Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Impingement air cooled plate fin heat sinks. Part II - Thermal resistance model

For pt.I, see ibid., vol.I, no., p.429-35 (2004). Impingement air cooling with heat sinks is one attractive solution in thermal management of electronic components. A simple impingement flow thermal resistance model based on developing laminar flow in rectangular channels is proposed. Experimental measurements of thermal resistance are performed with heat sinks of various impingement inlet widths, fin spacings, fin heights and airflow velocities to test the validity of the model. The accuracy of the predicted thermal resistance was found to be within 20% of the experimental data at channel Reynolds numbers less than 1200. The simple model is suitable for parametric design studies.
Importin Beta Plays an Essential Role in the Regulation of the LysRS-Ap4A Pathway in Immunologically Activated Mast Cells

ABSTRACT We recently reported that diadenosine tetraphosphate hydrolase (Ap4A hydrolase) plays a critical role in gene expression via regulation of intracellular Ap4A levels. This enzyme serves as a component of our newly described lysyl tRNA synthetase (LysRS)-Ap4A biochemical pathway that is triggered upon immunological challenge. Here we explored the mechanism of this enzyme's translocation into the nucleus and found its immunologically dependent association with importin beta. Silencing of importin beta prevented Ap4A hydrolase nuclear translocation and affected the local concentration of Ap4A, which led to an increase in microphthalmia transcription factor (MITF) transcriptional activity. Furthermore, immunological activation of mast cells resulted in dephosphorylation of Ap4A hydrolase, which changed the hydrolytic activity of the enzyme.
Interleukin‐7 enhances memory CD8+ T‐cell recall responses in health but its activity is impaired in human immunodeficiency virus infection

Memory CD8+ T cells regain function during a recall response, but the requirement of signals in addition to antigen during a secondary immune response is unknown. In this study, the ability of interleukin‐7 (IL‐7) to enhance memory CD8+ CD45RA− CD127+ T‐cell responses in health and in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection was investigated. CD8+ T‐cell‐depleted peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from HIV− and untreated HIV+ donors were pulsed with a cytomegalovirus/Epstein–Barr virus/influenza (CEF) peptide pool, and co‐cultured with autologous memory CD8+ T cells in the presence of IL‐7. Cell survival and the function of memory CD8+ T‐cell subsets were then evaluated. Memory CD8+ T‐cell proliferation and interferon‐γ (IFN‐γ) production was enhanced by the presence of antigen, and the addition of IL‐7 further enhanced antigen‐induced proliferation. In HIV+ individuals, the presence of antigen enhanced IFN‐γ production to a small degree but did not enhance proliferation. Lastly, IL‐7 did not enhance antigen‐mediated proliferation of memory CD8+ T cells from HIV+ individuals. IL‐7 therefore appears to have a role in secondary immune responses and its activity is impaired in memory CD8+ T cells from HIV+ individuals. These results further our understanding of the signals involved in secondary immune responses, and provide new insight into the loss of CD8+ T‐cell function in HIV infection.
Role of leucine as a precursor of glutamine alpha-amino nitrogen in vivo in humans.

To assess the role of leucine as a precursor of glutamine alpha-amino N in vivo, five healthy men received primed continuous intravenous infusions of L-[15N]leucine, L-[15N]alanine, and L-[2-15N]glutamine in the postabsorptive state on three separate days and over 7, 4, and 4 h, respectively. A steady state in isotopic enrichment was observed in every amino acid during the last hour of each isotope infusion and was used to calculate the rates of amino acid appearance (Ra) and interconversion. Leucine, alanine, and glutamine Ra values were 137 +/- 18, 234 +/- 42, and 320 +/- 18 (SD) mumol.kg-1.h-1, respectively. Rates of N transfer from leucine to glutamine and alanine were 29 +/- 9 and 29 +/- 11 mumol.kg-1.h-1, respectively; these rates represented 21 +/- 8 and 21 +/- 12%, respectively, of leucine's N and 9 +/- 3 and 13 +/- 4% of glutamine's alpha-amino N and alanine N, respectively. These results suggest that the endogenous branched-chain amino acids released by protein breakdown are major precursors of both glutamine and alanine de novo synthesis in postabsorptive humans.
What Drives the Skill Premium : Technological Change or Demographic Variation ?

