Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Design of CNFET based ternary comparator using grouping logic

This paper presents a design of ternary magnitude comparator based on the CNFET (Carbon Nanotube Field Effect Transistor) ternary logic gates. Ternary logic is a promising alternative to conventional logic design because of its energy efficiency. This energy efficiency is achieved due to the reduced circuit overhead for ternary logic when compared to the conventional binary logic. The comparator design is based on prefix based design and combines ternary and binary logic gates for optimized implementation. The proposed comparator has been implemented and simulated using SPICE. Simulations results indicate that the proposed 1-bit comparator consumes 0. 65μW power and has a delay of 21ps. The simulation results for comparators with different operand lengths are also presented.
Concave spherical feed array for luneberg lens

This paper presents a design of concave spherical base Vivaldi feed array for beam steering without the use of any phase shifters. The research goal is reached through the use of Luneberg lens aperture and switching of active feed array element. Vivaldi array element has solid metal sheet design with stripline feeding for linear polarization. Special elements are used for mutual coupling effects weakening and directional pattern back lobe suppression at low frequencies. The design has such advantages, like broad bandwidth, wide scan angle in azimuth and elevation, low loss level, and machining simplicity of feed array.
Dental Enamel Growth, Perikymata and Hypoplasia in Ancient Tooth Crowns

This paper describes the hypoplastic defects commonly seen on the surface of ancient human tooth crowns, excavated from archaeological sites, and presents a new method for estimating the ages at which these defects were initiated during life. The method is based upon examination of microscopic incremental structures on the enamel surface and it is possible also to apply it to reconstruction of the sequence and timing of dental crown development. The method of examination is non-destructive and allows full use to be made of the large numbers of complete, unworn dentitions which are found amongst archaeological remains.
A multi-stage analysis of antecedents and consequences of knowledge management evolution

Purpose – Drawing from knowledge-based view and balanced scorecard approach, this study seeks to develop an integrative model to examine the influence of two knowledge management (KM) strategies, codification KM strategy and personalization KM strategy, on the multi-stage KM evolution (KM adoption, implementation and institutionalization stages), which in turn affects balanced scorecard outcomes (financial performance, internal process performance, customer performance, and growth and learning performance). Design/methodology/approach – Survey data from 244 managers (currently and directly in charge of KM activities) in large Taiwanese firms were collected and used to test the research model using the structural equation modeling (SEM) approach. Findings – The results have revealed that both the codification KM strategy and personalization KM strategy are positive factors for stage-based KM evolution, but their relative importance differs across the three subsamples. Additionally, the results showed that the internal process and customer perspectives play a critical role in measuring performance during the earlier stages of KM evolution, while the financial and learning and growth perspectives emphasize the performance achievements from the latter stages. Practical implications – Since KM implementation is an evolutionary process, using both financial and non-financial measures to assess organizational performance through KM efforts, such as the four balanced scorecard perspectives, can take full advantage of stage-based KM evolution. The results indicate that the time-lag effect is critical to distinguishing different forms of organizational performance. Originality/value – Theoretically, this study aims to provide a research model that is capable of understanding the antecedents and consequences of staged-based KM evolution. From a managerial perspective, the findings of this study provide valuable guidelines to policy-makers and practitioners in accelerating KM evolution and achieving organizational performance.
Akt Promotes Post-Irradiation Survival of Human Tumor Cells through Initiation, Progression, and Termination of DNA-PKcs–Dependent DNA Double-Strand Break Repair

