Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Carotid Stiffness in Young Adults: A Life-Course Analysis of its Early Determinants The Amsterdam Growth and Health Longitudinal Study

Cardiovascular risk factors affecting arterial stiffness in adulthood may develop at different critical periods earlier in life. We examined whether the trajectories, from adolescence to young adulthood, of blood pressure, body fatness and fat distribution, blood lipids, cardiorespiratory fitness, and heart rate determined levels of arterial stiffness in young adults. We investigated 373 apparently healthy adults in whom cardiovascular risk factors were repeatedly examined between the ages of 13 and 36 years and carotid stiffness estimates were obtained at the age of 36 years. Differences in the mean levels and the trajectories of risk factors throughout the 24-year longitudinal period between subjects with different levels of carotid stiffness at age 36 years were analyzed with generalized estimating equations. Compared with individuals with less stiff carotid arteries, those with stiffer carotid arteries at the age of 36 years were characterized from ages 13 to 36 years by greater levels of and steeper increases in blood pressure and central fatness, independently of each other and other risk factors. These increases were already present in adolescence, preceded the development of poorer levels of blood lipids, cardiorespiratory fitness, and heart rate, which were evident during adulthood only, and explained to a great extent the deleterious association between these risk factors and carotid stiffness at the age of 36 years. Multiple and intertwined mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of arterial stiffness have their origins in early life. Blood pressure and central fatness have a pivotal role herein and should be specifically targeted to prevent arterial stiffening and its cardiovascular sequelae.
Characterization of rat brain kynurenine aminotransferases I and II

The endogenous neuroprotectant kynurenic acid (KYNA) is produced by irreversible transamination of L‐kynurenine (KYN). In the brain, two distinct kynurenine aminotransferases (KAT I and KAT II) are responsible for the formation of KYNA. The present experiments were designed to examine the respective roles of the two KATs in the normal rat brain. To this end, the two enzymes were partially purified, and their characteristics were examined. KAT I (identical with glutamine transaminase K) had an optimal pH of 9.5, preferred pyruvate as a cosubstrate and was potently inhibited by glutamine. KAT II (identical with L‐α‐aminoadipate transaminase) had a neutral optimal pH, showed no preference for pyruvate, and was essentially insensitive to inhibition by glutamine. KAT II was selectively inhibited by quisqualic acid (IC50: 520 μM). The endogenous substrate 3‐hydroxykynurenine had an approximately 10‐fold preference for KAT II. The distinct properties of the two enzymes made it possible to measure brain KAT I and KAT II in parallel by using dialyzed tissue homogenate (to remove interfering endogenous amino acids). Under these conditions, both enzymes presented essentially the same apparent Km values as the partially purified enzymes. In lesioned, neuron‐depleted brain tissue and in brain regions other than the cerebellum, KYNA derived primarily from KAT II at physiologic pH. In summary, the present study describes a simple methodology for the simultaneous determination of the two KYNA‐producing enzymes in small rat brain tissue samples and provides baseline values for future work in experimentally challenged animals. J. Neurosci. Res. 50:457–465, 1997. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Heterogeneous Strain Distribution and Saturation of Geometrically Necessary Dislocations in a Ferritic–Pearlitic Steel during Lubricated Sliding

The microstructural evolution of ferritic–pearlitic steel is studied during unidirectional sliding under boundary lubrication using a ball‐on‐flat configuration. Dislocation activity as a function of distance to surface is determined using orientation gradients by electron backscatter diffraction in logarithmic intervals up to one million of sliding cycles. The orientation gradient results show the formation of geometrically necessary dislocations and low‐angle grain boundaries, followed by a consolidation of those grain boundaries as nanocrystalline grains. The density of geometrically necessary dislocations and low‐angle grain boundaries is observed to reach a steady state after around 100 000 cycles. Plastic strain is not homogeneously distributed within both material phases, that is, ferrite and pearlite. Most of the plastic deformation is carried by the ferritic phase. The heterogeneous strain distribution between the ferritic and the pearlitic phase observed in the electron backscatter diffraction measurements is attributed to stress incompatibilities at the grain boundaries. Dislocation pile‐up at the ferritic–pearlitic interface is observed at high resolution using transmission electron microscopy and transmission Kikuchi diffraction.
Fluid Model of Sliding Suction Cup of Wall-climbing Robots

