Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Debris Characterization And Mitigation Of Droplet Laser Plasma Sources For Euv Lithography

Extreme ultraviolet lithography (EUVL) is a next generation lithographic techniques under development for fabricating semiconductor devices with feature sizes smaller than 32 nm. The optics to be used in the EUVL steppers is reflective optics with multilayer mirror coatings on each surface. The wavelength of choice is 13.5 nm determined by the optimum reflectivity of the mirror coatings. The light source required for this wavelength is derived from a hot-dense plasma produced by either a gas discharge or a laser. This study concentrate only on the laser produced plasma source because of its advantages of scalability to higher repetition rates. The design of a the laser plasma EUVL light source consists of a plasma produced from a high-intensity focused laser beam from a solid/liquid target, from which radiation is generated and collected by a large solid angle mirror or array of mirrors. The collector mirrors have the same reflectivity characteristics as the stepper mirrors. The EUVL light source is considered as the combination of both the hot-dense plasma and the collector mirrors. The EUVL light sources required by the stepper manufacturers must have sufficient EUV output power and long operational lifetimes to meet market-determined chip production rates. The most influential factor in achieving the required EUV output power is the conversion efficiency (CE) of laser input energy relative to the EUV radiation collected. A high CE is demonstrated in a separate research program by colleagues in the Laser Plasma laboratory at CREOL. Another important factor for the light source is the reflectivity lifetime of the collection optics as mirror reflectivity can be degraded by deposition and ablation from the plasma debris. Realization of a high CE but low debris plasma source is possible by
Mice With Hyperghrelinemia Are Hyperphagic and Glucose Intolerant and Have Reduced Leptin Sensitivity

OBJECTIVE Ghrelin is the only known peripheral hormone to increase ingestive behavior. However, its role in the physiological regulation of energy homeostasis is unclear because deletion of ghrelin or its receptor does not alter food intake or body weight in mice fed a normal chow diet. We hypothesized that overexpression of ghrelin in its physiological tissues would increase food intake and body weight. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS We used bacterial artificial chromosome transgenesis to generate a mouse model with increased ghrelin expression and production in the stomach and brain. We investigated the effect of ghrelin overexpression on food intake and body weight. We also measured energy expenditure and determined glucose tolerance, glucose stimulated insulin release, and peripheral insulin sensitivity. RESULTS Ghrelin transgenic (Tg) mice exhibited increased circulating bioactive ghrelin, which was associated with hyperphagia, increased energy expenditure, glucose intolerance, decreased glucose stimulated insulin secretion, and reduced leptin sensitivity. CONCLUSIONS This is the first report of a Tg approach suggesting that ghrelin regulates appetite under normal feeding conditions and provides evidence that ghrelin plays a fundamental role in regulating β-cell function.
An Architectural Model of Multi-Agent Systems for Student Evaluation in Collaborative Game Software

The teaching of computer programming for beginners has been generally considered as a difficult and challenging task. Several methodologies and research tools have been developed, however, the difficulty of teaching still remains. Our work integrates the state of the art in teaching programming with game software and further provides metrics for the evaluation of student performance in a collaborative activity of playing games. This paper aims to present a multi-agent system architecture to be incorporated to the educational collaborative game software for teaching programming that monitors, evaluates and encourages collaboration by the participants. A literature review has been made on the concepts of Collaborative Learning, Multi-agents systems, collaborative games and techniques to teach programming using these concepts simultaneously. Keywords—Architecture of multi-agent systems, collaborative evaluation, collaboration assessment, gamifying educational software.
Multi-modality imaging to assess left atrial size, anatomy and function

