Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
High-Performance Flexible ${\rm Ni}/{\rm Sm}_{2}{\rm O}_{3}/{\rm ITO}$ ReRAM Device for Low-Power Nonvolatile Memory Applications

A high-performance very low-power flexible Ni/Sm<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>/indium tin oxide (ITO) resistive device for nonvolatile memories is demonstrated. The device exhibits a good memory margin of >10<sup>3</sup> ON/OFF current ratio with very low switching power of <;25 μW. Good memory retention of >10<sup>5</sup> at 85°C and switching endurance of 10<sup>4</sup> program-read-erase-read cycles is achieved in the highly flexible Ni/Sm<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>/ITO device. The low-power switching operation is believed to be because of the low-energy electron hopping conduction via oxide defects.
The effect of early aerobic training on independence six months post stroke

Objective: To investigate whether early aerobic training has a beneficial effect on stroke patients' independence in daily and social activities six months after the event. Design: Randomized clinical trial. Setting: Rehabilitation unit. Subjects: Ninety-two patients after a first stroke. Interventions: Forty-six patients participated in an eight-week programme of aerobic training, using a leg cycle ergometer. Main outcome measures: Frenchay Activities Index (FAI) measured twice, at entry to programme (pre-event score) and six months after the onset of the event. Results: Despite the significant improvement of study group patients' functional abilities immediately after the intervention compared with controls, no significant difference was found in FAI mean score between groups six months post event. An interaction effect was noted between event severity, intervention and FAI total score. Mean FAI score declined significantly less in the less severely impaired study group patients. Conclusions: Early, moderately intense aerobic training has no direct impact on independence in daily and social activities as measured by FAI total score six months after a stroke.
Millimeter-Wave Power Sensor Based on Silicon Rod Waveguide

This paper presents a novel type of RF power sensor, based on a metallic structure integrated into an mm-wave range dielectric rod waveguide made of Si. The metallic structure is employed as a bolometer. Numerical simulations of temperature distribution are shown. A prototype was tested at frequencies of 45 GHz-1 THz and a power levels from 0.1 to 500 mW. The power sensor showed the sensitivity of 0.51 Ω/mW resistance change.
The adsorption and degradation of chlorpyriphos-methyl, pendimethalin and metalaxyl in solid urban waste compost

To evaluate the feasibility of using compost to prepare substrates for the disposal of pesticide residues, adsorption and degradation studies were carried out on three widely used agricultural pesticides: chlorpyriphos-methyl, pendimethalin and metalaxyl. Obtained from solid urban waste, this compost has been shown to be able to adsorb high levels of chlorpyriphos-methyl and pendimethalin (85 %, 100 %) whereas metalaxyl was only adsorbed at a level of 37 %. However, adding smectite to the compost increased the adsorption of metalaxyl by 117 %. Chlorpyriphos-methyl and pendimethalin degraded quickly with half-lives of 1.7 and 14.5 days, respectively, whereas metalaxyl proved more persistent (a half-life of 84 days). Adding ammonium nitrate to the compost accelerated metalaxyl degradation to a half-life of 15 days.
Heuristic Evaluation of Data Integration and Visualization Software Used for Continuous Monitoring to Support Intensive Care: A Bedside NursesPerspective