This paper quantitatively examines the e¤ects of two exogenous driving forces, investment-speci c technological change (ISTC) and the demographic change known as the baby boom and the baby bust,on the evolution of the skill premium in the postwar U.S. economy. I develop an overlapping generations general equilibrium model with endogenous discrete schooling choice. The production technology features capitalskill complementarity as in Krusell et al. (2000). ISTC, through capital-skill complementarity, raises the relative demand for skilled labor, while demographic variation a¤ects the skill premium through changing the age structure and hence relative supply of skilled labor. I nd that demographic change is more important in shaping the skill premium before 1980. Since then, ISTC takes over to drive the dramatic increase in the skill premium. JEL classi cation: E25 (Aggregate factor income distribution); I21 (Analysis of education); J24 (Human capital); J31 (Wage di¤erentials by skill); O33 (Technological change). Key Words: Skill Premium; Schooling Choice; Capital-Skill Complementarity; Investment-Speci c Technological Change; Demographic Change.
Investigation and comparison of land-cover change patterns in Xuzhou city, China, and Dortmund city region, Germany, using multitemporal Landsat images

Abstract Analyzing spatiotemporal characteristics of land-cover (LC) change is important for assessing environmental consequences of urban growth and supporting land management and planning. Less attention, however, has been given to the comparison between land-cover change patterns in developing and developed countries. In this study, Xuzhou city and Dortmund city region were selected as study areas. Multitemporal Landsat images were classified by using the integration method of maximum likelihood classifier, subpixel classifier, and multiple normalized difference vegetation index values based on Vegetation-Impervious Surface-Soil model. Urban growth patterns and processes of the two study areas were investigated and compared through land-cover change detection, buffer analysis, and jaggedness degree. The results indicated that the urban area in Xuzhou city increased more than threefold dramatically from 128.5 to 418.3 km 2 , and the increased sprawling development trend was observed during the study period, while Dortmund city region showed a slight increase from 498 to 715.5 km 2 in urban areas with an increasingly compact development trend. The results revealed a notable difference of spatiotemporal land-cover pattern dynamics between the two study areas as well as confirmed the effectiveness of the combined method of remote sensing and spatial analysis that can be used to support land management and policy decisions.
Trends in HPV Vaccine Initiation among Adolescent Females in North Carolina, 2008–2010

Background: To better target future immunization efforts, we assessed trends and disparities in human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine initiation among female adolescents in North Carolina over 3 years. Methods: We analyzed data from a stratified random sample of 1,427 parents who, between 2008 and 2010, completed two linked telephone surveys: the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System and the Child Health Assessment and Monitoring Program surveys. Weighted analyses examined HPV vaccine initiation for girls ages 11 to 17 years. Results: HPV vaccine initiation increased modestly over time (2008, 34%; 2009, 41%; 2010, 44%). This upward trend was present within 11 subpopulations of girls, including those who lived in rural areas, were of minority (non-black/non-white) race, or had not recently received a preventive check-up. Looking at differences between groups, HPV vaccine initiation was less common among girls who attended private versus public school, were younger, or lacked a recent check-up. However, the latter difference narrowed over time. The low level of initiation among girls without recent check-ups increased substantially (from 11% to 41%), whereas initiation among girls with recent visits improved little (from 39% to 44%, Pinteraction = 0.007). Conclusions: Although HPV vaccine initiation improved among several groups typically at higher risk for cervical cancer, the lack of progress among girls with recent check-ups suggests that missed opportunities for administration have hampered broader improvements. Impact: Achieving widespread coverage of HPV vaccine will require redoubled efforts to vaccinate adolescents during routine care. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 21(11); 1913–22. ©2012 AACR.
Characterization of a gene cluster for exopolysaccharide biosynthesis and virulence in Erwinia stewartii

