Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Preparation and Characterization of Novel Acrylate Emulsiones with Ketone-Hydrazide Crosslinking Structure Based on Application of Reactive Emulsifier

Polyacrylate emulsions (PAs) with core-shell structure were prepared by semi-continuous emulsion polymerization with diacetone acrylamide (DAAM) and adipic dihydrazide (ADH) as crosslinkable monomers and compound emulsifier system of SDS/0P-21/MS-1, reactive emulsifier NRS-10 as emulsifier respectively. The polyacrylate emulsion with keto-hydrazide crosslinking was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), FTIR analyses demonstrated that the keto-hydrazide crosslinking reaction occur in the emulsion. The properties of both emulsions and films were tested by size analysis, viscosity analysis and others. The results showed that the average particle size with reactive emulsifier system of around 93 nm, coagulation rate of around 0.81% and water absorption rate of around 6.7% and the quality of polyacrylate emulsion with reactive emulsifier system was excellent.
Competition between High-Frequency Market Makers, and Market Quality

High-frequency trading has been the subject of controversial discussions among legislators, regulators and investors alike, leading to calls for legislative and regulative intervention. The rst entries of large international high-frequency traders into the Swedish equity market in 2009, using NASDAQ OMXS tick data, oers a unique chance to empirically examine how competition aects market quality. Competition among high-frequency market makers coincides (i) with an increase in intraday volatility of about 25%, but interestingly (ii) with no eect on interday volatility, (iii) with a decrease in order-execution time (length of time between an incoming market order or marketable limit order and the standing limit order against which the trade is executed) by about 20%, and (iv) with an increase in market share for highfrequency traders, but (v) with no signicant eect on overall volume. We provide results for both entries and exits, and oer several potential explanations for this rst empirical evidence on competition.
Streptococcal pharyngitis - time to move beyond penicillins?

10 mg/kg/day for three days) were the only regimens that had lower clinical failure rates than penicillin when analyzed independently, with ORs of 0.49 (95% CI 0.03 to 0.81) and 0.08 (95% CI 0.01 to 0.64), respectively. For the 13 trials that looked at later clinical recurrence, results were equivocal for penicillin versus short-course antibiotics. For bacteriological cure, early failure to eradicate group A streptococcus (GAS) (at the end of the course of antibiotics) was equivalent in the two groups but, again, shortcourse cefuroxime or the higher dose azithromycin were superior to penicillin when analyzed independently (ORs of 0.64 [95% CI 0.48 to 0.87] and 0.29 [95% CI 0.14 to 0.61], respectively). Late bacteriological recurrences were more common in the short-course group but occurred primarily with azithromycin 10 mg/kg for three days. Adverse events were mainly gastrointestinal and were almost twice as common in the short-course group (OR 1.85, 95% CI 1.55 to 2.21). Such events were particularly common with azithromycin 20 mg/kg/day (OR 5.13, 95% CI 2.76 to 9.54) and occurred in approximately 5% of the penicillin group versus 10% of the short-course group. Noncompliance was 24% in the penicillin group versus 6% in the short-course group in the six trials reporting this outcome.
Increased Production of Immature Myeloid Cells in Cancer Patients: A Mechanism of Immunosuppression in Cancer1

Defective dendritic cell (DC) function caused by abnormal differentiation of these cells is an important mechanism of tumor escape from immune system control. Previously, we have demonstrated that the number and function of DC were dramatically reduced in cancer patients. This effect was closely associated with accumulation of immature cells (ImC) in peripheral blood. In this study, we investigated the nature and functional role of those ImC. Using flow cytometry, electron microscopy, colony formation assays, and cell differentiation in the presence of different cell growth factors, we have determined that the population of ImC is composed of a small percentage (<2%) of hemopoietic progenitor cells, with all other cells being represented by MHC class I-positive myeloid cells. About one-third of ImC were immature macrophages and DC, and the remaining cells were immature myeloid cells at earlier stages of differentiation. These cells were differentiated into mature DC in the presence of 1 μM all-trans-retinoic acid. Removal of ImC from DC fractions completely restored the ability of the DC to stimulate allogeneic T cells. In two different experimental systems ImC inhibited Ag-specific T cell responses. Thus, immature myeloid cells generated in large numbers in cancer patients are able to directly inhibit Ag-specific T cell responses. This may represent a new mechanism of immune suppression in cancer and may suggest a new approach to cancer treatment.
The relationship between socio-economic status, geography, symptomatic carotid territory disease and carotid endarterectomy.