The Intensive Care Unit (ICU) is a complex and technologically advanced healthcare setting. Technologies enable continuous monitoring through patient signals that are sensed, recorded and displayed at the bedside. Although such technologies have significantly decreased mortality rates in the ICU, the large amounts of data have contributed to clinician information overload. Critical care nurses spend more than half of their time scanning and assimilating information from disparate monitors, at the bedside to assess the patient status. Software that integrates and allows visualization of large data sets on a single screen are now available. In the present study, we evaluated software entitled T3™ (Tracking, Trajectory and Triggering). Such computationally powerful software has great potential to support nurses’ monitoring and decision-making tasks but the usability, efficiency, and effectiveness of the software are key to end-user adoption. As such, we conducted a Heuristic Evaluation, where the study’s evaluators interacted with the software interfaces and were asked to comment on it by describing the usability issues and if they were in compliance with established usability principles, or heuristics, specifically for medical device interfaces. A total of 50 usability issues associated with 194 heuristic violations were found. Identified issues included difficulty with choosing the time period of the patient data signals, distinguishing between several patient signals and appearance of patient values which were imperceptible to evaluators; both issues could lead nurses to misinterpret the timing and/or the physiological status of the patient (e.g., time of shock and exact value of vitals). Heuristic evaluation, an efficient and inexpensive method, was successfully applied to the T3™ software to identify usability problems that if left unresolved could lead to patient safety issues. These findings may have broad implications for the design of the T3™ and other continuous monitoring systems.
Localization of Nitration and Chlorination Sites on Apolipoprotein A-I Catalyzed by Myeloperoxidase in Human Atheroma and Associated Oxidative Impairment in ABCA1-dependent Cholesterol Efflux from Macrophages*

We recently reported that apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I), the major protein component of high density lipoprotein, is a selective target for myeloperoxidase (MPO)-catalyzed nitration and chlorination in both and serum of subjects with cardiovascular disease. We further showed that the extent of both apoA-I nitration and chlorination correlated with functional impairment in reverse cholesterol transport activity of the isolated lipoprotein. Herein we used tandem mass spectrometry to map the sites of MPO-mediated apoA-I nitration and chlorination in vitro and in vivo and to relate the degree of site-specific modifications to loss of apoA-I lipid binding and cholesterol efflux functions. Of the seven tyrosine residues in apoA-I, Tyr-192, Tyr-166, Tyr-236, and Tyr-29 were nitrated and chlorinated in MPO-mediated reactions. Site-specific liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry quantitative analyses demonstrated that the favored modification site following exposure to MPO-generated oxidants is Tyr-192. MPO-dependent nitration and chlorination both proceed with Tyr-166 as a secondary site and with Tyr-236 and Tyr-29 modified only minimally. Parallel functional studies demonstrated dose-dependent losses of ABCA1-dependent cholesterol acceptor and lipid binding activities with apoA-I modification by MPO. Finally tandem mass spectrometry analyses showed that apoA-I in human atherosclerotic tissue is nitrated at the MPO-preferred sites, Tyr-192 and Tyr-166. The present studies suggest that site-specific modifications of apoA-I by MPO are associated with impaired lipid binding and ABCA1-dependent cholesterol acceptor functions, providing a molecular mechanism that likely contributes to the clinical link between MPO levels and cardiovascular disease risk.
Increase in heme oxygenase-1 levels ameliorates renovascular hypertension.

BACKGROUND The heme oxygenase system (HO-1 and HO-2) catalyzes the conversion of heme to free iron, carbon monoxide (CO), a vasodepressor, and biliverdin, which is further converted to bilirubin, an antioxidant. HO-1 induction has been shown to suppress arachidonic acid metabolism by cytochrome P450 (CYP450) monooxygenases and cyclooxygenases (COX), and to decrease blood pressure in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). The Goldblatt 2K1C model is a model of renovascular hypertension in which there is increased expression of COX-2 in the macula densa and increased renin release from the juxtaglomerular apparatus of the clipped kidney. We examined whether HO-1 overexpression, as a prophylactic approach, would attenuate renovascular hypertension and evaluated potential mechanisms that may account for its effect. METHODS 2K1C rats were treated with cobalt protoporphyrin (CoPP) or tin mesoporphyrin (SnMP) one day before surgery and weekly for three weeks thereafter. We measured systolic blood pressure, HO activity, HO-1, HO-2, COX-1 and COX-2 protein expression, heme content, and nitrotyrosine levels as indices of oxidative stress. Urinary prostaglandin excretion (PGE2), plasma renin activity (PRA), and plasma aldosterone levels were also measured. RESULTS CoPP administration induced renal HO-1 expression by 20-fold and HO activity by 6-fold. This was associated with a reduction in heme content, nitrotyrosine levels, COX-2 expression and urinary PGE2 excretion, and attenuation of the development of hypertension in the 2K1C rats. There was no decrease in plasma renin activity; however, plasma aldosterone levels were significantly lower. In the 2K1C SnMP-treated rats, blood pressure was significantly higher than that of untreated 2K1C rats throughout the study, and the difference in the size of the smaller left clipped kidney compared to the nonclipped right kidney was significantly increased. CONCLUSION These findings define an action of prolonged HO-1 induction to interrupt and counteract the influence of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) to increase in blood pressure in the 2K1C model of renovascular hypertension. Multiple mechanisms include a decrease in oxidative stress as indicated by the decrease in cellular heme and nitrotyrosine levels, an anti-inflammatory action as evidenced by a decrease in COX-2 and PGE2, interference with the action of angiontensin II (Ang II) as evidenced by an increase in PRA in the face of a decrease in PGE2 and aldosterone, as well as the inhibition of aldosterone synthesis.
Hypercalcemia in adrenocortical insufficiency.

