Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Effect of Hypocapnia on the Autoregulation of Cerebral Blood Flow During Administration of Isoflurane

Isoflurane impairs autoregulation of cerebral blood flow in a dose-related manner. Previous investigations in several other conditions have demonstrated that impaired autoregulation can be restored by hyperventilation. We hypothesized that hypocapnia may restore cerebral autoregulation impaired by isoflurane anesthesia. We administered isoflurane in 100% oxygen to 12 healthy patients aged 21–59 yr scheduled for elective nonneurological surgery. Isoflurane end-tidal concentration was individualized at 0.1% to 0.2% less than that required to induce short periods of isoelectric electroencephalogram. This resulted in an end-tidal isoflurane concentration of 1.6% ± 0.2% (mean ± sd) corresponding to an age-adjusted minimum alveolar anesthetic concentration multiple of 1.4. Mean arterial blood pressure was reduced to <80 mm Hg, by infusion of remifentanil if required. Cerebral autoregulation was assessed by infusing phenylephrine to increase mean arterial blood pressure to 100 mm Hg while monitoring middle cerebral artery blood flow velocity with transcranial Doppler ultrasonography. The change in flow velocity was used to calculate the autoregulation index (ARI). The ARI ranges between 0 and 1 and an ARI ≤0.4 indicates significantly impaired autoregulation. Autoregulation was tested twice in randomized order: once during normocapnia (Paco2 38–43 mm Hg) and once during hypocapnia (Paco2 27–34 mm Hg). The median (interquartile range) ARI was 0.29 (0.23–0.64) during normocapnia and 0.77 (0.70–0.78) during hypocapnia (P < 0.005). Of the 12 subjects, autoregulation was significantly impaired in 8 subjects during normocapnia and none during hypocapnia (P = 0.001). Hypocapnia restored cerebral autoregulation in normal subjects during isoflurane-induced impairment of autoregulation.
Low order harmonic cancellation in a grid connected multiple inverter system via current control parameter randomization

In grid connected multiple inverter systems, it is normal to synchronize the output current of each inverter to the common network voltage. Any current controller deficiencies, which result in low order harmonics, are also synchronized to the common network voltage. As a result the harmonics produced by individual converters show a high degree of correlation and tend to be additive. Each controller can be tuned to achieve a different harmonic profile so that harmonic cancellation can take place in the overall system, thus reducing the net current total harmonic distortion level. However, inter-inverter communication is required. This paper presents experimental results demonstrating an alternative approach, which is to arrange for the tuning within each inverter to be adjusted automatically with a random component. This results in a harmonic output spectrum that varies with time, but is uncorrelated with the harmonic spectrum of any other inverter in the system. The net harmonics from all the inverters undergo a degree of cancellation and the overall system yields a net improvement in power quality.
Clinical advances of nanocarrier-based cancer therapy and diagnostics

ABSTRACT Introduction: Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide and efficient new strategies are urgently needed to combat its high mortality and morbidity statistics. Fortunately, over the years, nanotechnology has evolved as a frontrunner in the areas of imaging, diagnostics and therapy, giving the possibility of monitoring, evaluating and individualizing cancer treatments in real-time. Areas covered: Polymer-based nanocarriers have been extensively studied to maximize cancer treatment efficacy and minimize the adverse effects of standard therapeutics. Regarding diagnosis, nanomaterials like quantum dots, iron oxide nanoparticles or gold nanoparticles have been developed to provide rapid, sensitive detection of cancer and, therefore, facilitate early treatment and monitoring of the disease. Therefore, multifunctional nanosystems with both imaging and therapy functionalities bring us a step closer to delivering precision/personalized medicine in the cancer setting. Expert opinion: There are multiple barriers for these new nanosystems to enter the clinic, but it is expected that in the near future, nanocarriers, together with new ‘targeted drugs’, could replace our current treatments and cancer could become a nonfatal disease with good recovery rates. Joint efforts between scientists, clinicians, the pharmaceutical industry and legislative bodies are needed to bring to fruition the application of nanosystems in the clinical management of cancer.
Elevated interleukin-6 plasma levels are regulated by the promoter region polymorphism of the IL6 gene in primary Sjögren's syndrome and correlate with the clinical manifestations of the disease.

