Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Improved fin width scaling in fully-depleted FinFETs by source-drain implant optimization

Scaling the fin width in fully-depleted FinFETs can improve short channel effect control, but may be accompanied by a on-state drive current degradation. Ion implantation is a leading candidate as the means to introduce dopants into the silicon, but is often accompanied by amorphization when highly doped source-drain regions are formed. Thin-body silicon recrystallization after amorphization is not as straight-forward as bulk silicon. Crystalline integrity is worse as the fin width is scaled, thereby reducing dopant activation and increasing access resistance. In this work we demonstrate that non-amorphizing implant approaches can overcome drive degradation down to 10 nm wide fins in pMOS FinFETs.
Respiratory symptoms, sensitization, and exposure response relationships in spray painters exposed to isocyanates.

RATIONALE Associations between oligomeric isocyanate exposure, sensitization, and respiratory disease have received little attention, despite the extensive use of isocyanate oligomers. OBJECTIVES To investigate exposure-response relationships of respiratory symptoms and sensitization in a large population occupationally exposed to isocyanate oligomers during spray painting. METHODS The prevalence of respiratory symptoms and sensitization was assessed in 581 workers in the spray-painting industry. Personal exposure was estimated by combining personal task-based inhalatory exposure measurements and time activity information. Specific IgE and IgG to hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) were assessed in serum by ImmunoCAP assay and enzyme immunoassays using vapor and liquid phase HDI-human serum albumin (HDI-HSA) and HSA conjugates prepared with oligomeric HDI. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Respiratory symptoms were more prevalent in exposed workers than among comparison office workers. Log-linear exposure-response associations were found for asthmalike symptoms, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease-like symptoms, and work-related chest tightness (prevalence ratios for an interquartile range increase in exposure of 1.2, 1.3 and 2.0, respectively; P </= 0.05). The prevalence of specific IgE sensitization was low (up to 4.2% in spray painters). Nevertheless, IgE to N100 (oligomeric HDI)-HSA was associated with exposure and work-related chest tightness. The prevalence of specific IgG was higher (2-50.4%) and strongly associated with exposure. CONCLUSIONS The results provide evidence of exposure-response relationships for both work-related and non-work-related respiratory symptoms and specific sensitization in a population exposed to oligomers of HDI. Specific IgE was found in only a minority of symptomatic individuals. Specific IgG seems to be merely an indicator of exposure.
Protective effects of Shexiang Tongxin Dropping Pill on pituitrin-induced acute myocardial ischemia in rats

Shexiang Tongxin Dropping Pill (STP) is an established traditional Chinese medicine that is widely used for the treatment of ischemic heart disease (IHD), although its mechanisms remain unclear. The present study investigated the protective effects of STP following pituitrin (PTT)-induced myocardial ischemia in rats. ST-segment elevation, blood rheology, and the serum levels of creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were measured. Following heart excision, histological analysis using hematoxylin and eosin and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling were performed. The mRNA expression levels of B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) and Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax) were determined using reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and their protein expression was detected using immunohistochemistry. The results demonstrated that STP treatment protected against ST elevation, lowered whole blood viscosity, and reduced the serum levels of CK-MB and LDH following acute myocardial ischemia. In addition, STP treatment restored the histopathological change following PTT-induced myocardial ischemia, and resulted in downregulated expression of Bax and upregulated expression of Bcl-2 in myocardial tissue. The present study demonstrates the cardioprotective ability of STP in a rat model of myocardial ischemic injury, which may be attributed to its anti-apoptotic properties. The cardioprotective properties of STP require further investigation to determine whether it may be used for the clinical treatment of IHDs.
Infralimbic cortex projects to all parts of the pontine and medullary lateral tegmental field in cat

