Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Specificity Bio-identification of CNT-Based Transistor

In this research, we report a simple and general approach to π-π stacking functionalization of the sidewalls of CNTs by 1-pyrenebutanoic acid, succinimidyl ester (PSE), and subsequent immobilization of insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF1R) onto SWNTs with a high degree of control and specificity. The selection of PSE provides visualization and characterization of individual CNTs based on its strong luminescence. In addition, we designed a simple and efficient electrode with a staggered pattern to increase the effect of electrophoresis by using electric field for the macroscopic alignment of CNTs to complete a field-effect device for CNT-based biosensors. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) was used to investigate the morphology of the biosensors. The results of four-point probe method demonstrated high selectivity and sensitivity of detection. The functionalization of SWNTs was investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Experimental results imply that specific binding between IGF1R and its specific mAb results in a dramatic change in electrical current of CNT-based devices, and suggest that the devices are very promising biosensor candidates to detect circulating cancer cells.
A Histological Assessment of the Mechanism of Early-Stage Healing of a Biphasic Calcium Phosphate in an In Vivo Rabbit Model

The healing mechanism of osteoconductive biphasic calcium phosphate granules was investigated by a histological assessment of early-stage bone deposition and remodeling. The deposition of de novo bone on the scaffold granules was observed to initiate at the defect periphery by week one and in the bulk of the defect incorporating the granules by week four. New bone tissue was deposited in the space provided by the macroporosity and was observed in direct apposition to the implanted material confirming the bioactivity of the biphasic calcium phosphate. The granules were removed through a cell-mediated resorption process that was observed to begin as early as week two following surgery. Mature lamellar bone, fatty bone marrow, and vascularization was observed throughout the bulk of the defect with the cortical shell healed by week twelve. This healing mechanism was found to balance bone formation and implant resorption resulting in complete healing of the corticocancellous defect in the rabbit femoral condyle.
Taurine improves obesity-induced inflammatory responses and modulates the unbalanced phenotype of adipose tissue macrophages.

SCOPE It is increasingly accepted that chronic inflammation is a feature of obesity. Obesity-induced inflammation triggers enhanced recruitment of macrophages into the adipose tissue. Depending on their phenotype, macrophages can be designated either as pro-inflammatory M1 macrophages or anti-inflammatory M2 macrophages. We have therefore investigated the effects of taurine, a sulfated amino acid that is abundant in seafood, on obesity-related inflammation. METHODS AND RESULTS In high-fat diet fed C57BL/6J mice, taurine treatment reduced the infiltration of macrophages and promoted an M2-like phenotype of macrophages in adipose tissues. In addition, taurine decreased the production of inflammatory cytokines, and suppressed the development of hyperglycemia in diet-induced obese mice. Moreover, in vitro experiments that involved bone marrow derived macrophages indicated that taurine treatment induced alternative M2 macrophage activation, and its chloride, taurine chloramines, inhibited classical M1 macrophage activation. CONCLUSION Our findings indicate that taurine treatment attenuates the infiltration of adipose tissue by macrophages and modulates the phenotype of macrophages, which suggest that taurine is a valuable food constituent with a potential to attenuate chronic inflammation in adipose tissue and improve obesity-related insulin resistance.
Inactivation of Salmonella enteritidis on shell eggs by coating with phytochemicals.

Salmonella enteritidis (SE) is a major foodborne pathogen that causes human infections largely by consumption of contaminated eggs. The external surface of eggs becomes contaminated with SE from multiple sources, highlighting the need for effective egg surface disinfection methods. This study investigated the efficacy of three GRAS-status, phytochemicals, namely carvacrol (CR), eugenol (EG), and β-resorcylic acid (BR) applied as pectin or gum arabic based coating for reducing SE on shell eggs. White-shelled eggs, spot inoculated with a 5-strain mixture of nalidixic acid (NA) resistant SE (8.0 log CFU/mL) were coated with pectin or gum arabic solution containing each phytochemical (0.0, 0.25, 0.5, or 0.75%), and stored at 4°C for 7 days. SE on eggs was enumerated on days 0, 1, 3, and 7 of storage. Approximately 4.0 log CFU/egg of SE was recovered from inoculated and pectin or gum arabic coated eggs on day 0. All coating treatments containing CR and EG, and BR at 0.75% reduced SE to undetectable levels on day 3 (P < 0.05). Results suggest that the aforementioned phytochemicals could effectively be used as a coating to reduce SE on shell eggs, but detailed studies on the sensory and quality attributes of coated eggs need to be conducted before recommending their use.
RPC generations on ALOS PRISM and AVNIR-2

