Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Effects of Gadolinium Incorporation Into Indium–Zinc–Oxide Thin-Film Transistors

We investigated the effects of gadolinium (Gd) incorporation into indium-zinc-oxide (IZO) thin-film transistors (TFTs) using radio-frequency cosputtering of IZO and Gd. A gadolinium-indium-zinc-oxide (Gd-IZO) TFT with 2.4 at. % Gd content had saturation-mode field-effect mobility, threshold voltage, and switching ratio (on current/off current) of 6.6 cm2V-1s-1, 1.04 V, and on the order of 107, respectively, after thermal annealing at 250 °C. A Gd-IZO TFT with 2.4 at. % Gd content showed better switching performance and thermal stability than pure IZO TFTs due to stable ionic bond between Gd and O.
Bioimpedance resistance ratios for the evaluation of dry weight in hemodialysis.

MATERIAL Restoration of body water compartments to normal by ultrafiltration is a major goal of hemodialysis. Dry weight is the term used to define normal body water in dialysis patients, but it is limited, as it is based solely on clinical observations. Bioimpedance spectroscopy can accurately measure the resistance of body fluid compartments. The ratio of the resistances of the intracellular to extracellular water should reflect the relative volume of these compartments. As dialysis patients accumulate excess fluid in their extracellular compartment, this ratio may prove useful in the evaluation of dry weight. METHODS We measured the resistances of the intracellular and extracellular fluid compartments in normal subjects to define the normal ratio of the resistances of these compartments. Women had a slightly higher ratio than men (women: 2.41 +/- 0.23 vs. men: 2.08 +/- 0.23 vs. p < 0.0001). The ratios determined in the normal population were taken as the normal physiologic ratio and were used to define physiologic dry weight. We then compared dialysis patients both pre- and post-dialysis to this normal population. RESULTS We found that most patients (67%, n = 18) had an elevated ratio pre-dialysis suggesting excess extracellular fluid. Of the 38 treatments in which patients achieved their clinical dry weight, 19 (50%) had persistently elevated Ri/Re ratios, suggesting they had not reached physiologic dry weight. CONCLUSION These data suggest that many dialysis patients carry excess extracellular fluid post dialysis despite achieving their clinical dry weight. Furthermore, the resistance ratio derived from bioimpedance spectroscopy may be a useful clinical tool in determining dry weight.
A negative regulator of HO transcription, SIN1 (SPT2), is a nonspecific DNA-binding protein related to HMG1

The SIN1 gene was initially identified because mutations in SIN1 bypass the need for SWI1 to activate transcription of the yeast HO gene. We show here that transcription of HO in swi1 sin1 cells efficiently utilizes the normal start site. We have cloned SIN1 and found that it is identical to the previously identified gene SPT2, mutations in which allow transcription from certain mutated regulatory regions. The predicted SIN1/SPT2 protein has a distinctive amino acid composition (45% charged residues, 25% basic and 20% acidic) and has similarity to the mammalian HMG1 protein, a nonhistone component of chromatin. We show that SIN1 is concentrated in the nucleus and binds to DNA with little or no sequence specificity in vitro. It thus exhibits properties of an HMG protein. Addition of random DNA segments to a test promoter alters regulation by SIN1 in a manner similar to addition of a segment from the HO upstream region. Functional analysis of certain SIN1 mutations suggests that SIN1 may be part of a multiprotein complex. On the basis of these results, we propose that SIN1 is a nonhistone component of chromatin which creates the proper context for transcription. Because sin1 mutants exhibit increased loss of chromosome III, SIN1 may also play a role in fidelity of chromosome segregation.
Yeast plasma membrane Ena1p ATPase alters alkali‐cation homeostasis and confers increased salt tolerance in tobacco cultured cells

