl derivatives of 7-amino-4-trifluoromethyl coumarin (AFC). Cathepsin B/L-like activity was determined with Bz-Val-Lys-Lys-Arg-AFC, elastase-like activity with MeOSuc-Ala-Ala-Pro-Val-AFC, tryptase-like activity with Z-Ala-Ala-Lys-AFC, trypsin-like activity with Z-Gly-Gly-Arg-AFC and dipeptidyl peptidase (DPP) IV-like activity with Ala-Pro-AFC. Total enzyme activities and enzyme concentrations both correlated positively with all clinical parameters in linear regression analysis. This was true on both a patient level, using mean patient values, and a site level, using either individual patient or pooled patient data. Most of these correlations were statistically significant, although the proportion was greater for total enzyme activity than concentration. With total activities, correlations with different enzymes and parameters generally followed the order: cathepsin B/L-greater than elastase- greater than DPP IV- greater than trypsin- greater than tryptase-like activity and PD greater than CAL greater than GI greater than BI greater than Pl.I respectively. Total enzyme activities had good diagnostic specificity and sensitivity as predictors of clinical parameters in this cross-sectional study, suggesting that GCF proteases might provide useful information on the periodontal condition.
Theoretical Analysis of Intra-Cavity Second-Harmonic Generation of Semiconductor Lasers by a Periodically Poled Nonlinear Crystal Waveguide

General time-domain traveling wave rate equations are employed for the simulation of the intra-cavity second harmonic generation (IC-SHG) of semiconductor lasers by a periodically poled nonlinear crystal waveguide. A 1060 nm high power, single-mode, ridge waveguide semiconductor laser is used in the simulation. The SHG crystal is a MgO-doped periodically poled lithium niobate with a single-mode ridge waveguide. Comparisons are made between the computed and experimental results of single-pass SHG for the purposes of model validation. The design of an IC-SHG green laser is further compared to the single-pass SHG laser in terms of the SHG output power, conversion efficiency, temperature tolerance, and high speed modulation capability. It is theoretically found that by using the IC-SHG configuration, SHG power and efficiency can be improved with a relatively short nonlinear crystal.
THE INCIDENCE OF DIABETES MELLITUS IN SWEDISH CHILDREN 1970–1975

ABSTRACT. report a retrospective study of diabetic children, 0–14 years of age, from seven Swedish departments of paediatrics. There were 359 new cases in the years 1970–1975. Notification suggested that there was a mean yearly incidence of 19.6 cases per 100000 with a year to year variation of 10.0–26.4 per 100000. Consequently about 330 new cases of childhood diabetes would be expected in Sweden every year. Incidence varied considerably between different geographical areas. The age distribution was bimodal with a main peak at about 12 years and another peak at about 7 years. There was some evidence for clustering of new cases in January and the autumn. The mean prevalence of childhood diabetes in the seven districts was 1.3 per 1000.
Tax Enforcement , Corporate Governance , and Income Diversion : Evidence after Putin ’ s election in 2000

Using a direct estimate of income diversion for 156 firms from 1999 through 2004, we show that an increase in tax enforcement following the election of Vladimir Putin in 2000 is associated with a decrease in the appropriation of private rents by insiders in those firms investigated for tax evasion. We also find evidence consistent with a simultaneous spillover effect: the largest non-government controlled companies in Russia decrease income diversion even though they were not explicitly targeted as tax evaders. This effect is significant both economically and statistically after controlling for changes in firm-level corporate governance and it cannot be explained by trends in the general improvement of corporate governance in Russia during our sample period. Finally, we find no significant evidence of either substitution or complementarity between firms’ corporate governance and government’s tax enforcement vis-à-vis income diversion.
Collaborative interplay between FGF-2 and VEGF-C promotes lymphangiogenesis and metastasis

Interplay between various lymphangiogenic factors in promoting lymphangiogenesis and lymphatic metastasis remains poorly understood. Here we show that FGF-2 and VEGF-C, two lymphangiogenic factors, collaboratively promote angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis in the tumor microenvironment, leading to widespread pulmonary and lymph-node metastases. Coimplantation of dual factors in the mouse cornea resulted in additive angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis. At the molecular level, we showed that FGFR-1 expressed in lymphatic endothelial cells is a crucial receptor that mediates the FGF-2–induced lymphangiogenesis. Intriguingly, the VEGFR-3–mediated signaling was required for the lymphatic tip cell formation in both FGF-2– and VEGF-C–induced lymphangiogenesis. Consequently, a VEGFR-3–specific neutralizing antibody markedly inhibited FGF-2–induced lymphangiogenesis. Thus, the VEGFR-3–induced lymphatic endothelial cell tip cell formation is a prerequisite for FGF-2–stimulated lymphangiogenesis. In the tumor microenvironment, the reciprocal interplay between FGF-2 and VEGF-C collaboratively stimulated tumor growth, angiogenesis, intratumoral lymphangiogenesis, and metastasis. Thus, intervention and targeting of the FGF-2– and VEGF-C–induced angiogenic and lymphangiogenic synergism could be potentially important approaches for cancer therapy and prevention of metastasis.
Sex Differences in Motor and Cognitive Abilities Predicted from Human Evolutionary History with Some Implications for Models of the Visual System

