Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
AlGaN/GaN HEMTs-an overview of device operation and applications

Wide bandgap semiconductors are extremely attractive for the gamut of power electronics applications from power conditioning to microwave transmitters for communications and radar. Of the various materials and device technologies, the AlGaN/GaN high-electron mobility transistor seems the most promising. This paper attempts to present the status of the technology and the market with a view of highlighting both the progress and the remaining problems.
The significance of protein in food intake and body weight regulation

Purpose of reviewTo highlight the underexposed but important role of protein in food intake and body weight regulation. Recent findingsProtein plays a key role in food intake regulation through satiety related to diet-induced thermogenesis. Protein also plays a key role in body weight regulation through its effect on thermogenesis and body composition. A high percentage of energy from dietary protein limits body weight (re)gain through its satiety and energy inefficiency related to the change in body composition. SummaryProtein is more satiating than carbohydrate and fat in the short term, over 24 h and in the long term. Thermogenesis plays a role in this satiety effect, but the role of satiety hormones still needs to be elucidated. On the short-term ‘fast’ proteins are more satiating than ‘slow’ proteins, and animal protein induces a higher thermogenesis than vegetable protein. In the longer term the higher postabsorptive satiety and thermogenesis are sustained irrespective of the protein source. High-protein diets affect body weight loss positively only under ad-libitum energy intake conditions, implying also a decreased energy intake. Body composition and metabolic profile are improved. Additional protein consumption results in a significantly lower body weight regain after weight loss, due to body composition, satiety, thermogenesis, and energy inefficiency, while the metabolic profile improves. Implications from these findings are: for practice, recommendations for increasing the percentage of energy from protein while reducing energy intake; for clinical research, assessment of the paradox of increasing the percentage energy from a highly satiating macronutrient; of the potential roles of protein in a negative and positive energy balance; assessment of possibilities of replacing dietary protein by effective amino acids or peptides that may show a similar impact on body weight regulation.
Effect of the Summer Vacation on the Achievement of Pupils in the Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Grades

Do children lose in achievement during the summer vacation? Is it necessary that teachers spend time on review in the fall? Do all sub jects require the same amount of review? These are some of the ques tions commonly asked by teachers and supervisors when school begins after the summer vacation. It is hoped that this study may throw a little light on the matter. When school closes it becomes necessary to advise with parents and pupils in regard to attending summer school. Would it be advisable to send the children who are a little below norm or just on the borderline in June, to summer school? Again it is hoped that this study may help us. Does the long vacation affect differently the children on different levels of intelligence? Objective data to answer this question would help exceedingly in educational guidance pertaining to the above men tioned situation. In order to gather objective data the Stanford Achievement Test, Form A, was given to the fourth, fifth and sixth grades of the University Training School of the University of California at Los Angeles in May, 1927. In September of the same year the Stanford Achievement, Form B, was given to the same grades. All the tests were given and scored by the counselor. All figures were re-checked so possibility of error has been practically eliminated. The loss or gain in all grades and all subjects is expressed in terms of the average amount of a school year above or below norm. Table I pre sents the results for the fourth grade in reading, arithmetic funda mentals, arithmetic reasoning, and spelling. In the spring these pupils took the primary form which does not include the other tests which are a part of the advanced form.
Malleable Attentional Resources Theory: A New Explanation for the Effects of Mental Underload on Performance

This paper proposes a new theory to account for the effects of underload on performance. Malleable attentional resources theory posits that attentional capacity can change size in response to changes in task demands. As such, the performance decrements associated with mental underload can be explained by a lack of appropriate attentional resources. These proposals were explored in a driving simulator experiment. Vehicle automation was manipulated at 4 levels, and mental workload was assessed with a secondary task. Eye movements were also recorded to determine whether attentional capacity varied with mental workload. The results showed a clear decrease in mental workload associated with some levels of automation. Most striking, though, were the results derived from the eye movement recordings, which demonstrated that attentional capacity varies directly with level of mental workload. These data fully supported the predictions of the new theory. Malleable attentional resources theory suggests that future vehicle designers should employ their technology in driver support systems rather than in automation to replace the driver. The implications of this theory are discussed with regard to capacity models of attention as well as to the design of future vehicle systems.
Identification of an extensive system of nitric oxide-producing cells in the ciliary muscle and outflow pathway of the human eye.