Akt phosphorylation has previously been described to be involved in mediating DNA damage repair through the nonhomologous end-joining (NHEJ) repair pathway. Yet the mechanism how Akt stimulates DNA-protein kinase catalytic subunit (DNA-PKcs)-dependent DNA double-strand break (DNA-DSB) repair has not been described so far. In the present study, we investigated the mechanism by which Akt can interact with DNA-PKcs and promote its function during the NHEJ repair process. The results obtained indicate a prominent role of Akt, especially Akt1 in the regulation of NHEJ mechanism for DNA-DSB repair. As shown by pull-down assay of DNA-PKcs, Akt1 through its C-terminal domain interacts with DNA-PKcs. After exposure of cells to ionizing radiation (IR), Akt1 and DNA-PKcs form a functional complex in a first initiating step of DNA-DSB repair. Thereafter, Akt plays a pivotal role in the recruitment of AKT1/DNA-PKcs complex to DNA duplex ends marked by Ku dimers. Moreover, in the formed complex, Akt1 promotes DNA-PKcs kinase activity, which is the necessary step for progression of DNA-DSB repair. Akt1-dependent DNA-PKcs kinase activity stimulates autophosphorylation of DNA-PKcs at S2056 that is needed for efficient DNA-DSB repair and the release of DNA-PKcs from the damage site. Thus, targeting of Akt results in radiosensitization of DNA-PKcs and Ku80 expressing, but not of cells deficient for, either of these proteins. The data showed indicate for the first time that Akt through an immediate complex formation with DNA-PKcs can stimulate the accumulation of DNA-PKcs at DNA-DSBs and promote DNA-PKcs activity for efficient NHEJ DNA-DSB repair. Mol Cancer Res; 10(7); 945–57. ©2012 AACR.
Thermal Ablation of Small Renal Tumors – Present Status

Thermal ablation of renal tumors is achieved by the delivery of extreme heat or extreme cold directly to the lesion in order to obtain in situ destruction of the malignant cells without having to remove the entire organ. Cryotherapy and radiofrequency ablation are becoming more and more attractive for the treatment of small lesions in select cases. Other types of energy such as microwave, laser and high intensity ultrasound have also been used to destroy kidney lesions but must still be considered in the experimental stage. Cryotherapy and radiofrequency ablation are minimally invasive and have been shown to be safe and effective in treating tumors up to 3–4 cm in diameter. However, the number of case series is rather limited and follow-up, especially for radiofrequency ablation, is short. Only now are workers beginning to present outcomes after 5 years for cryoablation. Therefore, the long-term oncological efficacy of these ablation techniques remains to be seen. As longer follow-up and greater patient numbers are reported we will get a clearer picture of the true potential of these modalities. Randomized prospective trials would be auspicable. For now, CA and RFA should be limited to few select patients i.e. patients with comorbidities which render them at high risk for a surgical procedure and possibly patients with genetic conditions such as Von Hippel Lindau disease who will probably develop multiple tumors.
A Protection Strategy and Microprocessor-Based Relay for Low-Voltage Microgrids

One of the major challenges associated with microgrid protection is to devise an appropriate protection strategy that is effective in the grid-connected as well as islanded mode of operation. This paper proposes a protection strategy based on microprocessor-based relays for low-voltage microgrids. Further, the structure of a new relay enabling the proposed protection strategy is presented. One of the salient feature of the developed protection scheme is that it does not require communications or adaptive protective devices. Moreover, it is to a large extent independent of the fault current magnitude and the mode of operation. Transient time-domain simulation studies are conducted to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed protection strategy and its enabling relay, using the PSCAD/EMTDC software package.
Human-Centric Data Cleaning [Vision]

Data Cleaning refers to the process of detecting and fixing errors in the data. Human involvement is instrumental at several stages of this process, e.g., to identify and repair errors, to validate computed repairs, etc. There is currently a plethora of data cleaning algorithms addressing a wide range of data errors (e.g., detecting duplicates, violations of integrity constraints, missing values, etc.). Many of these algorithms involve a human in the loop, however, this latter is usually coupled to the underlying cleaning algorithms. There is currently no end-to-end data cleaning framework that systematically involves humans in the cleaning pipeline regardless of the underlying cleaning algorithms. In this paper, we highlight key challenges that need to be addressed to realize such a framework. We present a design vision and discuss scenarios that motivate the need for such a framework to judiciously assist humans in the cleaning process. Finally, we present directions to implement such a framework.
pecific cathepsin B inhibitor is cell-permeable and activates presentation of TTC n primary human dendritic cells

