Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Localized bonding processes for assembly and packaging of polymeric MEMS

Localized bonding schemes for the assembly and packaging of polymer-based microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) devices have been successfully demonstrated. These include three bonding systems of plastics-to-silicon, plastics-to-glass, and plastics-to-plastics combinations based on two bonding processes of localized resistive heating: 1) built-in resistive heaters and 2) reusable resistive heaters. In the prototype demonstrations, aluminum thin films are deposited and patterned as resistive heaters and plastic materials are locally melted and solidified for bonding. A typical contact pressure of 0.4 MPa is applied to assure intimate contact of the two bonding substrates and the localized bonding process is completed within less than 0.25 s of heating. It is estimated that the local temperature at the bonding interface can reach above 150/spl deg/C while the substrate temperature away from the heaters can be controlled to be under 40/spl deg/C during the bonding process. The approach of localized heating for bonding of plastic materials while maintaining low temperature globally enables direct sealing of polymer-based MEMS without dispensing additional adhesives or damaging preexisting, temperature-sensitive substances. Furthermore, water encapsulation by plastics-to-plastics bonding is successfully performed to demonstrate the capability of low temperature processing. As such, this technique can be applied broadly in plastic assembly, packaging, and liquid encapsulation for microsystems, including microfluidic devices.
Gender Differences in Infirmary Use at a Residential Summer Camp

Studies of health behavior in adults show that women report more morbidity and greater health service utilization than do men, despite lower mortality rates. Explanations involve social and biological gender differences in adult life. Infirmary utilization at a residential summer camp where parental influence is minimized was studied to determine whether these gender differences occur in the pediatric age group. Three hundred ninety-eight campers, 8 to 18 years old were studied. Girls were observed to make greater use of the infirmary than boys (p < .01) and were especially likely to present with minor trauma, both musculoskeletal (p < .05) and skin (p < .01). No correlation was found between age and frequency of visits. Obvious morbidity was similar for boys and girls, in that no gender difference was observed in those visiting for definite medical indications alone or in those admitted. However, a difference was evident in those visiting for minor and trivial problems, particularly in those making three or more visits for minor and trivial problems (p < .01). Although obvious morbidity was no different in campers, girls used the infirmary more than boys in a manner similar to that reported for adult health behavior. This suggests that gender differences occur earlier than suspected and are not simply related to adult social roles.
Switchless matching networks for dual-band class-E power amplifiers

This paper presents two different switchless (concurrent) dual-band load networks for class E power amplifier at 800 MHz and 1.9 GHz for 4G LTE standards. The two presented load structures, the all-lumped element and the transformer-based structure not only provide optimal impedance at both fundamental frequencies but also present high impedance up to their 3rd harmonics. Simulated PAEs for the all-lumped element and the transformer-based load network are above 62% and 57% with output powers of 26.5 dBm at 800 MHz and 1.9 GHz, respectively.
Differential Effects of a Restricted Feeding Schedule on Clock-Gene Expression in the Hypothalamus of the Rat

Restricted feeding schedules (RFS) entrain digestive, hormonal, and metabolic functions as well as oscillations of clock genes, such as Per1 and Per2, in peripheral organs. In the brain, in particular the hypothalamus, RFS induce and shift daily rhythms of Per1 and Per2 expression. To determine whether RFS affect clock genes in extra-SCN oscillators in a uniform manner, the present study investigated daily rhythms of Per1, Per2, and Bmal1 expression in various hypothalamic regions. Wistar rats were entrained to daily RFS (2 h food access starting at ZT6, RFS) or fed ad libitum (C) for three weeks. Brains were sampled every 3 h starting at ZT0, and were processed with in situ hybridization. In response to RFS, Per1 expression showed a 3 h phase advance in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), while Per2 and Bmal1 remained unaffected. Per1 was triggered at ZT6, anticipating food access in both arcuate (ARC) and dorsomedial nuclei (DMH), and was unaffected in the ventromedial (VMH) and paraventricular (PVN) nuclei. In contrast, Per2 expression during RFS showed a marked postprandial peak in the PVN, was unchanged in the ARC, and was down-regulated in the DMH and VMH. The temporal patterns of Bmal1 expression were not significantly modified in RFS rats. RFS differentially affected clock-gene expression (phase change, up- or downregulation) depending on the combination of hypothalamic nuclei and targeted genes. Present data highlight that metabolic or temporal cues elicited by feeding modify the temporal organization in the hypothalamus and are not exclusive for a food-entrained oscillator.
Monoamine Oxidase in Bovine Thyroid Tissue