We have previously cloned the genes for synthesis of capsular polysaccharide (cps) and slime from Erwinia stewartii in cosmid pES2144. In this study, pES2144 was shown to complement 14 spontaneous cps mutants. These mutants were characterized by probing Southern blots of mutant genomic DNA with pES2144; insertions were detected in four mutants and deletions in six mutants. Genetic and physical maps of the pES2144 cps region were constructed by subcloning, restriction analysis, and transposon mutagenesis with Tn5, Tn5lac, and Tn3HoHo1. Mutations affecting the ability of pES2144 to restore mucoidy to cps deletion mutants were located in five regions, designated cpsA to cpsE. None of the cps mutants were able to cause systemic wilting of corn plants, and mutations in cps regions B to E further abolished the ability of the bacterium to cause watersoaked lesions on seedlings. The gene for uridine-5'-diphosphogalactose 4-epimerase (galE) was linked to the cps genes on pES2144. In E. stewartii, galE was constitutively expressed, whereas the genes for galactokinase (galK) and galactose-1-phosphate uridyltransferase (galT) were inducible and not linked to galE. Thus, galE does not appear to be part of the gal operon in this species.
The use of formalin fixed wax embedded tissue for proteomic analysis

The potential of proteomic approaches to elucidate disease pathogenesis and biomarker discovery is increasingly being recognised. These studies are usually based on the use of fresh tissue samples. Problems in obtaining and storing fresh frozen samples, especially either for the investigation of rare diseases or for the study of microscopic disease foci, have led to the investigation of the possible use of formalin fixed wax embedded tissue for proteomic biomarker detection Overcoming problems with protein cross-linking associated with formalin fixation of tissues, especially by using heat-mediated retrieval techniques combined with highly sensitive methods for protein separation and identification are now emerging, giving promise to the use of formalin fixed wax embedded tissues for proteomic analysis. Formalin fixed wax embedded tissues, together with their associated clinical and pathological information outcome may provide significant potential opportunities for proteomics research. Such studies of formalin fixed wax embedded tissue will allow access to already acquired clinical tissue samples which can be readily correlated with clinical, pathological and outcome data. It also provides access to rare types of tissue/diseases that would be either difficult to collect prospectively in a timely manner or are unlikely to be available as fresh samples. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of the issues associated with the use of formalin fixed wax embedded tissues for proteomics.
Capping the Mortgage Interest Deduction

In this paper we examine the economic implications of several policy options for capping the mortgage interest deduction (MID). We extend the standard user-cost model of owner-occupied housing to include a cap on the mortgage size receiving tax-favored status. Our user-cost estimates for taxpayers with mortgages above the current-law cap are 4.41 percent higher than estimates from a model without the cap. We simulate the share of mortgage dollars that would be subject to three alternative cap policy variants and summarize the distributional impacts of each proposal, computing the share of mortgage dollars impacted across U.S. Metropolitan Areas.
Determination of varicella-zoster virus (VZV) immune status with the VIDAS VZV immunoglobulin G automated immunoassay and the VZVScan latex agglutination assay

The VIDAS varicella-zoster virus (VZV) immunoglobulin G immunoassay and the VZVScan latex agglutination (LA) test were compared for the detection of VZV antibody in patient sera. Of 625 samples tested, 554 were positive for VZV antibody by one or both methods. Five hundred thirteen (82.1%) samples were positive by both methods, 71 (11.4%) were negative by both methods, and there were 41 (6.6%) discrepant samples. Statistically significant differences in sensitivity and specificity were not found (P = 0.37); however, several observations were made. All 23 VIDAS repeat equivocal samples were LA positive. Fifty-four samples showed prozone effects with the LA assay, all of which resolved as positive.
Involvement of JAK 2 and MAPK on type II nitric oxide synthase expression in skin-derived dendritic cells

