Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Miniaturized Millimeter-Wave Radar Sensor for High-Accuracy Applications

A highly miniaturized and commercially available millimeter wave (mmw) radar sensor working in the frequency range between 121 and 127 GHz is presented in this paper. It can be used for distance measurements with an accuracy in the single-digit micrometer range. The sensor is based on the frequency modulated continuous wave (CW) radar principle; however, CW measurements are also possible due to its versatile design. An overview of the existing mmw radar sensors is given and the integrated radar sensor is shown in detail. The radio frequency part of the radar, which is implemented in SiGe technology, is described followed by the packaging concept. The radar circuitry on chip as well as the external antennas is completely integrated into an 8 mm $\times \,\, 8$ mm quad flat no leads package that is mounted on a low-cost baseband board. The packaging concept and the complete baseband hardware are explained in detail. A two-step approach is used for the radar signal evaluation: a coarse determination of the target position by the evaluation of the beat frequency combined with an additional determination of the phase of the signal. This leads to an accuracy within a single-digit micrometer range. The measurement results prove that an accuracy of better than $\pm 6~\mu \text{m}$ can be achieved with the sensor over a measurement distance of 35 mm.
Accelerated Shape Forming and Recovering, Induction, and Release of Adhesiveness of Conductive Carbon Nanotube/Epoxy Composites by Joule Heating

The versatile properties of a nanopaper consisting of a porous network of multi-walled carbon nanotubes were applied to enhance the mechanical and electrical properties of a thermosetting epoxy polymer. The embedded nanopaper proved useful both in the monitoring of the curing process of the epoxy resin by the self-regulating Joule heating and in the supervising of tensile deformations of the composite by detecting changes in its electrical resistance. When heated by Joule heating above its glass transition temperature, the embedded carbon nanotube nanopaper accelerated not only the modelling of the composites into various shapes, but also the shape recovery process, wherein the stress in the nanopaper was released and the shape of the composite reverted to its original configuration. Lastly, in comparison with its respective epoxy adhesive, the internally heated electro-conductive carbon nanotube nanopaper/epoxy composite not only substantially shortened curing time while retaining comparable strength of the adhesive bonding of the steel surfaces, but also enabled a release of such bonds by repeated application of DC current.
Autophagy is involved in regulating the immune response of dendritic cells to influenza A (H1N1) pdm09 infection

Autophagy can mediate antiviral immunity. However, it remains unknown whether autophagy regulates the immune response of dendritic cells (DCs) to influenza A (H1N1) pdm09 infection. In this study, we found that infection with the H1N1 virus induced DC autophagy in an endocytosis‐dependent manner. Compared with autophagy‐deficient Beclin‐1+/− mice, we found that bone‐marrow‐derived DCs from wild‐type mice (WT BMDCs) presented a more mature phenotype on H1N1 infection. Wild‐type BMDCs secreted higher levels of interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), tumour necrosis factor‐ α (TNF‐α), interferon‐β (IFN‐β), IL‐12p70 and IFN‐γ than did Beclin‐1+/− BMDCs. In contrast to Beclin‐1+/− BMDCs, H1N1‐infected WT BMDCs exhibited increased activation of extracellular signal‐regulated kinase, Jun N‐terminal kinase, p38, and nuclear factor‐κB as well as IFN regulatory factor 7 nuclear translocation. Blockade of autophagosomal and lysosomal fusion by bafilomycin A1 decreased the co‐localization of H1N1 viruses, autophagosomes and lysosomes as well as the secretion of IL‐6, TNF‐α and IFN‐β in H1N1‐infected BMDCs. In contrast to Beclin‐1+/− BMDCs, H1N1‐infected WT BMDCs were more efficient in inducing allogeneic CD4+ T‐cell proliferation and driving T helper type 1, 2 and 17 cell differentiation while inhibiting CD4+ Foxp3+ regulatory T‐cell differentiation. Moreover, WT BMDCs were more efficient at cross‐presenting the ovalbumin antigen to CD8+ T cells. We consistently found that Beclin‐1+/− BMDCs were inferior in their inhibition of H1N1 virus replication and their induction of H1N1‐specific CD4+ and CD8+ T‐cell responses, which produced lower levels of IL‐6, TNF‐α and IFN‐β in vivo. Our data indicate that autophagy is important in the regulation of the DC immune response to H1N1 infection, thereby extending our understanding of host immune responses to the virus.
Deficiency in the Lipid Exporter ABCA1 Impairs Retrograde Sterol Movement and Disrupts Sterol Sensing at the Endoplasmic Reticulum*♦

