Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Space Vector Modulation Scheme to Reduce Common Mode Voltage for Cascaded Multilevel Inverters

Multilevel inverters can reduce the common mode voltage generated. Schemes have been reported for multilevel inverters that reduce the common mode voltage. However, most of the schemes result in reduced modulation depth, high switching losses, and high harmonic distortion. This paper proposes a space-vector modulation scheme to reduce common mode voltage for cascaded multilevel inverters. The proposed scheme can increase the voltage range of operation by about 17% and can produce lower total harmonic distortion than the previously proposed schemes. The scheme is explained for five-level inverter. The scheme can be easily extended to a n-level inverter. Both experimental and simulation results are provided.
A new update for radiocontrast-induced nephropathy aggravated with glycerol in rats: the protective potential of epigallocatechin-3-gallate

Abstract Contrast media (CM) is known to have nephrotoxic adverse effects. Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) is the most abundant and active catechin in green tea, and has strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. This study investigated whether EGCG can reduce contrast-induced nephrotoxicity (CIN), alone or with glycerol (GLY)-induced renal damage, and to understand its mechanisms of protection against toxicity, using models of GLY and CIN in rats. The rats were separated into eight groups (n = 6 in each), as follows: Healthy, GLY, CM, GLY + CM, CM + EGCG 50 mg/kg (po), GLY + CM + EGCG 50 mg/kg (po), CM + EGCG 100 mg/kg (po), and GLY + CM + EGCG 100 mg/kg (po). Both doses of EGCG protected against CM-induced renal dysfunction, as measured by serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen (BUN). In addition, EGCG treatment markedly improved CIN-induced oxidative stress, and resulted in a significant down-regulatory effect on tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and nuclear factor (NF)-κB mRNA expression. Moreover, histopathological analysis showed that EGCG also attenuated CM-induced kidney damage. Considering the potential clinical use of CM and the numerous health benefits of EGCG, this study showed the protective role of multi-dose EGCG treatment on CIN and GLY-aggravated CIN through different mechanisms.
An overview of randomization techniques: An unbiased assessment of outcome in clinical research

Randomization as a method of experimental control has been extensively used in human clinical trials and other biological experiments. It prevents the selection bias and insures against the accidental bias. It produces the comparable groups and eliminates the source of bias in treatment assignments. Finally, it permits the use of probability theory to express the likelihood of chance as a source for the difference of end outcome. This paper discusses the different methods of randomization and use of online statistical computing web programming (www.graphpad.com/quickcalcs or www.randomization.com) to generate the randomization schedule. Issues related to randomization are also discussed in this paper.
Molecular characterization of a family of ligands for eph‐related tyrosine kinase receptors.

A family of tyrosine kinase receptors related to the product of the eph gene has been described recently. One of these receptors, elk, has been shown to be expressed only in brain and testes. Using a direct expression cloning technique, a ligand for the elk receptor has been isolated by screening a human placenta cDNA library with a fusion protein containing the extracellular domain of the receptor. This isolated cDNA encodes a transmembrane protein. While the sequence of the ligand cDNA is unique, it is related to a previously described sequence known as B61. Northern blot analysis of human tissue mRNA showed that the elk ligand's mRNA is 3.5 kb long and is found in placenta, heart, lung, liver, skeletal muscle, kidney and pancreas. Southern blot analysis showed that the gene is highly conserved in a wide variety of species. Both elk ligand and B61 mRNAs are inducible by tumour necrosis factor in human umbilical vein endothelial cells. In addition, both proteins show promiscuity in binding to the elk and the related hek receptors. Since these two ligand sequences are similar, and since elk and hek are members of a larger family of eph‐related receptor molecules, we refer to these ligands as LERKs (ligands for eph‐related kinases).
Determination of Florfenicol and Doxcycline Residues in Chickens by Microbiological Assay

