Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Thermo-mechanical properties of Isotropic Conductive Adhesive filled with Metallized Polymer Spheres

The thermo-mechanical properties of Isotropic Conductive Adhesives (ICAs) containing Metallized Polymer Spheres (MPS) with a diameter of 30 μm and 15 μm as conductive fillers have been investigated, denoted ICA-30μm and ICA-15 μm respectively. The MPS are coated with an approximately 150 nm thick layer of Ag. The coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) below Tg for ICA-30μm and ICA-15μm was found to be 50 ppm/°C and 53 ppm/°C, respectively. DMA measurements show a relatively large increase in loss modulus when 30 μm MPS are added to the epoxy matrix. The thermal conductivity with different volume fillings of MPS for both ICA-30μm and ICA-15μm has been investigated. Thermal conductivity of the ICA was modeled by using the Pal model for core-shell particles with reasonable accuracy especially at lower volume fillings. A thermal conductivity of 1 W/mK can be achieved by using approximately 1.4 vol% of silver. Using ICA with conventional silver flakes/particles, approximately 16 vol% of silver has to be used to achieve the corresponding thermal conductivity, which clearly illustrates the cost benefits of using ICA with MPS.
Beneficial cilostazol therapeutic effects in mdx dystrophic skeletal muscle

This study evaluated the possible protective effects of cilostazol against myonecrosis in dystrophic diaphragm muscle in vivo, focusing on oxidative stress, the inflammatory response and angiogenesis. Young mdx mice, the experimental animal for Duchenne muscular dystrophy, received cilostazol for 14 days. A second group of mdx mice and a control group of C57BL/10 mice received a saline solution. In the mdx mice, cilostazol treatment was associated with reduced loss of muscle strength (−34.4%), decreased myonecrosis, reduced creatine kinase levels (−63.3%) and muscle fibres stained for immunoglobulin G in dystrophic diaphragm muscle (−81.1%), and a reduced inflammatory response, with a decreased inflammatory area (−22%), macrophage infiltration (−44.9%) and nuclear factor‐κB (−24%) and tumour necrosis factor‐α (−48%) content in dystrophic diaphragm muscle. Furthermore, cilostazol decreased oxidative stress and attenuated reactive oxygen species production (−74%) and lipid peroxidation (−17%) in dystrophic diaphragm muscle, and promoted the up‐regulation of angiogenesis, increasing the number of microvessels (15%). In conclusion, the present results show that cilostazol has beneficial effects in dystrophic muscle. More research into the potential of cilostazol as a novel therapeutic agent for the treatment of dystrophinopathies is required.
A Domain with Homology to Neuronal Calcium Sensors Is Required for Calcium-dependent Activation of Diacylglycerol Kinase α*

Diacylglycerol kinases (DGKs) phosphorylate diacylglycerol produced during stimulus-induced phosphoinositide turnover and attenuate protein kinase C activation. Diacylglycerol kinase α is an 82-kDa DGK isoform that is activated in vitro by Ca2+. The DGKα regulatory region includes tandem C1 protein kinase C homology domains and Ca2+-binding EF hand motifs. It also contains an N-terminal recoverin homology (RVH) domain that is related to the N termini of the recoverin family of neuronal calcium sensors. To probe the structural basis of Ca2+ regulation, we expressed a series of DGKα deletions spanning its regulatory domain in COS-1 cells. Deletion of the RVH domain resulted in loss of Ca2+-dependent activation. Further deletion of the EF hands resulted in a constitutively active enzyme, suggesting that sequences in or near the EF hands are sufficient for autoinhibition. Binding of Ca2+ to the EF hands protected sites within both the RVH domain and EF hands from trypsin cleavage and increased the phenyl-Sepharose binding of a recombinant DGKα fragment that included both the RVH domain and EF hands. These observations suggested that Ca2+ elicits a concerted conformational change of these two domains. A cationic amphiphile, octadecyltrimethylammonium chloride, also activated DGKα. As with Ca2+, this activation required the RVH domain. However, this agent did not protect the EF hands and RVH domain from trypsin cleavage. These findings indicate that the EF hands and RVH domain act as a functional unit during Ca2+-induced DGKα activation.
Desensitizing efficacy of Colgate Sensitive Maximum Strength and Fresh Mint Sensodyne dentifrices.

