Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Metal Iodides in Polyiodide Networks: Synthesis and Structure of Binary Metal Iodide-Iodine Compounds Stable under Ambient Conditions.

The reaction between HgI(2)(C(6)N(4)H(12)) and HI in ethanol solution results in the binary metal iodide-iodine complexes [C(6)N(4)H(13)](2)(Hg(2)I(6))(1/2)(HgI(3)). (1)/(2)I(2), which are stable under ambient conditions. The structure consists of C(6)N(4)H(13)(+) cations, discrete trigonal HgI(3)(-) ions, and.Hg(2)I(6)(2)(-). I(2). Hg(2)I(6)(2)(-). chains in the crystallographic b direction, which are formed by I(2) molecules connecting the bridging iodines of the Hg(2)I(6)(2)(-) dimers. The intra- and intermolecular I-I distances of iodine in the chain are 2.7402(15) and 3.438(1) Å, respectively. The Raman spectrum of [C(6)N(4)H(13)](2)(Hg(2)I(6))(1/2)(HgI(3)). (1)/(2)I(2) confirms the interaction between the iodine molecules and Hg(2)I(6)(2)(-) ions. The structure of [NH(4)](HgI(3)). H(2)O, obtained during the synthesis of [C(6)N(4)H(13)](2)(Hg(2)I(6))(1/2)(HgI(3)). (1)/(2)I(2), is also reported. Crystal data for [C(6)N(4)H(13)](2)(Hg(2)I(6))(1/2)(HgI(3)). (1)/(2)I(2): a = 14.275(3) Å, b = 19.721(4) Å, c = 10.416(2) Å, orthorhombic space group Pbam; Z = 4. Crystal data for [NH(4)](HgI(3)). H(2)O: a = 8.7246(4) Å, b = 9.7860(3) Å, c = 11.1103(4) Å, orthorhombic space group Ama2; Z = 4.
A planar microfluidic mixer based on logarithmic spirals

A passive, planar micromixer design based on logarithmic spirals is presented. The device was fabricated using polydimethylsiloxane soft photolithography techniques, and mixing performance was characterized via numerical simulation and fluorescent microscopy. Mixing efficiency initially declined as the Reynolds number increased, and this trend continued until a Reynolds number of 15 where a minimum was reached at 53%. Mixing efficiency then began to increase reaching a maximum mixing efficiency of 86% at Re = 67. Three-dimensional (3D) simulations of fluid mixing in this design were compared to other planar geometries such as the Archimedes spiral and Meandering-S mixers. The implementation of logarithmic curvature offers several unique advantages that enhance mixing, namely a variable cross-sectional area and a logarithmically varying radius of curvature that creates 3D Dean vortices. These flow phenomena were observed in simulations with multilayered fluid folding and validated with confocal microscopy. This design provides improved mixing performance over a broader range of Reynolds numbers than other reported planar mixers, all while avoiding external force fields, more complicated fabrication processes and the introduction of flow obstructions or cavities that may unintentionally affect sensitive or particulate-containing samples. Due to the planar design requiring only single-step lithographic features, this compact geometry could be easily implemented into existing micro-total analysis systems requiring effective rapid mixing.
Chronic cough in children: recent advances

Recurrent cough in children is a very common symptom of respiratory disease. Most children who cough, however, have normal pulmonary function. This article presents a diagnostic framework for chronic cough and a recommended management plan in order to avoid over investigation and over treatment of a generally benign and self-remitting condition. Pathophysiology of cough and recent advances in treatment options are also included.
An Overview of the Epidemiology of Stroke

Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States and, in the elderly, a major source of disability leading to institutionalization. In 1986, the American Heart Association estimated that 500,000 Americans sustained a stroke, that 147,800 died of stroke, and that many of the estimated 2,020,000 stroke survivors required chronic care. Furthermore, death statistics probably underestimate the personal impact of stroke. To the elderly person who was previously functionally independent, stroke may exemplify an illness worse than death itself. Stroke, with the attendant loss of independence due to impaired locomotion, vision, or language represents to many elderly persons the end of useful life. While it is important to pursue medical and surgical therapies for impending or recent-onset stroke, it is more likely that prevention holds the key to reducing the impact of cerebrovascular disease.
Insular Carnivore Biogeography: Island Area and Mammalian Optimal Body Size

