Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Study of Annealing Temperature for Ni/Cu/Ag Plated Front Contact Single Crystalline Solar Cells

Ni/Cu/Ag contact formed by plating has continuously been studied as a future metallization technique of solar cells due to the lower cost of material and better electrical performance compared with the screen-printed Ag contact. For the metallization of samples, native oxide on a laser-patterned Si area was etched with a buffered oxide etch solution for uniform plating. A Ni seed layer for Cu plating was deposited by using alkaline electroless plating. Afterward, a Cu-Ag metal stack was plated by light-induced plating followed by annealing in a tube furnace with an N2 gas atmosphere. This annealing process forms NiSix, which enhances contact resistance and adhesion. However, Ni penetration through the emitter layer can produce shunting paths, which decrease cell performance. In this experiment, 2.6 N/mm was obtained as the highest adhesion result. In addition, voids that can degrade adhesion were observed at the interface of Cu-Ag due to the Kirkendall effect. According to the experiment's results, the suggestion of annealing condition was discussed to have good electrical and physical properties of plated Ni/Cu/Ag front contact.
Examination of peripheral blood smears: performance evaluation of a digital microscope system using a large‐scale leukocyte database

Sir, The analysis of blood morphology is of great diagnostic importance to the clinician. Manual morphological assessment using the microscope has been considered the gold standard for years but can be vulnerable to interobserver variability, is labor intensive, and requires highly and continuously trained personnel [1–3]. An exciting development in the field is the introduction of digital microscope (DM) systems. A DM ensures the constant presence of a morphological expert in the routine laboratory and enables the automated recognition of (pathological) cell types [3–5]. It was previously shown that the classification performance of the DM is equal to manual performance when classifying the five main peripheral blood cell classes (neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, and basophils) [3–9]. However, these studies either used a low number of samples and cells or did not include a combination of normal and abnormal peripheral blood smears (PBS) [3–9]. Several studies also compared the postclassification results (which include manual interference) with manual analysis preventing a clear view on the ability of the DM to correctly classify cells without manual interference [4, 6, 7]. Here, we present a largescale database of about 1.4 million leukocytes from both normal and abnormal PBS, pitting the DM’s preclassification performance against the gold standard.
Effect of Thirty Days of Creatine Supplementation with Phosphate Salts on Anaerobic Working Capacity and Body Weight in Men

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of 30 days of single-dose creatine supplementation with phosphate salts (CPS) on body weight (BW) and anaerobic working capacity (AWC) in men. Using a double-blind design, 32 men randomly received 1 serving of either CPS (5 g Cr + 4 g phosphate) (n = 17) or 20 g of dextrose as placebo (PL) (n = 15) for 30 days. AWC determined from the Critical Power Test and BW were measured at baseline, 10 days, 20 days, 30 days, and 10 days post-supplementation. Results (2 × 5 ANOVA) showed no significant differences between groups for AWC at any time point; however, BW was significantly increased at 10 days in the CPS group (1.0 kg) vs. PL (0.0 kg), and remained elevated for the duration of the study. These findings suggest that a single 5 g·d−1 dose of CPS for 30 days increases BW but is not effective for increasing AWC in men.
Treatment of dissecting aortic aneurysm and renin-induced hypertension with sodium nitroprusside.

Dissecting aortic aneurysm can be managed medically or surgically. Essentially medical treatment consists of lowering systemic blood pressure to reduce the risk of progression of the lesion. ' We report a patient with dissecting aneurysm treated medically in whom control of blood pressure was made particularly difficult by the development of an ischaemic kidney. The flexibility and potency of sodium nitroprusside considerably simplified management and contributed to a successful outcome.
Transplantation for myelodysplastic syndromes 2013

Purpose of reviewThe only current treatment capable of curing patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) is allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT). However, many MDS patients are older, often with substantial comorbid conditions, and the disease is heterogeneous. As a consequence, results of HCT vary considerably, and the practices of HCT for MDS are evolving. Recent findingsThe newly published modified International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS-R), developed for nontransplanted patients, also correlates with post-HCT outcome, with the patient's karyotype having the strongest impact. The presence of monosomal karyotype and various genetic and molecular markers have also been shown to have a prognostic value. The use of hypomethylating agents, before or after HCT, may reduce the post-HCT relapse risk or delay relapse. Low and reduced-intensity conditioning regimens have allowed to transplant growing numbers of older patients with MDS, and the development of novel regimens may lead to improved relapse-free survival even in patients with high-risk cytogenetics. The optimal stem cell source may differ for different patient populations and different disease risk categories. SummaryTransplant results for MDS have improved in recent years. Some patients even in the eighth decade of life have been transplanted successfully. Ongoing studies are aimed at further reducing transplant-related toxicity, graft-versus-host disease and post-HCT relapse.
Long-term health status and quality of life outcomes of lung transplant recipients.

