Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An all Solid State Pulsed Marx Type Modulator for Magnetrons and Klystrons

The conventional pulsed modulator for magnetrons and klystron make use of pulse transformers, thyratrons, and PFNs (pulse forming network) to develop the high voltage power pulses. The solid-state pulsed modulator developed by Stangenes Industries eliminates the use of a pulse transformer and its associated oil tank and replaces it with an air insulated all solid state Marx type pulsed modulator. The result is a small lightweight air insulated and cooled modulator capable driving pulsed magnetrons, klystrons or lasers. The design permit all the source power to be at low voltage and ground potential as well as providing control power at the high voltage end for heater or auxiliary power without the need for isolation transformers. The present modulator is build to operate a magnetron to 50 kV at 250 amps with an adjustable pulse width from 0.2 musec to >10 musec and average power of <25 kW. The design is expandable to 120 kV and higher average power with the replacement of the solid-state switches. The modulator can accommodate load arcing and has built in automatic redundancy to insure high availability. The paper delineates the unique design of the modulator and it performance into a magnetron load.
Congestible Goods and Hoarding: A Test Based on Students' Use of University Computers

For certain goods, higher levels of congestion imply higher levels of expected future entry costs. This provides current users of the good with an incentive to hoard, that is, to lengthen their duration of good use, in order avoid entry costs later on. We test for hoarding of university computers by students. Endogeneity of congestion is acknowledged by using an instrumental variable approach. Our results indicate that congestion has a strong effect on hoarding behaviour. More specifically, it is shown that the congestion elasticity of computer duration is about 0.57.
Reliability of immunologic markers of celiac sprue in the assessment of mucosal recovery after gluten withdrawal.

We studied 47 adults (21 men, 26 women), with biopsy-proven celiac sprue and anti-endomysin antibody (EmA) positivity while untreated, to evaluate the usefulness of both serologic markers of celiac sprue [i.e., immunoglobulin A (IgA)-EmA and total Ig-anti-gliadin (AGA) antibodies] and of a detailed dietary inquiry in predicting the mucosal pattern after gluten withdrawal. A second biopsy was repeated 8-30 months after beginning a gluten-free diet, along with EmA and AGA determinations and the dietary inquiry. Both EmA and AGA were appraised by indirect immunofluorescence on monkey esophagus and rat kidney, respectively. Intestinal biopsy was graded according to Cooke's criteria. After gluten withdrawal, intestinal mucosa reverted to normal in only nine patients. Both EmA and AGA showed high positive but low negative predictive values on intestinal histologic outcome. The positive predictive value of admission of dietary lapses was 100%, whereas the negative predictive value was 39.1%. Neither serologic markers nor dietary inquiries are to be regarded as reliable predictors of intestinal outcome after a gluten-free diet. Biopsy remains the best means of ascertaining mucosal recovery.
Exclusion Criteria Used in Antidepressant Efficacy Trials: Consistency Across Studies and Representativeness of Samples Included

The inclusion and exclusion criteria used to select subjects for participation in antidepressant efficacy trials (AETs) vary from study to study. It is unknown how much impact different sets of exclusion criteria have on the representativeness of subjects treated in AETs. In the present study, we applied the inclusion and exclusion criteria used in 39 recently published AETs to patients evaluated in routine clinical practice to evaluate the range and extent of the representativeness of samples treated in AETs. Nearly 600 patients with DSM-IV major depressive disorder (MDD) or bipolar depression underwent a thorough diagnostic evaluation. Inclusion and exclusion criteria used in AETs were applied to determine how many patients from our sample would have qualified for each AET had they applied. Approximately one sixth of the 596 depressed patients would have been excluded from an efficacy trial because they had a bipolar or psychotic subtype of depression. In the remaining 503 outpatients with nonpsychotic, unipolar MDD, the rates of exclusion ranged from 0% to 95.0% (mean = 65.8%). Thus, the findings suggest that there is much variability in the generalizability of AETs, although, in general, subjects treated in AETs represent only a minority of patients treated for MDD in a community-based psychiatry outpatient practice.
Systematic Review of Internet Patient Information on Colorectal Cancer Surgery

