Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
High frequency of rare alleles of the human c-Ha-ras-1 proto-oncogene in breast cancer patients.

The c-Ha-ras-1 locus in 104 breast cancer patients and 56 unaffected individuals was examined for allelic restriction fragment-length polymorphism. Four common and 16 rare alleles were detected in the combined populations. The distribution of common and rare alleles differed significantly between the two populations. The common restriction fragments represented 91% of the allele pool in the unaffected population. In breast cancer patients, these common alleles represented only 59% of the allele pool (P less than .001). More specifically, the frequency of two of the common fragments, the 6.5- and 8.0-kilobase alleles, was significantly diminished in the breast cancer population (P less than .001 and P less than .02, respectively). The frequency of rare c-Ha-ras-1 alleles and hence genotypes composed of two rare alleles was increased in the breast cancer population (P less than .001). One of the rare alleles had a significant (P less than .05) association with these breast cancer patients. These results suggest that genotype analysis of the c-Ha-ras-1 locus, in combination with other clinical parameters, may be of prognostic value in assessing the potential for cancer.
FcεRI Aggregation Promotes Survival of Connective Tissue-Like Mast Cells but Not Mucosal-Like Mast Cells1

Mast cells play a critical role in IgE-dependent immediate hypersensitivity reactions. This is facilitated by their capacity to release inflammatory mediators and to undergo activation-induced survival upon cross-linking of the high-affinity IgE-receptor (FcεRI). Due to their heterogeneity, mast cells can be divided into two major groups: the connective tissue mast cells and the mucosal mast cells. We have previously shown that IL-3-dependent bone marrow-derived mast cells can undergo activation-induced survival that is dependent on the prosurvival gene A1. In this study, we have used two different protocols to develop murine connective tissue-like mast cells (CTLMC) and mucosal-like mast cells (MLMC) to investigate their capacity to survive an allergic reaction in vitro. In this study, we demonstrate that FcεRI stimulation promotes survival of CTLMC but not MLMC. Similarly, a prominent induction of A1 is observed only in CTLMC but not MLMC. MLMC have a higher basal level of the proapoptotic protein Bim compared with CTLMC. These findings demonstrate a difference among mast cell populations in their ability to undergo activation-induced survival after FcεRI stimulation, which might explain the slower turnover of CTMC in IgE-dependent reactions.
Low energy digital circuit design using sub-threshold operation

Scaling of process technologies to smaller dimensions has become a given in the solid-state circuits industry. Recently, process scaling has produced a number of engineering obstacles. Most notably, both active and leakage power of processors are increasing exponentially with technology scaling. For emerging low power applications such as distributed micro-sensor networks or medical applications, low energy operation is the primary concern instead of performance, with the eventual goal of harvesting energy from the environment. Sub-threshold operation has emerged as a promising approach to these ultra-low-energy applications because it achieves the minimum energy per operation. Lowering VDD decreases active energy by VDD 2 . For circuits whose leakage energy becomes comparable to the active energy, an optimum VDD for minimum energy operation exists. This optimum typically occurs in the sub-threshold region [1]. Previous work confirms that sub-threshold operation is functional and that it provides minimum energy operation [1][2]. Several key problems remain that prevent sub-threshold designs from becoming a competitive option. Specifically, it is essential to understand how the minimum energy point depends on different key parameters and to model it for easy application to generic designs. To this end, we have developed a model for determining the optimum point for minimizing energy [3]. We have also analyzed the impact of sizing for minimum energy in sub-threshold circuits [4]. To increase the attractiveness of sub-threshold design, we proposed a method for integrating it with high performance applications to extend DVS across orders of magnitude of frequency variation and verified ultraDVS with a test chip [5]. Figure 1 shows the measured energy profile of the test chip, and Figure 2 shows the die photograph. We are continuing to examine sub-threshold design, focusing on SRAM design in the presence of process variation.
Surface-plasmon dispersion and size dependence of Mie resonance: Silver versus simple metals.