OBJECTIVES To determine whether plasma interleukin-6 (IL-6) and G/C base exchange polymorphism at position -174 of the IL6 gene have an effect on the clinical manifestations of primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS). METHODS Levels of circulating IL-6 protein and polymorphism of the IL6 gene were analysed in 66 patients with pSS and in 400 healthy subjects. These data were studied in relation to clinical data on the pSS patients. RESULTS Plasma IL-6 was elevated in pSS patients compared with healthy controls. pSS patients with coeliac disease, pulmonary fibrosis or alveolitis or peripheral nervous system symptoms had significantly higher IL-6 levels than patients without these manifestations. IL-6 levels increased in parallel with the histological grade of minor salivary gland biopsy and the number of pSS criteria fulfilled. IL6 allele frequencies were similar in patients and normal subjects. Plasma IL-6 levels were regulated by the IL6 genotype in pSS patients. CONCLUSIONS The G/C polymorphism of the IL6 gene does not predispose patients to pSS, but the circulating IL-6 concentration is related to specific manifestations of the disease and the levels of IL-6 are regulated by the IL6 promoter polymorphism in pSS.
catena-Poly[{μ3-4,4′,6,6′-tetrabromo-2,2′-[butane-1,4-diylbis(nitrilomethanylylidene)]diphenolato}{μ2-4,4′,6,6′-tetrabromo-2,2′-[butane-1,4-diylbis(nitrilomethanylylidene)]diphenolato}dicopper(II)]

The asymmetric unit of the title coordination polymer consists of a dinuclear neutral complex molecule of formula [Cu2(C18H14Br4N2O2)2]n. One of the CuII ions is coordinated in a distorted square-planar geometry, whereas the other is coordinated in a distorted square-pyramidal geometry, the long apical Cu—O bond [2.885 (4) Å] of the square-pyramidal coordination being provided by a symmetry-related O atom creating a one-dimensional polymer along [010]. π–π stacking interactions [centroid–centroid distance = 3.783 (4) Å] and short interchain Br⋯Br interactions [3.6142 (12)–3.6797 (12) Å] are observed.
Analytical Method for Generating Images Reflected on a Cubed Glass

One of the most challenging issues in computer graphics is generation of images reflected on a transparent object. The image is generated by light reflection on the surface and also by light refraction through the object. In order to generate the image, ray tracing is the most powerful method. Ray-tracing takes huge amount of time to trace the ray that has been emitted from a light source and reaches the eye through each pixel that constructs the image. Currently, it can generate the image very fast by using parallel processing based on multi-core in GPU (Graphics Processing Unit). Ray tracing searches the ray trace by dividing the ray into two phenomena: reflection and refraction. It generates the image with a recursive process so that the image is generated with a simple algorithm. However, the image generated on a glass by reflection and refraction is so complex that we cannot tell which part of the image is generated by reflection on or refraction through which surface. Therefore, we propose an analytical method to draw the image generated on a cubed glass by reflection and refraction. The method investigates the ray trace in a parallel glass, and generates the object mirrored by reflection or refraction. In addition, the generated image depends on some factors such as the position of reflective surface and the number of total internal reflection. Then, the proposed method can draw the image separately according to the number of total internal reflection, and generates the final image by combining the pre-rendered each image.
Hardware acceleration of Private Information Retrieval protocols using GPUs

Private Information Retrieval (PIR) protocols allow users to search for data items stored at an untrusted server, without disclosing to the server the search attributes. Several computational PIR protocols provide cryptographic-strength guarantees for the privacy of users, building upon well-known hard mathematical problems, such as factorisation of large integers. Unfortunately, the computational-intensive nature of these solutions results in significant performance overhead, preventing their adoption in practice. In this paper, we employ graphical processing units (GPUs) to speed up the cryptographic operations required by PIR. We identify the challenges that arise when using GPUs for PIR and we propose solutions to address them. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first work to use GPUs for efficient private information retrieval, and an important first step towards GPU-based acceleration of a broader range of secure data operations. Our experimental evaluation shows that GPUs improve performance by more than an order of magnitude.
Modified electrical characteristics of filtered cathodic vacuum arc amorphous carbon film on n-Si (100) by heat treatment

