Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Airborne Lidar Measurements of a Smoke Plume Produced by a Controlled Burn of Crude Oil on the Ocean.

An airborne lidar was used to study the smoke plume from the burning of a controlled oil spill on the ocean. The ratio of the amount of light (at a wavelength, λ, of 0.532 u.m) backscattered by the smoke to the amount of light extinguished by the smoke was determined by measuring the strength of a laser beam after it had passed through the smoke plume, been reflected from the ocean, and passed through the smoke plume again, and comparing this to the strength of the laser beam reflected directly from the ocean. The optical depth of the smoke (at λ = 0.532 µm) was typically between 0.2 and 0.5. The mass fluxes of smoke particles that passed through four vertical cross sections of the (nonsteady state) smoke plume were estimated from lidar measurements to be 142, 175, 423, and 414 g s-1, compared to an average smoke mass production rate of ~770 g s-1. The spatial distribution of smoke mass along the long axis of the plume was also estimated from the lidar measurements; derived smoke mass concentrations were generally <300 µg m-3, with a few isolated values up to ~800 µg m-3.
[MAL gene is down-regulated substantially in human esophageal cancer].

OBJECTIVE To investigate the status of expression of MAL gene in human esophageal cancer. METHODS Expression of MAL gene was analyzed by Northern blot and/or RT-PCR in 41 pairs of human esophageal cancer tissues and matched adjacent normal mucosa, and three human esophageal cancer cell lines EC109, EC8712 and EC9706. MAL gene was analyzed by PCR in the three esophageal cancer cell lines. RESULTS MAL gene expression was down-regulated substantially or barely detectable in 93% (38/41) of human esophageal cancer tissues while expressed at high level in all matched adjacent normal esophageal mucosa. In all 3 human esophageal cancer cell lines, expression of MAL gene was not detectable. PCR analysis showed that the MAL gene fragment analyzed was intact in the three esophageal cancer cell lines. CONCLUSION Down-regulation of MAL gene expression is of frequent occurrence in human esophageal cancer.
Metabolic profile of 1,5‐diaminopentane producing Corynebacterium glutamicum under scale‐down conditions: Blueprint for robustness to bioreactor inhomogeneities

Performance losses during scale‐up are described since decades, but are still one of the major obstacles for industrial bioprocess development. Consequently, robustness to inhomogeneous cultivation environments is an important quality of industrial production organisms. Especially, Corynebacterium glutamicum was proven to have an outstanding resistance against rapid changes of oxygen and substrate availability as occurring in industrial scale bioreactors. This study focuses on the identification of metabolic key mechanisms for this robustness to get a deeper insight and provide future targets for process orientated strain development. A 1,5‐diaminopentane producing C. glutamicum strain was cultivated in a two compartment scale‐down device to create short‐term environmental changes simulating industrial scale cultivation conditions. Using multi omics based methods, it is shown, that central metabolism is flexibly rearranged under short‐term oxygen depletion and carbon source excess to overcome shortage in NAD+ recycling. In order to balance the redox state, key enzymes for the non‐oxygen dependent fermentative NAD+ regeneration were significantly up‐regulated while parts of non‐essential pathways were down‐regulated. The transfer of the cells back into the well aerated zones with low substrate concentration triggers an additional upregulation of genes for the re‐assimilation of previously formed side products, showing L‐lactate forming and utilizing reactions being active at the same time. Especially L‐lactate as reversible and flexible external buffer for carbon and redox equivalents puts C. glutamicum in a robust position to deal with inhomogeneity in large scale processes. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2017;114: 560–575. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Satisfaction and expectations of patients with inflammatory bowel disease on biologic therapy: a multicenter study