This article expands the knowledge base available to sex researchers by reviewing recent evidence for sex differences in coincidence-anticipation timing (CAT), motor control with the hand and arm, and visual processing of stimuli in near and far space. In CAT, the differences are between sex and, therefore, typical of other widely reported sex differences. Men perform CAT tasks with greater accuracy and precision than women, who tend to underestimate time to arrival. Null findings arise because significant sex differences are found with easy but not with difficult tasks. The differences in motor control and visual processing are within sex, and they underlie reciprocal patterns of performance in women and men. Motor control is exerted better by women with the hand than the arm. In contrast, men showed the reverse pattern. Visual processing is performed better by women with stimuli within hand reach (near space) as opposed to beyond hand reach (far space); men showed the reverse pattern. The sex differences seen in each of these three abilities are consistent with the evolutionary selection of men for hunting-related skills and women for gathering-related skills. The implications of the sex differences in visual processing for two visual system models of human vision are discussed.
Older Adults' Perceived Changes in Physical Self-Worth Associated With Resistance Training

Using Sonstroem, Harlow, and Josephs' (1994) expanded version of the Exercise and Self-Esteem Model (EXSEM; Sonstroem & Morgan, 1989), we explored how 9 older adults (6 women and 3 men, aged 65–72 years) involved in a resistance training program experienced and perceived changes in physical self-worth (i.e., improved strength, functional competency, physical condition, and body satisfaction). We conducted three in-depth interviews with each participant over the course of the program. In individual log books, participants recorded the weight lifted and the number of repetitions for each exercise. Our findings showed the course of changes in physical self-perceptions in these older adults and how actual individual changes in strength performance related to perceived changes in important psychological outcomes.
Accounting for intonational form and function in Puerto Rican Spanish polar questions

Abstract Many varieties of Romance show more than one intonation contour available for polar question (PQ) marking. Understanding the pragmatic licensing conditions for these contours is no easy task. Experimental work has tended to account for the variation in terms of dichotomies like information-seeking vs. confirmation-seeking or neutral vs. biased. In this paper I use production data to argue that different languages and dialects will encode different types of information intonationally in PQs, but that the type of information that we find encoded through intonation is quite similar to the type of information encoded through sentence-final particles in languages like Cantonese or Lao. These meanings lie on an epistemic gradient, and the points on the gradient that are encoded linguistically through intonation are language-specific (i.e. language X encodes meaning A, but language Y might encode meaning B, or meanings A & B, etc.). I explore three contours in Puerto Rican Spanish, their phonetic implementations, and their meanings with respect to this epistemic gradient. I argue that we should keep in mind the range of possible meanings of SFPs in other languages in order to refine our methodology in a way that allows us to make better predictions about the pragmatic division of labor among intonation contours, specifically for PQs.
Learning Determinantal Point Processes by Sampling Inferred Negatives

Determinantal Point Processes (DPPs) have attracted significant interest from the machine-learning community due to their ability to elegantly and tractably model the delicate balance between quality and diversity of sets. We consider learning DPPs from data, a key task for DPPs; for this task, we introduce a novel optimization problem, Contrastive Estimation (CE), which encodes information about "negative" samples into the basic learning model. CE is grounded in the successful use of negative information in machine-vision and language modeling. Depending on the chosen negative distribution (which may be static or evolve during optimization), CE assumes two different forms, which we analyze theoretically and experimentally. We evaluate our new model on real-world datasets; on a challenging dataset, CE learning delivers a considerable improvement in predictive performance over a DPP learned without using contrastive information.
Cigarette smoking, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol subfractions, and lecithin: cholesterol acyltransferase in young women.