The Rational Polynomial Coefficients (RPC) is being widely used for representing the physical sensor models of satellite optical images. The Remote Sensing Technology Center of Japan (RESTEC) has already released the RPC data sets for Panchromatic Remote-sensing Instrument for Stereo Mapping (PRISM) and Advanced Visible and Near Infrared Radiometer type 2 (AVNIR-2) onboard Advanced Land Observing Satellite (ALOS) with respect to their physical sensor models calibrated by Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's (JAXA's) Earth Observation Research Center (EORC). Though the RPC data of PRISM / AVNIR-2 have been widely used in public users since the release, the research on them has not been published. This paper reports on the processing method and accuracy assessment results of the RPC data for PRISM / AVNIR-2. Their adjustment models to ground control points are presented with some experimental results as well as the triangulation accuracies and DSM generations for PRISM.
100-Mbps transceiver for enhanced MIL-STD-1553

We propose a transceiver for an enhanced MIL-STD-1553 standard suitable for avionics and military applications. With the advancement in technology and increase in the resolutions of the sensors and other on board data sources, the amount of data to be processed and transferred has increased significantly. This necessitates the need for data rates greater than 1-Mbps. In this work, the transceiver that operates at 100-Mbps data rate for a maximum cable length of 100 m in a multi-drop bus topology is proposed. Both linear (CTLE) and non-linear (DFE) equalization techniques are used to compensate channel loss and absorb multiple reflections in a multi-drop bus environment. The transceiver is designed and implemented in a 3.3 V 65 nm CMOS technology. Performance results show that the designed transceiver is capable of handling data transfer at 100-Mbps for a targeted bit error rate (BER) of 10-12, rise and fall times of 2 ns and a jitter of 500 ps.
Efficient observation-point insertion for diagnosability enhancement in digital circuits

Chip designers typically do not consider design-for-diagnosis (DfD) for manufacturing defects while implementing an integrated circuit and its design-for-test features. The lack of emphasis on DfD results in low diagnosis resolution and limited physical failure analysis (PFA) success rate when diagnosis is carried out using advanced techniques. To the best of our knowledge, no practical solution is available today to analyze the diagnosability of a design and improve it before tapeout. Furthermore, techniques that are specific to a given design cannot be reused for other chips. Therefore, we first propose a general structure-based diagnosability scoring model that can be used to analyze the diagnostic resolution for any chip. After the diagnosability analysis, we consider inserting additional observation points (OPs) for diagnosability enhancement. Given a constraint on the maximum number of inserted OPs, we propose a three-stage OP insertion (OPI) method, which includes: (i) selection of hard-to-diagnose (HTD) faults; (ii) mixed location ranking based on a structure-based diagnosability “repair” scoring model; (iii) information update and final location selection for a better diagnosability “repair” effect. The use of OPI results in higher fault “repair” rates and significant improvement in diagnosability. Experiments on benchmark circuits and industrial designs demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed DfD solution.
Effect of Cryopreservation on Bio-Chemical Parameters, DNA Integrity, Protein Profile and Phosphorylation State of Proteins of Seawater Fish Spermatozoa

