Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of the effect of reactive sulfide on the acute toxicity of silver (I) to Daphnia magna. Part 1: Description of the chemical system

Experiments were designed to assess the potential protective effect of the presence of sulfide against the acute (48‐h) toxicity of silver(I) to Daphnia magna. Tests were conducted in borosilicate glass beakers (250 ml) in moderately hard synthetic water. Toxicity solutions were replaced after 24 h by static renewal method. This paper describes the chemical system, and the acute toxicity results are presented in a companion paper. Sulfide was below detection limit (<5 nM) in controls with no sulfide added. Sulfide, added as zinc sulfide clusters at approximately 35‐ or approximately 350‐nM concentration, dropped in concentration to approximately 25 and 250 nM, respectively, over the 24‐h period of measurements. Silver also decreased in concentration during the experiment (up to 59%), and the rate of loss was greater in the absence of sulfide compared with the presence of sulfide. A filtration experiment indicated a 1:1 binding ratio of silver to sulfide and a conditional stability constant for the Ag(I)‐zinc sulfide complex of log K' = 8.9. The losses of sulfide and silver during the experiments highlighted the need for regular monitoring of the important chemical components of the system, even during short (48‐h) toxicity tests.
Glyburide in gestational diabetes – prediction of treatment failure

Objective. To identify factors predicting failure of glyburide treatment in women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Methods. A retrospective study of all women with GDM that were treated with glyburide in a single tertiary referral center. Patients were switched from glyburide to insulin if they failed to achieve glycemic goals, and were then classified as glyburide failure. Results. Overall, 124 women with GDM treated with glyburide were included in the study, of which 31 (25%) failed to achieve glycemic control. Women in the failure group were characterized by a higher weight gain during pregnancy, higher rates of GDM on previous pregnancies, and a glucose challenge test (GCT) result. On multivariate logistic regression analysis, a GCT value of >200 mg/dl (OR=7.1, 95% CI 2.8–27.6) and weight gain ≥12 kg (OR=3.9, 95% CI 1.2–13.0) were the only significant and independent predictors of glyburide failure. Most women who were successfully treated with glyburide required a daily dose of 5 mg or less and the time required to achieve glycemic control in these cases was 12.4±4.9 days (range 5–24 days). Of the women who failed to achieve glycemic control with gluburide, 26/31 were switched to insulin, of them only 12 (46%) achieved desired level of glycemic control. Conclusion. Most women with GDM achieved desired level of glycemic control under glyburide treatment.
Stages of Change for Fruit and Vegetable Consumption in Deprived Neighborhoods

This article describes the association of external and psychosocial factors on the stages of change for fruit and vegetable consumption, among 2,781 inhabitants, aged 18 to 65 years, in deprived neighborhoods (response rate 60%). To identify correlates of forward stage transition, an ordinal logistic regression model, the Threshold of Change Model (TCM), was used to analyze the data. The results indicate that men, those from Dutch origin, those with (rather) low health locus of control, those displaying risk behaviors, and those without knowledge of dietary guidelines were less likely to move from one stage to another and therefore were more likely to be in a lower stage-of-change category. The results make it possible to distinguish target groups, which should receive more attention in future health promotion campaigns, and to identify factors to be addressed in those programs.
Heart transplantation in children and infants: Short‐term outcome and long‐term follow‐up

Abstract: Since 1988, 82 heart transplants have been performed in 80 infants and children. Diagnoses pretransplant were: hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) (n = 43); cardiomyopathy (n = 19); endocardial fibroelastosis (n = 6); and other complex congenital heart diseases (n = 12). Age at transplantation was < 1 yr in 61 patients. Overall survival rate was 79% at 1 yr and 73% at 5 and 10 yr. To date, 20 patients have died after transplantation. Causes of death were: rejection (eight patients); right ventricular failure (four patients); transplant coronary artery disease (TCAD) (two patients); and other causes (six patients). In the majority of patients somatic growth is not impaired, and renal function is reduced (but stable) in all patients. Two patients developed post‐transplant lymphoproliferative disease, which was treated successfully. Major long‐term morbidity is neurologic deficit – severe in three patients and minor in six. TCAD was present or suspected in six surviving patients. We conclude that heart transplantation in infants and children can be performed with good early and late results. Quality of life is excellent in most patients. TCAD, however, will become an increasing problem in the long term.
Compensation of current measurement error in half-bridge PWM inverter for linear compressor