Background: Florfenicol (Ff) is a synthetic antibiotic with a broad antibacterial spectrum and high therapeutic effectiveness that was specifically developed for veterinary use as well as, doxcycline is an antibiotic synthetically derived from oxytetracycline. Methods: In the present study, the in-vitro efficacy of Ff and doxcycline against Salmonella entertidis and Escherichia coli (Serotype O78) pathogens was determined using disc diffusion technique and Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs). In the other hand serum and tissue residual levels of Ff and doxcycline after intramuscular (i.m.) administration of 30 mg/kg and 250 mg/kg orally respectively to 5 weeks old chicken were determined using microbiological assay method with Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6633 as a reference organism. Results: The results showed that both microorganisms were highly susceptible to Ff with lower MIC value than those of doxcycline. The peak concentration of florfenicol in serum was 5.34
On Real Time ECG Segmentation Algorithms for Biometric Applications

Recognizing an individual’s identity through the use of characteristics intrinsic to that subject is a biometric recognition problem with increasingly number of modalities and applications. Recently, the electrical activity of the heart (the Electrocardiogram or ECG) has been explored as an additional modality to recognize individuals. The ECG signal contains several features, which are unique to each individual. The preprocessing of the ECG signal and the feature extraction steps are crucial for biometric recognition to be successful. In fiducial approaches, this last step is accomplished by correctly detecting the heart beats, and performing their segmentation to extract the biometric templates afterwards. In this work, we present an overview of the different steps of an ECG biometric system, focusing on the evaluation and comparison of multiple real-time heart beat detection and ECG segmentation algorithms, and their application to biometric systems. An evaluation and comparison of the algorithms with annotated datasets (MITDB, NSTDB) is presented, and methods to combine them in order to improve performance are discussed.
CDX2-regulated expression of iron transport protein hephaestin in intestinal and colonic epithelium.

BACKGROUND & AIMS The homeobox transcription factor CDX2 has a key role in intestinal development and differentiation. Mice heterozygous for Cdx2 inactivation develop colonic polyps with epithelial cells showing gastric or squamous differentiation. Loss of CDX2 expression is seen in some poorly differentiated colon carcinomas in humans. Conversely, ectopic CDX2 expression in the stomach of transgenic mice promotes intestinal metaplasia, and CDX2 expression often is seen in intestinal metaplasia in stomach and esophagus. To enhance knowledge of CDX2 function, we sought to define CDX2-regulated genes. METHODS HT-29 and WiDr colorectal cancer (CRC) cells with low endogenous CDX2 expression were transduced with a CDX2 expression vector, and gene expression changes were assessed by microarrays. RESULTS The gene for ceruloplasmin-related iron transport protein hephaestin (HEPH) was induced by CDX2 in HT-29 and WiDr. In other CRC lines and human and mice tissues, endogenous HEPH expression was linked to CDX2 expression. Activation of CDX2 rapidly induced HEPH expression, and RNA interference-mediated inhibition of CDX2 led to lower HEPH expression. Studies with HEPH reporter gene constructs and chromatin-immunoprecipitation approaches suggested that CDX2 directly regulates HEPH transcription. In CRC cells, CDX2 induction suppressed intracellular iron levels, consistent with the view that HEPH regulates iron export. CDX2 expression was modulated in response to changes in intracellular iron levels, implying a regulatory pathway in which increased iron levels lead to increased expression of CDX2 and HEPH and enhanced iron export. CONCLUSIONS CDX2 has a key role in regulating HEPH expression and iron levels in intestinal cells.
Diagnostic performance of the platelet function analyzer (PFA-100®) for the detection of disorders of primary haemostasis in patients with a bleeding history–a systematic review and meta-analysis