Carbon allotropes are of great interest recently due to theirs novel applications. This paper examines the electrical behavior of amorphous carbon film, deposited on n-Si substrate by filtered cathodic vacuum arc (FCVA) deposition methodology, after treating it at high temperature. XPS data is also used to further understand the material. FCVA amorphous carbon film deposited at 1000V and post deposition heat-treated at 8000C is suggested to achieve a better Ohmic contact to n-Si substrates with total resistance 1200Ω compared to other settings with total resistance up to 2000Ω.
Optimized multistandard RF subsampling receiver architecture

This paper presents a novel subsampling-based down-conversion topology for multistandard radio receiver design. This receiver topology is based on two subsampling stages. The first stage has a fixed RF subsampling frequency; however, the IF sampling frequency of the second stage is variable and depends on the standard being considered. This approach overcomes various undesirable effects related to the sampling frequencies and noise aliasing. By optimizing the choice of the RF subsampling clock frequency, complete multistandard RF bands are down-converted to the same IF band. Quadrature baseband channel downconversion is achieved by a tunable IF sampling frequencies clock. A tunable band-pass RF filter and an IF band-pass filter are designed to perform anti-aliasing and limit wideband noise. A generic design methodology is proposed and validated through its application to a GSM, UMTS and IEEE-802.11g multistandard receiver. Simulation results of this receiver design example confirm the validation of proposed subsampling receiver topology and show the efficiency of the design methodology.
Importance of the Different Proteolytic Sites of the Proteasome and the Efficacy of Inhibitors Varies with the Protein Substrate*

The relative importance of the different proteolytic sites in mammalian proteasomes in protein degradation has not been studied systematically. Nevertheless, it is widely assumed that inhibition of the chymotrypsin-like site, the primary target of the proteasome inhibitors used in research and cancer therapy, reflects the degree of inhibition of protein breakdown. Here we demonstrate that selective inactivation of the chymotrypsin-like site reduced degradation of model proteins by pure 26 S proteasomes by only 11-50% and decreased only slightly the breakdown of proteins in HeLa cells. Inactivation of the caspase-like site decreased breakdown of model proteins by 12-22% and of the trypsin-like site by 3-35%. The relative contributions of these different sites depended on the protein substrate, and the importance of the trypsin-like sites depended on the substrate's content of basic residues. Simultaneous inhibition of the chymotrypsin-like and the caspase- or trypsin-like sites was needed to reduce degradation by >50%. Thus, 1) all three types of active sites contribute significantly to protein breakdown, 2) their relative importance varies widely with the substrate, 3) assaying the chymotrypsin-like activity overestimates the actual reduction in protein degradation, and 4) inhibition of multiple sites is required to markedly decrease proteolysis.
Recent Developments of Graphene Oxide-Based Membranes: A Review

Membrane-based separation technology has attracted great interest in many separation fields due to its advantages of easy-operation, energy-efficiency, easy scale-up, and environmental friendliness. The development of novel membrane materials and membrane structures is an urgent demand to promote membrane-based separation technology. Graphene oxide (GO), as an emerging star nano-building material, has showed great potential in the membrane-based separation field. In this review paper, the latest research progress in GO-based membranes focused on adjusting membrane structure and enhancing their mechanical strength as well as structural stability in aqueous environment is highlighted and discussed in detail. First, we briefly reviewed the preparation and characterization of GO. Then, the preparation method, characterization, and type of GO-based membrane are summarized. Finally, the advancements of GO-based membrane in adjusting membrane structure and enhancing their mechanical strength, as well as structural stability in aqueous environment, are particularly discussed. This review hopefully provides a new avenue for the innovative developments of GO-based membrane in various membrane applications.
Solar physics at Nançay radio observatory: Recent developments