Much of the published data on the relationship of cigarette smoking (CS) with serum lipids and lipoproteins is based on studies of middle-aged individuals. Data on young women are scarce. This study examined the relationship of CS with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) subfractions and lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) activity in Japanese collegiate women. Twenty-three current smokers were individually matched for physical activity scores, age, and body mass index (BMI) with 23 nonsmokers. There were no significant differences between smokers and nonsmokers in the mean nutrient intakes. Smokers had significantly lower mean HDL-C, HDL2-C, total cholesterol, and LCAT activity than nonsmokers. In univariate analyses, BMI significantly negatively correlated with HDL-C and HDL2-C. LCAT activity significantly positively correlated with HDL3-C, LDL-C, total cholesterol (TC) and triglycerides (TG). In multiple regression analyses, the number of CS was positively related to TG. BMI was negatively related to TC. LCAT activity was positively related to LDL-C, TC, and TG. These results suggest that the known associations in older adults of CS with HDL-C subfractions and LCAT activity are already apparent in young women.
Study on Short Term Outcome of intrahepatic Infantile Cholestasis

Background: Outcome of infantile intrahepatic cholestasis is highly variable. Aim to investigate various factors affecting outcome of infantile cholestasis. Methods: Retrospective study was conducted through data collection of 70 infant’s files who presented with intrahepatic cholestasis. They were divided into two groups according to the fate of jaundice at the end of the first year follow up. Group I: cases with persistent jaundice and group II: cases that were jaundice free by the end of the year. A comparison was done at presentation, 3 and 12 months between the two groups. Results: Group I had a higher mortality and morbidity. Both groups were significantly different regards etiology, onset of jaundice, presentation to medical care, prevalence of consanguinity and pruritus. After 3 month, group I showed significant bigger and firm liver, higher ALT, AST, S.bilirubin. At 1 year, differences in weight, splenic size and S.albumin were found. Conclusion: The predictive parameters of a high risk group of intrahepatic cholestasis at presentation included etiology, age of onset, positive consanguinity and itching, where at 3rd month of follow-up included big firm liver, persistently pale stool, high ALT and AST and at one year included splenomegaly and lower albumin. Abbreviations: IHCintrahepatic cholestasis, BAbile acids, INHidiopathic neonatal hepatitis, CMVcytomegalovirus, IHBDintrahepatic biliary ducts, PFIC-progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis. Key Wards: Alagille syndrome, infantile cholestasis, PFIC,
Managed care, hospice use, site of death, and medical expenditures in the last year of life.

BACKGROUND We examined deaths of Medicare beneficiaries in Massachusetts and California to evaluate the effect of managed care on the use of hospice and site of death and to determine how hospice affects the expenditures for the last year of life. METHODS Medicare data for beneficiaries in Massachusetts (n = 37 933) and California (n = 27 685) who died in 1996 were merged with each state's death certificate files to determine site and cause of death. Expenditure data were Health Care Financing Administration payments and were divided into 30-day periods from the date of death back 12 months. RESULTS In Massachusetts, only 7% of decedents were enrolled in managed care organizations (MCOs); in California, 28%. More than 60% of hospice users had cancer. Hospice use was much lower in Massachusetts than in California (12% vs 18%). In both states, decedents enrolled in MCOs used hospice care much more than those enrolled in fee-for-service plans (17% vs 11% in Massachusetts and 25% vs 15% in California). This pattern persisted for those with cancer and younger (aged 65-74 years) decedents. Decedents receiving hospice care were significantly (P<.001 for both) less likely to die in the hospital (11% vs 43% in Massachusetts and 5% vs 43% in California). Enrollment in MCOs did not affect the proportion of in-hospital deaths (those enrolled in fee-for-service plans vs MCOs: 40% vs 39% in Massachusetts; and 37% vs 34% in California). Expenditures in the last year of life were $28 588 in Massachusetts and $27 814 in California; about one third of the expenditures occurred in the last month before death. Hospital services accounted for more than 50% of all expenditures in both states, despite 77% of decedents being hospitalized in Massachusetts and just 55% being hospitalized in California. Among patients with cancer, expenditures were 13% to 20% lower for those in hospice. CONCLUSIONS Medicare-insured decedents in California were more than 4 times more likely to be enrolled in MCOs, were 50% more likely to use a hospice, and had a 30% lower hospitalization rate than decedents in Massachusetts, yet there are few differences in out-of-hospital deaths or expenditures in the last year of life. However, patients with cancer using hospice did have significant savings.
Influence of Liposomal Amphotericin B on CD8 T-Cell Function

ABSTRACT Liposomal amphotericin B was immunosuppressive on target cell lysis in vitro and on protection mediated by cytotoxic CD8 T cells in murine listeriosis. When dosages usually used for therapy in humans were compared, the immunosuppressive effect of 5 mg of liposomal amphotericin B/kg of body weight/day was similar to that of standard amphotericin B at 1 mg/kg/day, but a dosage of liposomal amphotericin B of 1 mg/kg/day was not suppressive in vivo.