Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Modeling of Drain Electric Flux Passing Through the BOX Layer in SoI MOSFETs—Part II: Model Derivation and Validity Confirmation

Increased drain-induced barrier lowering caused by drain electric flux (or field) passing through the buried-oxide (BOX) layer in silicon-on-insulator (SoI) MOSFETs has been reported as an inherent disadvantage of SoI technology. Part I of this paper discussed derivation of the relationships between coordinates in MOSFETs and potential/stream function in preparation for the modeling of electric flux using conformal mapping in subthreshold regions of ground plane SoI MOSFETs and the validity of the approach was checked via device simulation. Here, in Part II of this paper, we discussed the model's derivation based on these relationships. The dependences of the flux amount on BOX thickness, BOX permittivity, SoI thickness, and gate length estimated using the model were also discussed in comparison with those estimated via device simulation.
PAD, a growing family of citrullinating enzymes: genes, features and involvement in disease

Peptidylarginine deiminase (PAD, EC 3.5.3.15) enzymes catalyze the conversion of protein‐bound arginine to citrulline. This post‐translational modification may have a big impact on the structure and function of the target protein. In this review, we will discuss the effects of citrullination and its involvement in several human diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis. So far, four isotypes of PAD have been described in mammals. We describe the existence of PAD in non‐mammalian vertebrates and the existence of a fifth mammalian PAD. In addition, tissue‐specific expression, genomic organization and evolutionary conservation of the different PAD isotypes will be discussed in detail. This article contains supplementary material which may be viewed at the BioEssays website at http://www.interscience. wiley.com/jpages/0265‐9247/suppmat/2003/25/v25.1106. html. BioEssays 25:1106–1118, 2003. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Abnormalities of regional distribution of cerebral vasculature in schizophrenia detected by dynamic susceptibility contrast MRI.

OBJECTIVE The authors tested the hypothesis that the regional distribution of cerebral vasculature is anomalous in schizophrenia. METHOD Dynamic susceptibility contrast magnetic resonance imaging was used to evaluate cerebral blood volume in the right and left occipital cortex, basal ganglia, and cerebellum of 10 subjects with schizophrenia and 10 healthy comparison subjects. RESULTS Cerebral blood volume was greater in the schizophrenic subjects in every region studied. CONCLUSIONS The findings suggest an abnormality of the configuration of cerebral blood vessels in schizophrenia.
Regulation of Legionella Phagosome Maturation and Infection through Flagellin and Host Ipaf*

Legionella pneumophila is an intracellular bacterium that causes an acute form of pneumonia called Legionnaires' disease. After infection of human macrophages, the Legionella-containing phagosome (LCP) avoids fusion with the lysosome allowing intracellular replication of the bacterium. In macrophages derived from most mouse strains, the LCP is delivered to the lysosome resulting in Legionella degradation and restricted bacterial growth. Mouse macrophages lacking the NLR protein Ipaf or its downstream effector caspase-1 are permissive to intracellular Legionella replication. However, the mechanism by which Ipaf restricts Legionella replication is not well understood. Here we demonstrate that the presence of flagellin and a competent type IV secretion system are critical for Legionella to activate caspase-1 in macrophages. Activation of caspase-1 in response to Legionella infection also required host Ipaf, but not TLR5. In the absence of Ipaf or caspase-1 activation, the LCP acquired endoplasmic reticulum-derived vesicles, avoided fusion with the lysosome, and allowed Legionella replication. Accordingly a Legionella mutant lacking flagellin did not activate caspase-1, avoided degradation, and replicated in wild-type macrophages. The regulation of phagosome maturation by Ipaf occurred within 2 h after infection and was independent of macrophage cell death. In vivo studies confirmed that flagellin and Ipaf play an important role in the control of Legionella clearance. These results reveal that Ipaf restricts Legionella replication through the regulation of phagosome maturation, providing a novel function for NLR proteins in host defense against an intracellular bacterium.
Excitatory amino acids and synaptic transmission in embryonic rat brainstem motoneurons in organotypic culture

