Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Complementary thin-base symmetric lateral bipolar transistors on SOI

CMOS and bipolar technologies are intrinsically distinct. To take advantage of the beneficial attributes of both will drive expensive high mask count processes. We present a bipolar device architecture that will naturally integrate into an existing CMOS process flow without adding the complexity of vertical scaling present in the conventional high performance bipolar technologies. Symmetric thin-base silicon on insulator (SOI) lateral bipolar transistor is proposed. It overcomes the problems associated with conventional bipolar transistors including performance degradation at high current density and slow switching speed in saturation and fabricated samples show immunity to base-push-out effect. Simulation results suggest that THz fMAX is possible with current lithography capability and SOI thickness of 20 nm. Primary applications for low voltage and memory applications are discussed.
Alteration of Copper Fluxes in Brain Aging: A Longitudinal Study in Rodent Using 64CuCl2-PET/CT

Brain aging is associated with changes of various metabolic pathways. Copper is required for brain development and function, but little is known about changes in copper metabolism during brain aging. The objective of this study was to investigate alteration of copper fluxes in the aging mouse brain with positron emission tomography/computed tomography using 64CuCl2 as a radiotracer (64CuCl2-PET/CT). A longitudinal study was conducted in C57BL/6 mice (n = 5) to measure age-dependent brain and whole-body changes of 64Cu radioactivity using PET/CT after oral administration of 64CuCl2 as a radiotracer. Cerebral 64Cu uptake at 13 months of age (0.17 ± 0.05 %ID/g) was higher than the cerebral 64Cu uptake at 5 months of age (0.11 ± 0.06 %ID/g, p < 0.001), followed by decrease to (0.14 ± 0.04 %ID/g, p = 0.02) at 26 months of age. In contrast, cerebral 18F-FDG uptake was highest at 5 months of age (7.8 ± 1.2 %ID/g) and decreased to similar values at 12 (5.2 ± 1.1 %ID/g, p < 0.001) and 22 (5.6 ± 1.1 %ID/g, p < 0.001) months of age. The findings demonstrated alteration of copper fluxes associated with brain aging and the time course of brain changes in copper fluxes differed from changes in brain glucose metabolism across time, suggesting independent underlying physiological processes. Hence, age-dependent changes of cerebral copper fluxes might represent a novel metabolic biomarker for assessment of human brain aging process with PET/CT using 64CuCl2 as a radiotracer.
Conversational aspects of the speech of language-disordered children: revision behaviors.

Revision behaviors in the speech of language-disordered children were investigated. Subjects were 12 children, four at each of Brown's language States I, II, and III. During the taping of a one-hour spontaneous language sample from each child, one of the experimenters pretended 20 times not to understand and asked "What? ". The relationship between the child's original utterance and his response to "What? " was analyzed. The results indicated a significantly greater use of revisions than repetitions or no responses at each stage and a pattern of revision behavior that was uniform across stages and qualitatively different from the previously reported patterns of normal children. The results are discussed in terms of the nature of languare disorder and its implications for pragmatic theories of language.
Neutron and gamma fields at neutron spallation sources for single-event-effects testing

Monte-Carlo simulations of spallation fields are used to determine neutron and gamma spectra in beams used for single-event-effects testing. Spectra at LANSCE (ICE House) and TSL (ANITA) are calculated using Geant4 with Bertini and binary intranuclear cascade (INC) models. Results with the binary INC model give a good representation of neutron spectra obtained from measurements and independent calculations in each case, and predict gamma dose rates consistent with measured data where these are available. The gamma field in each beam is dominated by a continuum between about 100 keV and about 10 MeV. Integral gamma yields are approximately 0.26 γ p-1 sr-1 and 0.046 γ p-1 sr-1 at the ICE House and ANITA, respectively.
Effects of ultrasound energy application on cardiac performance in open-chest Guinea pigs.