Two functional forms of monoamine oxidase (MAO) defined as MAO A and MAO B have been described in several tissues. In this study the characteristics of MAO present in a particulate subcellular fraction of bovine thyroid tissue were investigated. The selective inhibitors of MAO, clorgyline (A form) and deprenyl (B form) were used. The monoamines 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) (preferred of the A form), tyramine (both forms) and beta-phenylethylamine (PEA) (B Form) were used as substrates. MAO activity towards 5-HT was markedly inhibited by clorgyline. Tyramine oxidation was very sensitive to clorgyline and the curve obtained was in accordance with the presence of a high proportion of the A form. MAO activity towards PEA was also markedly inhibited by clorgyline. Deprenyl was not able to induce modifications in the MAO activity except when it was used at very high concentrations. According to these results the bovine thyroid tissue contains predominantly the A form of MAO. In this tissue PEA was deaminated by the A form of the enzyme.
Coronary heart disease in HIV-infected patients in the highly active antiretroviral treatment era

Objectives: To assess the incidence and the clinical features of coronary heart disease in HIV-infected patients. To assess atherosclerosis risk factors in this population. Methods: A review of our experience consisting of 16 patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) was the basis of our retrospective analysis of two cohorts in France. Incidence was compared with the national database on the incidence of AMI in the general population. Results: Incidence appears to be between 5 and 5.5 per 1000 person-years among HIV-infected patients. This accounts for at least a threefold increase in incidence (1.52 per 1000 person-years reported in the Monica database registry in France). Age of onset of AMI in HIV-infected patients (younger than 50 years in most cases) is a point of major concern and is an indirect way to confirm the increased incidence. AMI was typically of sudden onset without prior history of angina pectoris. Treatment and prognosis of AMI in this population has no specificity. Patients with coronary heart disease present several risk factors such as tobacco smoking, hypertension, diabetes mellitus and low high-density lipoprotein level. The links between AMI and protease inhibitor exposure is still a matter of debate, and longer duration of follow-up is needed in order to reach any conclusion. Conclusions: Coronary heart disease is of a higher than expected incidence in HIV-infected patients. The limitation of risk factors (mainly tobacco smoking) is a new challenge. An adaptation of the Framingham score is necessary to state the individual risk. Prospective, controlled studies are necessary to assess new strategies such as the role of statins and switching therapeutic regimens.
Characterization of concatemeric plasmids of Neisseria gonorrhoeae

Three strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae carried novel plasmids of 7.8 megadaltons (mdal) molecular mass in addition to plasmids previously observed in this organism. The presence of the 7.8-mdal plasmids was not accompanied by any distinguishable phenotype in the strain possessing them. Analysis of plasmid DNA with restriction endonucleases showed that these plasmids were composed of three directly repeated copies of a 2.6-mdal cryptic plasmid frequently found in N. gonorrhoeae. In addition, the 7.8-mdal plasmids exhibited characteristics common to the 2.6-mdal plasmid, structural lability and sites resistant to cleavage with HpaII. The concatemeric forms of the cryptic plasmid appear to be stable in these strains and do not undergo internal recombination to produce the 2.6-mdal monomer, nor were higher concatemers detected.
Salience and Asymmetric Judgments of Physical Distance

Previous research has shown that distance estimates made from memory are often asymmetric. Specifically, when A is a prominent location (a landmark) and B is not, people tend to recall a longer distance from A to B than from B to A. Results of two experiments showed that asymmetric judgments of distance are not restricted to judgments made from memory but occur also for judgments made when all relevant visual cues are still present. Furthermore, results indicated that situational salience is sufficient to produce asymmetric judgments and that distinctiveness (such as in the case of architectural landmarks) is not necessary.
Evaluation of Specialized Medication Packaging Combined With Medication Therapy Management: Adherence, Outcomes, and Costs Among Medicaid Patients