We used brainstem motoneurons recorded in organotypic slice co‐cultures maintained for more than 18 days in vitro, together with multibarrel ionophoretic applications of glutamate receptor agonists and bath applications of specific blocking agents, to study the responses of rat brainstem motoneurons to glutamate receptor activation, and the contribution of these receptors to synaptic transmission. Differentiated brainstem motoneurons in vitro are depolarized by glutamate, N‐methyl‐d‐aspartate (NMDA) and dl‐α‐amino‐3‐hydroxy‐5‐methyl‐4‐isoxazole‐propionic acid (AMPA) iontophoresis, and express NMDA, AMPA and also specific kainate receptors, as evidenced by (+/–)2‐amino‐5‐phosphonovaleric acid (APV)‐ and (–)1‐(4‐aminophenyl)‐3‐methyl‐carbamoyl‐4‐methyl‐7,8‐methylenedioxy‐3,4‐dihydro‐5H‐2,3‐benzo‐diazepine [GYKI 53784 (LY303070)]‐resistant depolarizations. Electrical stimulations applied to the dorsal part of the explant trigger excitatory synaptic potentials with latencies distributed in three regularly spaced groups. Excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) in the earliest group have a similar latency and time course and correspond to monosynaptic activation. EPSPs in later groups have more scattered latencies and time courses and correspond to polysynaptic activation. Monosynaptic EPSPs are insensitive to the specific NMDA blocker APV, and are completely and reversibly suppressed by the non‐competitive AMPA receptor antagonist GYKI 53784 (LY303070). Detailed analysis of the spontaneous excitatory synaptic activity shows that APV decreases the frequency of spontaneous EPSPs without modifying their shape or amplitude. We conclude that excitatory synapses on brainstem motoneurons in vitro are mainly activated through AMPA receptors (AMPA‐Rs). NMDA receptors (NMDA‐Rs) are present in the membrane, but are located either at extrasynaptic sites or silent synapses, and are not directly involved in synaptic transmission on motoneurons. On the contrary, NMDA receptors contribute to synaptic transmission within the premotor interneuronal network.
Gap junction remodeling and cardiac arrhythmogenesis: cause or coincidence?

Gap junctions, clusters of transmembrane channels that link adjoining cells, mediate myocyte‐to‐myocyte electrical coupling and communication. The component proteins of gap junction channels are termed connexins and, in in vitro expression systems, gap‐junctional channels composed of different connexin types exhibit different biophysical properties. In common with other tissues, the heart expresses multiple connexin isoforms. Spatially defined patterns of expression of three connexin isoforms ‐ connexin43, connexin40 and connexin45 ‐ form the cell‐to‐cell conduction pathways responsible for the orderly spread of current flow that governs the normal cardiac rhythm. Remodeling of gap junction organization and connexin expression is a common feature of human heart disease conditions in which there is an arrhythmic tendency. This remodeling may take the form of disturbances in the distribution of gap junctions and/or quantitative alterations in connexin expression, notably reduced ventricular connexin43 levels. The idea that such changes may contribute to the development of a pro‐arrhythmic substrate in the diseased heart has gained ground over the last decade. Recent studies using transgenic mice models have raised new opportunities to explore the significance of gap junction remodeling in the diseased heart.
An Embedded Multi-channel H.264 Video Server\Client Designed for Remote Experiment Education

An embedded multi-channel H.264 video server/client design is established, which have been used in an embedded remote experiment education system. The design includes these main modules, a video capture module based on DirectShow in Windows SDK, H.264 encoding/decoding module based on Intel_IPP_UMC, and a RTP transfer module based on jRTP library.
Epstein‐Barr virus status and tumour cell phenotype in sporadic Burkitt's lymphoma