Patterns of size variation in insular mammals have been used to support the claim that mammals have a single optimal body size. This hypothesis enjoys wide support, despite having been questioned on both theoretical and empirical grounds. It is claimed that species of optimal size maintain the highest population densities. Therefore these species are thought to inhabit the smallest islands, where larger and smaller species are generally absent. We sought such a pattern by testing how area affects the body sizes of the largest and smallest carnivore species on islands. Using data on carnivores from 322 islands, we found that the sizes of carnivores on small islands tend to be close to the order’s mode. Furthermore, we found that the size distribution of carnivore species that inhabit islands resembles that of those whose range is entirely continental. We conclude that insular carnivores provide no support for theories proposing a single optimal size, and we suspect such theories are also flawed on theoretical grounds.
Server placement algorithms for the construction of a QoS enabled gaming infrastructure

With the deployment of broadband Internet access, a new set of applications that is becoming more and more popular are highly interactive services such as online gaming. When the delay experienced in an online game passes a certain threshold, the quality of service (QoS) degrades enormously, as a result the clients are no longer satisfied and might decide to leave the game or to cancel the subscription. Thus, delay is critical to the success of this type of service. Network delay is a result of the way the data is distributed between the players. In this paper we propose the use of a set of game servers. These servers not only play the role of a traditional game server but also form an overlay network which can be used as an application layer routing infrastructure, allowing us to route along low delay paths and thereby increasing the QoS of the game. We study algorithms that determine the ideal location of the servers in a network and look at the performance of the resulting overlay networks in terms of end-to-end delay and the relationship between the number of servers in the overlay network and the offered QoS. We also compare our distributed architecture with both a single server and a peer-to-peer architecture.
Expression of Epstein-Barr virus genes in EBV-associated gastric carcinomas.

AIM To understand the expression of latent and lytic genes of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in EBV-associated gastric carcinoma (EBVaGC) and to explore the relationship between EBV-encoded genes and development of EBVaGC at molecular level. METHODS One hundred and seventy-two gastric carcinoma tissues and 172 corresponding para-carcinoma tissues were tested for EBV genome by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-Southern blotting. EBV-encoded small RNA (EBER) 1 of the PCR positive specimens was detected by in situ hybridization (ISH). Gastric carcinomas with positive EBER1 signals were classified as EBVaGCs. RT-PCR and Southern hybridization were applied to the detection of expression of nuclear antigen (EBNA) promoters (Qp, Wp and Cp), EBNA 1 and EBNA 2, latent membrane proteins (LMP) 1, 2A and 2B and lytic genes (immediate early genes BZLF1 and BRLF1, early genes BARF1 and BHRF1, late genes BcLF1 and BLLF1) in EBVaGCs. RESULTS Eleven EBV positive samples existed in gastric carcinoma tissues (6.39%). No EBV positive sample was found in corresponding para-carcinoma tissues. The difference between EBV positivity in carcinoma tissues and corresponding para-carcinoma tissues was significant (chi(2) = 9.0909, P = 0.0026). Transcripts of Qp and EBNA1 were detected in all the 11 EBVaGCs, while both Wp and Cp were silent. EBNA2, LMP1 and LMP2B mRNA were absent in all the cases, while LMP2A mRNA was detected in 4 of the 11 cases. Of the 11 EBVaGCs, 7 exhibited BcLF1 transcripts and 2 exhibited BHRF1 transcripts. The transcripts of BZLF1 and BARF1 were detected in 5 cases, respectively. No BLLF1 and BRLF mRNA were detected. CONCLUSION The latent pattern of EBV in gastric carcinoma corresponds to the latency I/II. Some lytic infection genes are expressed in EBVaGCs tissues. BARF1 and BHRF1 genes may play an important role in tumorigenesis of gastric carcinoma.
Efficient Semitransparent Perovskite Solar Cells with Graphene Electrodes

Semitransparent perovskite solar cells are prepared by laminating graphene transparent electrodes on the top for the first time. The device performance is optimized by improving the conductivity of the graphene electrodes and the contact between the graphene and the perovskite active layers during the lamination process. The devices show high power conversion efficiencies when they are illuminated from both sides.
Reconfigurable X-band bandpass filter using SIR with variable capacitor