Background:This study evaluates the effect of a program combing specialized medication packaging and telephonic medication therapy management on medication adherence, health care utilization, and costs among Medicaid patients. Research Design:A retrospective cohort design compared Medicaid participants who voluntarily enrolled in the program (n=1007) compared with those who did not (n=13,614). Main outcome measures were medication adherence at 12 months, hospital admissions and emergency department visits at 6 and 12 months, and total paid claim costs at 6 and 12 months. Multivariate regression models were used to adjust for the effect of age, sex, race, comorbidities, and 12-month preenrollment health care utilization. Results:Measures of medication adherence were significantly improved in the program cohort compared with the usual care cohort. At 6 months, adjusted all-cause hospitalization was marginally less in the program cohort compared with the usual care cohort [odds ratio=0.73, 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.54–1.0, P=0.05]. No statistically significant differences were observed between the 2 cohorts for any of the other adjusted utilization endpoints at 6 or 12 months. Adjusted total cost at 6 and 12 months were higher in the program cohort (6-month cost ratio=1.76, 95% CI,1.65–1.89; 12-month cost ratio=1.84, 95% CI,1.72–1.97), primarily because of an increase in prescription costs. Emergency department visits and hospitalization costs did not differ between groups. Conclusions:The program improved measures of medication adherence, but the effect on health care utilization and nonpharmacy costs at 6 and 12 months was not different from the usual care group. Reasons for these findings may reflect differences in the delivery of the specialized packaging and the medication therapy management program, health care behaviors in this Medicaid cohort, unadjusted confounding, or time required for the benefit of the intervention to manifest.
A Sharp Lower Bound For The Generalized 3-Edge-Connectivity Of Strong Product Graphs

Abstract The generalized k-connectivity κk(G) of a graph G, mentioned by Hager in 1985, is a natural generalization of the path-version of the classical connectivity. As a natural counterpart of this concept, Li et al. in 2011 introduced the concept of generalized k-edge-connectivity which is defined as λk(G) = min{λG(S) | S ⊆ V (G) and |S| = k}, where λG(S) denote the maximum number ℓ of pairwise edge-disjoint trees T1, T2, . , Tℓ in G such that S ⊆ V (Ti) for 1 ≤ i ≤ ℓ. In this paper we get a sharp lower bound for the generalized 3-edge-connectivity of the strong product of any two connected graphs.
Juvenile hormone mediates developmental integration between exaggerated traits and supportive traits in the horned flour beetle Gnatocerus cornutus

Sexually selected exaggerated traits are often coupled with modifications in other nontarget traits. In insects with weapons, enlargements of nontarget characters that functionally support the weapon often occur (i.e. supportive traits). The support of sexual traits requires developmental coordination among functionally related multiple traits—an explicit example of morphological integration. The genetic theory predicts that developmental integration among different body modules, for which development is regulated via different sets of genes, is likely to be coordinated by pleiotropic factors. However, the developmental backgrounds of morphological integrations are largely unknown. We tested the hypothesis that the juvenile hormone (JH), as a pleiotropic factor, mediates the integration between exaggerated and supportive traits in an armed beetle Gnatocerus cornutus. During combat, males of this beetle use exaggerated mandibles to lift up their opponents with the supportive traits, that is, the head and prothoracic body parts. Application of methoprene, a JH analog (JHA), during the larval to prepupal period, induced the formation of large mandibles relative to the body sizes in males. Morphometric examination of nontarget traits elucidated an increase in the relative sizes of supportive traits, including the head and prothoracic body parts. In addition, reductions in the hind wing area and elytra length, which correspond to flight and reproductive abilities, were detected. Our findings are consistent with the genetic theory and support the idea that JH is a key pleiotropic factor that coordinates the developmental integration of exaggerated traits and supportive characters, as well as resource allocation trade‐offs.
Etiopathogenesis of nasal polyps

___________________________________________________________________________ Nasal polyps are soft, pink or pearl white outgrowths usually connected with nasal mucosa by flaccid crus. A histological image of nasal polyps indicates significant differences in particular cases. Because of the variety of nasal polyps, the choice of proper laryngological treatment is very difficult. Difficulties in treatment are due to the lack of consensus among physicians regarding the etiopathogenesis of nasal polyps. Probably etiopathogenesis of nasal polyps is not homogeneous and polyps’ formation is influenced by many coexisting mechanisms.
Human Th1 responses driven by IL‐12 are associated with enhanced expression of CD40 ligand

