Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Role of Enteroviral Infections in the Development of IDDM: Limitations of Current Approaches

Enteroviruses have been examined for their possible role in the etiology of IDDM for nearly 40 years, yet the evidence remains inconclusive. The mechanism of acute cytolytic infection of β-cells, proposed by earlier studies, appears to be incompatible with the long preclinical period of autoimmunity preceding IDDM. Advances in molecular biology have improved our understanding of enteroviral biology and of potential alternative pathogenic mechanisms through which enteroviruses may cause diabetes. The focus of future human studies will likely shift from people with IDDM to those with prediabetic autoimmunity to determine whether acute enteroviral infections can promote progression from autoimmunity to overt diabetes. We propose that such studies use assays to detect enteroviral RNA, in addition to IgM serology. RNA assays can overcome sensitivity and type-specificity limitations of IgM assays as well as identify diabetogenic strains of enteroviruses, if such exist. Evaluation of the role of enteroviruses in triggering β-cell autoimmunity in humans will require large prospective studies of young children. The Diabetes Autoimmunity Study in the Young—one of very few such studies currently underway—is focusing on potential interactions between HLA class II genes and enteroviral infections. Future studies will likely examine interactions between viral infections and non-HLA IDDM candidate genes, including those that may determine β-cell tropism of candidate viruses.
Stellar magnetism: empirical trends with age and rotation

We investigate how the observed large-scale surface magnetic fields of low-mass stars (∼0.1– 2M� ), reconstructed through Zeeman–Doppler imaging, vary with age t, rotation and Xray emission. Our sample consists of 104 magnetic maps of 73 stars, from accreting premain sequence to main-sequence objects (1Myr t 10 Gyr). For non-accreting dwarfs we empirically find that the unsigned average large-scale surface field is related to age as t −0.655 ± 0.045 . This relation has a similar dependence to that identified by Skumanich, used as the basis for gyrochronology. Likewise, our relation could be used as an age-dating method (‘magnetochronology’). The trends with rotation we find for the large-scale stellar magnetism are consistent with the trends found from Zeeman broadening measurements (sensitive to large- and small-scale fields). These similarities indicate that the fields recovered from both techniques are coupled to each other, suggesting that small- and large-scale fields could share the same dynamo field generation processes. For the accreting objects, fewer statistically significant relations are found, with one being a correlation between the unsigned magnetic flux and rotation period. We attribute this to a signature of star–disc interaction, rather than being driven by the dynamo.
Path-loss Characterization for PTP in an Urban Area Propagation Prediction via 5.8 GHz

This paper discusses path-loss characteristics as a function of tree effect to the signal during the rain in an urban line-of-sight link optimization for intelligent traffic light management system. Measurements were made in metropolitan Bangi area covered by high density of building and trees, using spectrum analyzer at an antenna height of 18 m for data collection. Dependence of path-loss on the distance between antenna transmit and antenna connected to spectrum analyzer was analyzed. This observable fact can be interpreted by the existence of an effective environment. The attenuation coefficient of the rain and trees, tend to be larger at lower antenna height.
The Influence of Mass Media News on the Attitudes towards People with Mental Difficulties

Parasocial contact has been examined in the context of attitudes towards ethnical minorities or in the context of sexual orientation. Similarly, the form of such contact has been examined. We conducted an experiment to examine if there is a similar influence on the attitudes towards people with mental difficulties. We also decided to examine the mediating effect of essentialism. Our results indicate the differences between the linguistic forms are small or none. The valence differences are also rather small. Possible reasons for these results are discussed in the Discussion.
Outage analysis of causal cognitive radio channel

In this paper, we first analyze the outage performance of two user cognitive radio channel where the cognitive user causally obtains primary user's message knowledge. Specifically, we consider cognitive rayleigh fading channel where the cognitive user uses superposition coding to relay the primary user's message to compensate for the interference caused by its own transmission to the primary receiver. We find the mutual information expressions at primary and cognitive receivers by classifying it in different cases. Results show that non-zero capacity is obtained at cognitive receiver while maintaining outage rate of the primary unchanged. It is also shown that additional diversity is obtained at primary receiver due to relaying by the cognitive user. We then extend the single user case to multiple cognitive users. It is shown that using multiuser diversity effect and cognitive users cooperation, significant increase in the mutual information at cognitive receiver for a given outage probability is achieved.
Positions +5 and +6 can be major determinants of the efficiency of non‐AUG initiation codons for protein synthesis.