This paper describes a simple approach of re-configurable bandpass filter based on stepped impedance res- onator (SIR) transmission lines, particularly suitable for X-Band military communication application. In the proposed design, shifting of frequency from downlink to uplink frequency response is achieved by strategically placing three Variable capacitor (Varicap), at locations where the capacitors do not affect the resonating response of the overall design. Variable capacitor is used in order to tune the capacitance for the frequency shift between uplink to downlink frequency. The operating frequency for X-Band downlink is 7.25 GHz to 7.75 GHz and uplink is from 7.90 GHz to 8.40 GHz. The filter is designed on a Rogers RO4003 substrate with dielectric constant r=3.38 and 0.508 mm thickness of substrate.
Steganalysis for JPEG Images Using Extreme Learning Machine

This paper proposes a novel blind Steganalysis process, for colored JPEG images. Extreme Learning Machine (ELM) has been used in the paper to classify the images into stego images and non-stego images. The feature set used for classification of images consists of 810 features. First 405 features are based on Markov random process applied on correlations among JPEG coefficients of image. Calibration is applied on these Markov features to get the remaining 405 features. These calibrated features are the difference between the Markov features of the image and Markov features of a reference image, obtained by decompressing, cropping and recompressing the image. Experimental results show that our proposed ELM based steganalysis method clearly outperforms other SVM based steganalysis methods in terms of percentage of correctly classified images and in terms of time taken for both training and testing. The fast speed of the proposed method due to fast learning time of ELM makes it useful for real-time steganalysis.
Repérage de sens et désambiguïsation dans un contexte bilingue

Les besoins de désambiguïsation varient dans les différentes applications du Traitement Automatique des Langues (TAL). Dans cet article, nous proposons une méthode de désambiguïsation lexicale opératoire dans un contexte bilingue et, par conséquent, adéquate pour la désambiguïsation au sein d’applications relatives à la traduction. Il s’agit d’une méthode contextuelle, qui combine des informations de cooccurrence avec des informations traductionnelles venant d’un bitexte. L’objectif est l’établissement de correspondances de traduction au niveau sémantique entre les mots de deux langues. Cette méthode étend les conséquences de l’hypothèse contextuelle du sens dans un contexte bilingue, tout en admettant l’existence d’une relation de similarité sémantique entre les mots de deux langues en relation de traduction. La modélisation de ces correspondances de granularité fine permet la désambiguïsation lexicale de nouvelles occurrences des mots polysémiques de la langue source ainsi que la prédiction de la traduction la plus adéquate pour ces occurrences.
Evaluación de desempeño de dos técnicas de optimización bio-inspiradas: Algoritmos Genéticos y Enjambre de Partículas

Este articulo se enfoca en la resolucion de problemas de estimacion e identificacion de las constantes para la sintonizacion de controladores PID (proporcional, integral, derivativo). Se presentan dos tecnicas de busqueda bio-inspirada con la intencion de evaluar su desempeno en el ajuste del bloque PID: Algoritmos Geneticos y Enjambre de Particulas. Ambas estructuras han probado ser capaces resolver de forma eficiente problemas de busquedas no informadas en sistemas complejos, y es la intencion de este trabajo compararlas sobre un esquema de control muy utilizado en la industria. El planteamiento inicial considera la evaluacion sobre dos plantas (segundo y tercer orden) las cuales sirven de modelo para determinar el desempeno, incluso frente a tecnicas de ajustes tradicionales.
The structure of hepatitis B surface antigen and its antigenic sites

Hepatitis B virus infects about 200 million people worldwide yearly. The consequences of the infection range from mild, self‐limiting hepatitis with full recovery and immunity to chronic infection with liver disease of varying severity, including fulminant hepatitis and death. Alternatively, individuals may become healthy carriers of the virus and thus serve as a reservoir of infection. In addition, all chronic carriers of the virus are also at risk for development of primary hepatocellular carcinoma later in life. Efforts to combat this disease on a global scale require an inexpensive vaccine. Studies of the hepatitis B viral coat protein (HBsAg) have permitted the development of two generations of vaccine to date, and detailed structural studies of its antigenic sites may eventually allow the development of a completely synthetic (and therefore inexpensive) vaccine in the future.
Senescence in Cells of the Aging and Degenerating Intervertebral Disc: Immunolocalization of Senescence-Associated &bgr;-Galactosidase in Human and Sand Rat Discs