Serum calcium has been examined in 4 patients with Addison's disease and in 5 with symptoms of manifest adrenocortical insufficiency after adrenalectomy for Cushing's syndrome. In each group hypercalcemia was found in 3 patients, and the incidence of hypercalcemia was the same as that of hyponatremia. Hypercalcemia alone occurred in 3 patients, as also did hyponatremia. Hypercalcemia without other disturbances of serum electrolytes led, in one of the patients, to surgical exploration of the neck in the search for a parathyroid adenoma. Determination of serum calcium should be a routine procedure in patients with suspicion of adrenocortical insufficiency, and this diagnosis should not be forgotten in cases with hypercalcemia. Possible mechanisms for the hypercalcemia in adrenocortical insufficiency are discussed.
The Role of Protein S-Nitrosylationin Alzheimer's Disease and its Treatment

As a post-transcriptional modification, S-nitrosylation is a covalent binding of nitric oxide to cysteine thiols in proteins to form S-nitrosothiols. Nitric oxide is recognized as an important signaling molecule, and has recently been shown to reversibly nitrosylated proteins. Emerging evidence demonstrates that in Alzheimer’s disease, aberrant S-nitrosylation of proteins may exert an effect on mitochondrial fission, Aβ production and synaptic damage, which may directly or indirectly contribute to Alzheimer’s disease pathology. In this paper, we review recent findings of an S-nitrosylated protein relationship to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease; discuss the influences of protein S-nitrosylation on Alzheimer’s disease progression; and consider indications for protein S-nitrosylation in the treatment of Alzheimer’s
Oxidative Stress Promotes Ligand-independent and Enhanced Ligand-dependent Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Signaling*

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor 1 (TNFR1, p55) and 2 (TNFR2, p75) are characterized by several cysteine-rich modules in the extracellular domain, raising the possibility that redox-induced modifications of these cysteine residues might alter TNFR function. To test this possibility, we examined fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) in 293T cells transfected with CFP- and YFP-tagged TNFRs exposed to the thiol oxidant diamide. Treatment with high concentrations of diamide (1 mm) resulted in an increase in the FRET signal that was sensitive to inhibition with the reducing agent dithiothreitol, suggesting that oxidative stress resulted in TNFR self-association. Treatment of cells with low concentrations of diamide (1 μm) that was not sufficient to provoke TNFR self-association resulted in increased TNF-induced FRET signals relative to the untreated cells, suggesting that oxidative stress enhanced ligand-dependent TNFR signaling. Similar findings were obtained when the TNFR1- and TNFR2-transfected cells were pretreated with a cell-impermeable oxidase, DsbA, that catalyzes disulfide bond formation between thiol groups on cysteine residues. The changes in TNFR self-association were functionally significant, because pretreating the HeLa cells and 293T cells resulted in increased TNF-induced NF-κB activation and TNF-induced expression of IκB and syndecan-4 mRNA levels. Although pretreatment with DsbA did not result in an increase in TNF binding to TNFRs, it resulted in increased TNF-induced activation of NF-κB, consistent with an allosteric modification of the TNFRs. Taken together, these results suggest that oxidative stress promotes TNFR receptor self-interaction and ligand-independent and enhanced ligand-dependent TNF signaling.
Reciprocal translocation of small numbers of inbred individuals rescues immunogenetic diversity