Burkitt's lymphoma (BL) biopsy cells and derived cell lines can be grouped according to their patterns of reactivity with 6 selected monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against B cell‐associated surface antigens. Group I cells react only with MAbs J5 and 38.13, recognising the common acute lymphoblastic leukaemia antigen and a BL‐associated antigen respectively; group II cells react with J5 and 38.13 and with one or more of a set of MAbs (Ki‐24, MHM6, AC2, Ki‐I) against “lymphoblastoid” antigens; group III cells react only with these anti‐“lymphoblastoid” MAbs. Tumour biopsy cells from 17 cases of sporadic BL, 9 positive for the Epstein‐Barr (EB) virus genome and 8 negative, have been analysed during the process of cell line establishment in vitro. In early passage the EB virus‐negative BL cells showed either a group I phenotype or gave an additional reactivity with MAb Ki‐24 which placed them in group II; these phenotypes remained essentially stable with continued growth of the cell lines for up to 50 passages. By contrast the EB virus‐positive BL cells were much more susceptible to phenotypic change in vitro. Although such cells displayed a group I or group II phenotype in early passage, many of the lines soon moved into group III whilst retaining the karyotypic markers indicative of their malignant origin. These observations suggest that a resident EB virus genome can drive the in vitro progression of BL cells towards a more “lymphoblastoid” phenotype. This was confirmed in subsequent experiments where virus‐negative BL cell lines were converted to EB virus positivity by in vitro infection. Clearly, therefore, phenotypic analysis of long‐established lines can lead to false distinctions being drawn between the EB virus‐positive and ‐negative forms of sporadic BL; both may derive from the same sub‐population of target B cells in vivo.
Adrenergic regulation during acute hepatic infection with Entamoeba histolytica in the hamster: involvement of oxidative stress, Nrf2 and NF-KappaB

Oxidative stress and transcriptional pathways of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) are critically involved in the etiopathology of amebic liver abscess (ALA). In this work, we studied the relationship between the adrenergic nervous system and ALA in the hamster. ALA was visible at 12 h of infection. While 6-hydroxidopamine (6-OHDA) decreased infection, propranolol (β-adrenergic blocker) treatment was associated with less extensive liver damage, and phentolamine treatment (α-adrenergic blocker) significantly reduced ALA compared to 6-OHDA and propranolol. Serum enzymatic activities of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (γ-GTP) were increased at 12 h post-infection. Chemical denervation and α and β-adrenergic blockers decreased ALT to normal levels, while 6-OHDA and propranolol showed a trend to decrease γ-GTP but phentolamine significantly reduced γ-GTP. Amebic infection increased oxidized glutathione (GSSG) and decreased both reduced glutathione (GSH) and the GSH/GSSG ratio. Propranolol and 6-OHDA showed a tendency to decrease GSSG. However, GSH, GSSG and GSH/GSSG returned to normal levels with phentolamine. Furthermore, amebic infection increased pNF-κB and interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and showed a tendency to decrease hemoxigenase-1 (HO-1), but not Nrf2. Chemical denervation showed a trend to decrease pNF-κB and IL-1β, and neither Nrf2 nor HO-1 increased significantly. In addition, NF-κB and IL-1β were attenuated by propranolol and phentolamine treatments, although phentolamine showed significant overexpression of Nrf2 and HO-1. This suggests that the adrenergic system may be involved in oxidative stress and in modulation of the Nrf2 and NF-κB pathways during ALA development.
Estimation of sCD14 levels in saliva obtained from patients with various periodontal conditions.

AIM To assess the concentration of soluble CD14 receptor in saliva of people with periodontal disease and healthy patients and its relationship with periodontal status. SUBJECTS AND METHODS Unstimulated whole saliva samples from patients with chronic periodontitis (n = 34), aggressive periodontitis (n = 19) and healthy controls (n = 17) were obtained for the study. The periodontal status of each subject was assessed by criteria based on probing depth, clinical attachment loss and the extent of periodontal breakdown. The levels of sCD14 were measured in saliva samples with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS Although no significant difference (P > 0.05) was found for salivary sCD14 levels between periodontitis groups, they were significantly greater (P < 0.05) than those detected for healthy controls. Furthermore, Spearman's correlation analysis showed statistically significant correlations (P < 0.01) between data from salivary sCD14 levels and clinical measurements. CONCLUSION The findings of the present study reemphasize the importance of whole saliva as sampling method in terms of immunological purposes in periodontal disease and suggest that the elevated sCD14 concentration may be one of the host-response components associated with the clinical manifestations of periodontal disease.
Volatile oil profiles of the aerial parts of Jordanian garland, Chrysanthemum coronarium