This paper proposes a novel compensation algorithm of current measurement error for single-phase linear compressor in home appliances. Current measurement error which may be problem, when use the DC link divided into two capacitors in half-bridge inverter, causes the unbalanced DC link voltage. In order to compensate the current measurement error, the synchronous reference frame transformation is used for detecting the measurement error. When the output current of the half-bridge inverter includes offset error, the d-axis current has a ripple of fundamental frequency. By using a PR(Proportional-Resonant) controller, first harmonic can be removed and can be compensated measurement error. The proposed compensation method can be easily implemented without much computation and additional hardware circuit. The validity of the proposed algorithm is verified through simulations.
Thrombocytopenia in the antiphospholipid syndrome.

OBJECTIVE To determine the prevalence of thrombocytopenia in a group of patients suffering from the antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) and to investigate whether these patients may have any particular clinical or serological features. METHODS Retrospective analysis. A group of 171 APS patients seen in our department were studied for the presence of thrombocytopenia. Clinical and serological features of these patients were analysed by standard methods and each of them was correlated to the presence of thrombocytopenia and compared with those found in the group without thrombocytopenia. RESULTS Each of the patients studied had a minimum of three platelet counts during the follow up period. Forty (23.4%) were found to have thrombocytopenia; 13 with persistently low and 27 patients with intermittently low platelet counts. There were no statistically significant differences in sex, age, disease duration or diagnosis when compared with the group of APS patients without thrombocytopenia. Thrombocytopenia was associated with thrombosis in 18, with miscarriages in five, and with both of these features in 13 patients. It was the only manifestation of the APS in four patients. All patients had persistently positive tests for antiphospholipid antibodies concomitantly with the low platelet counts. No significant association was found between the presence of thrombocytopenia and clinical or serological manifestations in APS patients. CONCLUSION This study showed a prevalence of thrombocytopenia of 23.4% in APS. These patients did not present any significant clinical or serological features that distinguish them from those patients without thrombocytopenia.
Analysis of coaxial magnetic gears

The behavior of a magnetic gear which employs rare earth magnets is analyzed; the magnetic gear allows the power to be transmitted by transforming speed and torque. An analytical simplified approach for the analysis of the considered magnetic gear is used in this paper. The approach can be suitable for design aims. The mathematical model is one-dimensional: only the variation of electromagnetic quantities as function of angular position is considered, the permanent magnets are modeled by means of constant currents located at their edges. The resulting magnetomotive force generated by two rotors is modulated by the distribution of the variable permeance due to the difference of the magnetic permeability between the air of the slots and the magnetic material of the pole-pieces. The analytical results are verified by means of a finite element method.
Noise Folding in Completely Perturbed Compressed Sensing

This paper first presents a new generally perturbed compressed sensing (CS) model , which incorporated a general nonzero perturbation into sensing matrix and a noise into signal simultaneously based on the standard CS model and is called noise folding in completely perturbed CS model. Our construction mainly will whiten the new proposed CS model and explore in restricted isometry property () and coherence of the new CS model under some conditions. Finally, we use OMP to give a numerical simulation which shows that our model is feasible although the recovered value of signal is not exact compared with original signal because of measurement noise , signal noise , and perturbation involved.
Reduced T-Dependent Humoral Immunity in CD20-Deficient Mice