In plants, the plasma membrane Na+/H+ antiporter is the only key enzyme that extrudes cytosolic Na+ and contributes to salt tolerance. But in fungi, the plasma membrane Na+/H+ antiporter and Na+‐ATPase are known to be key enzymes for salt tolerance. Saccharomyces cerevisiae Ena1p ATPase encoded by the ENA1/PMR2A gene is primarily responsible for Na+ and Li+ efflux across the plasma membrane during salt stress and for K+ efflux at high pH and high K+. To test if the yeast ATPase would improve salt tolerance in plants, we expressed a triple hemagglutinin (HA)‐tagged Ena1p (Ena1p‐3HA) in cultured tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) cv Bright Yellow 2 (BY2) cells. The Ena1p‐3HA proteins were correctly localized to the plasma membrane of transgenic BY2 cells and conferred increased NaCl and LiCl tolerance to the cells. Under moderate salt stress conditions, the Ena1p‐3HA‐expressing BY2 clones accumulated lower levels of Na+ and Li+ than nonexpressing BY2 clones. Moreover, the Ena1p‐3HA expressing BY2 clones accumulated lower levels of K+ than nonexpressing cells under no‐stress conditions. These results suggest that the yeast Ena1p can also function as an alkali‐cation (Na+, Li+, and K+) ATPase and alter alkali‐cation homeostasis in plant cells. We conclude that, even with K+‐ATPase activity, Na+‐ATPase activity of the yeast Ena1p confers increased salt tolerance to plant cells during salt stress. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Dual Cry2Ab and Vip3A Resistant Strains of Helicoverpa armigera and Helicoverpa punctigera (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae); Testing Linkage Between Loci and Monitoring of Allele Frequencies

ABSTRACT Considerable attention has been given to delaying the evolution of insect resistance to toxins produced by transgenic crops. The major pests of cotton in Australia are the Lepidoptera Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner, 1805) and Helicoverpa punctigera (Wallengren), and the toxins deployed in current and imminent transgenic cotton varieties are Cry1Ac, Cry2Ab and Vip3A from Bacillus thuringiensis. In this study, lines that carry alleles conferring resistance to Cry2Ab and Vip3A were isolated using F2 tests. Extensive work on the Cry2Ab resistant lines, and preliminary work on the Vip3A resistant lines, suggested a single common resistance to each toxin in both species thereby justifying the use of more efficient F1 tests as the primary means for monitoring changes over time. A potential further efficiency could be gained by developing a single resistant line that carries both types of Bt resistance. Herein we report on work with both H. armigera and H. punctigera that tests whether dual Cry2Ab-Vip3A resistant lines can be developed and, if so, whether they can be used to effectively monitor resistance frequencies. Furthermore, the creation of dual resistant lines allowed linkage between the Cry2Ab and Vip3A resistances to be investigated for H. punctigera. We show that dual resistant lines can be used to increase the efficiency of the Fx screen for recessive alleles, and that in H. punctigera there is no linkage between Cry2Ab and Vip3A resistance.
Behavioural consequences of regret and disappointment in social bargaining games

Previous research on the role of negative emotions in social bargaining games has focused primarily on social emotions such as anger and guilt. In this article, we provide a test for behavioural differences between two prototypical decision-related negative emotions—regret and disappointment—in one-shot social dilemma games. Three experiments with two different emotion-induction procedures (autobiographical recall and imagined scenarios) and two different games (the ultimatum game and the 10-coin give-some game) revealed that regret increased prosocial behaviour, whereas disappointment decreased prosocial behaviour. These results extend previous findings concerning differences between regret and disappointment to interdependent (social) situations.
A portable wireless eye movement-controlled Human-Computer Interface for the disabled

Human-Computer Interface (HCI) has become an important area of research and development for the disabled. A portable wireless eye movement-controlled Human-Computer Interface which can be used for the disabled who have motor paralysis and who cannot speak in multiple applications (such as communication aid and smart home applications) is described here. This Interface consists of four major parts: (1) surface electrodes, (2) a two-channel amplifier, (3) a laptop (or a micro-processor), and (4) a ZigBee wireless module. Horizontal and vertical Electro-Oculography (EOG) signals are measured using five surface electrodes placed on the head . The vertical electrodes are placed about 1.0 cm above the right eyebrow and 2.0 cm below the lower lid of the right eye, the horizontal electrodes are placed 2.0 cm lateral to the each side of outer canthi and the last electrode is placed on user's forehead to serve as a ground. The two-channel amplifier is comprised of instrumentation amplifiers, band-pass filters and shift circuits. The EOG signals are sampled at the rate of 250Hz and then sent to a laptop or a micro-processor for signal processing which is based on the method of mathematical morphology to recognize the direction of eye movements and voluntary eye blink. The ZigBee wireless communication technology, which is proved to be reliable, low-power and cost-efficient, is used in the portable interface. The subjects can control the wireless device or move a cursor over a screen by using this interface. The delay of this interface is less than 0.5s and errors are very limited. This interface provides a flexible method for the disabled to improve the life quality.
The effect of different doses of vitamin D supplementation on insulin resistance during pregnancy