The left atrium (LA) anterior–posterior diameter was one of the first standardised echocardiographic parameters. However, the clinical importance of LA size assessment has been neglected for some time. Recent population-based studies have demonstrated the prognostic value of LA size for long-term outcome. Furthermore, with new dedicated techniques such as tissue Doppler imaging, it has become feasible to assess (regional) LA function. In addition, the introduction of catheter ablation procedures has changed the treatment of patients with drug-refractory atrial fibrillation (AF) dramatically. New image integration systems have become available for these catheter ablation procedures. With the use of image integration systems, a real anatomical “roadmap” of the LA is provided for catheter ablation procedures. All these factors may explain the renewed interest in LA anatomy. In this article, the importance of assessment of LA size and LA anatomy is discussed. Furthermore, the various imaging modalities that are available for the non-invasive visualisation of the LA will be reviewed. In addition, the role of these imaging techniques in catheter ablation procedures for AF will be discussed.
Antiproliferative and antioxidant activity of Aegle marmelos (Linn.) leaves in Dalton's Lymphoma Ascites transplanted mice

Objective: The present investigation was performed to evaluate the antiproliferative and antioxidant activity of Aegle marmelos leaves in Dalton's Lymphoma Ascites (DLA)-bearing mice. Materials and Methods: The DLA cells maintained in vivo in Swiss albino mice were used for developing ascitic tumor in mice by intraperitoneal transplantation. The standardized 50% ethanolic extract of A. marmelos leaves (AMEE) was administered intraperitoneally in dose levels 200 and 400 mg/kg, after 24 hours of tumor inoculation in mice for two weeks. Results: The AMEE treatment significantly prevented (P<0.001) the increase in body weight due to tumor cell growth and increased the mean survival time of the tumor-bearing mice as compared to the untreated DLA control mice. The treatment of DLA-bearing mice brought down the Alanine Aminotransferase (ALAT), Aspartate Aminotransferase (ASAT), and alkaline phosphatase to normal levels. The extract decreased the levels of hepatic lipid peroxidation and increased the levels of hepatic antioxidants Glutathione, Superoxide Dismutase (SOD), and catalase. All the changes observed with AMEE treatment were dose dependent. Conclusion: The hydroalcoholic extract of A. marmelos exhibits strong antitumor and antioxidant activities in DLA-bearing mice.
Nonlinear dynamic systems modeling using Gaussian processes: Predicting ionospheric total electron content over South Africa

[1] Two different implementations of Gaussian process (GP) models are proposed to estimate the vertical total electron content (TEC) from dual frequency Global Positioning System (GPS) measurements. The model falseness of GP and neural network models are compared using daily GPS TEC data from Sutherland, South Africa, and it is shown that the proposed GP models exhibit superior model falseness. The GP approach has several advantages over previously developed neural network approaches, which include seamless incorporation of prior knowledge, a theoretically principled method for determining the much smaller number of free model parameters, the provision of estimates of the model uncertainty, and a more intuitive interpretability of the model.
Heritability and repeatability of sexual performance scores of rams.

Sexual performance has been subjectively measured with a libido test during screening of rams before public sale and breeding at the U.S. Sheep Experiment Station from 1990 to 2000. The objective of this study was to determine whether sexual performance was genetically influenced. Sexual performance scores ranged from 1 to 6 with scores increasing from sexually inactive to highly sexually active in the presence of estrous ewes. The overall average score was 3.5+/-0.02. Records from four breeds (Columbia, n = 807; Polypay, n = 1,668; Rambouillet, n = 1,208; and Targhee, n = 1,002) were combined into one analysis because breeds had similar phenotypic variances. Total number of records was 4,685, which included a second sexual performance test on 1,212 rams in the following year. Variance components were estimated using a REML algorithm. Fixed effects were breed of ram, selection line within breed, and year by breed. A permanent environmental effect for ram was included to account for repeated observations on individual animals. Age and weight of the rams at time of the libido test were linear covariates and were breed-specific. Adjusted means for sexual performance scores did not differ among breeds (P > 0.05). Age was a significant effect (P < 0.01), with sexual performance score increasing 0.05 units for each month of age. The additive genetic variance was estimated as 0.54. The estimate of variance due to ram permanent environmental effects was 1.19. The residual variance was estimated to be 0.67. The heritability estimate was moderate (0.22+/-0.04) and repeatability was high (0.72). These results imply that one screening for sexual performance provides a reliable measure of sexual performance and that favorable response to selection for ram serving capacity may be expected.
Retina High Symmetry of Visual Acuity and Visual Fields in RPGR-Linked Retinitis Pigmentosa