The adhering capability, one of the most important performance indexes of wall-climbing robots(WCRs), should be taken into account when a WCR is designed. This paper proposes a novel approach for investigating the adhering characteristics of the sliding suction cup (SSCs) using fluid network theory to enhance the adhering capability of WCRs. The fluid models of the SSCs of two WCRs are developed and equivalent circuits in three cases are presented. The dynamic responses of negative pressure in SSCs are obtained and validated by a set of experiments. It indicated that the theoretical analysis is reasonable and can give some valuable design criteria on the structure parameters of SSCs and control strategies of suction force of SSCs.
Suivi de la fabrication de stratifiés verrepolypropylène par réseaux de Bragg et du comportement thermomécanique induit

RÉSUMÉ. Le moulage par presse chauffante de stratifiés unidirectionnels (UD) en polypropylène renforcé de fibres de verre (GFPP) a été suivi par capteur fibre optique à réseaux de Bragg (FBG). Ces capteurs ont été incorporés au cœur du matériau pour suivre les déformations induites par le procédé. La phase de refroidissement étant déterminante dans la fabrication des composites thermoplastiques, affectant la cristallinité et les déformations résiduelles, deux moules métalliques (acier et aluminium) ayant des propriétés de diffusion thermique différentes ont été utilisés. Les capteurs à cœur ont permis de déterminer différentes phases du procédé et des points de transition clés tels que le début de la fusion ou la solidification. Le comportement dans le sens longitudinal est gouverné par celui des fibres de renfort. Dans le sens transverse, le stratifié réalisé avec le moule en aluminium présente des déformations résiduelles supérieures au stratifié réalisé avec le moule acier. Le comportement thermomécanique est évalué par TMA (Thermomechanical Analysis) suivant une procédure de recuit. Un comportement singulier est observé pour le stratifié réalisé avec le moule acier, indiquant l’influence de la diffusion thermique sur la construction cristalline. Le coefficient d’expansion thermique du stratifié réalisé avec le moule en aluminium est significativement supérieur. Une analyse DSC (Differential Scanning Calorimetry) révèle des taux de cristallinité semblables pour chaque matériau après fabrication ainsi qu’une même augmentation de ces taux lors du traitement thermique. La différence de propriétés thermomécaniques est alors attribuée à l’état initial de déformation des stratifiés.
Reversible data hiding scheme based on significant-bit-difference expansion

This study presents a lossless robust data hiding scheme based on significance-bit-difference expansion. The original cover image can be recovered without any distortion after the hidden data have been extracted if the stego image remains intact, on the other hand, the hidden data can be robust against unintentional changes applying to the stego image, such as image compression and sometimes unavoidable addition of random noise which is below a certain level and does not change the content of an image. The proposed scheme decomposes pixels in a cover image into two parts, that is, the higher significant bits (HSB) and the least significant bits (LSB), and calculates the HSB difference between adjacent pixels. Bits are embedded into HSBs by shifting the HSB difference value histogram bins. The shift and shifting rule are fixed for all HSB difference values, and reversibility is achieved. Furthermore, owing to the separation of HSBs and LSBs, minor alteration applying to the stego image generated by non-malicious attacks such as Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG) compression, which will not change the HSB values as well as the HSB difference values, and robustness is achieved. Experimental results show that, compared with previous works, the performance of the proposed scheme is significantly improved.
Optimized sensor placement for active visual inspection

