Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Surface Acoustic Wave Motor with Flat Plane Slider

A flat plane slider for a surface acoustic wave (SAW) motor has been enabled by using a chemically reduced lithium niobate stator. Since a slider with no projections or the flat plane slider can drive with higher preload than a slider with projections, it is expected to obtain a higher output force. In this paper, driving properties such as a no-load speed characteristic and output force characteristic of the flat plane slider was measured. The SAW motor with the flat plane slider achieved 18 N high output force and 0.9 m/s no-load speed.
Best practice for prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease through an equity lens: a review

Background Despite declining rates of cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality in developed countries, lower socioeconomic groups continue to experience a greater burden of the disease. There are now many evidence-based treatments and prevention strategies for the management of CVD and it is essential that their impact on the more disadvantaged group is understood if socioeconomic inequalities in CVD are to be reduced. Aims To determine whether key interventions for CVD prevention and treatment are effective among lower socioeconomic groups, to describe barriers to their effectiveness and the potential or actual impact of these interventions on the socioeconomic gradient in CVD. Methods Interventions were selected from four stages of the CVD continuum. These included smoking reduction strategies, absolute risk assessment, cardiac rehabilitation, secondary prevention medications, and heart failure self-management programmes. Electronic searches were conducted using terms for each intervention combined with terms for socioeconomic status (SES). Results Only limited evidence was found for the effectiveness of the selected interventions among lower SES groups and there was little exploration of socioeconomic-related barriers to their uptake. Some broad themes and key messages were identified. In the majority of findings examined, it was clear that the underlying material, social and environmental factors associated with disadvantage are a significant barrier to the effectiveness of interventions. Conclusion Opportunities to reduce socioeconomic inequalities occur at all stages of the CVD continuum. Despite this, current treatment and prevention strategies may be contributing to the widening socioeconomic-CVD gradient. Further research into the impact of best-practice interventions for CVD upon lower SES groups is required.
Variation in the Promoter Region of the β Fibrinogen Gene Is Associated with Plasma Fibrinogen Levels in Smokers and Non-Smokers

Summary We investigated the association between fibrinogen levels and a HaeIII restriction fragment length polymorphism located at −453 bp from the start of transcription of the β fibrinogen gene. 292 healthy men aged 45 to 69 years, recruited from general practices throughout Britain, were studied. None had a history of ischaemic heart disease. 41.1% (120) were smokers and fibrinogen levels were higher in this group. The frequency of the noncutting allele (designated H2) was 0.19 and was the same in smokers and non-smokers. The H2 allele was associated with elevated levels of fibrinogen in both smokers and non-smokers and the effect of genotype was similar in both groups. After smoking, HaeIII genotype was the strongest predictor of fibrinogen levels and explained 3.1% of the variance in fibrinogen levels. These results confirm earlier studies that variation at the fibrinogen locus contributes to the between-individual differences in plasma fibrinogen level.
Fast Eigen-Functions Tracking on Dynamic Graphs

Many important graph parameters can be expressed as eigenfunctions of its adjacency matrix. Examples include epidemic threshold, graph robustness, etc. It is often of key importance to accurately monitor these parameters. For example, knowing that Ebola virus has already been brought to the US continent, to avoid the virus from spreading away, it is important to know which emerging connections among related people would cause great reduction on the epidemic threshold of the network. However, most, if not all, of the existing algorithms computing these measures assume that the input graph is static, despite the fact that almost all real graphs are evolving over time. In this paper, we propose two online algorithms to track the eigen-functions of a dynamic graph with linear complexity wrt the number of nodes and number of changed edges in the graph. The key idea is to leverage matrix perturbation theory to efficiently update the top eigen-pairs of the underlying graph without recomputing them from scratch at each time stamp. Experiment results demonstrate that our methods can reach up to 20× speedup with precision more than 80% for fairly long period of time.
The Distribution of Photosynthetic Reactions in the Chloroplast Lamellar System

