Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Intrinsic Transparent Conductors without Doping.

Transparent conductors (TCs) combine the usually contraindicated properties of electrical conductivity with optical transparency and are generally made by starting with a transparent insulator and making it conductive via heavy doping, an approach that generally faces severe "doping bottlenecks. " We propose a different idea for TC design-starting with a metallic conductor and designing transparency by control of intrinsic interband transitions and intraband plasmonic frequency. We identify the specific design principles for three such prototypical intrinsic TC classes and then search computationally for materials that satisfy them. Remarkably, one of the intrinsic TC, Ag(3)Al(22)O(34), is predicted also to be a prototype 3D compounds that manifest natural 2D electron gas regions with very high electron density and conductivity.
Comparison of Two Different Red Blood Cell Transfusion Thresholds on Short-Term Clinical Outcomes of Patients Undergoing Aortic Surgery With Deep Hypothermic Circulatory Arrest.

OBJECTIVE Patients undergoing aortic surgery with deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (DHCA) usually are associated with a high rate of allogeneic blood transfusion, and their red blood cell (RBC) transfusion threshold is unclear and controversial. The purpose of this study was to explore whether a restrictive transfusion threshold was as effective as a liberal transfusion threshold for patients undergoing aortic surgery with DHCA. DESIGN Retrospective, controlled study. SETTING National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases and a university hospital, Beijing, China. PARTICIPANTS The study comprised 74 patients undergoing aortic surgery with DHCA from January 1 to December 31, 2014. INTERVENTIONS Patients were divided retrospectively into the following 2 groups according to the RBC transfusion thresholds-the restrictive group received allogeneic RBC transfusion if the hemoglobin (Hb) level of the patient fell below 8 g/dL during the surgery, and in the liberal group the hemoglobin threshold for allogeneic transfusion was 10 g/dL. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Data on patient demographics, procedure characteristics, allogeneic blood use, and postoperational morbidity and mortality were collected and analyzed. In total, the restrictive group required fewer perioperative transfusions of RBCs (3.9±4.8 v 8.5±6.9 units, p = 0.001) and platelets (1.9±0.8 v 2.6±1.0 units, p = 0.003) compared with the liberal group. Postoperative mortality and complications, including 30-day mortality and bleeding requiring re-exploration, did not differ significantly between the 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS For patients undergoing aortic surgery with DHCA, a restrictive RBC transfusion threshold (Hb<8 g per deciliter) may be as effective as a liberal RBC transfusion threshold (Hb<10 g per deciliter) during the surgery, with similar short-term clinical outcomes and less allogeneic transfusion.
Effects of n-3 fatty acid supplements on glycemic traits in Chinese type 2 diabetic patients: A double-blind randomized controlled trial.

SCOPE To investigate the effects of n-3 fatty acid supplements, both marine and plant-based, on glycemic traits in Chinese type 2 diabetes patients. METHOD AND RESULTS In a double-blind randomized controlled trial, 185 recruited Chinese type 2 diabetes patients were randomized to either fish oil (FO, n = 63), flaxseed oil (FSO, n = 61), or corn oil group (served as control group, n = 61) for 180 days. The patients were asked to take corresponding oil capsules (four capsules/day), which totally provided 2 g/day of eicosapentaenoic acid + docosahexaenoic acid in FO group and 2.5 g/day of alpha-linolenic acid in FSO group. No group × time interaction was observed for homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance, fasting insulin, or glucose. Significant group × time interaction (P = 0.035) was observed for glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), with HbA1c decreased in FO group compared with corn oil group (P = 0.037). We also found significant group × time interactions for lipid traits, including LDL cholesterol (P = 0.043), total cholesterol (P = 0.021), total cholesterol/HDL cholesterol (P = 0.009), and triacylglycerol (P = 0.003), with the lipid profiles improved in FO group. No significant effects of FSO on glycemic traits or blood lipids were observed. CONCLUSIONS Marine n-3 PUFA supplements may improve glycemic control and lipid profiles among Chinese type 2 diabetic patients.
Intermittent calorie restriction largely counteracts the adverse health effects of a moderate‐fat diet in aging C57BL/6J mice

Scope: Calorie restriction (CR) has been shown to extend life‐ and health‐span in model species. For most humans, a life‐long CR diet is too arduous to adhere to. The aim of this study was to explore whether weekly intermittent CR can (1) provide long‐term beneficial effects and (2) counteract diet‐induced obesity in male aging mice. Methods and results: In this study, we have exposed C57Bl/6J mice for 24 months to an intermittent (INT) diet, alternating weekly between CR of a control diet and ad libitum moderate‐fat (MF) feeding. This weekly intermittent CR significantly counteracted the adverse effects of the MF diet on mortality, body weight, and liver health markers in 24‐month‐old male mice. Hepatic gene expression profiles of INT‐exposed animals appeared much more comparable to CR‐ than to MF‐exposed mice. At 12 months of age, a subgroup of MF‐exposed mice was transferred to the INT diet. Gene expression profiles in the liver of the 24‐month‐old diet switch mice were highly similar to the INT‐exposed mice. However, a small subset of genes was consistently changed by the MF diet during the first phase of life. Conclusion: Weekly intermittent CR largely, but not completely, reversed adverse effects caused by a MF diet.
Microscopic and ultrastructural features in Wolcott–Rallison syndrome, a permanent neonatal diabetes mellitus: about two autopsy cases

