Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An Active Trap Filter for Switching Harmonic Attenuation of Low-Pulse-Ratio Inverters

Switching harmonic attenuation has always been challenging for inverters used in high-power conversion applications, where ratio of switching to fundamental frequency is low. Addition of multiple LC-trap filters is no doubt a feasible cost-effective method, which has increasingly been used, but generally susceptible to filter parameter variations and harmonic resonances. This paper hence presents an alternative active trap filter (ATF), based on a series-LC-filtered inverter, for attenuating switching harmonics in a flexible, while yet not cost burdensome, approach. A direct impedance synthesis method has also been proposed for the ATF to better enforce its active switching harmonic bypassing ability. Compared with conventional schemes for controlling active power filters, the proposed method is more readily implemented, since it requires neither current reference generation nor high-bandwidth current control loop. Moreover, the use of a series LC filter at its ac side helps the ATF to reduce its inverter voltage and power ratings. Compensated frequency range of the ATF can hence be enlarged by using a comparably higher switching frequency and a proper step-by-step design procedure to be presented in this paper. Simulation and experimental results have confirmed the design procedures, and hence expected performance of the ATF.
Aarskog–Scott syndrome: Clinical update and report of nine novel mutations of the FGD1 gene

Mutations in the FGD1 gene have been shown to cause Aarskog–Scott syndrome (AAS), or facio‐digito‐genital dysplasia (OMIM#305400), an X‐linked disorder characterized by distinctive genital and skeletal developmental abnormalities with a broad spectrum of clinical phenotypes. To date, 20 distinct mutations have been reported, but little phenotypic data are available on patients with molecularly confirmed AAS. In the present study, we report on our experience of screening for mutations in the FGD1 gene in a cohort of 60 European patients with a clinically suspected diagnosis of AAS. We identified nine novel mutations in 11 patients (detection rate of 18.33%), including three missense mutations (p.R402Q; p.S558W; p.K748E), four truncating mutations (p.Y530X; p.R656X; c.806delC; c.1620delC), one in‐frame deletion (c.2020_2022delGAG) and the first reported splice site mutation (c.1935+3A>C). A recurrent mutation (p.R656X) was detected in three independent families. We did not find any evidence for phenotype–genotype correlations between type and position of mutations and clinical features. In addition to the well‐established phenotypic features of AAS, other clinical features are also reported and discussed. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Presence of brown adipocytes in retroperitoneal fat from patients with benign adrenal tumors: relationship with outdoor temperature.

CONTEXT Brown adipose tissue (BAT) is a metabolically highly active organ with increased thermogenic activity in rodents exposed to cold temperature. Recently its presence in the cervical adipose tissue of human adults and its association with a favorable metabolic phenotype have been reported. OBJECTIVE The objective of the study was to determine the prevalence of retroperitoneal BAT in human adults. DESIGN This was an observational cohort study. SETTING The study was conducted at a tertiary referral hospital. PATIENTS Fifty-seven patients who underwent surgery for benign adrenal tumors were included in this study. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Prevalence of retroperitoneal BAT adjacent to the removed adrenal tumor as determined by uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) protein and mRNA expression was measured. RESULTS Using protein and mRNA expression analysis, we detected UCP1 protein in 26 of 57 patients (45.6%) as well as high mRNA expression of genes characteristic for brown adipocytes, independent of the adrenal tumor type. The presence of brown adipocytes within the retroperitoneal fat was associated with a significantly lower outdoor temperature during the month prior to surgery. Importantly, UCP1 expression on both mRNA and protein level was inversely correlated to outdoor temperature, whereas body mass index, sex, age, and diabetes status were not. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that human retroperitoneal adipose tissue can acquire a BAT phenotype, thereby adapting to environmental challenges. These adaptive processes might provide a valuable therapeutic target in the treatment of obesity and insulin resistance.
Nutritional strategies to support concurrent training