OBJECTIVE recent evidence suggests a strong association between socio-economic status and atherosclerosis. However, little information exists on the relationship between socio-economic status, symptomatic carotid disease and rates of carotid endarterectomy (CEA). The aim was to evaluate the Carstair Deprivation Score (CDS) of (1) patients admitted with symptomatic carotid disease, and (2) those undergoing CEA in one health board. METHOD the CDS score was determined from the post-codes of all patients admitted with a diagnosis of transient ischaemic attack (TIA) or stroke due to cerebral infarction (ISD 9 codes 433.1, 433.09, 435, 437.1; ICD-10: 165.2, 163, 163.2, G45.1, G45.3, G45.9) between 1st April 1995 and 31st March 2000. Expected and actual rates for each of the CDS (1 to 7) were determined by direct and indirect methods of standardisation allowing for age and sex. A similar analysis was performed for patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy. Results were analysed using the Mantel-Haenszel test. Only first time admissions and CEA were included. RESULTS 1203 patients were admitted with the main diagnosis of symptomatic carotid disease. The admission rate of symptomatic patients was less than expected in the more affluent group (Carstair 1, p < 0.005) and significantly higher in the most deprived group (Carstair 7, p < 0.001). In comparison 192 patients underwent CEA. There were no differences between the expected and actual rates of CEA in each CDS, but the rates tended to be higher in the most affluent group. Geographical variation was also demonstrated with an increased rate of CEA in those patients living in the cities and a reduced rate in those in the rural communities. CONCLUSION patients from deprived socio-economic groups had a higher rate of symptomatic carotid disease, but this was not matched by an increased rate of CEA. This suggests that socio-economic inequalities in the prevalence of symptomatic carotid artery disease and treatment exist.
Phased, Secondary, Small Interfering RNAs in Posttranscriptional Regulatory Networks[OPEN]

Plant genomes are the source of large numbers of small RNAs, generated via a variety of genetically separable pathways. Several of these pathways converge in the production of phased, secondary, small interfering RNAs (phasiRNAs), originally designated as trans-acting small interfering RNAs or tasiRNAs. PhasiRNA biogenesis requires the involvement of microRNAs as well as the cellular machinery for the production of siRNAs. PhasiRNAs in Arabidopsis thaliana have been well described for their ability to function in trans to suppress target transcript levels. Plant genomic data from an expanding set of species have demonstrated that Arabidopsis is relatively sparing in its use of phasiRNAs, while other genomes contain hundreds or even thousands of phasiRNA-generating loci. In the dicots, targets of those phasiRNAs include several large or conserved families of genes, such as those encoding disease resistance proteins or transcription factors. Suppression of nucleotide-binding, leucine-rich repeat (NB-LRR) disease resistance genes by small RNAs is particularly unusual because of a high level of redundancy. In this review, we discuss plant phasiRNAs and the possible mechanistic significance of phasiRNA-based regulation of the NB-LRRs.
Enhancing laser thermal-therapy using ultrasound-microbubbles and gold nanorods: In vitro investigation

Gold nanorods (GNR) in laser-induced thermal therapy can significantly increase light absorption, leading to a local temperature increase and causing irreversible cell damage. One of the key challenges in using GNR as a thermal therapy agent is to deliver a concentration of GNR to generate sufficient heat and cause cell death. In this study, ultrasound and microbubble induced sonoporation is used to enhance intracellular uptake of GNR and improve the therapeutic outcome of laserinduced thermal therapy. Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells in suspension (0.6 mL) were treated with ultrasound and microbubbles (USMB) at 1 MHz frequency, 16 microseconds pulse duration, 1 kHz pulse repetition frequency, 1 minute insonation time, varying acoustic pressures (0, 1.26 and 1.73 MPa) and 10 μL Definity microbubble agent with and without GNR (12 nm × 48 nm) at varying concentration (1.0×1010 to 2.5×1011 GNR/mL). The GNR were manufactured through wet chemical synthesis process and measured using Transmission Electron Mic.
Retention in care: a challenge to survival with HIV infection.