Wolcott–Rallison syndrome (WRS) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by the association of permanent neonatal or early‐infancy insulin‐dependent diabetes, multiple bone dysplasia, hepatic dysfunction, and growth retardation. All clinical manifestations result from gene mutations encoding pancreatic endoplasmic reticulum eIF2 α kinase (PERK), an endoplasmic reticulum transmembrane protein that plays a role in the unfolded protein response. Histological and ultrastructural lesions of bone and pancreas have been described in animal models and WRS patients. However, histological and ultrastructural findings of other organs, especially of the liver, are lacking.
Citrus flavonoid naringenin reduces mammary tumor cell viability, adipose mass, and adipose inflammation in obese ovariectomized mice.

SCOPE Obesity-related metabolic dysregulation may be a link between obesity and postmenopausal breast cancer. Naringenin, a flavonoid abundant in grapefruits, displays beneficial effects on metabolic health and tumorigenesis. Here, we assessed the effects of naringenin on mammary tumor cell growth in vitro and in obese ovariectomized mice. METHODS AND RESULTS Naringenin inhibited cell growth, increased phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), down-regulated CyclinD1 expression, and induced cell death in E0771 mammary tumor cells. Obese ovariectomized mice were fed a high-fat (HF), high-fat diet with low naringenin (LN; 1% naringenin) or high-fat diet with high naringenin (HN; 3% naringenin) for 2 weeks and then implanted with E0771 cells in mammary adipose tissue. Three weeks after tumor cell implantation, naringenin accumulation in tumor was higher than that in mammary adipose tissue in HN mice. HN decreased body weight, adipose mass, adipocyte size, α-smooth muscle actin mRNA in mammary adipose tissue, and mRNA of inflammatory cytokines in both mammary and perigonadal adipose tissues. Compared with mice fed HF diet, HN delayed growth of tumors early but did not alter final tumor weight. CONCLUSION Naringenin reduces adiposity and ameliorates adipose tissue inflammation, with a moderate inhibitory effect on tumor growth in obese ovariectomized mice.
Treatment with the KCa3.1 inhibitor TRAM‐34 during diabetic ketoacidosis reduces inflammatory changes in the brain

Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) causes brain injuries in children ranging from subtle to life‐threatening. Previous studies suggest that DKA‐related brain injury may involve both stimulation of Na‐K‐Cl cotransport and microglial activation. Other studies implicate the Na‐K‐Cl cotransporter and the Ca‐activated K channel KCa3.1 in activation of microglia and ischemia‐induced brain edema. In this study, we determined whether inhibiting cerebral Na‐K‐Cl cotransport or KCa3.1 could reduce microglial activation and decrease DKA‐related inflammatory changes in the brain.
The effect of pause location on perceived fluency

ABSTRACT Speech disfluency in first language (L1) and second language (L2) is not only quantitatively different (e.g., number and length of pauses) but also qualitatively different (e.g., distribution of pauses); however, how pause distributions in L1 and L2 affect judgments of perceived fluency is unclear. The study examined the relationship between pause phenomena and perceived fluency using two experiments. Experiment 1 investigated the relative contributions of frequency, length, and distribution of silent pauses to perceived fluency of L2 speech. Experiment 2 tested causal effects of pause location on perceived fluency of L1 and L2 speech using phonetic manipulations. Findings suggest a significant role of pause location in perceived fluency. In Experiment 1, silent pause rate within a clause demonstrated the strongest correlation with L2 fluency ratings, and in Experiment 2, perceived fluency of L1 and L2 speech was influenced by pause location. The findings suggest that listeners seem to be sensitive to pause location and to understand that pauses within clauses tend to reflect reduced cognitive fluency.
Predictors of glycemic control in the first year of diagnosis of childhood onset type 1 diabetes: A systematic review of quantitative evidence

