Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evidence for Badenian local sea level changes in the proximal area of the North Croatian Basin

Quantitative analysis of palynomorphs, foraminifera and ostracods enabled the recognition of biotic events and the reconstruction of environmental change in the Badenian sediments from the Vrhovcak section of Mt. Samoborsko gorje (NW Croatia). During the Middle Miocene the investigated area of Mt. Samoborska gora was located at the south-western margin of the North Croatian Basin, which represents the south-western edge of the Pannonian Basin System and the Central Paratethys Basin. This marginal position within the basin controlled the specific evolution of the depositional area during the Badenian. The occurrence of coal bearing horizons and freshwater flora and fauna in the middle part of the Vrhovcak section provide new data for the reconstruction of Badenian palaeoenvironments. A fall in sea level and the probable isolation of this area in the Badenian seems to be responsible for the appearance of a new fauna and flora. The marine sediments from the base of the Vrhovcak section may be correlated to cycle TB 2.4 of the main Badenian transgression, which affected the entire Central Paratethys area. This was followed by a regression and lowstand (Ser2), which, correlated to the middle part of the section, with freshwater sediments and coal bearing horizons. The upper part of the Vrhovcak section with marine sediments represents the Late Badenian cycle TB 2.5.
On the complexity of hierarchical associative memories

Associative memories represent a model of artificial neural networks applicable to the information storage and retrieval. However, the performance of traditional associative memories is very sensitive to the number of stored patterns and their mutual similarities. In order to avoid limitations imposed by processing larger amounts of mutually correlated patterns, we have developed the so-called Hierarchical Associative Memory (HAM) model. This paper is focused on the time complexity and memory complexity of the HAM model. The time complexity of the HAM model is derived. The memory complexity is analyzed and the theoretical results are compared with the experimental results.
Noninvasive measurement of pH in platelet concentrates with a fiber optic fluorescence detector

BACKGROUND: Stored platelets (PLTs) are metabolically active, resulting in a decrease of pH during storage. The pH of PLT concentrates (PCs) is recognized as a measure of quality, and pH limits are set by regulatory bodies. A pH sensor was built into a PLT storage container, and the feasibility of testing pH using a noninvasive fluorescent measurement method was evaluated.
Lung cancer suppressor gene GPRC5A mediates p53 activity in non‑small cell lung cancer cells in vitro.

Cellular tumor antigen p53 (p53) functions to maintain genomic stability and regulate cell apoptosis, while G protein‑coupled receptor class C group 5 member A (GPCR5A) is a lung cancer suppressor gene whose expression is induced by retinoids. The present in vitro study assessed the effects of p53 on the regulation of GPRC5A expression and on non‑small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells. Human NSCLC H1299 (p53‑null) and A549 (wild‑type p53) cell lines were subjected to p53 cDNA and small interfering (si)RNA transfection, respectively. GPRC5A expression was analyzed by reverse transcription‑quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blotting, and cell behavior was analyzed using cell viability and apoptosis assays. The results of the present study demonstrated that knockdown of GPRC5A expression markedly upregulated tumor cell viability and reduced tumor cell apoptosis, while p53 overexpression in H1299 cells significantly increased the expression level of GPRC5A. p53 overexpression and GPRC5A induction markedly inhibited tumor cell viability and induced apoptosis, while knockdown of p53 resulted in a decrease in GPRC5A expression, inhibited tumor cell apoptosis and increased tumor cell viability. In serum‑free culture conditions, GPRC5A expression was decreased in the two cell lines; this decrease was less marked in p53 cDNA‑transfected H1299 cells and more marked in p53 siRNA‑transfected A549 cells. The results of the present study indicated that p53 antitumor activity may be mediated by GPRC5A in NSCLC cells.
Chronic Hepatitis C in Latinos: Natural History, Treatment Eligibility, Acceptance, and Outcomes