The recently observed blueshift of the surface plasmon of Ag with increasing parallel momentum and of the Mie resonance of small Ag particles with decreasing radius are discussed in terms of a model for the dynamical response of a two-component s-d electron system. In the case of flat Ag surfaces, the 5s conduction electrons are treated as a semi-infinite homogeneous electron gas while the influence of the fully occupied 4d bands is described via a polarizable medium which extends up to a certain distance from the surface. Using the time-dependent density-functional approach it is shown that the absence of the s-d screening interaction in the surface region leads to a positive dispersion of the surface plasmon in agreement with the data. A self-energy approach is introduced which allows us to establish a qualitative relation between the scattering processes at a flat metal surface and those at the surface of a spherical particle. Using this approach it is argued that the blueshift of the Mie resonance of Ag particles can also be understood in terms of a reduced s-d interaction in the region where the s electrons spill out into the vacuum. Finally, it is shown that the polarizability of simple metal particles exhibits above the Mie resonance a collective excitation which is the analogue of the dipolar surface plasmon observed on the flat surfaces of various simple metals. This feature seems to have been observed in recent absorption spectra on large K clusters.
Optimum chip waveforms for DS/SSMA communications with random spreading sequences and a matched filter receiver

In this paper, we consider the transmitter optimization problem in direct-sequence spread-spectrum multiple-access (DS/SSMA) communications with random spreading sequences and a matched filter receiver. A chip waveform optimization is performed under strict-sense bandwidth and zero interchip interference (ICI) conditions. Optimum chip waveforms are found for the excess bandwidth 0/spl les//spl beta//spl les/1, and are shown to achieve the minimum average bit error probability (BEP) for any distribution of the power and delay profiles of users. A simple efficiency measure is derived to assess how efficiently a chip waveform utilizes the excess bandwidth, and it is shown that the square-root raised cosine chip waveforms have only 50% efficiency. Numerical examples including BEP performance of the optimum chip waveforms are also provided.
Parallel Architecture for Battery Charge Equalization

One limitation of many battery charge equalizers is their slow equalization speed, especially when there are a large number of batteries in the series-string in high-voltage and high-power applications. This paper presents a new architecture for battery charge equalization. In this architecture, independent equalizers are placed in different layers and all the layers can equalize the corresponding batteries simultaneously, thus reducing equalization time by 50%. We explore the operation, performance characteristics, and the design of the architecture. Both simulation and experimental results are presented to validate the analysis in this paper.
X‐ray crystal structure of the bovine α‐chymotrypsin/eglin c complex at 2.6 Å resolution

The crystal structure of the molecular complex formed by bovine α‐chymotrypsin and the recombinant serine proteinase inhibitor eglin c from Hirudo medicinalis has been solved using monoclinic crystals of the complex, reported previously. Four circle diffractometer data at 3.0 Å resolution were employed to determine the structure by molecular replacement techniques. Bovine α‐chymotrypsin alone was used as the search model; it allowed us to correctly orient and translate the enzyme in the unit cell and to obtain sufficient electron density for positioning the eglin c molecule. After independent rigid body refinement of the two complex components, the molecular model yielded a crystallographic R factor of 0.39. Five iterative cycles of restrained crystallographic refinement and model building were conducted, gradually increasing resolution. The current R factor at 2.6 Å resolution (diffractometer data) is 0.18. The model includes 56 solvent molecules. Eglin c binds to bovine α‐chymotrypsin in a manner consistent with other known serine proteinase/inhibitor complex structures. The reactive site loop shows the expected conformation for productive binding and is in tight contact with bovine α‐chymotrypsin between subsites P3 and P′2; Leu 45I acts as the P1 residue, located in the primary specificity S1 site of the enzyme. Hydrogen bonds equivalent to those observed in complexes of trypsin(ogen) with the pancreatic basic‐ and secretory‐ inhibitors are found around the scissile peptide bond.
Detecting Plagiarism in Arabic E-Learning Using Text Mining

