Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
ALVEOLAR EPITHELIUM DOWN-MODULATES ENDOTOXIN—BUT NOT TUMOR NECROSIS FACTOR ALPHA—INDUCED ACTIVATION OF ENDOTHELIUM AND SELECTIVELY INHIBITS NEUTROPHIL TRANSENDOTHELIAL MIGRATION

In a previous study, the authors reported the development of an optimized model bilayer of endothelium with alveolar epithelium using A549 cells, and that neutrophil transendothelial migration across endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide [LPS])-activated endothelial cells was attenuated by the apposition of the epithelium. Here the authors investigated whether this modulation by the epithelium extended to other stimuli such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, which, like LPS, activates proinflammatory gene transcription via nuclear factor (NF)-κ B–dependent mechanisms to induce neutrophil transendothelial migration. Unlike the response to LPS, neutrophil migration in response to TNF-α was not altered by the presence of lung epithelial cells, except at a low concentration of TNF-α upon alveolar directional exposure of the endothelium, i.e., from the epithelial side of the bilayer. Epithelial cells in the bilayer reduced expression of E-selectin on the endothelium in response to LPS, but not with TNF-α stimulation. The production of the chemokine CXCL8 was also differentially modulated by epithelium in response to these 2 mediators. The expression of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), which is involved in LPS recognition by endothelium, was not altered by epithelial cells, suggesting that the anti-inflammatory effect on endothelium may be via downstream LPS-induced signaling events. Inhibition of some candidate anti-inflammatory mediators produced by epithelium, such as nitric oxide, or the activity of interleukin (IL)-10 or transforming growth factor (TGF)-β had no effect on the inhibitory influence of the epithelium in the bilayers. The authors' findings demonstrate a selective role for alveolar epithelial cells, via either direct cell-cell contact or yet-to-be-identified but short-range or short-lived product(s) in attenuating endothelial responses to endotoxin.
Automatic On-Line Correction of Differential Phase in NTSC Signals

This paper describes the design, development and testing of a new type of coder/ decoder called 'The Double Burst Codec' for colour television signals. This has the simplicity of the NTSC system and the differential phase correcting property of the PAL system. It is realized by modifying the horizontal blanking interval of the video signal to incorporate two subcarrier bursts, one at the blanking level and the other at the maximum luminance level. The first burst is used to regenerate the subcarrier in the decoder while the second is used for phase comparison with the regenerated subcarrier. Any phase error between the two is available as a d.c voltage for correction purposes. The error voltage and the luminance level together are fed to a level dependent phase shifting network for automatic on-line correction of the differential phase in the chrominance signal.
A Varactor-Based All-Digital Multi-Phase PLL with Random-Sampling Spur Suppression Techniques

This paper presents a varactor-based all-digital phase-locked loop (ADPLL) with a multi-phase digitally controlled oscillator (DCO) for near-threshold voltage operation. In addition, a new all-digital reference spur suppression (RSS) circuit with multiple phases random-sampling techniques to effectively spread the reference clock frequency is proposed to randomize the synchronized DCO register behavior and reduce the reference spur. Because the equivalent reference clock frequency is reserved, the loop behavior is maintained. The area of the proposed spur suppression circuit is only 4.9% of the ADPLL (0.038 mm(2)). To work reliably at the near-threshold region, a multi-phase DCO with NMOS varactors is presented to acquire precise frequency resolution and high linearity. In the near-threshold region (V-DD = 0.52 V), the ADPLL only dissipates 269.9 mu W at 100 MHz output frequency. It has a reference spur of -52.2 dBc at 100 MHz output clock frequency when the spur suppression circuit is deactivated. When the spur suppression circuit is activated, the ADPLL shows a reference spur of 57.3 dBc with the period jitter of 0.217% UI.
Cooperation via Spectrum Sharing for Physical Layer Security in Device-to-Device Communications Underlaying Cellular Networks

