Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparative analysis of false turn-ON in silicon bipolar and SiC unipolar power devices

The temperature and dV/dt dependence of false turn-ON has been analyzed for Silicon Carbide (SiC) Unipolar and Silicon Bipolar transistors, with switching rates varied by the gate resistances while temperature is varied by a hot plate connected to power modules. Self-heating is also investigated by measuring the temperature rise of the modules at high switching frequencies (8 kHz). This has resulted in continuous false turn-on occurrence in the device which has increased the device junction temperature significantly due to the repetitive shoot-through energy. Temperature rises of up to 150°C within just a few minutes have been observed as a result of repetitive shoot-through currents at high frequencies. To understand the impact of different mitigation techniques, the temperature rise is also observed after applying the corrections. It is seen that using the correction methods in the devices reduces the temperature rise significantly and therefore is vital for the applications of both Silicon and SiC devices.
The role of macro-economic indicators in explaining direct commercial real estate returns: evidence from South Africa

Abstract This study investigates the role of macro-economic indicators in explaining direct real estate returns in South Africa (SA). Literature review is conducted to identify factors that drive direct commercial real returns and the identified drivers are tested in an emerging market. The study applies SA annual commercial real estate returns including total returns, rental growth and capital growth published by the Investment Property Databank (IPD) over the past 20 years, from 1995 to 2014, as an independent variable. The most dominant and significant factors that explain total returns across all property types and provinces in South Africa are GDP, unemployment rates and interest rates which are macro-economic indicators. Our study finds key differences between the determinants of total return and change in capital values which are different from the variables which determine rental growth – the results also highlight the heterogeneity and complexity of real estate returns. These results are important for asset managers as well as government regulatory agencies to make better informed decisions in relation to factors which affect direct real estate returns in an emerging economy.
Pancreatic Stellate Cells and CX3CR1: Occurrence in Normal Pancreas and Acute and Chronic Pancreatitis and Effect of Their Activation by a CX3CR1 Agonist

Objectives Numerous studies suggest important roles of the chemokine, fractalkine (CX3CL1), in acute/chronic pancreatitis; however, the possible mechanisms of the effects are unclear. Pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) can play important roles in pancreatitis, secreting inflammatory cytokines/chemokines, as well as proliferation. Therefore, we investigated CX3CL1 receptor (CX3CR1) occurrence in normal pancreas and pancreatitis (acute/chronic) tissues and the effects of CX3CL1 on activated PSCs. Methods CX3CR1 expression/localization in normal pancreas and pancreatitis (acute/chronic) tissues was evaluated with immunohistochemical analysis. CX3CR1 expression and effects of CX3CL1 on activated PSCs were examined with real-time polymerase chain reaction, BrdU (5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine) assays, and Western blotting. Results In normal pancreas, acinar cells expressed CX3CR1 within granule-like formations in the cytoplasm, whereas in acute/chronic pancreatitis, acinar, ductal, and activated PSCs expressed CX3CR1 on cell membranes. With activation of normal PSCs, CX3CR1 is increased. CX3CL1 activated multiple signaling cascades in PSCs. CX3CL1 did not induce inflammatory genes expression in activated PSCs, but induced proliferation. Conclusions CX3CR1s are expressed in normal pancreas. Expression is increased in acute/chronic pancreatitis, and the CX3CR1s are activated. CX3CL1 induces proliferation of activated PSCs without increasing release of inflammatory mediators. These results suggest that CX3CR1 activation of PSCs could be important in their effects in pancreatitis, especially to PSC proliferation in pancreatitis where CX3CL1 levels are elevated.
Moral Values as Factors for Social Acceptance of Smart Grid Technologies

Smart grid technologies are considered an important enabler in the transition to more sustainable energy systems because they support the integration of rising shares of volatile renewable energy sources into electricity networks. To implement them in a large scale, broad acceptance in societies is crucial. However, a growing body of research has revealed societal concerns with these technologies. To achieve sustainable energy systems, such concerns should be taken into account in the development of smart grid technologies. In this paper, we show that many concerns are related to moral values such as privacy, justice, or trust. We explore the effect of moral values on the acceptance of smart grid technologies. The results of our systematic literature review indicate that moral values can be both driving forces and barriers for smart grid acceptance. We propose that future research striving to understand the role of moral values as factors for social acceptance can benefit from an interdisciplinary approach bridging literature in ethics of technology with technology acceptance models.
Mechanisms of leiomodin 2-mediated regulation of actin filament in muscle cells