Cruz, M. T. , C. B. Duarte, M. Gonçalo, A. P. Carvalho, and M. C. Lopes. Involvement of JAK2 and MAPK on type II nitric oxide synthase expression in skin-derived dendritic cells. Am. J. Physiol. 277 (Cell Physiol. 46): C1050–C1057, 1999. —In this report, we demonstrate that a fetal mouse skin-derived dendritic cell line produces nitric oxide (NO) in response to the endotoxin [lipopolysaccharide (LPS)] and to cytokines [tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a) and granulocytemacrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF)]. Expression of the inducible isoform of NO synthase (iNOS) was confirmed by immunofluorescence with an antibody against iNOS. The tyrosine kinase inhibitor genistein decreased LPSand GM-CSF-induced nitrite (NO2 ) production. The effect of LPS and cytokines on NO2 2 production was inhibited by the Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) inhibitor tyrphostin B42. The p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) inhibitor SB203580 also reduced the NO2 2 production evoked by LPS, TNF-a, or GM-CSF, but it was not as effective as tyrphostin B42. Inhibition of MAPK kinase with PD-098059 also slightly reduced the effect of TNF-a or GM-CSF on NO2 2 production. Immunocytochemistry studies revealed that the transcription factor nuclear factor-kB was translocated from the cytoplasm into the nuclei of fetal skin-derived dendritic cells (FSDC) stimulated with LPS, and this translocation was inhibited by tyrphostin B42. Our results show that JAK2 plays a major role in the induction of iNOS in FSDC.
Investigating member commitment to virtual communities using an integrated perspective

Purpose – Although the number of virtual communities has increased dramatically over the past few years, attracting and maintaining members remains the biggest challenge to establishing virtual social networks. This study seeks to integrate the roles of individual factors (issue involvement), social factors (social interaction), and system factors (system interactivity), and to explore how these factors contribute to member commitment in virtual communities.Design/methodology/approach – A total of 402 undergraduate students, who are all current members of virtual communities, participated in this study. Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM). Findings – The findings reveal that member commitment to communities was influenced more by their issue involvement compared to their perceived social interaction or perceived system interactivity.Originality/value – This research contributes to online community literature by integrating critical antecedent factors in the field of community commit.
Nucleus accumbens neurons in the rat exhibit differential activity to conditioned reinforcers and primary reinforcers within a second‐order schedule of saccharin reinforcement

The nucleus accumbens has been associated with processing information related to primary reinforcement and reward. Most neurophysiological studies report that nucleus accumbens neurons are phasically excited in response to the onsets of salient events during the seeking of reinforcement and to the delivery of primary reinforcers. However, a minority of studies report inhibition during primary reinforcement. We recorded from 65 neurons in the nucleus accumbens whilst thirsty rats performed under a second‐order schedule of saccharin reinforcement. This allowed us to analyse neural activity and behaviour during reinforcer‐seeking in the presence of conditioned reinforcers (second‐order stimuli, also called ‘conditioned stimuli’), and during primary reinforcer consumption. Specifically, we sought to examine the valence of potential neural responses to primary reinforcement, to compare these responses to second‐order stimulus‐evoked responses, and to determine whether responses were differential to second‐order stimuli presented at different time points within the schedule. Fifty out of 65 neurons we sampled responded to the second‐order stimulus and/or consumption of the primary reinforcer. Most neurons in our sample exhibited excitation following the second‐order stimulus and inhibition to the primary reinforcer, a pattern also present over the average response of the neural population. However, there was no systematic variation in neural responses evoked by second‐order stimuli presented at different temporal proximities to primary reinforcement. Our results provide evidence that partially overlapping mechanisms within the nucleus accumbens differentially process conditioned reinforcers and primary reinforcers.
Nonlinear Zonal Wind Response to ENSO in the CMIP5 Models: Roles of the Zonal and Meridional Shift of the ITCZ/SPCZ and the Simulated Climatological Precipitation*

AbstractThe observed equatorial Pacific zonal wind response during El Nino tends to be stronger than during La Nina. Most global coupled climate models in phase 5 of CMIP (CMIP5) exhibit such nonlinearity, although weaker than observed. The wind response nonlinearity can be reproduced by driving a linear shallow water atmospheric model with a model’s or the observed precipitation anomalies, which can be decomposed into two main components: the zonal and meridional redistribution of the climatological precipitation. Both redistributions contribute comparably to the total rainfall anomalies, whereas the zonal redistribution plays the dominant role in the zonal wind response. The meridional redistribution component plays an indirect role in the nonlinear wind response by limiting the zonal redistribution during La Nina and thus enhancing the nonlinearity in the wind response significantly. During La Nina, the poleward movement of the ITCZ/SPCZ reduces the equatorial zonal-mean precipitation available for the.
Zero time windowing based severity analysis of hypernasal speech

