Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Linearity analysis of class-B/J continuous mode power amplifiers using modulated wideband signals

Linearity, along with efficiency and bandwidth, belongs to the fundamental requirements of power amplifiers for nowadays communications systems. This paper discusses how to bring together these partly contradictory goals in power amplifier design. Continuous class-J PAs provide a constant efficiency over a large bandwidth. However, the linearity is not constant due to the unequal current and voltage waveforms along the design space of the continuum. Nevertheless, it is possible to equalize linearity of such a PA over the desired bandwidth. For the PA presented, -50 dBc ACLR with an average power of 38 dBm and an average efficiency of 21.5 % were achieved at 2.14 GHz using a WCDMA test signal. For CW measurements, 48.5 dBm maximum power and 63 % peak drain-efficiency were reached.
About two approaches to automation of a process of calculating metamaterial parameters according to the scattering-parameter extraction method using modern full-wave simulators

Two approaches to automation of a process of calculating metamaterial parameters according to the scattering-parameter extraction method using the modern full-wave simulators are presented and discussed. First approach proposes calculating the effective material parameters of a metamaterial inside Ansys HFSS simulator using an output variables feature in a postprocessing stage, thus an analysis or optimization could be realized as a self-contained algorithm inside the simulation software. Second approach proposes the usage of a MATLAB script written for launching and controlling CST Microwave Studio simulator and calculating the metamaterial parameters directly from MATLAB. This advanced approach realizes a self-contained designing procedure inside the powerful mathematical software. Presented report should help the researchers and engineers to perform analyses and optimization of effective material parameters of metamaterial structures in a more flexible and less time-consuming way.
Toll-like receptors, signaling adapters and regulation of the pro-inflammatory response by PI3K

TLRs are a family of pattern recognition receptors that recognize conserved molecular structures/products from a wide variety of microbes. Following recognition of ligands, TLRs recruit signaling adapters to initiate a pro-inflammatory signaling cascade culminating in the activation of several transcription factor families. Additionally, TLR signals lead to activation of PI3K, affecting many aspects of the cellular response, including cell survival, proliferation and regulation of the pro-inflammatory response. The recent discovery of BCAP as a TLR signaling adaptor, crucial for linking TLRs to PI3K activation, allows new questions of the importance of PI3K activation downstream of TLRs. Here, we summarize the current understanding of signaling pathways activated by TLRs and provide our perspective on TLR mediated activation of PI3K and its impact on regulating cellular processes.
Word length effects are not due to proactive interference

In immediate serial recall short words are better recalled than long words. The word length effect has become pivotal in the development of short-term memory models. The current research tests one explanation of the word length effect; that it is related to proactive interference (PI). We report two experiments in which the relationship is directly tested. In the first experiment we show that word length effects can be observed over the first few trials in an experiment and that the effect shows itself primarily in the number of omissions made. In the second experiment we simultaneously test for PI and word length effects. Strong word length effects were present but there was little evidence for PI influencing either overall levels of recall or the word length effect. In short, no empirical support was found for PI as an explanation of the word length effect.
Postoperative intramuscular dextromethorphan injection provides postoperative pain relief and decreases opioid requirement after hemorrhoidectomy.

BACKGROUND Previous studies have shown that dextromethorphan (DM) produces an analgesic/antihyperalgesic effect. This study was designed to examine whether postoperative DM intramuscular (i.m.) injection could reduce post-hemorrhoidectomy pain. METHODS At the end of the surgery, patients in the study group (n = 30) were given an intramuscular injection of 40 mg DM and 20 mg chlorpheniramine (CPM) while in the study group (n = 30), the patients were given intramuscular 20 mg CPM only. Pethidine (1 mg/kg, i.m.) was prescribed for postoperative pain relief if required. The time to first pethidine injection, total pethidine consumption, worst pain score, and pethidine-related side effects were recorded for 48 h postoperatively. RESULTS The time from the end of operation to the first pethidine injection was 5.4 +/- 1.6 h and 17.8 +/- 3.7 h (P = 0.006) in the control group and the study group, respectively. Total pethidine consumption was 139.5 +/- 11.5 mg and 77.5 +/- 12.2 mg (P < 0.001) in the control group and the study group, respectively. The worst VAS score was 7.5 +/- 0.2 and 7.1 +/- 0.2 (P = 0.09) in the control and the study groups, respectively. The number of patients who required pethidine injection was 29 and 21 (P < 0.005) in the control and the study groups, respectively. The number of patients who suffered pethidine-related side effects was 7 and 1 (P < 0.025) in the control and the study groups, respectively. CONCLUSIONS We found that intramuscular DM given at the end of operation could provide good postoperative pain relief and decrease the pethidine requirement after hemorrhoidectomy.
Genetic and physical interaction suggest that BARREN STALK 1 is a target of BARREN INFLORESCENCE2 in maize inflorescence development.