Abstract Concurrent training (the combination of endurance exercise to resistance training) is a common practice for athletes looking to maximise strength and endurance. Over 20 years ago, it was first observed that performing endurance exercise after resistance exercise could have detrimental effects on strength gains. At the cellular level, specific protein candidates have been suggested to mediate this training interference; however, at present, the physiological reason(s) behind the concurrent training effect remain largely unknown. Even less is known regarding the optimal nutritional strategies to support concurrent training and whether unique nutritional approaches are needed to support endurance and resistance exercise during concurrent training approaches. In this review, we will discuss the importance of protein supplementation for both endurance and resistance training adaptation and highlight additional nutritional strategies that may support concurrent training. Finally, we will attempt to synergise current understanding of the interaction between physiological responses and nutritional approaches into practical recommendations for concurrent training.
Retirement, Pension Eligibility and Home Production

I estimate the effect of retirement on housework by exploiting the discontinuity in pension eligibility generated by the Italian social security rules. Using microdata from the 2007 wave of the Survey on Income and Living Conditions (SILC), I show that women increase their time spent on home production by more than 400 minutes per week. For men, there is on average no evidence of a significant change, which differs from the results of studies in other countries. However, estimates are heterogeneous by marital status, suggesting that married men do not increase time spent on household production because they can rely on their spouses. I also discuss other possible explanations, in particular men dedicating their time to ‘semi-leisure chores’ that do not fall under the definition of housework used in SILC. Overall, results suggest that retirement does not lead to a more equal distribution of ‘core’ household chores between genders.
Cohort study of Anticoagulation Self-Monitoring (CASM): a prospective study of its effectiveness in the community

Background Trials show that oral anticoagulation therapy (OAT) substantially reduces thromboembolic events without an increase in major haemorrhagic events, but it is not known whether these results translate into routine practice. Aim To estimate the current levels of control and adverse events in patients self-monitoring OAT, explore the factors that predict success, and determine whether the level of side effects reported from randomised controlled trials are translated to a non-selected population. Design and setting Prospective cohort study in the UK. Method Participants were aged ≥18 years and registered with a GP. Main outcomes were the proportion of participants, over 12 months, who were still self-monitoring, had not experienced adverse events, and had achieved >80% of time in therapeutic range (TTR). Results In total, 296 participants were recruited; their median age was 61 years and 55.1% were male. Participants were predominately professional or held a university qualification (82.7%). At 12 months, 267 (90.2%) were still self-monitoring. Mean TTR was 75.3% (standard deviation 16.9). Six serious and two minor adverse events were reported by GPs. Only 45.9% of participants received any in-person training at the outset. Increased age (P = 0.027), general wellbeing (EQ-5D visual score, P = 0.020), and lower target international normalised range (INR, P = 0.032) were all associated with high (>80% TTR) levels of control. Conclusion The findings show that, even with little training, people on OAT can successfully self-monitor, and even self-manage, their INR. TTR was shown to improve with age. However, widespread use of self-monitoring of INR may be limited by the initial costs, as well as a lack of training and support at the outset.
A Risk Factor-based Predictive Model of Outcomes in Carotid Endarterectomy: The National Surgical Quality Improvement Program 2005–2010

Background and Purpose— Accurate knowledge of individualized risks and benefits is crucial to the surgical management of patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy (CEA). Although large randomized trials have determined specific cutoffs for the degree of stenosis, precise delineation of patient-level risks remains a topic of debate, especially in real world practice. We attempted to create a risk factor-based predictive model of outcomes in CEA. Methods— We performed a retrospective cohort study involving patients who underwent CEAs from 2005 to 2010 and were registered in the American College of Surgeons National Quality Improvement Project database. Results— Of the 35 698 patients, 20 015 were asymptomatic (56.1%) and 15 683 were symptomatic (43.9%). These patients demonstrated a 1.64% risk of stroke, 0.69% risk of myocardial infarction, and 0.75% risk of death within 30 days after CEA. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that increasing age, male sex, history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, myocardial infarction, angina, congestive heart failure, peripheral vascular disease, previous stroke or transient ischemic attack, and dialysis were independent risk factors associated with an increased risk of the combined outcome of postoperative stroke, myocardial infarction, or death. A validated model for outcome prediction based on individual patient characteristics was developed. There was a steep effect of age on the risk of myocardial infarction and death. Conclusions— This national study confirms that that risks of CEA vary dramatically based on patient-level characteristics. Because of limited discrimination, it cannot be used for individual patient risk assessment. However, it can be used as a baseline for improvement and development of more accurate predictive models based on other databases or prospective studies
Perioperative outcome of lung cancer surgery in women: results from a Spanish nationwide prospective cohort study.

