Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Modified open stub multi-resonator based chipless RFID tag

A planar, fully printable, frequency signature based multi-resonator circuit for chipless RFID transponder system and swipe card is presented. The amplitude and/or group delay of the spectral signature are utilized for the chipless tag or swipe card multi-resonator circuit, providing a 1:1 correspondence of data bits. It comprises of a bifurcated microstrip transmission line meeting at the far end within which the open circuited shunt stub multiresonators are positioned. The developed structure can be used effectively as a swipe card. The application of the proposed circuit together with its cross-polarized transmitting and receiving microstrip ultra-wideband disc loaded monopole antennas for RFID transponder system is also presented. The experimental and simulated results in support of the potentials of the chipless tag for low cost item tagging such as bank notes and secured documents are explained in this paper. The circuit is having high quality factor and has a very small footprint of 24×10mm2.
Enzymatic Improvement in the Polyphenol Extractability and Antioxidant Activity of Green Tea Extracts

This study describes increases in extraction efficiency and the bioconversion of catechins after treatment with several commercial enzymes. Tannase was also used to improve the anti-radical activities of green tea extracts. Enzymatic treatment with various commercial enzymes was introduced to improve the extraction efficiency of polyphenols. The total polyphenol, flavonoid, and catechin contents and the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity of the green tea extract treated with Viscozyme (VG) were significantly higher than those treated with other commercial enzymatic extractions (p<0.05). More than 95% of the epigallocatechingallate (EGCG) and of the epicatechingallate (ECG) was hydrolyzed to epigallocatechin (EGC) and to epicatechin (EC) in successive 20 min treatments with Viscozyme and tannase (TG). Due to its hydrolytic activity, treatment involving tannase resulted in a significant release of gallic acid (GA), EGC, and EC, leading to greater radical scavenging activities. Regarding the IC(50) values of the DPPH and 2,2-azino-di-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radicals, the green tea extract treated with TG showed values of 131.23 and 28.83 µg/mL, VG showed values of 224.70 and 32.54 µg/mL, and normal green tea extract (NG) showed values of 241.11 and 66.27 µg/mL, respectively. These results indicate that successive treatment with Viscozyme and tannase improves the extraction efficiency of polyphenols and increases radical scavenging activities.
Organizational Buyers' Adoption and Use of B2B Electronic Marketplaces: Efficiency- and Legitimacy-Oriented Perspectives

Despite the significant opportunities to transform the way that organizations conduct trading activities, few studies have investigated the impetus for organizational strategic moves toward business-to-business (B2B) electronic marketplaces. Drawing on transaction cost theory and institutional theory, this paper identifies two groups of factors—efficiency- and legitimacy-oriented factors, respectively—that can influence organizational buyers' initial adoption of, and the level of participation in, B2B e-marketplaces. The effects of these factors on initial adoption of and participation level in B2B e-marketplaces are empirically tested with data collected, respectively, from 98 potential adopter and 85 current adopter organizations. The results of a partial least squares analysis of the data indicate that the two groups of factors exhibit different patterns in explaining initial adoption in the preadoption period and participation level in the postadoption period. Specifically, all three of the efficiency-oriented factors investigated in this study—product characteristics, demand uncertainty, and market volatility—and their subconstructs exhibit a significant influence on adoption intent or participation level, or both. The results demonstrate that two legitimacy-oriented factors—mimetic pressures and normative pressures—and their subconstructs have a significant impact on adoption intent, but not on participation level. Our findings also indicate that clearly different patterns exist between the two groups of factors in explaining adoption intent and participation level.
Clinical and radiological outcome after mechanical thrombectomy in acute ischemic stroke: What matters?