Abstract Low serum vitamin D levels are correlated with insulin resistance during pregnancy. We have assessed the effects of different doses of vitamin D on insulin resistance during pregnancy. A randomized clinical trial was done on 120 women with a gestational age of less than 12 weeks. The women were divided into three groups randomly. Group A received 200 IU vitamin D daily, group B 50 000 IU vitamin D monthly and group C 50 000 IU vitamin D every 2 weeks from 12 weeks of pregnancy until delivery. The serum levels of fasting blood sugar (FBS), insulin, calcium and 25-hydroxyvitamin D were measured before and after intervention. We used the homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) as a surrogate measure of insulin resistance. The mean ± standard deviation of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D increased in group C from 7.3 ± 5.9 to 34.1 ± 11.5 ng/ml and in group B it increased from 7.3 ± 5.3 to 27.23 ± 10.7 ng/ml, but the level of vitamin D in group A increased from 8.3 ± 7.8 to 17.7 ± 9.3 ng/ml (p < 0.001). The mean differences of insulin and HOMA-IR before and after intervention in groups A and C were significant (p = 0.01, p = 0.02). This study has shown that supplementation of pregnant women with 50 000 IU vitamin D every 2 weeks improved insulin resistance significantly.
CDK4 Expression and Activity Are Required for Cytokine Responsiveness in T Cells1

Stimulation of lymphocytes through the Ag receptor can lead to cytokine responsiveness or unresponsiveness. We examined the importance of cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK)4 to establish and maintain IL-2 responsiveness in human T cells. Our results show that a herbimycin A- and staurosporine-sensitive phase of CDK4 expression and activity preceded the acquisition of IL-2-responsiveness in mitogen-stimulated peripheral blood T cells. Intriguingly, CDK4 expression and activity were demonstrable in purified unstimulated peripheral blood T cells from ∼30% (5/16) of healthy individuals examined for this study. These T cells proliferated in response to IL-2 without additional mitogens, and both the expression and activity of CDK4 and the ability to respond to cytokines were resistant to herbimycin A and staurosporine. The pattern of CDK4 expression and response to IL-2 in this subset of individuals resembled that seen in the human IL-2-dependent Kit-225 T cell line. However, in contrast to normal T cells, Kit-225 cells were rendered unresponsive to IL-2 by stimulation through the Ag receptor. In these cells, PHA, anti-CD3, or PMA induced marked reductions of CDK4 expression and activity that paralleled IL-2 unresponsiveness, and these effects were not reversible by IL-2. Furthermore, IL-2-dependent proliferation could be similarly inhibited in Kit-225 cells by overexpression of the CDK inhibitors p16/Ink4-a or p21/Waf-1a or by overexpression of a kinase-inactive CDK4 mutant. The data indicate that CDK4 expression and activity are necessary to induce and maintain cytokine responsiveness in T cells, suggesting that CDK4 is important to link T cell signaling pathways to the machinery that controls cell cycle progression.
SLDRAM: high-performance, open-standard memory

The primary objective of DRAM-dynamic random access memory-is to offer the largest memory capacity at the lowest possible cost. Designers achieve this by two means. First, they optimize the process and the design to minimize die area. Second, they ensure that the device serves high-volume markets and can be mass-produced to achieve the greatest economies of scale. SLDRAM-synchronous-link DRAM-is a new memory interface specification developed through the cooperative efforts of leading semiconductor memory manufacturers and high-end computer architects and system designers. SLDRAM meets the high data bandwidth requirements of emerging processor architectures and retains the low cost of earlier DRAM interface standards. These and other benefits suggest that SLDRAM will become the mainstream commodity memory of the early 21st century.
iNEMI solder paste deposition project - First stage review optimizing solder paste printing for large and small components