Only rarely do GUG (or CUG or ACG) codons which precede the 5′‐proximal AUG function as initiators of protein synthesis, even when they are within a context that contains a purine at position ‐3 and a G at +4. For example, the upstream GUG of the human parainfluenza virus type 1 (hPIV1) P gene is initiated by ribosomes at high frequency, whereas a seemingly similar GUG codon in the hPIV3 P gene is not used at all. We have examined the reasons for this by expressing chimeric hPIV3/hPIV1 mRNAs, both in vivo and in vitro. A major determinant for efficient GUG utilization was located downstream of the GUG, but this did not appear to be involved in the formation of secondary structure. Rather, the sequence immediately downstream was found to be critical; this determinant was mapped to positions +5 and +6. GUG could be used efficiently for ribosomal initiation when the second codon was GAU but not when it was GUA. Similar results were found when other non‐AUG start sites, the Sendai virus P gene ACG and the c‐myc‐1 CUG, were examined. These results suggest that positions +5 and +6 are important determinants for initiation at non‐AUG start sites, and that they are recognized independently of the overall secondary structure of the mRNA.
Insulin micropiles comprising biodegradable polymers for production of a long-term hypoglycemic effect

As a percutaneous sustained-release preparation, insulin micropiles (MPs) were prepared with biodegradable polymers poly(lactic acid) (PLA), poly(ϵ-caprolactone) (PCL) and poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) as the base. The obtained PLA, PCL, and PLGA MPs of which the insulin:polymer ratio was 1:2 were administered to rat skin at 40 IU/kg and hypoglycemic effects measured for 6 days. The order of the hypoglycemic effect was PLA>PCL>PLGA. PLA MP showed the strongest hypoglycemic effect (2 days). The hypoglycemic effect of insulin PLA MP was dependent on the formulation; the order was insulin:PLA (2:1)>insulin:PLA (1:1)>insulin:PLA (1:2). As the ratio of insulin to the polymer base increased, the hypoglycemic effect increased. The area above the plasma glucose levels vs. time curves for 6 days from insulin:PLA (2:1) MPs, 10, 20, 30, and 40 IU/ kg, were 249 ± 108, 2003 ± 379, 3960 ± 794, and 6311 ± 726%·h. A dose-dependent hypoglycemic effect was obtained at 10–40 IU/kg and pharmacological availabilities were 11.1%, 44.5%, 58.6%, and 70%, respectively. Insulin:PLA (2:1) MP showed high plasma insulin level, 86.9–134.7 IU/mL, for 3 days. There was no damage to rat skin. These results suggest the usefulness of insulin:PLA (2:1) MP as a sustained-release percutaneous delivery system for insulin.
Production of a Heterozygous Mutant Cell Line by Homologous Recombination (Single Knockout)

Formerly UNIT 9.16, this unit takes a more appropriate place in Chapter 23, and has been updated and revised for this publication. Gene targeting by homologous recombination allows the introduction of specific mutations into any cloned gene. In this unit, the gene of interest is inactivated by interrupting its coding sequence with a positive selectable marker (e.g., neo). Expression of neo is obtained by including the phosphoglycerate kinase (PGK) promoter in the construct. To enrich for clones in which the target gene has undergone homologous recombination over those in which random integration of the construct has occurred, a negative selectable marker, herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (HSV‐TK), is included in the construct outside the region of homology to the target gene. Depending upon the target gene, it may be easier to assemble the construct by adding the neo and TK genes to the cloned target gene or by adding two fragments of the target gene to a plasmid containing the neo and TK genes.
IgE‐receptor activated chloride uptake in relation to histamine secretion from rat mast cells

