Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Characterization of annular-structure RF LDMOS transistors using polyharmonic distortion model

An annular-structure lateral-diffused metal-oxide semiconductor (LDMOS) RF transistor with polyharmonic distortion (PHD) model characterized by nonlinear vector network analyzer is described in this paper. The devices were fabricated using a 0.5 µm LDMOS process. The DC, small-signal, and large-signal characteristics of RF LDMOS transistors with annular-structures were also studied in this work. Using the PHD model, the accuracy of intermodulation and time waveform is verified. Furthermore, the model via X-parameter shows good agreement without optimization.
AIDS and the transition to adulthood of young seropositive women in Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso)

Since the early 1990s, the means of attaining adult status have undergone a transformation due to a variety of socioeconomic changes. Exploring the status of ‘youth’, in this context, through the prism of AIDS sheds light on how a pathology can reveal social change in the ‘youth’ category undergoing the process of transition to adulthood. The data for this article are drawn from an anthropological study carried out between 2006 and 2008 in Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso) based on 21 single young women (16 to 28 years old) infected with HIV. The data analysis highlighted issues of relationship to self (biographical disruption and jeopardized female identity) and to others (weakening of social ties in situations of dependency and of pursuit of social advancement) that arise after they discover their seropositive status. The different forms of vulnerability (identity-related, relational and situational) engendered by their status as seropositive women in a context of socioeconomic change, where there are a variety of issues at stake, raise the question of how these young women manage the risk of HIV transmission, and lead to a re-examination of the problem of the vulnerability of youth dealing with HIV.
Influenza A virus infection kinetics: quantitative data and models

Influenza A virus is an important respiratory pathogen that poses a considerable threat to public health each year during seasonal epidemics and even more so when a pandemic strain emerges. Understanding the mechanisms involved in controlling an influenza infection within a host is important and could result in new and effective treatment strategies. Kinetic models of influenza viral growth and decay can summarize data and evaluate the biological parameters governing interactions between the virus and the host. Here we discuss recent viral kinetic models for influenza. We show how these models have been used to provide insight into influenza pathogenesis and treatment, and we highlight the challenges of viral kinetic analysis, including accurate model formulation, estimation of important parameters, and the collection of detailed data sets that measure multiple variables simultaneously. WIREs Syst Biol Med 2011 3 429–445 DOI: 10.1002/wsbm.129
Comparison of different models for genetic evaluation of egg weight in Mazandaran fowl

Abstract 1. The aim of the present study was to compare different models to estimate variance components for egg weight (EW) in laying hens. 2. The data set included 67 542 EW records of 18 245 Mazandaran hens at 24, 28, 30, 32 and 84 weeks of age, during 19 consecutive generations. Variance components were estimated using multi-trait, repeatability, fixed regression and random regression models (MTM, RM, FRM and RRM, respectively) by Average Information-Restricted Maximum Likelihood algorithm (AI-REML). The models were compared based on Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) and Bayesian Information Criterion (BIC). 3. The MTM was the best model followed by the Legendre RRMs. A RRM with 2nd degree of fit for fixed regression and 3rd and 2nd degrees of fit for random regressions of direct additive genetic and permanent environmental effects, respectively, was the best RRM. The FRM and RM were not proper models to fit the data. However, nesting curves within contemporary groups improved the fit of FRM. 4. Heritability estimates for EW by MTM (0.06–0.41) were close to the estimates obtained by the best RRM (0.09–0.45). In both MTM and RRM, positive genetic correlations were estimated for EW records at different ages, with higher correlations for adjacent records. 5. The results suggest that MTM is the best model for EW data, at least when the records are taken at relatively few age points. Though selection based on EW at higher ages might be more precise, 30 or 32 weeks of age could be considered as the most appropriate time points for selection on EW to maximise genetic improvement per time unit.
Of Primary Importance: American Primary Elections 1945-2012

American non-presidential primary elections remain an understudied, but very important, part of our political process. In this study, I examine the state of the political science literature and provide two main contributions. First, I describe in detail all of the primary election laws used across the United States from 1945 to 2012 and analyze the consequences of using one kind of law over another. I find that, contrary to expectations, closed primary rules may result in more competitive primary elections than open primaries; furthermore, states with closed primary rules appear to get more moderate representation on average in the U.S. Senate. Due to changing legal standards, more states may be more likely to adopt in the future a "top-two" primary system which California used for the first time in 2012. I also analyze the first implementation of the "top-two. " Proponents of the new law suggested that it would help elect more pragmatic legislators. I find, though a unique survey of California voters, that they sometimes achieved their goal.
The Outcome of Renegotiations between Institutionalized Public–Private Partnerships and Their Public Clients: Data on the Public–Private Partnerships of the German Federal Armed Forces