Objective Recent studies have shown the efficacy of mechanical thrombectomy in acute ischemic stroke. We sought to identify prognostic parameters for clinical and radiological outcome after mechanical thrombectomy. Methods In 34 patients (age 72 ± 13 years, 64.7% women) with acute occlusion of the distal ICA and/or M1 segment who were treated with mechanical thrombectomy, the Spearman correlation was performed to assess potential prognostic outcome parameters (age, NIHSS, ASPECT, thrombus length (TL), clot burden score (CBS), relative filling time delay (rFTD), time to recanalization (TTR) and TICI score). The modified Rankin scale (mRS) and the Alberta Stroke Program Early CT (ASPECT) score were used for clinical and radiological outcome, respectively. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed to assess parameters predicting favorable clinical (ΔmRS ≤ 2) and radiological outcome (ΔASPECT ≤ 2). Results Variables associated with favorable clinical outcome included NIHSS, TL, TTR and TICI score (p ≤ 0.01) with NIHSS ≤ 15 (p = 0.001, area under the curve (AUC) 0.87), TL ≤ 2 cm (p = 0.017, AUC 0.75), TTR ≤ 231 min (p = 0.001 AUC 0.88) and TICI ≥ 2b (p = 0.050, AUC 0.70). Shorter TTR and higher TICI scores were associated with favorable radiological outcome (p < 0.001) with TTR ≤ 224 min (p = 0.023, AUC 0.77) and TICI ≥ 2b (p = 0.000, AUC 0.86). Conclusion Fast and complete recanalization is essential to achieve a favorable radiological and functional outcome after mechanical thrombectomy in acute ischemic stroke. Age, CBS and collateral supply play a subordinate role.
Citation Analysis Of Undergraduate Law Projects in Faculties of Law Libraries in Anambra and Enugu States of Nigeria

Mainly this study sought to find out primary sources of law undergraduate law students cite in their research projects. It also sought to ascertain most frequently cited sources as well as their availability in faculty of law libraries in Anambra and Enugu States of Nigeria. Five research questions guided the study. The research design was a survey. A total of 543 projects were used for the study. Instrument for data collection were checklist and interview. Data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics of frequencies and percentages to answer research questions 1,2 and 3. Responses from the law librarians in research questions 4 and 5 were qualitatively analysed. Findings of the study revealed that most of the information sources cited were not available in the four law libraries studied. Problems which impinge on the provision and availability of these resources were highlighted. Finally strategies that will enhance the availability and use of these information sources in faculty of law libraries in Anambra and Enugu States of Nigeria were recommended.
Failure Mechanisms in MEMS Based Silicon Carbide High Temperature Pressure Sensors

The paper reports recent results of the long term reliability evaluation of single crystal silicon carbide (SiC) piezoresistive pressure sensors operated up to 500 degC. In-depth failure analysis was performed to identify the mechanisms responsible for their failures. Accelerated stress test (AST) that was developed specifically for high temperature operating devices was initially performed to extract the stable operating parameters of the transducers, which allowed for extracting the operating parameters. After the AST that included several hours of cyclic pressure and temperature excursions, the recorded maximum drift of the zero pressure offset voltage at room temperature, VOZ(25 degC), was 1.9 mV, while the maximum drift at 500 degC was 2.0 mV. The maximum recorded drift of the full-scale pressure sensitivity after ten hours of thermal cycling at 500 degC was plusmn1 muV/V/psi. In all cases, the observed failures during field validation were associated with the detachment of the Au die-attach from the sensor bondpads.
Computationally implementable sufficient conditions for the synchronisation of coupled dynamical systems with time delays in the coupling

Understanding the mechanisms behind synchronisation of coupled systems is important in biology, chemistry, physics and engineering. For example, research on the synchronisation of coupled circadian clocks is of much importance to better understand many different disease states. Or, different applications in engineering require certificates for synchronised behaviour between the different coupled subsystems. Such systems could correspond to tethered space vehicles or to vehicles in formation flight. In this paper, we provide sufficient conditions for the synchronisation of coupled identical nonlinear dynamical systems with time delays in the coupling, which makes the modelling more realistic. Importantly, the conditions can be efficiently checked using semi-definite programming techniques, which we illustrate through applications.
Interleukin‐6 Up‐Regulates the Oxytocin Receptor in Cultured Uterine Smooth Muscle Cells