Background The satisfaction perceived by patients with chronic diseases affects clinical outcomes and healthcare costs. Some patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) develop a more severe form requiring biologic therapy. We assessed the quality of care perceived by IBD patients in dedicated centers. Methods This prospective, cross-sectional, multicenter study enrolled consecutive IBD patients who underwent biologic therapy in the participating centers. The nurses directly involved in the management of these patients explained the rationale of the survey, provided a specific questionnaire (CACHE), and collected data. The CACHE included 31 items structured in 6 domains: staff care, clinician care, center facilities, patient information, accessibility, and patient support. Patients’ satisfaction score for each domain ranged from 0 to 100%. Results Sixteen different Italian centers participated and a total of 450 patients were enrolled (283 with Crohn’s disease and 167 with ulcerative colitis). The overall score was 82.2±19.6, satisfaction with the clinicians care scoring the highest (87.6±3.2) and the information provided to the patient scoring the lowest (70.7±7.9). More specifically, it emerged that 5.2-19.5% of patients were unsatisfied with: 1) the communication between the IBD medical team and primary care physicians; 2) information received about the disease or patients’ associations; and 3) the accessibility of the center. Conclusion Although our data revealed an acceptably high rate of global satisfaction among IBD patients receiving biologic therapy, more effort should be made to improve patient information and communication between IBD teams, other specialists and primary care physicians.
Phonetic reflexes of morphological boundaries at a normal speech rate

Our production experiment in Scottish English revealed that the duration of a rhyme immediately followed by a Level II suffix such as –s (the 1 st person singular/plural/possessive suffix) and –t (the past tense suffix) was significantly longer than that of a monomorphemic counterpart. Such a durational difference between suffixed forms and monomorphemic forms was absent when the Level II suffix was –er (the agentive suffix) or –ing (the progressive suffix). Those results may indicate that morphological boundaries (i.e. stem-suffix boundaries) are not directly influencing acoustic duration adjustment and support a prosody-phonetics interface hypothesis that the phonetic component is only accessible to prosodic structure (but not to morpho-syntactic structure). We also found that the rhyme duration of suffixed forms was shorter than the duration of a comparable rhyme in two-word sequence forms. This result, however, does not necessarily refute a hypothesis that there is a lexical/prosodic word boundary at the stem-suffix boundary because the presence of the word boundary at the stem-suffix boundary still allows “polysegmental” shortening to be applied to a higher word that dominates both the stem and the suffix.
Low cost microstrip patch antenna array using planar waveguide technology for emerging millimeter-wave wireless communication

With rapidly increasing demand for bandwidth, and the recent advances in nano-metric Si-based integrated circuit technologies, millimeter-wave (mmW) systems are finding numerous commercial applications, which, unlike military and scientific usages, are extremely cost sensitive. A wide range of applications at mmW frequencies can be found in such area as wireless communications network (60 GHz) [1], automotive radar systems (79 GHz)[2], and passive mmW imaging (91GHz)[3]. Microstrip patch antenna (MPA) arrays are known to have advantages of low profile and ease of manufacturing. However, the efficiency of MPAs with large aperture is degraded due to feeding loss[4]. Recently, a low cost, high Q- factor planar feeding scheme using substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) has been reported [5]. The proposed design has promising characteristics including a high radiation efficiency. In this paper, a novel high radiation efficiency SIW-fed MPA array (SIW-MPA) is presented. Single element, series fed linear array 1×8, MPAs are designed at mmW- frequency range. The numerical results (simulations using HFSS) for the designed antennas are presented to characterize their performances.
An Analytical Model for False Turn-On Evaluation of High-Voltage Enhancement-Mode GaN Transistor in Bridge-Leg Configuration