OBJECTIVES:The natural history of chronic hepatitis C and treatment response are different between blacks and Caucasians, but little comparable data is available about Latinos.METHODS:A cross-sectional secondary analysis to investigate differences between 421 anti-HCV-positive, treatment-naïve, HCV-viremic Latinos and 2,510 Caucasians in 24 VA medical centers enrolled in a prospective study.RESULTS:Latinos were infected at a younger age and were less likely to have blood contact during combat, surgery, and needle stick injury, but were more frequently HIV coinfected (20.4% vs 3.9%, p < 0.0001) and prior HAV infection (39.9% vs 26.4%, p = 0.0001). Latinos were more likely to be treatment candidates, but less likely to actually initiate treatment. Liver histology (123 Latinos, 743 Caucasians) showed no difference in fibrosis or fibrosis rate, but steatosis (54.7% vs 43.2%, p = 0.038) was more common in Latinos. Eighty-eight Latinos and 481 Caucasians were subsequently treated with interferon-ribavirin: body mass index (BMI), duration of infection, baseline tests, liver histology and genotype distribution were similar. Compared with Caucasians, Latinos discontinued treatment prematurely more often (39.8% vs 28.9%, p = 0.043) and tended to have lower sustained virological response (SVR) rates (14.8% vs 22.5%, p = 0.10). Multivariate analysis found Latino race and history of recent alcohol use to be associated with early treatment discontinuation, whereas genotype and viral load but not ethnicity to be associated with SVR.CONCLUSIONS:Latinos were infected younger, more frequently HIV coinfected, more likely to meet criteria for antiviral therapy yet less likely to initiate treatment and had a trend toward lower SVR rates than Caucasians, but not in severity of liver disease. Latino ethnicity was associated with early discontinuation but not as an independent predictor of SVR.
Unconjugated bilirubin, and the hydrolysis of conjugated bilirubin, in gallbladder bile of patients with cholelithiasis.

Abstract To assess the role in pigment gallstone formation of hydrolysis of conjungated (CB) to unconjugated (UCB) bilirubin, 52 samples of human gallbladder bile were aspirated at laparotomy. On each bile sample, the concentrations of CB and UCB were determined, using a new thin layer chromatographic method, and the rate of hydrolysis of CB to UCB was measured during incubation at 37 °C, performed under nitrogen and in the dark to prevent oxidation of the bile pigments. Nine control biles without gallstones contained no more than 1.87 mg per dl of UCB (less than 1.2% of total bilirubin), and showed no significant hydrolysis of CB to UCB. Among 24 biles containing cholesterol gallstones, only 3 showed significant hydrolysis of CB, and only 1 of these exhibited increased concentrations of UCB. By contrast, 10 of 19 biles containing pigment precipitates or gallstones revealed increased concentrations of UCB and/or significant hydrolysis of CB to UCB. Biles containing pigment calculi were best distinguished by their supersaturation with the poorly soluble, nonionized form of UCB at the measured bile acid concentration of each sample. Total bilirubin concentrations were not elevated except in 4 of the 5 biles containing pigment precipitates. Among 15 biles cultured both aerobically and anaerobically, only 2 grew any bacteria ( Escherichia coli ), and there was no relationship between the presence of bacteria and hydrolysis of CB to UCB. It is concluded that some UCB is normally secreted into bile, and that hydrolysis of CB, and excessive concentrations of UCB, especially its nonionized form, are associated with pigment gallstones, although related to factors other than bacterial infection.
Segmentation of knee cartilage by using a hierarchical active shape model based on multi-resolution transforms in magnetic resonance images

Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is characterized by the morphological degeneration of cartilage. Efficient segmentation of cartilage is important for cartilage damage diagnosis and to support therapeutic responses. We present a method for knee cartilage segmentation in magnetic resonance images (MRI). Our method incorporates the Hermite Transform to obtain a hierarchical decomposition of contours which describe knee cartilage shapes. Then, we compute a statistical model of the contour of interest from a set of training images. Thereby, our Hierarchical Active Shape Model (HASM) captures a large range of shape variability even from a small group of training samples, improving segmentation accuracy. The method was trained with a training set of 16- MRI of knee and tested with leave-one-out method.
Thin Two-Phase Heat Spreaders with Boiling Enhancement Microstructures for Thermal Management of Electronic Systems