PURPOSE To investigate the relative effectiveness provided by a new dentifrice containing 5.0% potassium nitrate and 0.454% stannous fluoride in a silica base (Colgate Sensitive Maximum Strength dentifrice) for reducing dentin hypersensitivity over an 8-wk period, as compared to that provided by a commercially-available antihypersensitivity dentifrice containing 5.0% potassium nitrate and 0.76% sodium monofluorophosphate in a dicalcium phosphate base (Fresh Mint Sensodyne dentifrice). MATERIALS AND METHODS To qualify for participation in this examiner-blind clinical study, male and female adults from the central New Jersey area were required to present with tactile and air blast dentin hypersensitivity in at least two non-molar teeth at two examinations, spaced 1 wk apart. Qualifying subjects were randomized into two treatment groups, which were balanced for gender, age, and baseline sensitivity scores. Subjects were provided with a soft-bristled toothbrush. Examinations for tactile and air blast sensitivity were repeated after 4 wks' use of the study dentifrices, and again after 8 wks' usage. 97 subjects complied with the protocol, and completed the entire study. RESULTS After 4 wks, subjects assigned to the Colgate Sensitive Maximum Strength dentifrice group exhibited a statistically significant improvement over the Sensodyne dentifrice group with respect to tactile sensitivity scores, and a statistically significant improvement over the Sensodyne dentifrice group with respect to air blast sensitivity scores. Correspondingly significant improvements were presented after 8 wks. Thus, the results of this examiner-blind clinical study support the conclusion that the Colgate Sensitive Maximum Strength dentifrice containing 5.0% potassium nitrate and 0.454% stannous fluoride in a silica base provided superior levels of control of tactile and air blast sensitivity than the clinically tested, commercially-available anti-hypersensitivity dentifrice Sensodyne dentifrice containing 5.0% potassium nitrate and 0.76% sodium monofluorophosphate in a dicalcium phosphate base.
The discovery of vemurafenib for the treatment of BRAF-mutated metastatic melanoma

ABSTRACT Introduction: In the era of precision medicine and sophisticated modern genetics, the discovery of the BRAFV600 inhibitor, vemurafenib, quickly became the model for targeted therapy in melanomas. As early as 2002, the majority of metastatic melanomas were described to harbor the BRAFV600 mutation, setting the stage for an explosion of interest for targeting this protein as a novel therapeutic strategy. The highly selective BRAFV600 inhibitor, vemurafenib, was identified initially through a large-scale drug screen. Areas covered: Here we examine vemurafenib’s journey from discovery to clinical use in metastatic melanoma. Topics covered include preclinical data, single agent Phase 1,2 and 3 clinical trials, resistance issues and mechanisms, adverse effects including the development of squamous cell cancers, and combination trials. Expert opinion: Due to its tolerance, low toxicity profile, rapid tumor response, and improved outcomes in melanoma patients with BRAFV600 mutations, vemurafenib was advanced rapidly through clinical trials to receive FDA approval in 2011. While its efficacy is well documented, durability has become an issue for most patients who experience therapeutic resistance in approximately 6–8 months. In addition, a concerning toxicity observed in patients taking the drug include development of localized cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs). It is hypothesized that drug resistance and SCC development result from a similar paradoxical activation of protein signaling pathways, specifically MAPK. Identification of these mechanisms has led to additional treatment strategies involving new combination therapies.
Nonstructural Proteins of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Suppress Premature Apoptosis by an NF-κB-Dependent, Interferon-Independent Mechanism and Facilitate Virus Growth

