Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Electromagnetic and Particle-in-Cell Simulation Studies of a High Power Strap and Vane CW Magnetron

This paper presents electromagnetic and particle-in-cell (PIC) simulation studies of ring strapped vane resonator of a 2.45 GHz 1-kW magnetron using Computer Simulation technology microwave studio and MAGIC-3-D. The aim was to gain design understanding through the analysis of constituent parts of the resonant system and to deduce results having significant engineering value. The electromagnetic analysis includes modeling the effect of the end-gap length, the straps, the coupling antenna, and the surface roughness of cavity wall on resonant frequency. It was found that a clearance of 4 mm and beyond between cavity resonator and end plate have negligible effect on resonance frequency. Straps influence the resonant frequency of the π mode maximum, and can be used to control and fine tune the resonant frequency of the desired π mode. A surface roughness of 1 μm or more affects the unloaded Q of the resonator cavity adversely. Coupling antenna height is found to play an important role to achieve desired Ql and Qext for the segment loaded axial extraction of power. The PIC simulation study predicted that the hot resonant frequency differ from cold resonant frequency by ~9 MHz. The computed frequency, power, and efficiency were found to be 2.462 GHz, 1.3 kW, and 70%, respectively.
How Do Officially Organized Services Meet the Needs of Elderly Caregivers and Their Spouses With Alzheimer's Disease?

The caregiving situation among caregivers and their spouses with Alzheimer's disease, the support and services received, the unmet needs, and the caregivers' satisfaction with the services are examined. The study included a survey of a random sample of 1943 caregivers of persons with Alzheimer's disease in Finland. Mean age of the caregivers was 78.2 years, and 35% had poor subjective health. Disabilities and behavioral symptoms were common among the spouses with Alzheimer's disease. The services most often offered were financial support (36%), technical devices (33%), physiotherapy (32%), and respite care in nursing homes (31%). Most often needed services were physiotherapy for the spouse with dementia (56%), financial support (50%), house-cleaning (41%), and home respite (40%). Only 39% of the caregivers were satisfied with the services, and 69% felt they did not have any influence on what services were offered. It was concluded that official services poorly meet the needs of these caregivers.
Plasma Endothelin-1 Levels in Septic Patients

Dysfunction of the vascular endothelium (ET) causes an increase in serum ET-1 concentration, as observed in septic patients. It was assumed that in this patient population the ET-1 level correlates with the degree of sepsis severity, including the level of organ dysfunction and, in particular, the level of circulatory dysfunction. The aim of the present study was to assess the relationship between levels of ET-1 and levels of N-terminal brain natriuretic propeptide (NT-proBNP), procalcitonin (PCT), and C-reactive protein (CRP), as well as the Sepsis-related Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score in septic patients. PCT and CRP were used to estimate the level of sepsis severity; the SOFA score was used to estimate multiorgan dysfunction; and NT-proBNP was used as a marker of cardiac dysfunction. Twenty patients with sepsis and severe sepsis were included in the study. Blood serum ET-1, NT-proBNP, PCT, and CRP concentrations were determined at specific time intervals, and the SOFA score was calculated. Mean ET-1, NT-proBNP, PCT, and CRP concentrations were 8.39 pg/ml ± 6.39 pg/mL, 140.80 pg/mL ± 84.65 pg/mL, 22.32 ng/mL ± 97.41 ng/mL, and 128.51 mg/L ± 79.05 mg/L, respectively. Correlation between ET-1 levels and levels of NT-proBNP, PCT, and CRP was . 3879 (P < .001), . 358 (P < .001), and . 225 (P = .011), respectively. Mean SOFA score was 6.31 pts ± 3.75 pts. Correlation between the ET-1 levels and SOFA score was . 470 (P < .001). Six patients (30%) died during the observation period of 28 days. ET-1 levels correlate with levels of NT-proBNP, PCT, and CRP, as well as the SOFA score in septic patients.
Tumor endothelial marker 8 enhances tumor immunity in conjunction with immunization against differentiation Ag.

