Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
High efficiency buck-boost converter with reduced average inductor current (RAIC) technique

This paper presents a buck-boost converter with high-efficiency and smooth-transition to extend the battery life of portable devices. The new control topology minimizes the switching and conduction losses at the same time even four switches are used. Therefore, over a wide input voltage range, the proposed buck-boost converter with minimum switching loss like the buck or boost converter can reduce the conduction loss through the use of the reduced average inductor current (RAIC) level. Especially, the converter offers good line/load regulation and thus provides a smooth and stable output voltage without being affected by the decreasing battery voltage. Experimental results show that the output voltage is regulated for the whole battery life time and the output transition is very smooth during mode transition. Besides, the output voltage ripple and the average inductor current are effectively minimized by the proposed control scheme. The peak efficiency is 97% and output voltage ripple is reduced from 100mV to within 10mV.
Parkinson Disease-linked Vps35 R524W Mutation Impairs the Endosomal Association of Retromer and Induces α-Synuclein Aggregation*

Endosomal sorting is a highly orchestrated cellular process. Retromer is a heterotrimeric complex that associates with endosomal membranes and facilitates the retrograde sorting of multiple receptors, including the cation-independent mannose 6-phosphate receptor for lysosomal enzymes. The cycling of retromer on and off the endosomal membrane is regulated by a network of retromer-interacting proteins. Here, we find that Parkinson disease-associated Vps35 variant, R524W, but not P316S, is a loss-of-function mutation as marked by a reduced association with this regulatory network and dysregulation of endosomal receptor sorting. Expression of Vps35 R524W-containing retromer results in the accumulation of intracellular α-synuclein-positive aggregates, a hallmark of Parkinson disease. Overall, the Vps35 R524W-containing retromer has a decreased endosomal association, which can be partially rescued by R55, a small molecule previously shown to stabilize the retromer complex, supporting the potential for future targeting of the retromer complex in the treatment of Parkinson disease.
C-Peptide Signals via Gαi to Protect against TNF-α–Mediated Apoptosis of Opossum Kidney Proximal Tubular Cells

Cell loss by apoptosis occurs in renal injury such as diabetic nephropathy. TNF-alpha is a cytokine that induces apoptosis and has been implicated in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy. The aim was to investigate whether C-peptide or insulin could modulate TNF-alpha-mediated cell death in opossum kidney proximal tubular cells and to examine the mechanism(s) of any effects observed. C-peptide and insulin protect against TNF-alpha-induced proximal tubular cell toxicity and apoptosis. Cell viability was analyzed by methylthiazoletetrazolium assay; cell viability was reduced to 60.8 +/- 2.7% of control after stimulation with 300 ng/ml TNF-alpha. Compromised cell viability was reversed by pretreatment with 5 nM C-peptide or 100 nM insulin. TNF-alpha-induced apoptosis was detected by DNA nick-end labeling and by measuring histone associated DNA fragments using ELISA. By ELISA assay, 300 ng/ml TNF-alpha increased apoptosis by 145.8 +/- 4.9% compared with controls, whereas 5 nM C-peptide and 100 nM insulin reduced apoptosis to 81.6 +/- 4.8 and 77.4 +/- 3.1% of control, respectively. The protective effects of C-peptide and insulin were associated with activation of NF-kappaB. Activation of NF-kappaB by C-peptide was pertussis toxin sensitive and dependent on activation of Galpha(i). Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase but not extracellular signal regulated mitogen-activated protein kinase mediated C-peptide and insulin activation of NF-kappaB. The cytoprotective effects of both C-peptide and insulin were related to increased expression of TNF receptor-associated factor 2, the product of an NF-kappaB-dependent survival gene. These data suggest that C-peptide and/or insulin activation of NF-kappaB-regulated survival genes protects against TNF-alpha-induced renal tubular injury in diabetes. The data further support the concept of C-peptide as a peptide hormone in its own right and suggest a potential therapeutic role for C-peptide.
Intensity‐modulated radiotherapy for early‐stage nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Xerostomia is a uniform complication after radiotherapy (RT) for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Dosimetric studies suggested that intensity‐modulated RT (IMRT) can spare part of the parotid glands from high‐dose radiation. Disease control and salivary function after IMRT for early‐stage NPC was studied prospectively.
A coplanar waveguide feeding SRR antenna including human body effect