Background To assess possible differences in the perioperative profile between men and women in lung cancer surgery. Methods A prospective cohort multicenter study was design, in which consecutive patients undergoing curative intent surgery for lung cancer in 24 Thoracic Services throughout Spain were included. Clinical features, tumor- and surgery-related data, postoperative complications, and mortality were recorded. Results There were 2,566 men and 741 women. Women were younger than men [mean (SD) age, 61.8 (10.8) vs. 66.5 (9.1) years, P<0.0001] and showed a more favorable preoperative characteristics, with significantly higher percentages of ECOG grade 0 and lower percentages of active smokers (28.4% vs. 33.9%; pack-years 18.8 vs. 26.9) and comorbidities [chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), diabetes, hypertension, cardiac disorders]. There were significant differences (P<0.001) in histological types and TNM stages with adenocarcinoma (70.1% vs. 46.4%) and IA stage (41.5% vs. 33.6%) more frequent in women. The use of VATS or thoracotomy was similar. The rate of pneumonectomy was higher in men (10.9%) than in women (5.1%) (P<0.001) but the distributions of other procedures were similar. Postoperative complications (pneumonitis, atelectasis, air leak, hemorrhage, fistula, empyema, wound dehiscence, and need of reintubation) were lower in women. Significant differences (P<0.0001) in the severity of postoperative complications (Clavien-Dindo classification) were also found, with higher percentages of grades I (51.6% vs. 43%) and II (37.5% vs. 33%) and lower percentages of grades III and IV among women. The mean length of hospital stay was 7.8 (7.1) days in men versus 6.3 (5.0) days in women, and the 30-day mortality rate 0.3% in women versus 2.9% in men (P<0.0001). The percentage of readmissions within 30 days after surgery was also higher in men (8.6% vs. 2.8%). Conclusions This multicenter nationwide study of lung cancer surgery with curative intent shows that the perioperative profile is better in women than in men.
Reversal of the silver inhibition of microorganisms by agar

Increasing use of silver in the treatment of water has necessitated an examination of microbiological methods for the measurement of silver inactivation of microorganisms. Three common agar media were tested for their ability to neutralize the bacteriostatic effects of silver. Results suggested that growth media differed in their neutralizing capacity; that is, the non-inhibitory media tryptone glucose agar and Trypticase soy agar showed more neutralizing capacity than eosin methylene blue agar. Furthermore, the neutralizing effect appeared to be a function of the soluble component of the media and not of the agar itself.
Seasonality of month of birth differs between type 1 diabetes patients with pronounced beta‐cell autoimmunity and individuals with lesser or no beta‐cell autoimmunity *

Objective: To establish whether children with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D) with signs of pronounced beta‐cell‐specific autoimmunity as reflected by high autoantibody titers or positivity for several beta‐cell‐specific autoantibodies show a different pattern of month of birth (MOB) compared with children with T1D and low beta‐cell autoimmunity and that of the general population.
Monoclonal Antibodies against the Fusion Peptide of Hemagglutinin Protect Mice from Lethal Influenza A Virus H5N1 Infection

