Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Hot-electron-induced degradation in MOSFET's at 77 K

Hot-electron-induced degradation of transconductance and of threshold voltage at 77 K of n-channel enhancement metal-gate MOSFET's was investigated as a function of electrical stress applied at liquid nitrogen temperature. After stress, the threshold voltage was found to have increased at low drain voltages but to have remained unchanged at higher drain voltages, and the saturation transconductance was virtually unchanged for operation in the normal mode. For operation in the inverse mode (source and drain interchanged), the threshold voltage was found to have increased, independent of drain voltage, while the saturation transconductance was decreased. The threshold voltage for inverted operation increased monotonically with stress time, while the saturation transconductance decreased initially and then saturated. This saturation corresponds to an order of magnitude decrease in carrier mobility in the channel near the drain. These results are interpreted using a model in which the threshold voltage and channel mobility are position-dependent. While hot-electron-induced degradation may not be a problem for devices operated only in the forward saturation region, it could be a serious problem for devices such as bilateral switches.
General Anesthetic Actions on Norepinephrine, Dopamine, and &ggr;-Aminobutyric Acid Transporters in Stably Transfected Cells

The effects of general anesthetics on neurotransmitter uptake by plasma membrane transporters are controversial. We analyzed the effects of representative volatile and IV general anesthetics on recombinant transporters for norepinephrine (human NET), dopamine (rat DAT), or &ggr;-aminobutyric acid (rat GAT-1) stably expressed in a porcine kidney cell line (LLC-PK1). This approach avoids complicating factors associated with neuronal preparations, such as the involvement of multiple transporters and the indirect effects of membrane potential. At clinical concentrations, human NET was inhibited only by halothane (50% inhibitory concentration [IC50] = 0.54 mM), rat DAT was sensitive to both halothane and isoflurane (IC50 = 0.60 and 0.64 mM, respectively), and rat GAT-1 was insensitive to both volatile anesthetics. Human NET was inhibited in a dose-dependent fashion by propofol (IC50 = 41 &mgr;M), ketamine (IC50 = 150 &mgr;M), and etomidate (IC50 > 200 &mgr;M), but not by pentobarbital. Only propofol inhibited NET at a clinically relevant concentration (5 &mgr;M). Rat DAT was inhibited in a dose-dependent fashion by propofol (IC50 = 120 &mgr;M), etomidate (IC50 = 100 &mgr;M), and ketamine (IC50 = 210 &mgr;M), but not by pentobarbital. None of these anesthetics was predicted to inhibit DAT at concentrations that produce anesthesia. Propofol inhibited rat GAT-1, but only at the largest concentration tested. General anesthetics have drug- and subtype-selective actions on neurotransmitter transporters. We conclude that effects on catecholamine, but not &ggr;-aminobutyric acid, transporters may contribute to secondary synaptic actions of certain anesthetics but are unlikely to be essential to their anesthetic properties.
Why do patients with schizophrenia smoke?

Purpose of review Among the mentally ill, smoking prevalence is highest in patients with schizophrenia (∼70–80%). This can impose a significant financial burden on patients, not to speak of increased smoking-related morbidity and mortality. Therefore, it is critical for clinicians to understand why patients with schizophrenia smoke in order to adapt treatment schemes. Understanding the reasons may also help to develop new drugs that target the nicotinic system in the brain as well as smoking cessation programs that are specifically designed for this particular patient population. Recent findings So far, several reasons have been identified which are believed to explain tobacco consumption in patients with schizophrenia. Originally, it was widely believed that patients with schizophrenia smoke to increase hepatic clearance and to restore the dopamine blockade of certain antipsychotic drugs to diminish their side effects. However, more recently it became obvious that cigarette smoking may also be reinforcing for patients because it improves psychiatric symptoms, most notably negative and cognitive symptoms. The underlying molecular mechanisms of these nicotine effects are currently under intensive investigation. Summary Heavy smoking in schizophrenia cannot simply be viewed as a ‘bad habit’. Rather, self-medication of clinical symptoms and side effects of antipsychotic drugs appear to play a major role.
Developing a follow-up survey focused on participation of children and youth with acquired brain injuries after discharge from inpatient rehabilitation.