STUDY OBJECTIVE Health status and quality of life (QOL) in lung transplant candidates and recipients were compared to determine the impact of transplantation, and whether recipients experience continued improvements in the years after transplant surgery. DESIGN Two patient groups, adult lung transplant candidates (n = 44) and adult lung transplant recipients (n = 54), completed self-report QOL questionnaires. Eighteen of the 54 recipients completed QOL questionnaires on two occasions, about 18 months apart, after lung transplant. The questionnaire included the Medical Outcome Study Health Survey (MOS 20) that assesses six dimensions of health-related QOL: physical, role and social function, mental health, health perceptions and bodily pain, as well as a self-report Karnofsky Index and other indicators of QOL. SETTING University medical center transplant service. RESULTS Compared with candidates, recipients reported higher levels of happiness and more satisfaction with their life and their health. They also reported better function on the Karnofsky Index and in every MOS 20 dimension (p < 0.0001), except pain. No significant differences were found in comparisons among recipients, grouped by the time since their transplant. Eighteen recipients completed two QOL questionnaires after transplant. No significant differences were found between the earlier (median, 11 months) and later (median, 29 months) QOL responses for this group overall. However, recipients (n = 5) who developed obliterative bronchiolitis between assessments showed decrements in their health-related QOL. Dimensions particularly affected were physical and social functioning and bodily pain. CONCLUSIONS Dramatic improvements in health status and QOL occur after successful lung transplant and remain stable over time. Obliterative bronchiolitis results in notable QOL reductions.
Pharmacological heterogeneity of the cloned and native human dopamine transporter: disassociation of [3H]WIN 35,428 and [3H]GBR 12,935 binding.

Controversy exists as to whether the functional state of the dopamine (DA) transporter is identical to sites mediating the specific binding of selective DA transporter radioligands. Therefore, we compared the pharmacological profile of numerous dopamine transport substrates and inhibitors on [3H]DA uptake with the binding of [3H]WIN 35,428 and [3H]GBR 12,935 to COS-7 cells transiently expressing the cloned human DA transporter. [3H]DA uptake and [3H]WIN 35,428 binding was specific, saturable, and to a single class of binding sites with an estimated Km/Vmax of approximately 2 microM and 6 pmol/min/10(5) cells for DA uptake and Kd/Bmax values of approximately 10 nM and 113 fmol/10(5) cells for [3H]WIN 35,428. [3H]DA uptake was inhibited in a concentration-dependent and uniphasic manner by dopaminergic agents with an appropriate rank order of potency for the DA transporter. Although most uptake blockers inhibited [3H]WIN 35,428 binding in a uniphasic manner, WIN 35,428, Lu 19,005, D-amphetamine, and DA clearly displayed the presence of both high and low affinity components. Comparison of the Ki values for the inhibition of [3H]DA uptake with [3H]WIN 35,428 binding reveals that, for uptake blockers and D-amphetamine, it is the high affinity component that shares pharmacological identity with effects on DA uptake (r = 0.9985), whereas for DA it is the low affinity site. In striking contrast, however, [3H]GBR 12,935 binding to COS-7 cells could not be made to exhibit a pharmacological profile indicative of the DA transporter and suggests that the site regulating functional [3H]DA uptake may not be identical with sites labeled by [3H]GBR 12,935 in these cells. Moreover, these sites appear unrelated to those previously described in native membranes as "piperazine acceptor" or P450 proteins. Comparison of Ki values and rank order of potency for the inhibition of [3H]WIN 35,428 or [3H]GBR 12,935 binding to human caudate membranes reveals pharmacological homology, but not identity, with that of the cloned DA uptake process. Taken together, these data suggest that 1) [3H]WIN 35,428 recognizes two sites of the DA transporter, of which only one appears to represent the functional state of the protein, and 2) [3H]WIN 35,428 and [3H]GBR 12,935 do not appear to bind the same functional form/state of the DA transporter. Whether the nonidentity of binding sites is a manifestation of some post-translational regulatory event (e.g., phosphorylation/accessory binding protein) or caused by the existence of multiple molecular forms of the DA transporter is currently unknown.
Temporal-spatial processing of a single speech reflection in normal-hearing and hearing-impaired listeners

Reflections and reverberation considerably affect speech recognition in rooms. Early reflections of the speech signal have mostly been found to enhance speech intelligibility [1, 2, 3, 4], while late reflections can have detrimental effects [4, 5]. A better understanding of the mechanisms underlying speech perception in noisy and reverberant conditions can be important for various practical investigations, e.g., the improvement of prediction models to be used in room design, de-reverberation and noise suppression algorithms, or the optimization of PA systems and loudspeakers configurations in rooms.
Absorption of Selenite and Selenomethionine from Ligated Digestive Tract Segments in Rats 1

