Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Resonator size effects on the TFBAR ladder filter performance

Thin-film bulk acoustic resonators with different resonator sizes are simulated and measured. Their effects on ladder filter performance are also presented. Aluminum nitride and platinum are used as piezoelectric material and electrodes, respectively. As the shunt resonator size increases, out-of-band rejection performance has been improved. The 3/2 stage filters that have twice or three times larger resonators reveal 6 dB and 11 dB out-of-band rejection improvements, respectively.
A new cell surface proteinase: sequencing and analysis of the prtB gene from Lactobacillus delbruekii subsp. bulgaricus

Investigation of the chromosomal region downstream of the lacZ gene from Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus revealed the presence of a gene (prtB) encoding a proteinase of 1,946 residues with a predicted molecular mass of 212 kDa. The deduced amino acid sequence showed that PrtB proteinase displays significant homology with the N termini and catalytic domains of lactococcal PrtP cell surface proteinases and is probably synthesized as a preproprotein. However, the presence of a cysteine near the histidine of the PrtB active site suggests that PrtB belongs to the subfamily of cysteine subtilisins. The C-terminal region strongly differs from those of PrtP proteinases by having a high lysine content, an imperfect duplication of 41 residues, and a degenerated sequence compared with the consensus sequence for proteins anchoring in the cell walls of gram-positive bacteria. Finally, the product of the truncated prtM-like gene located immediately upstream of the prtB gene seems too short to be involved in the maturation of PrtB.
Acute Intravenous Tissue Plasminogen Activator Therapy does not Impact Community Discharge after Inpatient Rehabilitation.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Discharge status and acute re-hospitalization are used as indicators of stroke severity and recovery. Intravenous t-PA (tissue plasminogen activator) is one of two treatments shown to have a positive impact. Stroke rehabilitation patients are an important population who will end up integrated back into the community, institutionalized or hospitalized due to late stroke complications. We sought to determine factors contributing to post rehabilitation discharge and acute re-hospitalization, in particular, the impact of t-PA therapy. METHODS Retrospective analysis of census data from ischemic stroke patients on the UTHealth Stroke/Neurorehabilitation Services at Memorial Hermann Hospital - Texas Medical Center between Jan 2011 and Nov 2013, discharged to the Community, SNF (Skilled Nursing Facility) or AC (Acute Care). Demographics and NIHSS (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale) were collected. Discharge FIM (Functional Independence Measure) was the reference standard. Genitourinary infections were a negative mediator in the multivariate regression. RESULTS Of 346 patients, 274 returned to the community, 47 to SNF, and 25 to AC. NIHSS AND T-PA THERAPY Median NIHSS values were 8 in the community group, 11 in SNF and 9.5 in AC. 31.8% of patients received IV t-PA in the community group, 23.4% in SNF and 24% in AC. There were no statistically differences in community discharge rates. COMMUNITY VS AC One day increase in rehabilitation hospitalization correlated with 19% decreased odds of AC readmission (OR 0.81; P=0.001). One unit discharge FIM increase correlated with 13% decreased odds of AC readmission (OR 0.87; P=0.003). COMMUNITY VS SNF One year age increase correlated with 4% increased odds of SNF admission (OR 1.04; P=0.02). CONCLUSIONS Intense rehabilitation evidenced by FIM improvement and length of stay, impacts community discharge in mild to moderate stroke patients. t-PA had no effect. This study is limited by sample size, retrospective design and undetermined psychosocial factors.
Effect of the angiotensin II antagonist valsartan on sexual function in hypertensive men