ABSTRACT This study analyzes the renegotiations that take place between institutionalized public–private partnerships (PPPs) and their public clients drawing on survey data on the PPPs of the German Federal Armed Forces. Generally, both the party that initiates such renegotiations and the time at which renegotiations are launched determine the outcome of the PPP’s renegotiated remuneration. This effect is moderated by the degree of contract specificity and by a decrease in demand. Specifically, when the public client initiates the renegotiation of an incomplete contractual agreement due to a decrease in demand, it can successfully reduce the remuneration of the PPP.
Experimental results of series or parallel changeover system using battery with EDLC for electric vehicle

In the study of an electric vehicle (EV), an energy storage system which combines a battery and an electric double layer capacitor (EDLC) has been proposed. Introducing of EDLCs to an EV drive system, energy management become more efficient in term of using regenerative braking energy and saving battery energy. In this study, we propose a series or parallel changeover system using a battery and an EDLC for a small EV. This system can change over the composition of electric sources which battery and the EDLC bank in series or parallel depending on the voltage level of EDLC bank. The operating voltage range of EDLC bank is expanded from maximum to zero by the proposed system. In order to confirm the merit of the proposed method, two prototype EVs that one has a conventional DC-DC converter system and the other has the proposed changeover system are prepared and measured on automobile racing circuit. The effectiveness of proposed changeover system be verified and presented by experimental results.
Classical transmitters and their receptors in flatworms

The flatworm nervous system employs a wide repertoire of neuroactive substances, including small chemical messengers, the so called classical transmitters, and several types of neuropeptides. A large body of research accumulated over four decades has provided a wealth of information on the tissue localization and effects of these substances, their biochemistry and, recently, their molecular modes of action in all major classes of flatworms. This evidence will be reviewed, with particular emphasis on the small (classical) transmitters and the receptors that mediate their effects. One of the themes that will emerge from this discussion is that classical transmitters regulate core activities such as movement, metabolism and transport, and thus are essential for survival of the organism. In addition, the evidence shows that flatworms have multiple neurotransmitter receptors, many with unusual pharmacological features, which make them particularly attractive as drug targets. Understanding the molecular basis of these distinctive properties, and developing new, more specific receptor agonists and antagonists will undoubtedly become a major challenge in future research.
Does population aging intensify income inequality? Evidence from China

ABSTRACT Change in the population age structure affects the income inequality of an economy because income inequality often differs in different age groups. This paper proposes a theoretical framework to investigate the condition under which income inequality increases with demographic change and then proves that this condition is satisfied in China based on theory and empirical evidence. Accordingly, a hypothesis was developed, postulating that aging intensifies income inequality. We adopted the Gini coefficient as the measure of income inequality in an empirical study to test the hypothesis by using provincial panel data of China from 1996 to 2011. We determined that aging (represented by an increase in the elderly dependency ratio and decrease in the children's dependency ratio) increases income inequality significantly in current China. This finding suggests that the effect of aging on inequality be considered because it may have different policy implications.
Relation of components of the metabolic syndrome to left ventricular geometry in hispanic and non-hispanic black adults.

BACKGROUND Left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy is an independent predictor of increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. It remains unclear whether components of the metabolic syndrome are associated with LV hypertrophy. METHODS AND RESULTS Accordingly, we analyzed echocardiograms in 192 consecutive ambulatory patients referred for echocardiography from October to December 2004. Patients were excluded if they had atrial fibrillation, significant valvular heart disease or failed to cooperate for echocardiogram. Of these, 126 (66%) patients met Adult Treatment Panel (ATP) III diagnostic criteria for the metabolic syndrome. 29% had any 3 metabolic syndrome components, 18% had any 4 metabolic syndrome components and 17% had all 5 metabolic syndrome components. In analyses of variance adjusted for age and sex, LV mass and LV mass adjusted to its allometric relation to height(2.7) (LV mass/height(2.7)) were higher in patients with metabolic syndrome compared to those without metabolic syndrome (237 g [228-239 95%CI] vs. 224 g [206-239 95%CI] p=0.005 and 62 g/m(2.7) [59-65 95%CI] vs. 56 g/m(2.7) [52-60 95%CI] p=0.014, respectively). The prevalence of LV hypertrophy using prognostically-validated gender-specific partition values for LV mass/height(2.7) was significantly higher in metabolic syndrome patients than in those without metabolic syndrome (81 v. 58%, p<0.001). There was a step-wise increase in LV mass/height(2.7) in those with no metabolic syndrome components to those with increasing number of metabolic syndrome components (Figure, p<0.001). In this study of high-risk patients, the significant independent predictors of LV hypertrophy were only high blood pressure (OR=3.2, p=0.008) and increased waist circumference (OR=2.8, p=0.006) with no interaction between blood pressure and waist circumference. CONCLUSION Metabolic syndrome is associated with higher LV mass and prevalence of LV hypertrophy. Increasing number of metabolic syndrome components is associated with step-wise increases in LV mass. Identification of LV hypertrophy in metabolic syndrome patients may provide an additional prognostic tool to further risk-stratify these patients.
Kinetics of taxol production, growth, and nutrient uptake in cell suspensions of Taxus cuspidata