1 Antigen‐stimulated histamine secretion from rat peritoneal mast cells was inhibited when extracellular chloride was replaced by either isethionate or gluconate anions, but the histamine release still remained quite substantial. 2 Rat peritoneal mast cells take up 36Cl and the uptake reaches a steady state after 60 min incubation with the isotope. At steady state, the intracellular chloride level in the cells was calculated to be 29 ± 11.5 mm. 3 The chloride uptake in mast cells was exponential with a rate constant of 0.036 min−1in resting cells. When the cells were stimulated with antigen, and rate constant for chloride uptake increased to 0.90 min−1: an increase of 25 fold. Under identical experimental conditions histamine release increased 3 fold. 4 The rate of chloride uptake in either resting cells or in antigen‐stimulated cells was not changed when the extracellular medium was nominally calcium‐free but histamine release was almost completely inhibited in the absence of extracellular calcium. 5 The putative chloride channel blocker DIDS (4,4′‐diisothiocyanatostilbene‐2,2′‐disulphonic acid) 0.3 to 30 μm, produced a concentration‐related inhibition of antigen‐stimulated histamine secretion but DIDS (30 μm) did not inhibit the antigen‐stimulated increase of chloride uptake. 6 The cyclic AMP analogue, dibutyryl cyclic AMP (1 mm) produced a delayed increase in chloride uptake in resting mast cells but neither dibutyryl cyclic AMP nor 8‐bromo cyclic AMP per se induced any histamine secretion. 7 Ouabain (1 mm) which inhibits the Na+/K+ATPase in rat peritoneal mast cells, failed to affect the uptake of chloride in resting mast cells. 8 The Na/K/2Cl‐cotransport inhibitor, furosemide (0.7 mm), slowed the unstimulated chloride uptake in resting mast cells and abolished the increased antigen‐induced chloride uptake when added together with antigen. In contrast, spontaneous and antigen‐induced histamine release were unaffected by the presence of furosemide. However, when furosemide was added to the cell suspension 5 min before stimulation, furosemide was without effect on the antigen‐induced chloride uptake. 9 In addition to the chloride uptake mediated by chloride channels which may be related to the mechanism of histamine secretion, crosslinking of the high affinity membrane receptors for IgE is followed by a fast chloride uptake that is likely to occur through a furosemide‐sensitive Na/K/2Cl‐cotransporter.
The Design of Rewritable Ultrahigh Density Scanning-Probe Phase-Change Memories

A systematic design of practicable media suitable for rewritable, ultrahigh density (>;1Tbit/sq.in.), high data rate (>;1Mbit/s/tip) scanning-probe phase-change memories is presented. The basic design requirements were met by a Si/TiN/Ge2Sb2Te5 (GST)/diamond-like carbon structure, with properly tailored electrical and thermal conductivities. Various alternatives for providing rewritability were investigated. In the first case, amorphous marks were written into a crystalline starting phase and subsequently erased by recrystallization, as in other already established phase-change memory technologies. Results imply that this approach is also appropriate for probe-based memories. However, experimentally, the successful writing of amorphous bits using scanning electrical probes has not been widely reported. In light of this, a second approach has been studied, that of writing crystalline bits in an amorphous starting matrix, with subsequent erasure by reamorphization. With conventional phase-change materials, such as continuous films of GST, this approach invariably leads to the formation of a crystalline “halo” surrounding the erased (reamorphized) region, with severe adverse consequences on the achievable density. Suppression of the “halo” was achieved using patterned media or slow-growth phase-change media, with the latter seemingly more viable.
Social identity: an interpretation of dental modification practices on Indonesian historical human remains

This research objective is to describe the social identity of the skeletal human remains based on dental modification. The research material is skeletal human remains from Kedaton Temple and Upas Well which consists of five individuals. These human remains are located in the residential complex of the kingdom of Majapahit (ca. 1300-1500), thus it can be assumed that they are associated with Indonesian classical period. The applied method of research is observation and comparison. Based on the observation of teeth, all individuals underwent dental modification. The male had the “T” pattern and the females had the “diamond” pattern. Comparison with other types of dental modifications in Indonesia shows that the pattern of dental modification among human remains from Kedaton Temple and Upas Well is different from the other modification patterns in Indonesia. If we relate the location of the grave and the location of the temple where are in the royal family residential area, hence it can be concluded that these human remains belonged to the
Optical and acoustic characterization of freeze-thawed polyvinyl alcohol gels