Background: Little is known about how mammalian cells modulate retrograde sterol transport for cellular cholesterol homeostasis. Results: ABCA1 deficiency impairs endocytic retrograde sterol transport to the endoplasmic reticulum and activates the SREBP-2 pathway. Conclusion: ABCA1 participates in bidirectional sterol movement at the plasma membrane to regulate cellular cholesterol homeostasis. Significance: A novel function of ABCA1 is identified. Cellular cholesterol homeostasis involves sterol sensing at the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and sterol export from the plasma membrane (PM). Sterol sensing at the ER requires efficient sterol delivery from the PM; however, the macromolecules that facilitate retrograde sterol transport at the PM have not been identified. ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) mediates cholesterol and phospholipid export to apolipoprotein A-I for the assembly of high density lipoprotein (HDL). Mutations in ABCA1 cause Tangier disease, a familial HDL deficiency. Several lines of clinical and experimental evidence suggest a second function of ABCA1 in cellular cholesterol homeostasis in addition to mediating cholesterol efflux. Here, we report the unexpected finding that ABCA1 also plays a key role in facilitating retrograde sterol transport from the PM to the ER for sterol sensing. Deficiency in ABCA1 delays sterol esterification at the ER and activates the SREBP-2 cleavage pathway. The intrinsic ATPase activity in ABCA1 is required to facilitate retrograde sterol transport. ABCA1 deficiency causes alternation of PM composition and hampers a clathrin-independent endocytic activity that is required for ER sterol sensing. Our finding identifies ABCA1 as a key macromolecule facilitating bidirectional sterol movement at the PM and shows that ABCA1 controls retrograde sterol transport by modulating a certain clathrin-independent endocytic process.
The role of mitochondrial transition pores on bovine oocyte competence after heat stress, as determined by effects of cyclosporin A

This study was undertaken to investigate the effects on the nuclear maturation and subsequent embryonic development of bovine oocytes exposed to heat stress (HS) when treating bovine oocytes before in vitro maturation (IVM) with 1 µM cyclosporin A (CsA), an inhibitor of mitochondrial permeability transition pore opening. Mitochondrial activity, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and apoptosis levels of the oocytes were also assessed. Nuclear maturation rates of both the HS‐exposed oocytes treated with or without CsA groups (HS + CsA or HS group) were significantly lower (P < 0.05) than that of the control group, while the rate of the HS + CsA group was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than that of the HS group. Furthermore, although the cleavage and blastocyst formation rates of the HS group were significantly lower than those of the control groups (P < 0.05), both rates of the HS + CsA group recovered to the same level as those of the control group. The HS group showed a significantly higher ROS level, lower mitochondrial activity in the oocytes, and TUNEL‐positive cumulus cells, but not oocytes, compared with those of the control group (P < 0.05), whereas the TUNEL‐positive and mitochondrial activity levels of the HS + CsA group recovered to those of the control group. These results indicate that 1 µM CsA treatment before IVM may mitigate reduced mitochondrial activity, increase number of apoptotic cumulus cells under HS, and improve the nuclear maturation and developmental competence of bovine oocytes. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 79:31–40, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Determination of temporal bone Isoplanatic Patch sizes for transcranial phase aberration correction

