Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Using Virtual Human Technology to Capture Dentists’ Decision Policies about Pain

Healthcare professionals use race, gender, and age cues when making pain management decisions. Use of these demographic cues, therefore, is an important topic in the study of healthcare disparities. This study used virtual human (VH) technology to investigate the effects of VH patients’ demographic cues on dentists’ pain management decisions. Eighty-nine dentists viewed patients with different demographic cues. Analyses revealed that dentists rated pain intensity higher and were more willing to prescribe opioids to female, African-American, and younger patients than to their demographic counterparts. Results also found significant 2-way interactions between race and age for both pain assessment and treatment decisions. The interaction results suggest that the race difference (Caucasian < African American) was more pronounced for younger than for older patients. This is the first study to examine demographic cue use in dentists’ decision-making for pain. The study found that dentists used demographic cues when making pain management decisions. Currently, there are no guidelines for decision- making practices for gender-, race-, or age-related pain. Since dentists see thousands of patients during their careers, the use of demographic cues could affect a substantial portion of the population. The findings could improve future training programs for dentists and dental students.
Challenges of reuse and remanufacturing of modern chips in smart mobile devices

The overview of the main challenges and barriers related with the issues of reuse and remanufacturing of components from smart mobile devices were presented. The authors mainly focused on the current state of the art as well as the preliminary remarks from first investigation of the “sustainablySMART” H2020 project were presented. It was stated that both in reuse and remanufacturing processes of modern chips the main role plays: economic profitability of processes, environmental benefits and costs of processing needed for remanufacturing of components, as well as technical feasibility of components remanufacturing in the way enable their safe application in other products.
Wet-etch release process for silicon-micromachined structures using polystyrene microspheres for improved yield

One of the final steps in fabricating microelectromechanical devices often involves a liquid-etch release process. Capillary forces during the liquid evaporation stage after the wet-etch process can pull two surfaces together resulting in adhesion of suspended microstructures to the supporting substrate. This release-related adhesion can greatly reduce yields. In this paper, we present a wet-etch release method that uses polystyrene microspheres in the final rinse liquid. The polystyrene microspheres act as physical barriers between the substrate and suspended microstructures during the final liquid evaporation phase. A plasma-ashing process is utilized to completely remove the polystyrene microspheres from the microstructure surfaces. Using this process, release yields >90% were achieved, as compared to yields of 20-50% when the polystyrene microspheres were not included. This release process is inexpensive, easy to implement, and is effective for both single-crystal and polycrystalline silicon MEMS devices.
A 10-b 750µW 200MS/s fully dynamic single-channel SAR ADC in 40nm CMOS

This paper presents a 10-bit high-speed two-stage SAR ADC. Each bit uses a dedicated comparator to store its output and generate an asynchronous clock for the next comparison. By doing this, the SAR logic delay and power are significantly reduced. A modified bidirectional single-side switching technique is used to optimize the comparator speed and offset by controlling the input common mode voltage Vcm. To suppress the comparator offset mismatch induced nonlinearity, redundancy and a shared pre-amplifier are employed in the second fine stage. The pre-amplifier is implemented using a dynamic latch to avoid static power consumption. The prototype ADC in 40-nm CMOS achieves 55dB peak SNDR at 200MS/s sampling rate without any calibration. It consumes 750μW from 1.1V power supply, leading to a Walden FOM of 8.6fJ/conversion-step.
Entropic trapping and electrophoretic drift of a polyelectrolyte down a channel with a periodically oscillating width.

We consider the electrophoretic drift of a polyelectrolyte (such as DNA) in a narrow channel or capillary with a spatially varying bore size (this can be thought of as a simplified gel model). These bore-size variations reduce the migration pathway to a series of pores and strictures creating an entropic potential surface through which the polyelectrolyte must migrate. The frequency of barrier crossing (probability of jumping to an adjacent pore) is described as an activated process that is dependent on the change in confinement entropy and on the electrostatic potential energy. At low field intensities, the strictures induce an entropic-trapping regime where the time between traps is a strong function of the molecular size; our simulations corroborate our analytic results. Moreover, we examine two critical field intensities: the first, ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\varepsilon}}}_{\mathrm{\ensuremath{\mu}}}$, is the field intensity beyond which the entropic barriers are overcome in an inhomogeneous system, while the other, ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\varepsilon}}}_{\mathit{D}}$, is that for which the longitudinal diffusion coefficient is a maximum. \textcopyright{} 1996 The American Physical Society.
A Lexicon Design for Ontology-based Question Answering