PURPOSE Nitric oxide (NO) is an important intracellular and intercellular regulator in nerve tissue as well as in vascular endothelium, smooth muscle, and certain other cell types. In the ocular anterior segment, studies in rat have revealed a comparatively restricted distribution of the NO synthetic enzyme, NO synthase (NOS-1). Recent physiological studies, however, have shown that NO-mimicking nitrovasodilators can alter intraocular pressure in monkeys through an action (at least in part) on outflow resistance. The current studies, which determine the sites of NO synthesis in the human outflow pathway, were performed to provide an anatomic and biochemical explanation for these observations. METHODS The occurrence and distribution of sites of ocular NO production in postmortem human eyes were determined using the isozyme-independent NO-indicator marker, NADPH-diaphorase (NADPH-d), together with direct biochemical assay and immunocytochemical localization of specific NO synthase (NOS) isoforms. RESULTS The ciliary muscle (CM) and outflow pathway of normal human eyes were found to be substantially enriched in NADPH-d, the majority of which, by immunological analysis, consisted not of NOS-1 (brain or bNOS) but rather of NOS type 3 (endothelial cell or ecNOS). Biochemical analysis confirmed the NADPH-dependent production of NO and, unlike the primarily soluble distribution of bNOS, activity was found in both particulate and soluble fractions. NO reactivity was enriched in major sites of outflow resistance (trabecular meshwork and Schlemm's canal) as well as in collecting channels and was particularly prominent in the CM, especially in the anatomically distinct longitudinal subgroup of CM fibers that insert near (and may normally play a role in regulating resistance in) the trabecular meshwork. CONCLUSION The human outflow pathway and CM are enriched sites of NO synthesis. These sites are anatomically distributed in such a manner as to suggest that one possible role for NO in the anterior segment may be to modulate outflow resistance either directly at the level of the trabecular meshwork, Schlemm's canal and collecting channels, or indirectly through alteration in the tone of the longitudinal CM.
Backset—Stationary and During Car Driving

Objectives: The aim of the study was to measure and analyze backset, defined as the horizontal distance between the back of the occupant's head and a point located on the ventral/top aspect of the sewn rim of the head restraint, with the car stationary and during driving, in the driver's position in a modern car. Methods: A population of 65 subjects, 35 males and 30 females, was studied in a Volvo V70 car, model year 2007. The subjects were studied in the driver's position, in a self-selected posture. Stationary backset was measured with the technique described by Jonsson et al. (2007) and backset during driving with video analysis. Descriptive data were calculated, and variability and correlation analyses were performed. A t-test was used to test differences of means. Significance level was set to 0.05. Results: In comparison to stationary backset, mean backset during driving was 43 mm greater in males and 41 mm greater in females. Driving backset was 44 mm larger in males than in females. Driving backset was moderately correlated (0.37–0.43) to stature, seated height, and seat back angle in males and moderately correlated (0.44–0.52) to hip width, waist circumference, and weight in females. The overall intraclass correlation coefficient for backset during driving was 0.81 (CI: 0.75–0.86). Conclusions: These results may be of use in designing future updates of test protocols/routines for geometric backset, such as RCAR and RCAR-IIWPG.
Trend Over Time for Cholecystectomy following the Introduction of Laparoscopy in a Nigerian Tertiary Hospital

Background: There still exist some concerns about the desirability of laparoscopic surgery in lower-middle income countries. We recently adopted laparoscopy for common general surgical procedures and observed many benefits. This study aims to describe the changing rate of cholecystectomy before and after the introduction of laparoscopy in our hospital. Methods: We reviewed the records of cholecystectomies performed before and after the introduction of laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) in 2009 in a single general surgery unit of the Ife Hospital Unit of the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. Cholecystectomy was reviewed as a percentage of general procedures performed, and postoperative length of stay was calculated. Results: A total of 173 cholecystectomies were performed in the hospital between January 2005 and December 2015. The yearly number rose from 7 in 2005 to 31 in 2015 corresponding to 2.7% of total elective major general surgery procedures in 2005 and 9.1% in 2015. A marked progressive increase was observed in the number and rate of cholecystectomies from 2009 following introduction of LC. From 0% in 2005, LC rose to 90% of all cholecystectomies in 2015. The mean postoperative length of stay of patients undergoing cholecystectomy declined from 5.2 days in 2005 to 3 days in 2009 and 1.8 days in 2015. Conclusion: This study demonstrates an increased rate of cholecystectomy following the introduction of LC in our setting. We recommend increased adoption of laparoscopy and other forms of minimally invasive surgery across the country.
Boundary-Making and Pastoral Conflict along the Kenyan–Ethiopian Borderlands

