Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Proximity Electrode Signal Readout of High-Purity Ge Detectors

Proximity electrode signal readout of semiconductor- based radiation detectors is accomplished by measuring the charge induced on electrodes positioned close, but not electrically connected, to the detector material. This technology can be applied to high-purity Ge (HPGe) to create a position sensitive gamma-ray detector. The proximity readout technique offers the advantages of simplified detector fabrication, expanded electrode geometry options, and greatly improved position resolution through simple signal interpolation. We have produced small, HPGe prototype detectors that utilize strip proximity electrodes for gamma-ray interaction energy and position measurement. With these detectors we have collected event data sets under a variety of detector and source conditions. With this data we have explored energy and position reconstruction methods and have demonstrated sub-strip-pitch position determination. In this paper, we summarize the results of our investigation.
General Anesthesia in Hypertensive Patients: Impact of Pulse ressure but not Cardiac Diastolic Dysfunction on Intraoperative Hemodynamic Instability

In hypertensive patients undergoing general anesthesia, elevated pulse pressure (PP) (>60 mmHg) and/or diastolic dysfunction (DD) could be risk factors for intraoperative hemodynamic instability. The aim of this observational study was to investigate the contribution of DD and preoperative PP with the occurrence of intraoperative hemodynamic instability. Hypertensive (n=61) and normotensive (n=21) patients were scheduled to undergo urologic surgery under general anesthesia. DD was graded according to preoperative Doppler echocardiography, and preoperative brachial PP was calculated during anesthetic consultation. Episodes of hypertension and hypotension were recorded during the intraoperative period. For statistical analysis, hypertensive patients were divided into groups according to the presence or not of DD. The relationship between PP and hemodynamic instability index was assessed using multiple regression analysis. Sixty-three percent of hypertensive subjects had a PP > 60 mmHg. Among hypertensives, 30 (49%) had no DD, 19 (31%) had a mild DD and 12 (20%) had a moderate or severe DD. By comparison with controls, hemodynamic instability was significantly higher in hypertensives. Hypertensive patients with and without DD had similar hemodynamic instability index. This index was positively correlated with PP, even after adjustment on age, body mass index and mean arterial pressure (r = 0.56; p < 0.0001). The study provides evidence that increased intraoperative hemodynamic instability during general anesthesia in urologic hypertensive subjects is associated with increased preoperative brachial PP. DD does not contribute to intraoperative hemodynamic instability.
Dynamic finite element analysis on underlay microstructure of Cu/low-K wafer during bonding process

In the present paper, the tensile mechanical properties of thin gold wire before/after electric flame-off (EFO) process have been investigated by self-design pull test fixture. Microstructure characteristics of free air ball (FAB) and heat affected zone (HAZ) are also carefully investigated. The accurate experimental material data should be reflected as input for precise finite element analysis. Numerical model based on explicit time integration scheme software ANSYS/LS-DYNA is developed to simulate the ball bond of wire bonding process. Because the crack of low-K layer and delamination of copper via are observed, dynamic transient analysis is performed to inspect the overall stress/strain distributions on the microstructure of Cu/Low-K wafer. Special emphasizes are focused on the copper via layout and optimal design of Cu/Low-K microstructure. A series of comprehensive parametric studies were conducted in this research.
Pseudoangiomatous hyperplasia of mammary stroma associated with gynaecomastia.

AIMS: To evaluate the prevalence of pseudoangiomatous hyperplasia of mammary stroma in gynaecomastia and its immunohistochemical profile in this setting. METHODS: Eighty eight cases of gynaecomastia recovered from the files of the department of pathology, Botucatu School of Medicine from 1976 to 1996 were studied. In the cases associated with pseudoangiomatous hyperplasia of mammary stroma, immunoreactivity for cytokeratins (CAM 5.2), vimentin, CD34, factor VIII related antigen, and the oestrogen and progesterone receptors were studied. RESULTS: Pseudoangiomatous hyperplasia of mammary stroma was found in 21 of 88 cases of gynaecomastia (23.8%). In all cases, the cells lining the spaces were positive for vimentin, whereas CAM 5.2 and factor VIII related antigen were consistently negative. Nineteen of the 21 cases showed immunoreactivity for CD34. Ductal epithelial cells were positive for both the oestrogen receptor and the progesterone receptor, whereas stromal cells were negative. CONCLUSIONS: Pseudoangiomatous hyperplasia of mammary stroma was present in approximately one quarter of the cases of gynaecomastia. This immunohistochemical study confirms the mesenchymal origin of the stromal cells that line the pseudovascular spaces, as has been found in female cases of pseudoangiomatous hyperplasia of mammary stroma.
1-2013 A novel 3 D 3 C particle tracking method suitable for microfluidic flow measurements