Phase aberration is a leading cause of transcranial ultrasound image degradation. In order to realign aberrated wavefronts, a delay map corresponding to the aberration can be computed from signals backscattered from a region of interest (ROI) in the medium, and used to correct the beamforming delays. However, such a map is only effective for correcting the aberration in a limited area called the isoplanatic patch (IP) around the ROI. This fundamentally limits the effectiveness of transcranial aberration correction to restore image quality. In this paper, IP sizes are measured in vitro for aberration correction with an X7-2 2D array (Philips Healthcare, Andover, MA) through 12 ex vivo human temporal bone samples. The angular IP size is found to be 36deg plusmn 18deg. An in vivo experiment confirms that the IP is limited angularly (~30deg) but large in depth (~15 cm). Small IP sizes and high refocusing effectiveness within the IP are correlated with high gradients in the measured phase aberration maps. This study indicates that phase aberration correction with a single delay map is only effective for transcranial ultrasound applications with a small angular field of view.
585-NM Pulsed Dye Laser Treatment of Glottal Papillomatosis

Treatment of recurrent respiratory papillomatosis of the glottis is often challenging. The surgeon and patient must cooperatively balance decisions regarding airway safety, effects of multiple general anesthesias, employment disturbance, and vocal dysfunction. A pilot study was done in 41 adult cases (23 patients; 78 vocal folds) without complication to evaluate the effectiveness of a 585-nm pulsed dye laser (PDL; 450-μs pulse width; fluence of 38 to 255 J/cm2; 1- to 2-mm spot size) in the treatment of this disorder. Thirty-seven of the 41 cases (90%) were bilateral disease. Twenty-six of the 41 cases (63%; including 20 cases with involvement of the anterior commissure) were treated by bilateral photocoagulation of the lesions' microcirculation without microflap resection of tissue. Clinical observation revealed that irradiated but unresected disease involuted without development of an anterior commissure web. In the initial 13 of the 41 cases (32%), PDL treatment was followed by cold instrument microflap resection. The PDL enhanced the epithelial excision by improving hemostasis and by creating an optimal dissection plane between the basement membrane and the underlying superficial lamina propria. The PDL at 585 nm was less effective in the management of exophytic lesions because of its limited depth of penetration (approximately 2 mm). In this initial trial, the PDL was a relatively safe and efficacious treatment for glottal recurrent respiratory papillomatosis. Since the lesions involute without complete resection of the diseased epithelium, the anterior commissure can be treated to minimize the number of procedures. To study patterns of recurrence will require longer follow-up.
Reduced leptin concentrations in subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Sudan.

Differences have been observed in the relationship between leptin and metabolic perturbations in glucose homeostasis. Because no information is available from indigenous African populations with diabetes, the purpose of this study was to investigate the possible associations between leptin and different clinical and biochemical characteristics of a large group of subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Sudan. A total of 104 (45 men and 59 women) consecutive type 2 diabetes patients and 75 control subjects (34 men and 41 women) were studied. The body mass index (BMI), blood glucose, serum insulin, and proinsulin were measured and related to serum leptin concentrations. Leptin was higher in females than in males and correlated significantly to BMI. The main novel finding was that serum leptin was significantly lower in diabetic subjects compared with controls in both females (P =.0001) and males (P =.019), although BMI did not differ between diabetic and nondiabetic subjects. Diabetic subjects treated with sulphonylurea (n = 81) had lower BMI than those treated with diet alone or other hypoglycemic drugs (n = 23) (P =.0017), but there was no difference in leptin levels between the 2 groups after adjustment for BMI (P =.87). In diabetic subjects, serum leptin correlated positively with the homeostatic assessment (HOMA) of both beta-cell function (P =.018) and insulin resistance (P =.038), whereas in control subjects, leptin correlated with insulin resistance (P =.0016), but not with beta-cell function. Diabetic subjects had higher proinsulin levels (P =.0031) and higher proinsulin to insulin ratio (P =.0003) than nondiabetic subjects. In univariate analysis, proinsulin showed a weak correlation to leptin (P =.049). In conclusion, we show in a large cohort of Sudanese subjects with type 2 diabetes that circulating leptin levels are lower in diabetic subjects than in controls of similar age and BMI. The lower serum leptin in diabetic subjects may be a consequence of differences in fat distribution.
c-Myc directly induces both impaired insulin secretion and loss of β-cell mass, independently of hyperglycemia in vivo