Significance Actin filaments are the fundamental building blocks for cellular motility in muscle cells. However, the regulation of actin filaments in sarcomeres is poorly understood. Lmod is a class of potent tandem-G-actin–binding nucleators in muscle cells. Lmod mutations, deletion, or instability lead to lethal nemaline myopathy. Here we report the crystal structure of actin–Lmod2 complex and complementary functional studies. Our data collectively unraveled the mechanisms of Lmod’s essential functions as an actin nucleator and filament length regulator, thus providing a solid foundation for understanding the molecular basis of disease-causing mutations and malfunctions of Lmod that often are life threatening. Most importantly, our results suggest a previously unrecognized level of regulation in mammalian signal transduction mediated by certain tandem-G-actin–binding nucleators. Leiomodin (Lmod) is a class of potent tandem-G-actin–binding nucleators in muscle cells. Lmod mutations, deletion, or instability are linked to lethal nemaline myopathy. However, the lack of high-resolution structures of Lmod nucleators in action severely hampered our understanding of their essential cellular functions. Here we report the crystal structure of the actin–Lmod2162–495 nucleus. The structure contains two actin subunits connected by one Lmod2162–495 molecule in a non–filament-like conformation. Complementary functional studies suggest that the binding of Lmod2 stimulates ATP hydrolysis and accelerates actin nucleation and polymerization. The high level of conservation among Lmod proteins in sequence and functions suggests that the mechanistic insights of human Lmod2 uncovered here may aid in a molecular understanding of other Lmod proteins. Furthermore, our structural and mechanistic studies unraveled a previously unrecognized level of regulation in mammalian signal transduction mediated by certain tandem-G-actin–binding nucleators.
Public accessibility of biomedical articles from PubMed Central reduces journal readership—retrospective cohort analysis

Does PubMed Central—a government‐run digital archive of biomedical articles—compete with scientific society journals? A longitudinal, retrospective cohort analysis of 13,223 articles (5999 treatment, 7224 control) published in 14 society‐run biomedical research journals in nutrition, experimental biology, physiology, and radiology between February 2008 and January 2011 reveals a 21.4% reduction in full‐text hypertext markup language (HTML) article downloads and a 13.8% reduction in portable document format (PDF) article downloads from the journals' websites when U.S. National Institutes of Health‐sponsored articles (treatment) become freely available from the PubMed Central repository. In addition, the effect of PubMed Central on reducing PDF article downloads is increasing over time, growing at a rate of 1.6% per year. There was no longitudinal effect for full‐text HTML downloads. While PubMed Central may be providing complementary access to readers traditionally underserved by scientific journals, the loss of article readership from the journal website may weaken the ability of the journal to build communities of interest around research papers, impede the communication of news and events to scientific society members and journal readers, and reduce the perceived value of the journal to institutional subscribers. —Davis, P. M. Public accessibility of biomedical articles from PubMed Central reduces journal readership—retrospective cohort analysis. FASEB J. 27, 2536–2541 (2013). www.fasebj. org
Feasibility of Using Risk Factors to Screen for Psychological Disorder During Routine Breast Care Nurse Consultations

