Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Mechanical Analysis of Ultrasound-Activated Pins and Resorbable Screws: Two Different Techniques to Fixate Osteosynthesis in Craniosynostosis Surgery

Purpose:Ultrasound activation of resorbable pins directly into drilled holes of the calvarium was introduced to overcome the time-consuming installation in the resorbable osteosynthesis fixation in craniosynostosis surgery. There is paucity in the data comparing the mechanical properties of resorbable screws and ultrasound-activated pins produced by different manufacturers. The aim of this experimental study was to compare the mechanical properties of ultrasound-activated pins and resorbable screws. Methods:A mechanical testing machine was used to characterize the mechanical performance of screws and ultrasound pins. The screws and pins were tested individually in 2 directions with respect to the longitudinal axis: vertical, that is, axial pull-out strength and horizontal, that is, shear strength. The mean maximum strength of fixation was determined. Broken screws and pinheads were analyzed by a scanning electron microscope to determine the site of fracture. Results:All of the resorbable screws and pins broke at the point where the device enters bone. In pull-out testing, the mean maximum strength of the ultrasound-activated pins was 30.5 ± 5.4 N and that of the resorbable screws was 54.0 ± 0.3 N. In shear testing, the mean maximum strength of ultrasound-activated pins was 57.1 ± 20.1 N and that of the resorbable screws was 53.9 ± 0.4 N. Conclusions:In their intended configuration, there is no clinically significant difference in fixation strength between ultrasound-activated pins and resorbable screws.
Endoparasitism in cereal aphids: molecular analysis of a whole parasitoid community

Insect parasitoids play a major role in terrestrial food webs as they are highly diverse, exploit a wide range of niches and are capable of affecting host population dynamics. Formidable difficulties are encountered when attempting to quantify host–parasitoid and parasitoid–parasitoid trophic links in diverse parasitoid communities. Here we present a DNA‐based approach to effectively track trophic interactions within an aphid–parasitoid food web, targeting, for the first time, the whole community of parasitoids and hyperparasitods associated with a single host. Using highly specific and sensitive multiplex and singleplex polymerase chain reaction, endoparasitism in the grain aphid Sitobion avenae (F) by 11 parasitoid species was quantified. Out of 1061 aphids collected during 12 weeks in a wheat field, 18.9% were found to be parasitized. Parasitoids responded to the supply of aphids, with the proportion of aphids parasitized increasing monotonically with date, until the aphid population crashed. In addition to eight species of primary parasitoids, DNA from two hyperparasitoid species was detected within 4.1% of the screened aphids, with significant hyperparasitoid pressure on some parasitoid species. In 68.2% of the hyperparasitized aphids, identification of the primary parasitoid host was also possible, allowing us to track species‐specific parasitoid‐hyperparasitoid links. Nine combinations of primary parasitoids within a single host were found, but only 1.6% of all screened aphids were multiparasitized. The potential of this approach to parasitoid food web research is discussed.
Effects of Aliskiren, a Direct Renin Inhibitor, on Cardiac Repolarization and Conduction in Healthy Subjects

This multicenter, double‐blind study evaluated the effects of aliskiren, a direct renin inhibitor approved for hypertension, on cardiac repolarization and conduction. Healthy volunteers (n = 298) were randomized to aliskiren 300 mg, aliskiren 1200 mg, moxifloxacin 400 mg (positive control), or placebo once daily for 7 days. Digitized electrocardiograms were obtained at baseline and day 7 of treatment over 23 hours postdose. Placebo‐adjusted mean changes from baseline in QTcF (Fridericia corrected), QTcI (individualized correction), PR, and QRS intervals were compared at each time point (time‐matched analysis) and for values averaged across the dosing period (baseline‐averaged analysis). In time‐matched analysis, mean changes in QTcF with aliskiren were below predefined limits for QTc prolongation (mean increase <5 milliseconds; upper 90% confidence interval [CI] <1 0 milliseconds) except aliskiren 1200 mg at 23 hours (5.2 milliseconds; 90% CI 2.2, 8.1). With moxifloxacin, significant QTcF prolongation occurred at most time points, confirming the sensitivity of the assay. Baseline‐averaged analysis was consistent with time‐matched analysis. Instances of QTcF interval >450 milliseconds or a >30‐millisecond increase from baseline with aliskiren (≤1%) were similar or lower than placebo (≤4%). Results were similar for QTcI. Aliskiren had no effect on PR or QRS duration. In conclusion, aliskiren at the highest approved dose (300 mg) and a 4‐fold higher dose had no effect on cardiac repolarization or conduction in healthy volunteers.
Chemokines and activated macrophages in HIV gp120-induced neuronal apoptosis.