DOI: 10.9734/BJMCS/2015/14673 Editor(s): (1) Ke-Lin Du, Chief Scientist, Enjoyor Labs, Hangzhou, China, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Concordia University, Canada. (2) Tian-Xiao He, Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Illinois Wesleyan University, USA. Reviewers: (1) Adriano Pasqualotti, Department Statistic, Universidad of Passo Fundo, Brazil. (2) Anonymous, Saudi Arabia. Complete Peer review History: http://www.sciencedomain. org/review-history.php? iid=1033&id=6&aid=8716
Effect of Wall-Surrounded Slot on Stepped Narrow Wall for Bandwidth Enhancement of Partially Parallel-Feeding Waveguide Traveling-Wave Array

A partially parallel-feeding system of traveling-wave waveguide slot array has an advantage to reduce the frequency dependence of excitation phase of slots cut on the waveguide, which results in broadband feature of gain and radiation pattern. However, a conventional narrowband post-loaded radiating slot for array element limits the overall bandwidth of the array. A broadband wall-surrounded slot on a stepped narrow wall in the waveguide is proposed in this paper. The effects of the step on the waveguide narrow wall and the wall-surrounding slot are evaluated individually by electromagnetic simulation in this paper. The proposed antenna configuration of the waveguide assembled at the waveguide center allows fabrication by plastic molding with metal plating. The antenna performance is measured to confirm the feasibility of the proposed antenna in the millimeter-wave band.
Cyclophosphamide pulse regimen in the treatment of alveolitis in systemic sclerosis.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate, in a pilot study, the efficacy of a short term cyclophosphamide (CYC) pulse regimen on alveolitis in a cohort of patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). METHODS Twenty-three patients with SSc (17 diffuse SSc and 6 limited SSc) were selected in 5 centers in Italy, based on the findings of an abnormal bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cell analysis in association with altered pulmonary function tests (PFT) or recent deterioration in flow volume curve (FVC). Patients were also evaluated by skin score (Rodnan), esophageal manometry and barium swallow radiography, and electrocardiography and 2-mode echocardiography. The pre-enrolment pulmonary evaluation and after 6 months of therapy included evaluation of the clinical status, PFT (FVC, FEV1, DLCO), BAL. standard chest radiograph, and chest high resolution computed tomography. All patients received i.v. CYC (1000 mg/m2 of body surface monthly for 6 mo) and oral prednisone (25 mg daily for the first month and subsequently 5 mg daily of maintenance dosage for the remaining 5 mo). A complete blood count and urinalysis were obtained at monthly intervals. RESULTS After 6 months of therapy the values for FVC did not change significantly. Individually, 8 of 23 patients showed an improvement (> 15% increase) in FVC after 6 months, while FVC in 13 cases remained stable. Only 2 patients had an important decline in FVC after 6 months of therapy (17 and 24% decrease). Improvement in DLCO was noted in 15 of 23 patients after 6 months of therapy. Four patients were stable and 4 patients had a worsened DLCO at the end of the study. After therapy the mean value of BAL fluid recovery did not change. There was a reduction in total cell number although this value did not reach statistical significance. The levels of neutrophils, eosinophils, lymphocytes, and macrophages did not change significantly. Scans for patients with grades 1, 2, and 3 did not differ significantly after 6 months of therapy, and 14 patients were stable. Changes in appearance, in relation to changes in extent of disease, were seen in 8 patients and consisted of an extension of reticular pattern and transformation from grade 1 to 2 (6/8 patients). All patients showed a ground-glass appearance indicating an acute alveolitis. Improvement in ground-glass was noted in 10 of 23 patients after 6 mo therapy. At the end of the study, 8 patients were stable and 5 patients had a diffusion of the ground-glass to other segments. No side effects were experienced during the treatment except for mild nausea in 4 patients; no patients discontinued therapy during the study. CONCLUSION CYC pulse regimen seems to stabilize alveolitis in the majority of cases. The association of CYC pulsed modality with prednisone may be useful in SSc patients to control disease evolution in the lung.
Observation of cavity-mediated long-range light forces between strongly coupled atoms

