Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sensitive humidity micro-switch based on polymers

We present a binary threshold sensor for humidity which is able to use the energy provided directly from the measured relative humidity of the ambient air to mechanically switch an electrical micro contact. This zero-power switching behavior is realized by using the humidity-sensitive volume swelling of a polymer layer as the detection element deflecting a mechanical deformable silicon boss structure, thus closing the electrical contacts of the switch. For the device considered here, a humidity-sensitive hydrogel blend was used. In this paper we introduce the inverse silicone stamping as versatile structuring technology for the hydrogel. It is suitable for thin silicon membranes of 20 μm in thickness, can handle the high volume shrinking of the hydrogel blend during the evaporation of the solvent and provides a high reproducibility of the printed pattern. Furthermore, an optimal parameter set for the boss structure was found based on analytical and numerical simulations.
Moving-window spectral neural-network feedforward process control

Unlike reactive feedback control, feedforward control is a proactive method by which information about a measurable disturbance is fed, ahead of time, to the manipulated inputs of a process, the output of which is to be controlled, so as to counteract the effect of the disturbance. Discretized observations on the process variable are indexed to form a time series. A time-series model is fitted to the series. The ultrahigh signal-to-noise ratio fitted values are examined by a neural network, for patterns which detect when the future process is expected to become out of control. The neural-network diagnosis forms the basis for corrective action, prior to the process becoming out of control. In principle, this goes beyond SPC to achieve a process which is never actually out of control.
Epidemiology of Acute Soccer Injuries in Canadian Children and Youth

Objectives: To describe acute injury characteristics in children and youth soccer players and to identify the characteristics of patients who required hospital admission. Methods: The analysis of the study was based on the Canadian Hospitals Injury Reporting and Prevention Program. A total of 32,149 patients (aged 5-19 years) with soccer-related injuries presenting to 16 participating hospital emergency departments from 1994 to 2004 were included in the analysis. Results: Males had the highest proportion of injuries (62%). The leading injuries were sprains/strains (38%), followed by fractures/dislocations (31%) and superficial injuries (23%). A total of 896 cases (3%) required hospital admission. Based on logistic regression analysis, being a male, playing unorganized soccer, having multiple body injuries, playing soccer outside school premises, and playing during the summer/fall increased the likelihood of hospital admission. Moreover, having a head/face/neck injury (Odds ratio [OR], 1.3; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.1-1.7) and trunk injury (OR, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.2-2.4) as compared with an upper extremity injury and having injuries from contact with structures/surfaces (OR, 3.1; 95% CI, 2.2-4.3) and with other players (OR, 2.5; 95% CI, 1.8-3.5) as compared with ball contact had the highest odds of hospital admission. Conclusions: Soccer accounted for a significant proportion of injuries presented to Canadian Hospitals Injury Reporting and Prevention Program emergency departments during 1994-2004. Further studies investigating potential interventional programs and techniques among this population are highly warranted.
Filter Paper/Affinity Chromatography vs. Venipuncture/HbA1 Ion-Exchange Chromatography

Determination of glycosylated hemoglobin (GHb) is widely used in clinical practice to monitor long-term glycemia in people with diabetes, and its use as a screening tool has also been investigated (1). Several investigators have explored the feasibility of measuring GHb from blood samples dried on filter paper (2-7). The recent article by Slemenda et al. (8) compared a commercially available mail-in paper strip (filter paper) method (Evalulab, Palm City, FL) to what they refer to as a "standard" or "usual" method, specifically an HbA, microcolumn method (manufacturer not specified). However, the HbA, ion-exchange column methods are actually somewhat outdated; most clinical laboratories now use either specific HbA1c ion-exchange or affinity chromatographic methods (9). (We must emphasize that there is nothing intrinsically wrong with the use of HbA, determinations but only that the method has serious well-recognized drawbacks compared with other methods, particularly with respect to specimen handling, storage effects, and interfering factors such as hemoglobinopathies.) In their report, Slemenda et al. (8) conclude that both methods had adequate precision but that results differed when patients were ranked for glycemic control by the GHb results. There was a surprisingly low correlation between the two methods (r < 0.80). We have shown an excellent correlation (r = 0.97) between results with affinity chromatography of fresh blood samples and filter paper-spotted samples, where the filter paper method was identical to that performed by Evalulab (3). In addition, there are previous reports by others of excellent correlations between ion-exchange/HbA, and GHb/affinity chromatography (10). Because Slemenda et al.'s actual data points are not shown, it is not clear whether their modest correlation may be due to a few outliers. There are also many factors that can interfere with HbA, methods but do not generally interfere with affinity chromatographic methods such as that used by Evalulab, e.g., abnormal hemoglobins. These factors were not discussed but could account for some of the discrepancies in GHb ranking between the methods. It would have been helpful if the authors had further investigated clinically significant discrepancies to determine which of the results was more accurate. We do concur with Slemenda et al. that caution should be taken when comparing GHb data between methods. The fact that different methods can be measuring different glycosylated components, combined with the lack of reference standards, makes it difficult to compare results from different laboratories even when the same assay method is used at each location. The problem could be solved if standardization of GHb between laboratories were available (11).
The PHD-finger module of the Arabidopsis thaliana defense regulator EDM2 can recognize triply modified histone H3 peptides.