CD20 is a tetraspanning membrane protein expressed on B lymphocytes. CD20 deficiency in both mice and humans has recently been shown to have deleterious effects on Ab responses to T-independent Ags; however, no effect on T-dependent immunity has been reported. In this study, we used a Cd20−/− mouse line to evaluate Ab responses to adeno-associated virus and SRBCs. The neutralizing Ab response to adeno-associated virus was significantly reduced by CD20 deficiency; both primary (IgM) and secondary (IgG1 and IgG2b) responses to SRBC were also reduced in Cd20−/− mice, and this was associated with a reduction in the number of germinal center B cells. A successful humoral response requires the integration of intracellular signaling networks that critically rely on calcium mobilization. In this article, we confirm that BCR-mediated calcium mobilization is reduced in Cd20−/− murine B cells after BCR stimulation in vitro, and further show that the reduction is due to an effect on calcium influx rather than calcium release from intracellular stores. Calcium-dependent upregulation of CD69 was impaired in CD20-deficient B cells, as was upregulation of CD86. Altogether, this study demonstrates a role for CD20 in B cell activation and T-dependent humoral immunity.
A bi-functional quantum cascade device for same-frequency lasing and detection

We demonstrate a bi-functional quantum cascade device that detects at the same wavelength as it coherently emits. Our fabricated device operates at room-temperature with a pulsed peak power emission of 45 mW and a detector responsivity of 3.6 mA/W. We show how to compensate the intrinsic wavelength mismatch between the laser and the detector, based on a bound-to-continuum design. An overlap between the laser and the detector spectra was observed from 6.4 μm to 6.8 μm. The electro-luminescence spectrum almost perfectly matches the detector spectrum, overlapping from 6.2 μm to 7.1 μm.
Validation of the flexible and rigid control dimensions of dietary restraint.

OBJECTIVE Two subscales for the Eating Inventory (Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire) are developed and validated: Rigid and Flexible control of eating behavior. METHOD Study I is an analysis of questionnaire data and a 7-day food diary of 54,517 participants in a computer-assisted weight reduction program. Study II is a study of 85 subjects used to develop a final item pool. Study III is a questionnaire survey of a random sample (N = 1,838) from the West German population aged 14 years and above used to validate the developed subscales. RESULTS Rigid control is associated with higher scores of Disinhibition, with higher body mass index (BMI), and more frequent and more severe binge eating episodes. Flexible control is associated with lower Disinhibition, lower BMI, less frequent and less severe binge eating episodes, lower self-reported energy intake, and a higher probability of successful weight reduction during the 1-year weight reduction program. DISCUSSION Rigid and flexible control represent distinct aspects of restraint having different relations to disturbed eating patterns and successful weight control.
PACHOMETRIC STUDY ON THE INFLUENCE OF CORNEAL ENDOTHELIAL VITAL STAINING

The corneal thickness was measured in 114 cases prior to cataract extraction. On the second postoperative day a 15 per cent increase of the thickness was noticed, and on the sixth postoperative day a 9 per cent increase. At a follow‐up 6 to 12 months later the thickness was as before the operation. Half of the eyes were vital‐stained during the operation by filling the anterior chamber with 0.1% trypan blue. Such staining has no harmful effect on the corneal endothelium, assessed by the corneal thickness and by occurrence of corneal epithelium oedema.
A Simple Constellation Precoding Technique over MIMO-OFDM Systems

— This paper studies the design of a simple constellation precoding for a multiple-input multiple-output orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (MIMO-OFDM) system over Rayleigh fading channels where OFDM is used to keep the diversity replicas orthogonal and reduce ISI effects. A multi-user environment with K syn- chronous co-channel users is considered. The proposed scheme provides a bandwidth efficient transmission for individual users by in- creasing the system throughput. In comparison with the existing coded MIMO-OFDM schemes, the precoding technique is designed under the consideration of its low implementation complexity while providing a comparable error performance to the existing schemes. Analytic and simulation results have been presented to show the distinguished error performance.
Semi-circular microstrip array on a planar reflector with extended beam-scanning range