Cathepsins of the cysteine, aspartyl, and serine classes are involved in antigen processing in the class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC) loading compartment. Investigation of these proteases in living cells is difficult to perform due to the lack of highly specific cell-permeable inhibitors. Recently, a highly selective cathepsin B (CatB) inhibitor, Z-Arg-Leu-Arg-aza-glycyl-Ile-Val-OMe (ZRLR), was described. eywords: ntigen presentation/processing HC athepsin B We found that ZRLR is cell-permeable and specifically inhibits CatB, in contrast to the CatB inhibitor, CA074-OMe, which blocks cysteine cathepsins in addition to CatB in primary human antigen-presenting cells (APC). Furthermore, we compared both CA074-OMe and ZRLR in the ability to alter tetanus toxin C-fragment (TTC) presentation to T cells by different APC. As a result, we found enhanced presentation of TTC in the presence of ZRLR, as determined by detection of pro-inflammatory cytokines. We conclude l-per that ZRLR is a specific, cel situ.
Kidney Graft Function Determines Endothelial Progenitor Cell Number in Renal Transplant Recipients

Background. Circulating bone marrow–derived endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) promote vascular repair, and their number correlates with endothelial function and cardiovascular risk in humans. In uremic patients, the number of funtionally active EPCs is reduced. Thus, we assessed EPCs in stable patients 6 months or more after renal transplantation. Methods. We analyzed circulating CD34+ hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs) using flow cytometry and EPCs (in vitro assay) in 74 renal transplant patients (51.6±11.5 years; 46 males), 74 age-matched healthy subjects, and 29 patients with preterminal renal failure. Results. EPC numbers were similar in renal transplant recipients and controls (232±92 vs. 250±103/high power field; n.s.), but were significantly higher than in uremic patients (160±97/high power field; P=0.004). In addition, transplant recipients had more HPCs than controls (2.71±1.65 vs. 1.99±1.12 /&mgr;l; P=0.004) and uremic patients (1.64±0.96/&mgr;l; P=0.001). EPCs in renal transplant recipients correlated significantly with graft function(that is, Cockcroft-Gault clearance [r=0.294; P=0.012]), but not with age or HPCs. Moreover, in the multiple regression analysis, graft function (r=0.332; P=0.01) and diastolic blood pressure (r=-0.278; P=0.03) were independent predictors of EPCs. In vitro, sera from renal transplant recipients with poor graft function significantly inhibited EPC differentiation compared with sera from patients with a clearance above 50 mL/min (151±54 vs. 274±94 EPCs/high power field; P=0.02). Conclusions. EPC numbers in stable renal transplant recipients are comparable to those found in healthy subjects. In addition, graft function is a significant determinant of EPCs. Prospective studies should explore whether improvement of EPCs influences cardiovascular risk in renal transplant recipients.
Water intake accelerates parasympathetic reactivation after high-intensity exercise.

UNLABELLED It has been shown that water intake (WI) improves postexercise parasympathetic recovery after moderate-intensity exercise session. However, the potential cardiovascular benefit promoted by WI has not been investigated after high-intensity exercise. PURPOSE To assess the effects of WI on post high-intensity parasympathetic recovery. METHODS Twelve recreationally active young men participated in the study (22 ± 1.4 years, 24.1 ± 1.6 kg.m(-2)). The experimental protocol consisted of two visits to the laboratory. Each visit consisted in the completion of a 30-min high-intensity [~80% of maximal heart rate (HR)] cycle ergometer aerobic session performing randomly the WI or control (CON, no water consumption) intervention at the end of the exercise. HR and RR intervals (RRi) were continuously recorded by a heart rate monitor before, during and after the exercise. Differences in HR recovery [e.g., absolute heart rate decrement after 1 min of recovery (HRR60s) and time-constant of the first order exponential fitting curve of the HRR (HRRτ)] and in postexercise vagal-related heart rate variability (HRV) indexes (rMSSD30s, rMSSD, pNN50, SD1 and HF) were calculated and compared for WI and CON. RESULTS A similar HR recovery and an increased postexercise HRV [SD1 = 9.4 ± 5.9 vs. 6.0 ± 3.9 millisecond, HF(ln) = 3.6 ± 1.4 vs. 2.4 ± 1.3 millisecond(2), for WI and CON, respectively; p < . 05] was observed in WI compared with CON. CONCLUSION The results suggest that WI accelerates the postexercise parasympathetic reactivation after high-intensity exercise. Such outcome reveals an important cardioprotective effect of WI.
Mercury lost in the gastrointestinal tract; report of an unusual case.