Julia-Sophia Bellingrath, G. Alex Ochakovski, Immanuel P. Seitz, Susanne Kohl, Eberhart Zrenner, Nicola Hanig, Holger Prokisch, Bernhard H. Weber, Susan M. Downes, Simon Ramsden, Robert E. MacLaren, and M. Dominik Fischer University Eye Hospital, Centre for Ophthalmology, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany Institute for Ophthalmic Research, Centre for Ophthalmology, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom Centre for Genomics and Transcriptomics, Tübingen, Germany Institute of Human Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Munich, Germany Institute of Human Genetics, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany Oxford Eye Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals, NHS Foundation Trust, United Kingdom Manchester Centre for Genomic Medicine, Central Manchester University Hospitals, NHS Foundation Trust, United Kingdom Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, United Kingdom
Compressed Synthetic Aperture Radar

In this paper, we introduce a new synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imaging modality which can provide a high-resolution map of the spatial distribution of targets and terrain using a significantly reduced number of needed transmitted and/or received electromagnetic waveforms. This new imaging scheme, requires no new hardware components and allows the aperture to be compressed. It also presents many new applications and advantages which include strong resistance to countermesasures and interception, imaging much wider swaths and reduced on-board storage requirements.
Psychosocial risks for major depression in late adolescence: a longitudinal community study.

OBJECTIVE An ongoing 14-year longitudinal study examined psychosocial antecedents of major depression in late adolescence in a community population. METHOD Subjects were 385 adolescents followed between the ages of 5 and 18 years. Early health, familial, behavior, academic, and environmental risks for major depression were identified using data collected at ages 5, 9, 15, and 18 years. At age 18, a lifetime diagnosis of major depression was assessed using the NIMH Diagnostic Interview Schedule (DIS-III-R). RESULTS For males, neonatal health problems, dependence problems at age 5 years, perceived unpopularity and poorer perceptions of their role in the family at age 9 years, remarriage of a parent, early family discord, and anxiety at age 15 years significantly increased the risk of developing major depression. Females with major depression, compared with nondepressed females, had older parents and came from larger families, and at age 9 years had greater perceived unpopularity and anxiety, lower self-esteem, and poorer perceptions of their role in the family. Depressed females also reported more stressful life events, including death of parent and pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS Underscoring the importance of early psychosocial factors in the later development of major depression and pointing to specific risks, our findings can aid in developing strategies for prevention and early intervention.
CYP105—diverse structures, functions and roles in an intriguing family of enzymes in Streptomyces

The cytochromes P450 (CYP or P450) are a large superfamily of haem‐containing enzymes found in all domains of life. They catalyse a variety of complex reactions, predominantly mixed‐function oxidations, often displaying highly regio‐ and/or stereospecific chemistry. In streptomycetes, they are predominantly associated with secondary metabolite biosynthetic pathways or with xenobiotic catabolism. Homologues of one family, CYP105, have been found in all Streptomyces species thus far sequenced. This review looks at the diverse biological functions of CYP105s and the biosynthetic/catabolic pathways they are associated with. Examples are presented showing a range of biotransformative abilities and different contexts. As biocatalysts capable of some remarkable chemistry, CYP105s have great biotechnological potential and merit detailed study. Recent developments in biotechnological applications which utilize CYP105s are described, alongside a brief overview of the benefits and drawbacks of using P450s in commercial applications. The role of CYP105s in vivo is in many cases undefined and provides a rich source for further investigation into the functions these enzymes fulfil and the metabolic pathways they participate in, in the natural environment.
Job satisfaction and turnover intent of primary healthcare nurses in rural South Africa: a questionnaire survey.