Data volume growth leads to new challenges for Natural Language Interfaces (NLI). With Big Data for example, NLI must not only be portable from one domain to another, but be operational simultaneously in several domains. The lexicon is an important resource that improves the system performance. In this paper, we propose an approach to design a lexicon centered on RDF (Resource Description Framework) triple. We argue that a triple centric lexicon is reusable. The lexicon is also extended to include operations and possible functions in which data can be involved. This allows increasing the complexity of questions a NLI can process.
Serine protease inhibitor gabexate mesilate attenuates american cockroach-induced bronchial damage and inflammatory cytokine release.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Allergic airway diseases are not only a T,2-mediated chronic airway inflammation, but also a condition of epithelial barrier defects and dysfunction. Allergens with protease activities are known factors that initiate respiratory epithelial damage. Cockroach allergy is the second leading cause of allergic respiratory airway diseases in Taiwan, and cockroach allergens have strong serine protease activity. This study aimed to determine the protective effect of the direct local administration of gabexate mesilate (GM) on American cockroach allergen (CraA)-induced human bronchial epithelial cell inflammation. METHODS BEAS-2B cells, from the human bronchial epithelial cell line, were stimulated with CraA or co-cultured with different doses of GM. Cellular morphologic changes were observed by microscopy and changes in chemokine mRNA expression and protein levels were determined by semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and ELISA. Effects of specific inhibitors of ERK1/2 (U0126), INK (SP600125), and p38 MAPK (SB203580) on CraA-induced chemokine mRNA expression were also tested by RT-PCR. RESULTS GM prevented CraA-induced bronchial epithelial cell detachment and morphological changes. It had superior and more extensive suppression effects than specific target MAPK inhibitors in CraA-induced mRNA expression of IL-8, monocyte chemotactic protein (MCP) 1, chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 20, and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor from the cells in a dose-dependent manner. CraA-induced IL-8 and MCP-1 protein production from BEAS-2B cells was also attenuated by GM. CONCLUSIONS The serine protease inhibitor GM has local protective effects against CraA-induced bronchial epithelial inflammation. The development of an inhaled or intranasal protease inhibitor may be a potential strategy for the treatment of allergic airway diseases induced by allergens with protease activities.
Peptidoglycan turnover during growth of a Bacillus megaterium Dap- Lys- mutant

The aim of this study was to ascertain whether or not the absence of cell wall growth zones, deduced from the analysis of autoradiographs of DL-[3H]mesodiaminopimelic acid pulse-labeled cells of a Dap- Lys- mutant of Bacillus megaterium, was due to a high peptidoglycan turnover. Turnover was determined in very precise experimental conditions because two kinds of turnover occurred: a low, acid-soluble turnover and a high, acid-insoluble one. The latter was detected during a chase in the culture medium when bacteria were centrifuged before treatment with trichloroacetic acid. Otherwise the acid-insoluble released material precipitated with the bacteria. In the electron microscope this material presented a globular structure and contained both peptidoglycan and teichoic acid. The acid-insoluble turnover was mainly produced by a lytic acitivity that was released into the culture medium. This thermolabile activity was not due to cell lysis. It was implicated in septum cleavage and in the detachment of wall fragments from the cell surface, but did not seem indispensable for cell elongation. The acid-soluble turnover was much weaker and seemed to be indispensable for cell elongation.
Increased platelet aggregation and activation in peripheral arterial disease.

OBJECTIVES patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) have a threefold increase in cardiovascular mortality. Standard antiplatelet treatment may not confer uniform benefit in different patient groups. This study aimed to compare platelet function in patients with lower limb PAD, carotid disease and abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) with age- and sex-matched healthy controls. METHODS patients with lower limb PAD (n = 20), carotid disease (n = 40), AAA (n = 13) and age/sex matched healthy controls (n= 20) were studied. Whole blood methods to detect spontaneous platelet aggregation (SPA), and adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and collagen-induced aggregation were used. The detection of platelet P-selectin and the PAC-1 antigen by flow cytometry were also used as markers of platelet activation and aggregation. RESULTS patients with lower limb PAD or AAA had higher baseline SPA compared to normal controls (p < 0.01). There was significantly higher collagen-induced aggregation in IC patients compared to normal controls (p < 0.01). However, there was no difference in ADP-induced aggregation between lower limb PAD and control patients. There was no difference in PAC-1 binding between control patients and the patients with lower limb PAD, carotid disease or AAA. Patients with carotid disease had a higher expression of P-selectin compared to normal controls (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS this study provides further evidence that platelet hyperactivity is present in patients with PAD despite the use of antiplatelet therapy. Further antiplatelet strategies may be indicated to protect these patients.
Microstrip log periodic antenna using circuit simulator

This paper described the method of designing the quasi log periodically scaled microstrip antenna using S parameter of the antenna and microstrip transmission line circuit. The novelty of this antenna structure is a combination of a small number of elements to create a log periodic array with modest bandwidth. The radiating element is a square patch antenna. The input impedance of the patch is adjusted to the inset feed and matched at 50 ohm impedance. This antenna has been analysed for five, seven and nine elements array. The performance of the antenna is compared using Momentum (MoM) simulator. The scaling factor of 1.05 has been chosen for design.
Long‐Term Adrenalectomy can Decrease or Increase Hippocampal Dentate Gyrus Volumes