ABSTRACT The HA2 glycopolypeptide (gp) is highly conserved in all influenza A virus strains, and it is known to play a major role in the fusion of the virus with the endosomal membrane in host cells during the course of viral infection. Vaccines and therapeutics targeting this HA2 gp could induce efficient broad-spectrum immunity against influenza A virus infections. So far, there have been no studies on the possible therapeutic effects of monoclonal antibodies (MAbs), specifically against the fusion peptide of hemagglutinin (HA), upon lethal infections with highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 virus. We have identified MAb 1C9, which binds to GLFGAIAGF, a part of the fusion peptide of the HA2 gp. We evaluated the efficacy of MAb 1C9 as a therapy for influenza A virus infections. This MAb, which inhibited cell fusion in vitro when administered passively, protected 100% of mice from challenge with five 50% mouse lethal doses of HPAI H5N1 influenza A viruses from two different clades. Furthermore, it caused earlier clearance of the virus from the lung. The influenza virus load was assessed in lung samples from mice challenged after pretreatment with MAb 1C9 (24 h prior to challenge) and from mice receiving early treatment (24 h after challenge). The study shows that MAb 1C9, which is specific to the antigenically conserved fusion peptide of HA2, can contribute to the cross-clade protection of mice infected with H5N1 virus and mediate more effective recovery from infection.
A Map of the Mouse Cyp3a Locus

The mouse Cyp3a locus on chromosome 5 was analyzed by the use of bacterial artificial chromosomes. Five out of the six known Cyp3a genes, Cyp3a11, Cyp3a13, Cyp3a16, Cyp3a25, Cyp3a41 and Cyp3a44 were found to be linked to each other, however, Cyp3a13, possibly because of a distant position from the main body of the locus was not. In the intergenic regions additional Cyp3a genomic sequences were identified providing evidence for duplication events within the locus. Moreover, a Cyp3a41 duplicated gene, Cyp3a41A, is expressed at significant levels as the corresponding mRNA can be detected in the EST database. In line, therefore, with the higher number of mouse versus human CYP3As, the mouse locus covers a larger chromosomal region and appears to be considerably more complex.
Competing for the centre ground the ideological bias on turnout

Esta tesis doctoral se centra en el estudio de la abstencion del centro. A pesar de que la literatura ha sugerido que la abstencion es mayor entre la izquierda, esta tesis muestra que el centro se abstiene mas, lo que supone una paradoja no estudiada hasta el momento. En este sentido, la literatura previa no ha identificado que el conocido como sesgo ideologico de la abstencion proviene del centro, y no de la izquierda. Ademas, los estudios del centro politico, enfocados en su mayoria desde la literatura downsiana (y, en concreto, del modelo espacial o de proximidad), han sugerido que el centro deberia votar mas como consecuencia de su capacidad para decidir el ganador de las elecciones. Asi, esta tesis doctoral supone el primer intento de estudiar un grupo clave de poblacion y su comportamiento, paradojico a la luz de los postulados establecidos desde un punto de vista teorico. Despues de argumentar la importancia del sesgo ideologico de la abstencion para la democracia y el correcto desarrollo del sistema, la tesis doctoral empieza testando la explicacion clasica, que argumenta que este sesgo es producto de la ausencia de sofisticacion politica. A traves de un analisis empirico, muestro que hay mas motivos que los convencionales y argumento que el rol de los partidos es un aspecto relevante para entender la abstencion de los centristas. En concreto, muestro que, teoricamente, podemos argumentar que la posicion ideologica de los partidos explica gran parte del comportamiento abstencionista de este importante grupo de poblacion. En este apartado, y mediante un analisis empirico, se analizan precisamente los efectos de la posicion ideologica de los partidos estudiando por un lado las diferencias en las tasas de abstencion entre paises y, por otro, la propension de los individuos centristas de abstenerse. El analisis muestra que la abstencion del centro puede explicarse, en gran parte, por elementos sistemicos partidistas, y sobretodo teniendo en cuenta la polarizacion y el numero efectivo de partidos. Ambos factores contribuyen a modificar la distancia entre partidos y ciudadanos de centro lo que explica por que los patrones de participacion de los centristas difieren del resto de posiciones ideologicas.
Structural analysis of a 3‐deoxy‐D‐arabino‐heptulosonate 7‐phosphate synthase with an N‐terminal chorismate mutase‐like regulatory domain