The widely recognized industry standard IPC-7525 has been used as the starting point for an experimental program that explores the effect of varying the keep out distance for 0201 and 0402 chip components, CSP and SOP with pitches down to 0.4mm, and larger components represented by CCGA. Other variables that were included in the experimental program to determine if they had an effect on the sensitivity of paste transfer to keep-out distance included stencil type, step height and solder type. In the first stage of the project the printing to each pad was measured with automated 3D SPI systems and optimum combinations of parameters identified by statistical analysis. In this paper the authors will explain the methodology chosen to achieve the project objectives and indicate the direction of likely future work. Early results indicate that a key objective of the project, to provide evidence to support the case for a reduction in the keep out
Mutations in COL1A1 Gene Change Dentin Nanostructure

Although many studies have attempted to associate specific gene mutations with dentin phenotypic severity, it remains unknown how the mutations in COL1A1 gene influence the mechanical behavior of dentin collagen and matrix. Here, we reported one osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) pedigree caused by two new inserting mutations in exon 5 of COL1A1 (NM_000088.3:c.440_441insT;c.441_442insA), which resulted in the unstable expression of COL1A1 mRNA and half quantity of procollagen production. We investigated the morphological and mechanical features of proband's dentin using atomic force microscope (AFM), scanning electron microscope, and transmission electron microscope. Increased D‐periodic spacing, variably enlarged collagen fibrils coating with fewer minerals were found in the mutated collagen. AFM analysis demonstrated rougher dentin surface and sparsely decreased Young's modulus in proband's dentin. We believe that our findings provide new insights into the genetic‐/nano‐ mechanisms of dentin diseases, and may well explain OI dentin features with reduced mechanical strength and a lower crosslinked density. Anat Rec, 299:511–519, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Sintering of Nano-sized Zirconia Powder Processed by Powder Injection Moulding

The nano-sized Yttria Stabilized Zirconia (Nano YSZ) powder with an average particles size of 50nm is initially heat treated and then mixed with wax-based binder system. The prepared feedstock is then formed into a shape by powder injection moulding process. The green parts are then thermally debound and sintered. The sintering behavior of the nano-sized particles is presented and compared with those of BASF feedstock. It is found that Nano YSZ can achieve 98% of its theoretical density. Homogenous microstructure is obtained with an average grain size of 500nm. The hardness value of the sintered Nano YSZ is similar to those obtained from BASF feedstock.
Push Enteroscopy for Recurrent Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage Due to Jejunal Anastomotic Varices: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Small-bowel anastomotic and adhesion-related varices can form within adhesions in the setting of mesenteric venous hypertension, arising from either mesenteric venous obstruction or portal hypertension. In evaluating gastrointestinal bleeding in patients who have had previous abdominal surgery and mesenteric venous hypertension, small-bowel anastomotic varices and adhesion-related varices should be considered. For patients with recurrent, severe melena or hematochezia, we recommend that the initial diagnostic work-up should include push enteroscopy in patients with previous small-bowel surgery. Retrograde ileoscopy should also be considered these patients to look for distal small-bowel varices. Potentially, such small-bowel varices can be identified by wireless capsule endoscopy. We report a case of recurrent gastrointestinal bleeding caused by jejunal anastomotic varices which were secondary to superior mesenteric vein occlusion following an abdominal gunshot wound. Although the treatment of segmental varices has been surgical resection, for patients with overt systemic portal hypertension, a transjugular intrahepatic portal-systemic shunt or a decompressive shunting procedure are recommended.
Involvement of a Phorbol Ester-Insensitive Protein Kinase C in the α2-Adrenergic Inhibition of Voltage-Gated Calcium Current in Chick Sympathetic Neurons