Genetic rescue can reduce inbreeding depression and increase fitness of small populations, even when the donor populations are highly inbred. In a recent experiment involving two inbred island populations of the New Zealand South Island robin, Petroica australis, reciprocal translocations improved microsatellite diversity and individual fitness. While microsatellite loci may reflect patterns of genome‐wide diversity, they generally do not indicate the specific genetic regions responsible for increased fitness. We tested the effectiveness of this reciprocal translocation for rescuing diversity of two immunogenetic regions: Toll‐like receptor (TLR) and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes. We found that the relatively small number of migrants (seven and ten per island) effectively brought the characteristic TLR gene diversity of each source population into the recipient population. However, when migrants transmitted TLR alleles that were already present at high frequency in the recipient population, it was possible for offspring of mixed heritage to have decreased gene diversity compared to recipient population diversity prior to translocation. In contrast to TLRs, we did not observe substantial changes in MHC allelic diversity following translocation, with limited evidence of a decrease in differentiation, perhaps because most MHC alleles were observed at both sites prior to the translocation. Overall, we conclude that small numbers of migrants may successfully restore the diversity of immunogenetic loci with few alleles, but that translocating larger numbers of animals would provide additional opportunity for the genetic rescue of highly polymorphic immunity regions, such as the MHC, even when the source population is inbred.
Design and application of two oligonucleotide probes for the identification of Geodermatophilaceae strains using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH).

Bacteria of the family of Geodermatophilaceae are actively involved in the decay processes [Urzì, C. and Realini, M. (1998) Int Biodeterior Biodegrad 42: 45-54; Urzì, C. , Salamone, P., Schumann, P., and Stackebrandt, E. (2000) Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 50: 529-536] of stone monuments. Characterization of isolates includes phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and genetic analysis often requiring long-term procedures. The use of specific probes for members of Geodermatophilaceae family could be useful for the easy detection of those strains colonizing rock surfaces and involved in the biodeterioration. Two 16S rRNA-targeted oligonucleotide probes were designed for the specific detection of members of the family Geodermatophilaceae using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH); one probe specific for members of the two genera Geodermatophilus/Blastococcus and the second for members of the genus Modestobacter.
Outcome of third trimester pregnancies after cryotherapy of the uterine cervix

Summary. A retrospective study was undertaken to assess the effect of cryotherapy of the uterine cervix on the outcome of third trimester pregnancies. It was concluded that cryosurgery of the cervix hadno effect on the onset or progress of labour, or on the infant, an important advantage compared with cold‐knife conization as a therapy for young women with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia.
Suitability of Scaled SOI CMOS for High-Frequency Analog Circuits

In this paper we show that the ability of SOI NMOS transistors to function as high-bandwidth amplifiers continuously improves as gate length shrinks below 50 nm. fT of 196 GHz is achieved at Lpoly = 47 nm. Neither the transconductance nor the input capacitance reaches a limiting value at Lpoly = 47 nm. The gate sheet resistance, which influences the FET input resistance and high-frequency noise, shows little variation and is an acceptable value (7: /square) in the Lpoly = 55 nm to 77 nm range. We also present four features of an aggressively scaled 0.13-Pm partially-depleted SOI CMOS technology that show its suitability for high-frequency circuit applications: RF noise performance comparable to state-of-the art III-V devices, body-tied SOI FETs that achieve the same low-frequency noise as bulk FETs, a multilevel back-end that allows high-density and high-Q passives, and negligible floating-body-induced jitter in RF circuits. 1. FET scaling
Early recurrent CMV infection with severe outcome to the fetus.