Since the trend toward mercury-bearing intestinal decompression tubes developed, the innocuousness of the liquid metallic mercury in the gastrointestinal tract again has been observed.1A review of the literature upon the subject of bowel obstruction and the role of mercury in its treatment reveals numerous articles beginning with 1676 and appearing until approximately 1850. In these articles many case reports were found extolling the curative effect of liquid mercury in the treatment of bowel obstruction.2Judging from the extensive literature that accumulated on this subject during these early years, it would seem that numerous therapeutic properties were ascribed to metallic mercury in overcoming bowel obstruction. These were believed to occur by virtue of the fluidity and weight of this heavy metal, which was supposed literally to force its way through the obstructing process. This form of treatment fell into disrepute about the middle of the 19th century as
Mapping the Cochrane evidence for decision making in health care.

RATIONALE AND AIM Over the past 12 years, thousands of authors working with the Cochrane Collaboration around the world have produced systematic reviews to reduce uncertainty in health care decision making. We evaluated the conclusions from Cochrane systematic reviews of randomized controlled trials in terms of their recommendations for clinical practice and research. METHODS In our cross-sectional study of systematic reviews published in the Cochrane Library, we randomly selected and analysed completed systematic reviews published across all 50 Cochrane Collaborative Review Groups. RESULTS We analysed 1016 completed systematic reviews. Of these, 44% concluded that the interventions studied were likely to be beneficial, of which 1% recommended no further research and 43% recommended additional research. Also, 7% of the reviews concluded that the interventions were likely to be harmful, of which 2% did not recommend further studies and 5% recommended additional studies. In total, 49% of the reviews reported that the evidence did not support either benefit or harm, of which 1% did not recommend further studies and 48% recommended additional studies. Overall, 96% of the reviews recommended further research. CONCLUSIONS Cochrane systematic reviews were about evenly split between those in which the authors concluded that at least one of the interventions was beneficial and those in which the evidence neither supported nor refuted the intervention tested. The Cochrane Collaboration needs to include clinical trial protocol summaries with a study design optimized to answer the relevant research questions.
Acute Cardiorespiratory and Metabolic Responses During Exoskeleton-Assisted Walking Overground Among Persons with Chronic Spinal Cord Injury.

BACKGROUND Lower extremity robotic exoskeleton technology is being developed with the promise of affording people with spinal cord injury (SCI) the opportunity to stand and walk. The mobility benefits of exoskeleton-assisted walking can be realized immediately, however the cardiorespiratory and metabolic benefits of this technology have not been thoroughly investigated. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate the acute cardiorespiratory and metabolic responses associated with exoskeleton-assisted walking overground and to determine the degree to which these responses change at differing walking speeds. METHODS Five subjects (4 male, 1 female) with chronic SCI (AIS A) volunteered for the study. Expired gases were collected during maximal graded exercise testing and two, 6-minute bouts of exoskeleton-assisted walking overground. Outcome measures included peak oxygen consumption (V̇O2peak), average oxygen consumption (V̇O2avg), peak heart rate (HRpeak), walking economy, metabolic equivalent of tasks for SCI (METssci), walk speed, and walk distance. RESULTS Significant differences were observed between walk-1 and walk-2 for walk speed, total walk distance, V̇O2avg, and METssci. Exoskeleton-assisted walking resulted in %V̇O2peak range of 51.5% to 63.2%. The metabolic cost of exoskeleton-assisted walking ranged from 3.5 to 4.3 METssci. CONCLUSIONS Persons with motor-complete SCI may be limited in their capacity to perform physical exercise to the extent needed to improve health and fitness. Based on preliminary data, cardiorespiratory and metabolic demands of exoskeleton-assisted walking are consistent with activities performed at a moderate intensity.
Effect of ozone and nitrogen dioxide on the release of proinflammatory mediators from bronchial epithelial cells of nonatopic nonasthmatic subjects and atopic asthmatic patients in vitro.