BACKGROUND: Patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer often seek information on the Internet to help them make treatment decisions. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to evaluate the quality of Web-based patient information regarding surgery for colorectal cancer. DESIGN: This study is a cross-sectional survey of patient-directed Web sites. SETTINGS: The search engine Google (Mountain View, CA) and the search terms “colorectal cancer surgery,” “colon cancer surgery,” and “rectal cancer surgery” were used to identify Web sites. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: To assess quality, we used the DISCERN instrument, a validated questionnaire developed to analyze written consumer health information on treatment options to aid consumers in evaluating the quality of health-related information on treatment choices for a specific health problem. An additional colorectal cancer-specific questionnaire was used to evaluate Web site content for colorectal cancer surgical treatment. Two independent assessors reviewed each Web site. RESULTS: Searches revealed a total of 91 distinct Web sites, of which 37 met inclusion criteria. Web site affiliation was as follows: 32% open-access general information, 24% hospital/health care organization, and 19% professional medical society. Twelve (32.4%) Web sites had clear aims, 10 (27.0%) had identifiable references to their sources of information, and 9 (24.3%) noted the date of published information. Ten sites (27.0%) provided some description of the surgical procedure, 8 (21.6%) discussed either the risks or the benefits of surgery, and 4 (10.8%) addressed quality-of-life issues. Nineteen (51.4%) Web sites discussed postoperative complications, and 7 (18.9%) discussed stoma-related maintenance/care. LIMITATIONS: The small sample size and interrater reliability bias are limitations of this study. CONCLUSIONS: The quality of online patient information regarding colorectal cancer treatment is highly variable, often incomplete, and does not adequately convey the information necessary for patients to make well-informed medical decisions regarding treatment for colorectal cancer. An opportunity exists for professional medical societies to create more comprehensive online patient information materials that may serve as a resource to physicians and their patients (see Video, Supplemental Digital Content 1, http://links.lww.com/DCR/A122).
Approximated Bayesian Inference for Massive Streaming Data

Extracting meaningful information out of massive streaming data is a significant challenge due to the high dimensionality of the inference problem and limits on available computational power and memory. While Bayesian models often convey significant inferential advantages, standard computational algorithms relying on Markov chain Monte Carlo are infeasible to apply. This motivates online variational approximations, which are increasingly popular but have no theoretical guarantees. We propose a novel framework based on online learning theory for assessing the performance of a broad class of online variational approximations. These analyses show that after T streaming observations, a new online variational Bayes approximation yields losses which are within a factor of O(T−1/2) of those for an uncomputable batch variational approximation. The new algorithm is compared with competitors using several examples.
Selective expansion of perforin‐positive CD8+ T cells by immature dendritic cells infected with live Bacillus Calmette‐Guérin mycobacteria

Live, but not dead Bacillus Calmette‐Guérin (BCG) is partially protective against infection by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which causes a disease with high mortality in immune compromised individuals. We have shown that uptake of BCG induces maturation of immature dendritic cells (DCs) regardless of the viability of the bacteria. Importantly, when T cells are cocultured with live BCG‐infected DCs, the proportion of CD45RA− perforin+ CD8+ T cells is markedly expanded markedly; however, little expansion is seen when T cells are cocultured with DCs harboring heat‐killed BCG. The direct contact of T cells with live BCG‐infected DCs was required for the expansion of perforin+ CD8+ T cells. These CD8+ T cells demonstrated a high level of killing activity against BCG‐infected macrophages. There was little contribution of cytokines, including IFN‐γ, TNF‐α, and IL‐12, to the expansion of CD8+ T cells by live BCG‐infected DCs. We found that the interaction between BCG‐infected DCs and CD8+ T cells through CD40/CD40L was crucial for the expansion and maturation of CD8+ T cells, the process of which was CD4‐independent. In contrast, blocking the CD58/CD2 but not the CD40/CD40L interaction reduced production of IFN‐γ without affecting the maturation of CD8+ T cells. This indicates that the production of IFN‐γ and perforin by CD8+ T cells is mediated by distinct signals delivered from BCG‐infected DCs. Thus, BCG‐specific CD8+ CTL memory cells may be maintained for a long period of time in BCG‐vaccinated hosts, and these cells could mature rapidly into effectors through the potent antigen‐presenting function of DCs upon mycobacterial infection.
Improved mutual injection locking range for VCOs in a coupled oscillator system