OBJECTIVE To describe the development and content of a follow-up survey designed to monitor needs and outcomes of children and youth with acquired brain injuries (ABI) and their families after discharge from inpatient rehabilitation. Preliminary findings pertaining to the core measure of the survey that focused on participation in home, school and community life will be presented as well. METHODS The follow-up survey was completed by sixty caregivers of children with ABI discharged from one pediatric inpatient rehabilitation program in the Northeast, USA. Time since discharge ranged from 4 months to 6.5 years. Children's ages at discharge ranged from 4 months to 21 years and at follow-up ranged from 3 to 27 years. RESULTS Preliminary evidence of reliability, internal consistency and criterion-related validity was demonstrated for the participation measure. Results from exploratory factor analyses and Rasch analyses suggest that the participation measure may be measuring essentially one construct that may encompass two dimensions: Participation in movement-related activities and participation in communication and school-based social activities. Age, activity performance and child and environmental factors were associated with children's overall extent of participation. CONCLUSIONS The results presented are preliminary yet promising. The follow-up survey is being further developed and tested. Future research also will investigate clinical utility, differences in scores among children and youth with different diagnostic conditions, and feasibility of creating separate versions of the participation measure for different age groups.
Genetically engineered bananas resistant to Xanthomonas wilt disease and nematodes

Abstract Banana is an important staple food crop feeding more than 100 million Africans, but is subject to severe productivity constraints due to a range of pests and diseases. Banana Xanthomonas wilt caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv. musacearum is capable of entirely destroying a plantation while nematodes can cause losses up to 50% and increase susceptibility to other pests and diseases. Development of improved varieties of banana is fundamental in order to tackle these challenges. However, the sterile nature of the crop and the lack of resistance in Musa germplasm make improvement by traditional breeding techniques either impossible or extremely slow. Recent developments using genetic engineering have begun to address these problems. Transgenic banana expressing sweet pepper Hrap and Pflp genes have demonstrated complete resistance against X. campestris pv. musacearum in the field. Transgenic plantains expressing a cysteine proteinase inhibitors and/or synthetic peptide showed enhanced resistance to a mixed species population of nematodes in the field. Here, we review the genetic engineering technologies which have potential to improve agriculture and food security in Africa.
Myelo-ablative therapy with peripheral blood progenitor cell (PBPC) support in patients with haematological malignancy.

BACKGROUND Myelo-ablative therapy with peripheral blood progenitor cell (PBPC) support is increasingly being used in patients with haematological malignancy considered to be at high risk for recurrence. The results of this approach, in comparison with the previous experience at St. Bartholomew's Hospital (SBH) using autologous bone marrow transplantation form the basis of this report. PATIENTS AND METHODS 42 patients (age range 18-63 years, median 42 years), deemed to have a poor prognosis with conventional therapy received myelo-ablative therapy with PBPC support. Diagnoses comprised: non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL): 16 patients, Hodgkin's disease (HD): 9, Multiple Myeloma (MM): 12, and solid tumours (ST): 5. PBPC were mobilised using adriamycin: 35 mg/m2 i.v. on day 1 and etoposide 100 mg/m2 orally, days 1-5, followed by G-CSF: 5 micrograms/kg, subcutaneously, for a median of 7 days (range 6-9 days). RESULTS A total of 67 PBPC collections were performed, 1 being 'sufficient' (i.e. mononuclear cells > or = 1.5 x 10(8)/kg and CD34+ cells > or = 1 x 10(6)/kg) in 21 of the 42 patients. The median time to haematological recovery following reinfusion of PBPC was 13 days for both neutrophils > 0.5 x 10(9)/l and platelets > 20 x 10(9)/l (ranges: 8-27, and 8-48 days, respectively) which is significantly shorter than for patients in the historical control group. Supportive care requirements were also significantly reduced, as was the duration of hospital stay i.e., median 19 days (range 12-73 days) compared with 29 days (range 9-180 days). CONCLUSION These results confirm rapid blood count recovery following myelo-ablative therapy with PBPC support and the feasibility of this approach.
Maternal Behavior in Male Rats: Effects of Medial Preoptic Area Lesions and Presence of Maternal Aggression