HIV-1 glycoprotein gp120 induces injury and apoptosis in rodent and human neurons in vitro and in vivo and is therefore thought to contribute to HIV-associated dementia. In addition to CD4, different gp120 isolates bind to the alpha- or beta-chemokine receptors CXCR4 and CCR5, respectively. These and other chemokine receptors are on brain macrophages/microglia, astrocytes, and neurons. Thus, apoptosis could occur via direct interaction of gp120 with neurons, indirectly via stimulation of glia to release neurotoxic factors, or via both pathways. Here we show in rat cerebrocortical cultures that recapitulate the type and proportion of cells normally found in brain, i.e., neurons, astrocytes, and macrophages/microglia, that the beta-chemokines RANTES (regulated on activation, normal T cell expressed and secreted) and macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP-1beta) protect neurons from gp120SF2-induced apoptosis. The gp120SF2 isolate prefers binding to CXCR4 receptors, similar to the physiological alpha-chemokine ligands, stromal cell-derived factor (SDF)-1alpha/beta. SDF-1alpha/beta failed to prevent gp120SF2 neurotoxicity, and in fact also induced neuronal apoptosis. We could completely abrogate gp120SF2-induced neuronal apoptosis with the tripeptide TKP, which inhibits activation of macrophages/microglia. In contrast, TKP or depletion of macrophages/microglia did not prevent SDF-1 neurotoxicity. Inhibition of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase ameliorated both gp120SF2- and SDF-1-induced neuronal apoptosis. Taken together, these results suggest that gp120SF2 and SDF-1 differ in the cell type on which they stimulate CXCR4 to induce neuronal apoptosis, but both ligands use the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway for death signaling. Moreover, gp120SF2-induced neuronal apoptosis depends predominantly on an indirect pathway via activation of chemokine receptors on macrophages/microglia, whereas SDF-1 may act directly on neurons or astrocytes.
Cloning and characterization of a core histone gene tandem repeat in Urechis caupo

A Urechis caupo histone gene tandem repeat has been isolated from a 5.0-kilobase EcoRI genomic library in lambda gtWES.lambda B. Genomic reconstruction experiments indicate that the cloned sequence is repeated approximately 100 times per haploid genome. Unique restriction fragments from the cloned sequence hybridize with individual core histone genes from a histone gene tandem repeat of the sea urchin, Strongylocentrotus purpuratus. No hybridization is detected when restriction digests are probed with a sea urchin H1 histone gene. Hybrid selection and in vitro translation of embryo mRNAs demonstrate that the clone contains sequences complementary to all four core histones; however, no H1 histone is detected among the translation products. Based on a restriction site map of the clone and the subcloned sequences which hybridize to the histone mRNAs, the order of the core histone genes in the clone is shown to be H3 H2A H2B H4. S1 nuclease hybrid protection mapping is used to locate the coding regions and to determine the transcript lengths of the core histone mRNAs. The transcript lengths of H2A, H2B, H3, and H4 mRNAs are approximately 464, 438, 494, and 397 bases, respectively. The S1 nuclease mapping also demonstrates that H2A and H4 are transcribed from one DNA strand while H2B and H3 are transcribed from the other strand. In the tandem repeat, the genes are organized so that transcription of the H2A-H2B and H3-H4 gene pairs is divergent.
Treatment of chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia by allogeneic marrow transplantation