The present open and prospective study was performed to investigate the effect of the angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) valsartan on sexual function in hypertensive males. Patients who were either newly treated or who were switched from other treatment regimens received valsartan 80–160 mg/day. Blood pressure decreased from an average of 158/94 mmHg to 136/82 mmHg during the 6 months of treatment (p < 0.001). The patients' sexual function was assessed before valsartan and after 6 months of treatment using the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF), an internationally validated 15‐item questionnaire. The IIEF addresses the relevant domains of male sexual function, i.e. erectile function, orgasmic function, sexual desire, intercourse satisfaction and overall satisfaction. At baseline, 75.4% of the total group of 3502 patients investigated and 65.0% of the subgroup of patients without previous antihypertensive treatment (n = 952) could be diagnosed as having erectile dysfunction (ED) according to the IIEF. Valsartan therapy markedly reduced ED in these groups to 53% and 45% (p < 0.0001), respectively. Improved ED was associated with highly significant improvements in orgasmic function, intercourse and overall satisfaction both in the total and previously untreated groups. In addition, sexual desire averaged 5.64 ± 1.99 IIEF units in the total and 5.99 ± 2.03 in the group without antihypertensive treatment at baseline. Valsartan markedly increased these numbers to 6.82 ± 1.72 and 7.06 ± 1.68 (p < 0.0001), respectively. The results of our open study suggest that the ARB valsartan improves sexual function in hypertensive males.
Medical and surgical therapies for keloids

ABSTRACT: Keloids are benign, but sometimes painful and/or pruritic, proliferative growths of dermal collagen, usually resulting from excessive tissue response to trauma. Although benign, the social and psychological impact on affected individuals must be considered. Keloids often arise secondary to ear piercing and operative procedures. No single treatment modality is always successful. The more common ones are discussed. Some of the medical therapies include corticosteroids, interferon, 5‐fluorouracil, and imiquimod. Primary excision and cryosurgery are among the major surgical options. Radiation therapies and other physical modalities are also discussed.
Mixed Epithelial and Stromal Tumor of the Kidney: A Clinicopathologic Study of 53 Cases

Mixed epithelial and stromal tumor of the kidney is an uncommon complex neoplasm, and previous studies have included only a modest number of cases and have left gaps in our understanding of its morphology. We analyzed 53 tumors (46 F, median age: 49 y), collecting data on gross, histologic, and immunohistochemical features. The most common gross appearance was solid and cystic (47%). Hypocellular fibrous and cellular spindle cell stroma were the most common stromal types, followed by smooth muscle differentiation, edematous stroma, and adipose tissue. Hypocellular fibrous stroma and adipose tissue were more common in larger tumors (P=0.003 and 0.04, respectively) and cellular spindle cell stroma in smaller tumors (P=0.0009). Combinations of diverse stromal elements were common: roughly 50% of tumors contained >4 types of stroma. With regard to epithelium, tiny crowded and branching glands were present in 60% of tumors. Round glands lined by tall cuboidal epithelium, reminiscent of thyroid follicles, spatulate papillae reminiscent of phyllodes tumor, glands reminiscent of nephrogenic adenoma, and complex papillae were also frequently found. Combinations of diverse epithelial elements were common: 64% of tumors contained >4 types of epithelium. All of the tumors except 1 were positive for smooth muscle actin in the stroma. Desmin and caldesmon expression were more variable. Stains for progesterone and estrogen receptors showed positivity in the stromal component in 85% and 73% of tumors, respectively. CD10 and CD34 immunolabeling were restricted to pericystic spindle cells. No tumor expressed inhibin. In summary, this study demonstrates a strong tendency for mixed epithelial and stromal tumors to contain multiple types of stroma and epithelium and comprehensively analyzes the immunohistochemical profile.
Identification of Mammalian Mediator Subunits with Similarities to Yeast Mediator Subunits Srb5, Srb6, Med11, and Rox3* 210

The Mediator is a multiprotein coactivator required for activation of RNA polymerase II transcription by DNA binding transactivators. We recently identified a mammalian homologue of yeast Mediator subunit Med8 and partially purified a Med8-containing Mediator complex from rat liver nuclei (Brower, C. S., Sato, S., Tomomori-Sato, C., Kamura, T., Pause, A., Stearman, R., Klausner, R. D., Malik, S., Lane, W. S., Sorokina, I., Roeder, R. G., Conaway, J. W., and Conaway, R. C. (2002) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 99, 10353–10358). Analysis of proteins present in the most highly purified Med8-containing fractions by tandem mass spectrometry led to the identification of many known mammalian Mediator subunits, as well as four potential Mediator subunits exhibiting sequence similarity to yeast Mediator subunits Srb5, Srb6, Med11, and Rox3. Here we present direct biochemical evidence that these four proteins are bona fide mammalian Mediator subunits. In addition, we identify direct pairwise binding partners of these proteins among the known mammalian Mediator subunits. Taken together, our findings identify a collection of novel mammalian Mediator subunits and shed new light on the underlying architecture of the mammalian Mediator complex.
The Association between Firms' Values and Accounting Numbers after Adoption of Fresh Start Reporting