c-Myc (Myc) is a mediator of glucotoxicity but could also independently compromise β-cell survival and function. We have shown that after Myc activation in adult β-cells in vivo, apoptosis is preceded by hyperglycemia, suggesting glucotoxicity might contribute to Myc-induced apoptosis. To address this question conditional Myc was activated in β-cells of adult pIns-c-MycERTAM mice in vivo in the presence or absence of various glucose-lowering treatments, including exogenous insulin and prior to transplantation with wild-type islets. Changes in blood glucose levels were subsequently correlated with changes in β-cell mass and markers of function/differentiation. Activation of c-Myc resulted in reduced insulin secretion, hyperglycemia and loss of β-cell differentiation, followed by reduction in mass. Glucose-lowering interventions did not prevent loss of β-cells. Therefore, Myc can cause diabetes by direct effects on β-cell apoptosis even in the absence of potentially confounding secondary hyperglycemia. Moreover, as loss of β-cell differentiation/function and hyperglycemia are not prevented by preventing β-cell apoptosis, we conclude that Myc might contribute to the pathogenesis of diabetes by directly coupling cell cycle entry and β-cell failure through 2 distinct pathways.
An Immunologically Cryptic Epitope of Plasmodium falciparum Circumsporozoite Protein Facilitates Liver Cell Recognition and Induces Protective Antibodies That Block Liver Cell Invasion*

Circumsporozoite, a predominant surface protein, is involved in invasion of liver cells by Plasmodium sporozoites, which leads to malaria. We have previously reported that the amino terminus region (amino acids 27–117) of P. falciparum circumsporozoite protein plays a critical role in the invasion of liver cells by the parasite. Here we show that invasion-blocking antibodies are induced by a polypeptide encoding these 91 amino acids, only when it is presented in the absence of the rest of the protein. This suggests that when present in the whole protein, the amino terminus remains immunologically cryptic. A single reactive epitope was identified and mapped to a stretch of 21 amino acids from position 93 to 113. The epitope is configurational in nature, since its recognition was affected by deleting as little as 3 amino acids from either end of the 21-residue peptide. Lysine 104, the only known polymorphic position in the epitope, affected its recognition by the antibodies, and its conversion to leucine in the protein led to a substantial loss of binding activity of the protein to the hepatocytes. This indicated that in the protein, the epitope serves as a binding ligand and facilitates the interaction between sporozoite and hepatic cells. When considered along with the observation that in its native state this motif is immunologically unresponsive, we suggest that hiding functional moieties of the protein from the immune system is an evasion strategy to preserve liver cell binding function and may be of importance in designing anti-sporozoite vaccines.
Technical Improvements and Results of Open-door Expansive Laminoplasty with Hydroxyapatite Implants for Cervical Myelopathy

OBJECTIVE: A new, modified technique of cervical open-door laminoplasty with hydroxyapatite implants was developed to enlarge the spinal canal in stable fashion yet preserve the architecture of the cervical spine and surrounding tissues. To assess the efficacy of this technique, a retrospective review of neurological and radiological outcomes after cervical laminoplasty was conducted. METHODS: Clinical charts and cervical x-rays of 151 patients with cervical stenotic myelopathy were reviewed. Patients were treated with the cervical laminoplasty between May 2001 and January 2002. The patient group comprised 69 women and 82 men ranging in age from 30 to 86 years (mean, 63 yr). Neurological outcomes were evaluated according to the Japanese Orthopaedic Association grade. To assess alignment and mobility of the cervical spine, the C2–C7 angle was used. RESULTS: The average Japanese Orthopaedic Association grade was 8.1 ± 2.5 before surgery and 15.2 ± 1.5 at 1 year after surgery (P < 0.01). No neurological complications were observed. The average C2–C7 angle at the neutral position increased from 8.3 ± 11.7 degrees before surgery to 14.9 ± 11.6 degrees at 1 year after surgery (P < 0.01). The range of motion between C2 and C7 was 36.9 ± 12.5 degrees and 29.1 ± 10.8 degrees before and 1 year after surgery, respectively. CONCLUSION: A new modified technique of cervical open-door laminoplasty described herein offers some solutions to the problems associated with conventional techniques of cervical laminoplasty.
Colchicine in prevention of atrial fibrillation following cardiac surgery: Systematic review and meta-analysis