The Platelet Function Analyzer (PFA-100®) is increasingly being used in the workup of patients with a bleeding diathesis. A profound knowledge of the possible diagnostic performance of this test is essential in order to make sound clinical decisions based on its results. It was the aim of this study to systematically review the published literature and provide valid estimates of the diagnostic performance of the PFA-100® for detecting disorders of primary haemostasis in newly presenting patients with a bleeding diathesis. A comprehensive literature search was performed for studies published between January 1994 and February 2006. Studies were eligible for the systematic review if they provided data supposed to be applicable to the determination of the diagnostic performance of the PFA-100®. Furthermore, they were included in a meta-analysis if study reporting allowed calculation of sensitivity and specificity and if study quality ensured minimized biases of these estimates for the described clinical setting. Pooled weighted sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic odds ratio were calculated applying random effects modelling and constructing summary operator characteristic curves. This was done separately for the available test modifications using either collagen/epinephrine (PFA-EPI) or collagen/adenosine-diphosphate (PFA-ADP) for platelet activation. Thirty-six articles were included in the systematic review. Six studies met our eligibility criteria for a meta-analysis. The major reason for exclusion from the meta-analysis was a case-control design. A total of 1486 and 1259 patients were included in the meta-analysis of the diagnostic performance of the PFA-EPI and PFA-ADP, respectively. Pooled weighted sensitivity and specificity of the PFA-EPI/PFA-ADP in detecting a disorder of primary haemostasis were: 82.5/66.9% (95%-confidence interval (95%-CI): 76.0–88.9%/57.9–75.9%), and 88.7/85.5% (95%-CI: 84.3–93.1%/82.0–89.1%). 83/75% of patients with a positive PFA-EPI/PFA-ADP result do have a disorder of primary haemostasis whereas 88/79% with a negative PFA-EPI/PFA-ADP result do not. The PFA-EPI appeared to have a higher sensitivity and better predictive values than the PFA-ADP in detecting disorders of primary haemostasis, although a rigorous gold standard definition for a disorder of primary haemostasis, particularly for platelet disorders, was not applied in most studies. The majority of the studies lacked important requirements for quality and reporting, precluding a more precise and definitive characterization of the clinical utility of the PFA-100®. This emphasizes the need for an evidence-based critical appraisal of diagnostic studies in haemostasis research in order to promote the conducting of studies that produce clinically relevant results.
A signal subspace approach for speech enhancement

A perceptually based linear signal estimator for enhancing speech signals degraded by uncorrelated additive noise is developed. The estimator is designed by minimizing the signal distortion while maintaining the residual noise level below some given threshold. The estimator is shown to be a Wiener filter with adjustable input noise level. This level is determined by the threshold of the permissible residual noise. The estimator is implemented using the signal subspace approach. The vector space of the noisy signal is decomposed into a signal subspace and complementary orthogonal noise subspace. Estimation is performed from vectors in the signal subspace only, since the orthogonal subspace does not contain signal information. The proposed estimator is shown to be a refinement of a version of the spectral subtraction signal estimator. The latter estimator is shown to be asymptotically optimal for stationary signal and noise in the linear minimum mean square error sense. <<ETX>>
A life-course approach to fertility

Background: The life-course approach as a methodological framework for the empirical analysis of longitudinal individual-level data has fundamentally changed the agenda of demographic research. However, these methodological innovations have not been paralleled by a similarly successful theoretical integration in the life-course field. Objective: We aim to show that the life course is an indispensable framework for demographic research. Social forces, both structural and cultural, are articulated in the life-course dimension, and the individuals who act under their influence conceive of their actions in life-course terms. Thus, theories of fertility need to be set in these terms as well. Results: In substantive terms, the life-course approach promises to integrate the extra- and intra-individual levels of relevant processes in a system of interdependent dynamics that unfolds over time; to conceptualize fertility and family formation as part of a multidimensional process of welfare production which requires complex decisions on the proper allocation of time and resources to the different life domains; to examine how cultural scripts and institutional programs shape and interact with intentions and preferences; and to highlight the impact of the past and anticipation of the future as a framework for the number, timing and spacing of births. In methodological terms, the life-course approach requires a shift in the efforts to identify complex causal mechanisms in empirical research. Conclusions: Even though the life-course approach still lacks the status of a systematic theory, several hypotheses can already be drawn from it, which extend the scope of fertility research, and demonstrate it to be an indispensable framework for studying fertility decisions.
von Hippel-Lindau gene-mediated growth suppression and induction of differentiation in renal cell carcinoma cells grown as multicellular tumor spheroids.