BACKGROUND We have previously shown that xenogeneic DNA vaccines encoding rat neu and melanosomal differentiation Ag induce tumor immunity. Others have developed vaccines targeting tumor neovasculature. Tumor endothelial marker 8 (TEM8) is expressed in the neovasculature of human tumors, and in the mouse melanoma B16, but its expression is limited in normal adult tissues. We describe a DNA vaccine combining xenogeneic tumor Ag and TEM8. METHODS In-situ hybridization was used to detect TEM8 RNA in mouse tumors. Mice transgenic for the rat neu proto-oncogene were immunized with DNA vaccines encoding TEM8 and the extracellular domain of rat neu and challenged with the 233-VSGA1 breast cancer cell line. In parallel experiments, C57BL/6 mice were immunized with TEM8 and human tyrosinase-related protein 1 (hTYRP1/hgp75) and challenged with B16F10 melanoma. RESULTS TEM8 was expressed in the stroma of transplantable mouse breast and melanoma tumors. In both model systems, TEM8 DNA had no activity as a single agent but significantly enhanced the anti-tumor immunity of neu and hTYRP1/hgp75 DNA vaccines when given in concert. The observed synergy was dependent upon CD8+ T cells, as depletion of this cell population just prior to tumor challenge obviated the effect of the TEM8 vaccine in both tumor models. DISCUSSION A local immune response to TEM8 may increase inflammation or tumor necrosis within the tumor, resulting in improved Ag presentation of HER2/neu and hTYRP1/hgp75. Alternatively, TEM8 expression in host APC may alter T-cell interactions or homing. In this way, TEM8 may act more as an adjuvant than an immunologic target.
Distribution and ultrastructure of synapses on a premotor local nonspiking interneuron of the crayfish

Many premotor local nonspiking interneurons are involved in the control of the uropod movements of a crayfish. One of these interneurons was impaled intracellularly, characterized physiologically, and then labeled by intracellular horseradish peroxidase (HRP) injection to examine the distribution and ultrastructure of synapses. Depolarization of this interneuron by a current injection excited the closer motoneurons of the uropod and inhibited its opener motoneurons, but hyperpolarization had no effect. Input and output synapses are distributed all over the major branches and the finer neurites except for the main neurite (7–10 μm in diameter), which runs near the dorsal surface of the neuropil. Both types of synapse are located on the same neurite and are often intermingled in close proximity, often less than 1 μm apart. Presynaptic terminals of the interneuron contain round, clear vesicles that are densely packed in fine branches and spines. The number of synaptic vesicles associated with a particular output synapse was estimated to be about 2,000. No dense‐cored granules are observed in the labeled neurites. Our results support the proposal that synaptic transmission in this class of interneurons of the crayfish can sometimes be restricted to a very small region of the branches and that, therefore, different regions of the interneuron can function independently.
Object recognition using neurocomputing and conformal computing geometry

In this paper we present an object recognition technique based on neural computing and projective invariants but now using an omnidirectional vision system and conformal geometric algebra. We also show how to recover the projective invariants from a catadioptric image, where the projective invariants do not hold. With these invariants we train a multilayer perceptron (MLP) neural network to recognize objects.
Immediate postoperative enteral feeding decreases weight loss and improves wound healing after abdominal surgery in rats