This work analyses the hypernasal cleft palate speech for 4-point severity rating (0-normal, 1-mild, 2-moderate, 3-severe). Hypernasality results nasalization of vowels and some of voiced consonants. Addition of extra nasal peak in vicinity of first formant occurs due to nasalization. To resolve the closely spaced extra nasal peak and first formant, a high spectral resolution technique called zero time windowing (ZTW) is used. The speech signal is multiplied with a highly decaying impulse-like window of size approximately a pitch period. The loss in spectral resolution due to zero time windowing is restored by successive differentiation in frequency domain. Further the numerator of group delay is used to resolve closely spaced extra nasal peak and first formants. ZTW based spectrum captures the vocal tract changes even within an open and a closed phase of glottis and does not have the effect of pitch harmonics. Acoustic analysis of low vowel, high vowel and some voiced consonants, taken from the hypernasal speech, is done to rate the severity. The result shows no extra nasal peak in normal speech vowels. It appears in high vowel only for mild, both high and low vowels for moderate and severe, and in voiced consonants for severe only.
Dose‐Finding and Pharmacokinetic Study of Intramuscular Midazolam

Ten healthy male volunteers received intramuscular (IM) doses of 0.050, 0.075, and 0.100 mg/kg midazolam hydrochloride or its vehicle (placebo) in a double‐blind manner until a dose producing adequate preanesthetic sedation was administered. Level of sedation, degree of impairment of psychomotor function, existence of antegrade amnesia, and incidence of side effects were evaluated after each dose. An adequate level of sedation (awake/drowsy or asleep/easily responds to verbal command for at least one hour after drug administration) was produced, beginning shortly after drug administration, in eight of the volunteers by 0.075 mg/kg; the dose producing the same effect (the optimal dose) was 0.050 mg/kg for the oldest volunteer, and the other volunteer required 0.100 mg/kg. Sedation lasted no more than four hours after administration of the optimal dose. The optimal dose in each volunteer produced an impairment of psychomotor function that lasted no more than six hours and antegrade amnesia that lasted no more than two hours. Mild erythema at the injection site occurred infrequently. The pharmacokinetic variables describing the absorption and disposition of midazolam were determined in five of the volunteers. Pharmacokinetic studies indicated that midazolam hydrochloride is absorbed rapidly from IM injection sites; this is consistent with the observation of a rapid onset of sedation. The relatively high elimination clearance of midazolam after IM administration is similar to that reported after intravenous administration. The results of this study suggest that midazolam hydrochloride 0.075 mg/kg IM provides sedation and amnesia that is satisfactory for preanesthetic medication but does not last too long into the recovery period.
Epidemiology of Barrett's esophagus and adenocarcinoma.

Norman Barrett described the columnar lined esophagus in 19501. In another paper written in 19572 he acknowledged the opinion of Allison and Johnstone3 that the condition represented an acquired disorder, associated with reflux. There is no useful information about its epidemiology before the widespread use of flexible endoscopy in the last quarter of the twentieth century.
Granulocytic Sarcoma of Uterine Cervix as Presentation of Acute Myeloid Leukemia: A Case Report and Review of Literature

Localized extramedulary collection of leukemic cells is termed as granulocytic sarcoma. Incidences of 2–8% in acute myeloid leukemia have been reported in various autopsy studies. In female it usually involves ovary. Since most of such tumors are asymptomatic, they are detected only at autopsy. We report here a case who manifested as abnormal vaginal bleeding, large cervical mass, renal failure, and aspergillous fungaemia. The patient died before she could be treated. From the present report it would appear that granulocytic sarcoma at times may precede other manifestations of leukemia.