The Nançay station of Paris Observatory operates two key instruments for solar physics: the Decametre Array (dynamic spectra of bursts, 20–70 MHz) and the Radioheliograph (images in the 150–450 MHz range). A new spectrograph (130–1000 MHz) is under construction for scientific and space weather purposes. This contribution summarises the performances of the instruments and illustrates recent results on the quiet Sun, quasi-continuous particle acceleration in active regions (noise storms) and radio observations relevant to coronal mass ejections and solar energetic particle events. These observations will be an essential support in future investigations of the Sun-Heliosphere connection with Solar Orbiter and Solar Probe.
Head-out immersion in hot water increases serum BDNF in healthy males

Abstract Purpose: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is an important neurotrophin. The present study investigated the effects of head-out water immersion (HOI) on serum BDNF concentrations. Methods: Eight healthy men performed 20 min head-out water immersion at 42 °C (hot-HOI) and 35 °C (neutral-HOI). These experimental trials were administered in a randomised order separated by at least 7 days. Venous blood samples were withdrawn at rest, immediately after the 20-min HOI, as well as at 15 and 30 min after the end of the HOI. Serum BDNF and S100β, plasma cortisol, platelet and monocyte counts, and core body temperature (Tcb) were measured. Results: Tcb was higher at the end of the hot-HOI and 15 min after hot-HOI (p < 0.01), but recovered to pre-HOI level at 30 min after hot-HOI. No change in Tcb was recorded during neutral-HOI. BDNF level was higher (p < 0.05) at the end of the hot-HOI and at 15 min after the end of hot-HOI, and returned to the baseline at 30 min after hot-HOI. S100β, platelet count and monocyte count remained stable throughout the study. Cortisol level was lower at the end of the hot-HOI and returned to pre-HOI level during the recovery period. BDNF and S100β, cortisol, and platelet and monocyte counts did not change throughout the neutral-HOI study. Conclusions: The present findings suggested that the increase in BDNF during 20-min hot-HOI was induced by hyperthermia through enhanced production, rather than by changes in permeability of the blood–brain barrier (BBB), platelet clotting mechanisms or secretion from monocytes.
Aldose Reductase-Deficient Mice Develop Nephrogenic Diabetes Insipidus

ABSTRACT Aldose reductase (ALR2) is thought to be involved in the pathogenesis of various diseases associated with diabetes mellitus, such as cataract, retinopathy, neuropathy, and nephropathy. However, its physiological functions are not well understood. We developed mice deficient in this enzyme and found that they had no apparent developmental or reproductive abnormality except that they drank and urinated significantly more than their wild-type littermates. These ALR2-deficient mice exhibited a partially defective urine-concentrating ability, having a phenotype resembling that of nephrogenic diabetes insipidus.
Fruit and vegetable consumption , intake of micronutrients , and benign prostatic hyperplasia in US men 1 – 3

Background: Nutrients with antioxidant properties or that influence cell growth and differentiation might reduce the risk of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Objective: The objective was to evaluate the association of fruit, vegetable, and micronutrient intakes with BPH. Design: The participants were members of the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study and were aged 46–81 y in 1992. In 1992 and biennially thereafter, the men reported having surgery for an enlarged prostate, and in 1992 and on 3 subsequent questionnaires they completed the American Urological Association symptom index (AUASI). BPH cases were men who reported having surgery or who had an AUASI score of 15–35 (n 6092). Control subjects were men who had not had surgery and never had an AUASI score 7 (n 18 373). Men with a score of 8–14 were excluded (n 7800). Intakes of fruit, vegetables, and antioxidants were assessed with a food-frequency questionnaire in 1986. We calculated odds ratios (ORs) of BPH and 95% CIs using logistic regression. Results: Vegetable consumption was inversely associated with BPH (fifth compared with first quintile—OR: 0.89; 95% CI: 0.80, 0.99; P for trend 0.03), whereas fruit intake was not. Consumption of fruit and vegetables rich in -carotene (P for trend 0.004), lutein (P for trend 0.0004), or vitamin C (P for trend 0.05) was inversely related to BPH. With increasing vitamin C intake from foods, men were less likely to have BPH (P for trend 0.0009). Neither nor -tocopherol intake from foods was associated with BPH (P for trend 0.05 and 0.84, respectively). Conclusion: Our findings are consistent with the hypothesis that a diet rich in vegetables may reduce the occurrence of BPH. Am J Clin Nutr 2007;85:523–9.
Original Contribution AProspective Studyof Insulin-LikeGrowth Factor 1, Its BindingProtein 3, andRisk of Endometriosis