SUMMARY Organogenesis in plants is controlled by polar auxin transport. In maize (Zea mays), barren inflorescence2 (bif2) encodes a co-ortholog of the serine/threonine protein kinase PINOID (PID), which regulates auxin transport in Arabidopsis. In this paper, we report that the basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor BARREN STALK1 (BA1) is a putative target of BIF2, revealing a previously unknown function of BIF2 in the nucleus. Both bif2 and ba1 are required for axillary meristem initiation during inflorescence and vegetative development in maize. Using a yeast two-hybrid approach, we identified BA1 as an interacting partner with BIF2. We confirmed the interaction by in vitro pull-down assays, and demonstrated that BIF2 phosphorylates BA1 in vitro. Previously, RNA in situ hybridization showed that bif2 and ba1 are both expressed during axillary meristem initiation. Here, we heterologously expressed BIF2 and BA1, and found that they co-localize in the nucleus. Based on these findings, we propose that in addition to regulating auxin transport at the cell periphery, BIF2 also functions in the nucleus by interacting with BA1 to promote axillary meristem initiation. Double mutant analysis is consistent with these results, showing that bif2 and ba1 have overlapping as well as unique roles in inflorescence development.
Surgical pathology of gastrinoma. Site, size, multicentricity, association with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1, and malignancy

Specimens from the pancreas and duodenum of 26 patients with sporadic Zollinger‐Ellison syndrome (ZES) and 18 patients with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN‐1) and hypergastrinemia (17 with ZES) were screened immunocytochemically for gastrinomas. Location, size, multicentricity, and malignancy of the gastrinomas were evaluated. The MEN‐1 patients had gastrinomas in the duodenum (nine of 18), pancreas (one of 18), and periduodenal lymph nodes (two of 18). No gastrinoma was identified in six patients. Most duodenal gastrinomas were multiple (five of nine) and smaller than 0.6 cm (six of nine). Lymph node metastases were present in eight of 12 patients. All 26 patients with sporadic ZES had a solitary gastrinoma; 14 were found in the pancreas and had a diameter greater than 2 cm. Ten patients had a duodenal gastrinoma, two with a diameter less than 0.6 cm. In two patients, only periduodenal “lymph node gastrinomas” were detected. Eighteen of the sporadic gastrinomas were malignant. These results suggest that duodenal location and multicentricity of gastrinomas are associated with the MEN‐1 syndrome, and solitary gastrinomas, either in the pancreas or the duodenum, are predominantly seen in sporadic ZES.
Conservative Management of Pediatric Nephrolithiasis Caused by Melamine-Contaminated Milk Powder