This article presents an optimized sensor planning system for active visual inspection Ž. of three-dimensional manufacturing computer-aided design CAD models. Quantization errors and displacement errors are inevitable in active visual inspection. To obtain high accuracy for dimensioning the entities of three-dimensional CAD models, minimization of these errors is essential. Spatial quantization errors result in digitization. The errors are serious when the size of the pixel is significant compared to the allowable tolerance in the object dimension on the image. In placing the active sensor to perform inspection, displacement of the sensors in orientation and location is common. The difference between observed dimensions obtained by the displaced sensor and the actual dimensions is defined as displacement errors. The density functions of quantization errors and displacement errors depend on camera resolution and camera locations and orientations. The sensor constraints, such as resolution, focus, field-of-view, and visibility constraints, restrict sensor placement. To obtain a satisfactory view of the targeted entities of the CAD models, these constraints have to be satisfied. In this article, we focus on the edge line segments as the inspected
Physical and bio cellular response of laser induced periodic surface structures formed using a femtosecond laser on a platinum alloy

x Chapter 1. Introduction 1 1.1. Original Contribution 4 1.2. Thesis Overview 5 Chapter 2. Theory and Literature Review 7 2.1. Introduction 7 2.2. Biological Response of Stents 7 2.2.1. Atherosclerosis 7 2.2.2. Cell Adhesion 8 2.2.2.1. Monocyte Cell Adhesion 9 2.2.2.2. Fibroblast Cell Adhesion 9 2.2.2.3. Endothelial Cell Adhesion 9 2.2.3. Cell Adhesion to a Biomaterial 10 2.2.3.1. Cell Response to Surface Roughness 10 2.2.4. Coronary Stents 11 2.2. 5. Stent Materials 12 2.2. 6. Drug Eluting Stents (DES) 12 2.2. 7. Stent Physical-Mechanical Properties 13 2.2. 8. Biological Response to DES 14 2.3. Metals 14 2.3.1. Electronic Structure of Metals 14 2.3. 2. Crystal Structure of Metals 16 2.3. 3. Grain Structure 17 2.3. 4. Metal Oxidation 18 2.3. 5. Corrosion 20 2.3. 6. Alloy Phase Diagram 20 2.4. Laser Material Interaction 22 2.4. 1. Light Propagation in Metals 23 2.4. 2. Absorption of Laser Radiation in Metals 25 2.4. 3. The Two-Temperature Model 27 2.4. 4. Short and Ultrashort Laser Pulses 30 2.4. 5. Laser Ablation 31 2.4. 6. Photophysical Ablation 31 2.4. 6.1. Spallation 32 2.4. 6.2. Delamination 32 2.4. 6.3. Nanobump Formation 33 2.4. 6.4. Thermoelastic Stress 33 2.4. 6.5. Fragmentation 33 2.4. 6.6. Vaporization 34 2.4. 6.7. Phase Explosion 34 2.4. 6.8. Coulomb Explosion 34 2.4. 7. Plasma Formation 35
Acquisition and processing of a conditional dicentric chromosome in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The introduction of a conditional centromere into chromosome III of Saccharomyces cerevisiae provided an opportunity to evaluate phenotypic and karyotypic consequences in cells harboring dicentric chromosomes upon entry into mitosis. A mitotic pause ensued, and monocentric derivatives of chromosome III were generated at a high frequency.
THE CONCEPTS OF AN END-USER-ENABLING ARCHITECTURE FOR UBIQUITOUS COMPUTING

This paper describes the set of concepts that underlie the “Plug-Synapse” model, which supports endusers in composing and configuring ubiquitous computing applications. The technology that implements the model is briefly presented; all have been developed in the course of research during the e-Gadgets (IST-FET) project.
0 Development and Application of Low-Modulus Biomedical Titanium Alloy Ti 2448