We evaluated the outcome of allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) in 21 patients with chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia (CMML) who were treated at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center between 1990 and 1998. There were 11 male and 10 female patients with a median age of 47·4 years (range 1·0–62·9). Patients were conditioned either with total body irradiation (TBI) and chemotherapy, with or without antithymocyte globulin (n = 19), or with chemotherapy alone (n = 2). The marrow donor was an HLA‐identical sibling in 12 patients, an HLA‐non‐identical related donor in three patients and an unrelated volunteer donor in six patients. All evaluable patients achieved sustained engraftment. Fifteen patients developed grades II–IV acute graft‐versus‐host disease (GVHD). Nine patients (43·0%) are surviving disease free at 0·7–8·1 years (median 6·9) after transplantation. Five patients relapsed 75–660 d after transplant and all died. Five patients died with organ failure and two died with GVHD and associated infections. The Kaplan–Meier estimates of disease‐free survival and relapse at 3 years were 39% and 25% respectively. The probability of survival was improved in patients with shorter disease duration compared with those with a long interval from diagnosis to BMT. Thus, as with other myeloproliferative diseases or myelodysplastic syndromes, BMT offers curative therapy for a proportion of patients with CMML. We suggest that patients with CMML who have a suitable donor should be considered for transplantation, probably early in their disease course. However, it will be important to develop new regimens with enhanced antileukaemic efficacy without further increasing regimen‐related toxicity and mortality.
Intracellular processing and activation of membrane type 1 matrix metalloprotease depends on its partitioning into lipid domains

The integral membrane type 1 matrix metalloprotease (MT1-MMP) is a pivotal protease in a number of physiological and pathological processes and confers both non-tumorigenic and tumorigenic cell lines with a specific growth advantage in a three-dimensional matrix. Here we show that, in a melanoma cell line, the majority (80%) of MT1-MMP is sorted to detergent-resistant membrane fractions; however, it is only the detergent-soluble fraction (20%) of MT1-MMP that undergoes intracellular processing to the mature form. Also, this processed MT1-MMP is the sole form responsible for ECM degradation in vitro. Finally, furin-dependent processing of MT1-MMP is shown to occur intracellularly after exit from the Golgi apparatus and prior to its arrival at the plasma membrane. It is thus proposed that the association of MT1-MMP with different membrane subdomains might be crucial in the control of its different activities: for instance in cell migration and invasion and other less defined ones such as MT1-MMP-dependent signaling pathways.
Apparent transverse relaxation rate in human brain varies linearly with tissue iron concentration at 4.7 T

Multiple pairs of adiabatic passage pulses were implemented in a spin‐echo sequence to achieve accurate measurements of the apparent transverse relaxation time (T 2† ) in a short scan time. In experiments on agarose gel phantoms with T2 values ranging from 30 to 105 ms, the measured T 2† values were in good agreement with transverse relaxation times measured with a nonselective Carr‐Purcell‐Meiboom‐Gill sequence. In experiments on normal human brain at 4.7 T, T 2† values in five different gray matter regions were found to range from 38 ± 2 ms (globus pallidus) to 64 ± 2 ms (frontal cortex). The apparent relaxation rate (1/T 2† ) in these five regions showed strong correlation (r = 0.97) with published levels of iron (Fe) in those regions. The linear coefficient relating 1/T 2† and [Fe] at 4.7 T was measured to be 0.551 (s · mg Fe/100 g f.w.)−1. When compared with the values obtained in a previous report for six different static fields (B0) up to 1.5 T, the current measurement confirms the linear dependence of the linear coefficient on B0 up to 4.7 T (r = 0.99). These results suggest that the T 2† value in the human brain is predominantly affected by the nonhemin iron distribution. The strong correlation between the obtained T 2† values and the regional iron concentrations suggests a role for this pulse sequence in quantifying in vivo brain iron at high magnetic field. Magn Reson Med 58:1054–1060, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Effect of IT on Supply Chain Outcome: From an Inter-organizational Relationship-specific View

IT business value remains a burning topic in IS field, yet limited investigation has been undertaken in supply chain context. From an interorganizational relationship-specific view, a path model of IT business value realization in supply chain context is developed and tested, with three kinds of relational assets involving interorganizational IT infrastructure integration, process coupling and knowledge sharing being put up with. By using data from 121 firms in China, we find evidences that IT and other relational assets do create value for supply chain, which in turn lead to organization performance. The study contributes to enhance and enrich our understanding on IT business value in supply chain context and the strategic significance of interorganization relational assets.
EXPLICIT AND IMPLICIT TAX EFFECTS OF THE RESEARCH-AND-DEVELOPMENT TAX CREDIT