ObjectiveTo determine the effect of immediate vs. delayed (72 hrs) postoperative enteral feeding on weight loss and wound healing after experimental abdominal surgery. DesignProspective, randomized, controlled study. SettingLaboratory of a large university-affiliated medical school. SubjectsSeventeen male Sprague-Dawley rats, each weighing 350 to 400 g. InterventionsFour-centimeter longitudinal midabdominal incisions were made and gastroduodenal feeding tubes were inserted in the animals. The abdominal wound was closed in two layers. Immediately after closure, animals were randomized to receive immediate enteral feeding (early-fed group) with a peptide-based enteral formula or 5% dextrose in water at 4 mL/hr. Seventy-two hours after surgery, the 5% dextrose in water group was switched to the peptide formula (late-fed group). Animals were weighed daily. On postoperative day 5, the strength of the abdominal wound was deter-mined using a balloon-bursting pressure technique. Blood was also obtained for measurement of insulin growth factor 1 concentrations. Mucosal protein content of the small bowel was measured. ResultsTotal body weight loss was less in the early-fed group (26 ± 4 vs. 46 ± 5 g/5 days) and wound strength was increased in the early-fed group compared with the late-fed group (6 ± 0.4 vs. 2.9 ± 0.8 kPa; 45 ± 3 vs. 22 ± 6 mm Hg). There were no differences between groups for circulating insulin growth factor 1 concentrations or small intestinal mucosal protein concentrations. ConclusionsImmediate postoperative enteral feeding results in decreased weight loss and improved wound healing after abdominal surgery in rats. (Crit Care Med 1992; 20:115)
Impact of organization on occupational injury risk: evidence from high-speed railway construction.

BACKGROUND The construction industry is at the top of the list of priorities for surveillance and research, although it is often difficult to perform detailed analysis of the risk factors. In mid-2002, construction work started on the Torino to Novara high-speed railway line. A Regional Epidemiological Observatory developed a standardized data collection system that provided a rare opportunity for researchers in Italy to analyze risk factors for occupational injury in a large cohort of workers involved in a single major construction project. The aim of this study is to describe the characteristics of a cohort of workers employed at construction sites of the high-speed Torino to Novara railway between 2003 and 2005, analyze the main determinants of occupational injury risk and estimate incidence rates. METHODS Frequency rates of occupational injury were calculated by characteristics of workers and firms and relative risks were estimated using a Poisson model. RESULTS Annual injury incidence decreased over the period and was higher than the Italian construction industry rate. The risk was highest among workers performing the least skilled jobs and with the shortest contracts. Moreover the risk was higher in large enterprises. CONCLUSIONS Although calculated within a specific context, the results provide information applicable to all construction sites. The high risk of occupational injury associated with short-term contracts suggests, at such large and long-term construction sites, to engage workers on a permanent basis for the duration of the construction project.
Ultralow-power data compression for implantable bladder pressure monitor: Algorithm and hardware implementation

Urinary incontinence, overactive bladder, and other dysfunctions of the lower urinary tract are conditions which affect millions worldwide, imposing a high financial burden and greatly affecting quality of life. Diagnosis of these conditions can be facilitated by monitoring bladder activity over time. Recent work has demonstrated the feasibility of device implantation for chronic bladder pressure monitoring, which can help to improve existing diagnostic techniques. For wireless implants, a significant portion of the implant power consumption results not from pressure sensing, but rather from data transmission. In this paper, we present a novel algorithm which is designed to perform efficient, on-chip compression of bladder pressure data with tunable quality, resulting in significant overall power savings. We validate our approach by applying the algorithm to prerecorded bladder pressure data from 14 human subjects, and demonstrate high average compression ratios (∼5x), leading to similar reductions in transmission power draw, with low reconstruction error (RMSE « 1.09). An ultralow-power hardware implementation of the proposed algorithm is obtained by synthesizing the design with TSMC 0.18 μm technology, yielding an area of 1.34 mm2 and average power of 2.3 nW using low power design techniques. To our knowledge, this is the first example of dedicated on-chip compression for bladder pressure data designed for an ultralow-power biomedical implant.
Relationships among green image, consumer attitudes, desire, and customer citizenship behavior in the airline industry

Abstract As the number of green consumers increases, many airlines are making a lot of effort to create green images. Since there has been little empirical research on green image in the airline industry, this study investigated the important role of green image in the formation its outcome variables. More specifically, it was proposed that green image has a positive influence on consumer attitudes toward an environmentally friendly airline and desire to take an environmentally friendly airline; (2) consumer attitudes toward an environmentally friendly airline positively affect desire to take an environmentally friendly airline and customer citizenship behavior, and (3) desire to take an environmentally friendly airline has a positive impact on customer citizenship behavior. Based on the proposed hypotheses, a theoretical model was developed and assessed using empirical data from 320 passengers in Korea. The results indicated that green image is an important predictor of consumer attitudes toward an environmentally friendly airline and desire to take an environmentally friendly airline, both of which positively affect customer citizenship behavior.
Coping Strategies Moderate the Relation of Hypothalamus‐Pituitary‐Adrenal Axis Reactivity to Self‐Injurious Behavior