Title of Ph.D. Dissertation: THIN TWO-PHASE HEAT SPREADERS WITH BOILING ENHANCEMENT MICROSTRUCTURES FOR THERMAL MANAGEMENT OF ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS Sunil S Murthy, Doctor of Philosophy, 2004 Dissertation directed by: Professor Yogendra K. Joshi Department of Mechanical Engineering The current study goes over a design methodology for thin, two-phase heat spreaders for space constrained cooling applications. The evaporator section of the heat spreader employs enhancement structures to improve the spreader plate performance. The thermal performances of two such spreader prototypes, with integrated fins for cooling, were studied under both natural convection as well as forced air-cooled conditions. The results show a significant improvement in performance of the spreader plate compared to a solid metal plate subjected to similar boundary conditions. A design constraint on the evaporator and the condenser sections of the heat spreader ensures the enhanced structure remains flooded under all orientations, resulting in an orientation insensitive heat spreader. A predictive thermal performance model of the spreader plate was developed based on a semi-analytical model for boiling from structured surfaces. The semianalytical model was validated against measured quantities from flow visualization studies reported in the literature and was found to predict the bubble departure diameter within ± 20 %, bubble frequency within ± 35 % and heat fluxes within ± 30 %. 2D numerical simulation, using level set formulation, was also carried out to understand the physics behind bubble departure from structured surfaces. THIN TWO-PHASE HEAT SPREADERS WITH BOILING ENHANCEMENT MICROSTRUCTURES FOR THERMAL MANAGEMENT OF ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS
Reverse Line Blot Hybridization Assay for Identification of Medically Important Fungi from Culture and Clinical Specimens

ABSTRACT We evaluated a combined panfungal PCR-reverse line blot (RLB) hybridization assay based on internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1) and ITS2 region polymorphisms to identify 159 Candida, Cryptococcus neoformans, and Aspergillus isolates (22 species). Its utility to identify fungal pathogens directly from 27 clinical specimens was also determined. ITS sequence analysis was performed to resolve discrepant identifications or where no RLB result was obtained. Species-specific ITS2- and ITS1-based probes correctly identified 155 of 159 isolates (98%) and 149 (93.7%) isolates, respectively. All strains were unambiguously differentiated with the exception of cross-reactivity between the Candida norvegensis probe and Candida haemulonii DNA product. Species identification of the pathogen was made for all 21 specimens (sensitivity of 100%) where species-specific probes were included in the RLB; however, there was no ITS2 probe-based hybridization signal for two specimens. Results were concordant with the culture results for 18 (85.7%) specimens. The assay was able to provide species identification in the absence of a culture result (two specimens) and to detect mixed infection (one specimen). The results indicate that the RLB assay is capable of reliably detecting yeasts and Aspergillus spp. in clinical specimens and that the incorporation of both ITS1- and ITS2-targeted probes is required for optimal sensitivity. The test has potential utility in the early diagnosis of invasive fungal infection, since “fungal” DNA was detected in all 27 specimens. Prior to incorporation of probes to detect other fungal species, ITS sequencing may be performed to achieve species identification.
Transcendental phenomenology and classic grounded theory as mixed data collection methods in a study exploring fetal alcohol spectrum disorder in New Zealand.

BACKGROUND Despite the risk of 'method slurring', researchers have triangulated within a single qualitative study methods that are philosophically incongruent or in a limited context, are congruent, as with hermeneutic phenomenology and constructivist grounded theory. METHODS/MATERIALS We aimed to make the case that what works best can be to mix two qualitative methods that are philosophically congruent. Thus, we used transcendental phenomenology (TP) and classic grounded theory (CGT) in synergetic sequence to answer our research question. These methods have not previously been used together and one method would not have sufficed. Using the same participant sample, we sought to explore and understand the daily challenges of living with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) since no study to date had addressed these issues within New Zealand. Our retrospective exploratory two-phase sequential design was framed by the meta-theory of pragmatism. It mixed qualitative strategies that are ontologically and epistemologically compatible (i.e. TP and CGT are ontologically realist, but epistemologically idealist). They are useful together for the aim of meaningfully studying the lived experiences of purposively selected participants. Empirical data, as secondary results, provide supportive evidence. CONCLUSION The first paper from this study was published in J Popul Ther Clin Pharmacol Vol 19(1):e41-e50 when the main findings were reported. This second paper gives greater focus to the methodologies employed and data analysis from the second phase.
Controlling Endemic Cholera with Oral Vaccines