Objective: The study evaluates, qualitatively and quantitatively, the volatile oil profiles of the aerial parts of Jordanian garland Chrysanthemum coronarium L. (Asteraceae) and compares the findings with literature reports of garland of other sources, in terms of general composition and content of potentially active components. Materials and methods: The chemical composition of the essential oils isolated by hydrodistillation from dried material composed of flowerheads (FH) and aerial parts except for flowerheads (AEF) was assessed by GC-FID and GC-MS. Results and discussion: More than 60 components were identified in the studied oils, corresponding to about 99.6 and 99.7% of total oil constituents of FH and AEF, respectively. The oil was characterized by substantial levels of monoterpenes (76.9% in FH and 61.9% in AEF) and moderate levels of sesquiterpenes (15.7% in FH and 27.7% in AEF). The oil from FH was characterized by high levels of oxygenated monoterpenes (64.3%, compared to 15.3% in AEF) and moderate levels of both monoterpene-hydrocarbons (12.6%, compared to 46.6% in AEF as the major fraction) and sesquiterpene-hydrocarbons (14.7%, compared to 23.5% in AEF), while very low levels of oxygenated sesquiterpenes were observed in both oils (1.0% in FH and 4.2% in AEF). The principal oil component was camphor (17.5%) in FH and myrcene (36.7%) in AEF. Other major components identified in the FH oil were santolina triene (4.3%), neoiso-3-thujanol (5.6%), cis-chrysanthenyl acetate (10.8%), perilla aldehyde (11.7%), iso-italicene (4.7%), phenylpropyl butanoate (4.9%), and germacrene D (4.3%), while Z-β-ocimene (5.2%), isobornyl acetate (5.2%), E-β-farnesene (12.1%), and germacrene D (4.5%) were the major constituents of AEF oil.
Distributed Space-Time Block Coding for Large and Undetermined Set of Relay Terminals

In this manuscript, a decode-and-forward cooperative diversity scheme for wireless packet transmission network with large and undetermined set of relay terminals is considered. Correctly received signals at some relay terminals are retransmitted to the receiver with the STBC-based cooperative relaying scheme. For large and undetermined set of relay terminals, performance of the conventional STBC-based cooperative diversity is known to be degraded due to the loss of the diversity gain and increasement of decoding complexity. In this manuscript, we propose a signaling scheme to reduce the performance loss. Our proposed scheme is based on the linear transformation of the STBC matrix by a signature vector, which has more degrees of freedom for the assignment of signals compared to the conventional STBC-based cooperative diversity.
Question Answering by Searching Large Corpora With Linguistic Methods

In this paper we describe the QuALiM Question Answering system which uses linguistic analysis of questions as well as candidate sentences in its answer finding process. To this end we have developed a rephrasing algorithm based on linguistic patterns that describe the structure of questions and candidate sentences and where precisely to find the answer in the candidate sentences. With this method and a fall-back strategy, both using the web as their primary data source, we participated in TREC 2004. We present our official results and a follow-up evaluation to elucidate the contribution of the methods used.
Associations of ERCC4 rs1800067 polymorphism with cancer risk: an updated meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND RESULTS from previous studies concerning the association of ERCC4 rs1800067 polymorphism with risk of cancer were inconsistent. To explore the exact relation with susceptibility, we conducted the present meta-analysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS Literature of electronic databases including PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, Wanfang and Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) were systematically searched. ORs and their 95%CIs were used to assess the strength of associations between ERCC4 polymorphism and cancer risk. RESULTS There was no significant association between ERCC4 rs1800067 AA or AG genotypes and overall risk of cancer (AA vs. GG: OR=0.998, 95%CI=0.670-1.486, P=0.992; AG vs. GG: OR=0.970, 95%CI=0.888- 1.061, P=0.508). A dominant genetic model also did not demonstrate significant association of (AA+AG) genotype carriers with altered risk of overall cancer (OR=0.985, 95%CI=0.909-1.068, P=0.719). In addition, no significant association was observed between A allele of ERCC4 rs1800067 A/G polymorphism and altered cancer risk compared with G allele (OR=0.952, 95%CI=0.851-1.063, P=0.381). Subgroup analysis suggested that AA genotype carriers were significantly associated with decreased risk of glioma compared with wild-type GG genotype individuals (OR=0.523, 95%CI=0.275-0.993, P=0.048). For subgroup of lung cancer, A allele of ERCC4 rs1800067 A/G polymorphism was significantly associated with decreased risk of lung cancer compared with G allele (OR=0.806, 95%CI=0.697-0.931, P=0.003). CONCLUSIONS This meta-analysis indicated that ERCC4 rs1800067 A/G polymorphism might not be associated with risk of overall cancer. However, individuals with the AA genotype were associated with significantly reduced risk of glioma compared with wild-type GG genotype; The A allele was associated with significantly reduced risk of lung cancer compared with G allele. Future large- scale studies performed in multiple populations are warranted to confirm our results.
The Nonionic Radiocontrast Medium Iopromide Does Not Release Endothelin-1 or Activate Cardiac Mast Cells during Coronary Angiography

