Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Factors Associated With Change in 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Levels Over Longitudinal Follow-Up in the ARIC Study.

CONTEXT A single measurement of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25 [OH] D) may not accurately reflect long-term vitamin D status. Little is known about change in 25(OH)D levels over time, particularly among blacks. OBJECTIVE The objective of the study was to determine the longitudinal changes in 25(OH)D levels among Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study participants. DESIGN This was a longitudinal study. SETTING The study was conducted in the general community. PARTICIPANTS A total of 9890 white and 3222 black participants at visit 2 (1990-1992), 888 whites and 876 blacks at visit 3 (1993-1994), and 472 blacks at the brain visit (2004-2006) participated in the study. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE The 25(OH)D levels were measured, and regression models were used to assess the associations between clinical factors and longitudinal changes in 25(OH)D. RESULTS Vitamin D deficiency (<50 nmol/L [<20 ng/mL]) was seen in 23% and 25% of whites at visits 2 and 3, and in 61%, 70%, and 47% of blacks at visits 2, 3, and the brain visit, respectively. The 25(OH)D levels were correlated between visits 2 and 3 (3 y interval) among whites (r = 0.73) and blacks (r = 0.66). Among blacks, the correlation between visit 2 and the brain visit (14 y interval) was 0.33. Overall, increases in 25(OH)D levels over time was associated with male gender, use of vitamin D supplements, greater physical activity, and higher high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (P < .001). Decreases in 25(OH)D levels over time were associated with current smoking, higher body mass index, higher education, diabetes, and hypertension (all P < .05). CONCLUSIONS Among US blacks and whites, 25(OH)D levels remained relatively stable over time. Certain modifiable lifestyle factors were associated with change in 25(OH)D levels over time.
The research of monitor system in digital protection for generator-transformer sets based on embedded RTOS

For the purpose of the monitor system in digital protection, the embedded real-time operating system (RTOS) and the embedded GUI (graphical user interface) is introduced to design the monitor system. Combining the necessity and the application value of the operation system, the choice of embedded Linux and Qt/Embedded is completely viable for the monitor system in digital protection for generator-transformer sets. The design with embedded Linux and embedded GUI enriches system information, increases developing efficiency and improve the generality.
Subunit structure, expression, and function of NAD(H)-specific isocitrate dehydrogenase in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Mitochondrial NAD(H)-specific isocitrate dehydrogenase was purified from Saccharomyces cerevisiae for analyses of subunit structure and expression. Two subunits of the enzyme with different molecular weights (39,000 and 40,000) and slightly different isoelectric points were resolved by denaturing electrophoretic techniques. Sequence analysis of the purified subunits showed that the polypeptides have different amino termini. By using an antiserum to the native enzyme prepared in rabbits, subunit-specific immunoglobulin G fractions were obtained by affinity purification, indicating that the subunits are also immunochemically distinct. The levels of NAD(H)-specific isocitrate dehydrogenase activity and immunoreactivity were found to correlate closely with those of a second tricarboxylic acid cycle enzyme, malate dehydrogenase, in yeast cells grown under a variety of conditions. S. cerevisiae mutants with defects in NAD(H)-specific isocitrate dehydrogenase were identified by screening a collection of yeast mutants with acetate-negative growth phenotypes. Immunochemical assays were used to demonstrate that one mutant strain lacks the 40,000-molecular-weight subunit (IDH1) and that a second strain lacks the 39,000-molecular-weight subunit (IDH2). Mitochondria isolated from the IDH1 and IDH2 mutants exhibited a markedly reduced capacity for utilization of either isocitrate or citrate for respiratory O2 consumption. This confirms an essential role for NAD(H)-specific isocitrate dehydrogenase in oxidative functions in the tricarboxylic acid cycle.
TiO2 anatase phase structure growth, morphological optical and electrical characterization by different alcoholic solvents