BACKGROUND Although studies have suggested that ozone (O3) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) may play a role in the pathogenesis of asthma, the underlying mechanisms are not clear. OBJECTIVE We aimed to investigate the effects of O3 and NO2 on the release of IL-8, GM-CSF, RANTES, and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (sICAM-1) from human bronchial epithelial cells (HBECs) of nonatopic nonasthmatic subjects (nonasthmatic subjects) and atopic subjects with mild asthma (asthmatic subjects) in vitro. METHODS We cultured HBECs from bronchial biopsy specimens of nonasthmatic and asthmatic subjects; exposed these for 6 hours to air, 10 to 100 ppb O3, or 100 to 400 ppb NO2; and analyzed the release of IL-8, GM-CSF, RANTES, and sICAM-1 after 24 hours' incubation. RESULTS There was no significant difference between the constitutive release of IL-8, GM-CSF, and sICAM-1 from HBECs of asthmatic and nonasthmatic subjects. RANTES was detected only in HBECs derived from asthmatic subjects. Exposure of HBECs of asthmatic subjects to both 50 to 100 ppb O3 and 200 to 400 ppb NO2 significantly increased the release of IL-8, GM-CSF, RANTES, and sICAM-1 from these cells after 24 hours of incubation. However, 50 to 100 ppb O3 and 200 to 400 ppb NO2 led to a significant increase in release of only IL-8 and sICAM-1 from HBECs of nonasthmatic subjects after 24 hours' incubation. A comparison between the pollutant-induced release of mediators demonstrated that 100 ppb O3-induced release of GM-CSF and sICAM-1 was significantly greater in HBECs of asthmatic subjects (medians, 0.59 and 27.4 pg/microg cellular protein, respectively) than in HBECs of nonasthmatic subjects (medians, 0.27 and 14.4 pg/microg cellular protein, respectively; P < .02). CONCLUSION These results suggest that O3 and NO2 may modulate airway diseases, such as asthma, by increasing the release of inflammatory mediators from bronchial epithelial cells and that the cells of asthmatic subjects may be more susceptible to the adverse effects of these pollutants.
Niobium-tin persistent-current switch for the superconducting magnet of Maglev

We designed and manufactured a persistent-current switch consisting of Nb/sub 3/Sn superconductive wire with an on-state current capacity of 600 A and an off-state resistance of 52 /spl Omega/ for the superconducting magnet of Maglev. To design a persistent current switch, it is important to suppress the instability such as degradation and training. Nb/sub 3/Sn has a higher critical temperature than that of NbTi which is commonly used for conventional persistent-current switches. Nb/sub 3/Sn wire is considered, therefore, to have higher stability to disturbance than NbTi wire. We reduced the volume and weight of the Nb/sub 3/Sn persistent-current switch to around 0.6 times and 0.7 times, respectively, that of the conventional NbTi persistent-current switch. Current-carrying capacity was tested both under the static and vibrating states. Test results of switching performance were compared with a computer simulation of temperature distribution in heating and cooling.
Promoters recognized by Escherichia coli RNA polymerase selected by function: highly efficient promoters from bacteriophage T5

Highly efficient promoters of coliphage T5 were identified by selecting for functional properties. Eleven such promoters belonging to all three expression classes of the phage were analyzed. Their average AT content was 75% and reached 83% in subregions of the sequences. Besides the well-known conserved sequences around -10 and -33, they exhibited homologies outside the region commonly considered to be essential for promoter function. Interestingly, the consensus hexamers around -10 (TAT AAT) and -35 (TTG ACA) were never found simultaneously within the sequence of highly efficient promoters. Several of these promoters compete extremely well for Escherichia coli RNA polymerase and can be used for the efficient in vitro synthesis of defined RNA species. In addition, some of these promoters accept 7-mGpppA as the starting dinucleotide, thus producing capped mRNA in vitro which can be utilized in various eucaryotic translation systems.
Unified description of dense matter in neutron stars and magnetars

Abstract We have recently developed a set of equations of state based on the nuclear energy density functional theory providing a unified description of the different regions constituting the interior of neutron stars and magnetars. The nuclear functionals, which were constructed from generalized Skyrme effective nucleon-nucleon interactions, yield not only an excellent fit to essentially all experimental atomic mass data but were also constrained to reproduce the neutron-matter equation of state as obtained from realistic many-body calculations.