Compared with the state-of-the-art Si-based power devices, enhancement-mode Gallium Nitride (E-mode GaN) transistors have better figures of merit and exhibit great potential in enabling higher switching frequency, higher efficiency, and higher power density for power converters. The bridge-leg configuration circuit, consisting of a controlling switch and a synchronous switch, is a critical component in many power converters. However, owing to the low threshold voltage and fast switching speed, E-mode GaN devices are more prone to false turn-on phenomenon in bridge-leg configuration, leading to undesirable results, such as higher switching loss, circuit oscillation, and shoot through. In order to expand gate terminal's safe operating margin without increasing reverse conduction loss during deadtime, negative gate voltage bias for turn-off and antiparallel diode could be applied to E-mode GaN device. In this paper, with consideration of strong nonlinearities in C–V and I–V characteristics of high-voltage (650 V) E-mode GaN transistors, analytical device models are first developed. Then, we develop an analytical circuit model that combines the circuit parameters with intrinsic characteristics of the high-voltage GaN transistor and antiparallel diode. Thus, key transient waveforms with regard to the false turn-on problem can be acquired, including displacement current and false triggering voltage pulse on gate terminal. The simulated waveforms are then verified on a testing board with GaN-based bridge-leg circuit. In contrast to piecewise switching process models and PSpice simulation, the proposed model exhibits outstanding performances. To provide design guidelines for mitigating false turn-on of GaN transistor, the impacts of different circuit parameters, along with the optimum negative gate voltage bias, are investigated based on the proposed model.
Biochemical and structural analyses of the extracellular matrix fibrils of Myxococcus xanthus

It is characteristic of myxobacteria to produce large amounts of extracellular material. This report demonstrates that this material in Myxococcus xanthus is fibrillar and describes the structure and chemical composition of the fibrils. The extracellular matrix fibrils are the mediators of cell-cell cohesion in M. xanthus. As such, the fibrils play an important role in the cell-cell interactions that form the basis for the social and developmental lifestyle of this organism. The fibrils are composed of protein and carbohydrate in a 1.0:1.2 ratio. Combined, the two fractions accounted for greater than 85% of the mass of isolated fibrils, and the fibrils were found to compose up to 10% of the dry weight of cells grown at high density on a solid surface. The polysaccharide portion of the fibrils was shown to be composed of five different monosaccharides: galactose, glucosamine, glucose, rhamnose, and xylose. Glucosamine, one of the component monosaccharides of the fibrils and a known morphogen for M. xanthus, inhibited cohesion to a level near that of Congo red (the positive control for cohesion inhibition). Glucose and xylose also inhibited cohesion but less than did glucosamine. Analysis of the morphology of the fibrils, the periodicities within the distribution of fibril diameters observed by field emission scanning electron microscopy, and the observation of fibrils on hydrated cells strongly suggested that the extracellular matrix of M. xanthus was indeed arranged as fibrils. Furthermore, results suggested that the fibrils were constructed as carbohydrate structures with associated proteins.
Daclizumab prevents acute rejection and improves patient survival post transplantation: 1 year pooled analysis

Abstract Daclizumab is a genetically engineered human IgG1 monoclonal antibody specific for the α chain of the IL-2 receptor. A pooled analysis of two randomized, double-blind studies was performed on the efficacy and safety of daclizumab in renal transplantation, given in addition to standard immunosuppression. Patients receiving their first cadaveric renal allograft were randomized to receive 5 doses of daclizumab (n = 267) or placebo (n = 268), starting pre-operatively. Acute rejection at 1 year occurred less frequently with daclizumab (n = 74, 27.7 %) than with placebo (n = 116, 43.3 %) (P = 0.0001). Fewer patients treated with daclizumab required anti-lymphocyte therapy for acute rejection (7.9 % vs. 15.3 %; P = 0.005). Mean cumulative doses of corticosteroids were lower with daclizumab (4133 mg) than with placebo (4562 mg). One year graft survival was 91.4 % with daclizumab, compared with 86.6 % on placebo (P = 0.065), with patient survival of 98.5 % and 95.1 % for daclizumab and placebo respectively (P = 0.022). Daclizumab was well tolerated. No increase in infectious episodes or lymphoproliferative disorders was observed with daclizumab. The incidence of cytomegalovirus infections was similar with daclizumab and placebo (15 % vs. 17.5 %). Therapy with daclizumab significantly reduces acute rejection in renal transplantation and improves patient survival without any increase in morbidity.
Prevalence of parkinsonism and Parkinson's disease in Europe: the EUROPARKINSON Collaborative Study. European Community Concerted Action on the Epidemiology of Parkinson's disease.