Study Design. Human intervertebral disc anulus tissue was obtained in a prospective study of cell senescence. Localization of the senescence biomarker &bgr;-galactosidase (senescence associated &bgr;-galactosidase, SA-&bgr;-gal) was used for quantitative determination of the % senescent cells. Discs were obtained from surgical specimens or control donors. Discs were also studied from the lumbar spine of the sand rat. Experimental studies were approved by the authors’ Human Subjects Institutional Review Board and animal use committee. Objectives. To determine the incidence of cell senescence in human discs with Thompson Grades I through V using immunocytochemistry to quantify the percentage of cells positive for the senescence biomarker SA-&bgr;-gal. Summary of Background Data. Cell senescence has been recognized as a potential factor playing a role age-related disc degeneration. Senescent cells are viable but have lost the ability to divide. Senescence cells, however, are metabolically active. Methods. Fifty-seven discs specimens from 54 subjects were examined with immunocytochemistry for anti-SA-&bgr;-gal immunocytochemical localization to identify senescent cells. The fraction of positive cells was determined with quantitative histomorphometry. Results. Quantitative histomorphometry of human discs show an overall incidence of SA-&bgr;-gal-positive cells of 29.9% (±24.8, SD), with a range from 0 to 92.01%. Analysis by ANOVA of the % senescent cells grouped by Thompson grade showed significant increases in senescence with increasing disc degeneration (P < 0.0001). Further analysis with Tukey’s test showed significant differences between the % senescent cells in Grades I/II versus IV, and versus V. SA-&bgr;-gal-positive cells were also present in discs of the aging sand rat spine. Conclusions. Quantitative analysis of immunohistochemical localization of SA-&bgr;-gal identified a sizeable population of senescent cells in the aging/degenerating disc. It is important to discover more about the senescent disc cell population because these cells persist and accumulate over time within the disc. Since senescent cells cannot divide, senescence may reduce the disc’s ability to generate new cells to replace existing ones lost to necrosis or apoptosis.
Desarrollo de una Plataforma de Simulación Basada en el Robot Antropomórﬁco K-680

El objetivo principal del articulo es presentar una plataforma graﬁca de simulacion que brinde las herramientas necesarias para observar el comportamiento de un robot antes dos diferentes leyes de control. Esta interfaz le permite a los usuarios interactuar con un robot tridimensional basado en el robot K-680 de Sterenc , y observar a traves de graﬁcos tridimensionales la respuesta del robot ante cada ley de control. La obtencion del modelo dinamico y el analisis de estabilidad se presentan con el debido rigor matematico.
Effective antigen delivery via dual entrapment in erythrocytes and autologous plasma beads

Abstract Fibrin-based polymeric systems have now emerged as efficient carriers of drugs, growth factors, genes, and cells. Earlier, we have reported fibrin-based plasma beads (PB), prepared from clotted whole plasma, as an efficient system for the controlled release of entrapped therapeutics. In the present study, we investigate the dual entrapment in erythrocytes and PB, as potential particulate antigen delivery system in rabbit and mice, with yeast invertase as the model antigen. Preparations used for immunisation include- invertase entrapped in erythrocytes, the same further entrapped in PB, and crosslinked with glutaraldehyde. While route of administration of the antigen only moderately affected the antibody titres, strategies slowing its release from PB increased the antibody titres remarkably, especially after a booster. Entrapment of erythrocytes entrapped antigen in the PB and further crosslinking with glutaraldehyde also resulted in significant alterations of IgG1/IgG2a ratio, indicating a shift towards humoral response. The elicited immune response was more marked in rabbits as compared to that in mice. Considering the well-known toxicity of the adjuvant, comparable antibody titres induced by the erythrocyte-plasma bead system was encouraging in the induction of humoral immunity.
Efficacy of Guided Imagery to Reduce Stress via the Internet: A Pilot Study

Multiple stressors are affecting the mental and physical health of entire populations. In this pilot study, the experience of a guided imagery presentation through the Internet reduced stress in a convenience sample of 29 adult participants as evidenced by a self-reported single-item rating scale question administered pre- and postintervention. Demographics are reported for descriptive statistics of the sample.
Cerebral autoregulation following head injury.