Recently we reported that the Arabidopsis thaliana PHD-finger protein EDM2 (enhanced downy mildew 2) impacts disease resistance by affecting levels of di-methylated lysine 9 of histone H3 (H3K9me2) at an alternative polyadenylation site in the immune receptor gene RPP7. EDM2-dependent modulation of this post-translational histone modification (PHM) shifts the balance between full-length RPP7 transcripts and prematurely polyadenylated transcripts, which do not encode the RPP7 protein. Our previous work genetically linked, for the first time, PHMs to alternative polyadenylation and established EDM2 as a critical component mediating PHM-dependent polyadenylation control. However, how EDM2 is recruited to its genomic target sites and how it affects H3K9me2 levels is unknown. Here we show the PHD-finger module of EDM2 to recognize histone H3 bearing certain combinations of three distinct PHMs. Our results suggest that targeting of EDM2 to specific genomic regions is mediated by the histone-binding selectivity of its PHD-finger domain.
Deleting titin’s I-band/A-band junction reveals critical roles for titin in biomechanical sensing and cardiac function

Significance Mutations in titin are a major cause of heart failure, yet the functions of large parts of titin are not understood. Here we studied titin’s I-band/A-band junction that has been proposed to be crucial for thick filament length control. We made a mouse in which titin’s IA junction was deleted. Super-resolution microscopy (structured illumination microscopy) revealed that deleting the IA junction increases the strain on titin’s molecular spring elements without altering thick filament length. Single cell biomechanical measurements showed that this increases passive stiffness while functional studies at the whole animal level revealed diastolic dysfunction, exercise intolerance, and modest concentric cardiac hypertrophy—signature features of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. Our studies support that titin is a promising therapeutic target for treating heart failure. Titin, the largest protein known, forms a giant filament in muscle where it spans the half sarcomere from Z disk to M band. Here we genetically targeted a stretch of 14 immunoglobulin-like and fibronectin type 3 domains that comprises the I-band/A-band (IA) junction and obtained a viable mouse model. Super-resolution optical microscopy (structured illumination microscopy, SIM) and electron microscopy were used to study the thick filament length and titin’s molecular elasticity. SIM showed that the IA junction functionally belongs to the relatively stiff A-band region of titin. The stiffness of A-band titin was found to be high, relative to that of I-band titin (∼40-fold higher) but low, relative to that of the myosin-based thick filament (∼70-fold lower). Sarcomere stretch therefore results in movement of A-band titin with respect to the thick filament backbone, and this might constitute a novel length-sensing mechanism. Findings disproved that titin at the IA junction is crucial for thick filament length control, settling a long-standing hypothesis. SIM also showed that deleting the IA junction moves the attachment point of titin’s spring region away from the Z disk, increasing the strain on titin’s molecular spring elements. Functional studies from the cellular to ex vivo and in vivo left ventricular chamber levels showed that this causes diastolic dysfunction and other symptoms of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Thus, our work supports titin’s important roles in diastolic function and disease of the heart.
Bicarbonate transport in health and disease