BACKGROUND Patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection need lifelong medical care, but many do not remain in care. The effect of poor retention in care on survival is not known, and we sought to quantify that relationship. METHODS We conducted a retrospective cohort study involving persons newly identified as having HIV infection during 1997-1998 at any United States Department of Veterans Affairs hospital or clinic who started antiretroviral therapy after 1 January 1997. To be included in the study, patients had to have seen a clinician at least once after receiving their first antiretroviral prescription and to have survived for at least 1 year. Patients were divided into 4 groups on the basis of the number of quarters in that year during which they had at least 1 HIV primary care visit. Survival was measured through 2002. Because data were available for only a small number of women, female patients were excluded from the study. RESULTS A total of 2619 men were followed up for a mean of >4 years each. The median baseline CD4(+) cell count and median log(10) plasma HIV concentration were 228x10(6) cells/L and 4.58 copies/mL, respectively. Thirty-six percent of the patients had visits in <4 quarters, and 16% died during follow-up. In Cox multivariate regression analysis, compared with persons with visits in all 4 quarters during the first year, the adjusted hazard ratio of death was 1.42 (95% confidence interval, 1.11-1.83; P<.01), 1.67 (95% confidence interval, 1.24-2.25; P<.001), and 1.95 (95% confidence interval, 1.37-2.78; P<.001) for persons with visits in 3 quarters, 2 quarters, and 1 quarter, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Even in a system with few financial barriers to care, a substantial portion of HIV-infected patients have poor retention in care. Poor retention in care predicts poorer survival with HIV infection. Retaining persons in care may improve survival, and optimal methods to retain patients need to be defined.
Effective Generation of Interface Robustness Properties for Static Analysis

A software system interacts with its environment through system interfaces. Robustness of software systems are governed by various temporal properties related to these interfaces, whose violation leads to system crashes and security compromises. These properties can be formally specified for system interfaces and statically verified against a software system. But manually specifying a large number of interface properties for static verification is often inaccurate or incomplete, apart from being cumbersome. In this paper, we propose a novel framework that effectively generates interface properties for static checking from a few generic, high level robustness rules that capture interface behavior. We implement our framework for an existing static analyzer with simple dataflow extensions and apply it on POSIX-API system interfaces used in 10 Redhat-9.0 open source packages. The results show that the framework can effectively generate a large number of useful interface properties from a few generically specified rules
Articulatory synthesis of French connected speech from EMA data

This paper reports an experiment in synthesizing French connected speech using Maeda’s digital simulation of the vocaltract system. The dynamics of the vocal-tract shape are estimated from the dynamics of Electromagnetic Articulograph (EMA) sensors via Maeda’s geometrical articulatory model. Time-varying characteristics of the glottis and the velopharyngeal port are set using empirical rules, while the fundamental frequency pattern is copied from the concurrently recorded audio signal. A subjective experiment was performed online to assess the perceived intelligibility and naturalness of the synthesized speech. Results indicate that a properly driven simulation of the vocal tract has the potential to provide a scientifically grounded alternative to the development of text-to-speech synthesis systems. Index Terms: articulatory synthesis, speech production, electromagnetic articulography, vocal-tract simulation
Proposed evolutionary changes in the role of myelin