Several retrospective case-control studies suggested that insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) or insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3 (IGFBP-3) was associated with endometriosis. However, results are inconsistent and no prospective study exists. We prospectively evaluated associations between plasma levels of IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 and laparoscopically confirmed endometriosis in a case-control study nested within the Nurses’ Health Study II. Between blood collections in 1996–1999 and 2007, we ascertained 310 premenopausal women with incident endometriosis and 615 matched controls. We estimated incidence rate ratios and 95% confidence intervals using multivariable conditional logistic regression. We observed no statistically significant associations between endometriosis and IGF-1 (incidence rate ratio (IRR) = 0.88, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.61, 1.27; Ptrend = 0.48), IGFBP-3 (IRR = 1.12, 95% CI: 0.80, 1.57; Ptrend = 0.51), and the IGF-1:IGFBP-3 molar ratio (IRR = 0.94, 95% CI: 0.66, 1.34;Ptrend = 0.64), comparing the top with the bottom tertile. IGF-1, IGFBP-3, and the molar ratio appeared to be positively associated with endometriosis risk among women aged <40 years at blood draw (IGF-1: IRR = 1.60, 95% CI: 0.86, 2.98; IGFBP-3: IRR = 1.85, 95% CI: 1.08, 3.16; IGF-1:IGFBP-3: IRR = 1.57, 95% CI: 0.85, 2.88) but not among women aged ≥40 years at blood draw (all Pheterogeneity ≤ 0.05). Overall, these data suggest that, if IGF-1 or IGFBP-3 plays a role in the etiology of endometriosis, it is minimal and perhaps only among younger women.
Sandwich-cultured hepatocytes: an in vitro model to evaluate hepatobiliary transporter-based drug interactions and hepatotoxicity

Sandwich-cultured hepatocytes (SCH) are a powerful in vitro tool that can be utilized to study hepatobiliary drug transport, species differences in drug transport, transport protein regulation, drug-drug interactions, and hepatotoxicity. This review provides an up-to-date summary of the SCH model, including a brief history of, and introduction to, the use of SCH, as well as methodology to evaluate hepatobiliary drug disposition. A summary of the literature that has utilized this model to examine the interplay between drug-metabolizing enzymes and transport proteins, drug-drug interactions at the transport level, and hepatotoxicity as a result of altered hepatic transport also is provided.
SenseCam: A wearable camera that stimulates and rehabilitates autobiographical memory

SenseCam is a wearable digital camera that captures an electronic record of the wearer's day. It does this by automatically recording a series of still images through its wide-angle lens, and simultaneously capturing a log of data from a number of built-in electronic sensors. Subsequently reviewing a sequence of images appears to provide a powerful autobiographical memory cue. A preliminary evaluation of SenseCam with a patient diagnosed with severe memory impairment was extremely positive; periodic review of images of events recorded by SenseCam resulted in significant recall of those events. Following this, a great deal of work has been undertaken to explore this phenomenon and there are early indications that SenseCam technology may be beneficial to a variety of patients with physical and mental health problems, and is valuable as a tool for investigating normal memory through behavioural and neuroimaging means. Elsewhere, it is becoming clear that judicious use of SenseCam could significantly impact the study of human behaviour. Meanwhile, research and development of the technology itself continues with the aim of providing robust hardware and software tools to meet the needs of clinicians, patients, carers, and researchers. In this paper we describe the history of SenseCam, and the design and operation of the SenseCam device and the associated viewing software, and we discuss some of the ongoing research questions being addressed with the help of SenseCam.
Thru-Match-Reflect: One Result of a Rigorous Theory for De-Embedding and Network Analyzer Calibration

A theory for network analyzer calibration and de-embeding is presented in which the calibration constants are evaluated via linear equations. The error-removal is accomplished by convenient matrix multiplication. It is shown that calibration procedures known until now are included as special cases. As results of the theory new more general concepts are presented, e.g. TMR and TAN, which have no inherent limit in bandwidth and no lower frequency limit.