Bicarbonate (HCO3−) has a central place in human physiology as the waste product of mitochondrial energy production and for its role in pH buffering throughout the body. Because bicarbonate is impermeable to membranes, bicarbonate transport proteins are necessary to enable control of bicarbonate levels across membranes. In humans, 14 bicarbonate transport proteins, members of the SLC4 and SLC26 families, function by differing transport mechanisms. In addition, some anion channels and ZIP metal transporters contribute to bicarbonate movement across membranes. Defective bicarbonate transport leads to diseases, including systemic acidosis, brain dysfunction, kidney stones, and hypertension. Altered expression levels of bicarbonate transporters in patients with breast, colon, and lung cancer suggest an important role of these transporters in cancer. © 2014 IUBMB Life, 66(9):596–615, 2014
Total Communication Effects—A Longitudinal Study of a School for the Deaf in Transition

A 10-year study evaluating the effects of introducing Total Communication into a previously oral/aural school environment was undertaken by St. Mary's School for the Deaf with researchers at the National Technical Institute for the Deaf.The report provides data on students' achievement levels and communication skills. Faculty evaluated Total Communication effects on academic achievement, speech development, speechreading, reading, and writing.Three groups were studied: Pre-TC, students enrolled five years prior to Total Communication; Mixed, students who received part of their education under the oral/aural method and part under the Total Communication method; and TC, students who had all their education in Total Communication. Faculty and staff perceptions and empirical test results indicate important changes in achievement levels and communication skills. Causal factors and the impact of Total Communication are examined.
Urinary interleukin-18 is a marker of human acute tubular necrosis.

BACKGROUND Interleukin-18 (IL-18) is a mediator of ischemic acute tubular necrosis (ATN) in mice. METHODS IL-18 was measured in human urine to determine whether it might serve as a marker of ATN. Seventy-two patients, including healthy controls, patients with different forms of acute renal failure, and patients with other renal diseases, were studied. RESULTS Patients with ATN had significantly greater median urinary IL-18 concentrations than those with all other conditions: patients with ATN, 644 pg/mg creatinine (mean, 814 +/- 151 [SE] pg/mg creatinine; P <0.0001) versus healthy controls, 16 pg/mg creatinine (mean, 23 +/- 9 pg/mg creatinine); patients with prerenal azotemia, 63 pg/mg creatinine (mean, 155 +/- 68 pg/mg creatinine); patients with urinary tract infection, 63 pg/mg creatinine (mean, 149 +/- 110 pg/mg creatinine); those with chronic renal insufficiency, 12 pg/mg creatinine (mean, 84 +/- 45 pg/mg creatinine); and patients with nephrotic syndrome, 34 pg/mg creatinine (mean, 67 +/- 47 pg/mg creatinine). Median urinary IL-18 concentrations measured in the first 24 hours after kidney transplantation were 924 pg/mg creatinine (mean, 1,199 +/- 187 pg/mg creatinine) in patients who received a cadaveric kidney that developed delayed graft function compared with 171 pg/mg creatinine (mean, 367 +/- 102 pg/mg creatinine) in patients who received a cadaveric kidney with prompt graft function and 73 pg/mg creatinine (mean, 176 +/- 107 pg/mg creatinine) in patients who received a kidney with prompt graft function from a living donor (P <0.002). In kidney transplant recipients, lower urinary IL-18 levels were associated with a steeper decline in serum creatinine concentrations postoperative days 0 to 4 (P = 0.009). CONCLUSION IL-18 levels are elevated in urine in patients with ATN and delayed graft function compared with other renal diseases. Urinary IL-18 may serve as a marker for proximal tubular injury in ATN. The clinical application of this test may be substantial because it is reliable, inexpensive, and easy to perform.
Calcium and pH-dependent packing and release of the gel-forming MUC2 mucin

MUC2, the major colonic mucin, forms large polymers by N-terminal trimerization and C-terminal dimerization. Although the assembly process for MUC2 is established, it is not known how MUC2 is packed in the regulated secretory granulae of the goblet cell. When the N-terminal VWD1-D2-D′D3 domains (MUC2-N) were expressed in a goblet-like cell line, the protein was stored together with full-length MUC2. By mimicking the pH and calcium conditions of the secretory pathway we analyzed purified MUC2-N by gel filtration, density gradient centrifugation, and transmission electron microscopy. At pH 7.4 the MUC2-N trimer eluted as a single peak by gel filtration. At pH 6.2 with Ca2+ it formed large aggregates that did not enter the gel filtration column but were made visible after density gradient centrifugation. Electron microscopy studies revealed that the aggregates were composed of rings also observed in secretory granulae of colon tissue sections. The MUC2-N aggregates were dissolved by removing Ca2+ and raising pH. After release from goblet cells, the unfolded full-length MUC2 formed stratified layers. These findings suggest a model for mucin packing in the granulae and the mechanism for mucin release, unfolding, and expansion.
Characterization of pain, disability, and psychological burden in Marfan syndrome