For wide-angle scanning applications, we investigate a semi-circular microstrip array on a planar metallic reflector. The array elements lie on the semi-circular surface of a cylinder bisected axially by the plane of the reflector. To assess its beam scanning properties, the achievable directivity is determined for different main-lobe directions. For this particular array configuration, the main lobe can be scanned in an angular range of /spl plusmn/82/spl deg/ with a slightly reduced directivity compared to a corresponding planar linear array, indicating an angular scan range of /spl plusmn/50/spl deg/. As a proof of this concept, two array antennas with fixed main-beam directions are realized at an operating frequency of 10 GHz. The experimental results are compared with our simple analytical model using Matlab and simulations using the commercial tool Clementine.
Molecular structure of the netropsin-d(CGCGATATCGCG) complex: DNA conformation in an alternating AT segment.

The molecular structure of the complex between a minor groove binding drug (netropsin) and the DNA dodecamer d(CGCGATATCGCG) has been solved and refined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis to a final R factor of 20.0% to 2.4-A resolution. The crystal is similar to that of the other related dodecamers with unit cell dimensions of a = 25.48 A, b = 41.26 A, and c = 66.88 A in the space group P2(1)2(1)2(1). In the complex, netropsin binds to the central ATAT tetranucleotide segment in the narrow minor groove of the dodecamer B-DNA double helix as expected. However, in the structural refinement the drug is found to fit the electron density in two orientations equally well, suggesting the disordered model. This agrees with the results from solution studies (chemical footprinting and NMR) of the interactions between minor groove binding drugs (e.g., netropsin and distamycin A) and DNA. The stabilizing forces between drug and DNA are provided by a combination of ionic, van der Waals, and hydrogen-bonding interactions. No bifurcated hydrogen bond is found between netropsin and DNA in this complex due to the unique dispositions of the hydrogen-bond acceptors (N3 of adenine and O2 of thymine) on the floor of the DNA minor groove. Two of the four AT base pairs in the ATAT stretch have low propeller twist angles, even though the DNA has a narrow minor groove. Alternating helical twist angles are observed in the ATAT stretch with lower twist in the ApT steps than in the TpA step.
Health information seeking and media exposure among smokers: a comparison of light and intermittent tobacco users with heavy users.

INTRODUCTION We examined population-based data to assess potential differences between light and intermittent smokers as compared with moderate to heavy tobacco users in health information-seeking behavior and attitudes and media exposure. METHODS Data from the 2003 and 2005 Health Information National Trends Surveys were combined to examine the information-seeking characteristics of light daily smokers (n = 594), intermittent smokers (n = 532), and moderate to heavy daily smokers (n = 1,131). RESULTS Compared with moderate to heavy daily smokers, intermittent smokers reported less exposure to television, greater trust in doctors as a source of health information, and greater intention to quit smoking. No differences in information-seeking experiences and preferences were observed between light daily smokers and moderate to heavy daily smokers. Intermittent smokers were distinct from moderate to heavy smokers in their information-seeking experiences and preferences. DISCUSSION The insight into the media use and information preferences of different smoking populations lays the groundwork for conducting further research to examine the information needs and preferences of smoking groups and to more effectively develop and deliver smoking cessation interventions.
Popliteal pterygium syndrome in a Swedish family-clinical findings and genetic analysis with the van der Woude syndrome locus at 1q32-q41

The present study describes a Swedish family in which the mother and her son were affected with signs of popliteal pterygium syndrome (PPS, OMIM 119500). Both individuals had bilateral complete cleft lip and palate, oral synechiae, paramedian pits on the lower lip, toe syndactyly and a piece of triangular skin overgrowth on the great toes. The son also presented with soft tissue syndactyly of the 2nd and 3rd fingers. Although popliteal pterygium was not found, the above clinical features were diagnostic for PPS. Chromosomal abnormalities were not revealed in either case by cytogenetic analyses. A test for microdeletion in the VWS region at 1q32-q41 was performed in the family using 5 polymorphic microsatellite markers from the region. The affected son was found to be heterozygous for all 5 markers, suggesting that microdeletion at the VWS region was unlikely. The VWS locus, however, was not excluded by haplotype analysis of the family.
Distant Space Processing is Controlled by tPA-dependent NMDA Receptor Signaling in the Entorhinal Cortex