Background: High osmolal ionic radiocontrast media (RCM) cause vascular release of endothelin-1 (ET-1) and activate mast cells. Iomeprol, a nonionic RCM, has recently been reported not to activate cardiac mast cells. This coronary angiography study was performed to extend those findings using another nonionic RCM, iopromide, and to further determine whether iopromide causes release of ET-1. Methods: Pulmonary artery plasma ET-1, histamine and serum tryptase were determined before and 30 min following angiography with iopromide in 11 subjects. ET-1, histamine and tryptase were measured using immunoassays. Results: The concentrations of ET-1 (1.36 ± 0.66 pg/ml), histamine (2.63 ± 1.15 nM), and β (<1 µg/l) as well as total tryptase (8.25 ± 4.63 µg/l) in the preangiography samples were within the normal range. Following angiography, the concentrations of ET-1 (0.95 ± 0.80 pg/ml), histamine (3.08 ± 1.06 nM), and β (<1 µg/l) and total tryptase (7.00 ± 5.56 µg/l) were not significantly different. None of the subjects demonstrated a postangiography increase in mediator concentration. Conclusions: This study demonstrates the lack of release of ET-1 by iopromide. The lack of cardiac mast cell activation by iopromide is consistent with the report that iomeprol also does not activate cardiac mast cells.
Epinephrine Prevents Muscle Blood Flow Increases after Perineural Injection of Tetrodotoxin

Background:The local anesthetic properties of tetrodotoxin, a potent naturally occurring sodium channel blocker, have been recently reexamined. It was found that sciatic nerve block duration could be greatly increased and systemic toxicity greatly decreased if epinephrine was injected with tetrodotoxin. The mechanism that underlies epinephrine-mediated prolongation of tetrodotoxin nerve blocks is not known, but indirect evidence suggests that epinephrine may slow the clearance of tetrodotoxin from the site of injection. The authors hypothesized that tetrodotoxin causes vasodilatation at its injection site, which accelerates its systemic uptake, and that this vasodilatation is attenuated by coinjected epinephrine. Methods:The radiolabeled microsphere technique was used to measure tissue blood flow in anesthetized rats before and after perisciatic injection of tetrodotoxin alone and in combination with epinephrine. Results:Tetrodotoxin, in a dose of 0.1 ml of a 60 &mgr;M solution, significantly increased blood flow in perisciatic muscle at the injected side compared with simultaneous contralateral control and ipsilateral preinjection baseline. Tetrodotoxin did not increase blood flow in the sciatic nerve. Coinjection of epinephrine with tetrodotoxin prevented tetrodotoxin-induced increases in perisciatic muscle blood flow over time and did not alter sciatic nerve blood flow. Arterial blood pressure was maintained with this dose of tetrodotoxin, although brain blood flow decreased. Coinjection of epinephrine with tetrodotoxin prevented decreases in brain blood flow. Higher doses of tetrodotoxin produced hypotension. Conclusions:Vasoconstriction in the perisciatic muscles by epinephrine may contribute to the prolongation of tetrodotoxin-induced sciatic nerve blocks and the reduction of systemic toxicity of tetrodotoxin.
Nexus Between Energy Consumption and Economic Growth in China: From the Perspective of Embodied Energy Imports and Exports

ABSTRACT The nexus between energy consumption and economic growth in China is analyzed from the perspective of embodied energy imports and exports in this article. The research results suggest that China is a net embodied energy exporter and it is the inevitable result of China’s present economic development model. Exporting embodied energy contributes significantly to China’s economic development, and the trade-off costs of employment, trade surplus and government tax for China to reduce embodied energy exports are very high. China is bound by its own policies and unable to radically change its embodied energy exporting position within the foreseeable future.