Nanocrystalline TiO2 anatase thin films have been prepared from alkoxide solution via sol-gel method. The effects of two protic solvents of methanol and ethanol of TiO2 thin films were systematically investigated under room temperature. The films were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), ultraviolet spectroscopy (UV-vis), current-voltage (I-V) and capacitance-frequency (C-F) test. The structure growth, morphological, optical and electrical characteristic of the TiO2 thin films were influenced by different factors such as dielectric constant, film thickness, and particle size. XRD confirmed the presence of tetragonal anatase phase in all samples after annealed at 400°C. Furthermore, it was inferred from UV-visible transmittance spectra that although band-gap energy of the films are independent of solvent type, the particle size, film thickness, crystallinity and electrical measurement (I-V and C-F test) of the films are highly affected by the type of solvents.
Assay of Fletcher Factor (Plasma Prekallikrein) Using an Artificial Clotting Reagent and a Modified Chromogenic Assay

Summary An artificial clotting reagent lacking in Fletcher factor (plasma prekallikrein, PPK) was made by mixing human plasma, activated by 5 mg/ml of celite, then kept 16 hours at 37° to destroy most of the plasma kallikrein, plus rabbit plasma (which is devoid of XII and Fletcher activity). Chromogenic assay using a tripeptide substrate was also modified to exclude the interference of the endogenous contact factors. Celite eluate was used instead of kaolin or dextran sulphate for the activation. Using both these methods, it is possible to distinguish between Fletcher trait (PPK deficiency) and other contact factors such as factor XII and HMWK deficiencies, which do not activate with kaolin or dextran sulphate. These simple clotting and enzymatic assays give specific and well correlated results for PPK estimation.
Face Recognition Invariant to Partial Occlusions

Face recognition is considered a complex biometrics in the field of image processing mainly due to the constraints imposed by variation in the appearance of facial images. These variations in appearance are affected by differences in expressions and/or occlusions (sunglasses, scarf etc.). This paper discusses incremental Kernel Fisher Discriminate Analysis on sub-classes for dealing with partial occlusions and variant expressions. This framework focuses on the division of classes into fixed size sub-classes for effective feature extraction. For this purpose, it modifies the traditional Linear Discriminant Analysis into incremental approach in the kernel space. Experiments are performed on AR, ORL, Yale B and MIT-CBCL face databases. The results show a significant improvement in face recognition.
Agent‐based simulation of cooperative defence against botnets

The paper outlines a framework and software tool intended for simulation of cooperative defence mechanisms against botnets. These framework and software tool are based on agent‐oriented approach and packet‐level network simulation. They are intended to evaluate and compare different cooperative distributed attacks and defence mechanisms. Botnet and defence components are represented in the paper as a set of collaborating and counteracting agent teams. Agents are supposed to collect information from various network sources, operate different situational knowledge, and react to actions of other agents. The paper describes the results of experiments aimed to investigate botnets and distributed denial of service defence mechanisms. We explore various botnet attacks and counteraction against them on the example of defence against distributed denial of service attacks. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
RACE on a physically distributed and logically shared memory system

The RACE (remote access cache coherency enforcement) protocol is a cache coherency protocol that uses a full-mapped directory-based cache protocol to provide a consistent memory through multi-level memory hierarchy consisting of a number of processor caches, physically distributed shared-memory, and third level caches. In this paper, we have proposed a RACE protocol which can be used in the physically distributed and logically shared memory system.
Domain wall gate for magnetic logic and memory applications with perpendicular anisotropy

Domain wall (DW) motion and pinning in magnetic nanowires play an essential role in next generation magnetic memory and logic devices. In this paper, we experimentally demonstrate a novel device, where the DW propagation in a nanowire is locally controlled by surrounding gate magnets. DW pinning is proven by experiment and further supported by micromagnetic simulations. Prospects for 3D integration are elaborated, which indicate a scaling path to below 0. 01μm2 footprint while having increased speed and reliability margins. The demonstrated domain wall gate enables logic operation, can act as an on-off switch in magnetic interconnects and has far reaching applications in magnetic logic and memory devices.
Computation of Torque of an Electrical Machine With Different Types of Finite Element Mesh in the Air Gap