Myelin is the multi-layered lipid sheet periodically wrapped around neuronal axons. It is most frequently found in vertebrates. Myelin allows for saltatory action potential (AP) conduction along axons. During this form of conduction, the AP travels passively along the myelin-covered part of the axon, and is recharged at the intermittent nodes of Ranvier. Thus, myelin can reduce the energy load needed and/or increase the speed of AP conduction. Myelin first evolved during the Ordovician period. We hypothesize that myelin's first role was mainly energy conservation. During the later “Mesozoic marine revolution,” marine ecosystems changed toward an increase in marine predation pressure. We hypothesize that the main purpose of myelin changed from energy conservation to conduction speed increase during this Mesozoic marine revolution. To test this hypothesis, we optimized models of myelinated axons for a combination of AP conduction velocity and energy efficiency. We demonstrate that there is a trade-off between these objectives. We then compared the simulation results to empirical data and conclude that while the data are consistent with the theory, additional measurements are necessary for a complete evaluation of the proposed hypothesis.
Periodic array of nanoholes on gold-coated optical fiber end-faces for surface plasmon resonance liquid refractive index sensing

Focused ion beam (FIB) lithography was used to inscribe a periodic array of nanoholes directly on gold-coated optical fiber end-faces. The excitation of the surface plasmon polaritons of the nanohole arrays on the optical fiber end-faces provided the basis of a refractive index sensor for liquids. This optical fiber based surface plasmon resonance sensor is compact and has the potential to be used in biomedical applications. A sensitivity of approximately 294 nm per refractive index unit (RIU) has been demonstrated for this sensor.
The Principle of Comprehensive Modelling Applied to Data and Behaviour

In their paper "Trace Semantics are Fully Abstract" Nain and Vardi propose that denotational semantics of behavioural modelling formalisms should adhere to the "Principle of Comprehensive Modelling" which requires models are exhaustive of all possible circumstances. However their exploration of this principle is made only in the context of machines that use sets of single symbols to define their state and alphabet. We extend the application of the principle to the denotational semantics of machines that use data structures, rather than single symbols, for the definition of state and alphabet. We show that, in the context of modelling the interaction between data and behaviour, this extension enables a unification of what are normally considered distinct styles of behavioural composition.
Bias- and temperature-assisted trapping/de-trapping of ron degradation in D-mode AlGaN/GaN MIS-HEMTs on a Si substrate

In this study, we investigate the Ron degradation in D-mode AlGaN/GaN MIS-HEMTs on a Si substrate via an accelerated step stress at different temperatures. We have observed a three-phase Ron degradation behavior, which is highly correlated with a drain bias and back gate bias. First, the Ron degradation increases till a peak value when the drain bias increases. Second, when the drain bias increases further, the Ron degradation is reduced. Third, the Ron degradation slowly increases again. Ron degradation is characterized with different temperatures, the results show that 1) high temperature leads to a smaller Ron degradation compared to the result at room temperature and 2) high temperature shifts the peak of the Ron degradation at a lower drain bias. A possible mechanism that the trapping and de-trapping could occur due to the high temperature and high drain bias is proposed to explain the observed results.
[Predictor indices of early extubation in mechanical ventilation in patients treated with heart surgery].

BACKGROUND Following open heart surgery, most patients are ventilated for 12 to 24 hours to obtain a period of hemodynamic stability and to reduce the work of breathing. Some authors have proposed criteria to guide early extubation and have proposed physiologic parameters to predict which patients will be able to breathe spontaneously. AIM To study the capacity to predict successful early extubation of ventilatory and gas exchange parameters. PATIENTS AND METHODS Two hundred thirty patients admitted to an intensive care unit after coronary or valvular surgery were studied. Measurements were made through a T piece 30 minutes after discontinuing mechanical ventilation. RESULTS Six patients died in the postoperative period. Two hundred ten patients tolerated early extubation (14 +/- 5 h of mechanical ventilation) and 20 required prolonged mechanical ventilation (74 +/- 107 h). The latter had longer surgical procedures (291 +/- 65 and 240 +/- 67 min respectively) and extracorporeal circulation times (138 +/- 42 and 104 +/- 43 min respectively), required more vasoactive drugs, had more episodes of confusion and had a higher surgical risk. Tidal volume, respiratory frequency, maximal inspiratory pressure and blood gases at the moment of extubation were similar in both groups. CONCLUSIONS Pulmonary function parameters and blood gases measured during a T piece trial are not good predictors of early extubation in cardiac surgery.
Aflatoxins Aggravate the Incidence of Salmonellosis Outbreak in Fattening Calves: A Case Study