ABSTRACT The two nonstructural (NS) proteins NS1 and NS2 of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are abundantly expressed in the infected cell but are not packaged in mature progeny virions. We found that both proteins were expressed early in infection, whereas the infected cells underwent apoptosis much later. Coincident with NS protein expression, a number of cellular antiapoptotic factors were expressed or activated at early stages, which included NF-κB and phosphorylated forms of protein kinases AKT, phosphoinositide-dependent protein kinase, and glycogen synthase kinase. Using specific short interfering RNAs (siRNAs), we achieved significant knockdown of one or both NS proteins in the infected cell, which resulted in abrogation of the antiapoptotic functions and led to early apoptosis. NS-dependent suppression of apoptosis was observed in Vero cells that are naturally devoid of type I interferons (IFN). The siRNA-based results were confirmed by the use of NS-deleted RSV mutants. Early activation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in the RSV-infected cell did not require NS proteins. Premature apoptosis triggered by the loss of NS or by apoptosis-promoting drugs caused a severe reduction of RSV growth. Finally, recombinantly expressed NS1 and NS2, individually and together, reduced apoptosis by tumor necrosis factor alpha, suggesting an intrinsic antiapoptotic property of both. We conclude that the early-expressed nonstructural proteins of RSV boost viral replication by delaying the apoptosis of the infected cell via a novel IFN- and EGFR-independent pathway.
Optimal Wireless Energy Charging for Incentivized Content Transfer in Mobile Publish–Subscribe Networks

In mobile social networks, mobile users may help each other transfer contents when they move and meet each other. In this paper, we consider a mobile publish–subscribe network in which a mobile user (i.e., a content source) incentivizes other users (i.e., messengers) to forward its content by transferring energy to them. The messengers can utilize the received energy for content forwarding and/or their own use. From the perspective of a rational content source, to optimize the content delivery performance, we formulate the problem of energy charging and content transferring as a Markov decision process (MDP): a framework for decision-making in stochastic systems. The objective is to maximize the expected utility in terms of the benefit gained by the content source from delivering the content and cost from energy consumption and transfer. The solution to the MDP is proved to be a threshold policy. Performances of the MDP-based scheme are examined in different system scenarios. The numerical results show that the MDP-based scheme outperforms the conventional baseline schemes.
Cytidine Deaminase Deficiency Reveals New Therapeutic Opportunities against Cancer

Purpose: One of the main challenges in cancer therapy is the identification of molecular mechanisms mediating resistance or sensitivity to treatment. Cytidine deaminase (CDA) was reported to be downregulated in cells derived from patients with Bloom syndrome, a genetic disease associated with a strong predisposition to a wide range of cancers. The purpose of this study was to determine whether CDA deficiency could be associated with tumors from the general population and could constitute a predictive marker of susceptibility to antitumor drugs. Experimental Design: We analyzed CDA expression in silico, in large datasets for cancer cell lines and tumors and in various cancer cell lines and primary tumor tissues using IHC, PDXs, qRT-PCR, and Western blotting. We also studied the mechanism underlying CDA silencing and searched for molecules that might target specifically CDA-deficient tumor cells using in silico analysis coupled to classical cellular experimental approaches. Results: We found that CDA expression is downregulated in about 60% of cancer cells and tissues. We demonstrate that DNA methylation is a prevalent mechanism of CDA silencing in tumors. Finally, we show that CDA-deficient tumor cells can be specifically targeted with epigenetic treatments and with the anticancer drug aminoflavone. Conclusions: CDA expression status identifies new subgroups of cancers, and CDA deficiency appears to be a novel and relevant predictive marker of susceptibility to antitumor drugs, opening up new possibilities for treating cancer. Clin Cancer Res; 23(8); 2116–26. ©2016 AACR.
Association between fatty liver disease and carotid atherosclerosis in patients with uncomplicated type 2 diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a clinic-pathological syndrome closely associated with obesity, dyslipidemia, diabetes and atherosclerosis. Some authors suggest that NAFLD is, in fact, another component of the metabolic syndrome. AIM To determine the prevalence of NAFLD in diabetes mellitus (DM) patients, and to evaluate the carotid artery status in these patients. METHODS Fifty six patients with uncomplicated type 2 DM were enrolled. Hepatic steatosis (HS) and carotid atherosclerosis (intima-media thickness - IMT) were evaluated by ultrasonography. Plasma liver function tests and other biochemical blood measurements were determined. RESULTS HS was found in 38 patients (67.8%) with DM. Subjects with HS had higher values for body mass index, diastolic blood pressure, mean blood pressure and triglycerides, and lower HDL cholesterol concentration, but there were no differences regarding IMT between DM patients with or without HS. Behavioral variables (smoking, diet, and sedentarism), fasting plasma glucose, and LDL cholesterol levels, also, did not significantly differ between subjects with and without HS. CONCLUSION DM patients with HS in our study showed a cluster of cardiovascular risk factors but non-significant carotid atherosclerosis. The detection of HS by abdominal ultrasound should alert to the existence of a higher cardiovascular risk, but in DM this is still under discussion, the results being still unconfirmed.
Innovation in the road and bridge industry