Summary The absorption of selenium as sodium selenite or as selenomethionine was studied with ligated intestinal segments in rats. Essentially no absorption of either compound occurred from the stomach, whereas the greatest absorption occurred from the duodenum, with slightly smaller amounts from the jejunum or ileum.
Longitudinal study of bone mineral content in the lumbar spine, the forearm and the lower extremities after spinal cord injury

Abstract. Bone mineral content (BMC) of the lumbar spine, femoral neck and shaft, and proximal tibia was measured by dual photon absorptiometry in six men and two women after traumatic spinal cord injuries. In six of these patients, BMC of the distal forearm was measured as well. The patients were 18–49 years old at injury and had complete motor lesions from C7 to LI. All but one had some spasticity, and they all used a wheelchair. The initial BMC measurements were carried out from 9–167 days (median 43) post‐injury and followed up by 5–13 (median 8) measurements up to 31 ‐53 months (median 41) after the injury. BMC of the lumbar spine and distal forearm remained nearly unchanged in the whole period, and the measurements were within the normal range, except for the lumbar spine when Harrington rods in the scanned area induced high BMC values. In the lower extremities the BMC decreased after injury. New steady‐state levels for BMC were reached at 2 years post‐injury for the proximal tibia and the femoral neck at 40–50% and 60–70% respectively of normal values. For the femoral shaft the decrease in BMC was more slow and it seems that a steady‐state was not reached within our observation period for several of the patients.
UNAMBIGUOUS EVIDENCE FOR THE PARTICIPATION OF SINGLET OXYGEN ( 1 δ) IN PHOTODYNAMIC OXIDATION OF AMINO ACIDS

Abstract— A variety of experimental tests have been applied to the methylene‐blue‐sensitized photooxidation of amino acids to distinguish between singlet oxygen and non‐singlet oxidation mechanisms. Conventional flash photolysis and laser photolysis were used to measure the rate constants for the quenching of excited triplet sensitizer and singlet oxygen by the amino acids histidine. tryptophan and methionine and the nucleotide guanosine‐5′‐monophosphate. In the case of histidine, the rate constants alone rule out an oxidation mechanism involving direct reaction with excited dye. With the other amino acids, and with guanosine monophosphate, the oxidation rates might be accounted for by either mechanism. The inhibition of the photo‐oxidation of both tryptophan and methionine as well as histidine by the singlet‐oxygen quenchers N3− and tetramethylethylene suggests that these reactions occur via a singlet‐oxygen mechanism. A newly developed test of singlet oxygen reactions involving a comparison of photooxidation rates in normal and perdeuterated solvents has been used to establish that the photooxidation of tryptophan proceeds primarily by a singlet‐oxygen mechanism. These experiments appear to constitute the first proof that singlet oxygen is involved in the photooxidation of the three amino acids tryptophan, methionine and histidine.
Hepatitis C virus infection and new association with extrahepatic disease: multiple myeloma.

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Lifestyle and endometrial cancer risk: a cohort study from the Swedish twin registry

Case‐control studies of lifestyle factors have been inconclusive in the study of endometrial cancer, and prospective data are scarce. Our aim was to examine the associations of physical activity, weight and weight change, fruit, vegetable, and alcohol consumption, socio‐economic status, parity and presence of diabetes mellitus with the risk of endometrial cancer in a cohort study. In 1967, 11,659 women in the Swedish Twin Registry, born 1886–1925, answered a 107‐item questionnaire, including questions about diet, physical activity and other lifestyle factors. Complete follow‐up through 1992 was attained through record linkage to the Swedish Cancer and Death Registers. The relative risks for endometrial cancer were estimated in proportional hazards models that adjusted confidence limits for correlated outcomes. We observed 133 incident cases of endometrial cancer in the cohort. There was no clear pattern of risk over strata of alcohol or fruit and vegetable intake, although the data suggest an increased risk with very low fruit and vegetable intake. Increasing physical activity markedly decreased the risk of endometrial cancer (p for trend < 0.01), independently of weight and parity; the risk in the highest quartile, relative to the sedentary category, was 0.2 (95% CI 0.3–0.8). As expected, higher weight in middle age increased the risk (p for trend < 0.01), as did higher weight in early adulthood. Contrary to previous findings, weight gain did not have an effect independent of weight at enrollment. We did not find a genetic component to endometrial cancer. Our results confirm that environmental factors are the most important, especially physical activity, parity, and weight in young and middle age. Int. J. Cancer 82:38–42, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Identification of novel angiotensin‐converting enzyme‐inhibitory peptides from ovine milk proteins by CE‐MS and chromatographic techniques