The infralimbic cortex (ILc) in cat is the ventralmost part of the anterior cingulate gyrus. The ILc, together with the amygdala, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis and lateral hypothalamus, is involved in the regulation of fear behavior. The latter three structures are thought to take part in triggering the fear response by means of their projections to the pontine and medullary lateral tegmental field (LTF). The LTF is a large region extending from the parabrachial nuclei rostrally to the spinal cord caudally. It contains almost all the premotor interneurons for the brainstem and for some upper spinal cord motoneurons innervating the muscles of face, head and throat. The question is whether ILc also projects to the LTF. Such a pathway would allow the ILc to influence the fear response by acting directly on these premotor interneurons. Anterograde tracer injections were made in the medial surface of the cortex in four cats. Only when the injection sites involved ILc were anterogradely labeled fibers observed throughout the rostrocaudal extent of the LTF. To verify whether these projections indeed originated from ILc, in two other cases retrograde tracer injections were made in the pontomedullary LTF. The results showed many retrogradely labeled neurons in ILc, but none in adjacent cortical regions. These results show that the ILc projects to the LTF in cat and can possibly modulate the fear response not only via indirect but also via direct routes to the premotor interneurons in the brainstem.
Inhibition of the Apolipoprotein B mRNA Editing Enzyme-Complex by hnRNP C1 Protein and 40S hnRNP Complexes

The apolipoprotein (apo) B mRNA can be modified by a posttranscriptional base change from cytidine to uridine at nucleotide position 6666. This editing of apo B mRNA is mediated by a specific enzyme-complex of which only the catalytic subunit APOBEC-1 (apo B mRNA editing enzyme component 1) has been cloned and extensively characterized. In this study, two-hybrid selection in yeast identified hnRNP C1 protein to interact with APOBEC-1. Recombinant hnRNP C1 protein inhibited partially purified apo B mRNA editing activity from rat small intestine and bound specifically to apo B sense RNA around the editing site. The inhibition of apo B mRNA editing by hnRNP C1 protein was not due to masking of the RNA substrate as the mutant protein M104 spanning the RNA-binding domain of hnRNP C1 protein bound strongly to the apo B RNA, but did not inhibit the editing reaction. The apo B mRNA editing enzyme-complex of rat liver nuclear extracts sedimented in sucrose density gradients around 22-27S, but did not contain hnRNP C1 protein that was found exclusively within 40S hnRNP complexes. The removal of 40S hnRNP complexes increased the activity of the 22-27S editing enzyme-complex. Adding back 40S hnRNP complexes with hnRNP C1 protein resulted in an inhibition of the 22-27S apo B mRNA editing enzyme-complex, while addition of 18S fractions had no effect. In conclusion, hnRNP C1 protein identified by two-hybrid selection in yeast is a potent inhibitor of the apo B mRNA editing enzyme-complex. The abundant hnRNP C1 protein, which is contiguously deposited on nascent pre-mRNA during transcription and is involved in spliceosome assembly and mRNA splicing, is a likely regulator of the editing of apo B mRNA which restricts the activity of APOBEC-1 to limited and specific editing events.
Wideband Printed Ridge Gap Rat-Race Coupler for Differential Feeding Antenna

In this paper, a wideband 3 dB hybrid 180° rat-race coupler is introduced in the printed ridge gap waveguide technology. It has simultaneous wide matching and isolation bandwidth with low output amplitude imbalance. It operates in the millimeter wave band from 25.8 to 34.2 GHz (27.96%) with 15 dB return loss and isolation, and ±0.5 dB output amplitude imbalance. The proposed design employing an open stub at the middle of the $3 \lambda /4$ branch line and quarter wavelength lines at all the ports of the coupler. The objective of the added open stub is to separate the output ports amplitudes around the -3 dB level by certain values depending on the required amplitude imbalance. The analytical derivation for the role of the added open stub is presented along with a parametric study on its effect on amplitude imbalance, matching, and isolation. This results in having two intersection points for the output ports instead of one of the conventional coupler and hence the amplitude imbalance bandwidth increases. The objective of the added quarter wavelength lines is to improve the matching and isolation bandwidths. First, the conventional rat-race coupler is presented and a bandwidth of 14.25% at 30 GHz is achieved. After that the rat-race with the added quarter wavelength lines is presented to illustrate the objective of the added quarter wavelength lines and a bandwidth of 19.44% is achieved. Finally, the rat-race with the quarter wavelength lines and the added stub is presented and a prototype is fabricated and measured. The s-parameters measurements are in a good agreement with the simulated ones.
A Method for Knowledge Representation to Design Intelligent Problems Solver in Mathematics Based on Rela-Ops Model