BACKGROUND Although ultrasound (US) is widely used in cardiology, little is known about the effects of US energy on cardiac performance. This study aimed to investigate the mechanical effects of high-intensity continuous US energy (1.0 MHz with 3 different intensities) on cardiac performance. METHODS AND RESULTS Either left ventricular (LV) pressure or aortic blood flow (ABF) was evaluated in open-chest guinea pigs (n=30) under surface ECG monitoring. LV systolic pressure and ABF increased significantly (ie, maximum percent increases in these parameters were 2.5%, 3.1% and 7.1% for LV systolic pressure and 9.4%, 4.9% and 8.8% for mean ABF at intensities of 0.06, 0.67 and 2.90 W/cm2, respectively). LV end-diastolic pressure was reduced significantly by US (5.3+/-0.9 to 4.8+/-0.8, 5.5 +/-1.3 to 4.8+/-1.0 and 5.8+/-2.0 to 5.0+/-1.2 mmHg, respectively), indicating positive inotropic and lusitropic effects and resultant ABF augmentation. Local temperature was not significantly changed. ECG showed neither chronotropic action nor arrhythmogenesis. CONCLUSIONS Although the basic mechanisms of these phenomena remain unclear, this pilot study of the short-term effects of US energy on cardiac performance suggests the possibility of physical therapy for heart failure.
Loss of knee extension after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: effects of knee position and graft tensioning.

BACKGROUND Loss of knee extension has been reported by many authors to be the most common complication following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. The objective of this in vitro study was to determine the effect, on loss of knee extension, of the knee flexion angle and the tension of the bone-patellar tendon-bone graft during graft fixation in a reconstruction of an anterior cruciate ligament. METHODS The anterior cruciate ligament was reconstructed with use of tibial and femoral bone tunnels placed in the footprint of the native anterior cruciate ligament in ten cadavers. The graft was secured with an initial tension of either 44 N (10 lb) or 89 N (20 lb) applied with the knee at 0 degrees or 30 degrees of flexion. The knee flexion angle was measured with use of digital images following graft fixation. RESULTS Tensioning of the graft at 30 degrees of knee flexion was associated with loss of knee extension in this cadaver model. Graft tension did not affect knee extension under the conditions tested. CONCLUSIONS The results suggest that one of the common causes of the loss of full knee extension may be diminished if the graft is secured in full knee extension when the tibial and femoral tunnels are placed in the footprint of the native anterior cruciate ligament. More importantly, even when the femoral and tibial tunnels are placed in the femoral and tibial footprints of the native anterior cruciate ligament, fixing a graft in knee flexion can result in the loss of knee extension.
A case-control study of screening sigmoidoscopy and mortality from colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND The efficacy of sigmoidoscopic screening in reducing mortality from colorectal cancer remains uncertain. A randomized trial would be ideal for clarifying this issue but is very difficult to conduct. Case-control studies provide an alternative method of estimating the efficacy of screening sigmoidoscopy. METHODS Using data on the 261 members of the Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program who died of cancer of the rectum or distal colon from 1971 to 1988, we examined the use of screening by rigid sigmoidoscopy during the 10 years before the diagnosis and compared it with the use of screening in 868 control subjects matched with the case subjects for age and sex. RESULTS Only 8.8 percent of the case subjects had undergone screening by sigmoidoscopy, as compared with 24.2 percent of the controls (matched odds ratio, 0.30; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.19 to 0.48). Adjustment for potential confounding factors increased the odds ratio to 0.41 (95 percent confidence interval, 0.25 to 0.69). The negative association was as strong when the most recent sigmoidoscopy was 9 to 10 years before diagnosis as it was when examinations were more recent. By contrast, for 268 subjects with fatal colon cancer above the reach of the sigmoidoscope and for 268 controls, the adjusted odds ratio was 0.96 (95 percent confidence interval, 0.61 to 1.50). The specificity of the negative association for cancer within the reach of the sigmoidoscope is consistent with a true efficacy of screening rather than a confounding by unmeasured selection factors. CONCLUSIONS Screening by sigmoidoscopy can reduce mortality from cancer of the rectum and distal colon. A screening once every 10 years may be nearly as efficacious as more frequent screening.
Gait planning for energy efficiency in walking machines