In this paper a single layer Split Ring Resonant (SRR) antenna with a lumped capacitor based on CPW (coplanar waveguide) excitation is studied to offer a low profile and compact ground plane structure. The effects of basic structural parameters are investigated to give a practical insight. A double layer SRR is examined for comparison. The human body effects are considered as its potential application is in body worn devices. The antenna efficiency (in free space and on a human phantom) is validated in a reverberation chamber.
Effect of chronic ethanol consumption on the response of parathyroid hormone to hypocalcemia in the pregnant rat.

BACKGROUND Chronic alcohol (ethanol) consumption during pregnancy results in maternal/fetal hypocalcemia, which may underlie some of ethanol's adverse effects on maternal and fetal bone, and fetal/neonatal health. Ethanol appears to alter the relationship between parathyroid hormone (PTH) and blood calcium (Ca) level, and PTH does not increase in response to ethanol-induced hypocalcemia. However, it is not known whether ethanol actually prevents PTH from responding, or whether the ability to regulate blood Ca is intact, but ethanol lowers the level of Ca maintained. The objective of this study was to determine whether chronic ethanol consumption impairs the ability of the pregnant female to increase PTH in response to acute hypocalcemia. METHODS Rats were fed isocaloric diets with ethanol (36% ethanol-derived calories, E group) or without ethanol [pair-fed (PF) and control (C) groups], before and throughout 21 days of gestation. On day 21 gestation, rats received an intraperitoneal injection of ethylene glycol-bis (beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid (EGTA) (300 or 500 mumol/kg body weight) or saline (saline group), or no injection (baseline group). Blood was collected from the baseline group, and at 30 or 60 minutes postinjection (saline and EGTA groups), and analyzed for ionized Ca (iCa), pH, and PTH. RESULTS Consistent with previous studies, ethanol consumption decreased blood iCa levels at baseline, but PTH levels did not differ among groups. Administration of EGTA significantly decreased blood iCa levels by 30 minutes, but ethanol did not prevent PTH from increasing in response to the hypocalcemia. In all diet groups, PTH levels were significantly increased by 30 minutes. Ethanol did, however, appear to decrease the maximum PTH level achievable in blood. CONCLUSIONS These data suggest that chronic ethanol consumption does not impair the ability of the pregnant rat to raise serum PTH levels in response to acute hypocalcemia, but ethanol's effect on maximal PTH secretion could impair the ability of the pregnant female to sustain high PTH levels in response to chronic hypocalcemia.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Hypertension