This study investigated using risk factors to psychosocial problems to screen for psychological disorders among 100 women with early-stage breast cancer. The National Health and Medical Research Council produced psychosocial clinical practice guidelines for health professionals working with women with breast cancer. They identified risk factors to psychosocial problems in breast cancer. The Breast Cancer-Vulnerability Index (BC-VI), which we developed, is composed of these empirically derived risk factors. This study investigated whether the breast care nurse-administered BC-VI correctly identifies women who had mood and/or anxiety disorders, in comparison with a psychiatric interview. We recruited 100 women with early-stage breast cancer after surgery and before adjuvant treatment. They completed questionnaires and were interviewed using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview. The breast care nurses rated women on the BC-VI using information gathered during clinical consultations. Results indicated that the BC-VI was correlated with diagnoses of anxiety and depressive disorders. However, cutoff scores for the BC-VI were not sufficiently sensitive or specific to use to identify those with clinical disorders. However, this was also the case for the included screening questionnaires. This article discusses the implications of these results and offers suggestions for future research.
Proinflammatory cytokine single nucleotide polymorphisms in nasal polyposis.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the association between nasal polyposis (NP) and single nucleotide polymorphisms of the proinflammatory cytokines IL (interleukin) 1alpha (the IL1A gene), IL-1beta (the IL1B gene), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (the TNFA gene). DESIGN Prospective case-control trial. SETTING Tertiary referral center. PATIENTS Eighty-two patients with NP and 106 healthy volunteers without sinonasal disease. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Genotypes of IL1A (4845G, 4845T), IL1B (-511C, -511T) and TNFA (-238G, -238A and -308G, -308A) were identified by restriction fragment length polymorphism analyses after polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS The 4845 GT and 4845 TT genotypes of the IL1A gene were associated with NP (P<.05). The frequency of the -511 CC genotype of the IL1B gene was significantly higher in patients with NP than in controls (P=.01). The frequency of the -511 CT genotype of IL1B was significantly higher (P=.01) in the controls than in the patients with NP. The -238 AA genotype of the TNFA gene was higher in the patients with NP than in the controls (P=.05). There was a significantly high risk of susceptibility to NP in patients with the -308 GA genotype of TNFA (P=.001). None of the genotypes of the proinflammatory cytokines were related to sex, the presence of atopy, asthma, or aspirin intolerance (P>.05). CONCLUSION The IL1A (4845 GT and 4845 TT), IL1B (-511 CC), and TNFA (-238 AA and -308 GA) genotypes were associated with susceptibility to NP in our study population.
Measurements and evaluations in low back pain patients

With the present review of literature, the authors intended to compare the definition terms, selection criteria, and measurement tools or methods used in different studies related to chronic low back pain (CLBP) patients. The relevance of including all the above information is that any health‐care professional can use them to evaluate their treatment methods with CLBP patients or use them in study designs according to their objectives. These measurements concern pain measurements, measures that were used to describe the CLBP pain, questionnaires used to measure the CLBP patients' responses to pain, the pain effects on their living activities, and also measurements of the physical abilities and functional performance. A computerized literature search in English MEDLINE was conducted using “low back pain,” and “flexibility, “strength,”“evaluation,”“functional level,” and “measurements” as search words. Identified abstracts were scanned, and useful articles were acquired for further review. Interms of CLBP definitions, the authors concluded that is best defined as a lumbar, sacral, or lumbosacral spinal pain that is continuous or essentially continuous but low level punctuated by exacerbations of pain, each of which is characterized as “acute. ” In order to establish the criteria for selecting participants in a study design related to CLBP, pain characteristics and clinical diagnoses have to be taken into consideration for obtaining homogeneity of groups. Finally, the selection of measurement tools and evaluation methods is related to the study's goals, the specialization of the researchers, and their validity.
Two-Degree-of-Freedom Control of a Two-Link Manipulator in the Rotating Coordinate System

As applications and tasks of robotic manipulators become more diverse and complicated, the desired motions of the robots also become more sophisticated and complicated. In spite of this diversity of tasks, the coordinate system to describe the tasks has not been changed much; the conventional Cartesian coordinate system is still the most widely used coordinate system. It is found in this paper that the rotating coordinate system significantly simplifies the kinematics of a two-link robotic manipulator with the biarticular actuation coordination, which is inspired from human muscles that can generate torques at adjoining two joints simultaneously. Taking the advantage of this simple kinematic relationship by the rotating coordinate system and the biarticular actuator coordination, the dynamics of the two-link manipulator is analyzed, and a disturbance observer (DOB) is designed based on the derived dynamics to nominalize the actual dynamics and to reject undesired disturbances. The proposed DOB-based control algorithm can achieve better control performance in the rotating coordinate system, and comparative experiments verify the effectiveness of the proposed coordinate system and control methods.
Diagnostic properties of the STOP-Bang and its modified version in screening for obstructive sleep apnea in Thai patients.