Chloroplast fragmentation, ATPase, Proton pump, Cyclic Phosphorylation, NH4Cl-uncoupling Cyclic phosphorylation and latent ATPase follow the distribution of photosystem I in the chloroplast membrane. Both activities are found higher in stroma lamellae than in grana. The extent of proton uptake is found to be higher in the grana. Since this uptake depends on internal volume and buffer capacity besides proton pump activity, the distribution of the proton pump proper remains to be elucidated. Any fragmentation of the large inner compartment of the chlorolast lamellar system into smaller vesicles results in decreased sensitivity of cyclic phosphorylation to uncoupling by ammonium chloride. Consequently both, isolated grana and stroma lamellae, show decreased uncoupling by ammonium chloride. The effect can be explained by the action of a membrane potential in photophosphorylation which builds up during illumination and might be more stable in a system with the larger number of individual compartments just for statistical reasons. No assumption on changes in specific ion permeabilities during fragmentation of chloroplasts are needed.
Differential p53‐mediated responses to solar‐simulated radiation in human papillomavirus type 16‐infected keratinocytes

Abstract: In immunocompromised patients, cooperative effects of human papillomavirus (HPV) and ultraviolet (UV) radiation have been postulated in the development of non‐melanoma skin cancers. The tumor suppressor p53 is a key component of the cellular response to genotoxic agents, such as UV radiation. We have previously demonstrated that in HPV16‐infected cells, a higher E6* level was associated with a higher resistance to UV and oxidative stress. Using the two same SKv cell lines, the aim of the present study was to investigate p53 and p21 expression and cell death in HPV‐infected keratinocytes in response to UV irradiation and to determine the role of HPV oncoprotein levels on the p53‐mediated cellular response. We demonstrated that the weakly E6*‐expressing level SKv‐e cell line presented both higher cytotoxicity and apoptosis to UV. This high sensitivity was associated with both p53 and p21 nuclear accumulation, while a high E6* level and resistance were associated with no p53 accumulation and a p21 nuclear down‐regulation after UV. Moreover, in SKv‐e cell line, p21 promoter activation was p53 dependent. Our results suggest that an alteration and/or a modulation of the p53–p21 pathway in response to UV could be determinant for HPV‐infected keratinocyte survival and HPV‐associated carcinogenic process.
A review of remote sensing of invasive weeds and example of the early detection of spotted knapweed (Centaurea maculosa) and babysbreath (Gypsophila paniculata) with a hyperspectral sensor

Abstract Remote sensing technology is a tool for detecting invasive species affecting forest, rangeland, and pasture environments. This article provides a review of the technology, and algorithms used to process remotely sensed data when detecting weeds and a working example of the detection of spotted knapweed and babysbreath with a hyperspectral sensor. Spotted knapweed and babysbreath frequently invade semiarid rangeland and irrigated pastures of the western United States. Ground surveys to identify the extent of invasive species infestations should be more efficient with the use of classified images from remotely sensed data because dispersal of an invasive plant may have occurred before the discovery or treatment of an infestation. Remote sensing data were classified to determine if infestations of spotted knapweed and babysbreath were detectable in Swan Valley near Idaho Falls, ID. Hyperspectral images at 2-m spatial resolution and 400- to 953-nm spectral resolution with 12-nm increments were used to identify locations of spotted knapweed and babysbreath. Images were classified using the spectral angle mapper (SAM) algorithm at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 10° angles. Ground validation of the classified images established that 57% of known spotted knapweed infestations and 97% of known babysbreath infestations were identified through the use of hyperspectral imagery and the SAM algorithm. Nomenclature: Babysbreath, Gypsophila paniculata L. GYPPA; spotted knapweed, Centaurea maculosa Lam. CENMA.
Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of physostigmine in the rat after oral administration