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is common in patients with resistant hypertension, and the severity of OSA correlates with the severity of hypertension. OSA has been shown to be present in 70% to 85% of patients with resistant hypertension who are referred for a sleep study. OSA is also more common in patients with resistant hypertension than controlled hypertension, and the incidence and severity of OSA is also higher in men than women. The effect of treatment of OSA with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) usually provides a modest benefit in blood pressure (BP) reduction of about 2 mm Hg among patients with hypertension. The reduction in BP from use of CPAP is less than that seen with monotherapy with an antihypertensive medication. However, the positive effect of CPAP in reducing BP has not been demonstrated in all trials, probably as a result of methodological issues and use of different study populations and that not all studies include patients with baseline hypertension and some studies allow the use of medications while others have not. In 2 of 3 studies that enrolled only patients with baseline hypertension, treatment with CPAP did not show a benefit on reduction in BP, suggesting that hypertensive changes may become resistant to the effects of CPAP therapy in patients with longstanding hypertension. There also seems to be a greater reduction in BP in patients with greater excessive daytime sleepiness. The reduction in BP is also greater with more severe OSA or greater degree of nocturnal hypoxemia. One reason that CPAP may not be successful in lowering BP may be that adherence to CPAP is often suboptimal and a recent study hypothesized that nocturnal supplemental oxygen would reduce BP in patients with OSA. In this study, patients aged 45 to 75 years had established coronary artery disease or 3 symptoms among hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and dyslipidemia. Patients were randomized to control (healthy lifestyle and sleep education) vs education and CPAP treatment vs education and nocturnal supplemental oxygen. Outcomes were measured as 24-hour ambulatory BP. Results showed that adherence to CPAP was significantly worse than adherence to nocturnal supplemental oxygen but CPAP had a significantly greater effect in lowering mean arterial pressure in patients than in those randomized to nocturnal supplemental oxygen (difference, 2.8 mm Hg; 95% confidence interval, 0.5–5.1). Both supplemental oxygen and CPAP significantly improved nocturnal hypoxemia compared with the control group. Another possibility is that although daytime sleepiness does improve with CPAP, it may be that the lack of change in weight or dietary habits on CPAP are more important than improved sleep quality in lowering BP in treated hypertensive patients. In summary, treatment of OSA with CPAP can lower BP, but reductions are often modest. However, the associations of OSA with other comorbidities (eg, coronary disease, atrial fibrillation, sleep-related accidents) remain important reasons to pursue sleep histories in hypertensive patients in whom OSA is common.
High permittivity dielectric rod waveguide antenna for 110-150 GHz

Based on high permittivity dielectric materials, silicon and sapphire, antennas for the frequency range 110-150 GHz were designed. Dielectric rod waveguide (DRW) antennas are travelling wave type of antennas with a wide operating frequency band. Suitable high permittivity dielectrics offer a reduced size compared to low permittivity materials without losing the waveguiding properties. No launching horns are needed either. The designs were studied with simulations and verified with measurements of the prototypes. Both simulation and measurement results show very wide band radiation characteristics with almost constant beamwidth.
Evidence for site-sensitive screening of core holes at the Si and Ge (001) surface.

Typically surface core-level shifts (SCLS) of clean surfaces are explained in the initial-state model, thus ignoring the screening of the photon-induced hole. We will show that this approach is not valid for the (001) surfaces of Si and Ge. Using ab initio density-functional theory we calculate the SCLS from differences of total energies of slabs containing excited atoms at different positions at the surface and in the bulk. Comparison with initial-state results reveals an enhanced screening at the surface, which is even remarkably different for the two atoms forming the surface dimer
Symptoms, Signs and Long-term Prognosis of Vertically Transmitted Chlamydia trachomatis Infections

Background: Although Chlamydia trachomatis infection is common in pregnant women, such infections are rarely encountered in infants. To clarify the recognition of C. trachomatis infections in infants, we analyzed symptoms and signs of perinatally acquired chlamydial infection, together with its long-term prognosis in a large population-based patient series. Methods: A search through 2 national health registries covering 1996–2011, a cohort of 933,823 births, yielded 124 children with a microbiologically confirmed C. trachomatis infection. We then reviewed copies of the children’s medical records up to 16 years of age. Results: One-third of the infants with chlamydial conjunctivitis (33/110) had spontaneous blood-stained discharge from the infected eye. The infants with C. trachomatis lower respiratory tract infection were mostly afebrile (30/32), and 15/32 of them had wheezing. Staccato cough was not recorded in any of the infants. The median diagnostic delay from the onset of the symptoms was 13 (range 4–374) days for conjunctivitis and 25 (range 10–149) days for lower respiratory tract infection. One neglected child developed bilateral corneal scars because of an untreated C. trachomatis infection. Conclusions: Blood-stained discharge was a typical finding in C. trachomatis conjunctivitis. The C. trachomatis–infected infants had severe and prolonged symptoms, but long-term consequences were rare. The diagnostic delay was long, especially among the infants with a C. trachomatis lower respiratory tract infection.
Predicting Clinical Outcome in Patients Diagnosed with Synchronous Ovarian and Endometrial Cancer