We report on the observation of the many-atom dipole-dipole interaction in an ensemble of ultracold rubidium atoms strongly coupled to the standing-wave field of a weakly driven high-finesse optical cavity. The atoms split the cavity resonance into two normal modes. The many-atom light force changes the spatial distribution of the atoms, creating an asymmetry in the usually symmetric normal-mode spectrum, for intracavity photon numbers much less than one. This asymmetry is investigated as a function of the number of atoms and as a function of the intracavity photon number. Moreover, analytical expressions have been derived for the dipole force and the diffusion coefficient for an atom in presence of other atoms. These expressions allow us to simulate the trajectories of several atoms simultaneously. The calculated and measured spectra agree only if the full motional dynamics of all atoms is taken into account.
Consensus of multi-agent systems with general linear dynamics and reduced-order protocols

This paper considers the consensus problems for both continuous- and discrete-time linear multi-agent systems with directed communication topologies. Distributed reduced-order observer-based consensus protocols are proposed, based on the relative outputs of neighboring agents. A multi-step algorithm is presented to construct a reduced-order protocol, under which a continuous-time multi-agent system whose communication topology contains a directed spanning tree can reach consensus. This algorithm has a favorable decoupling property. In light of the modified algebraic Riccati equation, an algorithm is then given to construct a reduced-order protocol for the discrete-time case.
Rare diseases in orthopedics: algodystrophy and aseptic osteonecrosis.

This collection of manuscripts focuses on two rare disorders of great interest for the orthopedic surgeon and for the bone doctor: algodystrophy and aseptic osteonecrosis. In the recent years new insights have accumulated both on the etiology and the management of these two diseases. The Authors, all experts in the field, built up a nice story that moving from the etiology and clinical signs of the disease drives the reader to novel pharmacological and surgical therapeutical interventions. The reading of this well assembled number of Clinical Cases in Mineral and Bone Metabolism will certainly satisfy the appetite of the orthopedic surgeons and bone doctors interested in algodystrophy and aseptic osteonecrosis.
Optical Properties of Direct and Indirect Coupling of Cascaded Cavities in Resonator-Waveguide Systems

By using the coupled-mode theory-based transfer matrix, we analyze the optical properties of direct and indirect coupling of cascaded cavities in the resonator-waveguide system. The dispersion relation of the system, bandgap opening mechanisms, and anticrossing behavior are investigated theoretically and numerically. We also derive the transmission coefficients of the direct and indirect coupling system with multiple cavities and demonstrate the interaction between the modes, which leads to Fano resonance with an asymmetric transmission line shape. All the results obtained by the transfer matrix method are confirmed by the finite-difference time-domain method in photonic crystals.
Antiulcerogenic mechanisms of dehydrocrotonin, a diterpene lactone obtained from Croton cajucara.

The bark of Croton cajucara Benth, is used in Brazilian folk medicine as an infusion to treat gastrointestinal disorders. The aim of the present study was to assess the mechanisms involved in the antiulcerogenic activity of dehydrocrotonin (DHC), a diterpene isolated from C. cajucara bark. We studied the effects of DHC on pylorus ligature (Shay) in mice treated with the drug (100 mg/kg) by the intraduodenal route. DHC did not induce any alteration in gastric volume in Shay mice but modified the pH and total acid concentration of gastric juice. Incubation of gastric juice with DHC did not reduce gastric acidity compared to control. We also investigated the effects of DHC on the response to histamine of right atria isolated from guinea pigs and on the response to carbachol of stomach fundus strips from rats. The concentration-response curves for the chronotropic effect of histamine in guinea pig right atria were shifted to the right, with a significant decrease in the maximum response, in the presence of DHC. Similar results were obtained with DHC (30 microM) for the concentration-response curves to carbachol in the isolated rat stomach. The ability of DHC to increase PGE2 release from rat stomach mucous cells was also studied. We observed that DHC induced a significant increase in PGE2 production (60% compared to control). In addition, the effects of DHC on the healing of acetic acid-induced gastric ulcer in rats were evaluated 14 days after acid injection. Oral administration of DHC (100 mg/kg per day) for 14 consecutive days had no effect on gastric ulcer healing in rats. Thus, the protective effect of DHC on induced gastric lesions could be due to synergistic effects, e.g., an increase in PGE2 release and non-competitive antagonism of H2-receptors and of muscarinic receptors. Whereas the former result represents an increase in the protective factors, the latter one shows a decrease in the aggressive factors against the gastric mucosa.
Neuroendovascular Treatments/Procedures: Are They Efficacious and Have They Improved Patient Outcomes Poststroke?