The distribution, metabolism, and pharmacokinetics of physostigmine (Phy) and the time course of butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) in plasma and cholinesterase (ChE) activity in brain and muscle and their relationship to Phy concentration were described after oral administration of 3H‐Phy (650 μg kg−1) to rats. Physostigmine concentration vs time data was analyzed by nonlinear computer fitting program using one‐compartment model. The absorption rate constant (ka) and elimination rate constant (ke) were found to be 0·1 ± 0·07 min−1 and 0·036 ± 0·024 min−1, respectively. Cpmax and tmax were 3·3 ng ml−1 and 16 min. The clearance (Cl) was found to be 80·9 ml min−1 kg−1. Half‐life of Phy in brain, muscle, and liver were 33·4min, 22·5, and 28 min, respectively. The bioavailability (F) was calculated to be 0·02 and the extraction ratio was found to be 0·98 indicating the ‘first pass’ effect. Butyrylcholinesterase activity in plasma was 76 per cent at 15 min and this activity did not change significantly up to 120 min. However, Phy concentration in plasma was very low; 2·89 ng ml−1 at 15 min and declined to 0.71 ng ml−1 at 90 min. Physostigmine concentration in brain peaked at 22 min to 2·85 ± 1·09 ng g−1 and declined to 0·33 ± 0·11 ng g−1 at 60 min. Cholinesterase activity in brain was 96 per cent, 82 per cent and 89 per cent at 10, 45, and 120 min, respectively. Physostigmine concentration in muscle was very low and the ChE activity in the muscle was 66·4 per cent of control at 45 min. The time course of Phy metabolism indicated that at 5 min most of the RA in the tissues was due to metabolites accounting for 94·6 per cent in plasma, 90 per cent in liver, 79·8 per cent in brain and 86·3 per cent in muscle. M1 appeared to be the major metabolite followed by eseroline. The results showed extremely low concentrations of Phy (200 times less in plasma and 350 times less in brain) after oral administration compared to our previous studies with the same dose after i.m. administration.
Nuclear phosphoinositide 3-kinase β controls double-strand break DNA repair

Class I phosphoinositide 3-kinases are enzymes that generate 3-poly-phosphoinositides at the cell membrane following transmembrane receptor stimulation. Expression of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase β (PI3Kβ) isoform, but not its activity, is essential for early embryonic development. Nonetheless, the specific function of PI3Kβ in the cell remains elusive. Double-strand breaks (DSB) are among the most deleterious lesions for genomic integrity; their repair is required for development. We show that PI3Kβ is necessary for DSB sensing, as PI3Kβ regulates binding of the Nbs1 sensor protein to damaged DNA. Indeed, Nbs1 did not bind to DSB in PI3Kβ-deficient cells, which showed a general defect in subsequent ATM and ATR activation, resulting in genomic instability. Inhibition of PI3Kβ also retarded the DNA repair but the defect was less marked than that induced by PI3Kβ deletion, supporting a kinase-independent function for PI3Kβ in DNA repair. These results point at class I PI3Kβ as a critical sensor of genomic integrity.
Human papillomaviruses in Amerindian women from Brazilian Amazonia

We evaluated the prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in Amerindian women from a tribe in Brazilian Amazonia. Demographic data, pap smears and cervical samples for HPV DNA detection by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were obtained for women aged above 10 years old. In total, 79 (85·9%) out of 92 eligible women who lived there were interviewed; all women already had engaged in sexual activity. Seventy-eight and 49 women allowed collection of pap smears and PCR samples, respectively. Cytological signs of HPV infection were observed in 11 patients; 6 of these were probed for HPV infection and 1 shown to be HPV 16. Overall prevalence of HPV infection detected by PCR was 14·3%. Three patients presented high-risk HPV DNA types[ratio ]two HPV 16 and one co-infection of HPV 16 and 58. Cervical infection by oncogenic HPV types occurs in Amerindian women and cervical cancer screening should be a priority in this setting.
Dermatology residency program characteristics that correlate with graduates selecting an academic dermatology career.