This paper addresses the problem of achieving energy efficiency in statically stable walking machines without mechanically constraining the system. In contrast to previous work, power is minimized over an entire locomotion cycle, through optimal selection of walking parameters, rather than for a fixed instant of time only. Dynamic simulation experiments of a hexapod with full three degree-of-freedom legs are used to develop a set of 5 rules for setting velocity, footholds, body height, duty factor, and stroke to achieve maximum energy efficiency. Optimization of walking parameters alone was found to reduce power consumption by up to 50% over a reasonable first set of parameters. The rules presented may be used as the basis for development of energy-efficient behaviors or other intelligent control schemes for walking machines.
Caractéristique d'une couche limite turbulente hors-équilibre soumise à un gradient de pression et un effet de courbure

This publication provides a set of detailed data obtained in the boundary layers that develop on the blades of a compressor cascade (at mid-span of the blades). The experimental data are acquired for a Reynolds number of 382,000. The characteristics of the non-equilibrium turbulent boundary layers on the suction side of the blades are measured by two-dimentional laser Doppler anemometry. The average velocity and Reynolds stresses are compared with results obtained in the literature with particular configurations on flat plates with pressure gradient. The differences can be explained by the effects of curvature and adverse pressure gradients. Mots clefs : hors-équilibre, couche limite, gradient de pression adverse
Investigation of Frizzled‐5 during embryonic neural development in mouse

Recent studies revealed that the Wnt receptor Frizzled‐5 (Fzd5) is required for eye and retina development in zebrafish and Xenopus, however, its role during mammalian eye development is unknown. In the mouse embryo, Fzd5 is prominently expressed in the pituitary, distal optic vesicle, and optic stalk, then later in the progenitor zone of the developing retina. To elucidate the role of Fzd5 during eye development, we analyzed embryos with a germline disruption of the Fzd5 gene at E10.25, just before embryos die due to defects in yolk sac angiogenesis. We observed severe defects in optic cup morphogenesis and lens development. However, in embryos with conditional inactivation of Fzd5 using Six3‐Cre, we observed no obvious early eye defects. Analysis of Axin2 mRNA expression and TCF/LEF‐responsive reporter activation demonstrate that Fzd5 does not regulate the Wnt/β‐catenin pathway in the eye. Thus, the function of Fzd5 during eye development appears to be species‐dependent. Developmental Dynamics 237:1614–1626, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Prognostic value of neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio for gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND Although the prognostic value of the neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in gastric cancer (GC) patients has been investigated by many studies, the results are heterogeneous. The objective of this systematic review is to ascertain the prognostic value of NLR in GC patients. METHODS PubMed and Embase were retrieved to identify potential studies published before 8 June, 2014. Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) for cohort study was used to assess the quality of all eligible studies. RESULTS Of the 20 studies included in this systematic review, 17 studies investigated the effect of NLR on overall survival (OS), 11 studies reported that NLR negatively affected OS in their multivariante analysis, and 16 studies reported that NLR negatively affected OS in univariate analysis. Three studies investigated the effect of NLR on progression-free survival (PFS), reporting that increased NLR was associated with worse PFS. Four studies investigated the effect of NLR on disease-free survival (DFS), two of which reported that increased NLR was associated with worse DFS. Two studies investigated the effect of NLR on disease special survival (DSS), but neither observed any significant association between NLR and DSS. The major design deficiencies of the studies available were retrospective data collection, inadequacy of follow-up cohorts, and unavailability of the method used for outcome assessment. CONCLUSIONS Based on the above findings, we conclude that NLR may be a useful prognostic index (PI) for GC. In addition, future studies with prospective design, long-term follow-up and fully adjusted confounding factors are needed to rigorously assess the prognostic value of NLR for GC.
Roles of the Akt/mTOR/p70S6K and ERK1/2 Signaling Pathways in Curcumin-Induced Autophagy