OBJECTIVES: To assess and compare the prevalence of parkinsonism and Parkinson's disease in five European populations that were surveyed with similar methodology and diagnostic criteria. METHODS: Joint analysis of five community surveys--Gironde (France), eight centres in Italy, Rotterdam (The Netherlands), Girona (Spain), and Pamplona (Spain)--in which subjects were screened in person for parkinsonism. Overall, these surveys comprised 14,636 participants aged 65 years or older. RESULTS: The overall prevalence (per 100 population), age adjusted to the 1991 European standard population, was 2.3 for parkinsonism and 1.6 for Parkinson's disease. The overall prevalence of parkinsonism for the age groups 65 to 69, 70 to 74, 75 to 79, 80 to 84, and 85 to 89 years was respectively, 0.9, 1.5, 3.7, 5.0, and 5.1. The corresponding age specific figures for Parkinson's disease were 0.6, 1.0, 2.7, 3.6, and 3.5. After adjusting for age and sex, the prevalence figures did not differ significantly across studies, except for the French study in which prevalence was lower. Prevalence was similar in men and women. Overall, 24% of the subjects with Parkinson's disease were newly detected through the surveys. CONCLUSIONS: Prevalence of both parkinsonism and Parkinson's disease increased with age, without significant differences between men and women. There was no convincing evidence for differences in prevalence across European countries. A substantial proportion of patients with Parkinson's disease went undetected in the general population.
On the k-Error Linear Complexity of pm -Periodic Binary Sequences

In this correspondence, we study the statistical stability properties of pm -periodic binary sequences in terms of their linear complexity and k-error linear complexity, where p is n prime number and 2 is a primitive root modulo p2. We show that their linear complexity and k-error linear complexity take a value only from some specific ranges. We then present the minimum value k for which the k-error linear complexity is strictly less than the linear complexity in a new viewpoint different from the approach by Meidl. We also derive the distribution of pm-periodic binary sequences with specific k-error linear complexity. Finally, we get an explicit formula for the expectation value of the k-error linear complexity and give its lower and upper bounds, when k les [p/2].
Case Study Research and Applications: Design and Methods

Recognized as one of the most cited methodology books in the social sciences, the Sixth Edition of Robert K. Yin's bestselling text provides a complete portal to the world of case study research. With the integration of 11 applications in this edition, the book gives readers access to exemplary case studies drawn from a wide variety of academic and applied fields. Ultimately, Case Study Research and Applications will guide students in the successful use and application of the case study research method.
Serum Neutrophil Gelatinase‐Associated Lipocalin and Interleukin‐18 as Predictive Biomarkers for Delayed Graft Function After Kidney Transplantation

Early biomarkers for acute kidney injury after kidney transplantation have been studied because delayed graft function (DGF) is associated with increased risk of acute rejection and graft loss. We investigated the usefulness of serum neutrophil gelatinase‐associated lipocalin (NGAL) and interleukin‐18 (IL‐18) for the prediction of DGF after kidney transplantation.
Economic Consequences of Venous Thromboembolism Following Major Orthopedic Surgery

BACKGROUND Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a frequent and potentially costly complication of major orthopedic surgery. OBJECTIVE To estimate the economic consequences of VTE following major orthopedic surgery. METHODS Using a large healthcare claims database, we identified all patients who underwent total hip replacement, major knee surgery, or hip fracture repair from January 1993 to December 1998. Patients with clinical VTE (cases) were identified based on a diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism within 90 days of surgery (index admission) and ≥1 prescription for warfarin or unfractionated heparin within 30 days of the date of initial VTE diagnosis. Each case was matched (using age and procedure type) to 2 randomly selected patients who did not have any claims for clinical VTE (matched controls). Utilization and billed charges were then examined over a 90-day period following admission. Cases were stratified based on whether VTE was first noted during the index admission or thereafter. RESULTS A total of 11 960 patients were identified who underwent total hip replacement, major knee surgery, or hip fracture repair (n = 3171, 3955, 4834, respectively). Over a 90-day period, 259 patients (2.2%) developed clinical VTE. Most cases (61.8%) occurred after hospital discharge. For patients with in-hospital VTE, mean length of stay for the index admission was 4.5 days longer than that of matched controls (11.1 vs 6.6); by day 90, there was a 5.4-day difference in total hospital days. Mean billed charges for the index admission were $17 552 higher ($52 037 vs $34 485); the difference rose to $18 834 by day 90 ($54 480 vs $35 646). For patients who developed clinical VTE following hospital discharge, there was a 3.4-day difference in total hospital days at day 90 (10.2 vs 6.8) as a result of readmissions for VTE; mean total billed charges at day 90 were $5765 higher ($41 411 vs $35 646) CONCLUSION Among patients who have undergone major orthopedic surgery, the economic consequences of VTE are substantial, regardless of the setting in which it occurs.
Postoperative radiation therapy for malignant tumors of minor salivary glands. Outcome and patterns of failure