In this paper, we investigate the cooperation issue via spectrum sharing when employing physical layer security concept into the device-to-device (D2D) communications underlaying cellular networks. First, we derive the optimal joint power control solutions of the cellular communication links and D2D pairs in terms of the secrecy capacity under a simple cooperation case and further propose a secrecy-based access control scheme with the best D2D pair selection mechanism. Then, we consider a more general case that multiple D2D pairs can access the same resource block (RB) and one D2D pair is also permitted to access multiple RBs, and provide a novel cooperation mechanism in the investigated network. Furthermore, we formulate the provided cooperation mechanism among cellular communication links and D2D pairs as a coalitional game. Then, based on a newly defined max-coalition order in the constructed game, we further propose a merge-and-split-based coalition formation algorithm for cellular communication links and D2D pairs to achieve efficient and effective cooperation, leading to improved system secrecy rate and social welfare. Simulation results indicate the efficiency of the proposed secrecy-based access control scheme and the proposed merge-and-split-based coalition formation algorithm.
Criminal behavior and victimization among homeless individuals with severe mental illness: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVES The objectives of the systematic review were to estimate the prevalence and correlates of criminal behavior, contacts with the criminal justice system, and victimization among homeless adults with severe mental illness. METHODS MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, and Web of Science were searched for published empirical investigations of prevalence and correlates of criminal behavior, contacts with the justice system, and episodes of victimization in the target population. RESULTS The search yielded 21 studies. Fifteen examined prevalence of contacts with the criminal justice system; lifetime arrest rates ranged between 62.9% and 90.0%, lifetime conviction rates ranged between 28.1% and 80.0%, and lifetime incarceration rates ranged between 48.0% and 67.0%. Four studies examined self-reported criminal behavior, with 12-month rates ranging from 17.0% to 32.0%. Six studies examined the prevalence of victimization, with lifetime rates ranging between 73.7% and 87.0%. Significant correlates of criminal behavior and contacts with the justice system included criminal history, high perceived need for medical services, high intensity of mental health service use, young age, male gender, substance use, protracted homelessness, type of homelessness (street or shelter), and history of conduct disorder. Significant correlates of victimization included female gender, history of child abuse, and depression. CONCLUSIONS Rates of criminal behavior, contacts with the criminal justice system, and victimization among homeless adults with severe mental illness are higher than among housed adults with severe mental illness.
Norepinephrine Plays an Important Role in Antinociceptive Modulation of Hypothalamic Paraventricular Nucleus in the Rat

ABSTRACT Our previous study has proven that hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) plays a role in antinociception. The effects of studied classical neurotransmitter on PVN antinociceptive modulation were investigated in the rat. The results showed: (1) Pain stimulation increased norepinephrine (NE), but not epinephrine, dopamine (DA), 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DA metabolic product), homovanilic acid (DA metabolic product), serotonin (5-HT), 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HT metabolic product), acetycholine (Ach), choline (Ach metabolic product), γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), and L-glutamate acid concentrations in the PVN perfusion liquid; (2) PVN stimulation with L-glutamate sodium, which excited local neurons only, did not influence the concentrations of the studied classical neurotransmitter and metabolic product in the PVN perfusion liquid; (3) Microinjection of NE, epinephrine, or L-glutamate sodium into the PVN elevated pain threshold, and local administration of GABA decreased pain threshold in a dose-dependent manner, but PVN administration of Ach, DA, or 5-HT did not change pain threshold; (4) Microinjection of phentolamine (α-receptor antagonist) or MK801 [NMDA-receptor antagonist] into the PVN reduced pain threshold, and local administration of bicuculline (GABA-receptor antagonist) raised pain threshold, but PVN administration of propranolol (β-receptor antagonist), atropine (Muscarinic cholinergic receptor antagonist), 6-OH gallamine (Nicotinic cholinergic receptor antagonist), fluperidol (DA-receptor antagonist), or cyproheptadine (5-HT-receptor antagonist) did not alter pain threshold. The data suggested that endogenous NE, not epinephrine, 5-HT, Ach, GABA, and L-glutamate acid played an important role in the PVN antinociceptive modulation.
Micro thermoelectric modules and their application to wristwatches as an energy source