Economic development leads to improved living standard, but is also attended by the following consequences: increased number of senile people who, due to degenerative diseases such as arthritis, may need medical assistance in maintaining their convenience of mobility, increased volume of transportation in terms of the number of cars and associated traffic accidents, and increased amount of leisure time channeled to sports that have a higher than average risk of injuries. All these require orthopaedic surgeries and cause increased consumption of biomedical materials. Load bearing orthopedic implants must satisfy the following requirements (Wang, 1996; Long & Rack, 1999): First of all they are ideally without cytotoxicity, and this places stringent restriction to the choice of alloying elements. Secondly, their long service life coupled with the variety of human activity demands excellence in mechanical properties, primarily high strength and high fatigue resistance, but low elastic modulus. This is a big challenge because for crystalline materials their strength and elastic modulus tend to increase or decrease simultaneously. Thirdly, wear resistance is important because wear causes not only implant loosening but also harmful reactions if the wear debris is deposited in the tissue. Finally, biochemical compatibility requires the implanted materials to possess superior corrosion resistance in body environment and be bioactive. The first two aspects clearly fall into the domain of alloy design; the last two, though closely related to alloy type and composition, are normally the subjects of surface modification. Judging from the above requirements titanium alloys stand out as the best class of implant materials due to a combination of acceptable biocompatibility and good properties such as high strength, low density, relatively low elastic modulus and excellent corrosion resistance. While Ti–6Al–4V is used earliest in biomedical engineering and is still a benchmark among biomedical alloys (Froimson et al., 2007), it was not purpose-designed. In terms of cytotoxicity, vanadium is toxic both in the elemental state and in the form of oxide (Wapner, 1991; Eisenbarth et al., 2004), and there exits some correlation between V and Al ions released from the alloy and long-term health problems such as Alzheimer disease, neuropathy and ostemomalacia (Nag et al., 2005). These facts highlight the importance of careful choice of alloying additions when designing new alloys specifically for biomedical use. The main mechanical effect of an implant on the bone relates to stress shielding, i.e., reduction in bone stress in vivo following the introduction of the implant. The stress needed by cells around the implant is thus shielded and the cells do not survive. The change in stress 10
Hydrogel encapsulated droplet interface bilayer networks as a chassis for artificial cells and a platform for membrane studies

There has been increasing interest in droplet interface bilayers (DIBs) as novel devices for the study of lipid membranes and the development of artificial cell systems. Although DIBs have demonstrated to be useful in a number of laboratory applications, their wider use is hampered by a limited ability to exist untethered and remain mechanically stable beyond controlled laboratory environments. In this thesis, a microfluidic system is developed which enables the facile generation of hydrogel-encapsulated DIB networks which are freestanding and can exist in air, water and oil environments, without compromise to their ability to interface with the surrounding environment. Electrophysiology is employed in order to demonstrate the formation of bilayers between the encapsulated DIBs (eDIBs) and their external environment, achieved via the incorporation of the transmembrane pore α-Hemolysin. The eDIBs produced here are able to form higher-order structures akin to tissues via their assembly and adherence to one another, further demonstrating their potential to act as a chassis for artificial cells. Furthermore, the potential of eDIBs to be used as a platform for membrane studies is demonstrated via their use as a high-throughput array for membrane disruption fluorescence measurements using a plate reader, which makes use of the ability of eDIBs to be generated in large numbers as well as to be mechanically handled and placed in the wells of a 96-well plate. Fluorescence measurements were taken on up to 47 eDIBs simultaneously, and were able to detect bilayer leakage through pores as well as bilayer failure. The above experiments comprise the design, manufacture and use of a novel kind of DIB construct as a chassis for artificial cells and a platform for high-throughput membrane studies. It is proposed that eDIBs may help in realising the unfulfilled potential of DIB networks in applications in healthcare and beyond.
Future migratory behaviour predicted from premigratory levels of gill Na+/K+-ATPase activity in individual wild brown trout (Salmo trutta)

SUMMARY The relationship between premigratory gill Na+/K+-ATPase activity, determined at two dates during spring, and future migratory behaviour was investigated using non-lethal gill biopsies and PIT-tagging in wild brown trout (Salmo trutta) from two tributaries. No significant relationship between future migratory strategy (individuals eventually becoming migrants or residents) and gill Na+/K+-ATPase activity was found in late February–early March. By contrast, in mid-April, a highly significant logistic regression equation identifying the migratory strategy in 93% of the 75 individuals was obtained. The ability of this regression model from the tributaries to predict future migratory behaviour in an independent group of trout caught in early April in the mainstream was evaluated. A threshold probability of migration was used to predict the behaviour of the mainstream individuals as either future migrants or residents. The maximum percentage of correct predictions of future migratory behaviour in mainstream fish was observed at threshold probabilities between approximately 0.15 and 0.45 (corresponding to threshold gill Na+/K+-ATPase activities between 2.7 and 3.7 μmol ADP mg–1 protein h–1), with an average of 91% of the predictions being correct. The present study shows that a non-lethal premigratory biochemical measurement can successfully select individual brown trout with high probability of migration.
Synaptic Scaffolding Proteins in Rat Brain