The clinical manifestations of Marfan syndrome frequently cause pain. This study aimed to characterize pain in a cohort of adults with Marfan syndrome and investigate demographic, physical, and psychological factors associated with pain and pain‐related disability. Two hundred and forty‐five participants (73% female, 89% non‐Hispanic white, 90% North American) completed an online questionnaire assessing clinical features of Marfan syndrome, pain severity, pain‐related disability, physical and mental health, depressive symptoms, pain catastrophizing, and insomnia. Eighty‐nine percent of respondents reported having pain with 28% of individuals reporting pain as a presenting symptom of Marfan syndrome. Almost half of individuals reported that pain has spread from its initial site. Participants in our study reported poor physical and mental health functioning, moderate pain‐related disability, and mild levels of depressive symptoms, sleep disturbances, and pain catastrophizing. Those who identified pain as an initial symptom of Marfan syndrome and those who reported that pain had spread from its initial site reported greater psychological burden compared with those without pain as an initial symptom or pain spreading. Physical health is the largest predictor of pain severity and pain‐related disability. While pain catastrophizing and worse mental health functioning are significant correlates of pain severity and pain‐related disability, respectively. Pain is a significant and persistent problem in Marfan syndrome and is associated with profound disability and psychological burden. Further studies are indicated to better characterize the directionality of pain, pain‐related disability, and psychological burden in Marfan syndrome. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Electronic Band Structure and Material Gain of Dilute Nitride Quantum Wells Grown on InP Substrate

The eight-band kp Hamiltonian is applied to calculate electronic band structure and material gain in dilute nitride quantum wells (QWs) grown on InP substrate. Three N-containing QW materials (GaInNAs, GaNAsSb, and GaNPSb) and different N-free barriers (GaInAs, GaAsSb, GaPSb, AlGaInAs, GaInPAs, AlGaAsSb, GaPAsSb, and AlGaPSb) lattice matched to InP are analyzed. It is shown that Ga<sub>0.17</sub>In<sub>0.83</sub>N<sub>y</sub> As<sub>1-y</sub>-QWs with Ga<sub>0.47</sub>In<sub>0.53</sub>As, Al<sub>0.23</sub>Ga<sub>0.24</sub>In<sub>0.53</sub>As, or Ga<sub>0.17</sub>In<sub>0.83</sub>P<sub>0.63</sub>As<sub>0.37</sub> barriers are a very good gain medium for long-wavelength lasers grown on InP substrates. For N-free QWs the transverse electric (TE) mode of the material gain develops at 2.1 μm. This gain peak shifts toward longer wavelengths upon the incorporation of nitrogen and reaches the wavelength of ~2.8 Mm for 3% N. For GaN<sub>y</sub>As<sub>0.26-y</sub>Sb<sub>0.74</sub>-QWs no quantum confinement or very weak quantum confinement exist for electrons in N-free QWs with the ternary barrier (i.e., GaAs<sub>0.51</sub>Sb<sub>0.49</sub>) and quaternary (Al<sub>0.23</sub>Ga<sub>0.77</sub>As<sub>0.51</sub>Sb<sub>0.49</sub> and GaP<sub>0.25</sub>As<sub>0.15</sub>Sb<sub>0.60</sub>) barriers, respectively. However, the quantum confinement in the conduction band strongly increases after incorporation of nitrogen. For GaN<sub>y</sub>As<sub>0.26-y</sub>Sb<sub>0.74</sub>-QWs with 3% N gain peak for TE mode exists at 3.2 μm. Very similar changes in electronic band structure and material gain are noticed for GaN<sub>y</sub>P<sub>0.26-y</sub>Sb<sub>0.74</sub>-QWs with GaP<sub>0.35</sub>Sb<sub>0.65</sub>, Al<sub>0.23</sub>Ga<sub>0.77</sub>As<sub>0.52</sub>Sb<sub>0.48</sub>, and GaP<sub>0.25</sub>As<sub>0.15</sub> Sb<sub>0.60</sub> barriers. In that case gain peak (TE mode) for GaN<sub>0.03</sub>P<sub>0.23</sub>Sb<sub>0.74</sub>-QW with GaP<sub>0.35</sub>Sb<sub>0.65</sub> barrier is at 3.6 μm. The intensity and the shape of material gain spectra in the three QW system vary with changes of the nitrogen concentration and the barrier content. At carrier concentration of 5 × 10<sup>18</sup> cm<sup>-3</sup>, the largest material gain exists for Ga<sub>0.17</sub>In<sub>0.83</sub>N<sub>y</sub>As<sub>1-y</sub>-QWs with Al<sub>0.23</sub>Ga<sub>0.24</sub>In<sub>0.53</sub>As and Ga<sub>0.17</sub>In<sub>0.83</sub>As<sub>0.37</sub>Ga<sub>0.63</sub> barriers.
Protein secretion in Bacillus species