This study examines the association between firms' values and accounting numbers for 72 firms that adopted fresh start reporting (FSR) upon their emergence from Chapter 11 bankruptcy. It focuses on the effects of a misstatement in the reporting choice of the initial fresh start value of equity on the association between firms' values and accounting numbers reported subsequently. Using a security valuation model, I derive an explicit relation between firms' values and a measure of the misstatement in the fresh start equity. This model provides a theoretical value for a coefficient associating the misstatement with firms' values under the null hypothesis that investors accurately undo the effects of the misstatement on subsequently reported numbers. I estimate this model for eight quarters after the adoption of FSR. The results of the regressions suggest that even two years after the emergence from Chapter 11 and the adoption of FSR, investors unravel the effects of the initial misstatement on book values and earnings reported subsequent to the adoption of FSR. The results also suggest that while investors appear to adjust for these effects, the magnitude of the adjustment is constant over time (in contrast to the predicted pattern of this adjustment).
Nonthrombotic manifestations of the antiphospholipid syndrome: away from thrombosis?

With the discovery of the anticardiolipin antibodies and the subsequent definition of the antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), their effects on the coagulation pathway were at first thought to be responsible for the occurrence of thromboses. Over the ensuing few years it became clear that the actions of the antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) were multifactorial, and also involved effects on the endothelium and platelets, and possibly on neural tissues and hormonal and complement pathways1. Moreover, the primary APS has overtaken systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in frequency, as recently reported by the Euro-Phospholipid Project group2. Although many of the clinical associations are explicable on the basis of thrombotic occlusions of not only large vessels (as in the simple/classic systemic APS — Hughes’s syndrome) but also predominantly small vessels, as in catastrophic APS (CAPS; Asherson’s syndrome3,4), many others are not. International preliminary classification criteria (Sapporo) for the APS were first formulated in 1999; these were subsequently revised at the Eleventh International Congress on aPL in Sydney in 20055. It is now clear that new definitions will have to be formulated that will eliminate the diagnostic difficulties encountered in attempting to include patients as examples of an APS where no certain thrombotic occlusions have been demonstrated. It is also clear that in some conditions, such as fetal loss and livedo reticularis, several mechanisms may be involved, and while in some cases thrombosis is evident, in others “APS vasculopathy” in the absence of thrombosis exists. In other conditions there is complement activation (e.g., fetal loss) with neutrophilic invasion of tissues (as in pulmonary alveolar hemorrhage with “capillaritis”), while in patients with valve lesions there is now convincing evidence of valve damage by immune complexes containing cardiolipin, anticardiolipin, and complement. The conditions discussed here are listed in Table 1.
An Improved Islanding Detection Method for a Grid-Connected Inverter With Intermittent Bilateral Reactive Power Variation

An islanding detection method for a grid-connected inverter incorporating intermittent bilateral (IB) reactive power variation (RPV) is described. The inverter output with IB reactive power enables the detection of an islanding. The RPV range is derived in order to eliminate the nondetection zone. The design scheme of variation time in the method is obtained by estimating the transient response due to islanding occurrence. In addition, the effect of the proposed detection strategy on power quality is investigated. The proposed islanding detection method has been experimentally verified on a three-phase grid-connected 6-kW inverter.
3-D Numerical Hybrid Method for PM Eddy-Current Losses Calculation: Application to Axial-Flux PMSMs

This paper describes a 3-D numerical hybrid method (NHM) of the permanent-magnet (PM) eddy-current losses in axial-flux PM synchronous machines (PMSMs). The PM magnetic flux density is determined using the multi-static 3-D finite-element method (FEM) at resistance-limited (i.e., without eddy-current reaction field). Based on the predicted flux density distribution, the eddy-currents induced in the PMs and the 3-D PM eddy-current losses are calculated by 3-D finite-difference method (FDM) considering a large mesh. Therefore, this 3-D NHM is based on a coupling between the multi-static 3-D FEM and the 3-D FDM. Two 24-slots/16-poles (i.e., fractional-slot number) axial-flux PMSMs having a non-overlapping winding (all teeth wound type) with stator double-sided structure are studied: 1) surface-PM (SPM) and 2) interior-PM (IPM) To evaluate the reliability of the proposed technique, the 3-D PM eddy-current losses are determined and compared with transient 3-D FEM (i.e., magneto-dynamical 3-D FEM). The same nonlinear properties of the laminations have been applied for multi-static/transient 3-D FEM. The computation time can be divided by 25 with a difference less than 12%.
Number : WUCSE-2004-57 2004-1005 DEUCON : Distributed End-to-End Utilization Control for Real-Time Systems