AIM This paper is a report of a correlational study of the relationships between demographic variables, job satisfaction, and turnover intent among primary healthcare nurses in a rural area of South Africa. BACKGROUND Health systems in Southern Africa face a nursing shortage fuelled by migration, but research on job satisfaction and turnover intent of primary healthcare nurses remains poorly described. METHOD A cross-sectional study with survey design was conducted in 2005 in all local primary healthcare clinics, including nurses on duty at the time of visit (n = 143). Scale development, anova, Spearman's rank correlation, and logistic regression were applied. RESULTS Nurses reported satisfaction with work content and coworker relationships and dissatisfaction with pay and work conditions. Half of all nurses considered turnover within two years, of whom three in ten considered moving overseas. Job satisfaction was statistically significantly associated with unit tenure (P < 0·05), professional rank (P < 0·01) and turnover intent (P < 0·01). Turnover intent was statistically significantly explained by job satisfaction, age and education (P < 0·001), with younger and higher educated nurses being more likely to show turnover intent. Satisfaction with supervision was the only facet significantly explaining turnover intent when controlling for age, education, years of nursing and unit tenure (P < 0·001). CONCLUSION Strategies aimed at improving job satisfaction and retention of primary healthcare nurses in rural South Africa should rely not only on financial rewards and improved work conditions but also on adequate human resource management.
A Soft Set based Group Decision Making Method with Criteria Weight

— Molodstov’s soft sets theory was originally proposed as general mathematical tool for dealing with uncertainty problems. The matrix form has been introduced in soft set and some of its properties have been discussed. However, the formulation of soft matrix in group decision making problem only with equal importance weights of criteria, which does not show the true opinion of decision maker on each criteria. The aim of this paper is to propose a method for solving group decision making problem incorporating the importance of criteria by using soft matrices in a more objective manner. The weight of each criterion is calculated by using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) method. An example of house selection process is given to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
EFFICACY OF PYRETHROID AND BORON PRESERVATIVES IN PROTECTING PARTICLEBOARDS AGAINST FUNGUS AND TERMITE

Pyrethroid-formulated preservatives were investigated for their efficacy in protecting rubberwood and empty fruit bunches (EFB) particleboards against fungi and termites. Timberlife®, Stoprot® and Cislin® solutions (5% w/w of particles) were incorporated in rubberwood (clone RRIM 2002), EFB and rubberwood–EFB blend (70:30) particleboards by spraying the solutions separately into the furnish during blending. Boric acid (0.5% w/w) was used for comparison. A low formaldehyde emission melamine urea formaldehyde (MUF) resin (E1 grade) was used as binder. The pressing time of each type of board was determined by studying the gelation time of the adhesive mixture with added preser vatives. With the exception of Timberlife®, all preser vatives markedly increased the gelation time of the resulting adhesive mixture. The gel time for control mixture (without preservative) was 360 s. The resistance of treated particleboards against biodeterioration agents was evaluated based on weight loss of testing blocks after exposure to white rot fungus (Pycnoporus sanguineus) and subterranean termite (Coptotermes curvignathus). The resistance of particleboards either against white rot fungus or termite can be enhanced through incorporation of small amount of pyrethroid formulated preservatives through spraying during blending of furnish. Timberlife® provided the best protection of these particleboards against P. sanguineus. Cislin® offered the best protection for EFB particleboard against termite. Stoprot® gave fair protection to all particleboards against white rot fungus and termite, while boric acid still gave the best protection to rubberwood particleboard against termite.
Use of the Scoliosis Research Society Outcomes Instrument to Evaluate Patient Outcome in Untreated Idiopathic Scoliosis Patients in Japan: Part I: Comparison With Nonscoliosis Group: Preliminary/Limited Review in a Japanese Population