This article presents a novel method for determining the three-dimensional location of fluorescent particles that is suitable for three-dimensional particle tracking velocimetry measurements in microfluidic flows. This method determines the depth of a particle by inserting a convex lens and axicon into the optical path between a microscope and camera. For particles close to the focal plane, this converts the wavefront from a particle into a Bessel beam, the frequency, and center of which can be directly related to the three-dimensional position of the particle. A robust image analysis method is presented that can determine the properties of the Bessel beam necessary to calculate the particle position. The theory and data analysis method are verified by comparing the calculated position of 1-lm particles to the known position of the particles which scanned through a depth of 100 lm. The average error in the calculated position was 4 lm. Finally, the method is applied to 3D3C particle tracking velocimetry of Poiseuille flow in a 200-lm-deep channel. Uniquely, this method requires no calibration procedure and is insensitive to variations in particle size and brightness.
Fermion soliton stars and black holes.

Explicit solutions of fermion soliton stars and fermion black holes are given. The former has no horizon and the latter does. The soliton stars are cold, stable, and coherent states of very large mass Mapprox. (l/sub P/m)/sup -4/m, with l/sub P/ the Planck length, m the mass of the relevant Higgs-type scalar field, and h-dash-bar = c = 1. AE
The yeast kinetochore protein Slk19 is required to prevent aberrant chromosome segregation in meiosis and mitosis

Background Slk19 is a coiled‐coil protein, which locates to the kinetochores of S. cerevisiae. Most cells lacking Slk19 undergo incomplete meiosis and form dyads during sporulation. Endogenous chromosomes appeared to be predominantly divided in an equational manner during single‐division meiosis of slk19 null mutants.
CCR10 is expressed in cutaneous T‐cell lymphoma

Cutaneous T‐cell lymphoma (CTCL) is characterized by recruitment of malignant T‐cell clones into the skin. The mechanisms involved in tumor homing are still not fully elucidated, though chemokines and chemokine receptors have been suggested to play a role in the pathogenesis. Here, we demonstrate extensive expression of CCR10 in skin biopsies of patients with Sézary syndrome (SS, n = 3), mycosis fungoides (MF, n = 2) and unspecified CTCL (n = 3). In addition, we expand prior findings of CXCR3 expression in MF to other entities of CTCL. Expression of CCR5 was detected in 2 of the examined skin biopsies. The functionality of CCR10 and CXCR3 in SS was demonstrated using the SS T‐cell line HUT78. Our data support a potential role of CXCR3 in CTCL and strongly suggest that CCR10 and its ligand CCL27 may contribute to the skin infiltration of malignant T‐cells in this group of lymphoproliferative disorders. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Construction and Adhesive Properties of a Soluble MAdCAM‐1‐Fc Chimera Expressed in a Baculovirus System: Phylogenetic Conservation of Receptor‐Ligand Interaction