This paper presents the Distributed End-to-end Utiization CONtrol (DEUCON) algorithm. DEUCON can dynamically enforce desired CPU utilizations on all processors in a distributed real-time system despite uncertainties in the system workload. In contrast to earlier centralized control schemes, DEUCON is a distributed control algorithm that is systematically designed based on the Distributed Model Predictive Control theory. We decompose the global multi-processor utilization control problem into a set of localized subproblems, and design a peer-to-peer control structure where each local controller only needs to coordinate with a small number of neighbor processors. DEUCON can provide utilization guarantees similar to a centralized control algorithm, while significantly reducing the per-controller run-time overhead in terms of both computation and communication. Furthermore, it can tolerate considerable network delay and individual processor failures. Consequently, DEUCON can provide scalable and robust utilization control services for large distributed real-time systems that operate in unpredictable environments.
A compact 14-bit 110 KS/s two-stage incremental ΣΔ ADC for CMOS image sensors

The requirements for data conversion in CMOS Image Sensors are increasing due to number and size of pixels and can not be met anymore by classic ramp converters. To address this issue, this paper presents a compact 14-bit two-stage Incremental-ΣΔ column-parallel ADC for use in CMOS Image Sensors. The ADC as well as a test array for a pixel matrix has been fabricated in a 110nm optical CMOS process with a 3.3V supply. The first ADC stage is 5 bit Incremental-ΣΔ, while the second stage is realized by reusing all circuit elements in a cyclic ADC configuration. This way the ADC column occupies an area of only 0.0029 mm2 and is layout with a fine pitch of 9.6 μm. At a speed of 110 KS/s it consumes 123 μW and achieves a DNL and INL of +0.65/-0.83 LSB and +0.9/-0.81 LSB respectively.
Mild Head Injury: Facts and Artifacts

While most would agree that mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) is associated with early neuropsychological problems, disagreement exists regarding their persistence and whether they are the cause of the disabilities experienced by some people. The aim of this study was to examine how the criteria used to define mild TBI and how the pre-injury characteristics of people affect their neuropsychological outcome. A total of 157 unselected hospitalized cases with Glasgow Coma Scale scores of 13-15 and 109 trauma controls were prospectively recruited and administered a number of cognitive measures at 1 month and 12 months after injury. The results indicated early impairments that decreased with time and the stringency of the definition of ‘mild’ TBI. The contribution of demographics was usually significant and often stronger than the mild TBI effect. Subtle variation of the demographics of the brain injured or the comparison subjects can be sufficient to mimic or mask mild brain injury effects.
Abnormal Carbohydrate Metabolism in Cerebrospinal Fluid in Rett Syndrome

We analyzed lactate, pyruvate, and citric acid cycle intermediates in cerebrospinal fluid by high-performance liquid chromatography in Rett syndrome patients (n = 27; mean age, 5.7 ± 3.4 years) and age-matched female controls (n = 12; mean age, 7.0 ± 3.3 years). The lactate, pyruvate, α-ketoglutarate, and malate were significantly elevated in Rett syndrome compared to the controls. The lactate/pyruvate ratio was not different. On the other hand, cerebrospinal fluid citrate, cisaconitate, succinate, fumarate, and oxaloacetate were not significantly different in Rett syndrome patients than in the controls. We also evaluated the correlation between these acids and clinical symptoms and signs, including clinical stage, seizures, medications (anticonvulsants or naltrexone), developmental quotient, self-abuse, and hyperventilation or apnea or both. The concentrations of all these acids did not differ significantly with clinical stage. Lactate elevation significantly correlated with apnea. Lactate and pyruvate elevation significantly correlated with hyperventilation or with both breathing abnormalities. Our observations in this sample of patients with Rett syndrome led us to speculate that patients with the Rett syndrome may have defective carbohydrate metabolism. Elevated mitochondrial reduced nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide-linked substrates suggest that reduced nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide-ubiquinone oxidoreductase may be deficient in the brain in Rett syndrome patients. (J Child Neurol 1994;9:26-30).
Foveolar Cell Vacuolization in Operated Stomachs