Objectives: Inflammation is one of the predictors of atrial fibrillation (AF) following surgical or interventional cardiac procedures. Recent evidence suggests that colchicine may represent a new strategy to prevent AF following cardiac procedures. This study aims to assess the antiinflammatory efficacy of colchicine in prevention of early AF event (EAFE). Materials and Methods: We reviewed all available studies that assessed the effectiveness of colchicine therapy on the occurrence of AF in patients undergoing cardiac procedures. Meta-analysis was performed by random effect inverse variance-weighted method by entering AF events and the total population from each study. Results: After thorough review of the databases, we found three studies comparing colchicine and placebo which had EAFE as the outcome. Of 584 patients, 286 patients were on colchicine and 298 on placebo. All the three studies were randomized. After pooled analysis, colchicine was associated with significant reduction in AF events compared to placebo (odds ratio = 0.44 [0.29, 0.66], P < 0.001). There was no statistical heterogeneity between included studies (χ2 = 0.45, P = 0.80, I2 = 0%). Conclusion: Colchicine may prove beneficial in the prevention of AF following cardiac surgery. Further research is warranted.
Portal Vein Embolization Before Right Hepatectomy: Prospective Clinical Trial

ObjectiveTo assess the impact of liver hypertrophy of the future liver remnant volume (FLR) induced by preoperative portal vein embolization (PVE) on the immediate postoperative complications after a standardized major liver resection. Summary Background DataPVE is usually indicated when FLR is estimated to be too small for major liver resection. However, few data exist regarding the exact quantification of sufficient minimal functional hepatic volume required to avoid postoperative complications in both patients with or without chronic liver disease. MethodsAll consecutive patients in whom an elective right hepatectomy was feasible and who fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria between 1998 and 2000 were assigned to have alternatively either immediate surgery or surgery after PVE. Among 55 patients (25 liver metastases, 2 cholangiocarcinoma, and 28 hepatocellular carcinoma), 28 underwent right hepatectomy after PVE and 27 underwent immediate surgery. Twenty-eight patients had chronic liver disease. FLR and estimated rate of functional future liver remnant (%FFLR) volumes were assessed by computed tomography. ResultsThe mean increase of FLR and %FFLR 4 to 8 weeks after PVE were respectively 44 ± 19% and 16 ± 7% for patients with normal liver and 35 ± 28% and 9 ± 3% for those with chronic liver disease. All patients with normal liver and 86% with chronic liver disease experienced hypertrophy after PVE. The postoperative course of patients with normal liver who underwent PVE before right hepatectomy was similar to those with immediate surgery. In contrast, PVE in patients with chronic liver disease significantly decreased the incidence of postoperative complications as well as the intensive care unit stay and total hospital stay after right hepatectomy. ConclusionsBefore elective right hepatectomy, the hypertrophy of FLR induced by PVE had no beneficial effect on the postoperative course in patients with normal liver. In contrast, in patients with chronic liver disease, the hypertrophy of the FLR induced by PVE decreased significantly the rate of postoperative complications.
Power of ideas in shaping and delivering design business success

Great ideas change the world. New ideas have the power to be the engine to transform the way we live our lives and how markets operate. This paper provides a blueprint for shaping and delivering improved company performance by improving idea management within organizations. It discusses balancing the need for more innovative ideas and an organization taking on greater risk. Leadership and culture play a vital role where organizations need to understand the time it takes to generate ideas and allocate appropriate resources and people to projects. Several key emerging themes are identified including internal versus external practices, ad-hoc versus systematic processes, incremental versus radical innovation and idea quality and quantity. Idea management and idea generation success factors are detailed. In conclusion, the final success of idea management depends on the right process structures for different types of ideas and resulting organizational implementation.