3‐Deoxy‐D‐arabino‐heptulosonate 7‐phosphate synthase (DAHPS) catalyzes the first step in the biosynthesis of a number of aromatic metabolites. Likely because this reaction is situated at a pivotal biosynthetic gateway, several DAHPS classes distinguished by distinct mechanisms of allosteric regulation have independently evolved. One class of DAHPSs contains a regulatory domain with sequence homology to chorismate mutase—an enzyme further downstream of DAHPS that catalyzes the first committed step in tyrosine/phenylalanine biosynthesis—and is inhibited by chorismate mutase substrate (chorismate) and product (prephenate). Described in this work, structures of the Listeria monocytogenes chorismate/prephenate regulated DAHPS in complex with Mn2+ and Mn2+ + phosphoenolpyruvate reveal an unusual quaternary architecture: DAHPS domains assemble as a tetramer, from either side of which chorismate mutase‐like (CML) regulatory domains asymmetrically emerge to form a pair of dimers. This domain organization suggests that chorismate/prephenate binding promotes a stable interaction between the discrete regulatory and catalytic domains and supports a mechanism of allosteric inhibition similar to tyrosine/phenylalanine control of a related DAHPS class. We argue that the structural similarity of chorismate mutase enzyme and CML regulatory domain provides a unique opportunity for the design of a multitarget antibacterial.
Women’s autonomy and social support and their associations with infant and young child feeding and nutritional status: community-based survey in rural Nicaragua

Abstract Objective To evaluate the associations of women’s autonomy and social support with infant and young child feeding practices (including consumption of highly processed snacks and sugar-sweetened beverages) and nutritional status in rural Nicaragua. Design Cross-sectional study. Feeding practices and children’s nutritional status were evaluated according to the WHO guidelines complemented with information on highly processed snacks and sugar-sweetened beverages. Women’s autonomy was assessed by a seventeen-item questionnaire covering dimensions of financial independence, household-, child-, reproductive and health-related decision making and freedom of movement. Women’s social support was determined using the Duke-UNC Functional Social Support Questionnaire. The scores attained were categorized into tertiles. Setting Los Cuatro Santos area, rural Nicaragua. Subjects A total of 1371 children 0–35 months of age. Results Children of women with the lowest autonomy were more likely to be exclusively breast-fed and continue to be breast-fed, while children of women with middle level of autonomy had better complementary feeding practices. Children of women with the lowest social support were more likely to consume highly processed snacks and/or sugar-sweetened beverages but also be taller. Conclusions While lower levels of autonomy and social support were independently associated with some favourable feeding and nutrition outcomes, this may not indicate a causal relationship but rather that these factors reflect other matters of importance for child care.
Solid lipid nanoparticle induced apoptosis of macrophages via a mitochondrial-dependent pathway in vitro and in vivo

Background and aims: Lipid nanoparticles (LNs) are widely applied in drug delivery systems because they can incorporate and stabilize lipophilic and hydrophilic molecules. LNs are generally considered quite safe and convenient for in vivo applications. However, we previously observed that certain types of LNs could cause a loss of Kupffer cells, a kind of resident macrophage in the liver. As a result, we investigated the details of this phenomenon. Methods: MTT assay, Annexin-V-FITC/PI double staining, JC-1 staining, flow cytometry, Western blot and transmission electron microscopy were used in cell-based experiments. Additionally, serum biochemical analyses, H&E staining and immunofluorescence staining were performed to detect the acute and chronic changes of tissue structure and the number of Kupffer cells in mouse liver tissue samples. Results: Application of LN depolarized and swelled the mitochondria of Raw264.7 cells, and disrupted the balance of Bax/Bcl-2. This led to cleavage and activation of caspase-3 and PARP, and then induced apoptosis of Raw264.7 cells. In addition, either acute or chronic applications of LN were sufficient to disrupt the structure of the hepatic portal vein and reduce the number of Kupffer cells in mice. Conclusions: LNs could induce apoptosis of macrophages through a mitochondrial-dependent pathway.