Fish sperm cryopreservation is considered as a valuable technique for artificial reproduction and genetic improvement (Chao & Liao, 2001; Kopeika et al., 2007; Rana, 1995; Suquet et al., 2000). Semen quality must be monitored when attempts are made to increase the efficiency of artificial fertilization, to cryopreserve only sperm of high quality, and to evaluate frozenthawed sperm. Cryopreserved sperm usually shows, with respect to fresh sperm, a lower quality, since the freezing–thawing procedure affects DNA and protein integrity (Labbe et al., 2001; Zilli et al., 2003, 2005), membrane lipids (Maldjian et al., 2005; Muller et al., 2008), sperm motility (Linhart et al., 2000; Ritar, 1999; Rodina et al., 2007; Zilli et al., 2005), fertilization ability (Gwo & Arnold, 1992; Rana, 1995), and also larval survival (Suquet et al., 1998). Spermatozoa genome alteration due to cryopreservation may affect only late embryonic development and larval survival (Kopeika et al., 2003a, 2003b, 2004; Suquet et al., 1998), but not the early events in embryonic development, because these are controlled by maternally inherited information (Braude et al., 1988). On the contrary, defects in sperm proteins (degradation and/or change of the phosphorylation state) may compromise sperm motility, fertilization ability, and the early events after fertilization (Cao et al., 2003; Huang et al., 1999; Lessard et al., 2000).
Population Pharmacokinetics of Atazanavir in Patients with Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection

ABSTRACT Atazanavir (ATV) is a new azapeptide protease inhibitor recently approved and currently used at a fixed dose of either 300 mg once per day (q.d.) in combination with 100 mg ritonavir (RTV) or 400 mg q.d. without boosting. ATV is highly bound to plasma proteins and extensively metabolized by CYP3A4. Since ATV plasma levels are highly variable and seem to be correlated with both viral response and toxicity, dosage individualization based on plasma concentration monitoring might be indicated. This study aimed to assess the ATV pharmacokinetic profile in a target population of HIV patients, to characterize interpatient and intrapatient variability, and to identify covariates that might influence ATV disposition. A population analysis was performed with NONMEM with 574 plasma samples from a cohort of 214 randomly selected patients receiving ATV. A total of 346 randomly collected ATV plasma levels and 19 full concentration-time profiles at steady state were available. The pharmacokinetic parameter estimates were an oral clearance (CL) of 12.9 liters/h (coefficient of variation [CV], 26%), a volume of distribution of 88.3 liters (CV, 29%), an absorption rate constant of 0.405 h−1 (CV, 122%), and a lag time of 0.88 h. A relative bioavailability value was introduced to account for undercompliance due to infrequent follow-ups (0.81; CV, 45%). Among the covariates tested, only RTV significantly reduced CL by 46%, thereby increasing the ATV elimination half-life from 4.6 h to 8.8 h. The pharmacokinetic parameters of ATV were adequately described by a one-compartment population model. The concomitant use of RTV improved the pharmacokinetic profile. However, the remaining high interpatient variability suggests the possibility of an impact of unmeasured covariates, such as genetic traits or environmental influences. This population pharmacokinetic model, together with therapeutic drug monitoring and Bayesian dosage adaptation, can be helpful in the selection and adaptation of ATV doses.
Novel Features for Off-line Signature Verification

In this paper a novel feature extraction scheme has been suggested for offline signature verification. The proposed method used geometric center for feature extraction. Euclidean distance model was used for classification. This classifier is well suitable for features extracted and fast in computation. Method proposed in this paper leads to better results than existing offline signature verification methods. Threshold selection is based on statistical parameters like average and standard deviation (sigma).
User-Powered "Content-Free" Approach to Image Retrieval

Consider a stereotypical image-retrieval problem; a user submits a set of query images to a system and through repeated interactions during which the system presents its current choices and the user gives his/her preferences to them, the choices are narrowed to the image(s) that satisfies the user. The problem obviously must deal with image content, i.e., interpretation and preference. For this purpose, conventional so-called contentbased image retrieval (CBIR) approach uses image-processing and computer-vision techniques, and tries to understand the image content. Such attempts have produced good but limited success, mainly because image interpretation is a highly complicated perceptive process. We propose a new approach to this problem from a totally different angle. It attempts to exploit the human’s perceptual capabilities and certain common, if not identical, tendencies that must exist among people’s interpretation and preference of images. Instead of processing images, the system simply accumulates records of user feedback and recycles them in the form of collaborative filtering, just like a purchase recommendation system such as Amazo.com. To emphasize the point that it does not deal with image pixel information, we dub the approach by a term “content-free” image retrieval (CFIR). We discuss various issues of image retrieval, argue for the idea of CFIR, and present results of preliminary experiment. The results indicate that the performance of CFIR improves with the number of accumulated feedbacks, outperforming a basic but typical conventional CBIR system.
Structure is three to ten times more conserved than sequence—A study of structural response in protein cores