MAdCAM‐1 is a high endothelial venule adhesion molecule composed of immunoglobulin and mucin‐like domains which binds the leucocyte integrin LPAM‐1 (α4β7), and is largely responsible for the selective homing of lymphocytes to mucosal tissues. A novel soluble form of mouse MAdCAM‐1 which is normally membrane bound has been produced by joining the extracellular region of the receptor to the Fc domain of human IgGl. The MAdCAM‐1‐Fc cDNA was inserted into the genome of Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AcNPV). Spodoptera frugiperda insect cells infected with the recombinant virus produced MAdCAM‐1‐Fc as a disulfide‐linked homodimer of 82kDa polypeptides, which was secreted into the culture medium at > 1 μg/ml. The product purified by Protein G‐Sepharose was identified as authentic MAdCAM‐1‐Fc by the anti‐MAdCAM‐l monoclonal antibody (MoAb) MECA‐367 using Western blot and ELISA analysis. When immobilized on glass it was fully functional in supporting the binding of mouse α4β1+α4β7+ mesenteric lymph node lymphocytes, and the α4β1−αβ7+ TK1 T cell lymphoma. Binding was enhanced by Mn++ ‐induced integrin activation, and specifically blocked by anti‐integrin α4 subunit and anti‐MAdCAM‐1 MoAbs. Binding was blocked by pretreatment of cells with sodium azide, and EDTA, indicating that binding is an energy‐dependent process which requires divalent cations. Thus the mouse MAdCAM‐1‐Fc chimera produced in insect cells retains certain functional properties that typify the native receptor, and should be valuable in analysing the role of MAdCAM‐1 in lymphocyte recirculation and emigration. However it was not sialylated despite being post‐translational modified with N‐ and O‐linked carbohydrate moieties, suggesting that the ability of MAdCAM‐1 to support cell adhesion under static conditions is sialylation‐independent. A rabbit polyclonal antibody raised against the entire cytopiasmic domain of the human integrin β7 subunit recognized LPAM‐1‐like molecules in human, rat, and mouse cells, suggesting a high degree of conservation of the MAdCAM‐1 receptor across species. In agreement with this notion MAdCAM‐1‐Fc immobilized on glass was fully functional in supporting the cation‐dependent binding of peripheral blood or spleen cells from a range of other species including human, rat, and guinea pig; and for human myeloid HL60 cells, binding was mediated by o4 integrins.
Therapeutic effects of cow and soy milk yogurt consumption on chemically induced colon tumors in rats

Lactic acid bacteria (lab), used in the production of fermented dairy products, have been reported to have a positive effect on immune system function. In this study cow milk and soy milk yogurt prepared with commercial yogurt starter cultures combining Lactobacillus delbrueckii sub sp. bulgaricus, Streptococcus salivarius sub sp. thermophilus, Bifidobacterium bifidum, and Lactobacillus acidophilus were mixed with nutritionally balanced powdered diet and fed to male Sprague-Dawley rats. The rats were injected weekly with 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH), a known colon carcinogen. Both experimental groups contained 7 animals. In addition, there was a biological reference group (n=7) that received no yogurt and no DMH and a control group (n=7) that received DMH, but no yogurt. Food intake and food spillage were recorded daily. Body weight was recorded weekly. Fecal enumeration of lactic acid bacteria was completed at -3, +5 and +11 weeks. Colon tumor number was measured at +11 weeks. The above procedures allowed us to assess if immune protection, after carcinogenic challenge, was provided by LAB supplementation in yogurt made from various milk sources. At the end of the study, aberrant crypts in the distal 10 cm of the colon were 48.58±10.37 for the control group, 41.27±7.13 for the soy group, 40.96±8.73 for the cow group, and 0 for the reference group. There were no significant (p<0.05) differences among DMH-treated groups. However, a trend was observed toward a probiotic effect of LAB in preventing colon carcinogenesis. The dosage of DMH used in this study was on the high end of the literature values and using less DMH may allow for more sensitive detection of LAB effects.
End-to-end outage probability analysis for multi-source multi-relay systems

We investigate the end-to-end outage probability over a multi-source multi-relay network assuming that all the wireless links are suffering from independent block fading variations. The overall transmission is divided into two tandem hops. The first hop represents the transmission between sources and relays, while the relays transmit to the destinations in the second hop. We consider specifically a two-source two-relay single-destination network. Based on the decoding process at the relays, the data recovery at the relays can be classified into three cases based on achievable bounded rate regions. The first case where both relays cannot recover both users' data can be characterized as chief executive officer problem at the second hop. For the second case, the relays recover the data of both users, and the outage probability of the second hop can be computed by exploiting maximum ratio transmission. Finally, for the third case, only one of the users' data is recovered by one of the relays, and the outage probability of the second hop can be calculated by using the theorem of source coding with helper. Numerical results closely follow the theoretical analysis and confirm the improved performance of the multiple-antenna relaying over the single-antenna relaying.
A one‐suture end‐to‐side microvascular sleeve anastomosis: Preliminary report

A new technique is presented for end‐ to‐ side anastomosis of vessels smaller than 0.5 mm in diameter. This technique employs a “sleeve” or “telescoped” method of joining the vessels, which has previously been used in end‐to‐end anastomoses.
Fluid overload and mortality in children receiving continuous renal replacement therapy: the prospective pediatric continuous renal replacement therapy registry.

