Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Defects Density of States Model of Cathodoluminescent Intensity and Spectra of Disordered SiO2

Electron beam measurements show that disordered SiO2 exhibits electron-induced luminescence and that it varies with incident beam energy and current density, sample temperature, and wavelength. A simple model based on the electronic band structure and defect density of states-initially used to explain electron transport in highly disordered insulating materials-has been extended to predict the relative cathodoluminescent intensity and spectral radiance for disordered SiO2 as a function of these variables. Due to the large bandgap of insulating SiO2, thermal excitation from the valence to conduction band is highly improbable; excitation is through collisions of the incident high-energy electrons. For visible and near-infrared light to be emitted, there must be other states within the forbidden bandgap for electrons to occupy. These localized defect or trap states of disordered SiO2 are due to structural or substitutional chemical defects. Results for both thin-film samples with penetrating radiation and thick bulk samples with nonpenetrating radiation are presented. The data were fit with the proposed model using saturation dose rate and mean shallow trap energy as fitting parameters, which favorably compare with results from independent experiments.
Modulation of Lactobacillus casei bacteriophage A2 lytic/lysogenic cycles by binding of Gp25 to the early lytic mRNA

The genetic switch of Lactobacillus casei bacteriophage A2 is regulated by the CI protein, which represses the early lytic promoter PR and Cro that abolishes expression from the lysogenic promoter PL. Lysogens contain equivalent cI and cro‐gp25 mRNA concentrations, i.e., CI only partially represses PR, predicting a lytic cycle dominance. However, A2 generates stable lysogens. This may be due to Gp25 binding to the cro‐gp25 mRNA between the ribosomal binding site and the cro start codon, which abolishes its translation. Upon lytic cycle induction, CI is partially degraded, cro‐gp25 mRNA levels increase, and Cro accumulates, launching viral progeny production. The concomitant concentration increase of Gp25 restricts cro mRNA translation, which, together with the low but detectable levels of CI late during the lytic cycle, promotes reentry of part of the cell population into the lysogenic cycle, thus explaining the low proportion of L. casei lysogens that become lysed (∼ 1%). A2 shares its genetic switch structure with many other Firmicutes phages. The data presented may constitute a model of how these phages make the decision for lysis versus lysogeny.
Relation of the stages of change for exercise behaviors, self-efficacy, decisional-balance, and diet-related psycho-behavioral factors in young Japanese women.

BACKGROUND A large proportion of young Japanese women is inactive. Exercise has important health benefits, however, abnormal weight/eating concerns and excessive dieting practices among physically active young women also have been reported in many cross-sectional studies. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between stages of change for exercise behaviors and exercise/dieting related psycho-behavioral factors using the Transtheoretical Model of behavior change as a theoretical framework. METHODS A cross-sectional study included 450 young Japanese women aged 18 to 21 (18.4+/-0.67 years). Subjects in precontemplation (n=111, 24.7%), contemplation (n=120, 26.7%), preparation (n=177, 39.3%), action (n=17, 3.8%), and maintenance (n=25, 5.6%) were compared on physique, body composition, current exercise practices, exercise self-efficacy, decisional balance (benefits and costs exercise), as well as dieting behaviors and weight/eating concerns. RESULTS Stages of change for exercise behaviors were significantly related to exercise self-efficacy and perceived benefits as well as to dieting behaviors and weight/eating concerns. Subjects in the higher stages had higher self-efficacy, perceived benefits of exercise, and healthy dieting behaviors; however, some of them also had unhealthier dietary practices, higher phobia of obesity and obsession with eating than those in lower stages. CONCLUSIONS These findings provide support for applying the transtheoretical model of exercise behavioral change to Japanese young women. Additionally, it is also important to pay attention to stage specific psycho-behavioral factors related to their dieting.
MultiText Legal Experiments at TREC 2008

Abstract : Our TREC 2008 effort used fusion IR methods identical to those used for our TREC 2007 effort; in addition we used logistic regression to attempt to learn the optimal K value for the primary F1@K measure introduced at TREC 2008. We used the Wumpus search engine combining several methods that have proven successful, including cover density ranking and Okapi BM25 ranking, and combination methods. Stepwise logistic regression was used to estimate K using TREC 2007 results as training data.
Brachytherapy after laser recanalization versus external beam radiotherapy after laser recanalization versus laser alone in inoperable oesophagocardial cancer: a controlled pilot study.