Protein structures change during evolution in response to mutations. Here, we analyze the mapping between sequence and structure in a set of structurally aligned protein domains. To avoid artifacts, we restricted our attention only to the core components of these structures. We found that on average, using different measures of structural change, protein cores evolve linearly with evolutionary distance (amino acid substitutions per site). This is true irrespective of which measure of structural change we used, whether RMSD or discrete structural descriptors for secondary structure, accessibility, or contacts. This linear response allows us to quantify the claim that structure is more conserved than sequence. Using structural alphabets of similar cardinality to the sequence alphabet, structural cores evolve three to ten times slower than sequences. Although we observed an average linear response, we found a wide variance. Different domain families varied fivefold in structural response to evolution. An attempt to categorically analyze this variance among subgroups by structural and functional category revealed only one statistically significant trend. This trend can be explained by the fact that beta‐sheets change faster than alpha‐helices, most likely due to that they are shorter and that change occurs at the ends of the secondary structure elements. Proteins 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Is hydroxyurea leukemogenic in children with sickle cell disease?

Hydroxyurea (HU) has been used for more than 10 years in children severely affected with sickle cell disease (SCD) to reduce the number of painful episodes. Short- to medium-term tolerance of the drug is good. [1-3][1] Concern remains, however, about the long-term safety of the drug and, in
Endoscopist-directed administration of propofol: a worldwide safety experience.

BACKGROUND & AIMS Endoscopist-directed propofol sedation (EDP) remains controversial. We sought to update the safety experience of EDP and estimate the cost of using anesthesia specialists for endoscopic sedation. METHODS We reviewed all published work using EDP. We contacted all endoscopists performing EDP for endoscopy that we were aware of to obtain their safety experience. These complications were available in all patients: endotracheal intubations, permanent neurologic injuries, and death. RESULTS A total of 646,080 (223,656 published and 422,424 unpublished) EDP cases were identified. Endotracheal intubations, permanent neurologic injuries, and deaths were 11, 0, and 4, respectively. Deaths occurred in 2 patients with pancreatic cancer, a severely handicapped patient with mental retardation, and a patient with severe cardiomyopathy. The overall number of cases requiring mask ventilation was 489 (0.1%) of 569,220 cases with data available. For sites specifying mask ventilation risk by procedure type, 185 (0.1%) of 185,245 patients and 20 (0.01%) of 142,863 patients required mask ventilation during their esophagogastroduodenoscopy or colonoscopy, respectively (P < .001). The estimated cost per life-year saved to substitute anesthesia specialists in these cases, assuming they would have prevented all deaths, was $5.3 million. CONCLUSIONS EDP thus far has a lower mortality rate than that in published data on endoscopist-delivered benzodiazepines and opioids and a comparable rate to that in published data on general anesthesia by anesthesiologists. In the cases described here, use of anesthesia specialists to deliver propofol would have had high costs relative to any potential benefit.
Effects of olfactory training in patients with olfactory loss

Olfactory function is known to be modulated by repeated exposure to odors. The aim of this investigation was whether patients with olfactory loss would benefit from “Training” with odors in terms of an improvement of their general olfactory function. It was hypothesized that olfactory Training should produce both an improved sensitivity towards the odors used in the Training process and an overall increase of olfactory function.
Properties of suspension plasma sprayed zirconia coatings using different plasma torches