Abstract: An alarming proportion of adolescents engage in purposefully self‐injurious behavior (SIB). SIB is a maladaptive strategy for coping with extreme tension generated in response to stress, particularly interpersonal stress. This study investigated the relation of older adolescents' SIB to the reactivity of the body's major physiological system for responding to stress, the hypothalamus‐pituitary‐adrenal (HPA) axis, after interpersonal stress. Adolescents' behavioral, cognitive, and emotional coping strategies were shown to alter the relation between SIB and HPA reactivity after conflict with a romantic partner.
Fate, fear or fight : aspirations and educational poverty traps across generations

This paper tests empirically the behavioural educational poverty traps persisting across generations through aspirations failure. Chinese natural experiments since the 1950s help identify aspirations for different generations, including parental sufferings during the Great Famine, their social class and experiences in the “(Up to the Mountains and) Down to the Countryside” movement during the Cultural Revolution, and filial in utero exposure to the Great Famine and compliance to the One-Child Policy. Exploiting nationally representative household data, we find that aspirations and educational attainments are transmitted across generations. Historically political campaigns decrease parental educational aspirations, and in utero exposure to severe undernutrition enhances fatalism. Aspirations failure in terms of less perceived importance of education in future life and fatalism that are transmitted from parents tends to decrease filial educational attainments, educational poverty traps.
Differential gene flow of mitochondrial and nuclear DNA markers among chromosomal races of Australian morabine grasshoppers (Vandiemenella, viatica species group)

Recent theoretical developments have led to a renewed interest in the potential role of chromosomal rearrangements in speciation. Australian morabine grasshoppers (genus Vandiemenella, viatica species group) provide an excellent study system to test this potential role of chromosomal rearrangements because they show extensive chromosomal variation and formed the basis of a classic chromosomal speciation model. There are three chromosomal races, viatica19, viatica17, and P24(XY), on Kangaroo Island, South Australia, forming five parapatric populations with four putative contact zones among them. We investigate the extent to which chromosomal variation among these populations may be associated with barriers to gene flow. Population genetic and phylogeographical analyses using 15 variable allozyme loci and the elongation factor‐1α (EF‐1α) gene indicate that the three races represent genetically distinct taxa. In contrast, analyses of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene show the presence of three distinctive and geographically localized groups that do not correspond with the distribution of the chromosomal races. These discordant population genetic patterns are likely to result from introgressive hybridization between the chromosomal races and range expansions/contractions. Overall, these results suggest that reduction of nuclear gene flow may be associated with chromosomal variation, or underlying genetic variation linked with chromosomal variation, whereas mitochondrial gene flow appears to be independent of this variation in these morabine grasshoppers. The identification of an intact contact zone between P24(XY) and viatica17 offers considerable potential for further investigation of molecular mechanisms that maintain distinct nuclear genomes among the chromosomal races.
Inflammatory genes in nasal polyposis

Purpose of reviewThis paper is a review of the most recent literature concerning the role of inflammatory genes in nasal polyposis. The data provide evidence of a pivotal role for some inflammatory mediators in the development and maintenance of nasal polyps. Recent findingsNasal polyposis is a common disease of the nasal mucosa; the exact mechanisms leading its development are still unknown. The role of the immune system in the pathogenesis of this disease is poorly understood. This lack of understanding makes definitive treatment very difficult. Activated eosinophils are a prominent feature of nasal polyps. Their presence in tissue results from a complex series of events that regulates their influx from the vasculature, as well as their movement, activation and survival within the tissue. Several studies have demonstrated that there are many potent chemoattractants that can activate eosinophils and trigger the inflammatory response. SummaryCytokines, chemokines and growth factors play an important role in the persistence of mucosal inflammation associated with nasal polyps. Metalloproteinases seem to be crucial in nasal tissue remodeling in these patients. Arachidonic acid metabolites seem to be particularly important in the pathogenesis of nasal polyps in patients with aspirin hypersensitivity. We discuss the contribution of each one for the polyp formation.
Accentuated negative inotropism of verapamil after ischaemic intervention in isolated working rat heart.