Early glycemic control is associated with reduced future vascular complications risk in type 1 diabetes (T1D). The aim of this study was to systematically review evidence on the predictors of glycemic control within 12 months of diagnosis of childhood onset T1D. Inclusion criteria for the electronic search were: interventional and observational studies that assessed and quantified an association between the predictor and glycemic control within 12 months of diagnosis of childhood onset T1D. A total of 17 915 articles were identified from 6 databases and 20 studies were finally included in the analysis. Harvest plots and narrative synthesis were used to summarize data from intervention (n = 0), prospective/retrospective cohort (n = 15), and cross‐sectional (n = 5) studies. Significant predictors of poorer glycemic control 0 to 3 months after diagnosis were older age and female gender. Non‐white ethnicity, diabetes autoantibody positivity, measures of deprivation, and non‐private health insurance were potential predictors. Predictors of poorer glycemic control 4 to 12 months after diagnosis were: older age, non‐white ethnicity, a single parent family, high hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels at diagnosis, longer T1D duration, and non‐intensive insulin therapy. Potential predictors included: family with health issues, clinical factors, and comorbidities at diagnosis. Most significant predictors of poor glycemic control within 12 months of diagnosis of childhood onset T1D are non‐modifiable. These factors need to be recognized and addressed through individualized and multidisciplinary diabetes care. Further research is required to confirm the association of potential predictors with early glycemic control.
Compact lowpass filter with a sharp roll‐off using patch resonators

This article presents a new compact microstrip lowpass filter with sharp roll‐off and ultrawide stopband using funnel and triangular patch resonators. The patch resonators are placed symmetrically about a high impedance central microstrip line. The filter has been designed and fabricated using a very low cost material. The experimental results show a good agreement with the simulated results and demonstrate that, the sharp roll‐off and good stopband performance is obtained by the proposed filter. The 3 dB cutoff frequency of the proposed filter is at 5.55 GHz with a roll‐off of 84 dB/GHz and its stopband extends up to 11.8 GHz. The filter has an ultra compact size of 9.4 × 8 mm2. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 56:2534–2536, 2014
Bone Measurement, Physical Activity and the Aging Skeleton

RÉSUMÉ De nombreuses recherches sur l'ostéoporose ont récemment été axées sur la prévention de la diminution de la densité osseuse à un âge avancé. Chercheurs et cliniciens peuvent maintenant mesurer avec précision les effets des thérapies et des traitements de prévention sur le squelette. L'activité physique régulière est donc suggérée comme étant l'une des mesures importantes au maintien de la densité osseuse et à la prévention de l'ostéoporose. Cet article passe en revue les techniques quantitatives permettant d'évaluer la densité osseuse et donne un aperçu des récentes enquêtes transversales et longitudinales reliées aux bienfaits possibles de l'activité physique sur le squelette vieillissant. ABSTRACT Considerable research on osteoporosis has recently focused on the prevention of bone loss in the later years. Researchers and clinicians are now able to accurately measure the effects of therapies and preventive strategies on the skeleton. It has been suggested that regular physical activity will be one of the valuable strategies in maintaining bone density and preventing osteoporosis. This paper will review the quantitative techniques available for bone density assessment and provide an overview of the recent cross-sectional and longitudinal studies related to the potential benefits of physical activity on the aging skeleton.
Experimental evaluation of x‐ray acoustic computed tomography for radiotherapy dosimetry applications

Purpose: The aim of this work was to experimentally demonstrate the feasibility of x‐ray acoustic computed tomography (XACT) as a dosimetry tool in a clinical radiotherapy environment. Methods: The acoustic waves induced following a single pulse of linear accelerator irradiation in a water tank were detected with an immersion ultrasound transducer. By rotating the collimator and keeping the transducer stationary, acoustic signals at varying angles surrounding the field were detected and reconstructed to form an XACT image. Simulated XACT images were obtained using a previously developed simulation workflow. Profiles extracted from experimental and simulated XACT images were compared to profiles measured with an ion chamber. A variety of radiation field sizes and shapes were investigated. Results: XACT images resembling the geometry of the delivered radiation field were obtained for fields ranging from simple squares to more complex shapes. When comparing profiles extracted from simulated and experimental XACT images of a 4 cm × 4 cm field, 97% of points were found to pass a 3%/3 mm gamma test. Agreement between simulated and experimental XACT images worsened when comparing fields with fine details. Profiles extracted from experimental XACT images were compared to profiles obtained through clinical ion chamber measurements, confirming that the intensity of XACT images is related to deposited radiation dose. Seventy‐seven percent of the points in a profile extracted from an experimental XACT image of a 4 cm × 4 cm field passed a 7%/4 mm gamma test when compared to an ion chamber measured profile. In a complicated puzzle‐piece shaped field, 86% of the points in an XACT extracted profile passed a 7%/4 mm gamma test. Conclusions: XACT images with intensity related to the spatial distribution of deposited dose in a water tank were formed for a variety of field sizes and shapes. XACT has the potential to be a useful tool for absolute, relative and in vivo dosimetry.
Improving CCTA‐based lesions' hemodynamic significance assessment by accounting for partial volume modeling in automatic coronary lumen segmentation