Abstract: Boundaries are technologies of power and knowledge that shape spatial and social realities and our understandings of them. This article examines the effects of boundary-making between Kenya and Ethiopia, and investigates the effects of borders on states of peace and conflict among Turkana, Samburu, Borana, Gabra, and Dassanetch of northern Kenya. If borders divide people, people benefit nonetheless from the environmental, social, and political entropy that borders generate by using the energy of spatial differences to advance their own individual and collective life projects. Résumé: Les délimitations sont des technologies de pouvoir et de connaissances qui façonnent les réalités spatiales et sociales et la compréhension que nous en avons. Cet article examine les effets de la création de délimitations entre le Kenya et l’Ethiopie, et étudie les effets des frontières sur les états de paix et de conflit entre les Turkana, les Samburu, les Borana, les Gabra et les Dassanetch du nord du Kenya. Si les frontières divisent les gens, les gens bénéficient néanmoins de l’entropie environnementale, sociale, et politique que les frontières génèrent en utilisant l’énergie des différences spatiales pour faire avancer leurs propres projets de vie individuels et collectifs.
Extracellular complex from the culture filtrate of Ferrobacillus ferrooxidans.

An extracellular complex was isolated from the culture filtrate of Ferrobacillus ferrooxidans grown on either iron or sulfur. The complex isolated from the culture filtrate of iron-grown cells was red with an absorption maxima at 500–510 mμ. This complex consisted of approximately 60% non-phosphorus lipid. Ferrous iron was exclusively associated with a lipopolysaccharide–phospholipid fraction of the complex. The sulfur complex unlike the iron complex contained approximately 70% phospholipid and was yellowish. On the basis of hexosamine and heptose values, less lipopolysaccharide appeared to be associated with the phospholipid fraction of the complex from sulfur-grown cells than from the iron-grown cells.
Double cord blood transplantation in patients with high risk bone marrow failure syndromes

Patients with bone marrow failure syndromes (BMFS) who reject a first allogeneic transplant or fail immunosuppressive therapy (IST) have an especially grim prognosis. We report 14 patients (eight adults, six children) transplanted with double cord blood transplantation (dUCBT) for BMFS. Neutrophil recovery was observed in eight patients, with full donor chimerism of one unit, and acute GVHD in 10. With a median follow‐up of 23 months, the estimated 2 years overall survival was 80 ± 17% and 33 ± 16% for patients with acquired and inherited BMFS, respectively. Transplantation of two partially HLA‐matched UCB thus enables salvage treatment of high‐risk patients with BMFS.
Facilitation of perceptual filling-in for spatio-temporal frequency of dynamic textures

Objects are perceived to fade and disappear within a few seconds under certain conditions when a small object surrounded by a moving texture is presented in human peripheral vision. This phenomenon is called perceptual filling-in or fading. Investigation of filling-in properties is important to understand visual information capture and processing. Previous studies have adopted filling-in time to evaluate the facilitation of filling-in. From this viewpoint, we propose a model of the filling-in process to address the phenomenon by which a small homogeneous area (filling-in target), which is surrounded by spatio-temporal frequency limited random-dot dynamic textures, is presented to an observer's peripheral vision (Proc. IC-EMBS2003). The model expresses target distinguishability from the surrounding texture. This study measured time to filling-in for various spatio-temporal frequencies of target-surrounding dynamic textures. Spatio-temporal frequency sensitivity of human vision was also estimated. Applying these results to the proposed model, it was suggested that M-channel pathway of LGN facilitates perceptual filling-in. In contrast, the P-channel pathway is assumed not to facilitate, but rather inhibit, filling-in
Social Selection in Educational Systems in Europe

School systems are typically organized as a series of progressions through which the student population moves. At each successive step only a fraction of the population survives and children of different social origins drop out at different rates. With data from the CASMIN project for nine European nations, this paper studies the similarities and differences between nations in the interplay between the general survival pattern and class-related transition rates. In the nations studied, education is distributed in different ways and with differential results for the social classes. For the cohorts studied, the considerable differences between nations in the unequal distribution of education to the offspring of the various social classes is mainly due to the cross-national differences in the general opportunities of attaining the various levels of education, and to the channelling of the student population through the educational institutions and transitions. They are less significantly due to differences between nations in the class effects on transitions. The pattern of class effects on transitions is highly similar among nations, although for single nations several specific deviations from the common pattern can be observed. It is argued that differences among nations in class effects result from historical, institutional, or political peculiarities of those nations, rather than from macro-sociological properties such as level of industrial development.
Thyroid Hormones Act Primarily within the Brain to Promote the Seasonal Inhibition of Luteinizing Hormone Secretion in the Ewe.