PROBLEM: Intra‐uterine infection results in the production of inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin‐6 (IL‐6). Increased oxytocin‐receptor (OTR) concentrations are associated with the onset of preterm labor. We hypothesize that infection up‐regulates OTR expression through IL‐6‐induced transcription factors. METHOD OF STUDY: Primary cultures of human myometrium were treated for various time periods or with different concentrations of IL‐6 and OTR mRNA as well as OTR binding were measured by means of reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and I‐ornithine‐vasotocin‐binding assay. To study underlying mechanisms of OTR changes with IL‐6 treated, cells were also incubated with genistein or H7 (tyrosine and serine phosphorylation inhibitors), respectively. RESULTS: OTR mRNA increased 2.5‐fold after 4 hr of IL‐6 treatment and OTR binding 1.4‐fold after 8 hr of cytokine stimulation. The IL‐6‐induced increase in binding was blocked by genistein and H7. CONCLUSIONS: IL‐6 up‐regulates uterine OTR mRNA expression and binding capacity in cultured human myocytes most likely through tyrosine and serine phosphorylation pathways involving the nuclear factor STAT‐3.
Two-dimensional differential in-gel electrophoresis proteomic approaches reveal urine candidate biomarkers in pediatric obstructive sleep apnea.

RATIONALE Sleep studies are laborious, expensive, inaccessible, and inconvenient for diagnosing obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in children. OBJECTIVES To examine whether the urinary proteome uncovers specific clusters that are differentially expressed in the urine of children with OSA. METHODS Two-dimensional differential in-gel electrophoresis (2D-DIGE) and mass spectrometry proteomics followed by validation with western blot of ELISA. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Morning urine proteins from 60 children with polysomnographically confirmed OSA and from matched children with primary snoring (n = 30) and control subjects (n = 30) were assessed. A total of 16 proteins that are differentially expressed in OSA were identified, and 7 were confirmed by either immunoblots or ELISA. Among the latter, receiver-operator curve analyses of urinary concentrations of uromodulin, urocortin-3, orosomucoid-1, and kallikrein assigned favorable predictive properties to these proteins. Furthermore, combinatorial approaches indicated that the presence of values beyond the calculated cutoff concentrations for three or more of the proteins yielded a sensitivity of 95% and a specificity of 100%. CONCLUSIONS Proteomic approaches reveal that pediatric OSA is associated with specific and consistent alterations in urinary concentrations of specific protein clusters. Future studies aiming to validate this approach as a screening method of habitually snoring children appears warranted.
Outcomes and prognostic factors of surgical treatments for brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome in 3 breeds

OBJECTIVE To determine prognostic indicators for the surgical treatment of brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS) and to compare the prognosis of 2 multilevel surgical procedures. STUDY DESIGN Prospective clinical study. SAMPLE POPULATION Client-owned pugs, French bulldogs, and bulldogs (n = 50). METHODS Noninvasive whole-body barometric plethysmography (WBBP) was used to assess respiratory function before, 1 month and 6 months after upper airway corrective surgery. Postoperatively, BOAS indices (ie, ascending severity score generated from WBBP data, 0%-100%) that equaled to or exceeded the cut-off values of BOAS in the diagnostic models were considered to have a "poor prognosis. " A multivariate logistic regression was used to assess predictors for prognosis. RESULTS The median BOAS indices decreased after surgery (from 76% to 63%, P < .0001), although dogs with indices in this range would still be considered clinically affected. Age (odds ratios [OR] = 0.96, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.93-0.99, P < .05), body condition (OR = 0.06, 95% CI: 0.01-0.39, P < .01), laryngeal collapse (OR = 6.1, 95% CI: 1-37.22, P < .05), and surgical techniques (OR = 7.94, 95% CI: 1.17-54.01, P < .05) were associated with postoperative prognosis. The multivariate model suggests modified multilevel surgery (MMS) may have a better outcome than traditional multilevel surgery (TMS) (P = .034). The positive predictive value of the logistic model was 84% (95% CI: 68-94%) and the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was 89% (95% CI: 78-99%, P <.0001). CONCLUSIONS Younger age, normal body condition, presence of laryngeal collapse, and treatment with TMS were negative prognostic factors after surgical treatment of BOAS. MMS is recommended, particularly in dogs with a higher probability of poor prognosis.
When Proteomics Reveals Unsuspected Roles: The Plastoglobule Example