Microthermoelectric (TE) coolers are currently used in high power electronic devices such as laser diodes to stabilize temperature. With the aim of miniaturizing this technology, we have developed a fabrication technique to create micro-TE modules with a cross-section element size of about 100 /spl mu/m/spl times/100 /spl mu/m and a height of several hundred mm. We have previously reported the cooling properties of a module fabricated by this technique. With the recent advances in micro-electric technology, which has decreased the energy consumption in an electric wristwatch to about 1 /spl mu/W, there has been increased discussion about utilizing these micro-TE modules to generate energy of several /spl mu/W to power a wristwatch. In response, we have developed a micro-TE module with an overall size of 2 /spl times/ 2 /spl times/ 1.3 mm consisting of more than 50 pairs of elements, and have succeeded in making and marketing a TE powered wristwatch. This paper presents the fabrication and the properties of the micro-TE module, as well as the TE powered wristwatch.
Marqueurs phénotypiques de la diversité des ressources génétiques du genre Hydrangea

La valorisation paysagere et horticole des especes du genre Hydrangea est basee sur l'exploitation de leur diversite phenotypique s'exprimant notamment dans les formes architecturales et les coloris. La collection de ressources genetiques, situee a Angers, comprend treize especes introduites en Europe a partir du 18eme siecle. L'analyse de la composition chimique des inflorescences, realisee pour la premiere fois sur l'ensemble du genre, permettra de completer la caracterisation genetique des especes et des clones. L'objectif de cette etude etait ainsi d'analyser les profils phenoliques d'un ensemble de clones ainsi que la diversite intra et interspecifique existant dans la collection. La caracterisation structurale et la quantification de 80 composes phenoliques presents dans les inflorescences de 99 genotypes repartis dans 11 especes du genre Hydrangea ont ete realisees. Ces composes se repartissent parmi 4 grandes classes chimiques : les flavonoides, les anthocyanes, les acides cinnamiques et les amines polyacylees. Une diversite importante existe entre les profils aussi bien des especes que des sous-especes. La structuration de cette diversite inter et intrapecifique est analysee. Ces connaissances nouvelles devraient permettre d'orienter les strategies de conservation et de selection.
Aggresomes and Autophagy Generate Sites for Virus Replication

The replication of many viruses is associated with specific intracellular compartments called virus factories or virioplasm. These are thought to provide a physical scaffold to concentrate viral components and thereby increase the efficiency of replication. The formation of virus replication sites often results in rearrangement of cellular membranes and reorganization of the cytoskeleton. Similar rearrangements are seen in cells in response to protein aggregation, where aggresomes and autophagosomes are produced to facilitate protein degradation. Here I review the evidence that some viruses induce aggresomes and autophagosomes to generate sites of replication.
Factors Affecting Loyalty of Mobile Social Networks' Users

Increasing world-wide trends of using mobile social networks and the rise of competition between different social applications makes it essential for social network providers and marketers to identify the key factors leading to user loyalty. The purpose of this paper is to identify the key factors that affect the loyalty of mobile social networks users. The proposed model was tested through structural equation modeling techniques and an online survey. The sample consisted of 388 mobile social networks users in Iran. The results indicate that sociability, entertainment and fashion are primary drivers of attitude toward a mobile social network. The results also show the significant role of attitude and satisfaction on consumer loyalty. This study helps both marketers and mobile social network providers know the key drivers of customer loyalty in order to tailor their marketing efforts and communication strategies.
Vancomycin or vancomycin plus netilmicin for methicillin- and gentamicin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus aortic valve experimental endocarditis