OBJECTIVE To test the diagnostic properties of the original and a modified STOP-Bang, as well as testing the additional use of a waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) of > or = 0.55 in screening for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in Thai patients. MATERIAL AND METHOD Three hundred and three patients (186 males and 117 females) who underwent anthropometric measurement and standard polysomnography were asked to complete the STOP-Bang questionnaire. Subjects were considered high-risk if their scores were > or = 3. Patients with significant co-morbidities were excluded. RESULTS Screening for OSA involved measurements of STOP-Bang sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value at several apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) cut-off points. At AHI 5, these values were 87.3%, 48.1%, 82.2%, and 52.2%, respectively. At AHI 15, these values were 92.6%, 36.4%, 58.5%, and 83.6%, respectively. The modified STOP-Bang (using a cut-off of BMI > 30 kg/m2) showed slightly increased sensitivities at the AHI cut-off points of 5 and 15 with values of 88.7% and 93.2%, respectively, with improved area under the curves. Furthermore, by applying the WHtR of > or = 0.55 to those patients who were classified as high-risk by the questionnaires, the specificities for predicting OSA were improved to 85.2% and 76.1% for the aforementioned cut-off points, respectively. CONCLUSION Both STOP-Bang and its modified version were highly sensitive measures for OSA screening in medical or dental clinics. However, the modified version might be more suitable for Thais and Asians, and the additional use of WHtR > or = 0.55 might be useful for reducing the unnecessary sleep investigation or management in those who were classified as high-risk patients.
Measurement of bronchial blood flow with radioactive microspheres in awake sheep.

Distribution of bronchial blood flow was measured in unanesthetized sheep by the use of two modifications of the microsphere reference sample technique that correct for peripheral shunting of microspheres: 1) A double microsphere method in which simultaneous left and right atrial injections of 15-microns microspheres tagged with different isotopes allowed measurement of both pulmonary blood flow and shunt-corrected bronchial blood flow, and 2) a pulmonary arterial occlusion method in which left atrial injection and transient occlusion of the left pulmonary artery prevented delivery to the lung of microspheres shunted through the peripheral circulation and allowed systemic blood flow to the left lung to be measured. Both methods can be performed in unanesthetized sheep. The pulmonary arterial occlusion method is less costly and requires fewer calculations. The double microsphere method requires less surgical preparation and allows measurement without perturbation of pulmonary hemodynamics. There was no statistically significant difference between bronchial blood flow measured with the two methods. However, total bronchial blood flow measured during pulmonary arterial occlusion (1.52 +/- 0.98% of cardiac output, n = 9) was slightly higher than that measured with the double microsphere method (1.39 +/- 0.88% of cardiac output, n = 9). In another series of experiments in which sequential measurements of bronchial blood flow were made, there was a significant increase of 15% in left lung bronchial blood flow during the first minute of occlusion of the left pulmonary artery. Thus pulmonary arterial occlusion should be performed 5 s after microsphere injection as originally described by Baile et al. (1). (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Should Inflation Measures Used by Central Banks Incorporate House Prices? The Czech National Bank's Approach

In this note we describe the Czech National Bank's approach to incorporating macroprudential considerations into monetary policy decision making: the use of a broader inflation measure that gives substantial weight to house prices and is considered along with headline CPI inflation. We argue that, in terms of theory, the broader inflation gauge is at least as suitable for measuring the value of money as headline CPI inflation is, but we also acknowledge practical problems that arise from the use of the broader index.
Oncogenic ras Causes Resistance to the Growth Inhibitor Insulin-like Growth Factor Binding Protein-3 (IGFBP-3) in Breast Cancer Cells*

Insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) inhibits proliferation and promotes apoptosis in normal and malignant cells. In MCF-10A human mammary epithelial cells, 30 ng/ml human plasma-derived IGFBP-3 inhibited DNA synthesis to 70% of control. This inhibition appeared IGF-independent, since neither an IGF-receptor antibody nor IGFBP-6 inhibited DNA synthesis. Malignant transformation of MCF-10A cells by transfection with Ha-rasoncogene abolished the inhibitory effect of IGFBP-3, concomitant with an increase in IGFBP-3 secretion and cell association of approximately 60 and 300%, respectively. When mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase activation was partially inhibited using PD 98059, IGFBP-3 sensitivity in ras-transfected cells was restored, with a significant inhibitory effect at 10 ng/ml IGFBP-3. PD 98059 had no effect on IGFBP-3 secretion or cell association by ras-transfected or parent MCF-10A cells. Hs578T, a tumor-derived breast cancer cell line that expresses activated Ha-ras, similarly has a high level of secreted and cell-associated IGFBP-3. In the absence of PD 98059, DNA synthesis by Hs578T cells was reduced to 70% of control by 1000 ng/ml IGFBP-3. PD 98059 increased sensitivity to IGFBP-3, so that this level of inhibition was achieved with 100 ng/ml IGFBP-3. These results suggest that MAP kinase activation by oncogenic rasexpression causes IGFBP-3 resistance, a possible factor in the dysregulation of breast cancer cell growth.
Gene Therapy of Prostate Cancer with the Soluble Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor Fk1

A variety of novel therapeutic approaches have emerged recently for the treatment of human cancers. We have coupled two of these therapeutic approaches, gene therapy and antiangiogenic therapy and tested them in two murine prostate cancer models Recombinant adenovirus encoding the ligand-binding ectodomain of the VEGF receptor 2 (Flk1) fused to an Fc domain was administered to SCID mice carrying orthotopic human LNCaP tumors as well as to transgenic (TRAMP) mice with spontaneous prostate tumors. Ad Flk1-Fc injection reduced tumor growth by 66% for orthotopic LNCaP tumors and by 42% for spontaneous tumors in TRAMP mice. Microvessel density in the primary tumors was reduced by 68% and 40% in the two models respectively. A decrease in microvessel density was also observed in lymphatic metastases in Ad Flk1-Fc-treated TRAMP mice and was correlated with a decrease in the frequency of regional metastases in the treated animals. Survival time was also extended in the Ad Flk1-Fc-treated TRAMP mice relative to the control-treated animals. Our results suggest that adenoviral delivery of soluble Flk1 receptor can reduce vascular density and prostate tumor growth and prolong survival time in orthotopically implanted tumors as well as in spontaneous prostate tumors in transgenic animals. Key Words: Gene therapy, VEGF receptor, Prostate cancer, Ultrasonography, Angiogenesis
Heterogeneous effects of B7‐1 and B7‐2 in the induction of both protective and therapeutic anti‐tumor immunity against different mouse tumors

Experimental mouse tumors are classified as intrinsically immunogenic when, after a single injection into syngeneic mice as nonreplicating cell vaccines, they elicit a protective immune response against a subsequent lethal challenge. Tumors that do not retain this residual immunogenicity are defined as poorly immunogenic or nonimmunogenic. The expression of the B7‐1 co‐stimulatory molecule on immunogenic tumors can further increase their capacity to induce a T cell‐dependent anti‐tumor immunity, whereas it has limited effects on nonimmunogenic tumors. Recently, B7‐2, a second molecule with an apparently similar co‐stimulatory activity, has been cloned. In this report, we compare the efficiency of nonreplicating cells from one immunogenic and two nonimmunogenic mouse tumors transfected with B7‐1 or B7‐2 in the induction of protective and curative anti‐tumor immunity. Immunogenic lymphoma cells expressing B7‐1 or B7‐2 are equally effective in both protecting against a subsequent challenge and curing established tumors. By contrast, nonimmunogenic adenocarcinoma and melanoma cells expressing B7‐2 provide superior protective immunity, and only B7‐2+ adenocarcinoma cells induce an efficient curative immunity. CD8+ and polymorphonuclear cells, but not CD4+ T cells, are critically involved in the rejection of the adenocarcinoma elicited by both B7‐1+ and B7‐2+ vaccines. These data indicate that B7‐1 and B7‐2 are not redundant co‐stimulatory molecules and that, in these experimental models, B7‐2 is superior to B7‐1 in the induction of an efficient immunity when the immunogenicity of a tumor is a limiting factor.