Background. In the treatment of major salivary gland cancers, the addition of adjuvant postoperative radiation therapy for patients with high risk features has been shown to reduce the incidence of local failure. This retrospective study was done to determine the effectiveness of this approach for minor salivary gland cancers, to document patterns of failure, and to define prognostic variables for treatment outcome.
Cost-Effectiveness of Postnatal Home Nursing Visits for Prevention of Hospital Care for Jaundice and Dehydration

Objectives. (1) To describe the relationship between postnatal home nursing visitation and readmissions and emergency department (ED) visits for neonatal jaundice and dehydration in the first 10 days of life. (2) To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of providing home nursing visits after newborn discharge with specific attention to prevention of jaundice and dehydration that require hospital-based services. Methods. A retrospective analysis of a financial database allowed for review of the discharge disposition and subsequent care for all neonates who were born at a single center from January 2000 through December 2002. Financial data reflect reimbursement values and costs of care from the payers’ perspective at the single center. We performed a deterministic cost-effectiveness analysis using a decision tree that reflected the costs and probabilities of infants in each particular health state after nursery discharge. Results. A total of 73 (2.8%) of 2641 newborns who did not receive a home visit were readmitted to the hospital in the first 10 days of life with jaundice and/or dehydration compared with 2 (0.6%) of 326 who did receive a home visit. Similarly, 92 (3.5%) of 2641 newborns who were discharged without subsequent home nursing care had an ED visit for these reasons in the first 10 days of life compared with 0 (0%) of 326 who did have such a visit. Of infants who received a home visit, 324 (99.4%) of 326 did not require subsequent hospital services in this time period compared with 2497 (94.5%) of 2641 of those who did not receive a visit. After nursery discharge, the average cost per child who received a home health visit was $109.80 compared with $118.70 for each newborn who did not receive a visit. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of a routine home visit strategy compared with a no visit strategy was −$181.82. Conclusions. A home nursing visit after newborn nursery discharge is highly cost-effective for reducing the need for subsequent hospital-based services.
Observations on the incidence and aetiology of valvular endocarditis in broiler breeders and detection of a newly described taxon of Pasteurellaceae, Avibacterium endocarditidis

A total of 122 dead broiler breeders randomly selected from a flock showing normal production parameters and covering the age from 44 to 61 weeks were subjected to a comprehensive routine post-mortem examination including examination for lesions of endocarditis. Forty-two hens (34%) showed valvular endocarditis caused by Avibacterium endocarditidis (43%), Enterococcus faecalis (31%), Staphylococcus aureus (5%) and Streptococcus pluranimalium (5%), while growth was not obtained from 17% with the methods used for isolation. Gross lesions associated with the different bacterial pathogens did not allow separation according to pathogens involved. Port of entry and pathogenesis associated with the high prevalence of valvular endocarditis remained speculative. The present findings demonstrated the newly described species of Pasteurellaceae, Avibacterium endocarditidis associated with endocarditis in chickens and confirm previous observations on the prevalence of endocarditis in chickens, partly explaining the slightly increased mortality normally observed in broiler breeders during the last weeks of production.