OBJECT The goal of this study was to examine the relationship between cerebral autoregulation, intracranial pressure (ICP), arterial blood pressure (ABP), and cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP) after head injury by using transcranial Doppler (TCD) ultrasonography. METHODS Using ICP monitoring and TCD ultrasonography, the authors previously investigated whether the response of flow velocity (FV) in the middle cerebral artery to spontaneous variations in ABP or CPP provides reliable information about cerebral autoregulatory reserve. In the present study, this method was validated in 187 head-injured patients who were sedated and receiving mechanical ventilation. Waveforms of ICP, ABP, and FV were recorded over intervals lasting 20 to 120 minutes. Time-averaged mean FV and CPP were determined. The correlation coefficient index between FV and CPP (the mean index of autoregulation [Mx]) was calculated over 4-minute epochs and averaged for each investigation. The distribution of averaged mean FV values converged with the shape of the autoregulatory curve, indicating lower (CPP < 55 mm Hg) and upper (CPP > 105 mm Hg) thresholds of autoregulation. The relationship between the Mx and either the CPP or ABP was depicted as a U-shaped curve. Autoregulation was disturbed in the presence of intracranial hypertension (ICP > or = 25 mm Hg) and when mean ABP was too low (ABP < 75 mm Hg) or too high (ABP > 125 mm Hg). Disturbed autoregulation (p < 0.005) and higher ICP (p < 0.005) occurred more often in patients with unfavorable outcomes than in those with favorable outcomes. CONCLUSIONS Autoregulation not only is impaired when associated with a high ICP or low ABP, but it can also be disturbed by too high a CPP. The Mx can be used to guide intensive care therapy when CPP-oriented protocols are used.
Redundant faults in TSC networks: definition and removal

When designing Totally Self-Checking (TSC) systems the user imposes a functional encoding methodology and a constrained synthesis for guaranteeing that each fault produces a detectable error with respect to the applied coding. Both aspects, functional methodology and synthesis constraints, are not always supported by automatic tools thus possibly leading to the presence of undetected faults. The paper presents a classification of redundant faults with respect to TSC circuits (TSC redundant faults), proposing a methodology for their removal to achieve a complete fault coverage.
Reduced Progression of Diabetic Microvascular Complications With Islet Cell Transplantation Compared With Intensive Medical Therapy

Background. The effect of islet cell transplantation (ICT) on the progression of diabetic microvascular complications is not well understood. Methods. We have conducted a prospective, crossover, cohort study comparing ICT with intensive medical therapy on the progression of diabetic nephropathy, retinopathy, and neuropathy. Results. The rate of decline in glomerular filtration rate is slower after ICT than on medical therapy. There was significantly more progression of retinopathy in medically treated patients than post-ICT. There was a nonsignificant trend for improved nerve conduction velocity post-ICT. Conclusions. ICT is associated with less progression of microvascular complications than intensive medical therapy. Multicenter, randomized trials are needed to further study the role of ICT in slowing the progression of diabetic complications.
Current Surgical Therapy for Carcinoma of the Pancreas

Despite progress in treating many solid tumors, pancreatic cancer continues to be a grave illness. Each year, >29,000 new cases of adenocarcinoma of the pancreas are diagnosed in the United States. Of these patients, only 10–20% have resectable tumors and 25,000 patients (83%) die within 12 months of diagnosis. Until recently, surgery has been the only “effective” therapy available for select patients. Historically, the operative mortality after radical pancreatic resection has been variable, ranging 1–30%, and is both operator-and institution-dependent. Even with a safe and complete surgical resection, the actual 5-year survival after surgery alone is essentially zero, although rates up to 5% have been reported. Despite what would appear to be a dismal outlook, slow progress has occurred in the operative and postoperative care of patients with pancreatic cancer. Advanced imaging techniques and laparoscopy have limited the number of unnecessary laparotomies, and novel adjuvant and neoadjuvant chemotherapy approaches have yielded promising results. This review will summarize the recent literature concerning the surgical therapy and trends in the treatment of carcinoma of the pancreas from 1990 to 1999.