The postsynaptic density is the ultrastructural entity containing the neurotransmitter reception apparatus of excitatory synapses in the brain. A recently identified family of multidomain proteins termed Src homology 3 domain and ankyrin repeat-containing (Shank), also known as proline-rich synapse-associated protein/somatostatin receptor-interacting protein, plays a central role in organizing the subsynaptic scaffold by interacting with several synaptic proteins including the glutamate receptors. We used the N-terminal ankyrin repeats of Shank1 and -3 to search for interacting proteins by yeast two-hybrid screening and by affinity chromatography. By cDNA sequencing and mass spectrometry the cytoskeletal protein α-fodrin was identified as an interacting molecule. The interaction was verified by pull-down assays and by coimmunoprecipitation experiments from transfected cells and brain extracts. Mapping of the interacting domains of α-fodrin revealed that the highly conserved spectrin repeat 21 is sufficient to bind to the ankyrin repeats. Both interacting partners are coexpressed widely in the rat brain and are colocalized in synapses of hippocampal cultures. Our data indicate that the Shank1 and -3 family members provide multiple independent connections between synaptic glutamate receptor complexes and the cytoskeleton.
Tissue Proteomics for the Next Decade ? Towards a Molecular Dimension in Histology

The concept of tissues appeared more than 200 years ago, since textures and attendant differences were described within the whole organism components. Instrumental developments in optics and biochemistry subsequently paved the way to transition from classical to molecular histology in order to decipher the molecular contexts associated with physiological or pathological development or function of a tissue. In 1941, Coons and colleagues performed the first systematic integrated examination of classical histology and biochemistry when his team localized pneumonia antigens in infected tissue sections. Most recently, in the early 21 century, mass spectrometry (MS) has progressively become one of the most valuable tools to analyze biomolecular compounds. Currently, sampling methods, biochemical procedures, and MS instrumentations allow scientists to perform ‘‘in depth’’ analysis of the protein content of any type of tissue of interest. This article reviews the salient issues in proteomics analysis of tissues. We first outline technical and analytical considerations for sampling and biochemical processing of tissues and subsequently the instrumental possibilities for proteomics analysis such as shotgun proteomics in an anatomical context. Specific attention concerns formalin fixed and paraffin embedded (FFPE) tissues that are potential ‘‘gold mines’’ for histopathological investigations. In all, the matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) MS imaging, which allows for differential mapping of hundreds of compounds on a tissue section, is currently the most striking evidence of linkage and transition between ‘‘classical’’ and ‘‘molecular’’ histology. Tissue proteomics represents a veritable field of research and investment activity for modern biomarker discovery and development for the next decade.
Substrate Noise Coupling Mechanisms in Lightly Doped CMOS Transistors

Substrate noise issues are a showstopper for the smooth integration of analog and digital circuitries on the same die. For the designer, it is not known how substrate noise couples into the transistors of the analog circuitry. This paper reveals the dominant coupling mechanisms with simulations and the corresponding measurements in a 0.13-¿m triple-well common-source complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) transistor integrated on a lightly doped substrate. Substrate noise couples in either the ground or the bulk of the transistor. It is demonstrated that the importance of the coupling mechanisms depends on the resistance of the ground interconnect. For the technology node used, measurements show that substrate noise isolation is optimal for a ground resistance of 0.8 ¿.
Characterization of placental transfer of polychlorinated dibenzo‐p‐dioxins, dibenzofurans and polychlorinated biphenyls in normal pregnancy

Aim: Prenatal exposure to dioxins may result in many adverse health effects. However, the mechanisms by which dioxins are transferred from mother to fetus through the placenta are not well understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the differences in dioxin concentrations between maternal blood, the placenta, and cord blood in normal pregnant women, and to identify which individual congeners of these compounds are transferred from mother to fetus through the placenta.