In the ewe, thyroid hormones are required for the seasonal suppression of GnRH and LH secretion, thereby maintaining an annual rhythm in reproductive activity. The primary site of action of thyroid hormones is unknown; in particular, there is no evidence to distinguish a central from a peripheral action. In this study, we test the hypothesis that thyroid hormones can act directly within the brain to promote GnRH/LH seasonal inhibition. Ovariectomized estradiol-treated ewes were thyroidectomized late in the breeding season to prevent seasonal LH inhibition. T4 was then infused for 3 months, either peripherally or centrally. Neuroendocrine reproductive state was monitored by assaying the LH concentration in biweekly blood samples. Central infusion of low dose T4, which restored a physiological concentration of the hormone in cerebrospinal fluid of these thyroidectomized ewes, promoted the neuroendocrine changes that lead to anestrus. The serum LH concentration in these animals fell at the same time as the s.
Analysis of HLA-G gene expression in B-lymphocytes from chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients.

BACKGROUND The human leukocyte antigen G (HLA-G) molecule exhibits limited tissue distribution, low polymorphism and alternative splicings that generate seven HLA-G isoforms. HLA-G exerts multiple immunoregulatory functions. Recent studies indicate an ectopic up-regulation in tumor cells that may favor their escape from anti-tumor immune responses. This study it is an effort to clarify the presence of HLA-G in B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) patients. METHODS HLA-G mRNA expression was studied in a pilot study in circulating B-CLL and also healthy controls by reverse transcription (RT)-PCR using a set of pan-HLA-G primers. RESULTS RT-PCR was performed on B-cells from 74 B-CLL patients and 12 healthy controls. The data showed HLA-G gene expression in 20% of the B-CLL patients. No expression of HLA-G could be detected in the healthy control group. CONCLUSION These data suggest that HLA-G is expressed at the gene level in B cells from B-CLL patients but not in B cells from healthy controls. Further study is required to clarify the role of HLA-G as a regulatory factor that could affect immune response in B-CLL patients.
Cellular and molecular mechanisms of neural repair after stroke: Making waves

Stroke is associated with a limited degree of functional recovery. Imaging studies in humans have shown that reorganization in periinfarct and connected cortical areas most closely correlates with functional recovery after stroke. On a cellular level, two major regenerative events occur in periinfarct cortex: axons sprout new connections and establish novel projection patterns, and newly born immature neurons migrate into periinfarct cortex. Stroke induces a unique microenvironment for axonal sprouting in periinfarct cortex, in which growth‐inhibitory molecules are reduced for 1 month after the infarct. During this period, neurons activate growth‐promoting genes in successive waves. Neurogenesis also occurs through waves of migration of immature neurons from their origin in the subventricular zone into periinfarct cortex. This migration is mediated, in part, by the cytokine erythropoietin. These data indicate that the cellular environment after stroke is far from one of just death and destruction, but rather involves a longer evolving process of neuronal regeneration. Poststroke neuronal regeneration is characterized by waves of specific cellular and molecular events. Manipulating these waves of regeneration may provide for novel therapies that will improve recovery after stroke. Ann Neurol 2006;59:735–742
The Role of Sonography in Imaging of the Biliary Tract

Sonography is the recommended initial imaging test in the evaluation of patients presenting with right upper quadrant pain or jaundice. Dependent upon clinical circumstances, the differential diagnosis includes choledocholithiasis, biliary stricture, or tumor. Sonography is very sensitive in detection of mechanical biliary obstruction and stone disease, although less sensitive for detection of obstructing tumors, including pancreatic carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma. In patients with sonographically documented cholelithiasis and choledocholithiasis, laparoscopic cholecystectomy with operative clearance of the biliary stone disease is usually performed. In patients with clinically suspected biliary stone disease, without initial sonographic documentation of choledocholithiasis, endoscopic ultrasound or magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography is the next logical imaging step. Endoscopic ultrasound documentation of choledocholithiasis in a postcholecystectomy patient should lead to retrograde cholangiography, sphincterotomy, and clearance of the ductal calculi by endoscopic catheter techniques. In patients with clinical and sonographic findings suggestive of malignant biliary obstruction, a multipass contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) examination to detect and stage possible pancreatic carcinoma, cholangiocarcinoma, or periductal neoplasm is usually recommended. Assessment of tumor resectability and staging can be performed by CT or a combination of CT and endoscopic ultrasound, the latter often combined with fine needle aspiration biopsy of suspected periductal tumor. In patients whose CT scan suggests hepatic hilar or central intrahepatic biliary tumor, percutaneous cholangiography and transhepatic biliary stent placement is usually followed by brushing or fluoroscopically directed fine needle aspiration biopsy for tissue diagnosis. Sonography is the imaging procedure of choice for biliary tract intervention, including cholecystostomy, guidance for percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography, and drainage of peribiliary abscesses.