Male rats exhibit maternal behavior prepuberally and in adulthood, but the neural mechanisms and the ability of males to respond to hormones that stimulate maternal aggression (following arousal of maternal behavior) in females have not been studies. In Experiment 1, males were exposed to pups to stimulate maternal behavior (sensitization) after either radiofrequency lesions of the MPOA or sham lesions with nonactivated electrodes that penetrated the MPOA. Nonsurgical males served as a CONTROL group. The LESION male group showed severe deficits in all components of maternal behavior compared to the latter two groups that showed no behavioral deficits. Females in the LESION group and those given SHAM 1 lesions (produced by electrodes without current introduced into the MPOA) also showed severe deficits in maternal behavior compared to SHAM 2 females (electrode lowered to above the MPOA without current) and nonsurgical CONTROL females. In Experiment 2, prolonged estradiol (E2), progesterone (P) treatment followed by an injection of either 20 micrograms or 100 micrograms/ kg estradiol benzoate (EB) or oil in castrated males was effective in stimulating short-latency maternal behavior, mainly in the 100 micrograms/kg EB group. Males of this group also showed a high level of maternal aggression that was inversely correlated with their latencies for maternal behavior. All groups showed maternal aggression when maternal behavior was established. The results indicate the MPOA mediates maternal behavior in males as it does in females; maternal aggression in males accompanies the stimulation of maternal behavior and may be stimulated by the same hormones.
The Role of Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation: From Bench to Bedsides

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been shown to be effective in the management of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) due to their immunomodulatory effects. In addition to prevention and treatment of GVHD, many studies have demonstrated that MSCs can promote hematopoietic engraftment, accelerate lymphocyte recovery, reduce the risk of graft failure, and repair tissue damage in patients receiving hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Bone marrow (BM) has been considered as the traditional source of MSCs, and most of the knowledge concerning MSCs comes from BM studies. However, BM-derived MSCs have several limitations for their clinical application. Fetal-type MSCs can be isolated easier and proliferate faster in vitro as well as possessing a lower immunogenicity. Therefore, fetal-type MSCs, such as umbilical cord-derived MSCs, represent an excellent alternative source of MSCs. MSCs play multiple important roles in HSCT. Nevertheless, several issues regarding their clinical application remain to be discussed, including the safety of use in humans, the available sources and the convenience of obtaining MSCs, the quality control of in vitro-cultured MSCs and the appropriate cell passages, the optimum cell dose, and the optimum number of infusions. Furthermore, it is important to evaluate whether the rates of cancer relapse and infections increase when using MSCs for GVHD. There are still many questions regarding the clinical application of MSCs to HSCT that need to be answered, and further studies are warranted.
High-Frequency and Noise Performances of 65-nm MOSFET at Liquid Nitrogen Temperature

In this paper, the high-frequency properties of MOSFETs at low-temperature operation are investigated through measurements and electrical simulations. The experimental results show that the device achieves a 335-GHz fmax and a 300-GHz ft when operating at low temperature (78 K), which constitutes, respectively, a 78% and 34% improvement compared to the room temperature performances (296 K). The minimum noise figure NFmin decreases from 1.4 dB (296 K) to 0.5 dB at 30 GHz (78 K), while the associated gain increases from 8 to 12 dB
Structures of fucose-containing glycolipids with H and B blood-group activity and of sialic acid and glucosamine-containing glycolipid of human-erythrocyte membrane.

Fucose-containing glycolipids with H and B blood group activity as well as sialic acid and glucosamine-containing glycolipid were isolated from human erythrocytes. The sequences and linkages of carbohydrate residues in these glycolipids were determined by partial acid hydrolysis, periodate oxidation and methylation studies. Anomeric linkage were ascribed to those materials on the basis of their optical rotations, infrared spectra, susceptibility to enzymes and immunological activities. The structures of glycolipid H-I and H-II were respectively fucopyranosyl-α-(1 2)-galacto-pyranosyl-β-(1 4)-2-acetamido-2-deoxy-glucopyranosyl-β-(1 3)-galactopyranosyl-β-(1 4)-glucopyranosyl-β-(1 1)-ceramide; fucopyranosyl-α-(1 2)-galactopyranosyl-β-(1 4)-2-acetamido-2-deoxy-glucopyranosyl-β-(1 3)-galactopyranosyl-β-(1 4)-2-acetamido-2-deoxy-glucopyranosyl-β-(1 3)-galactopyranosyl-β-(1 4)-glucopyranosyl-β-(1 1)-ceramide. The structure of glycolipid B-I was galactopyranosyl-α-(1 3)-[fucopyranosyl-α-(1 2)]-galactopyranosyl-β-(1 4)-2-acetamido-2-deoxy-glucopyranosyl-β-(1 3)-galactopyranosyl-β-(1 4)-glucopyranosyl-β-(1 1)-ceramide. The structure of sialic acid and glucosamine-containing glycolipid was N-acetyl-neuraminosyl-α-(2 3)-galactopyranosyl-β-(1 4)-2-acetamido-2-deoxy-glucopyranosyl-β-(1 3)-galactopyranosyl-β-(1 4)-glucopyranosyl-β-(1 1)-ceramide. The exclusive presence of 4′-galactosyl-N-acetylglucosamine in four erythrocyte glycolipids makes it likely that the (1 3) linkage between galactose and N-acetyl-glucosamine residues is missing from all membrane glycolipids which comprise these two sugars. Therefore the formation of Lea and Leb active structures is not possible in membrane glycolipids and all Lewis activity of erythrocytes must be derived from glycolipids absorbed from blood plasma.
An Electronic Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection Surveillance Tool