α2-Adrenoceptors regulate the efficacy at the sympatho-effector junction by means of a feedback inhibition of transmitter release. In chick sympathetic neurons, the mechanism involves an inhibition of N-type calcium channels, and we now present evidence that this effect involves an atypical, phorbol ester-insensitive protein kinase C (PKC). The inhibition of voltage-gated Ca2+ currents by the specific α2-adrenergic agonist UK 14,304 was significantly attenuated when the PKC inhibitors PKCI(19–36), staurosporine, or calphostin C were included in the internal solution used to fill the patch pipettes, or if staurosporine or calphostin C were applied extracellularly; however, phorbol esters as classical activators of PKC or oleoylacetylglycerol did not mimic the effect of UK 14,304, and chronic exposure to 4-β-phorbol dibutyrate (PDBu) did not attenuate it, even though PKCα and -ε isozymes were translocated to plasma membranes by PDBu. The atypical isozyme PKCζ was translocated by 100 μm arachidonic acid (AA), but not by PDBu; 100 μm AA and linoleic acid inhibited voltage-activated Ca2+ currents, and this effect was attenuated when PKCI(19–36) was added to the patch pipette solution. Our observations indicate that classical, new, and atypical PKC isozymes are present in chick sympathetic neurons and that an atypical, phorbol ester-insensitive PKC is involved in the inhibition of voltage-activated calcium currents by α2-adrenoceptor activation.
Monotonicity of approximate entropy during transition from awareness to unresponsiveness due to propofol anesthetic induction

The ability to monitor the physiological effects of sedative medication accurately is of interest in clinical practice. During the anesthetic agent driven transition to unresponsiveness, nonstationary changes such as signal amplitude variations appear in electroencephalography. In this paper, it is studied whether the application of the approximate entropy (ApEn) method to electroencephalographic (EEG) signal produces a monotonic response curve during the transition from awareness to unresponsiveness. Data from fourteen patients, undergoing propofol anesthetic induction were studied. To optimize the ApEn performance, different parameter choices were carefully evaluated. It was assumed with our protocol, that the level of anesthesia changes monotonically with the elapsed induction time. The monotonicity of the ApEn change was assessed with the prediction probability statistic (P/sub K/). The monotonicity of the ApEn time-series depends on the parameters employed in the algorithm and the varying signal amplitude. Depending on the parameter values, the median P/sub K/ value ranged from 0.886 to 0.527. Thus, a good directionality and concordance was observed, but the nonstationarity of the signal affected the results. In conclusion, EEG-based ApEn measure shows a nonlinear response during propofol induction. With a judicious choice of parameters, a monotonic response is confirmed using P/sub K/ statistic.
Comparative functional genomic screens of three yeast deletion collections reveal unexpected effects of genotype in response to diverse stress

The Yeast Knockout (YKO) collection has provided a wealth of functional annotations from genome-wide screens. An unintended consequence is that 76% of gene annotations derive from one genotype. The nutritional auxotrophies in the YKO, in particular, have phenotypic consequences. To address this issue, ‘prototrophic’ versions of the YKO collection have been constructed, either by introducing a plasmid carrying wild-type copies of the auxotrophic markers (Plasmid-Borne, PBprot) or by backcrossing (Backcrossed, BCprot) to a wild-type strain. To systematically assess the impact of the auxotrophies, genome-wide fitness profiles of prototrophic and auxotrophic collections were compared across diverse drug and environmental conditions in 250 experiments. Our quantitative profiles uncovered broad impacts of genotype on phenotype for three deletion collections, and revealed genotypic and strain-construction-specific phenotypes. The PBprot collection exhibited fitness defects associated with plasmid maintenance, while BCprot fitness profiles were compromised due to strain loss from nutrient selection steps during strain construction. The repaired prototrophic versions of the YKO collection did not restore wild-type behaviour nor did they clarify gaps in gene annotation resulting from the auxotrophic background. To remove marker bias and expand the experimental scope of deletion libraries, construction of a bona fide prototrophic collection from a wild-type strain will be required.
A comparative study of differential evolution algorithms for parameter fitting procedures

Parameter fitting consists on the estimation of model parameters using experimental data from the studied process, which can be considered as a nonlinear optimization problem. In this sense, evolutionary computation has shown its great capability to solve multimodal nonlinear optimization problems. This paper compares different variants of the Differential Evolution (DE) algorithm to minimize the residual sum of squares between the outcome of the mathematical model and experimental data. To compare the different variants of the DE algorithm, a biopolymer production model is considered. Simulations results suggest a trend for the best fit using the DE/best/ variants. However, the DE/rand/ variant provides more stable results respect to the average and standard deviation of different trials. Finally, the biopolymer production problem is discussed.