OBJECTIVE. In this article we report our experience with the diagnostic screening and management of children with melamine-induced nephrolithiasis. METHODS. A total of 1091 children younger than 4 years who had been exposed to melamine-contaminated formula from September 17 to October 12, 2008, were screened for nephrolithiasis at the department of pediatrics at Shenzhen Nanshan Hospital in China. During the clinical examination, each patient's demographic characteristics were recorded together with the details of his or her milk-consumption profile during the contamination scare and any clinical signs of poisoning. Urinary stones were detected by B-ultrasonography, and renal status was examined by a routine urine test panel and a renal function test. When urinary stones were detected, patients were ordered to cease consumption of the suspected formula, and a conservative treatment course was adopted, including infusion of fluids, urinary alkalinization, increased water consumption, and diuresis. RESULTS. Of the 1091 children screened, 12 (1.1%) were diagnosed with kidney stones. They had been exposed to the contaminated milk from 1 to 24 months. Eleven (91.7%) of these 12 patients had consumed milk with a high level of melamine content (955–2563 ppm); 1 patient (8.3%) had consumed milk with a low-level melamine content (6.2–17.0 ppm). Six patients exhibited dysuria; the remaining 6 patients were asymptomatic. All 12 patients had normal renal function, although 4 had proteinuria, and 1 had hematuria. The kidney stones were resolved within 3 to 5 days of commencing treatment in all 12 cases. CONCLUSIONS. Nephrolithiasis was associated with high melamine-exposure levels. A combination of B-ultrasonography and urinalysis is suitable for screening for pediatric nephrolithiasis caused by melamine poisoning. The condition can be resolved with a conservative treatment approach in patients without serious clinical symptoms who have normal kidney function.
Immunohistochemical characterization of the intracellular pool of water channel aquaporin-2 in the rat kidney

Aquaporin-2 (AQP2) is a member of water channel proteins expressed in the kidney collecting duct cells, where it is stored in the intracellular compartment. Upon stimulation of antidiuretic hormone (ADH), AQP2 is recruited to the plasma membrane, and plays a critical role in urine concentration. We immunohistochemically characterized the intracellular compartment harboring AQP2 in the rat kidney using antibodies to the endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, trans-Golgi network, lysosome, and endosome. Aquaporin-2 did not colocalize with calnexin, TGN38, Golgi 58K, cathepsin D or lgp-110. Small portions of AQP2-bearing vesicles were positive for early endosome antigen 1. These localization patterns were basically the same in water-loaded and ADH-treated animals. These results indicate that AQP2-bearing vesicles constitute a unique intracellular compartment distinct from the endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, trans-Golgi network and lysosome. Partial colocalization of AQP2 with early endosomes suggests that the endosomal system might be involved in the trafficking of AQP2.
Fuzzy identification of systems with unsupervised learning

The paper describes a mathematical tool to build a fuzzy model whose membership functions and consequent parameters rely on the estimates of a data set. The proposed method proved to be capable of approximating any real continuous function, also a strongly nonlinear one, on a compact set to arbitrary accuracy. Without resorting to domain experts, the algorithm constructs a model-free, complete function approximation system. Applications to the modeling of several functions among which classical nonlinear ones such as the Rosenbrock and the sine (x, y) functions are reported. The proposed algorithm can find applications in the development of fuzzy logic controllers (FLC).
Biological Effects of African Yam Bean Lectins on Clavigralla tomentosicollis (Hemiptera: Coreidae)

Abstract The biological effects of affinity purified seed lectin from African yam bean, Sphenostylis stenocarpa (Harms), were tested on Clavigralla tomentosicollis (Stål) in an artificial seed system. S. stenocarpa was extracted from two African yam bean accessions: Enugu 95-3 and Enugu 98-2. Lectins from both accessions were highly toxic to the insect at 1.0% dry weight. For nymphs feeding on Enugu 95-3 and Enugu 98-2, survival ranged from 16.0 to 24.0% and 4.0 to 16.0% at 1.0 and 2.0% dry weight dietary lectin levels, respectively. From 4.0 to 8.0% dry weight of both lectins, no nymph survived up to 6 d after infestation. At 1.0% dry weights of Enugu 95-3 and Enugu 98-2 lectins, there was a significant delay in total developmental time (5.35 and 5.18 d), reduced survival (24.0% and 16.0%), and reduced growth (0.15 ± 0.02 and 0.14 ± 0.01) and resistance (61.85 ± 9.78 and 57.79 ± 3.80) indices, respectively. S. stenocarpa from Enugu 98-2 was the most toxic, with an LD50 of 0.43%, compared with an LD50 of 0.65% for S. stenocarpa from Enugu 95-3. The results of this investigation indicate that there exists in C. tomentosicollis physiological systems vulnerable to African yam bean lectins.
Metabolic enzyme expression in dopaminergic neurons in Parkinson's disease: An in situ hybridization study