Fever, bloody diarrhea and high mortality rate were the main clinical finding in a group of fattening calves. Analysis of corn silage revealed presence of aflatoxins at level of 370 ppb. This level of aflatoxins in the feed of cattle is somewhat low to be the main cause of reported signs. Leukocytopenia, anemia, decreased lymphocytic activity and lowered phagocytic index are the main hematological and immunological alterations in diseased calves. Bacteriological investigation revealed isolation of pathogenic Salmonella typhimurium from the rectal swabs of diseased calves. Our results suggested that, long duration of exposure to aflatoxins even at small concentrations may considered as predisposing factor for the incidence of natural infectious outbreaks as salmonellosis due to its immunosuppressive effect. We can conclude that the veterinarians and owners must be given an attention to the relation between aflatoxicosis and salmonellosis under field condition. We are recommended that the treatment program during similar outbreaks must be including anti-aflatoxins preparations beside the antimicrobial therapy. Keywords—Aflatoxins, Calves, Salmonellosis.
Greenhouse warming and the 21st century hydroclimate of southwestern North America

Climate models robustly predict that the climate of southwestern North America, defined as the area from the western Great Plains to the Pacific Ocean and from the Oregon border to southern Mexico, will dry throughout the current century as a consequence of rising greenhouse gases. This regional drying is part of a general drying of the subtropics and poleward expansion of the subtropical dry zones. Through an analysis of 15 coupled climate models it is shown here that the drying is driven by a reduction of winter season precipitation associated with increased moisture divergence by the mean flow and reduced moisture convergence by transient eddies. Due to the presence of large amplitude decadal variations of presumed natural origin, observations to date cannot confirm that this transition to a drier climate is already underway, but it is anticipated that the anthropogenic drying will reach the amplitude of natural decadal variability by midcentury. In addition to this drop in total precipitation, warming is already causing a decline in mountain snow mass and an advance in the timing of spring snow melt disrupting the natural water storage systems that are part of the region’s water supply system. Uncertainties in how radiative forcing will impact the tropical Pacific climate system create uncertainties in the amplitude of drying in southwest North America with a La Niña-like response creating a worst case scenario of greater drying.
Deep plasma etching of glass for fluidic devices with different mask materials

Deep reactive ion etching (DRIE) processes have been developed for fabricating fluidic devices in glass (Pyrex™ and fused silica) substrates with cavities deeper than 100 µm. By using a standard silicon wafer as the etch mask, patterned by silicon DRIE, very deep and nearly vertical structures can be etched into the glass. In this work, an atmospheric pressure chemical ionization chip was fabricated. Also the results show potential for satisfactory etch characteristics with Ni, amorphous silicon (a-Si) and SU-8 as mask materials.
Battery in the loop: Battery evaluation in a systems context

System simulation and hardware component in the loop are key steps in the model-based system engineering (MBSE) process that seeks to shorten the development time of advanced powertrain technologies. Battery Component in the Loop (BCIL), also commonly abbreviated as Battery in the Loop (BIL), is an important step in the evaluation of advanced prototype batteries for electrified vehicles. This paper discusses the possible experiments that can be performed with BIL in order to evaluate the battery in a vehicle systems context (battery focused), and to evaluate the vehicle-level impact of different battery scenarios (vehicle focused). The paper then details the numerous steps necessary in the setup of BIL, including system simulation and virtual vehicle development, hardware setup, closed loop control development, and actual battery evaluation in a virtual vehicle environment. BIL was used to evaluate a prototype 48-V battery developed by Samsung SDI. The virtual vehicle was developed in Autonomie, Argonne National Laboratory's vehicle system simulation software. A mean value engine model developed in AMESim was integrated in the virtual vehicle model and targeted to a dSPACE system for BIL evaluation of the real battery pack. The system evaluation of the Samsung SDI battery will be used to describe the BCIL process throughout the paper.