We examined the effects of a clinically relevant concentration (2 X 10(-7) mol . litre-1) of verapamil on the cardiac functions of isolated working rat hearts during global ischaemia (15 min) and reperfusion (30 min). The aorta and the left atrium of each heart of male Sprague-Dawley rats were cannulated for perfusion with Krebs-Henseleit solution, and a soft elastic catheter was introduced into the left ventricle through the left atrial cannula. Verapamil slightly increased the left ventricular end-diastolic pressure, and slightly decreased the left ventricular dP/dt, but did not reduce the left ventricular peak systolic pressure before ischaemia. During the early phase of ischaemia and reperfusion, verapamil (n = 6) lowered the left ventricular peak systolic pressure and the left ventricular dP/dt in comparison with the controls (n = 6) (left ventricular peak systolic pressure 45.4 +/- 16.9 versus 60.9 +/- 15.2 mmHg: p less than 0.05; left ventricular dP/dt 1256 +/- 484 versus 2108 +/- 829 mmHg . s-1: p less than 0.05, after 30 min of reperfusion). Fifteen min of ischaemia resulted in no increase in the creatine kinase release during reperfusion. The creatine kinase release was not different in the two groups during the experiment. Thus, the negative inotropic effect of verapamil was accentuated by the ischaemic intervention. Myocardial protection may be achieved by reducing the left ventricular peak systolic pressure and thereby the oxygen consumption. On the other hand, in clinical application to patients with extensive myocardial ischaemia, verapamil may cause untoward deterioration in cardiac functions.
Plant-derived antifungal agent poacic acid targets β-1,3-glucan

Significance The search for new antifungal compounds is struggling to keep pace with emerging fungicide resistance. Through chemoprospecting of an untapped reservoir of inhibitory compounds, lignocellulosic hydrolysates, we have identified a previously undescribed antifungal agent, poacic acid. Using both chemical genomics and morphological analysis together for the first time, to our knowledge, we identified the cellular target of poacic acid as β-1,3-glucan. Through its action on the glucan layer of fungal cell walls, poacic acid is a natural antifungal agent against economically significant fungi and oomycete plant pathogens. This work highlights the chemical diversity within lignocellulosic hydrolysates as a source of potentially valuable chemicals. A rise in resistance to current antifungals necessitates strategies to identify alternative sources of effective fungicides. We report the discovery of poacic acid, a potent antifungal compound found in lignocellulosic hydrolysates of grasses. Chemical genomics using Saccharomyces cerevisiae showed that loss of cell wall synthesis and maintenance genes conferred increased sensitivity to poacic acid. Morphological analysis revealed that cells treated with poacic acid behaved similarly to cells treated with other cell wall-targeting drugs and mutants with deletions in genes involved in processes related to cell wall biogenesis. Poacic acid causes rapid cell lysis and is synergistic with caspofungin and fluconazole. The cellular target was identified; poacic acid localized to the cell wall and inhibited β-1,3-glucan synthesis in vivo and in vitro, apparently by directly binding β-1,3-glucan. Through its activity on the glucan layer, poacic acid inhibits growth of the fungi Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and Alternaria solani as well as the oomycete Phytophthora sojae. A single application of poacic acid to leaves infected with the broad-range fungal pathogen S. sclerotiorum substantially reduced lesion development. The discovery of poacic acid as a natural antifungal agent targeting β-1,3-glucan highlights the potential side use of products generated in the processing of renewable biomass toward biofuels as a source of valuable bioactive compounds and further clarifies the nature and mechanism of fermentation inhibitors found in lignocellulosic hydrolysates.