To clarify the role of neuronal complex 1 activity in idiopathic Parkinson's disease (IPD), expression of mitochondrial mRNA encoding the ND1 subunit of mitochondrial complex I was examined by semiquantitative in situ hybridization histochemistry in melanized neurons of human substantia nigra in IPD cases and control subjects. Expression of mRNA encoding the glycolytic enzyme, aldolase C, was also examined in substantia nigra and other neurons of the midbrain and brain stem. ND1 mRNA expression was strong in melanized substantia nigra neurons but undetectable in nigral glia. Levels of expression in nigral neurons were higher than in neurons of the red nucleus or cranial nerve nuclei, but similar values were obtained in pontine neurons. ND1 mRNA expression was reduced by about 25% in melanized neurons in IPD. There was no relationship between ND1 expression per cell and disease duration or l‐dopa dosage in the IPD group. No change in ND1 expression was observed in pontine neurons in IPD, and ND1 expression in the locus ceruleus was also unchanged. Melanized nigral neurons expressed lower levels of aldolase C mRNA than other midbrain or brainstem populations in both control and IPD material. These findings suggest that dopamine neurons are more strongly dependent on mitochondrial energy metabolism and oxidative phosphorylation than other brainstem populations. Because mitochondrial complex I activity is significantly reduced in IPD, intrinsically low expression of glycolytic enzymes, together with disease‐related reduction in complex I activity, may be a contributory factor predisposing nigral neurons to injury.
Endosymbionts of ticks and their relationship to Wolbachia spp. and tick-borne pathogens of humans and animals

The presence, internal distribution, and phylogenetic position of endosymbiotic bacteria from four species of specific-pathogen-free ticks were studied. These included the hard ticks Ixodes scapularis (the black-legged tick), Rhipicephalus sanguineus (the brown dog tick), and Haemaphysalis longicornis and the African soft tick Ornithodoros moubata. PCR assays for bacteria, using two sets of general primers for eubacterial 16S and 23S rRNA genes (rDNAs) and seven sets of specific primers for wolbachial, rickettsial, or Francisella genes, indicated that I. scapularis possessed symbiotic rickettsiae in the ovaries and that the other species harbored eubacteria in both the ovaries and Malpighian tubules. Phylogenetic analysis based on the sequence of 16S rDNA indicated that the symbiont of I. scapularis belonged to the alpha subgroup of proteobacteria and was closely related to the members of the genus Rickettsia. The other species had similar microorganisms in the ovaries and Malpighian tubules, which belonged to the gamma subgroup of proteobacteria, and formed a monophyletic group with the Q-fever pathogen, Coxiella burnetii. O. moubata harbored another symbiont, which formed a monophyletic group with Francisella tularensis and Wolbachia persica, the latter a symbiont previously isolated from Malpighian tubules of the soft tick Argas (Persicargas) arboreus. Thus, the symbionts of these four tick species were not related to the Wolbachia species found in insects. The two symbionts that live in the Malpighian tubules, one closely related to C. burnetii and the other closely related to F. tularensis, appear to be of ancient origin and be widely distributed in ticks.
Psychological factors influencing weight loss maintenance: An integrative literature review

Purpose: Weight loss is critical in the fight against obesity yet only about 20% of individuals maintain weight loss long term. This review examines the psychological factors influencing weight loss maintenance. Data sources: An electronic search was used to identify studies from 2003 to 2009 in the following databases: MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection, PsycARTICLES. Conclusion: Evidence indicated avoiding dichotomous thinking, eating to regulate mood, and disinhibited eating were associated with weight loss maintenance. Increased dietary restraint, perceived benefits outweighing costs, lower/stable levels of depression, and more positive body image were also associated with weight loss maintenance. Results were inconclusive on unrealistic weight loss expectations and failure to achieve weight loss goals. Implications for practice: Practitioners can play a pivotal role in screening clients for these factors and recommending treatment to increase the likelihood of successful weight loss maintenance.
Relationship between atrial natriuretic peptide and plasma volume during graded exercise with water immersion.