Plastoglobules are globular compartments found in plastids. Before initial proteomic studies were published, these particles were often viewed as passive lipid droplets whose unique role was to store lipids coming from the thylakoid turn-over, or to accumulate carotenoids in the chromoplasts. Yet, two proteomic studies, published concomitantly, suggested for the first time that plastoglobules are more than “junk cupboards” for lipids. Indeed, both studies demonstrated that plastoglobules do not only include structural proteins belonging to the plastoglobulin/fibrillin family, but also contain active enzymes. The specific plastoglobule localization of these enzymes has been confirmed by different approaches such as immunogold localization and GFP protein fusions, thus providing evidence that plastoglobules actively participate in diverse pathways of plastid metabolism. These proteomic studies have been the basis for numerous recent works investigating plastoglobule function. However, a lot still needs to be discovered about the molecular composition and the role of plastoglobules. In this chapter, we will describe how the proteomic approaches have launched new perspectives on plastoglobule functions.
Risk factors for lower extremity injuries among male marathon runners

The aim of this study is to identify risk factors for lower extremity injuries in male marathon runners. A random sample of 1500 recreational male marathon runners was drawn. Possible risk factors were obtained from a baseline questionnaire 1 month before the start of the marathon. Information on injuries sustained shortly before or during the marathon was obtained using a post‐race questionnaire. Of the 694 male runners who responded to the baseline and post‐race questionnaire, 28% suffered a self‐reported running injury on the lower extremities in the month before or during the marathon run. More than six times race participation in the previous 12 months [odds ratio (OR) 1.66; confidence interval (CI) 1.08–2.56], a history of running injuries (OR 2.62; CI 1.82–3.78), high education level (OR 0.73; CI 0.51–1.04) and daily smoking (OR 0.23; CI 0.05–1.01) were associated with the occurrence of lower extremity injuries. Among the modifiable risk factor studies, a training distance <40 km a week is a strong protective factor of future calf injuries, and regular interval training is a strong protective factor for knee injuries. Other training characteristics appear to have little or no effect on future injuries.
Abnormal desmin protein in myofibrillar myopathies caused by desmin gene mutations

Muscle proteins were extracted in various sodium dodecyl sulfate buffers from 6 patients with myofibrillar myopathy (MFM) and previously identified with mutations in the desmin gene (desmin myopathy; DesM), 6 with MFM without mutations, and 14 disease controls to search for alterations in biochemistry and solubility of mutated desmin filaments. In the 1% posthigh‐speed pellet fraction, desmin was detected with immunoblots only in DesM and not the other MFM. We conclude that mutant desmin forms insoluble aggregates that are specific for the DesM and can be detected with Western blots. Ann Neurol 2001;49:533–536
Basophil histamine release and lymphocyte proliferation tests in latex contact urticaria

Basophil histamine release and lymphocyte proliferation tests were examined with latex allergen prepared from surgical gloves in 15 patients with latex contact urticaria. The basophil histamine release test (BHRT) yielded positive results in 13/14 (93%) patients, whereas commercial latex RAST was positive in only 9/15 (60%) patients. Lymphocyte proliferation test (LPT) was positive in 3/15 (20%) patients, suggesting that cell‐mediated immune reactions may also occur in latex allergy. However, patch tests to latex were negative and neither were epidermal Langerhans cells able to present latex antigen to T lymphocytes in vitro.
Optimal Bidding Strategies for Hydro-Electric Producers: A Literature Survey

In a competitive environment with bid-based markets, power generation companies desire to develop bidding strategies that maximize their revenue. In this paper we ask: What approaches and methodologies have been used to model the bidding problem for hydro-electric producers? We present the problem's developments over time and, through reviewing different variants of the problem, progressively build to the case in which the agent is a price-maker hydro-electric producer. In each variant of the bidding problem, we examine how the approaches used to solve it may or may not be applicable to other variants. Last, for the price-maker hydro-electric producer's bidding problem, we recognize the most recent developments and illuminate a path for future efforts.
Conserved and divergent patterns of Reelin expression in the zebrafish central nervous system