Curcumin has a potent anticancer effect and is a promising new therapeutic strategy. We previously demonstrated that curcumin induced non-apoptotic autophagic cell death in malignant glioma cells in vitro and in vivo. This compound inhibited the Akt/mammalian target of rapamycin/p70 ribosomal protein S6 kinase pathway and activated the extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1/2 thereby inducing autophagy. Interestingly, activation of the first pathway inhibited curcumin-induced autophagy and cytotoxicity, whereas inhibition of the latter pathway inhibited curcumin-induced autophagy and induced apoptosis, thus augmenting the cytotoxicity of curcumin. These results imply that these two autophagic pathways have opposite effects on curcumin’s cytotoxicity. However, inhibition of nuclear factor κB, which is the main target of curcumin for its anticancer effect, was not observed in malignant glioma cells. These results suggest that autophagy but not nuclear factor κB plays a central role in curcumin anticancer therapy and warrant further investigation toward application in patients with malignant gliomas. Here, we discuss the therapeutic role of two autophagic pathways influenced by curcumin. Addendum to: Evidence That Curcumin Suppresses the Growth of Malignant Gliomas in Vitro and in Vivo through Induction of Autophagy: Role of Akt and Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase Signaling Pathways H. Aoki, Y. Takada, S. Kondo, R. Sawaya, B. B. Aggarwal and Y. Kondo Mol Pharmacol 2007; 72:29-39
Effects of testosterone on erectile function: implications for the therapy of erectile dysfunction

Sexual potency declines with age, as does the efficiency of erection. Many studies show that different patterns of erectile dysfunction (ED), varying from occasional inability to obtain a full erection, impairment throughout intercourse and total absence of erectile response, might not be triggered by psychological factors only. Recent research indicates that ED relies on organic causes, and has challenged the development of new therapies. One therapeutic approach in patients who have testosterone deficiency is based on androgen therapy. Thus, we reviewed data on testosterone‐induced effects relative to erectile function, summarizing the results from studies reported in 1991–2006 on testosterone therapy in patients with ED and hypogonadism, with a special focus on men not responding to phosphodiesterase‐5 (PDE‐5) inhibitors. We searched several computerized databases parallel with printed bibliographic references. Many studies have established animal models, which confirm that testosterone is important in modulating the central and peripheral regulation of ED. Testosterone deprivation has a strong negative impact on the structure of penile tissues and erectile nerves, which can be prevented by androgen administration. Combined therapy regimens with PDE‐5 inhibitors and testosterone might improve ED in patients with hypogonadism of different causes. Thus, androgen treatment in hypogonadic patients, including those unresponsive to PDE‐5 inhibitors, often results in an improvement of ED. Testosterone therapy is safe and convenient, while rapidly correcting low testosterone levels.
An optimal real-time route choice model based on route traffic volume

In order to solve the real-time dynamic routing problem, this paper develops a series of models for traffic volume forecasting, travel time forecasting, customer truckload (TL) and less-than-truckload (LTL) distribution volume calculation. These models, together with C-W Algorithm, are subsequently applied taking into account such factors as characteristics of customers, real-time dynamic traffic volume, travel time and vehicle capacity. A numerical example is also provided. It is concluded that the proposed methodology is a scientific, simple and has its practical usefulness.
The Lectin-like Domain of TNF Increases ENaC Open Probability through a Novel Site at the Interface between the Second Transmembrane and C-terminal Domains of the α-Subunit*

Regulation of the epithelial sodium channel (ENaC), which regulates fluid homeostasis and blood pressure, is complex and remains incompletely understood. The TIP peptide, a mimic of the lectin-like domain of TNF, activates ENaC by binding to glycosylated residues in the extracellular loop of ENaC-α, as well as to a hitherto uncharacterized internal site. Molecular docking studies suggested three residues, Val567, Glu568, and Glu571, located at the interface between the second transmembrane and C-terminal domains of ENaC-α, as a critical site for binding of the TIP peptide. We generated Ala replacement mutants in this region of ENaC-α and examined its interaction with TIP peptide (3M, V567A/E568A/E571A; 2M, V567A/E568A; and 1M, E571A). 3M and 2M ENaC-α, but not 1M ENaC-α, displayed significantly reduced binding capacity to TIP peptide and to TNF. When overexpressed in H441 cells, 3M mutant ENaC-α formed functional channels with similar gating and density characteristics as the WT subunit and efficiently associated with the β and γ subunits in the plasma membrane. We subsequently assayed for increased open probability time and membrane expression, both of which define ENaC activity, following addition of TIP peptide. TIP peptide increased open probability time in H441 cells overexpressing wild type and 1M ENaC-α channels, but not 3M or 2M ENaC-α channels. On the other hand, TIP peptide-mediated reduction in ENaC ubiquitination was similar in cells overexpressing either WT or 3M ENaC-α subunits. In summary, this study has identified a novel site in ENaC-α that is crucial for activation of the open probability of the channel, but not membrane expression, by the lectin-like domain of TNF.
QT hysteresis in long-QT syndrome children with exercise testing.