To assess the relationship between atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and the reduction in plasma volume (PV) during exercise, we measured changes in PV and ANP in seven male volunteers during treadmill exercise in air (AE) and with water immersion (WE) together with time control studies of rest in air and in water. Blood samples were collected from a catheter in the antecubital vein at exercise intensities of 32, 49, 65, and 78% of peak oxygen consumption (VO2). Plasma ANP in AE increased significantly from the resting value [15 +/- 1 (SE) pg/ml] only at 78% of peak VO2 (29 +/- 5 pg/ml), whereas ANP in WE increased significantly at exercise levels of > 49% of peak VO2 and reached 68 +/- 9 pg/ml at 78% of peak VO2. Although PV in AE and WE decreased significantly with VO2 of > 49% of peak VO2 (P < 0.01), the decrease from the resting value in WE was significantly greater than that in AE of > 65% of peak VO2 (P < 0.01) and the decreases at 78% of peak VO2 were -9.7 +/- 0.8 and -6.1 +/- 1.7%, respectively. The difference in the decrease in PV between AE and WE at corresponding VO2 correlated strongly with that in the increase in ANP (r = -0.97; P < 0.01). These results are consistent with the hypothesis that ANP may be involved in the fluid shift from the intra- to extravascular space during exercise.
Tacrolimus/Sirolimus Versus Tacrolimus/Mycophenolate in Kidney Transplantation: Improved 3-Year Graft and Patient Survival in Recent Era

Background. Registry analyses suggest that tacrolimus (TAC)/mycophenolate (MPA) immunosuppression is associated with superior kidney graft survival versus TAC/sirolimus (SRL). Large single-center experience can assist in clarifying these findings, by examining outcomes related to specific utilization practice. Methods. We retrospectively examined the outcomes of 518 consecutive first renal transplants at a single center treated with TAC/SRL (n=307) or TAC/MPA (n=211) with prednisone. Graft and patient survival, acute rejection, and 1-year glomerular filtration rate (GFR) were analyzed by era of transplant (2000–2002 vs. 2003–2006). Changes in TAC/SRL utilization between eras included elimination of the SRL loading dose and a reduction in TAC target trough concentrations. Results. Three-year graft survival with TAC/SRL was lower when first used (2000–2002) because of a higher incidence of patient death, primarily due to cardiovascular causes. Survival improved from 85.3% to 95.9% between 2000 to 2002 and 2003 to 2006 (P=0.001), with comparable graft and patient survival between TAC/SRL and TAC/MPA cohorts, confirmed following multivariable analysis controlling for donor and recipient factors. Rates of BK virus and acute rejection were comparable, but a higher incidence of hyperlipidemia, anemia, posttransplant diabetes, and a lower 1-year GFR (57.6 vs. 63.1 mL/min, P=0.008) was noted in the TAC/SRL cohort. Conclusions. These data, as the largest long-term single-center report comparing TAC/SRL with TAC/MPA in kidney transplantation, demonstrate worse patient survival initially with TAC/SRL, with improved outcomes in a later era that were temporally associated with reduced TAC exposure. Differences in cardiovascular risk factors and 1-year GFR highlight the need for further investigation of the optimal utilization of SRL in kidney transplantation.
Substrate channeling.

Substrate channeling is the process in which the intermediate produced by one enzyme is transferred to the next enzyme without complete mixing with the bulk phase. This process is equivalent to a microcompartmentation of the intermediate, although classic diffusion occurs simultaneously to varying extents in many of these cases. This microcompartmentation and other factors of channeling provide many potential biological advantages. Extensive examples of channeling can be found in the cited reviews. The choice of methods to detect and characterize substrate channeling depends extensively on the type of enzyme associations involved, the constants of the system, and, to some extent, the mechanism of channeling. Thus it is important to distinguish stable, dynamic, and catalytically induced enzyme associations as well as recognize different mechanisms of substrate channeling. We discuss the principles, experimental details, and limitations and precautions of five rather general methods. These use measurements of transient times, isotope dilution or enhancement, competing reaction effects, enzyme buffering kinetics, and transient-state kinetics. These encompass methods applicable to studies in vitro, in situ, and in vivo. None of these methods is applicable to all systems. They are also susceptible to artifacts without proper attention to precautions. Transient-state kinetic methods clearly excel in elucidating molecular mechanisms of channeling. However, they are often not the best method for initial detection and characterization of the process and they are not applicable to many complex systems. Several other methods that have been successful in indicating substrate channeling are briefly described.