This paper reviews innovation activity in a key service industry - road and bridge construction. Based on a large-scale Australian survey and descriptive statistics, the paper finds that there is little difference in innovation levels between different types of industry participants and that innovation is difficult to implement. The survey gathered responses from suppliers, consultants, contractors and clients and compared results across these four industry sectors. The absorptive capacity and relationship capacities of respondents were also investigated. One in five respondents had poor absorptive capacity. Suppliers were found to be the most effective learners and were the best adopters of ideas from outside their organisations; clients were found to be the least effective. Australian construction organisations have relatively good relationship skills because relationship-based contracts are common compared to other countries. Indeed, the survey found that nearly 60% of respondents had experience with such contracts, with clients having more experience than the other three sectors. The results have implications for the measurement of innovation in project-based industries, and the relative roles of clients and suppliers in driving innovation in the construction industry. Further research will examine the extent to which particular governance mechanisms within relationship contracts lead to improved innovation and project performance.
Effects of Pubertal Exposure to Dietary Soy on Estrogen Receptor Activity in the Breast of Cynomolgus Macaques

Endogenous estrogens influence mammary gland development during puberty and breast cancer risk during adulthood. Early-life exposure to dietary or environmental estrogens may alter estrogen-mediated processes. Soy foods contain phytoestrogenic isoflavones (IF), which have mixed estrogen agonist/antagonist properties. Here, we evaluated mammary gland responses over time in pubertal female cynomolgus macaques fed diets containing either casein/lactalbumin (n = 12) or soy protein containing a human-equivalent dose of 120 mg IF/day (n = 17) for approximately 4.5 years spanning menarche. We assessed estrogen receptor (ER) expression and activity, promoter methylation of ERs and their downstream targets, and markers of estrogen metabolism. Expression of ERα and classical ERα response genes (TFF1, PGR, and GREB1) decreased with maturity, independent of diet. A significant inverse correlation was observed between TFF1 mRNA and methylation of CpG sites within the TFF1 promoter. Soy effects included lower ERβ expression before menarche and lower mRNA for ERα and GREB1 after menarche. Expression of GATA-3, an epithelial differentiation marker that regulates ERα-mediated transcription, was elevated before menarche and decreased after menarche in soy-fed animals. Soy did not significantly alter expression of other ER activity markers, estrogen-metabolizing enzymes, or promoter methylation for ERs or ER-regulated genes. Our results demonstrate greater ER expression and activity during the pubertal transition, supporting the idea that this life stage is a critical window for phenotypic modulation by estrogenic compounds. Pubertal soy exposure decreases mammary ERα expression after menarche and exerts subtle effects on receptor activity and mammary gland differentiation. Cancer Prev Res; 9(5); 385–95. ©2016 AACR.
Phase and Amplitude Automatic Measurements on Pulsed RF Signals

A low cost System is described which automatically performs fast and accurate instantaneous phase and amplitude measurements. With this Test Equipment it is possible to measure with accuracy and repeatability amplitude and insertion phase during the RF pulse on passive and active components with a time resolution of a few nanoseconds. The System is used in the design and production testing of active devices, amplifiers and Solid State Transmitters in Radar Applications. It makes use of a six port network and computer controlled commercial instruments. With this equipment it is also possible to measure other parameters such as VSWR, efficiency, rise and fall time, which are relevant for characterizing devices and amplifier systems.
Energy-Aware Service Function Placement for Service Function Chaining in Data Centers