This paper investigates the effects of the 1981 Research and Development (R&D) tax credit, first, by examining the impact of the credit on the level of R&D investment and, second, by estimating the magnitude of the implicit tax created by the credit. The two effects are interrelated because an increase in the level of R&D investment will increase the demand for R&D inputs, thus reducing the pretax rate of return from R&D activity.1 I test the credit's investment effect using a time-series R&D spending model that includes both factors from the industrial organization literature (to control for nontax effects) and an R&D credit usability variable to capture the incentive created by the credit. Previous research has produced mixed evidence on whether the credit had any positive
Central Role of Fas-associated Death Domain Protein in Apoptosis Induction by the Mitogen-activated Protein Kinase Kinase Inhibitor CI-1040 (PD184352) in Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia Cells in Vitro*

Because the MAPK pathway plays important roles in cell proliferation and inhibition of apoptosis, this pathway has emerged as a potential therapeutic target for solid tumors and leukemia. At the present time there is little information about activation of this pathway and the consequences of its inhibition in acute lymphocytic leukemia cells (ALL). In the present study, constitutive MAPK pathway activation, as evidenced by phosphorylation of ERK1 and ERK2, was observed in 8 of 8 human lymphoid cell lines and 33% (8:24) of pretreatment ALL bone marrows. Inhibition of this pathway by the MEK inhibitors CI-1040 and PD098059 induced apoptosis through a unique pathway involving dephosphorylation and aggregation of Fas-associated death domain protein followed by death receptor-independent caspase-8 activation. Jurkat cell variants lacking Fas-associated death domain protein or procaspase-8 were resistant to CI-1040-induced apoptosis, as were Jurkat or Molt3 cells treated with the O-methyl ester of the caspase-8 inhibitor N-(Nα-benzyloxycarbonylisoleucylglutamyl) aspartate fluoromethyl ketone. In contrast, CI-1040-induced apoptosis was unaffected by blocking anti-Fas antibody, soluble tumor necrosis factor-α-related apoptosis-inducing ligand decoy receptor, or transfection with cDNA encoding the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family member Mcl-1 or dominant negative caspase-9. Collectively, these results identify the MAPK pathway as a potential therapeutic target in ALL and delineate a mechanism by which MEK inhibition triggers apoptosis in ALL cells.
Logic Decomposition for PAL-Based CPLDs

The Programmable Array Logic (PAL)-based logic block is the core of the great majority of Complex Programmable Logic Devices (CPLDs). The purpose of this paper is to compare two models of decomposition dedicated to PAL-based devices. Non-standard usage of decomposition, which leads to the reduction of used PAL-based logic blocks in a programmable structure, is the aim of the presented methods. Each decomposition step is optimized for implementation in a PAL-based structure that is characterized by a PAL-based logic block. The essence of decomposition models is oriented towards minimizing the number of PAL-based logic blocks used and adjusting the designed circuit to fit the structures of PAL-based blocks best. In the experimental section, a comparison of two decomposition models with the classical implementation approach is presented. Results of the experiments prove that the proposed methods lead to a significant reduction of chip area in relation to the classical approach, especially if CPLD structures consist of PAL-based blocks containing a relatively small number of product terms.
A Fully Integrated 2 $\,\times\,$2 Power Amplifier for Dual Band MIMO 802.11n WLAN Application Using SiGe HBT Technology

A fully monolithic 2 times 2(2 times 5 GHz-band, 2 times 2.4 GHz-band) power amplifier (PA) implemented in a 0.18 mum Silicon Germanium (SiGe) HBT process has been developed for a dual band MIMO 802.11n WLAN system. In order to achieve the required performance for the 5 GHz band while maintaining a high level of integration, different approaches have been investigated. A special Through-Wafer-Via (TWV) process on Si wafer was developed and utilized for this 2 times 2 PA. From fabricated 2 times 2 chip measurement results, both 5 GHz-band and 2.4 GHz-band PAs show above 17 dBm linear power output for -28 dB EVM and more than 18 dBm with >14% efficiency for 5 GHz-band and 19% efficiency for 2.4 GHz-band at -25 dB EVM linear output.
Exploration Algorithm Technique for Multi-Robot Collaboration