Previous results using gene transfection methods have shown that the wild-type (WT) von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) gene can function as a potent tumor suppressor gene in vivo for renal cell carcinoma (RCC) cells in the absence of any suppressive effect on cell growth in monolayer cell culture under serum-rich conditions. Because we had previously found that the function of some oncogenes, such as mutant ras, can be influenced by three-dimensional growth as multicellular spheroids (J. Rak et aL, J. Cell Biol., 131: 1587-1598, 1995), we reasoned the same might be true for suppressor genes as well. We, therefore, decided to compare and study the effects of the WT VHL gene in monolayer versus three-dimensional culture systems of the RCC cell line 786-0, which contains an inactivated VHL gene. We found that the reintroduction of the WT VHL gene into mutant VHL RCC cells resulted in growth suppression in vitro, but only when the cells were grown as spheroid cultures. This decrease in cell proliferation was associated with several features of cell differentiation/morphogenesis, as shown by light and electron microscopy. Thus, in contrast to cultures of mutant VHL RCC cells, which formed very compact and cohesive spheroids, the WT VHL transfectants were loosely arranged and formed a network of tubular and trabecular structures within the spheroids. The morphological changes of the WT VHL spheroids were associated with the deposition of fibronectin in the extracellular space, a feature that was absent in the mutant and inactivated VHL gene-expressing spheroids. The results suggest the VHL gene may be involved in the maintenance of the epithelial phenotype of renal tubular cells, ie. , it may act as a differentiation/morphogenetic factor. Moreover, this effect in tumors cells appears to be highly dependent on multicellular growth conditions that mimic the basic nature of solid tumors, such as RCC.
Different Associations of Blood Lead, Meso 2,3-Dimercaptosuccinic Acid (DMSA)-Chelatable Lead, and Tibial Lead Levels with Blood Pressure in 543 Former Organolead Manufacturing Workers

Abstract In this study, the authors' objective was to determine the influence of blood lead, meso 2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA)-chelatable lead, and tibial lead on systolic and diastolic blood pressures and on hypertension in 543 former organolead manufacturing workers. All workers had past exposure to inorganic and organic lead. The authors used linear regression to model systolic and diastolic blood pressure separately, and logistic regression was used for the modeling of hypertension status (i.e., systolic blood pressure > 160 mm Hg, diastolic blood pressure ≥ 96 mm Hg, or current use of antihypertensive medications). Blood lead, DMSA-chelatable lead, and tibial lead levels had means (standard deviations appear within parentheses) of 4.6 μmlg/dl (2.6 μmlg/dl), 19.3 μmlg (17.2 μmlg), and 14.4 μmlg/g (9.3 μmlg/g) respectively. The authors adjusted for covariates, and they found that blood lead was a predictor of (1) both systolic and diastolic blood pressures and (2) hypertension status in men ≤ 58 y of age. DMSA-chelatable lead and tibial lead were not associated with any of the blood pressure measures. Systolic blood pressure was elevated by blood lead levels as low as 5 μmlg/dl. We speculate that lead may have a transient influence on blood pressure that is related to target dose levels obtained once release of lead from body stores has occurred.
Symptomatology and Insight in Schizophrenia

The phenomenon of poor insight of clients with schizophrenia has recently received a great deal of attention; however, the relationship of the symptoms of illness and of poor insight is not fully understood. This study examined the relationship between ratings of symptomatology and ratings of insight deficits for 64 clients with schizophrenia. Symptomatology and insight were evaluated using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale. Over-all functioning was evaluated using the Global Assessment of Functioning scale. Ratings on positive symptomatology were significantly related to ratings of poor insight. As ratings of poor insight increased, ratings on severity of positive symptoms, for example, delusions and hallucinations, also increased. Implications of this finding are discussed.
Potentials toward genetic engineering of drought-tolerant soybean