BACKGROUND Critically ill children with hemodynamic instability and acute kidney injury often develop fluid overload. Continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) has emerged as a favored modality in the management of such children. This study investigated the association between fluid overload and mortality in children receiving CRRT. STUDY DESIGN Prospective observational study. SETTING & PARTICIPANTS 297 children from 13 centers across the United States participating in the Prospective Pediatric CRRT Registry. PREDICTOR Fluid overload from intensive care unit (ICU) admission to CRRT initiation, defined as a percentage equal to (fluid in [L] - fluid out [L])/(ICU admit weight [kg]) x 100%. OUTCOME & MEASUREMENTS The primary outcome was survival to pediatric ICU discharge. Data were collected regarding demographics, CRRT parameters, underlying disease process, and severity of illness. RESULTS 153 patients (51.5%) developed < 10% fluid overload, 51 patients (17.2%) developed 10%-20% fluid overload, and 93 patients (31.3%) developed > or = 20% fluid overload. Patients who developed > or = 20% fluid overload at CRRT initiation had significantly higher mortality (61/93; 65.6%) than those who had 10%-20% fluid overload (22/51; 43.1%) and those with < 10% fluid overload (45/153; 29.4%). The association between degree of fluid overload and mortality remained after adjusting for intergroup differences and severity of illness. The adjusted mortality OR was 1.03 (95% CI, 1.01-1.05), suggesting a 3% increase in mortality for each 1% increase in severity of fluid overload. When fluid overload was dichotomized to > or = 20% and < 20%, patients with > or = 20% fluid overload had an adjusted mortality OR of 8.5 (95% CI, 2.8-25.7). LIMITATIONS This was an observational study; interventions were not standardized. The relationship between fluid overload and mortality remains an association without definitive evidence of causality. CONCLUSIONS Critically ill children who develop greater fluid overload before initiation of CRRT experience higher mortality than those with less fluid overload. Further goal-directed research is required to accurately define optimal fluid overload thresholds for initiation of CRRT.
Short-Term Music Training Enhances Verbal Intelligence and Executive Function

Researchers have designed training methods that can be used to improve mental health and to test the efficacy of education programs. However, few studies have demonstrated broad transfer from such training to performance on untrained cognitive activities. Here we report the effects of two interactive computerized training programs developed for preschool children: one for music and one for visual art. After only 20 days of training, only children in the music group exhibited enhanced performance on a measure of verbal intelligence, with 90% of the sample showing this improvement. These improvements in verbal intelligence were positively correlated with changes in functional brain plasticity during an executive-function task. Our findings demonstrate that transfer of a high-level cognitive skill is possible in early childhood.
Infra-red nano-antennas for solar energy collection

In this paper, three nano-antennas have been designed: Dipole, Spiral, and Bow-tie infra-red (IR) antennas for solar energy collection. A performance comparison between these designs is presented to find the optimum solution to this application. The main goal of this study is to design and optimize nano-antennas for maximum solar and earth radiation energy conversion in the mid-IR region. The nano-antennas are simulated using COMSOL Multiphysics based on Finite element Method (FEM). The results demonstrate that the converted electric field in spiral nano-antennas is larger than that in bow-tie and dipole nano-antennas. Furthermore, it is shown that the bow-tie nano-antenna exhibits a wider bandwidth when compared to the other types and that its electric field can be enhanced by coupling more bow-tie elements to form an array.
EXPLORATORY STUDIES WITH THE AFFECTIVE SIMON TASK

Design researchers often use interviews and questionnaires to measure consumer response to products. This practice is despite the inherent limitations of these “explicit” self-report methods. In psychology, “implicit” tests have been developed in an attempt to overcome self-report biases and to obtain a more automatic measure of attitudes. This paper investigates the adaptation of implicit methods to measure product preferences. Two exploratory studies were conducted to (i) establish an acceptable methodology for implicit tests using product images, and (ii) determine whether response to products can produce significant effects in affective Simon experiments. Results indicate that (i) the affective Simon task can be modified to assess product stimuli, and (ii) significant differences in consumer response can be measured within product categories. With further work, implicit tests may become a helpful tool for designers and researchers investigating how users respond to product design
Acute and long‐term response of dopamine nigrostriatal synapses to a single, low‐dose episode of 3‐nitropropionic acid‐mediated chemical hypoxia