Cell culture of Taxus cuspidata may represent an alternative to extraction of bark as a source of taxol and related taxanes. Cell suspensions of a cell line of T. cuspidata were grown for 44 days in shake flasks containing B5C2 medium. Throughout the growth cycle, fresh and dry weight accumulation, taxol yield on a dry weight basis, taxol accumulation in the medium, pH and pigmentation variation in the medium, as well as the uptake of sucrose, glucose, fructose, nitrate, and inorganic phosphate from the culture medium were examined. The results showed that the growth was relatively slow (doubling times of 17 and 20 days for fresh and dry weight, respectively), and taxol accumulation in the cells was non‐growth related (higher in the stationary phase) and at relatively low levels (up to 4 μg/g of the extracted dry weight). Taxol concentration in the medium had two peaks: one during the early (0.4μg/mL) and another during the late (0.1‐μg/mL) parts of the growth cycle. On a volumetric basis, the average total amount of taxol produced during the stationary phase (day 38) was 0.15 μg/mL, of which approximately 66% was in the medium and 34% was in the cells. Total carbohydrate uptake was closely associated with the increase in dry biomass. Sucrose was apparently extracellularly hydrolyzed after the first 6 days of culture; glucose was used before fructose. Nitrate was assimilated throughout the growth cycle, but phosphate was absorbed within the first week of culture. The pH variation showed an initial drop followed by a trend toward alkalinization for most of the growth period. Dark pigmentation in the medium increased progressively, particularly during the stationary phase. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Polarization angle independent perfect metamaterial absorber

This paper presents a perfect metamaterial absorber (MA) based on rings and cross wires (RCWs) configuration in microwave frequency regime. Maxima absorption rate is at for simulation and at for experiment, in order. The proposed MA provides perfect absorption with angle of polarization independency. Consequently, suggested model enable myriad potential applications such as stealth and military technologies.
Design and evaluation of press-pack SiC MOSFET

This paper investigates the advantages of combining press-pack packaging and SiC MOSFETs to extend the application of SiC devices into the high power range. The feasibility of press-pack packaging on SiC MOSFET is illustrated by using extremely small and flexible contact pins called "fuzz buttons" in a low-profile interposer. The layout of the press-pack is designed to have very low main power loop parasitic inductance, gate loop inductance, common source inductance and provide a good balance between paralleled devices. Since the press-pack does not provide internal insulation between the active device and the heatsink, the heatsink is included in the power loop. To minimize the parasitic loop inductance, a water-cooled micro-channel heatsink less than 3 mm thick is used to obtain adequate heat dissipation, electric current carrying capability, and insulation between the cooling loop and the electrical loop. The structure and manufacturing process flow of the press-pack SiC MOSFET are provided. The thermal and electrical performances of the proposed press-pack structure are experimentally tested as well.
Structure‐based design of peptides that recognize the CD4 binding domain of HIV‐1 gp120

Design:Envelope protein-specific antiviral peptides, called mucibodies, that can specifically recognize and bind to the surface unit protein gp120 of HIV-1 were designed. The initial mucibody binding target was the V3 loop of HIV-1 gp120. Here, the gp120–CD4 binding domain was chosen as the site of mucibody binding. The CD4 binding domain of gp120 is known to be a conformational epitope and is involved in the earliest events of viral entry into many cells. Methods:The design of the mucibody antivirals was based on previous observations that antibody complementarity determining regions (CDR) are generally similar to the repeating loops or knob structures found in the 20-residue tandem repeat domain of human mucin MUC1. The heavy chain CDR3 from the bacteriophage display antibody b12 was used to construct two mucibodies, b12-CDR1 and b12–26. Results:Peptides corresponding to three tandem repeats were shown to bind directly to the CD4 binding domain of HIV-1 gp120 in a solid-phase enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. These mucibody peptides also disrupted the gp120–CD4 interaction in a solution-phase inhibition assay. Finally, mucibodies neutralized primary and laboratory macrophage-tropic isolates of HIV-1. Conclusions:There is a potential for medical use of these peptides as topical vaginal microbicides in preventing HIV-1 transmission during sexual contact. These results also suggest that multivalent, non-immunogenic binding proteins of virtually any specificity could be constructed for use in therapeutic applications involving infectious diseases and immune system dysfunction.
Preservation of Residual Hearing in Children and Post-Lingually Deafened Adults after Cochlear Implantation: An Initial Study