In humans, spatial cognition and navigation impairments are a frequent situation during physiological and pathological aging, leading to a dramatic deterioration in the quality of life. Despite the discovery of neurons with location-specific activity in rodents, that is, place cells in the hippocampus and later on grid cells in the entorhinal cortex (EC), the molecular mechanisms underlying spatial cognition are still poorly known. Our present data bring together in an unusual combination 2 molecules of primary biological importance: a major neuronal excitatory receptor, N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR), and an extracellular protease, tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), in the control of spatial navigation. By using tPA-deficient mice and a structure-selective pharmacological approach, we demonstrate that the tPA-dependent NMDAR signaling potentiation in the EC plays a key and selective role in the encoding and the subsequent use of distant landmarks during spatial learning. We also demonstrate that this novel function of tPA in the EC is reduced during aging. Overall, these results argue for the concept that encoding of proximal versus distal landmarks is mediated not only by different anatomical pathways but also by different molecular mechanisms, with the tPA-dependent potentiation of NMDAR signaling in the EC that plays an important role.
The optically determined corneal and anterior chamber volumes of the cynomolgus monkey.

We described an optical method of measuring corneal volume and employed the optical method of Johnson et al. for measuring the volume of the anterior chamber in cynomolgus monkey. In 12 normal monkey eyes, the corneal volume was found to be 40.4 +/- 2.3 microliter (mean +/- S.E.) and the anterior chamber volume was 101.8 +/- 4.2 microliter (mean +/- S.E.).
Linear-scaling first-principles molecular dynamics of complex biological systems with the Conquest code

The recent progress of linear-scaling or methods in density functional theory (DFT) is remarkable. In this paper, we show that all-atom molecular dynamics simulations of complex biological systems based on DFT are now possible using our linear-scaling DFT code Conquest. We first overview the calculation methods used in Conquest and explain the method introduced recently to realise efficient and robust first-principles molecular dynamics (FPMD) with DFT. Then, we show that we can perform reliable all-atom FPMD simulations of a hydrated DNA model containing about 3400 atoms. We also report that the velocity scaling method is both reliable and useful for controlling the temperature of the FPMD simulation of this system. From these results, we conclude that reliable FPMD simulations of complex biological systems are now possible with Conquest.
Total dose response of hafnium oxide based metal-oxide- semiconductor structure under gamma-ray irradiation

The research of the total dose response of high dielectric-constant hafnium oxide under gamma-ray irradiation is important for the anti-irradiation study of the ultra-deep submicron electronic devices in space application. The response of the HfO2-based Metal Oxide Semiconductor (MOS) structure under various total doses of gamma-ray irradiation is investigated in this article. MOS capacitors which are composed of aluminum electrode, HfO2 gate dielectric on p-type silicon (Al/HfO2/pSi) are prepared and tested before and after 60Co gamma-ray irradiation to access the irradiation induced damage in HfO2/Si system. The surface morphology is obtained by the use of atomic force microscope(AFM), the chemical and physical characteristics are obtained using X-ray diffractometer (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectrometer(XPS), and the charge trapping characteristic of HfO2 film is calculated from the current-voltage(CV) curve by the semiconductor parameter testing. Crystallized HfO2, SiO2 and HfSiO4 are detected from the XRD spectrum and the crystallinity and grain size are found to decrease with the increase of gamma-ray total dose. Oxygen vacancy is found to increase after irradiation and it dominates the oxide charge trapping in the HfO2/Si system. Schottky emission is found to be the charge transport mechanism from the current-voltage curve at room temperature, and the barrier height of HfO2/Si interface is found to decrease with the increase of irradiation. Irradiation induced defects would lower the HfO2/Si interface barrier height and then give rise to the leakage current, this will consequently lead to the failure of HfO2 film and corresponding MOS structures.