Purpose: The goal of this study was to assess the potential added benefit of accounting for partial volume effects (PVE) in an automatic coronary lumen segmentation algorithm that is used to determine the hemodynamic significance of a coronary artery stenosis from coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA). Materials and methods: Two sets of data were used in our work: (a) multivendor CCTA datasets of 18 subjects from the MICCAI 2012 challenge with automatically generated centerlines and 3 reference segmentations of 78 coronary segments and (b) additional CCTA datasets of 97 subjects with 132 coronary lesions that had invasive reference standard FFR measurements. We extracted the coronary artery centerlines for the 97 datasets by an automated software program followed by manual correction if required. An automatic machine‐learning‐based algorithm segmented the coronary tree with and without accounting for the PVE. We obtained CCTA‐based FFR measurements using a flow simulation in the coronary trees that were generated by the automatic algorithm with and without accounting for PVE. We assessed the potential added value of PVE integration as a part of the automatic coronary lumen segmentation algorithm by means of segmentation accuracy using the MICCAI 2012 challenge framework and by means of flow simulation overall accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, negative and positive predictive values, and the receiver operated characteristic (ROC) area under the curve. We also evaluated the potential benefit of accounting for PVE in automatic segmentation for flow simulation for lesions that were diagnosed as obstructive based on CCTA which could have indicated a need for an invasive exam and revascularization. Results: Our segmentation algorithm improves the maximal surface distance error by ˜39% compared to previously published method on the 18 datasets from the MICCAI 2012 challenge with comparable Dice and mean surface distance. Results with and without accounting for PVE were comparable. In contrast, integrating PVE analysis into an automatic coronary lumen segmentation algorithm improved the flow simulation specificity from 0.6 to 0.68 with the same sensitivity of 0.83. Also, accounting for PVE improved the area under the ROC curve for detecting hemodynamically significant CAD from 0.76 to 0.8 compared to automatic segmentation without PVE analysis with invasive FFR threshold of 0.8 as the reference standard. Accounting for PVE in flow simulation to support the detection of hemodynamic significant disease in CCTA‐based obstructive lesions improved specificity from 0.51 to 0.73 with same sensitivity of 0.83 and the area under the curve from 0.69 to 0.79. The improvement in the AUC was statistically significant (N = 76, Delong's test, P = 0.012). Conclusion: Accounting for the partial volume effects in automatic coronary lumen segmentation algorithms has the potential to improve the accuracy of CCTA‐based hemodynamic assessment of coronary artery lesions.
Technical Note: Development of a cranial phantom for assessing perfusion, diffusion, and biomechanics

Purpose A novel cranial phantom was developed to simulate the relationships among factors such as blood perfusion, water diffusion, and biomechanics in intracranial tissue. Methods The cranial phantom consisted of a high‐density polypropylene filter (mimicking brain parenchyma) with intra‐ and extrafilter spaces (mimicking cerebral artery and vein, respectively), and a capacitor space (mimicking the cerebrospinal fluid space). Pulsatile and steady flow with different flow rates were applied to the cranial phantom using a programmable pump. On 3.0‐T MRI, the measurements of the internal pressure in the phantom, apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) with monoexponential analysis in the filter, and total simulated cerebral blood flow (tSCBF) into the phantom were synchronized with the pulsatile flow. We obtained their maximum changes during the pulsation period (ΔP, ΔADC, and ΔtSCBF, respectively). Then, the compliance index (CI) was calculated by dividing the volume change (ΔV) by the ΔP in the phantom. Moreover, the same measurements were repeated after the compliance of the phantom was reduced by increasing the water volume in the capacitor space. Under steady flow conditions, we determined the regional SCBF (rSCBF) and perfusion‐related and restricted diffusion coefficients (D* and D, respectively) with biexponential analysis in the filter. Results The internal pressure, ADC, and tSCBF varied over the pulsation period depending on the input flow. Moreover, the ΔP, ΔADC, ΔtSCBF, and rSCBF increased with the input flow rate. Compared to the high compliance condition, in the low compliance condition, the ΔP and ΔADC were higher by factors of 2.5 and 1.3, respectively, and the CI was smaller by a factor of 2.7, whereas the ΔV was almost unchanged. The D* was strongly affected by the input flow. Conclusion Our original phantom models the relationships among the blood perfusion, water diffusion, and biomechanics of the intracranial tissue, potentially facilitating the validation of novel MRI techniques and optimization of imaging parameters.
Joint velocity uniformity in redundant robot manipulators

SUMMARY A redundant robot manipulator has several certain or expected advantages over a nonredundant one. It is expected, among other capabilities, that the joints vary with constant velocities during the execution of those tasks which in a nonredundant manipulator require variable joint velocities. In this way, motion becomes more precise because of the elimination of errors associated with velocity change in joints. In this paper, it is shown that this expected advantage is not possible for all the joints, and that only as many joints as the degree of redundancy can have constant velocities.