Objective: To investigate whether the residual hearing of severely hearing-impaired children and adults could be preserved using the soft surgery approach. Patients and Methods: This project employed a prospective study design. All testing and surgery took place in the Institute of Physiology and Pathology of Hearing, Warsaw, Poland. Twenty-six patients (7 children and 19 post-lingually deafened adults) with residual hearing were assessed. Subjects were assessed using conventional pure-tone audiometry at least 1 month prior to surgery. Cochlear implant surgery with a Med-El Combi 40/40+ standard electrode array was conducted, using the soft surgery approach. Pure-tone audiometry thresholds were re-assessed at least 1 month after surgery. The researchers assessed change in auditory thresholds using pure-tone audiometry to determine preservation of residual hearing. Results: Sixteen of 26 patients (62%) retained their residual hearing within 5 dB HL of pre-operative scores. Only 5 of 26 patients (19%) lost all measurable residual hearing after cochlear implantation. This suggests that surgeons are often able to preserve residual hearing during cochlear implant surgery using the soft surgery technique. Conclusions: Preservation of residual hearing is an important consideration in cochlear implantation in the light of changing selection criteria for cochlear implant candidates, and as younger children are receiving implants. This is important, as we do not know yet the long-term effects of inner ear damage due to traumatic insertions of electrodes. This finding suggests a good prognosis for future possibilities of re-implantation.
Inpatient standards of care and the suicidal patient. Part I: General clinical formulations and legal considerations.

The most common legal action involving psychiatric care is the failure to reasonably protect patients from harming themselves. In this regard it is critical to understand that courts have tended to impose much stricter standards on inpatient than on outpatient care; that at the present time, most malpractice actions involve clinical activities related to inpatient care (negligent admission, treatment, supervision, discharge, etc.). This article reviews the current climate in the legal and clinical formulation of standards of care for hospitalized adult suicidal patients. It suggests general guidelines for effective assessment, management, and treatment procedures that balance the need for high-quality care by a reasonable and prudent practitioner with the requirements of court-determined and statutory standards. The authors specifically discuss court cases that show common failure situations in inpatient care, discharge planning, and follow-up (e.g., problems in pharmacotherapy, the decision to hospitalize, the assessment of imminence and lethality, etc.). The paper also emphasizes the crucial element of clinical judgment in developing any inpatient standard of care.
Automatic recognition of handprinted characters&#8212;The state of the art

Based on a study of the extensive literature in handprint recognition, this paper presents a survey in this challenging field. Recognition algorithms, data bases, character models, and handprint standards are examined. Achievements in the recognition of handprinted numerals, alphanumerics, Fortran, and Katakana characters are analyzed and compared. Data quality and constraints, as well as human and machine factors are also described. Characteristics, problems, and actual results on on-line recognition of handprinted characters for different applications are discussed. New emphases and directions are suggested.
Accessing HIV testing and treatment among men who have sex with men in China: A qualitative study

Barriers to HIV testing and HIV care and treatment pose significant challenges to HIV prevention among men who have sex with men (MSM) in China. We carried out a qualitative study to identify barriers and facilitators to HIV testing and treatment among Chinese MSM. In 2012, seven focus group (FG) discussions were conducted with 49 MSM participants in Nanjing, China. Purposive sampling was used to recruit a diverse group of MSM participants. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to collect FG data. Major barriers to testing included gay- and HIV-related stigma and discrimination, relationship type and partner characteristics, low perception of risk or threat, HIV is incurable or equals death, concerns of confidentiality, unaware that testing is offered for free, and name-based testing. Key facilitators of testing included engaging in high-risk sex, sense of responsibility for partner, collectivism, testing as a part of standard/routine medical care, MSM-friendly medical personnel, increased acceptance of gay/bisexual men by the general public, legal recognition and protection of homosexuals, and home self-testing. Barriers to treatment included negative coping, nondisclosure to families, misconceptions of domestically produced antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) and the benefits of treatment, and costs associated with long-term treatment. Facilitators of treatment included sense of hopefulness that a cure would be found, the cultural value of longevity, peer social support and professional psychological counseling, affordable and specialized treatment and care, and reduced HIV-related stigma and discrimination. Finally, for both testing and treatment, more educational and promotional activities within MSM communities and among the general public are needed.