Coupled oscillator arrays (COAs) have been introduced as a simple, low cost method to achieve spatial power combining with the flexibility to generate the phase shifts necessary for beam steering applications. One difficulty in fabricating large scale COAs is the need for tight fabrication tolerances in order for the oscillators to lock to a single frequency. When an oscillator array is used for beam steering, small variations in the free-running frequency among oscillator cells lead to large changes in phase shift. If the oscillator cells manifest wide oscillator locking range the tolerance to frequency difference is maximized. This paper describes the theory of coupled oscillator arrays and identifies the relationships that dictate the interaction between injection locking range, cell-to-cell frequency deviation, and phase error. A method is described for maximizing the locking range in oscillator cell design. The influence of the coupling network on oscillator interaction is discussed, and measured results for small fabricated arrays are presented. Measured results show oscillator cell designs that attain locking range as high as plusmn6%
Health Information Privacy and Public Health

Protecting the privacy of individually-identifiable health data and promoting the public’s health often seem at odds. Privacy advocates consistently seek to limit the acquisition, use, and disclosure of identifiable health information in governmental and private sector settings. Their concerns relate to misuses or wrongful disclosures of sensitive health data that can lead to discrimination and stigmatization against individuals. Public health practitioners, on the other hand, seek regular, ongoing access to and use of identifiable health information to accomplish important public health objectives. The collection and use of identifiable health data by federal, tribal, state, and local health authorities support nearly all public health functions and goals. Identifiable health data are the lifeblood of public health practice. When aggregated, these data help authorities monitor the incidence, patterns, and trends of injury and disease in populations. Health data are acquired by public health authorities through testing, screening, and treatment programs.
Microblogging in Higher Education: The Edmodo Case Study among Computer Science Learners in Finland

Microblogging, with applications in many domains, including education, is one of the social media technologies with the greatest potential. The features of a microblogging platform vary from sending and receiving messages via the web, SMS, instant messaging clients, and by third party applications. Even though social media networking sites are commonly used in Higher Education, very little empirical evidence is available concerning the impact of social media use on student learning and engagement, albeit some studies on the use of Twitter as a microblogging tool in educational settings Fei Gao, Tian Luo and Ke Zhang (2012). In this study, the authors analyse the level of familiarity, engagement and frequency of use of social media technologies among university-level computer science students in Finland. Additionally, the authors analyse the experience of using a specific microblogging social media, Edmodo, as a learning aid to support group work. The specific focus of the study is to examine the reception of the students towards the Edmodo platform. The data was collected through a social media familiarity questionnaire, Edmodo experience questionnaire and interviews. The main findings are that the cohort was not very familiar with social media at the beginning of the course. However, the use of the Edmodo as a microblogging social media networking sites, as a learning tool had a positive impact on the students. This study provides experimental evidence that microblogging social networking sites and more specifically Edmodo can be used as an educational tool to help engage students more in the use of more social media networking sites.
Factors determining maximum inspiratory flow and maximum expiratory flow of the lung