Male and female Long‐Evans adult rats were adrenalectomized and sacrificed 6 weeks later to determine whether dentate gyrus damage would differ in females and males. A subset of adrenalectomized rats of both sexes had significantly reduced dentate gyrus volumes compared to the same sex SHAM operated rats. The remainder of the male and female adrenalectomized rats which did not have clear dentate gyrus damage had significantly larger dentate gyrus volumes compared to the same sex SHAM rats. The dentate gyrus volumes of all adrenalectomized rats were significantly correlated with two indices of residual hormonal levels (Na+/K+ ratios and body weight gain 6 weeks after surgery), indicating that endogenous corticosterone levels may be a determining factor in the response of the dentate gyrus to adrenalectomy. These dentate gyrus volumetric changes could not be attributed to tissue shrinkage as there were no changes in CA3 volumes in any of the groups. These results suggest that long‐term adrenalectomy can result in either increased or decreased dentate gyrus volumes and that the adrenal steroid levels of each individual adrenalectomized rat may be the factor determining the direction of the dentate gyrus volumetric response.
Purification, Characterization, and Gene Analysis of Cellulase (Cel8A) from Lysobacter sp. IB-9374

An enzyme that has both β-1,4-glucanase and chitosanase activities was found in the culture medium of the soil bacterium Lysobacter sp. IB-9374, a high lysyl endopeptidase-producing strain. The enzyme was purified to homogeneity from the culture filtrate using five purification steps and designated Cel8A. The purified Cel8A had a molecular mass of 41 kDa, as estimated by sodium dodecyl sulfate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. A pH optimum of 5.0 was found for the β-1,4-glucanase activity, and pH optima of 5.0 and 7.0 were found for the chitosanase activity. Nucleotide sequencing of the Cel8A gene yielded a deduced amino acid sequence that comprises a 33-amino acid, N-terminal signal peptide and a mature enzyme consisting of a 381-residue polypeptide with a predicted molecular mass of 41,241 Da. The amino acid sequence of the Cel8A, which contains the catalytic module of glycosyl hydrolase family 8, is homologous to β-1,3-1,4-D-glucanase from Bacillus circulans WL-12 and endoglucanase N-257 from B. circulans KSM-N257.
Patient Satisfaction and Safety With Aesthetic OnabotulinumtoxinA After At Least 5 Years: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Analysis of 4,402 Glabellar Treatments

BACKGROUND Despite extensive clinical experience with onabotulinumtoxinA, few data exist on patient satisfaction or safety with continuous treatment. OBJECTIVE This international multicenter study evaluated patient satisfaction and safety with long-term continuous facial aesthetic treatment with onabotulinumtoxinA. METHODS Retrospective chart review with a cross-sectional design was used to assess onabotulinumtoxinA treatment, including dosing, concomitant facial aesthetic medications and procedures, and adverse events (AEs). Validated Facial Line Satisfaction Questionnaire, Self-Perception of Age measure, and Facial Line Outcomes questionnaire instruments, and a de novo questionnaire were used to determine patient satisfaction. RESULTS A total of 207 patients consisted of the intent-to-treat population, with 194 in the per protocol analyses. Patients received a total of 4,402 glabellar treatments over a mean of 9.1 years, with a mean dose of 21.6 U per treatment. Overall, 92.3% of patients were mostly or very satisfied. Among the 89.7% of patients who reported looking younger, the mean perceived age was 6.9 years younger. Documented AEs were infrequent, mostly mild in severity, and declined in frequency over time. LIMITATIONS This population was self-selecting as they chose to continue treatment for 5 or more years to be eligible. CONCLUSION Continuous treatment with onabotulinumtoxinA for a mean of 9.1 years was associated with very high patient satisfaction.
Horizontal γ-PNA immobilization through organophosphonate chemistry for biosensing applications

Silicon-based field effect devices have been widely investigated in recent years for the label-free detection of DNA hybridization. The devices rely on detecting changes in the electrical surface potential that occur as a result of adsorbing charged DNA. To provide surface-immobilized affinity receptors for DNA hybridization, a suitable organic interface is obligatory that has a high density of receptor binding sites and a short distance between surface and probe DNA or its analogue, peptidic nucleic acid (PNA), to minimize electrolyte screening effects. In this work, we report on the bio-functionalization and characterization of silicon oxide-terminated surfaces with γ-PNA through organophosphonate interfacial chemistry. Functionalizing via attachment groups at the γ-points along the PNA backbone allows for multidentate binding of the PNA receptor in a lying configuration on the device surface, with potential application in label-free biosensing device optimization.
Immigration and Wage Dynamics: Evidence from the Mexican Peso Crisis