Nowadays, data centers deploy a large number of servers and network devices to provide various service functions (e.g. firewalls, deep packet inspection, content caches, WAN optimizers, etc.) and sufficient network connection. Most traffic in data centers is subject to treatment by multiple service functions (SFs) which form an ordered service function chain (SFC). In this paper, we study the energy-aware service function placement problem for SFC in data centers. By considering the computing, bandwidth resources constrains and the power models both in servers and switches, a new service function placement algorithm Merge-RD is proposed to save the energy consumption in data centers. The simulation results indicate that the Merge-RD can effectively reduce the energy consumption and average transmission delay in data center compared with some existing service function placement algorithms while guaranteeing the packet delivery ratio at a high level.
Usual Care for Rural Veterans With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

PURPOSE Community-Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) provide primary-care-based mental health services to rural veterans who live long distances from Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals. Characterizing the composition of usual care will highlight the need and potential strategies to improve access to and engagement in evidence-based psychotherapy for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). METHOD Veterans (N = 132) with PTSD recruited from 5 large- (5,000-10,000 patients) and 6 medium-sized (1,500-4,999) CBOCs were enrolled in the usual care arm of a randomized control trial for a PTSD collaborative care study. Chart review procedures classified all mental health encounters during the 1-year study period into 10 mutually exclusive categories (7 psychotherapy and 3 medication management). FINDINGS Seventy-two percent of participants received at least 1 medication management encounter with 30% of encounters being delivered via interactive video. More than half of veterans (58.3%) received at least 1 session of psychotherapy. Only 12.1% received a session of therapy classified as an evidence-based psychotherapy for PTSD. The vast majority of psychotherapy encounters were delivered in group format and only a small proportion were delivered via interactive video. CONCLUSIONS Findings suggest that veterans diagnosed with PTSD who receive their mental health treatment in large and medium CBOCs are likely to receive medication management, and very few veterans received evidence-based psychotherapy. There may be ways to increase access to evidence-based psychotherapy by expanding the use of interactive video to connect specialty mental health providers with patients, hosted either in CBOCs or in home-based care, and to offer more group-based therapies.
Ovarian Cancer: Sites of Recurrence

Introduction Improved knowledge of recurrence sites after contemporary surgical management of ovarian cancer is needed. Material and Methods We retrospectively reviewed consecutive patients managed for epithelial ovarian or tubal cancer with surgery and platinum-based chemotherapy between January 1, 2005, and December 31, 2009, in a tertiary teaching hospital. The site of first recurrence was recorded. Univariate analysis was performed to identify factors associated with site-specific recurrence. Overall survival and progression-free survival were computed using the Kaplan-Meier method, and log-rank tests were performed to assess the impact on survival of the variables of interest. Results Recurrences were noted in 3 (20%) of 15 International Federation of Gynecologists and Obstetricians stage I to IIa patients and 36 (62.1%) of 58 International Federation of Gynecologists and Obstetricians IIb to IV patients, and the median progression-free survival was 21.6 (2.5–71) and 19.3 (1.8–67.6) months, respectively. In the advanced-disease group, 75% of recurrences involved the peritoneum and 40% were confined to the peritoneum; peritoneal recurrences developed at both treated and untreated sites. Peritoneal recurrence was associated with greater initial peritoneal involvement (Sugarbaker score, 12.1 ± 8.2 vs 7.1 ± 7.4; P = 0.01) and residual postoperative tumor. Nodal recurrences were noted in 38% of all recurrences, usually in combination with peritoneal recurrence and in the abdominal territories. Isolated distant metastasis was a rare mode of recurrence (8%). Conclusions The peritoneum is the main recurrence site in both early and advanced ovarian cancer. Initial disease spread and extent of surgery are associated with the recurrence risk. This article supports the view that more attention should be directed toward extensive treatment of the peritoneum.