Purpose: Patients with synchronous ovarian and endometrial cancers may represent cases of a single primary tumor with metastasis (SPM) or dual primary tumors (DP). The diagnosis given will influence the patient's treatment and prognosis. Currently, a diagnosis of SPM or DP is made using histologic criteria, which are frequently unable to make a definitive diagnosis. Experimental Design: In this study, we used genetic profiling to make a genetic diagnosis of SPM or DP in 90 patients with synchronous ovarian/endometrial cancers. We compared genetic diagnoses in these patients with the original histologic diagnoses and evaluated the clinical outcome in this series of patients based on their diagnoses. Results: Combining genetic and histologic approaches, we were able make a diagnosis in 88 of 90 cases, whereas histology alone was able to make a diagnosis in only 64 cases. Patients diagnosed with SPM had a significantly worse survival than patients with DP (P = 0.002). Patients in which both tumors were of endometrioid histology survived longer than patients of other histologic subtypes (P = 0.025), and patients diagnosed with SPM had a worse survival if the mode of spread was from ovary to endometrium rather than from endometrium to ovary (P = 0.019). Conclusions: Genetic analysis may represent a powerful tool for use in clinical practice for distinguishing between SPM and DP in patients with synchronous ovarian/endometrial cancer and predicting disease outcome. The data also suggest a hitherto uncharacterized level of heterogeneity in these cases, which, if accurately defined, could lead to improved treatment and survival.
School Segregation in Metropolitan Regions, 1970–2000: The Impacts of Policy Choices on Public Education1

It has been argued that the effects of the desegregation of public schools from the late 1960s onward were limited and short‐lived, in part because of white flight from desegregating districts and in part because legal decisions in the 1990s released many districts from court orders. Data presented here for 1970–2000 show that small increases in segregation between districts were outweighed by larger declines within districts. Progress was interrupted but not reversed after 1990. Desegregation was not limited to districts and metropolitan regions where enforcement actions required it, and factors such as private schooling, district size, and inclusion of both city and suburban areas within district boundaries had stronger effects than individual court mandates.
Isolation of an Unidentified Agent from the Respiratory Tract of Chickens

A relatively stable filterable virus, not previously described, which hemagglutinated red blood cells of chickens, was isolated from the tracheae of birds suffering from an unusually severe outbreak of infectious laryngotracheitis. The latter disease concealed the infection caused by the new hemagglutinating agent, which was shown to cause, by itself, a mild and transient illness in susceptible chickens. Preliminary studies indicate that the new agent may be a new entity of the myxovirus group.
Sap flow measurement by a single thermal dissipation probe: exploring the transient regime