The goal of the present investigation was to determine the persistence of striatal (DA) dopaminergic dysfunction after a mild chemically induced hypoxic event in Fisher 344 rats. To this end, we gave a single injection of the mitochondrial complex II inhibitor 3‐nitropropionic acid (3‐NP; 16.5 mg/kg, i.p.) to 2‐month old male F344 rats and measured various indices of striatal DA functioning and lipid peroxidation over a 3‐month span. Separate groups of rats were used to measure rod walking, evoked DA release, DA content, malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulation, DA receptor binding, and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) activity. The results showed that 3‐NP exposure reduced most measures of DA functioning including motoric ability, DA release, and D2 receptor densities for 1 to 3 months postdrug administration. Interestingly, DA content was reduced 1 week after 3‐NP exposure, but rose to 147% of control values 1 month after 3‐NP treatment. MDA accumulation, a measure of lipid peroxidation activity, was increased 24 h and 1 month after 3‐NP treatment. 3‐NP did not affect TH activity, suggesting that alterations in DA functioning were not the result of nigrostriatal terminal loss. These data demonstrate that a brief mild hypoxic episode caused by 3‐NP exposure has long‐term detrimental effects on the functioning of the nigrostriatal DA system. Synapse, 2011. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Involvement of NFAT1 in B Cell Self-Tolerance1

B cells from anti-lysozyme Ig/soluble lysozyme double-transgenic mice are chronically exposed to self-Ag in the periphery, resulting in an anergic phenotype. Chronic exposure to self-Ag leads to nuclear translocation of NFAT1 and NFAT2, suggesting that they are involved in anergy. To directly test a role for NFAT1 in B cell anergy, NFAT1-deficient mice were crossed with anti-lysozyme Ig transgenic mice. As expected, B cell anergy was evident in the presence of self-Ag based on reduced serum anti-lysozyme levels, percentage and number of mature B cells, and reduced B cell responsiveness. By contrast, B cell anergy was relieved in NFAT1−/− mice expressing soluble self-Ag. Bone marrow development was equivalent in NFAT1-sufficient and -deficient mice, suggesting that loss of anergy in the latter is due to selection later in development. Taken together, these studies provide direct evidence that the transcription factor NFAT1 is involved in B cell anergy.
Aberrant methylation within RUNX3 CpG island associated with the nuclear and mitochondrial microsatellite instability in sporadic gastric cancers. Results of a GOIM (Gruppo Oncologico dell'Italia Meridionale) prospective study.

BACKGROUND Gastric cancer (GC) development is a multistep process, during which numerous alterations accumulate in nuclear and mitochondrial DNA. A deficiency of repair machinery brings about an accumulation of errors introduced within simple repetitive microsatellite sequences during replication of DNA. Aberrant methylation is related to microsatellite instability (MSI) by the silencing of the hMLH1 gene. The aim of this study is to investigate a possible relationship between the RUNX3 promoter methylation, nuclear microsatellite instability (nMSI) and mitochondrial microsatellite instability (mtMSI), in order to clarify its biological role in GC. PATIENTS AND METHODS nMSI and mtMSI were evaluated in a consecutive series of 100 GC patients. For the analysis of the nMSI, we followed the National Cancer Institute guidelines. mtMSI was assessed by analyzing a portion of the displacement-loop region. The aberrant methylation of RUNX3 was analyzed in 40 GC patients by methylation-specific PCR. RESULTS Overall, 55% of GC demonstrated methylation of the RUNX3 promoter; 82% of GC was classified as stable microsatellite instability, 5% as low-level microsatellite instability and 13% as high-level microsatellite instability (MSI-H); mtMSI was detected in 11% of GC. A significant association was found between mtMSI and tumor-node-metastasis staging, furthermore an interesting association between MSI-H status, mtMSI and RUNX3 methylation. CONCLUSION These data suggest that RUNX3 is an important target of methylation in the evolution of mtMSI and nMSI-H GC.