Using a rabbit model of aortic valve endocarditis, we studied the efficacy of vancomycin alone or in combination with netilmicin and/or rifampin against a methicillin- and gentamicin-resistant strain of Staphylococcus aureus (MGRSA). Antibiotics were given for 6 to 12 days, as follows: vancomycin (15 mg/kg of body weight every 12 h [BID] intravenously), vancomycin plus netilmicin (2.5 mg/kg BID intramuscularly), vancomycin plus rifampin (10 mg/kg BID intramuscularly), and vancomycin plus netilmicin plus rifampin at the same routes, dosages, and schedules mentioned above. Netilmicin was given to two additional groups at a higher dosage (6 mg/kg every 24 h intramuscularly) alone or in combination with vancomycin (15 mg/kg BID intravenously) for 12 days. All regimens resulted in undetectable bacterial counts in a significant proportion of vegetations (except netilmicin alone) or reduced the bacterial counts in the vegetations compared with the counts in the untreated controls (P<0.01 to P<0.001). No resistance to rifampin or netilmicin developed during therapy. It is concluded that in the treatment of experimental aortic valve endocarditis caused by MGRSA (i) vancomycin as monotherapy is as efficacious as the triple combination, (ii) the addition of netilmicin (once daily or BID) to vancomycin does not improve the efficacy of the latter antibiotic, even in the presence of rifampin, and (iii) a 12-day course in more effective than a 6-day one, but not at a statistically significant level.
Do Democratic Institutions Constrain or Inform? Contrasting Two Institutional Perspectives on Democracy and War

How do domestic political institutions affect the way states interact in international crises? In the last decade we have witnessed an explosion of interest in this question, thanks largely to the well-known claim that democratic states do not fight wars with one another. Work on the “democratic peace” has generated a number of theoretical arguments about how practices, values, and institutions associated with democracy might generate distinctive outcomes. Although the level of interest in this topic has focused much-needed attention on the interaction between domestic and international politics, the proliferation of competing explanations for a single observation is not entirely desirable. Progress in this area requires that researchers devise tests not only to support different causal stories but also to discriminate between them.
Oxidative respiration of skeletal muscle in experimental corticosteroid myopathy.

Abstract Mitochondrial alterations in corticosteroid myopathy seen by electron microscopy have suggested that impaired oxidative respiration may be an important factor in pathogenesis. The fiber types of individual muscles were characterized by histochemical methods because of the selective muscle weakness observed clinically in steroid myopathy. Biochemical studies of oxidative respiration were performed to determine the metabolic significance of the histochemical changes. The severity of effect of corticosteroids correlated with the percentage of Type II glycolytic fibers in the muscles studied. Oxidative respiration of isolated mitochondria in treated animals showed a differential response dependent upon the substrate. With α-ketoglutarate or glutamate, the gluteus medius, a homogenous Type II muscle, showed a decrease in respiratory rate while the Type I oxidative soleus muscle maintained its respiratory rate and showed tighter coupling. The gluteus minimus with mixed fiber population demonstrated an intermediate response. A qualitative difference in oxidative respiration occurred using β-hydroxybutyrate. The medius was unable to utilize this substrate while the soleus and minimus readily oxidized it. Resistance of individual muscles to corticosteroids appears to depend on multiple factors including the biochemical potential and relative proportion of the various fiber types in a specific muscle as well as the ability of mitochondria to oxidize fatty acids. An apparent increase in muscle mitochondrial protein and in the intensity of oxidative histochemical staining reactions suggested an attempt at metabolic compensation in the treated animals.
MR imaging of disorders of the Achilles tendon.