In the numerical analysis of electrical machines, accurate computation of the electromagnetic torque is desired. Maxwell stress tensor method and Coulomb's method are the most commonly used methods for computing torque numerically. However, several other methods have also been developed and are being used. These methods are observed to have several accuracy issues related to the finite element discretization used in the air gap of the machine. In this paper, the effect of various finite element meshes in the air gap of the machine and the effect of the shape of the elements used to compute the torque are studied and discussed. This paper carefully compares the torques obtained from a direct method and a method based on the power balance of the machine.
Air versus ground transport of patients with acute myocardial infarction: experience in a rural-based helicopter medical service

Aims Primary prehospital Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) interventions may play a role in timely reperfusion therapy for patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). We designed a prospective study involving patients with acute myocardial infarction aimed at the evaluation of the potential benefit of such primary HEMS interventions as compared with classical Emergency Medical Services ground transport. Methods and results This prospective study was conducted from 1 July 2007 to 15 June 2012. Successive patients with STEMI eligible for percutaneous coronary intervention were included. Simulated ground-based access times were computed using a digital cartographic program, allowing the estimation of healthcare system delay from call to admission to the catheterization laboratory. During the study period, 4485 patients benefited from HEMS activations. Of these patients, 342 (8%) suffering from STEMI were transferred for primary percutaneous coronary intervention. The median primary response time was 11 min (interquartile range: 8–14 min) using the helicopter and 32 min (25–44 min) using road transport. The median transport time was 12 min (9–15 min) using HEMS and 50 min (36–56 min) by road. The median system delay using HEMS was 52 min (45–60 min), whereas this time was 110 min (95–126 min) by road. Finally, the system delay median gain was 60 min (47–72 min). Conclusion Using HEMS in a rural region allows STEMI patients to benefit from appropriate rescue care with delays similar to those seen in urban settings.
Cellular and extracellular protein antigens of Treponema pallidum synthesized during in vitro incubation of freshly extracted organisms

A new medium that permits radiolabeling of freshly extracted cells of Treponema pallidum with [35S]methionine very efficiently has been devised. Although treponemes were not purified free of contaminating rabbit tissue, label was incorporated exclusively into treponemal protein in a linear manner for at least the first 16 h of in vitro incubation. Throughout this period, virtually a full complement of treponemal proteins was synthesized, based on a sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis comparison of the radiolabeled protein profile with the Coomassie blue-stained profile of gradient-purified treponemes. The radiolabeled protein profiles obtained with three pathogenic strains were very similar but not identical. Using solubilized treponemal extracts and a sensitive radioimmunoprecipitation procedure, we identified the protein antigens of T. pallidum that were recognized by immunoglobulin G antibodies in various rabbit and human syphilitic sera. A simple fractionation procedure has been used to separate soluble and membrane-bound treponemal proteins. A number of the membrane proteins are exposed on the cell surface, since intact radiolabeled treponemes bound antibodies directed against these proteins. In addition, a unique class of low-molecular-weight extracellular treponemal proteins has been identified. The cell surface-exposed proteins were among the earliest proteins recognized by immunoglobulin G antibodies after experimental infection of rabbits with T. pallidum.
Activation of accumbens cell firing by stimuli associated with cocaine delivery during self‐administration