Objective. To develop and validate an electronic surveillance tool for catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs). Design. Retrospective cohort study. Setting. 413-bed university-affiliated urban teaching hospital. Methods. An electronic surveillance tool was developed for CAUTI and urinary catheter utilization based on the objective components of the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) definitions including fever, urinalysis, and urine culture. Results were compared to manual chart review by an infection preventionist (IP). Results. During January and February 2010, 204 positive urine cultures (≥103 colony-forming units/mL) were identified in 136 patients with indwelling urinary catheters during their hospitalization. The electronic surveillance tool detected 60 CAUTI cases and 7,098 catheter-days, yielding a CAUTI incidence rate of 8.5 per 1,000 catheter-days. Urinary catheter utilization ratios (Foley-days/patient-days) were: acute care units, 0.27 (3,637 of 13,229); intensive care units, 0.77 (3,461 of 4,469); and overall, 0.40 (7,098 of 17,698). In comparison, the IP identified 59 cases by manual review with a sensitivity of 51 of 59 (86.4%), specificity 136 of 145 (93.8%), and negative predictive value of 136 of 144 (94.4%). Fever was present in 54 of 59 (91.5%) of CAUTI cases identified manually, while subjective criteria were documented in only 6 of 59 (10.2%) infections. Agreement between the electronic surveillance and manual IP review was assessed as very good (k, 0.80; 95% confidence interval, 0.71–0.89). Conclusions. We report an attempt at automating surveillance for CAUTI. With a high negative predictive value, the electronic tool allows for more efficient CAUTI surveillance and facilitates housewide trending of rates and catheter utilization. This approach should be validated in different patient populations.
Care of the kidney transplant recipient

PREVIEW Although kidney transplantation is the treatment of choice for end-stage kidney disease, recipients require careful follow-up to prevent complications. In this article, Drs Andany and Kasiske review the major causes of allograft dysfunction in kidney transplant recipients, identify recipients' foremost risks of infection and malignancy, and outline the major cardiovascular disease risk factors involved with kidney transplantation. Potential drug interactions in transplant recipients are also discussed.
Perceived Self‐Efficacy and Life Satisfaction After Traumatic Brain Injury

ObjectiveTo investigate the contribution of activity-related satisfaction and perceived self-efficacy to global life satisfaction after traumatic brain injury (TBI). ParticipantsConvenience sample of 97 adults who were living in their community at least 6 months after sustaining a TBI. MeasuresCommunity Integration Questionnaire, Quality of Community Integration Questionnaire, Self-Efficacy Questionnaire for TBI, Perceived Quality of Life Scale, Satisfaction with Life Scale. ResultsAmong demographic and injury-related variables, gender and time since injury made significant contributions to the prediction of global life satisfaction. Productivity made a modest, significant contribution to life satisfaction. Satisfaction with productivity and with leisure/social activities both contributed to global life satisfaction. The greatest contribution to the prediction of global life satisfaction was made by the person's perceived self-efficacy, particularly perceived self-efficacy for the management of cognitive symptoms. Perceived cognitive self-efficacy also appeared to mediate the relation between community integration and global life satisfaction. ConclusionCommunity integration, activity-related satisfaction, and global life satisfaction represent distinct constructs, and dissociable aspects of psychosocial outcome after TBI. Perceived self-efficacy for the management of cognitive symptoms may mediate the relation between the individual's expectations and achievements and thereby contribute to overall subjective well-being.
Near-Feasible Stable Matchings with Budget Constraints