How does the US labor market absorb low-skilled immigration? In the short run, high-immigration locations see their low-skilled labor force increase, native low-skilled wages decrease, and the relative price of rentals increase. Internal relocation dissipates this shock spatially. In the long run, the only lasting consequences are (a) worse labor market conditions for low-skilled natives who entered the labor force in high-immigration years, and (b) lower housing prices in high-immigrant locations, when immigrant workers disproportionately enter the construction sector and lower construction costs. I use a quantitative dynamic spatial equilibrium many-region model to obtain the policy-relevant counterfactuals.
New taxa, new records and redefined concepts in the Elaphoglossum sect. Elaphoglossum subsec. Pachyglossa (Lomariopsidaceae) from Mexico and Central America.

Twelve new species are described in the taxonomically difficult Elaphoglossum (sect. Elaphoglossum): Elaphoglossum angustifrons A. Rojas, E. delgadilloanum A. Rojas, E. ellipticifolium A. Rojas, E. incognitum A. Rojas, E. mesoamericanum A. Rojas, E. nicaraguese A. Rojas, E. polypodium A. Rojas, E. tejeroanum A. Rojas, E. reptans A. Rojas, E. terrestre A. Rojas, E. variabile A. Rojas and E. zavale A. Rojas. Also, E. latifolium (Sw.) J. Sm. , E. sartorii (Liebm.) Mickel and E. viride (E. Fourn.) C. Chr. are amended, E. andicola (Fée) T. Moore and E. sporadolepis (Kunze ex Kuhn) T. Moore are reported.
The Mediterranean Fruit Fly and the United States: Is the Probit 9 Level of Quarantine Security Efficient?

"Cold treatment periods, and associated levels of quarantine security, that maximize net US welfare under USDA's current medfly detection and control program are examined using a deterministic bioeconomic optimization model"". As anticipated, the efficient level of quarantine security is shown to increase with indices of medfly pressure (initial infestation rates) in areas in which the medfly is known to exist (the QCs)"". Efficient cold treatment periods and weighted mean medfly survival rates are 8, 11, and 12 days and 5.0 × 10-super--2, 1.7 × 10-super--3, and 5.2 × 10-super--4 under low, moderate, and high initial infestation rates, respectively. When model output is averaged across initial infestation rates, an 11-day cold treatment period, resulting in a weighted mean medfly survival rate of 1.6 × 10-super--3, maximizes US welfare. These findings suggest that the current minimum cold treatment period of 14 days and the current objective of US cold treatment policy-the probit 9 level of quarantine security-are economically inefficient. Adopting the 11-day cold treatment period is shown to increase US social surplus by an annual $24.9 million, of which $21.5 and $3.4 million would accrue to US consumers and producers, respectively, and QC producer surplus by an annual $24.8 million. " Copyright 2007 Canadian Agricultural Economics Society.
A novel point mutation in the amino terminal domain of the human glucocorticoid receptor (hGR) gene enhancing hGR-mediated gene expression.

CONTEXT Interindividual variations in glucocorticoid sensitivity have been associated with manifestations of cortisol excess or deficiency and may be partly explained by polymorphisms in the human glucocorticoid receptor (hGR) gene. We studied a 43-yr-old female, who presented with manifestations consistent with tissue-selective glucocorticoid hypersensitivity. We detected a novel, single, heterozygous nucleotide (G --> C) substitution at position 1201 (exon 2) of the hGR gene, which resulted in aspartic acid to histidine substitution at amino acid position 401 in the amino-terminal domain of the hGRalpha. We investigated the molecular mechanisms of action of the natural mutant receptor hGRalphaD401H. METHODS-RESULTS Compared with the wild-type hGRalpha, the mutant receptor hGRalphaD401H demonstrated a 2.4-fold increase in its ability to transactivate the glucocorticoid-inducible mouse mammary tumor virus promoter in response to dexamethasone but had similar affinity for the ligand (dissociation constant = 6.2 +/- 0.6 vs. 6.1 +/- 0.6 nm) and time to nuclear translocation (14.75 +/- 0.25 vs. 14.25 +/- 1.13 min). The mutant receptor hGRalphaD401H did not exert a dominant positive or negative effect upon the wild-type receptor, it preserved its ability to bind to glucocorticoid response elements, and displayed a normal interaction with the glucocorticoid receptor-interacting protein 1 coactivator. CONCLUSIONS The mutant receptor hGRalphaD401H enhances the transcriptional activity of glucocorticoid-responsive genes. The presence of the D401H mutation may predispose subjects to obesity, hypertension, and other manifestations of the metabolic syndrome.