Cytomegalovirus is now considered the most common cause of congenital infection in humans. Approximately 0.2 to 2 percent of all newborn infants are infected with CMV in utero and around 40,000 such infants are born each year in the United States (1). In primary infection, especially during the first six months of pregnancy, the newborn may present with the classical triad of chorioretinitis, microcephaly and cerebral calcifications. Other common features are jaundice, hemolytic anemia, pneomonitis, hepatosplenomegaly, thrombocytopenic purpura and hydrocephalus. However, a serious insult to the fetus is rare in a recurrent infection, possibly as a result of protective maternal antibodies. We present a case with a serious outcome after recurrent CMV infection and suggest that a recommendation for delay of the next pregnancy should be considered in cases of CMV infections.
Supernumerary humeral heads of the biceps brachii muscle revisited

Supernumerary humeral heads of the biceps brachii muscle were found in 27 (15.4%) of 175 cadavers. They were bilateral in five cadavers and unilateral in 22 (8 left, 14 right), giving a total of 32 examples in 350 arms (9.1%). Depending on their origin and location, the supernumerary heads were classified as superior, infero‐medial, and infero‐lateral humeral heads. Previous studies were reviewed using this classification. The infero‐medial humeral head was observed in 31 of 350 (9%) arms and was therefore the most common variation. The superior humeral head was observed in five (1.5%). The infero‐lateral humeral head was the least common variation, observed only in one (0.3%) of 350 arms. A biceps brachii with three heads was observed in 27 of 350 (7.7%) arms and with four heads in five (1.4%) arms. Clin. Anat. 16:197–203, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
ELEVATION OF ANGIOGENIC FACTOR CYSTEINE-RICH 61 LEVELS IN VITREOUS OF PATIENTS WITH PROLIFERATIVE DIABETIC RETINOPATHY

Purpose: Cysteine-rich 61 (Cyr61) is one of the angiogenic factors involved in proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). To further investigate its role, we measure and compare the vitreous levels of Cyr61 and vascular endothelial growth factor in patients with PDR and to localize Cyr61 expression in associated proliferative epiretinal membranes. Methods: Vitreous obtained from 56 patients with active PDR, 16 patients with active PDR pretreated with bevacizumab, 19 patients with quiescent PDR, 15 non–PDR patients with diabetic macular edema, and 25 patients with non–diabetic-related eye diseases were subjected to enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for Cyr61 and vascular endothelial growth factor levels. Epiretinal membranes from 18 patients were stained immunohistochemically for Cyr61. Results: Vitreous Cyr61 levels were significantly higher in active PDR patients, quiescent PDR patients, and diabetic macular edema patients compared with non–diabetic control patients (P < 0.01). Pretreatment of bevacizumab significantly suppressed vitreous vascular endothelial growth factor levels; however, it did not inhibit vitreous Cyr61 levels in active PDR patients. Cysteine-rich 61 was strongly detected in endothelial cells and myofibroblasts within active PDR membranes but not in idiopathic epiretinal membrane. Conclusion: Vitreous Cyr61 levels were related to different states of PDR and correlated with vascular endothelial growth factor levels in PDR patients. Pretreatment of bevacizumab did not inhibit vitreous Cyr61 levels in active PDR patients. Cysteine-rich 61 might mediate angiogenesis and post-angiogenic fibrosis in PDR.
Robust control design of bilinear DC-DC converters with guaranteed region of stability

This work deals with the modeling and the robust controller synthesis of a nonlinear dc-dc converter. In the first part, we present a model for the bilinear dynamics of a dc-dc converter. The bilinear dynamics of the converter can be included in a convex polytope such that the trajectories of the system out of the equilibrium are assured to remain inside a guaranteed region of stability despite of the bilinear term. Such a description of the dynamic response of the converter will be used, in the second part of this communication, to build a control law which guarantees, a priori, the stability and performance requirements of the design.