Electrophysiological recording procedures were used in behaving rats (n = 11) to examine the responsiveness of nucleus accumbens (Acb) neurons to stimuli associated with intravenous cocaine delivery during self‐administration sessions. Of 208 Acb neurons recorded during cocaine (0.33 mg/inf) self‐administration sessions, 78 cells exhibited one of four types of patterned discharges (increases and/or decreases in firing rate) immediately before and/or following the cocaine‐reinforced response. All phasically active Acb cells were examined in test sessions consisting of “probe” trials (18–20 per session) during which either the drug only was delivered (0.33 mg/inf cocaine, 6 sec) or the stimulus only (tone‐houselight, 20 sec) was randomly presented by the computer, interspersed between reinforced lever press responses. Results show that Acb cells that exhibit postresponse changes in firing rate within seconds of the reinforced response appear to be controlled, at least in part, by the stimulus paired with cocaine delivery during the self‐administration session and not via a direct pharmacological action of cocaine. In contrast, neurons displaying exclusively preresponse activity do not appear to be influenced by presentation of the drug‐associated stimulus or by a direct pharmacological action of the cocaine, but may be related to initiation of the operant response. These findings are discussed with respect to the role of the Acb in mediating conditioned responses associated with drug reinforcement. Synapse 35:238–242, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Evaluation of the piezoelectric properties and voltage generation of flexible zinc oxide thin films

Local piezoresponse and piezoelectric output voltage were evaluated on ZnO thin films deposited by radio-frequency magnetron sputtering on hard Si/Ti/Au and flexible Cu-coated polyimide substrates. Three different thicknesses of ZnO films were studied (285 nm, 710 nm, and 1380 nm), focusing on characteristics like crystallinity, grain size, surface roughness, and morphology. Independent of the nature of the metal layer and the substrate, our results show that thicker films presented a higher level of crystallinity and a preferential orientation along the c-axis direction, as well as a lower density of grain boundaries and larger crystal sizes. The improvement of the crystalline structure of the material directly enhances its piezoelectric properties, as confirmed by the local characterizations performed by piezoresponse force microscopy and by the evaluation of the output voltage generation under the application of a periodical mechanical deformation on the whole film. In particular, the highest value of the d33 coefficient obtained (8 pm V−1) and the highest generated output voltage (0.746 V) belong to the thickest films on hard and flexible substrates, respectively. These results envision the use of ZnO thin films—particularly on flexible substrates—as conformable, reliable, and efficient active materials for use in nanosensing, actuation, and piezoelectric nanogenerators.
Mesenchymal Stem Cells for the Treatment of Skin Diseases

Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-based therapy involving both autologous and allogeneic MSCs shows great promise in treating several conditions. MSCs promote wound healing, and can differentiate into multiple cell lineages, including keratinocytes. Therefore, MSCs can be used for the treatment of congenital or acquired skin defects. Because of their immunomodulatory properties, MSCs may be useful for the treatment of inflammatory and autoimmune skin diseases. In particular, MSCs might be effective for the treatment of large vitiligo lesions as immunosuppressant or cultured grafts. MSCs can also be a novel cell source for regenerating hair in the treatment of scarring alopecia and androgenic alopecia. MSCs might also be an effective treatment for alopecia areata, which is associated with autoimmunity. Stem cell therapies with topical administration of MSCs and bone marrow transplantation were shown to alleviate recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa in both animal models and human subjects. In addition to cell transplantation, the mobilization of endogenous MSCs has been attempted for skin regeneration. Overall, this review highlights the great potential of MSCs for the treatment of skin diseases in the near future.
Ramp Voltage Testing for Detecting Interconnect Open Faults

A method for detecting interconnect open faults of CMOS combinational circuits by applying a ramp voltage to the power supply terminal is proposed. The method can assign a known logic value to a fault location automatically by applying a ramp voltage and as a result, it requires only one test vector to detect a fault as a delay fault or an erroneous logic value at primary outputs. In this paper, we show fault detectability and effectiveness of the proposed method by simulation-based and theoretical analysis. We also expose that the method can be applicable to every fault location in a circuit and open faults with any value. Finally, we show ATPG results that are suitable to the proposed method.
Social Support and Adjustment to a Novel Social Environment