This paper examines two-sided matching with budget constraints where one side (a firm or hospital) can make monetary transfers (offer wages) to the other (a worker or doctor). In a standard model, while multiple doctors can be matched to a single hospital, a hospital has a {\em maximum quota}, thus, the number of doctors assigned to that hospital cannot exceed a certain limit. In our model, in contrast, a hospital instead has a {\em fixed budget}, that is, the total amount of wages allocated by each hospital to the doctors is constrained. With budget constraints, stable matchings may fail to exist and checking for the existence is hard. To deal with the nonexistence of stable matchings, we extend the "matching with contracts" model of Hatfield and Milgrom, so that it deals with \textit{near-feasible} matchings that exceed each hospital budget by a certain amount. We then propose two novel mechanisms that efficiently return such a near-feasible matching that is stable with respect to the actual amount of wages allocated by each hospital. Specifically, by sacrificing strategy-proofness, our second mechanism achieves the best possible bound of budget excess.
Scientific Opinion on Dietary Reference Values for vitamin C 1 EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products , Nutrition and Allergies

Following a request from the European Commission, the Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA) derived Dietary Reference Values (DRVs) for vitamin C. The Panel concludes that an Average Requirement (AR) can be derived from indicators of vitamin C status, as well as a Population Reference Intake (PRI) assuming a coefficient of variation (CV) of 10 %. Several health outcomes possibly associated with vitamin C intake were also considered but data were found to be insufficient to establish DRVs. For healthy adults, the AR is determined from the quantity of vitamin C that balances metabolic vitamin C losses and allows the maintenance of an adequate body pool characterised by fasting plasma ascorbate concentrations at around 50 μmol/L. In men, an AR of 90 mg/day of vitamin C and a PRI of 110 mg/day are proposed. As no value for metabolic losses is available in women, the AR for women is extrapolated from the AR for men on the basis of differences in reference body weight, and an AR of 80 mg/day and a PRI of 95 mg/day are proposed. For infants aged 7-11 months, the Panel has decided to retain the PRI of 20 mg/day set by the SCF (1993), as no suitable evidence has emerged since the previous assessment. For children and adolescents, the ARs for vitamin C are extrapolated from the ARs for adults taking into account differences in reference body weight, and PRIs are derived, ranging from 20 mg/day for 1 to 3 year-old children, to 100 and 90 mg/day for boys and girls aged 15-17 years, respectively. For pregnant and lactating women, vitamin C intakes of 10 mg/day and of 60 mg/day in addition to the PRI of non-pregnant non-lactating women are proposed. © European Food Safety Authority, 2013
Intestinal Expression of H+ V‐ATPase in the Mosquito Aedes albopictus is Tightly Associated with Gregarine Infection

ABSTRACT. Vacuolar ATPase (V‐ATPase) is a family of ATP‐dependent proton pumps expressed on the plasma membrane and endomembranes of eukaryotic cells. Acidification of intracellular compartments, such as lysosomes, endosomes, and parasitophorous vacuoles, mediated by V‐ATPase is essential for the entry by many enveloped viruses and invasion into or escape from host cells by intracellular parasites. In mosquito larvae, V‐ATPase plays a role in regulating alkalization of the anterior midgut. We extracted RNA from larval tissues of Aedes albopictus, cloned the full‐length sequence of mRNA of V‐ATPase subunit A, which contains a poly‐A tail and 2,971 nucleotides, and expressed the protein. The fusion protein was then used to produce rabbit polyclonal antibodies, which were used as a tool to detect V‐ATPase in the midgut and Malpighian tubules of mosquito larvae. A parasitophorous vacuole was formed in the midgut in response to invasion by Ascogregarina taiwanensis, confining the trophozoite(s). Acidification was demonstrated within the vacuole using acridine orange staining. It is concluded that gregarine sporozoites are released by ingested oocysts in the V‐ATPase‐energized high‐pH environment. The released sporozoites then invade and develop in epithelial cells of the posterior midgut. Acidification of the parasitophorous vacuoles may be mediated by V‐ATPase and may facilitate exocytosis of the vacuole confining the trophozoites from the infected epithelial cells for further extracellular development.