Knowledge-base is a fundamental platform in the architecture of an intelligent system. Relations and operators are popular knowledge in practice knowledge domains. In this paper, we propose a method to represent the model by combining these kinds of knowledge, called the Rela-Ops model. This model includes foundation components consisting of concepts, relations, operators, and inference rules. It is built based on ontology and object-oriented approaches. Besides the structure, each concept of the Rela-Ops model is a class of objects which also have behaviors to solve problems on their own. The processing of algorithms for solving problems on the Rela-Ops model combines the knowledge of relations and operators in the reasoning. Furthermore, we also propose a knowledge model for multiple knowledge domains, in which each sub-domain has the form as the Rela-Ops model. These representation methods have been applied to build knowledge bases of Intelligent Problems Solver (IPS) in mathematics. The knowledge base of 2D-Analytical Geometry in a high-school is built by using the Rela-Ops model, and the knowledge base of Linear Algebra in university is designed by using the model for multiple knowledge domains. The IPS system can automatically solve basic and advanced exercises in respective courses. The reasoning of their solutions is done in a step-by-step approach. It is similar to the solving method by humans. The solutions are also pedagogical and suitable for the learner’s level and easy to be used by students studying 2D-Analytical Geometry in high-school and Linear Algebra in university.
Three-dimensional solution structure of Ca(2+)-loaded porcine calbindin D9k determined by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

The three-dimensional solution structure of native, intact porcine calbindin D9k has been determined by distance geometry and restrained molecular dynamics calculations using distance and dihedral angle constraints obtained from 1H NMR spectroscopy. The protein has a well-defined global fold consisting of four helices oriented in a pairwise antiparallel manner such that two pairs of helix-loop-helix motifs (EF-hands) are joined by a linker segment. The two EF-hands are further coupled through a short beta-type interaction between the two Ca(2+)-binding loops. Overall, the structure is very similar to that of the highly homologous native, minor A form of bovine calbindin D9k determined by X-ray crystallography [Szebenyi, D. M. E. , & Moffat, K. (1986) J. Biol. Chem. 261, 8761-8776]. A model structure built from the bovine calbindin D9k crystal structure shows several deviations larger than 2 A from the experimental distance constraints for the porcine protein. These structural differences are efficiently removed by subjecting the model structure to the experimental distance and dihedral angle constraints in a restrained molecular dynamics protocol, thereby generating a model that is very similar to the refined distance geometry derived structures. The N-terminal residues of the intact protein that are absent in the minor A form appear to be highly flexible and do not influence the structure of other regions of the protein. This result is important because it validates the conclusions drawn from the wide range of studies that have been carried out on minor A forms rather than the intact calbindin D9k.
Simultaneous separation of eight β‐adrenergic drugs using titanium dioxide nanoparticles as additive in capillary electrophoresis

The analysis is described for separating seven β‐adrenergic blocking agents (atenolol, celiprolol, clorprenaline, fenoterol, metoprolol, propranolol, terbutaline) and clenbuterol (sympathomimetic β‐2 receptor stimulating agonist, decongestant and bronchodilator, illicit anabolic used in athletics) by CE with UV detection. In order to simultaneously separate all analytes, Tris‐H3PO4 solution was applied containing titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) as BGEs. The effects of important factors, such as concentration of TiO2 NPs, optimum pH, run buffer concentration, and separation voltage, were investigated so as to achieve best CE separation. The eight analytes could be well separated applying a separation voltage of 15 kV in 75 mM Tris‐H3PO4 buffer at a pH of 2.40, containing 6.0×10−6 g/mL TiO2 NPs. Under these optimal conditions, the RSDs for peak areas and for migration times were less than 2.7 and 2.3%, respectively. The detection limits were 0.1 μg/mL for celiprolol, 0.1 μg/mL for propranolol, 0.2 μg/mL for fenoterol, 1.0 μg/mL for atenolol, 1.0 μg/mL for clenbuterol, 1.0 μg/mL for clorprenaline, 1.0 μg/mL for metoprolol, and 1.0 μg/mL for terbutaline. The proposed method was successfully applied for the rapid CE determination of the frequently applied antihypertensive β‐blocking compounds atenolol, metoprolol, terbutaline, and propranolol in pharmaceutical tablets.
Structural and Functional Characterization of K339T Substitution Identified in the PB2 Subunit Cap-binding Pocket of Influenza A Virus*