IL‐ 12 is the prominent inducer of Th1 responses in humans and in the mouse. CD40 ligand (CD40L) plays important roles in regulation of immune responses, including T cell‐dependent activation of B cells and cytokine production by monocytes and dendritic cells. The present study examined the influences of IL‐12 on the CD40L expression of activated human CD4+ T cells. IL‐12 enhanced CD40L expression on CD4+ T cells stimulated with immobilized anti‐CD3 in the complete absence of accessory cells, whereas IL‐4 and IL‐10 decreased it. Exogenous interferon‐gamma (IFN‐γ) did not increase CD40L expression on immobilized anti‐CD3 stimulated CD4+ T cells at any time up to 168 h of culture. The IL‐12‐induced enhancement of CD40L expression on anti‐CD3 activated CD4+ T cells was not influenced in the presence of a metalloproteinase inhibitor KB8301, which up‐regulated CD40L expression by preventing the processing of membrane‐bound CD40L, or B cells, which down‐regulated CD40L expression by receptor‐mediated endocytosis. These results indicate that IL‐12 enhances the CD40L expression of activated CD4+ T cells independently of the IFN‐γ production. The data thus suggest that Th1 responses induced by IL‐12 might play an important role in the regulation of humoral immune responses through up‐regulated CD40L expression.
Standardization of an Inactivated H7N1 Avian Influenza Vaccine and Efficacy Against A/Chicken/Italy/13474/99 High-Pathogenicity Virus Infection

Abstract The minimum requirements for assessing the immunogenicity of an experimental avian influenza (AI) vaccine prepared from inactivated A/Turkey/Italy/2676/99 (H7N1) low-pathogenicity (LP) AI (LPAI) virus were determined in chickens of different ages. A correlation between the amount of hemagglutinin (HA) per dose of vaccine and the protection against clinical signs of disease and infection by A/Chicken/Italy/13474/99 highly pathogenic (HP) AI (HPAI) virus was established. Depending on the vaccination schedule, one or two administrations of 0.5 μg of hemagglutinin protected chickens against clinical signs and death and completely prevented virus shedding from birds challenged at different times after vaccination.
GröBner-Shirshov Bases for L-Algebras

In this paper, we first establish Composition-Diamond lemma for Ω-algebras. We give a Grobner–Shirshov basis of the free L-algebra as a quotient algebra of a free Ω-algebra, and then the normal form of the free L-algebra is obtained. Second we establish Composition-Diamond lemma for L-algebras. As applications, we give Grobner–Shirshov bases of the free dialgebra and the free product of two L-algebras, and then we show four embedding theorems of L-algebras: (1) Every countably generated L-algebra can be embedded into a two-generated L-algebra. (2) Every L-algebra can be embedded into a simple L-algebra. (3) Every countably generated L-algebra over a countable field can be embedded into a simple two-generated L-algebra. (4) Three arbitrary L-algebras A, B, C over a field k can be embedded into a simple L-algebra generated by B and C if |k| ≤ dim(B * C) and |A| ≤ |B * C|, where B * C is the free product of B and C.
Incidence and prevalence of adult systemic lupus erythematosus in a large US managed-care population

Objective The objective of this paper is to determine the incidence and prevalence of adult systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in a large US managed-care population. Methods Subject inclusion in the incidence cohort required a medical claim with an SLE diagnosis and a service date from 2003 to 2008 that satisfied the following criteria: 1) ≥18 years on service date; 2) continuously enrolled for 24 months before and 12 months after service date; 3) in the 12 months after service date, ≥ one inpatient claim or ≥ two office or ER visits with an SLE diagnosis; 4) no SLE diagnosis 24 months prior to service date; and 5) no SLE medications 12 months prior to service date. Prevalence cohort subjects were identified using a similar algorithm and were not required to satisfy criteria 4) and 5). Results A total of 1,557 subjects were included in the incidence cohort, and 15,396 were included in the prevalence cohort. The overall age- and gender-adjusted SLE incidence rate (2003–2008) was 7.22 cases per 100,000 person-years. The annual prevalence of SLE (per 100,000 individuals) varied from 81.07 in 2003 to 102.94 in 2008. Conclusion The SLE incidence in this large managed-care plan with geographic diversity was slightly higher than previous estimates, and the prevalence was within the range of previous estimates.
Study of the Angiographic Profile of Acute Coronary Syndrome in Smokers Compared With Non Smokers