OBJECTIVE To examine the characteristics of 107 dermatology residency programs to determine which factors are correlated with producing academic dermatologists to help reverse the trend of a growing shortage of academic dermatologists. DESIGN We collected data ranging from total publications to grant funding. Extensive Internet searches were completed to obtain most of the data. Individual programs were contacted as needed to obtain any missing data that were not found on the program's Web site. SETTING Dermatology residency programs (departments and divisions) in the United States. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Factors that correlated with producing full-time academic dermatologists. RESULTS We tabulated and analyzed characteristics of 107 dermatology residency programs. Total full-time faculty members in 2004, total publications in 2004, and total publications from January 1, 2001, to December 31, 2004, were the 3 factors most strongly correlated with producing full-time faculty. National Institutes of Health and Dermatology Foundation grants and American Skin Association grant recipients were the 3 characteristics most strongly inversely correlated with producing full-time faculty. Those who entered academic dermatology tended to stay at the same program where they completed a dermatology residency, especially if this program was considered a "smaller" program. CONCLUSIONS The programs' characteristics of total publications in 2004 and from 2001 to 2004 were 2 of the 3 factors most strongly positively correlated with dermatology residents entering academic dermatology. Encouraging residents to publish may be a window to motivate them toward a career in academic dermatology.
The nature of safety problems among Canadian homecare clients: evidence from the RAI-HC reporting system.

AIM(S) The purpose of this study was to identify the nature of patient safety problems among Canadian homecare (HC) clients, using data collected through the RAI-HC((c)) assessment instrument. BACKGROUND Problems of patient safety have been well documented in hospitals. However, we have very limited data about patient safety problems among HC clients. METHOD(S) The study methodology involved a secondary analysis of data collected through the Canadian home care reporting system. The study sample consisted of all HC clients who qualified to receive a RAI-HC assessment from Ontario, Nova Scotia and Winnipeg Regional Health Authority for the 2003-2007 reporting period. There were a total of 238 958 cases available for analysis; 205 953 from Ontario, 26 751 from Nova Scotia and 6254 from Winnipeg Regional Health Authority. RESULTS New fall (11%), unintended weight loss (9%), new emergency room (ER) visits (7%) and new hospital visits (8%) were the most prevalent potential adverse events identified in our study. A small proportion of the HC clients experienced a new urinary tract infection (2%). CONCLUSION(S) Understanding clients' risk profiles is foundational to effective patient care management. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT We need to begin to develop evidence about best practices for ameliorating safety risk.
Fludarabine, cyclophosphamide, and antithymocyte globulin for matched related and unrelated allogeneic stem cell transplant in severe aplastic anemia

Twenty severe aplastic anemia (SAA) patients underwent allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT) with fludarabine (FLU), cyclophosphamide and antithymocyte globulin from a matched related (n=7, age ≥ 40) or unrelated donor (n=13, any age). Median age was 34 years (range 1–59). Median time from diagnosis to allo-SCT was 12 months (range 2–244). Seventeen out of 19 evaluable patients engrafted (90%). There were two secondary graft failures (10%). Median time to neutrophil recovery was 15 days (range 8–30). Chimerism studies indicated ≥90% donor-derived engraftment in 16/19 evaluable patients (75%). Four out of 20 patients (20%) developed acute (grade II–IV) GVHD, and 6/16 evaluable patients (37%) developed chronic GVHD. We observed EBV reactivation and viremia in seven patients, which was successfully treated with rituximab in all but one instance (where it was self-limiting). Thirteen patients (62%) are alive (including eight of the last nine treated) with a median follow-up of 30 months (range 3–112). Seven patients expired (graft rejection n=1, GVHD n=1, multiorgan failure n=1, infection n=2, EBV post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder/PTLD n=2). Total body irradiation-free, FLU-based conditioning for matched related and unrelated allo-SCT is feasible with high engraftment rates. EBV PTLD remains a drawback of this approach.
A contribution to minimum-time task-space path-following problem for redundant manipulators

The minimum-time path-following problem for non-redundant manipulator has already been analyzed and a number of efficient solution algorithms have been proposed. These algorithms can be applied also to redundant manipulators if the path is assigned in the joint space. If the path is assigned in the task space instead, how to exploit kinematic redundancy to reduce the execution time is still an open problem. In this paper it is proposed to follow a heuristic approach to choose between different solutions to the inverse kinematics problem that underlies the minimum-time path-following control problem. The aim is to obtain a joint-space path which configures the manipulator so as to improve acceleration/deceleration capabilities of the end-effector. This is obtained by penalizing the motion of joints with higher inertia-to-torque ratios. Numerical results are presented for an “easy-to-understand” three degree-of-freedom planar manipulator involved in two-dimensional paths.
Predation rate on artificial nests increases with human housing density in suburban habitats