Background: Amino acid changes in PB2 are associated with evolution of influenza virus. Results: K339T substitution in PB2cap reduces the cap binding affinity, polymerase activity, RNA synthesis activity, and murine mortality. Conclusion: Substitution in PB2cap modulates the polymerase activity and virulence by regulating the cap binding activity. Significance: We identified and characterized an emerging K339T substitution in PB2cap. Influenza virus RNA-dependent RNA polymerase is a heterotrimer composed of PA, PB1, and PB2 subunits. RNA-dependent RNA polymerase is required for both transcription and replication of influenza viral RNA taking place in the nucleus of infected cells. A “cap-snatching” mechanism is used to generate a 5′-capped primer for transcription in which the cap-binding domain of PB2 (PB2cap) captures the 5′ cap of the host pre-mRNA. Our statistical analysis of PB2 sequences showed that residue Lys339 located in the cap-binding pocket of H5N1 PB2cap was gradually replaced by Thr339 over the past decade. To understand the role of this amino acid polymorphism, we solved the crystal structures of PB2cap with or without a pre-mRNA cap analog, m7GTP, in the presence of Lys339 or Thr339. The structures showed that Lys339 contributes to binding the γ-phosphate group of m7GTP, and the replacement of Lys339 by Thr eliminates this interaction. Isothermal titration calorimetry analysis showed that Thr339 attenuated the PB2cap cap binding activity in vitro compared with Lys339. Further functional studies confirmed that Thr339-PB2-containing ribonucleoprotein complex has a reduced influenza polymerase activity and RNA synthesis activity, and a reconstituted H5N1 virus containing the Thr339 substitution exhibited a lower virulence to mice but more active replication in Madin-Darby canine kidney cells. The K339T substitution in the cap-binding pocket of PB2 modulates the polymerase activity and virulence by regulating the cap binding activity. It is informative to track variations in the cap-binding pocket of PB2 in surveillance of the evolution and spread of influenza virus.
Transport of aspalathin, a Rooibos tea flavonoid, across the skin and intestinal epithelium

Since Rooibos tea contains high levels of flavonoid antioxidants with potential health benefits when taken orally or applied topically, the quantity of the antioxidants crossing the physiological barriers is of scientific, clinical and commercial importance. This study investigated the in vitro transport of aspalathin, a unique flavonoid constituent of Rooibos tea, across intestinal epithelial cells and the human skin. The transport studies were conducted for both pure aspalathin solutions and extracts from unfermented (or green) Rooibos (Aspalathus linearis) aerial plant material across human abdominal skin in vertical Franz diffusion cells and Caco‐2 cell monolayers in Transwell 6‐well plates. The results obtained from the percutaneous permeation studies demonstrated that only 0.01% of the initial aspalathin dose from both the test solution and extract permeated through the skin, which was in accordance with the prediction from its log P value of −0.347. A portion of 0.07% of the initial aspalathin dose penetrated the different layers of the skin for the green Rooibos extract solution and 0.08% for the pure aspalathin solution. The transport of aspalathin across Caco‐2 cell monolayers was concentration dependent and reached almost 100% (Papp = 20.93 × 10−6 cm/s) of the initial dose in the highest concentration tested for the extract, while it was only 79.03% (Papp = 15.34 × 10−6 cm/s) of the initial dose for the highest concentration of the aspalathin solution. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Thymidylate synthase gene expression in primary tumors predicts activity of s-1-based chemotherapy for advanced gastric cancer.