BACKGROUND Congenital long QT syndrome (LQTS) is an inherited ion channel disorder resulting in abnormal cardiac repolarization that can cause syncope and sudden death associated with a prolonged rate-corrected QT interval and polymorphic ventricular tachycardia. Several studies in adults showed that LQTS patients have altered QT adaptation to heart rate changes compared with normal subjects which forming a "hysteresis loop" in the QT-circle length plot. This study was to observe the QT interval changing during exercise testing in children long QT syndrome (LQTS) patients, explore the new diagnosis methods of LQTS. METHODS The subjects were divided into 3 groups according to 1993 LQTS diagnostic criteria. Group 1: LQTS group (n = 17) who scored > or = 4 points indicating definite LQTS. Group 2: Middle group (n = 16), patients who have prolonged QT interval but scored 1.5 to 3.5. Group 3: Normal control group (n = 18). The average age of all study population is (12.3 +/- 5.8) years. No case had beta-adrenergic antagonists administration before exercise testing. All subjects were underwent tread mill exercise testing and electrocardiograph in whole exercise testing and recovery were recorded. QT and heart rate changing during whole exercise testing period were recorded. DeltaQT, the QT interval at 1, 2, 4, 6 minutes into recovery subtract from the QT interval at a similar heart rate during exercise, were calculated. RESULTS In all three groups, QT intervals were shortening with the increasing of heart rate, but QTc had no significant change. DeltaQT at 1 minute ((45 +/- 11) ms), 2 minutes ((37 +/- 15) ms), 4 minutes ((23 +/- 12) ms) into recovery in LQTS group were significantly greater than that of the other two groups (P < 0.05, P < 0.01, P < 0.01, respectively). There was no DeltaQT significant difference between middle group and normal control group at recovery time. During the recovery phase in LQTS group, the QT interval remained shortened despite a decelerating heart rate, forming a hysteresis "loop" in the curve relating the QT interval to the cycle length. CONCLUSIONS In children LQTS patients, there is significant QT hysteresis loop in the relation of QT interval with heart rate during recovery of exercise testing, which could be useful to the early diagnosis for LQTS.
Optimal improvement of the lower bound performance of partition testing strategies

Although partition testing strategies are intuitively more appealing than random testing, previous empirical and analytical studies show that under unfavourable circumstances partition testing can be very ineffective. The problem of maximally improving the lower bound performance of partition testing by the choice of appropriate test distributions is investigated. An algorithm that generates optimal test distributions for this purpose is proposed and analysed. Moreover, the algorithm can also serve to systematically approximate the proportional sampling strategy, which has previously been proved to be at least as good as random testing.
LncRNA BCAR4 wires up signaling transduction in breast cancer

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are dysregulated in many cancer types and are believed to play crucial roles in regulating several hallmarks of cancer biology. Currently, most studies support the concept that lncRNAs are involved in either transcriptional or post-transcriptional processes via binding/targeting epigenetic modifiers or hRNP complexes. The discovery of new biological functions of lncRNA and novel RNA binding proteins suggests that lncRNAs may be implicated in a broad spectrum of biological processes such as signal transduction, allosteric regulation of cytoplasmic enzymatic activities, among other potential processes. In a recent report that we have made, based on open-ended lncRNA pulldown technology and a series of systematic analyses, we suggest that lncRNAs also play critical roles in the regulation of noncanonical Hedgehog/GLI 2 signal transduction pathways in cancer cells, which further broadens the scope of known lncRNA functions and aids in the discovery and design of more effective and evidence-based therapeutic targets for the treatment of human cancers and other diseases.