Background Although advances in rehydration therapy have made cholera a treatable disease with low case-fatality in settings with appropriate medical care, cholera continues to impose considerable mortality in the world's most impoverished populations. Internationally licensed, killed whole-cell based oral cholera vaccines (OCVs) have been available for over a decade, but have not been used for the control of cholera. Recently, these vaccines were shown to confer significant levels of herd protection, suggesting that the protective potential of these vaccines has been underestimated and that these vaccines may be highly effective in cholera control when deployed in mass immunization programs. We used a large-scale stochastic simulation model to investigate the possibility of controlling endemic cholera with OCVs. Methods and Findings We construct a large-scale, stochastic cholera transmission model of Matlab, Bangladesh. We find that cholera transmission could be controlled in endemic areas with 50% coverage with OCVs. At this level of coverage, the model predicts that there would be an 89% (95% confidence interval [CI] 72%–98%) reduction in cholera cases among the unvaccinated, and a 93% (95% CI 82%–99%) reduction overall in the entire population. Even a more modest coverage of 30% would result in a 76% (95% CI 44%–95%) reduction in cholera incidence for the population area covered. For populations that have less natural immunity than the population of Matlab, 70% coverage would probably be necessary for cholera control, i.e., an annual incidence rate of ≤ 1 case per 1,000 people in the population. Conclusions Endemic cholera could be reduced to an annual incidence rate of ≤ 1 case per 1,000 people in endemic areas with biennial vaccination with OCVs if coverage could reach 50%–70% depending on the level of prior immunity in the population. These vaccination efforts could be targeted with careful use of ecological data.
Objective differentiation of neonatal EEG background grades using detrended fluctuation analysis

A quantitative and objective assessment of background electroencephalograph (EEG) in sick neonates remains an everyday clinical challenge. We studied whether long range temporal correlations quantified by detrended fluctuation analysis (DFA) could be used in the neonatal EEG to distinguish different grades of abnormality in the background EEG activity. Long-term EEG records of 34 neonates were collected after perinatal asphyxia, and their background was scored in 1 h epochs (8 h in each neonate) as mild, moderate or severe. We applied DFA on 15 min long, non-overlapping EEG epochs (n = 1088) filtered from 3 to 8 Hz. Our formal feasibility study suggested that DFA exponent can be reliably assessed in only part of the EEG epochs, and in only relatively short time scales (10–60 s), while it becomes ambiguous if longer time scales are considered. This prompted further exploration whether paradigm used for quantifying multifractal DFA (MF-DFA) could be applied in a more efficient way, and whether metrics from MF-DFA paradigm could yield useful benchmark with existing clinical EEG gradings. Comparison of MF-DFA metrics showed a significant difference between three visually assessed background EEG grades. MF-DFA parameters were also significantly correlated to interburst intervals quantified with our previously developed automated detector. Finally, we piloted a monitoring application of MF-DFA metrics and showed their evolution during patient recovery from asphyxia. Our exploratory study showed that neonatal EEG can be quantified using multifractal metrics, which might offer a suitable parameter to quantify the grade of EEG background, or to monitor changes in brain state that take place during long-term brain monitoring.
Light trapping in thin-film solar cells: the role of guided modes

This paper studies theoretically light trapping in a solar cell configuration consisting of a 50-500 nanometer-thin planar silicon (aSi:H) film with a planar silver back-reflector, and scatterer(s) placed directly on the silicon surface. The usual picture for thicker films is that part of the light incident on the scatterer(s) can be coupled into the silicon film at a continuum of angles above the critical angle for the silicon-air interface, in which case light will be trapped and subsequently absorbed. However, for thin films a more appropriate picture is that of light being coupled into the guided modes of the air-silicon-silver geometry corresponding to discrete angles. The scattering of light into each guided mode, and out-of-plane scattering, will be quantified by the related scattering cross section. It will be shown that scatteringcross- section spectra have sharp resonances near cut-off wavelengths of guided modes, with more closely spaced resonances for thicker films. Total resonant cross sections can easily exceed physical cross sections by a factor 10. This study also includes light trapping due to coupling into the Surface-Plasmon-Polariton mode that exists due to the silver surface. It will be shown that peaks in scattering cross sections can be tuned via the geometry to the appropriate wavelength range where light trapping is advantageous due to weak absorption in the silicon, resulting in an optimum thickness around 250 nanometers. We consider both theoretical calculations with and without material losses, and both dielectric and metal scatterers are considered. The calculations were carried out with Green’s function integral equation methods.
Genotyping by heteroduplex analysis : Theoretical derivation and experimental verification of optimal DNA mixing