Study Design. This preliminary study evaluates untreated Japanese patients with idiopathic scoliosis using the Scoliosis Research Society Outcomes Instrument (SRS-24). Objectives. To determine the baseline patient outcome score using the SRS-24 for untreated Japanese scoliosis patients compared with a nonscoliosis group. Summary of Background Data. The SRS instrument with 24 questions was developed to help evaluate patient-perceived outcomes of idiopathic scoliosis treatment. Evaluation of untreated Japanese idiopathic scoliosis patients using the SRS instrument has not been reported. Methods. Japanese idiopathic scoliosis patients (n = 141) (mean age, 13.6 years; range, 10–17 years) with a Cobb angle of more than 20° who were not treated with a brace or surgery, were evaluated in comparison with a nonscoliosis group (healthy junior high school students; n = 72) using the SRS-24. The scoliosis group was categorized as mild deformity group with a major curve Cobb angle of less than 30°, moderate deformity group with 30° to 49°, and severe deformity group with more than 50°. The patients were evaluated using section 1 (15 questions) of the SRS-24, which was divided into four domains: total pain, general self-image, general function, and activity. Reliability, as determined by internal consistency, was validated using Cronbach’s alpha for these domain scales. Results. The severe deformity group had the lowest scores compared with the other deformity groups and the nonscoliosis group in pain (P < 0.0001) and self-image (P < 0.05) domains. The scores for questions 3 (P < 0.0001) and 5 (P < 0.0001), evaluation of self-image of back appearance, were significantly lower in the scoliosis group than those in the nonscoliosis group. This tendency was more significant in the patients with greater curve magnitude. Scores for questions 14 and 15, evaluation of general self-image, in the scoliosis group were, however, higher than those in the nonscoliosis group. Internal consistency using Cronbach’s alpha was 0.57 (pain), 0.27 (general self-image), −0.08 (general function), and 0.15 (overall level of activity). Conclusion. Untreated scoliosis patients with severe deformity were inclined to complain of being self-conscious or distressed regarding their back appearance compared with age- and sex-matched control adolescents. The control group was inclined to have, however, a negative general self-image compared with the patients group. Internal consistency using Cronbach’s alpha for all domains was considerably low. The baseline of the SRS-24 scores in the Japanese population might differ from that of the Western population because of differences in national culture. Therefore, further study is necessary to clarify the validity of the SRS-24 domains for Japanese patients.
Independence trees and Hamilton cycles

Let G be a connected graph on n vertices. A spanning tree T of G is called an independence tree, if the set of end vertices of T (vertices with degree one in T) is an independent set in G. If G has an independence tree, then α t(G) denotes the maximum number of end vertices of an independence tree of G. We show that determining αt of a graph is an NP-hard problem. We give the following analogue of a well-known result due to Chvatal and Erdos. If αt(G) ≤ κ(G) - 1, then G is hamiltonian. We show that the condition is sharp. An I≤k-tree of G is an independence tree of G with at most k end vertices or a Hamilton cycle of G. We prove the following two generalizations of a theorem of Ore. If G has an independence tree T with k end vertices such that two end vertices of T have degree sum at least n - k + 2 in G, then G has an I≤k-1-tree. If the degree sum of each pair of nonadjacent vertices of G is at least n - k + 1, then G has an I≤k-tree. Finally, we prove the following analogue of a closure theorem due to Bondy and Chvatal. If the degree sum of two nonadjacent vertices u and v of G is at least n - 1, then G has an I≤k-tree if and only if G + uv has an I≤k-tree (k ≥ 2). The last three results are all best possible with respect to the degree sum conditions. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Graph Theory 29: 227237, 1998
The Evolution of Social Behavior over Time in Second Life

The current study tracked 80 participants who spent an average of six hours per week in Second Life over six consecutive weeks. Objective measures of movement and chat were automatically collected in real time when participants logged in to Second Life. Data regarding the number of groups and friends was self-reported through online questionnaires on a weekly basis. Results demonstrated that although the social networks of users continued to broaden over the course of the study, users became less inclined to explore regions, decreased their use of high-energy actions such as flying or running, and chatted less. We discuss implications for theories of virtual social interaction as well as the use of Second Life as a social science research platform.