Gastric biopsies from 223 patients were scrutinized for the presence of subnuclear vacuolization in the foveolar epithelium. The results demonstrated that foveolar epithelial vacuolization occurred in seven (15.9%) of 44 patients who had a previous Billroth I gastrectomy and in 56 (87.5%) of 64 patients who had a Billroth II remnant stomach. None of the 21 patients who had a vagotomy and pyloroplasty, and only two (2.1%) of the 94 unoperated controls, had vacuolated foveolar cells. The vacuolization is apparently not related to the patients' sex, and it seems to develop some years following gastric resection. Since both human and experimental studies have demonstrated that the duodenogastric reflux is more frequent in Billroth II than in Billroth I operated stomachs, it appears that subnuclear vacuolization in foveolar gastric cells is a histological marker for protracted duodenogastric reflux.
LIFETIME ENHANCEMENT OF WIRELESS SENSOR NETWORKS THROUGH ENERGY EFFICIENT LOAD BALANCING ALGORITHM

Each node in the wireless sensor network is equipped with a battery which cannot be replaced or recharged due to their ad-hoc deployment in unmanned environment. Maximizing the lifetime of the network by minimizing the energy is an important challenge. Due to the non-uniform distribution of nodes in network, the energy consumption and delay is increased. Designing an efficient Medium Access Control (MAC) protocol along with load balancing algorithm can be used to overcome this problem. Load balancing keeps the density of the clusters uniform and increases energy efficiency. In order to reduce the problems associated with delay, hybrid TDMA/FDMA concept is incorporated.Simulation is carried out in NS-2 and results show that the proposed approach can balance the load and increase the energy efficiency and network lifetime. Keywords— wireless sensor network, load balancing, energy efficiency, NS-2
Traffic adaptive active period control with adaptive backoff window for cluster-based IEEE 802.15.4 wireless sensor networks

This paper proposes an adaptive 2-level active period control method with adaptive backoff window based on traffic load in each cluster for cluster-based wireless sensor networks (WSNs) employing IEEE 802.15. 4 medium access control (MAC) protocol under temporal and geographical non-uniform traffic distribution. The proposed method consists of three elements: cluster level active period control, network level active period control, and adaptive backoff window control. In the cluster level control, cluster heads autonomously control their active period length in the superframe defined by a personal area network (PAN) coordinator. The PAN coordinator manages the superframe structure for the whole network in the network level control. In the adaptive backoff window control, the backoff window size is determined according to the length of current active period. The results evaluated by computer simulation show that the proposed method can improve the energy efficiency for the cluster-based WSNs with geographical non-uniform traffic distribution in addition to the improvement of the transmission performance.
Symposium : Calorie Restriction : Effects of Body Composition , Insulin Signaling and Aging The Role of Fat Depletion in the Biological Benefits of Caloric Restriction 1 , 2

One of the most robust observations in the biology of aging is that caloric restriction (CR) extends life in a variety of species. Although CR results in substantial decrease in fat mass, the role of fat in life extension was considered minimal. Indeed, in the fields of obesity and diabetes, the amount of fat has been directly implicated in the metabolic consequences. Since it became apparent that fat is a massive endocrine tissue, some of its roles have been recently revised. Many of the systemic effects of CR can now be explained by the chronic effects related to decreased plasma levels of peptides, cytokines, complement factors and substrates that are produced in fat. Most of the benefits of CR on the neuroendocrine system and those related to the improvement in glucose homeostasis can be attributed to a decrease in adipose cells and their products. If all or most of the life-extending benefits of CR can be attributed to decreased fat stores, the expression of specific candidate substrates and proteins may be explored and manipulated in searching for the most powerful adipose-dependent signals that modulate life expectancy. J. Nutr. 131: 903S–906S, 2001.