Preclinical validation of non-invasive photoacoustic imaging of carotid artery atherosclerosis requires vessel phantoms that imitate optical, acoustic and mechanical properties of vascular tissue. Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) phantoms that are widely used as ultrasound phantoms due to their elastic properties are also promising for photoacoustics. This study contributes to the field by quantifying the optical and acoustic properties of PVA gel, and aims at the characterization of realistic phantoms for future studies. In this study, we investigated the relation between acoustic scatterers and optical absorbers to quantify optical and acoustic properties of the PVA phantoms. Four different concentrations of orgasol acoustic scatterers, and varying concentration of Indian ink and molecular dye absorbers were added to a 15 wt% PVA solution. Samples were subjected to 1 to 5 freeze-thaw cycles and were examined after each cycle to quantify the effect on the optical and the acoustic properties. Optical attenuation was measured between 400 nm and 990 nm using a plate reader. Additionally, pulse-echo plane wave ultrasound was used for acoustic characterization. Changing the concentration of orgasol between 0.5 wt% and 4 wt% increased the mean optical attenuation of PVA by 35% after the first freeze thaw cycle. Likewise, each freeze-thaw cycle increased the optical attenuation due to scattering of light by the microstructure of PVA. The absorbance of pure PVA increased 40% between the first and second cycle and 3% between the fourth and fifth cycle. While the orgasol concentration and the freeze-thaw cycles altered the acoustic speed and attenuation, the ink and the dye inclusions did not significantly affect the acoustic properties of PVA.
An optimal and efficient PV system using two 2-level cascaded 3-level inverter for Centrifugal pump

In this paper a three-phase single-stage integrated multilevel inverter PhotoVoltaic (PV) fed Induction Motor (IM) pump drive system is presented. The proposed system uses two 2-level cascaded H-bridge inverters for the 3-level output which is fed from two independent PV sources. Usage of cascaded inverter configuration eliminates the problem of neutral point fluctuations, does not require fast recovery neutral clamping diodes & high value capacitor when compared with conventional multilevel inverter configurations like 3-level Neutral-Point Clamped [NPC] inverter and Flying Capacitor (FC) inverter. Further, it requires only two isolated DC power sources in comparison with 3-level H-bridge configuration which demands three sources. The given system uses both the PV sources efficiently which may help in optimal sizing of PV source with respect motor load requirements. Further, for optimal utilization of PV source a Maximum Power Point Tracking [MPPT] algorithm is also employed. This paper also gives a detailed yet simple mathematical model for the cascaded inverter and its integration with PV module for simulation in Matlab-Simulink Also a simple Sinusoidal Pulse Width Modulation [SPWM] technique is used for switching of the inverter. The proposed system has the advantages of simple V/f control integrated with MPPT algorithm. V/f control retains maximum torque capability of the motor which further helps in optimum utilization of the PV-source and the IM. The simulation results of the proposed system under various environmental conditions has been discussed and presented in the paper.
Impaired ambulation and steroid therapy impact negatively on bone health in multiple sclerosis

The prevalence of osteopenia and osteoporosis is higher amongst patients with multiple sclerosis in comparison with the general population. In addition to the general determinants of bone health, two factors may contribute to reduced bone mineral density in multiple sclerosis: physical disability and corticosteroid therapy. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of physical disability and steroid exposure on bone health in weight‐bearing bones and spine and on the incidence of low‐trauma fractures in multiple sclerosis.
Twenty Years of Progress in Violence Risk Assessment

Violence risk assessment has advanced considerably in the last 20 years. In the 1980s, leading professionals questioned the very possibility of valid violence risk assessments; now, many of the major risk factors have been identified, and professional debate focuses on how best to combine these risk factors into meaningful evaluations. An important contributor to this advance in knowledge has been the rise of meta-analytic reviews. Through quantitative summaries, the cumulative findings of small, potentially insignificant studies have provided important answers to questions concerning the effective assessment and treatment of violent offenders.
Correction: Yoo, E.H., et al. Glucose Biosensors: An Overview of Use in Clinical Practice. Sensors 2010, 10, 4558–4576