he Achilles tendon is among the most frequently injured tendons of the body with a variety of types of traumatic and overuse conditions affecting it. These conditions are common, often come to clinical attention, and are frequently imaged. The pathophysiology of Achilles disorders is complex, and the nomenclature is irregularly applied; this leads to miscommunication between clinicians and radiologists and inconsistencies in the literature. Therefore, we review the anatomy, MR imaging findings, and pathologic findings in an attempt to develop a systematic nomenclature. Gross Anatomy The Achilles tendon originates in the mid leg and is formed by the junction of the two heads of the gastrocnemius muscles and the soleus muscle [1, 2]. The bulk of the Achilles is formed from the gastrocnemius muscle. The larger medial head originates almost entirely from just proximal to the medial femoral condyle, and the smaller lateral head arises from both the posterior and lateral surfaces of the lateral femoral condyle. At the junction of the proximal and mid calf, the two heads of the gastrocnemius muscles and their tendons approximate midline. The gastrocnemius tendon origin is gradual, occurring over approximately 3‐4 cm. The fibers of the medial head originate slightly lower than those of the lateral head. The Achilles tendon is not formed until the soleus muscle inserts onto the gastrocnemius tendon, approximately 3‐4 cm more distally [2]. The plantaris muscle originates from the lateral meniscus and the lateral femoral epicondyle in close association with the lateral head of the gastrocnemius muscle. The plantaris tendon then crosses obliquely between the soleus and gastrocnemius muscles and continues just medial to the Achilles. Various plantaris insertions are seen, but most fibers insert on the medial aspect of the superior calcaneal tuberosity or 1 cm anterior and medial to the Achilles on the calcaneus, a distinct insertion point separate from that of the Achilles. The Achilles‐plantaris complex is termed the “triceps‐surae complex” [3].
Traffic performance evaluation of an optical packet switch with multicast operation

We recently proposed a multicast-enabled optical packet switch architecture utilizing multicast modules. In this paper, we evaluate the traffic performance of our earlier proposed packet switch under a hybrid traffic model through simulations. The multicast packets are given higher priority than unicast packets so that only a small number of multicast modules are needed. The results show that the switch can achieve an acceptable packet loss probability in conjunction with a packet scheduling technique.
The influence of age on the development of the hepatitis B carrier state

The relation between the age at infection with hepatitis B virus (hbv) and the development of the carrier state is examined by using data from a number of published and unpublished surveys. A remarkably consistent relation was found. Infants infected perinatally (within the first 6 months of life) were found to have a high probability of becoming carriers (0.885; 95% C.L. 0.84—0.93). Over the infant and early childhood age classes there was found to be a sharp decrease in the proportion of infections which lead to the carrier state. By adulthood (over 15 years) the probability of developing the carrier status was found to be about 0.1. A model was fitted to the data by using maximum likelihood, which provides a good empirical description of the observed data and can be used to predict the expected probability of developing the carrier state given the age at infection. It is postulated that, as a result of this rapid decline in the probability of becoming a carrier during early childhood, a mass childhood immunization campaign, which will tend to postpone the average age at infection in the unvaccinated community, will have a disproportionately large impact on the rate of generation of new carriers.
Activity of Erythromycin Against Staphylococcus Aureus

Erythromycin is a new antibiotic derived from Streptomyces erythreus. Its chemical and physical characteristics were described by McGuire et al. (1952), and its biological properties were investigated by the same workers and by other groups (Haight and Finland, 1952a, 1952b; Heilman et al., 1952). Erythromycin was found to be active in vitro in very low concentrations against a wide range of Gram-positive organisms, but was inactive against Gram-negative organisms with the exception of Neisseria, Haemophilus influenzae, Haemophilus pertussis, and strains of Brucella. Erythromycin, which can be given orally, has low toxicity for man and laboratory animals; it gives satisfactory concentrations in the blood and urine but not in the cerebrospinal fluid of normal persons (Heilman et al., 1952). The ability of erythromycin to protect mice against experimental infections was found to parallel the sensitivity in vitro of the infecting organism and to. be related to the blood concentration of the drug (McGuire et al., 1952). Clinical trials of erythromycin have been reported by Heilman et al. (1952) and by Haight and Finland (1952c). Favourable results have been obtained in various streptococcal, pneumococcal, and staphylococcal infections. Erythromycin has been shown to be particularly effective against staphylococci, whether the strains were penicillin-sensitive or penicillin-resistant (McGuire et al., 1952). There is an increasing emergence of strains of Staphylococcus aureus which are resistant to penicillin, streptomycin, and to one or more of the "broad-spectrum" antibiotics. The high incidence, especially in hospitals, of infections caused by such strains makes it highly desirable to have a new antibiotic at our disposal which is effective against staphylococci. Since it seems likely that this will be the chief potential role of crythromycin, the present report is devoted to laboratory experience of the drug's activity against pathogenic staphylococci.