The present article aims to examine the ways in which social support may affect the adaptation of individuals to a novel social environment. A distinctive feature of this research was the assessment of social support both before and after entering a completely new network of social relationships. A cohort of international exchange high school students (N = 242) was administered a battery of self-report ques tionnaires dealing with personality traits, perceived social support, coping beha viors and emotional distress before leaving Japan and six months after living with a host family in a foreign community. Perceived social support abroad contributed to less emotional distress. This health-promoting effect of social support was found to be mediated by adaptive coping behaviours, and was not due to confounding by personality traits. Perceived social support at home was predictive of more emotional distress abroad. Subjects who reported high levels of social support at home were particularly vulnerable when they entered the completely new environment and found that such support was no longer available.
In vivo dynamic human retinal blood flow imaging using ultra-high-speed spectral domain optical Doppler tomography

An ultra-high-speed spectral domain optical Doppler tomography (SD-ODT) system is used to acquire images of blood flow in a human retina in vivo, at 29,000 depth profiles (A-lines) per second and with data acquisition over 99% of the measurement time. The phase stability of the system is examined and image processing algorithms are presented that allow accurate determination of bi-directional Doppler shifts. Movies are presented of human retinal flow acquired at 29 frames per second with 1000 A-lines per frame over a time period of 3.28 seconds, showing accurate determination of vessel boundaries and time-dependent bi-directional flow dynamics in artery-vein pairs. The ultra-high-speed SD-ODT system allows visualization of the pulsatile nature of retinal blood flow, detects blood flow within the choroid and retinal capillaries, and provides information on the cardiac cycle. In summary, accurate video rate imaging of retinal blood flow dynamics is demonstrated at ocular exposure levels below 600 µW.
Family Member Involvement in Hastened Death

When patients pursue a hastened death, how is the labor of family caregiving affected? The authors examined this question in a qualitative study of 35 families. Four cases reveal the main themes: “taking care” included mutual protection between patients and family members; “midwifing the death” without professional support left families unprepared for adverse events; “tying up loose ends” included dealing with family members' fear of legal consequences; and “moving ahead” involved a greater risk of complicated grief when families encountered complications during the dying process. These results highlight the positive and negative consequences of family members' participation in a hastened death.
Canadian birth seasonality and its possible association with seasonal brightness

This paper tests whether atmospheric brightness is related to Canadian birth seasonality ten-eleven months earlier. Births and visibility (brightness) are correlated nation-wide and in nine provinces/cities. For the national correlation, r=0 . 928. Therefore, seasonal brightness provides a plausible explanation for inter-annual changes in seasonality , and may reconcile divergent viewpoints. Easy verification is a major strength, although underlying causality remains unknown. While these results suggest a direct association between seasonal brightness and seasonality , brightness may not be an exclusive determinant.
Holographic antenna with antipodal feed for frequency-scanning radar

A frequency-scanning radar in LTCC is presented. The focus of this paper is the holographic antenna with a beam scanning of 30° and a maximum measured gain of 14.5 dBi. With the antipodal Vivaldi feed, an easy and broadband integration with the 60 GHz MMICs is possible. Besides the presented simulation results the paper includes the measured farfield of the antenna and its return loss.
Cells that overproduce protein kinase C are more susceptible to transformation by an activated H-ras oncogene

We recently developed rat fibroblast cell lines that stably overproduce high levels of the beta 1 form of protein kinase C (PKC). These cells display several disorders in growth control and form small microscopic colonies in agar. In the present study we demonstrate that one of these cell lines, R6-PKC3, is extremely susceptible to transformation by an activated human bladder cancer c-H-ras oncogene (T24). Compared with control cell line R6-C1, T24-transfected R6-PKC3 cells yielded a 10-fold increase in the formation of large colonies in agar. Cell lines established from these colonies displayed a highly transformed morphology, expressed the T24-encoded p21 ras protein, continued to express high levels of PKC, and were highly tumorigenic in nude mice. These results provide genetic evidence that PKC mediates some of the effects of the c-H-ras oncogene on cell transformation. Data are also presented suggesting that optimum synergistic effects between c-H-ras and PKC require critical levels of their respective activities. These findings may be relevant to the process of multistage carcinogenesis in tissues containing cells with an activated c-H-ras oncogene.