Background: To study the angiographic profile of ACUTE CORONARY SYNDROME in smokers versus non smokers and to analyse with respect to baseline characteristics, Method: Patients with first episode of ACS (Unstable Angina with ECG changes, NSTEMI,STEMI) 2. Different types of ACS were diagnosed according to ECG criteria and Troponin T positivity . Smoking history in the form of -tobacco chewing / khaini / beedi / tambaku / cigars was included. Results: Acute myocardial infarction STEMI+NSTEMI) was the most common presentation in both smokers and non smokers But Acute STEMI ,as the initial presentation, was often encountered in smokers . Unstable angina was often encountered as initial presentation in Non smokers s. Single vessel disease was the most common CAG diagnosis in both groups. Triple vessel disease was equally encountered in both Conclusions: Acute coronary syndrome occurred seven years earlier in smokers 2.Smokers presented with more Acute infarctions and less Unstable angina 3.Single vessel disease was the most common CAG diagnosis in both smokers and non smokers.
Influence of prognostic factors on the outcome of liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma on cirrhosis: a univariate and multivariate analysis.

BACKGROUND/AIMS Hepatocellular carcinoma is related to liver cirrhosis in 70-85% cases. During the '80s, the best treatment was represented by liver resection. Recently, liver transplantation has been introduced as an optimal therapeutic alternative. The purpose of this study is to select the best candidates for liver transplantation considering several prognostic factors that are related to tumor characteristics. METHODOLOGY Among 573 liver transplantations, we have retrospectively analyzed 87 patients undergoing liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma on cirrhosis; in 30 (34.5%) patients, hepatocellular carcinoma was an incidental finding in the surgical specimen. RESULTS Operative mortality was 2.2% (2/87). Twenty-five patients died during the follow-up. The main cause of death was represented by tumor recurrence in 10.3% of cases. The 3-year and 5-year overall survival was 71.6% and 66.2% respectively. On a univariate analysis, the only variable significantly related with overall-survival was alpha-fetoprotein levels (p=0.01). Furthermore, alpha-fetoprotein, the diameter of tumor greater than 3 cm, the presence of satellite nodules, Edmonson's grade III-IV, micro-macro vascular thrombosis, and TNM stadium III-IV were significantly related with the development of tumor recurrence. On a multivariate analysis, only alpha-fetoprotein (p=0.01, Risk ratio = 2.7) resulted as a risk independent factor of patient overall-survival; vascular invasion (p=0.02, Risk ratio = 2.1) was predictive of tumor recurrence. CONCLUSIONS Liver transplantation is a good therapeutic option in a selected group of patients, with a small nodule (<3 cm), low alpha-fetoprotein levels (<20 ng/mL), with absence of micro-macro vascular thrombosis in which conventional liver resection is unfeasible.
Three novel small deletion mutations of the LDL receptor gene in Korean patients with familial hypercholesterolemia

The low‐density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor gene from 80 unrelated Korean patients with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) was analyzed to screen for small structural rearrangements that could not be detected by Southern blot hybridization. Three different small deletions were detected in exon 11 of 3 FH patients and were characterized by DNA sequence analysis. Of them two mutations are in‐frame 36‐bp (FH 2) and 9‐bp (FH 34) deletions that result in the loss of twelve amino acids (from Met510 to Ile521) and three amino acids (Thr513, Asp514 and Trp515), respectively. Both mutations are located in the third of the five YWTD motifs of the LDL receptor gene. The third mutation (FH 400) is a 2‐bp deletion that shifts the translational reading frame and results in a prematurely terminated receptor protein. The generation of a 36‐bp deletion can be explained by the formation of a hairpin‐loop structure mediated by inverted repeat sequences. On the other hand, the mechanism responsible for the 9‐ and the 2‐bp deletions is probably strand‐slippage mispairing mediated by short direct repeats. All of these three deletions are novel mutations. Each of the three deletions was detected only in a single pedigree out of 80 FH families analyzed.