The protein Reelin is suggested to function in cell–cell interactions and in mediating neuronal migrations in layered central nervous system structures. With the aim of shedding light on the development of the teleost telencephalon, which forms through the process of eversion and results in the formation of a nonlaminar pallium, we isolated a zebrafish ortholog of the reelin gene and studied its expression in developing and adult brain. The pattern of expression is highly dynamic during the first 24–72 hours of development. By 5 days postfertilization, high amounts of reelin mRNA are found in the dorsal telencephalon, thalamic and hypothalamic regions, pretectal nuclei, optic tectum, cerebellum, hindbrain, reticular formation, and spinal cord, primarily confined to postmitotic neurons. This pattern persists in 1‐ to 3‐month‐old zebrafish. This study, together with reports on reelin expression in other vertebrates, shows that reelin mRNA distribution is conserved in many regions of the vertebrate brain. A major exception is that reelin is expressed in the majority of the cells of the dorsal regions of the everted telencephalon in zebrafish embryos, whereas it is restricted to specific neuronal populations in the developing telencephalon of amniotes. To better understand the origin of these differences, we analyzed reelin expression in the telencephalon of an amphibian. Telencephalic reelin expression in Xenopus laevis shows more similarities with the sauropsidian than with the teleostean pattern. Thus, the differences in the telencephalic expression of reelin between teleosts and tetrapods are likely to be due to different roles for Reelin during eversion, a process that is specific for the teleost telencephalon. J. Comp. Neurol. 450:73–93, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Can a test for E6/E7 transcripts of human papillomavirus type 16 serve as a diagnostic tool for the detection of micrometastasis in cervical cancer?

Tissue from 11 cases of cervical cancer positive for human papillomavirus (HPV) type 16 DNA and 69 pelvic lymph nodes from the same patients were examined for HPV 16 DNA and mRNA from the E6/E7 genes. Five of the tumors were squamous, 3 adeno‐ and 3 adenosquamous carcinoma. From the primary tumors and the extirpated lymph nodes DNA and RNA or mRNA was subjected to PCR and RT‐PCR. Three transcription profiles (only E6*1, E6*1 and E6*11 or full‐length E6‐E7 plus both of the spliced transcripts) were found in all of the 11 HPV 16 DNA‐positive primary tumors. From the total of 69 lymph nodes analyzed 28 were positive for mRNA. HPV 16 DNA was found in 7 additional samples. Cytokeratin was found in 19 of these lymph nodes, indicating epithelial origin of tumor cells. Only 1 patient had 2 metastases evidenced by histology. These were both positive for HPV DNA and mRNA. The finding of HPV DNA, mRNA and cytokeratin in lymph nodes of patients with cervical cancer should be an indication of lymphogenically driven micrometastases of the tumor. The HPV mRNA assay should offer higher specificity than the DNA test since mRNA can be found in live cells only, while HPV DNA also can originate from dead cell material sequestered in the lymph nodes. © 1995 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Systemic disorders in patients with periodontal disease.

BACKGROUND, AIMS Over the past 10 years several studies have been published pointing towards a relationship between periodontal disease and various systemic disorders or diseases. The purpose of this retrospective study was to investigate the occurrence of self-reported systemic disorders in patients referred to a specialist clinic for periodontal treatment and to explore possible relationships between general health and periodontal disease severity in this population. MATERIAL AND METHODS Data were collected from the dental records and the health questionnaires of 1006 subjects. Stepwise multiple linear regression analyses were adopted to calculate correlations between systemic disorders as independent variables and number of remaining teeth and the relative frequency of periodontal pockets of 5 mm or more, respectively, as the dependent variable. RESULTS The number of remaining teeth was significantly and positively correlated to the presence of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and rheumatoid disease after adjustment for age, sex and smoking. The relative frequency of diseased sites, however, was not significantly correlated to any one of the investigated systemic health disorders. CONCLUSION No significant associations between investigated systemic disorders and periodontal disease severity were found if the relative frequency of deep periodontal pockets was used as the clinical parameter for periodontal disease severity. However, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and rheumatoid disease were found to be significantly correlated to number of lost teeth, which may represent one aspect of periodontal health. This result held true in nonsmokers only.