In this report, we present the use of CE‐MS as complement to RP separation for the identification of novel angiotensin‐converting enzyme‐inhibitory (ACEI) peptides from a complex milk protein hydrolysate. As preliminary step, fast protein LC (FPLC) was used to isolate the different casein fractions from raw ovine milk. Enzymatic hydrolysis of these fractions was performed by using proteolytic enzymes of gastrointestinal origin. The most active hydrolysate, corresponding to κ‐casein hydrolyzed with pepsin, chymotrypsin, and trypsin, was fractionated by RP‐HPLC and the peptides contained in the active fractions were sequenced by CE coupled to IT‐MS (CE‐MS). The use of CE‐MS allowed the identification of short peptides with ACEI activity included in the scarcely retained fraction obtained by semipreparative RP‐HPLC. Among the identified peptides, those with hydrophobic or positively charged residues at the C‐terminal tripeptide were chemically synthesized to determine their ACEI activity. This procedure allowed us to identify four novel potent ACEI peptides from κ‐casein with sequences IAK, YQQRPVA, WQVLPNAVPAK, and HPHPHLSF. These active sequences could be obtained by enzymatic hydrolysis either of the individual κ‐casein fraction or the total casein fraction from ovine milk.
The patterns of melanosome distribution in keratinocytes of human skin as one determining factor of skin colour

Background One determining factor of skin colour is the distribution pattern of melanosomes within keratinocytes. Melanosomes in keratinocytes of light skin as in Caucasians are distributed as membrane‐bound clusters, whereas the melanosomes in keratinocytes of dark skin as in African/American individuals tend to be larger and distributed individually. It has been shown that melanin content, melanin composition and the size of melanosomes in the human epidermis vary considerably with both ethnicity and chronic sun exposure.
Owner survey of headshaking in horses.

OBJECTIVE To determine signalment, history, clinical signs, duration, seasonality, and response to various treatments reported by owners for headshaking in horses. DESIGN Owner survey. ANIMALS 109 horses with headshaking. PROCEDURE Owners of affected horses completed a survey questionnaire. RESULTS 78 affected horses were geldings, 29 were mares, and 2 were stallions. Mean age of onset was 9 years. Headshaking in 64 horses had a seasonal component, and for most horses, headshaking began in spring and ceased in late summer or fall. The most common clinical signs were shaking the head in a vertical plane, acting like an insect was flying up the nostril, snorting excessively, rubbing the muzzle on objects, having an anxious expression while headshaking, worsening of clinical signs with exposure to sunlight, and improvement of clinical signs at night. Treatment with antihistamines, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, corticosteroids, antimicrobials, fly control, chiropractic, and acupuncture had limited success. Sixty-one horses had been treated with cyproheptadine; 43 had moderate to substantial improvement. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Headshaking may have many causes. A large subset of horses have similar clinical signs including shaking the head in a vertical plane, acting as if an insect were flying up the nostrils, and rubbing the muzzle on objects. Seasonality and worsening of clinical signs with exposure to light are also common features of this syndrome. Geldings and Thoroughbreds appear to be overrepresented. Cyproheptadine treatment was beneficial in more than two thirds of treated horses.
Comparison of different measurement systems for the assessment of the individual noise attenuation of earplugs

In recent years, a number of measuring systems have been presented to the German market that allow the individual determination of the sound attenuation of earplugs. In some cases, these systems are already being used in the companies by professional physicians or safety engineers or by manufacturers of hearing protectors. For the study presented here, five of these measurement systems have been tested in direct comparison. The results show that the individual attenuation measurement in principle supports an optimum selection of hearing protectors helping to avoid underor over-protection. However, not all measurement systems always yield the same results.
Rates and intensity of re-infection with human helminths after treatment and the influence of individual, household, and environmental factors in a Brazilian community

SUMMARY This study quantifies the rate and intensity of re-infection with human hookworm and Schistosoma mansoni infection 12 months following successful treatment, and investigates the influence of socio-economic, geographical and environmental factors. A longitudinal study of 642 individuals aged over 5 years was conducted in Minas Gerais State, Brazil from June 2004 to March 2006. Risk factors were assessed using interval censored regression for the rate and negative binomial regression for intensity. The crude rate and intensity of hookworm re-infection was 0·21 per year (95% confidence interval (CI) 0·15–0·29) and 70·9 epg (95% CI 47·2–106·6). For S. mansoni the rate was 0·06 per year (95% CI 0·03–0·10) and intensity 6·51 epg (95% CI 3·82–11·11). Rate and intensity of re-infection with hookworm were highest among males and positively associated with previous infection status, absence of a toilet and house structure. Rate and intensity of S. mansoni re-infection were associated with previous infection status as well as geographical, environmental and socio-economic factors. The implications of findings for the design of anti-helminth vaccine trials are discussed.