The factors determining maximum expiratory flow and maximum inspiratory flow of the lung are reviewed with particular reference to a model which compares the lung on forced expiration to a Starling resistor. The theoretical significance of the slope of the expiratory maximum flow-volume curve is discussed. A method of comparing maximum expiratory flow with maximum inspiratory flow at similar lung volumes is suggested; this may be applied either to a maximum flow-volume curve or to a forced expiratory and inspiratory spirogram.
The gene encoding a new mitogenic factor in a Streptococcus pyogenes strain is distributed only in group A streptococci

We recently cloned a gene encoding a new mitogenic factor (MF) from Streptococcus pyogenes NY-5. In the present study, we determined the distribution of this MF gene (mf) by PCR based upon its sequence. Of 371 streptococcal group A strains isolated from clinical specimens, 370 (99.7%) were positive for mf. The strain that was negative for the MF gene was also negative for the streptolysin O gene (slo). Some streptococcal strains belonging to groups C and G were negative for mf but positive for slo. Group B strains were negative for both. Furthermore, we examined the presence of mf in 54 strains belonging to 28 families and found mf only in group A streptococci. These results indicate that mf is distributed specifically in group A streptococci and the presence of mf in clinical samples strongly suggests infection with group A streptococci.
An Immunomodulatory Function for Neutrophils During the Induction of a CD4+ Th2 Response in BALB/c Mice Infected with Leishmania major1

The possible immunomodulatory role of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) in CD4+ T lymphocyte differentiation in mice was examined by studying the effect of transient depletion of PMN during the early phase after Leishmania major delivery. A single injection of the PMN-depleting NIMP-R14 mAb 6 h before infection with L. major prevented the early burst of IL-4 mRNA transcription otherwise occurring in the draining lymph node of susceptible BALB/c mice. Since this early burst of IL-4 mRNA transcripts had previously been shown to instruct Th2 differentiation in mice from this strain, we examined the effect of PMN depletion on Th subset differentiation at later time points after infection. The transient depletion of PMN in BALB/c mice was sufficient to inhibit Th2 cell development otherwise occurring after L. major infection. Decreased Th2 responses were paralleled with partial resolution of the footpad lesions induced by L. major. Furthermore, draining lymph node-derived CD4+ T cells from PMN-depleted mice remained responsive to IL-12 after L. major infection, unlike those of infected BALB/c mice receiving control Ab. PMN depletion had no effect when the NIMP-R14 mAb was injected 24 h postinfection. The protective effect of PMN depletion was shown to be IL-12 dependent, as concomitant neutralization of IL-12 reversed the protective effect of PMN depletion. These results suggest a role for an early wave of PMN in the development of the Th2 response characteristic of mice susceptible to infection with L. major.
Metamaterial-based analog computing

We summarize the basic aspects of the recently introduced concept of “metamaterial analog computing”. This concept relies on metamaterial structures that are suitably designed so as to perform mathematical operations of choice (e.g., spatial differentiation, integration, or convolution) on the transverse profile of an impinging wave signal as it propagates through them. Within this framework, we illustrate two possible design approaches, present some representative results, and discuss possible future developments.
A Model System for Activation-Induced Alternative Splicing of CD45 Pre-mRNA in T Cells Implicates Protein Kinase C and Ras

ABSTRACT Multiple isoforms of the protein tyrosine phosphatase CD45 are expressed on the surface of human T cells. Interestingly, the expression of these isoforms has been shown to vary significantly upon T-cell activation. In this report, we describe a novel cell line-based model system in which we can mimic the activation-induced alternative splicing of CD45 observed in primary T cells. Of the many proximal signaling events induced by T-cell stimulation, we show that activation of protein kinase C and activation of Ras are important for the switch toward the exclusion of CD45 variable exons, whereas events related to Ca2+ flux are not. In addition, the ability of cycloheximide to block the activation-induced alternative splicing of CD45 suggests a requirement for de novo protein synthesis. We further demonstrate that sequences which have previously been implicated in the tissue-specific regulation of CD45 variable exons are likewise necessary and sufficient for activation-induced splicing. These results provide an initial understanding of the requirements for CD45 alternative splicing upon T-cell activation, and they confirm the importance of this novel cell line in facilitating a more detailed analysis of the activation-induced regulation of CD45 than has been previously possible.
Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio predicts survival in European patients with hepatocellular carcinoma administered sorafenib

Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is considered a prognostic factor in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Our aim is to investigate the prognostic significance of NLR in patients with HCC treated with sorafenib. Results Median follow-up time was 7 months. Patients were mostly in the intermediate (27.3%) or advanced (72.7%) BCLC stages, 38.6% had vascular invasion and 27.5% extrahepatic disease. A large proportion (38.9%) had been previously treated with TACE. Liver function was preserved: 65.8% were classed as Child A. Median overall survival was 7.7 months (95% CI: 5.8–9.6). In univariate analysis, vascular invasion (P = 0.004), ECOG-PS ≥ 1 (P < 0.001), high bilirubin (P < 0.001), clinical ascites (P = 0.036), BCLC stage (P = 0.004), no previous TACE (P = 0.041) and NRL ≥ 2.3 (P = 0.005) were predictors of poor survival. Skin toxicity (P = 0.039) or hypertension (P = 0.033) during treatment were related to better survival. In multivariate analysis NLR ≥ 2.3 [HR 1.72 (95% CI: 1.03–2.71)], hyperbilirubinemia [HR 3.42 (95% CI: 1.87–6.25)] and ECOG-PS ≥ 1 [HR 1.97 (95% CI: 1.19–3.26)] were found as independent indicators of poor overall survival. Dermatologic adverse effects were an indicator of good overall survival [HR 0.59 (95% CI: 0.38–0.92)]. Material and Methods One hundred and fifty-four consecutive HCC patients treated with sorafenib in four different Spanish hospitals between August 2005 and October 2013 were analysed. Clinical, laboratory, and tumour features were obtained. Survival was calculated from the moment sorafenib treatment was initiated. Log-rank and Cox regression were used to analyse the ability of NLR to predict survival. Conclusions NLR is an independent prognostic indicator for overall survival in HCC patients treated with sorafenib.
A Screen for Arabidopsis thaliana Mutants with Altered Susceptibility to Heterodera schachtii

Genetic approaches are a powerful means to elucidate plant-pathogen interactions. An in vitro screening protocol was developed to identify Arabidopsis thaliana mutants with altered susceptibility to Heterodera schachtii, the sugar beet cyst nematode. In an initial screen of approximately 5,200 ethyl methanesulfonate-generated mutant plants, two stable mutations were identified. Both mutant lines were backcrossed and were found to harbor single recessive mutant alleles. Mutant line 2-4-6 shows an approximately two-fold increase in sedentary and developing nematodes, while mutant line 10-5-2 exhibits a significant decrease in susceptibility that manifests itself only after nematodes become sedentary. Analyses of progeny from crosses of lines 2-4-6 and 10-5-2 indicated that the two mutations are not allelic. However, the mutant gene in line 2-4-6 was found to be allelic to the previously identified mutant rhd1 and was termed rhd1-4. The mutant gene in line 10-5-2 was called asc1 for altered susceptibility to cyst nematodes. Our results demonstrate the feasibility of a nematological mutant screen and strengthen A. thaliana and H. schachtii as a model pathosystem.
Fabrication and experimental verification of a dielectrophoretic separation device

In this work, we present the fabrication method and the experimental results of a dielectrophoretic (DEP) device for particle batch separation. The curved parts of serpentine microchannel that causes performance deterioration in capillary electrophoresis (CE) due to the plug dispersion are effectively used in our design for dielectrophoretic separation. The top-and-bottom focusing electrodes are employed in the intermediate straight segments to bring all the particles to the same entering point for the next curve. The device was successfully fabricated by bonding two processed substrates with an SU-8 layer sandwiched in between. The experimental results achieved thus far give a proof of concept.