PURPOSE To evaluate the association between dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) and thymidylate synthase (TS) levels in primary gastric tumors and clinical response to S-1 or S-1 plus irinotecan in patients with unresectable advanced gastric cancer, and to investigate the molecular mechanism of augmented antitumor activity of the combination using human gastric cancer xenografts with high TS activity. MATERIALS AND METHODS TS mRNA expression and DPD mRNA expression were measured by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction in initial primary cancer biopsy specimens in 29 patients with advanced gastric cancer who had received S-1 alone (n=18) or in combination with irinotecan (n=11). In an experimental study, antitumor effects of S-1, irinotecan, and the combination were assessed in mice bearing human gastric tumors with high TS expression (4-1-ST and AZ-521 tumors) and low TS expression (SC-2 tumors), and activities of 5-fluorouracil-metabolizing enzymes were measured. RESULTS In the clinical study, a strong statistical association between high TS expression and clinical resistance to S-1 alone was found (P = .009). In the experimental studies, S-1 plus irinotecan showed augmented antitumor activity against tumors with high TS activity (P < .01) compared with either agent alone. A potential mechanism for this effect was suggested by the significant reduction in TS activity observed following irinotecan administration in tumors with high TS activity. CONCLUSION This study suggests that, via down-regulation of TS by irinotecan treatment, combination chemotherapy with S-1 and irinotecan could be effective in gastric cancer patients with high TS levels.
Analysis of Linear Primary Permanent Magnet Vernier Machine Using Finite element method

In this paper, Modeling and analysis of Linear Primary Permanent Magnet Vernier Machine (LPPV) is presented. Since both armature windings and permanent magnet (PM) arrays are located on primary of the machine, this type of Vernier machines is classified as flux reversal machines. Vernier effect and flux reversal operation lead to high force density in the machine. Simple the translator structure in the machine is suitable for machines with long distance rail. Firstly, operation principle and geometric structure of the machine is presented. Then, 2D and 3D Time Stepping Finite Element Method (TS-FEM) are utilized for performance evaluation of the machine. Finally, the quality of the no-load flux linkage, no-load ElectroMotive Force(EMF), thrust and normal forces, the self and mutual inductances and the output power of the machine at no-load and loading condition are discussed and analyzed.
Up-Regulation of CC Chemokine Ligand 20 Expression in Human Airway Epithelium by IL-17 through a JAK-Independent but MEK/NF-κB-Dependent Signaling Pathway1

CCL20, like human β-defensin (hBD)-2, is a potent chemoattractant for CCR6-positive immature dendritic cells and T cells in addition to recently found antimicrobial activities. We previously demonstrated that IL-17 is the most potent cytokine to induce an apical secretion and expression of hBD-2 by human airway epithelial cells, and the induction is JAK/NF-κB-dependent. Similar to hBD-2, IL-17 also induced CCL20 expression, but the nature of the induction has not been elucidated. Compared with a panel of cytokines (IL-1α, 1β, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 18, IFN-γ, GM-CSF, and TNF-α), IL-17 was as potent as IL-1α, 1β, and TNF-α, with a time- and dose-dependent phenomenon in stimulating CCL20 expression in both well-differentiated primary human and mouse airway epithelial cell culture systems. The stimulation was largely dependent on the treatment of polarized epithelial cultures from the basolateral side with IL-17, achieving an estimated 4- to 10-fold stimulation at both message and protein levels. More than 90% of induced CCL20 secretion was toward the basolateral compartment (23.02 ± 1.11 ng/chamber/day/basolateral vs 1.82 ± 0.82 ng/chamber/day/apical). Actinomycin D experiments revealed that enhanced expression did not occur at mRNA stability. Inhibitor studies showed that enhanced expression was insensitive to inhibitors of JAK/STAT, p38, JNK, and PI3K signaling pathways, but sensitive to inhibitors of MEK1/2 and NF-κB activation, suggesting a MEK/NF-κB-based mechanism. These results suggest that IL-17 can coordinately up-regulate both hBD-2 and CCL20 expressions in airways through differentially JAK-dependent and -independent activations of NF-κB-based transcriptional mechanisms, respectively.