Abstract• In thermal dissipation method the stationary regime is used to estimate sap flow density from the temperature difference between a heating probe and a non-heating one. • A new approach, based on the non-stationary regime of a single heating probe, is investigated on an olive tree branch. Probe temperature is monitored for different flow densities and for heating and cooling modes. Measurement sequences of 10 min using 5 s time steps are made just after the heating is switched on or off. • Results show that temperature variation has a quasi-exponential phase whose duration decreases for increasing flow densities. Thermal indices using temperature of the probe measured at initial, final, and intermediate times ti were developed. Relationships between sap flow density and thermal indices were found to be linear for ti = 10 s−60 s with better coefficients of determination in cooling mode (R2 = 0.94–0.96) than in heating (R2 = 0.83–0.93). Validation tests confirmed the robustness of the single probe method with lowest error obtained for ti = 20 s. • Single probe method seems to be a promising technique to measure tree sap flow. Its application could be considered under cooling mode using ti = 20 s and relatively short measurement sequences e.g. 5–10 min.Résumé• La méthode de dissipation de chaleur utilise le régime stationnaire pour estimer la densité de flux de sève à partir de la température d’une sonde chauffée et une sonde non chauffée. • Une nouvelle approche exploitant le régime transitoire d’une seule sonde est testée sur une branche d’olivier. Des séquences de mesure de la température de la sonde sont réalisées pour différentes densités de flux. Les mesures sont effectuées toutes les 5 s pendant les 10 min qui suivent la mise en route ou l’arrêt du chauffage. • La variation de la température présente une phase quasi-exponentielle de durée inversement proportionnelle à la densité de flux. Des indices thermiques utilisant les températures de la sonde aux instants initial, final et intermédiaire ti ont été développés. Les relations entre les densités de flux et ces indices sont de type linéaire pour ti = 10 s−60 s avec des coefficients de détermination plus élevés en refroidissement (R2 = 0.94−0.96) qu’en chauffage (R2 = 0.83–0.93). Un travail de validation a confirmé la robustesse de la méthode, l’optimum étant ti = 20 s. • La méthode de la sonde unique semble être une technique prometteuse pour mesurer le flux de sève des arbres. Son application est envisageable en mode refroidissement avec ti= 20 s et des séquences de mesure relativement courtes : 5–10 min.
A qualitative study of the service experiences of women with autism spectrum disorder

It is recognized that the experiences of women with autism spectrum disorder are often underrepresented in the literature. In this study, 20 women with autism spectrum disorder participated in five focus groups with discussions centered on their service use, unmet service needs, and barriers to care. Overall, women emphasized high unmet service needs, particularly with respect to mental health concerns, residential supports, and vocational and employment services. Participants also perceived many service providers as disregarding or misunderstanding women’s service needs. Findings of the current exploratory study are discussed in relation to areas of future research required to ensure effective care for this understudied population.
Casein kinase II phosphorylates the eukaryote‐specific C‐terminal domain of topoisomerase II in vivo.

The decatenation activity of DNA topoisomerase II is essential for viability as eukaryotic cells traverse mitosis. Phosphorylation has been shown to stimulate topoisomerase II activity in vitro. Here we show that topoisomerase II is a phosphoprotein in yeast and that the level of incorporated phosphate is significantly higher at mitosis than in G1. Comparison of tryptic phosphopeptide maps reveals that the major phosphorylation sites in vivo are targets for casein kinase II. Incorporation of phosphate into topoisomerase II is nearly undetectable at the non‐permissive temperature in a conditional casein kinase II mutant. The sites modified by casein kinase II are located in the extreme C‐terminal domain of topoisomerase II. This domain is absent in prokaryotic and highly divergent among eukaryotic type II topoisomerases, and may serve to regulate functions of topoisomerase II that are unique to eukaryotic cells.
Mass-mediated sex differences in climbing patterns support the gravity hypothesis of sexual size dimorphism

The gravity hypothesis of sexual size dimorphism can explain the patterns of extreme sexual size dimorphism in spiders (males smaller than females) because small males climb faster and therefore may be better at reaching females that live in high habitats. Recently, the main prediction of a negative relationship between climbing speed and body size in spiders has been called into question. Here we induced males and females of the spider Leucauge venusta (Tetragnathidae) to run on vertical surfaces and found partial support for the gravity hypothesis. As predicted, males climb faster than females and we demonstrated that this effect is an indirect effect mediated by the negative relationship between body mass and climbing speed. We validate our results using simulated data showing that there is enough statistical efficiency in our data set to support our conclusions. We distinguished between direct and indirect effects (through mass) on sex differences in climbing speed by means of path analysis. Thus, we provide empirical evidence that by being smaller, males are able to climb faster than females. However, we found only a barely significant negative relationship between climbing speed and body size when only males were considered. Reasons for such results are discussed within the text.