Bacilli secrete numerous proteins into the environment. Many of the secretory proteins, their export signals, and their processing steps during secretion have been characterized in detail. In contrast, the molecular mechanisms of protein secretion have been relatively poorly characterized. However, several components of the protein secretion machinery have been identified and cloned recently, which is likely to lead to rapid expansion of the knowledge of the protein secretion mechanism in Bacillus species. Comparison of the presently known export components of Bacillus species with those of Escherichia coli suggests that the mechanism of protein translocation across the cytoplasmic membrane is conserved among gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria differences are found in steps preceding and following the translocation process. Many of the secretory proteins of bacilli are produced industrially, but several problems have been encountered in the production of Bacillus heterologous secretory proteins. In the final section we discuss these problems and point out some possibilities to overcome them.
Cumulation and Anti-dumping: A Challenge to Competition

Competition policy emerged as an important area of interest during the later stages of Uruguay Round negotiations. The task of establishing competition policy is complicated by the fact that there already are trade statutes---antidumping, countervailing duty, safeguard actions---that relate to issues of competition. Interestingly, the existing trade statutes often seemed designed to reduce the effect of foreign competition on domestic producers. The tension between the existing trade statutes and competition policy is most probably most clearly evidenced by antidumping law, the most widely used trade statute. In this paper I will concentrate on how one specific amendment, the cumulation provision, clearly makes AD an anti-competitive law and exemplifies the challenges that face those policy-makers who hope to move toward to an economically justified competition policy. Evidence will show that cumulation has led to more multiple petition filings and to smaller competitors being named. I will also argue that cumulation has changed the outcome (from negative to affirmative) in dozens, and possibly hundreds, of cases. Given all of these effects, cumulation should be viewed as a significant obstacle to those interested in assimilating AD law into the broader notion of competition policy.
Lipid profile fractions responsible for non ST-Elevation myocardial infarction in unstable angina patients of south India

Background: Although it is well known that dyslipidemia is the major risk factor for developing acute coronary syndrome (ACS) but its role in causing minor myocardial damage in unstable angina (UA) patients is rarely studied in south India, where obesity and dyslipidemia has been more common due to genetic and life style factors. Objective: The aim of our study was to find out the role of lipid profile parameters predicting the occurrence of non STelevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) in the patients of UA. Methods: In this study, the laboratory parameters like troponin-I and serum total cholesterol (TC), triacylglycerol (TAG), low density lipoproteins (LDL), high density lipoproteins (HDL) were estimated in all patients of UA by using commercially available kits whereas TC/HDL and LDL/HDL ratio were calculated manually. The lipid levels were compared between troponin-I positive i.e. NSTEMI group and troponin-I negative i.e. UA groups. The data was analyses by using unpaired Ttest and forward type of logistic regression analysis. Results: The TC/HDL was found to be the only factor predicting the occurrence of NSTEMI in UA patients, even though the mean values of serum TC, TAG, TC/HDL and LDL/HDL ratio were significantly high in NSTEMI group as compared to UA group. Conclusion: It can be concluded that TC/HDL ratio is the best risk predictor of myocardial damage in unstable angina patients of south India.