The authors would like to correct the Table 2 of this paper [1] as follows: Table 2. Commercially available glucose biosensors Manufacturer Brand Assay method Minimal sample volume (uL) Test time (second) Assay range (mg/dL) Hematocrit range (%) Memory (results) Abbott FreeStyle Freedom Lite GDH-PQQ 0.3 ∼5 20∼500 15∼65 400 AgaMatrix WaveSense KeyNote GOD 0.5 4 20∼600 20∼60 300 Arkray Glucocard X-meter GDH 0.3 5 10∼600 30∼52 360 Bayer Ascensia Contour GDH-FAD 0.6 5 10∼600 0∼70 480 Bionime Rightest GM300 GOD 1.4 8 20∼600 30∼55 300 Diabestic Supply of Suncoast Advocate Redi-Code* GOD 0.7 7 20∼600 20∼60 450 Diagnostic Devices Prodigy Autocode* GOD 0.6 6 20∼600 20∼60 450 LifeScan OneTouch UltraLink GOD 1.0 5 20∼600 30∼55 500 Nova Biomedical Nova Max GOD 0.3 5 20∼600 25∼60 400 Roche Accu-Chek Aviva GDH-PQQ 0.6 5 10∼600 20∼70 500 View it in a separate window *These monitors have audio features to help visually impaired use
Enhancing Effect of Lipids and Emulsifiers on the Accumulation of Quercetin Metabolites in Blood Plasma after the Short-term Ingestion of Onion by Rats

The effects of co-ingested lipids and emulsifiers on the accumulation of quercetin metabolites in blood plasma after the short-term ingestion of onion by rats were investigated. Plasma extracts of rats that had been fed onion-containing diets for one and two weeks were analyzed by HPLC with electrochemical detection after a treatment with sulfatase/β-glucuronidase. Almost all of the quercetin metabolites in the plasma were sulfate/glucuronide conjugates of quercetin and isorhamnetin. More than 4.6% (w/w) of soybean oil in the diets significantly enhanced the accumulation of quercetin metabolites in the plasma. Fish oil and beef tallow increased this to an extent similar to that with soybean oil, and lecithin was more effective than the other three lipids. Two emulsifiers, sodium caseinate and sucrose fatty acid ester, also showed an enhancing effect on the accumulation of quercetin metabolites. These results indicate that co-ingested lipids and emulsifiers could enhance the bioavailability of quercetin glucosides in onion.
Executive Control Functions in Simulated Driving

Teenage novice drivers have elevated crash rates compared with more experienced drivers. This study examined the hypothesis that driving accidents in young adults are associated with individual and developmental differences in prefrontally-mediated executive control functions. High-school students completed a simulated driving task and six experimental tasks that tapped three basic components of executive functioning (response inhibition, working memory updating, and mental shifting). Individual differences in executive functioning were related to simulated driving performance, and these effects were selective in that the updating component of executive functioning was the primary predictor of driving performance. Furthermore, the observed effects were accentuated in participants with minimal experience of computer games, suggesting that computer game skills compensated for inefficient working memory functions. The results of this study suggest that individual and developmental differences in executive functions contribute to driving accidents in young adults.
Higher Certainty of Error Coverage by Output Data Modification

With the increasing interest in Built-In-Testing, new approaches which can provide better error coverage than the conventional polynomial division (that is, multi-input LFSR) schemes are being developed. In this paper, a completely new approach is described which provides tremendous improvement in the error coverage with little additional silicon area on the Chip-Under-Test. The new scheme works with the scan concept, and is applicable to any general circuit.
Iron-Chelating and Free-Radical Scavenging Activities of Microwave-Processed Green Tea in Iron Overload

Secondary iron overload is found in β-thalassemia (thal) patients because of increased dietary iron absorption and multiple blood transfusions. Excessive iron catalyzes free-radical generation, leading to oxidative damage and vital organ dysfunction. Non-transferrin-bound iron (NTBI) detected in thalassemic plasma is highly toxic and chelatable. Though used to treat iron overload, desferrioxamine (DFO) and deferiprone (L1) also have adverse effects. Green tea (GT) shows many pharmacological effects, particularly antioxidative and iron-chelating capacities. This study was performed to investigate the ability of GT extracts to reduce plasma NTBI concentration and oxidative stress in vitro. The Fe3+ was found to bind to GT crude extract and form a complex. Green tea crude extract time- and dose-dependently decreased plasma NTBI concentration and counteracted the increase of oxidative stress in both Fe 2+-EDTA-treated human plasma and erythrocytes. Green tea is a bifunctional natural product that could be relevant for management of iron overload and oxidative stress.