Predation causes most nest failure in birds. Predator communities are likely to vary across a gradient of increasing urbanization, so nest predation also is likely to vary across this gradient. Although predation is thought to decline with increasing urbanization, relatively little is known about variation in predation pressure within strata along an urban gradient and how factors known to affect nest success, such as nest location, interact with urban variables, such as human housing density. Native habitats are frequently fragmented and isolated by suburban residential development, thus we quantified predation rates on artificial nests located in natural oak scrub patches within a suburban matrix in south-central Florida. We examined patterns of predation based on nest location relative to habitat edges, artificial nest weathering treatment, nest shrub height, and human housing density. Over two 18-d trials, we placed a total of 240 nests, each containing a single quail egg and a clay sham, along three roadside transects. Nest predation was not influenced by proximity to edge, nest weathering, or trial date, but was highest at high housing density and lowest at low housing density. The proportion of quail eggs removed from nests increased with human housing density. Birds were the most frequent predators of artificial nests, but the relative frequency of predation by birds or mammals did not differ relative to any of our treatments. Higher rates of nest predation with increasing human housing density within suburban habitats may reflect changes in habitat structure and composition that increase the vulnerability of nests to predation or changes in the composition of the predator community. Our results modify the conclusions of previous studies by suggesting that at scales smaller than the entire urban gradient, nest predation may increase with human housing density, one common measure of urbanization.
Specific recognition of a dsDNA sequence motif by an immunoglobulin VH homodimer

Anti‐DNA antibodies have the potential to be applied in vast fields of fundamental as well as medical research. They are found in autoimmune diseases, such as systemic lupus erythemotosus. In most cases, anti‐dsDNA antibodies do not present sequence specificity and are of low affinity. The dominant role of VH domains in DNA recognition induced us to search for binders based on VH dimers (VHD), previously reported to bind different protein antigens. We screened a phage displayed homo‐VHD library against a 19‐bp dsDNA sequence. A sequence‐specific binder was selected, which recognizes the terminal located CTGC motif with a Kd of 250 nM. Association of the two identical VH domains of the molecule was shown to be essential for binding.
Simian virus 40 T antigen alters the binding characteristics of specific simian DNA-binding factors

The late promoter of simian virus 40 is transcriptionally activated, in trans, by large T antigen, the primary viral early gene product. Although large T antigen is a well-characterized DNA-binding protein, a variety of data suggest that its trans-activation function does not require direct interaction with DNA. We demonstrate that defined late promoter elements, omega (omega), tau (tau), and delta (delta), necessary for T-antigen-mediated trans-activation, are binding sites for simian cellular factors, not T antigen. Two of the late promoter elements (omega and tau) are shown to bind the same factor or family of factors. These factors bind to a site very similar to that for the HeLa cell factor AP1. We refer to these factors as the simian AP1-sequence recognition proteins (sAP1-SRPs). Compared with normal simian CV-1P cells, the sAP1-SRPs from T-antigen-producing COS cells, or from 14-h simian virus 40-infected CV-1P cells, showed altered binding patterns to both the omega and tau binding sites. In addition, the sAP1-SRPs from T-antigen-containing cells bound to the tau site more stably than did the analogous factors from normal CV-1P cells. The altered pattern of binding and the increased stability of binding correlated with the presence of T antigen in the cell. Additionally, the alteration of the binding pattern within 14 h of infection in CV-1P cells is temporally correct for late promoter activation. Overall, the data show (i) that the late promoter elements necessary for T-antigen-mediated trans-activation contain binding sites for simian cellular DNA-binding proteins; (ii) that the presence of T antigen causes alterations in the binding characteristics of specific simian cellular DNA-binding factors or families of factors; and (iii) that factors which bind to the late promoter elements required for activation have altered and more stable binding characteristics in the presence of T antigen. These points strongly suggest that T antigen mediates trans-activation indirectly through the alteration of binding of at least one specific simian cellular factor, sAP1-SRP, or through the induction of a family of sAP1-SRP factors.