This paper focuses on wall-following exploration algorithm using two cooperating mobile robots. The aim is to decrease the exploration time and energy consumption. The new technique is a combination of wall-following exploration algorithm and frontier-based exploration algorithm. The proposed algorithm is divided into two stages: Firstly, one of the robots follows (detects) the entire of the environment walls. And secondly, they employ frontier-based algorithm to complete exploring the remaining unexplored areas in the environment. During these two stages, the robots sweep the line-of-sight between them in each step to maximize the exploration efficiency. Numbers of simulation experiments are presented. Moreover, testing with real robots will be introduced. In these experiments, the negatives and shortcomings of this exploration algorithm will be overcome.
A novel concentration detection method of hydrogen peroxide using microwave cavity perturbation technique

Since there has been no effort at all in using a microwave cavity resonator in the detection of hydrogen peroxide in water, we propose a simple detection method of hydrogen peroxide concentration based on the well-known microwave cavity perturbation technique for the TM010 mode at of a copper cylindrical cavity at 3.48 GHz. From the measurements, we found that the main parameters for cavity perturbation namely center frequency shifts and bandwidth (or quality factor Q) changes both exhibit strong correlation with the concentration.
Employment in adults with congenital heart disease.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate job participation, career-related problems, and actual job problems in adults with complex congenital heart disease (CHD) compared with adults with mild CHD and reference groups. DESIGN Cross-sectional study. SETTING Patients were randomly selected from the archives of the Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands. PATIENTS AND MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES In total, 76 patients with complex CHD and 80 with mild CHD (age range, 17-32 years) completed a self-reported questionnaire on employment and handicaps, with reference data available (response rate, 70%). RESULTS In the study groups, 45 (59%) of 76 patients with complex CHD had a paid job compared with 61 (76%) of 80 patients with mild CHD. Patients older than 25 years with complex CHD had significantly lower job participation (64%) than the general population (83%). Multiple logistic regression showed that type of CHD and level of education were significantly and independently related to job participation (odds ratio, 4.8; 99% confidence interval, 1.2-19.6; and odds ratio, 4.7; 99% confidence interval, 1.3-17.2, respectively). Of the 76 patients with complex CHD, 42 (55%) experienced disease-related career problems, in contrast to only 1 patient with mild CHD. Both CHD groups had more job-related mobility handicaps than did the reference group. However, in the mild CHD group, handicaps could be attributed to additional noncardiac diseases. CONCLUSIONS Patients with complex CHD have reduced job participation compared with patients with mild CHD and the general population. Many receive disability benefits or experience career problems or job handicaps. Career counseling focusing on physical abilities and level of education may help prevent or reduce these job-related problems.
Representativeness of participants in a clinical trial for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder? Comparison with adults from a large observational study.

BACKGROUND Clinical trials have demonstrated that pharmacotherapies can safely treat attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adulthood. Eligibility criteria in these trials may significantly limit their external validity by excluding a significant portion of adults with ADHD in the general population. In particular, exclusion criteria may frequently exclude individuals with comorbid mental health conditions, which are common in the adult ADHD population. METHOD We addressed the representativeness of clinical trials by comparing 146 adult clinical trial participants with DSM-IV ADHD and a community sample composed of 124 adults with DSM-IV ADHD and 123 non-ADHD controls. Subjects were compared on socioeconomic status, Hollingshead occupational code, cognitive measures, lifetime psychopathology, and Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) scale ratings. RESULTS Adults with ADHD in the community sample had higher rates of lifetime psychiatric comorbidity, lower GAF scores, and lower occupational codes than those in the clinical trial. The clinical trial eligibility criteria would have excluded 61% of community sample adults with ADHD. This excluded portion of the community sample had higher rates of lifetime psychiatric comorbidity and lower GAF scores than clinical trial participants. CONCLUSIONS Adults with ADHD participating in the clinical trial had less evidence of functional impairment and endorsed less psychiatric comorbidity than the majority of community sample subjects with ADHD. This suggests that findings from clinical trials may have limited external validity for adults with ADHD in the general population, particularly for those adults with ADHD with the greatest burden of comorbid psychopathology.