Heteroduplex analysis effectively screens for heterozygotes, but usually does not distinguish between different homozygotes. Specific homozygotes can be identified by mixing PCR products from the unknown and a known homozygote and repeating the heteroduplex analysis. Disadvantages of mixing post-PCR include the need for a second analysis and an increased risk of PCR product contamination of subsequent reactions. Alternatively, DNA of known homozygous genotype can be added to each unknown before PCR. Depending upon the proportions mixed, different genotypes might then be distinguished by the different amounts of heteroduplexes produced. Our theoretical derivation suggests that the best separation of the three genotypes of bi-allelic, diploid DNA occurs when the known genotype is one-seventh of the total DNA. Experimental verification with both high-resolution melting analysis and quantitative temperature gradient capillary electrophoresis (qTGCE) confirmed this prediction, and the importance of the correct proportion. If the proportion is one-third or one-half, for instance, some genotypes can be virtually indistinguishable. Genotyping by high resolution melting analysis appeared more precise than temperature gradient capillary electrophoresis. By mixing unknowns with a known genotype before PCR, only one analysis is needed for full genotyping and, in the case of high-resolution melting analysis, the procedure is entirely closed-tube after the start of PCR, removing concerns of PCR product contamination. (Would it be right to clarify that heteroduplex analysis means ”heteroduplex content analysis” or heteroduplex detection or quantification, because it seems to be heteroduplex analysis in the sense of how much heteroduplex content as opposed to what kind of heteroduplexes? )
An Improved Deterministic Energy Efficient Clustering Protocol for Wireless Sensor Networks

In recent development, achieving the deployment of nodes, lifetime, fault tolerance, latency, energy efficiency in brief robustness and high reliability have become the prime research goals of wireless sensor network. In recent years many clustering protocols have been suggested on clustering structure based on heterogeneity. We propose improved deterministic energy-efficient clustering protocol for four types of nodes which extend the stability and lifetime of the network in team of first node get dead. Hence, it increases the heterogeneity and energy level of the network. I-DEC performs better than E-SEP, SEP and DEC with more stability and effective messages shows in simulation results.
Flame Aerosol Synthesis of Freestanding ZnO Nanorods

ZnO can be made into many nanostructures that have unique properties for advanced applications, such as piezoelectric and pyroelectric materials. ZnOnanorod is one of the nanostructures that possess advanced properties. This paper reports a gas phase flame process to continuously synthesize aerosols of ZnOnanorods in large quantities. Unlike previous work, our process shows that pure ZnOnanorods can be made in a freestanding form rather than growing on a substrate surface. It was found that the ZnOnanorods preferentially grow in the thermodynamically stable direction [001] in the gas phase with different aspect ratios, depending on flame process conditions. The ZnOnanorod aerosols are highly crystalline and have a hexagonal geometry. Raman and photoluminescence spectroscopic studies showed that there are no structural defects in the nanorods, which have energy band gap of 3.27 eV in the near UV region. It was demonstrated that the gas phase flame reactor can provide a convenient means for continuous production of highly pure aerosols of ZnOnanorods.
H∞ deflection control of a unimorph piezoelectric cantilever under thermal disturbance

The effect of the temperature variation on a unimorph piezoelectric cantilever is studied. Its influences on the thermal expansion, the piezoelectric constant, the transient part and the creep are experimentally analyzed. Afterwards, a Hinfin controller is synthesized in order to reject the thermal disturbance and to reach performances required in micromanipulation. Finally, the closed-loop experiments end the paper.