ABSTRACT Stroke is the second most common cause of death in women and African Americans, the fourth leading cause of death in Caucasians, and the fifth leading cause of death in men in the United States (Towfighi, Ovbiagele, & Saver, 2010). In addition, stroke costs the nation greater than $57 billion dollars annually through its direct and indirect costs. For example, in the year 2009 alone, the estimated expenditure on the cost of stroke for hospitalization, rehabilitation, and institutionalization was $68.9 billion. Fortunately, there are many treatment strategies available to individuals who had a stroke if they meet certain clinical and time criteria as well as being geographically located in a region where these treatments are available, such as nationally certified stroke centers. Specifically, intravenous and intra-arterial recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA) and mechanical thrombolysis are used for acute ischemic stroke, whereas treatments for acute hemorrhagic stroke resulting from subarachnoid hemorrhage secondary to ruptured cerebral aneurysm include both endovascular coiling as well as surgical clipping. However, patient outcomes from some of these treatments are controversial. First, it appears that, although revascularization post mechanical thrombectomy has high success rates, patient clinical and neurological outcomes as evidenced by low modified Rankin Scale scores are not as favorable when compared with intravenous or intra-arterial thombolysis. However, endovascular coiling for ruptured cerebral aneurysms resulting in subarachnoid hemorrhage appears to be superior to aneurysm clipping in both clinical and neurological outcomes. Future studies need to focus on making subject pools more homogeneous as well as using standardized outcome measures to facilitate external validation of their results.
Mortality after ground-level fall in the elderly patient taking oral anticoagulation for atrial fibrillation/flutter: A long-term analysis of risk versus benefit

BACKGROUND Elderly patients with atrial fibrillation or flutter who experience ground-level falls are at risk for lethal head injuries. Patients on oral anticoagulation (OAC) for thromboprophylaxis may be at higher risk for these head injuries. Trauma surgeons treating these patients face a difficult choice: (1) continue OAC to minimize stroke risk while increasing the risk of a lethal head injury or (2) discontinue OAC to avoid intracranial hemorrhage while increasing the risk of stroke. To inform this choice, we conducted a retrospective cohort study to assess long-term outcomes and risk factors for mortality after presentation with a ground-level fall among patients with and without OAC. METHODS Retrospective analysis of the longitudinal version of the California Office of Statewide Planning and Development database was performed for years 1995 to 2009. Elderly anticoagulated patients (age > 65 years) with known atrial fibrillation or flutter who fell were stratified by CHA2DS2-VASc score and compared with a nonanticoagulated control cohort. Multivariable logistic regression including patient demographics, stroke risk, injury severity, and hospital type identified risk factors for mortality. RESULTS A total of 377,873 patient records met the inclusion criteria, 42,913 on OAC and 334,960 controls. The mean age was 82.4 and 80.6 years, respectively. Most were female, with CHA2DS2-VASc scores between 3 and 5. Mortality among OAC patients after a first fall was 6%, compared with 3.1% among non-OAC patients. Patients dying with a head injury constituted 31.6% of deaths within OAC patients compared with 23.8% among controls. Risk of eventual death with head injury exceeded annualized stroke risk for patients with CHA2DS2-VASc scores of 0 to 2. Predictors for mortality with head injury on the first admission included male sex, Asian ethnicity, a history of stroke, and trauma center admission. CONCLUSION Elderly patients on OAC for atrial fibrillation and/or flutter who fall have a greater risk for mortality compared with controls. Patients with low CHA2DS2-VASc scores (0–3) at high risk for falls with identified risk factors should speak to their prescribing physicians regarding the risk/benefits of continued use of OAC. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Epidemiologic/prognostic study, level III.