Soybean (Glycine max) is one of the most important crops in legume family. Soybean and soybean-based products are also considered as popular food for human and animal husbandry. With its high oil content, soybean has become a potential resource for the production of renewable fuel. However, soybean is considered one of the most drought-sensitive crops, with approximately 40% reduction of the yield in the worst years. Recent research progresses in elucidation of biochemical, morphological and physiological responses as well as molecular mechanisms of plant adaptation to drought stress in model plants have provided a solid foundation for translational genomics of soybean toward drought tolerance. In this review, we will summarize the recent advances in development of drought-tolerant soybean cultivars by gene transfer.
Bisphenol A migration study in baby feeding bottles of selected brands available in the Indian market

The wide applications of polycarbonate (PC) and other polymers in the kitchen ware and food storage containers increase the risk of human exposure to bisphenol A (BPA), mainly through food and water. BPA results in endocrine disorders in humans; health impacts caused by the chemical vary with body weight and exposure dosage. The present study aims to test the safety of using PC bottles, for feeding infants with respect to BPA and the migration rate of BPA from the containers, while storing hot water at 70C, for 1 h. Three different popular brands of PC baby feeding bottles were subjected to the tests. BPA residues were extracted with ethyl acetate and quantified using HPLC with PDA detector. The test reveals that BPA migrates from PC baby feeding bottles at 19 ng ml of hot water (70C), stored for 1 h.
Essential Oils and Anxiolytic Aromatherapy

A number of essential oils are currently in use as aromatherapy agents to relieve anxiety, stress, and depression. Popular anxiolytic oils include lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), rose (Rosa damascena), orange (Citrus sinensis), bergamot (Citrus aurantium), lemon (Citrus limon), sandalwood (Santalum album), clary sage (Salvia sclarea), Roman chamomile (Anthemis nobilis), and rose-scented geranium (Pelargonium spp.). This review discusses the chemical constituents and CNS effects of these aromatherapeutic essential oils, as well as recent studies on additional essential oils with anxiolytic activities.
Generation of genetically modified animals using spermatogonial stem cells

Spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) provide the foundation for spermatogenesis, and are unique tissue‐specific stem cells because of their ability to transmit genetic information to offspring. Generation of knockout mice using mouse SSCs became feasible after the successful establishment of protocols for the transplantation and long‐term culture of these cells, called germline stem (GS) cells. Furthermore, SSCs can acquire pluripotentiality similar to that of embryonic stem (ES) cells, in addition to their highly differentiated spermatogenic potential. These ES‐like cells, called multipotent GS (mGS) cells, are capable of generating knockout mice in a manner similar to that of ES cells. The use of GS and mGS cells for animal transgenesis has added a new dimension to gene‐targeting technology using ES cells and somatic cell nuclear transfer, which has limited application. Furthermore, for regenerative medicine purposes, the use of mGS will settle problems such as ethics issues and immunological rejection associated with ES cells, as well as risks of insertional mutagenesis associated with integrated genes into induced pluripotent stem cells.
Evidence for a convergent slowdown in primate molecular rates and its implications for the timing of early primate evolution

A long-standing problem in primate evolution is the discord between paleontological and molecular clock estimates for the time of crown primate origins: the earliest crown primate fossils are ∼56 million y (Ma) old, whereas molecular estimates for the haplorhine-strepsirrhine split are often deep in the Late Cretaceous. One explanation for this phenomenon is that crown primates existed in the Cretaceous but that their fossil remains have not yet been found. Here we provide strong evidence that this discordance is better-explained by a convergent molecular rate slowdown in early primate evolution. We show that molecular rates in primates are strongly and inversely related to three life-history correlates: body size (BS), absolute endocranial volume (EV), and relative endocranial volume (REV). Critically, these traits can be reconstructed from fossils, allowing molecular rates to be predicted for extinct primates. To this end, we modeled the evolutionary history of BS, EV, and REV using data from both extinct and extant primates. We show that the primate last common ancestor had a very small BS, EV, and REV. There has been a subsequent convergent increase in BS, EV, and REV, indicating that there has also been a convergent molecular rate slowdown over primate evolution. We generated a unique timescale for primates by predicting molecular rates from the reconstructed phenotypic values for a large phylogeny of living and extinct primates. This analysis suggests that crown primates originated close to the K–Pg boundary and possibly in the Paleocene, largely reconciling the molecular and fossil timescales of primate evolution.