Dans cette these plusieurs questions scientifiques concernant la projection plasma de suspensions (SPS) revetements de zircone ont ete etudiees. Les revetements ont ete analysees principalement en termes de l'application comme isolant top-coat des revetements de barriere thermique (TBC). Ces revetements multicouches sont appliques sur les parties metalliques par exemple, Les turbines a gaz pour les proteger contre les charges thermiques elevees provoquees par les gaz d'echappement chauds. Mais l'evaluation initiale de la possibilite de l'utilisation de la projection plasma de suspensions pour produire la couche d'electrolyte en pile a combustible a oxyde solide (SOFC) a ete fait aussi. SOFC semblent etre les types de piles a combustible les plus prometteurs actuellement. (Voir le chapitre 1-2 de la revue de la litterature). Le premier objectif de recherche important etait d'analyser la possibilite de produire des revetements etant differents en termes de la microstructure. L'objectif principal etait d'obtenir des revetements caracterises par une structure tres poreuse et irreguliere (appele colonnaires-like), mais aussi des revetements tres denses et homogenes avec typique, deux zones microstructure. A cet effet, les deux poudres de zircone ont ete utilisees: (i) l'oxyde de zirconium entierement stabilise a l'yttria et (ii) de la zircone yttria-oxyde de cerium stabilise. Les poudres ont des compositions chimiques differentes, la taille des particules et leur morphologie. Ces poudres ont ete utilisees pour une formulation de suspension. L'autre variable dans le procede de pulverisation est la concentration de la suspension. La suspension avec une teneur en matieres solides dans la gamme de 2,5 et 30 en poids % ont ete preparees et projetee. Toutes les suspensions ont ete produites au laboratoire. Un concept tres important de ce travail est l'utilisation de quatre differents, disponibles dans le commerce, des torches a plasma, a savoir: (i) SG-100, (ii) TriplexPro-200, (iii) Axial III et (iv) WSP-H 500. Les torches etaient differentes en termes de conception, l'energie electrique, le modede stabilisation du plasma et l'angle d'injection de suspension. En raison des grandes differences entre les torches a plasma et SPS set-ups les parametres du procede de pulverisation ont ete choisis dans chaque cas individuellement. La derniere variable dans la conception de l'experience etait la topographie et la rugosite du substrat afin d'evaluer son influence sur les revetements des mecanismes de croissance-up. Les substrats ont ete prepares avant la projection par: (i) le grenaillage, (ii) le traitement au laser et par (iii) le broyage. L'experience de projection large a permis une analyse complexe de SPS revetements microstructure, des mecanismes de croissance des revetements et le developpement de processus SPS lui-meme. [. ]
Dysregulation of the IL-13 receptor system: a novel pathomechanism in pulmonary arterial hypertension.

RATIONALE Idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH) is characterized by medial hypertrophy due to pulmonary artery smooth muscle cell (paSMC) hyperplasia. Inflammation is proposed to play a role in vessel remodeling associated with IPAH. IL-13 is emerging as a regulator of tissue remodeling; however, the contribution of the IL-13 system to IPAH has not been assessed. OBJECTIVES The objective of this study was to assess the possible contribution of the IL-13 system to IPAH. METHODS Expression and localization of IL-13, and IL-13 receptors IL-4R, IL-13Rα1, and IL-13Rα2 were assessed by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, immunohistochemistry, and flow cytometry in lung tissue, paSMC, and microdissected vascular lesions from patients with IPAH, and in lung tissue from rodents with hypoxia- or monocrotaline-induced pulmonary hypertension. A whole-genome microarray analysis was used to study IL-13-regulated genes in paSMC. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Pulmonary expression of the IL-13 decoy receptor IL-13Rα2 was up-regulated relative to that of the IL-13 signaling receptors IL-4R and IL-13Rα1 in patients with IPAH and in two animal models of IPAH. IL-13, signaling via STAT3 and STAT6, suppressed proliferation of paSMC by promoting G(0)/G(1) arrest. Whole-genome microarrays revealed that IL-13 suppressed endothelin-1 production by paSMC, suggesting that IL-13 controlled paSMC growth by regulating endothelin production. Ectopic expression of the il13ra2 gene resulted in partial loss of paSMC growth control by IL-13 and blunted IL-13 suppression of endothelin-1 production by paSMC, whereas small-interfering RNA knockdown of il13ra2 gene expression had the opposite effects. CONCLUSIONS The IL-13 system is a novel regulator of paSMC growth. Dysregulation of IL-13 receptor expression in IPAH may partially underlie smooth muscle hypertrophy associated with pathological vascular remodeling in IPAH.