PURPOSE To compare the results of combined laser/radiation therapy with laser treatment alone, and to evaluate the potential benefit of brachytherapy vs. external beam radiotherapy after laser recanalization in patients with dysphagia due to oesophagocardial cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS Twenty patients with grade 4 malignant dysphagia caused by oesophagocardial cancer underwent Nd: YAG laser desobstruction up to grade 0-1. Ten of them were referred afterwards for external beam radiotherapy at a dose of 30 Gy for 10 sessions, while the remaining were administered endocavitary afteloading brachytherapy at a dose of 2x7.5 Gy. Twenty preselected patients (to maximally match the above group), who successfully underwent laser re-establishment of the continuity, served as controls to the groups described. Criteria for evaluation were: mean interval to re-stenosis, mean number of additional laser procedures needed, mean survival and Karnofski's performance status (PS). Patients were followed to death. Statistical analysis was carried out with the Student's t-test. RESULTS It was found that laser plus brachytherapy increased almost 3 times the interval to re-stenosis and decreased almost 2 times the need of additional laser usage in comparison to laser alone. It was also found that laser plus brachytherapy is statistically superior option to laser plus external beam radiotherapy. CONCLUSION Laser plus brachytherapy has the potential to become a single modality-single session treatment for the relief of dysphagia in patients with stage IV oesophagocardial cancer.
Paleoparasitological Surveys for Detection of Helminth Eggs in Archaeological Sites of Jeolla-do and Jeju-do

A paleoparasitological survey to detect helminth eggs was performed in archaeological sites of Jeolla-do and Jeju-do, the Republic of Korea. Total 593 soil samples were collected in 12 sites of Jeolla-do and 5 sites of Jeju-do from April to November 2011, and examined by the methods of Pike and coworkers. A total of 4 helminth eggs, 2 eggs each for Trichuris trichiura and Ascaris sp. , were found in soil samples from 1 site, in Hyangyang-ri, Jangheung-eup, Jangheung-gun, Jeollanam-do. The egg-recovery layer was presumed to represent a 19th century farm, which fact suggested the use of human manures. This is the third archaeological discovery of parasite eggs in Jeolla-do. Additionally, no helminth eggs in archaeological sites of Jeju-do is an interesting problem to be solved in the further investigations.
Did Pollination Shifts Drive Diversification in Southern African Gladiolus? Evaluating the Model of Pollinator-Driven Speciation

The pollinator-driven ecological speciation model has frequently been invoked to explain plant richness in biodiversity hotspots. Here, by focusing on Gladiolus (260 species), a flagship example of a clade with diverse pollination biology, we test the hypothesis that high species diversity in southern Africa, one of the world’s most floristically rich regions, has primarily been driven by ecological shifts in pollination systems. We use phylogenetic methods to estimate rates of transition between the seven highly specialized pollination strategies in Gladiolus. We find that pollination systems have evolved multiple times and that some pollination strategies arose by a variety of evolutionary pathways. Pollination shifts account for up to one-third of all lineage splitting events in the genus, providing partial support for the pollinator-driven speciation model. Transitions from the ancestral pollination mode to derived systems have also resulted in increased rates of diversification, suggesting that certain pollination systems may speed up speciation processes, independently of pollination shifts per se. This study suggests that frequent pollination shifts have played a role in driving high phenotypic and species diversity but indicates that additional factors need to be invoked to account for the spectacular diversification in southern African Gladiolus.
Zeeman tomography of magnetic white dwarfs. II, The quadrupole-dominated magnetic field of HE 1045-0908

We report time-resolved optical flux and circular polarization spectroscopy of the magnetic DA white dwarf HE 1045−0908 obtained with FORS1 at the ESO VLT. Considering published results, we estimate a likely rotational period of P rot 2.7 h, but cannot exclude values as high as about 9 h. Our detailed Zeeman tomographic analysis reveals a field structure which is dominated by a quadrupole and contains additional dipole and octupole contributions, and which does not depend strongly on the assumed value of the period. A good fit to the Zeeman flux and polarization spectra is obtained if all field components are centred and inclinations of their magnetic axes with respect to each other are allowed for. The fit can be slightly improved if an oﬀset from the centre of the star is included. The prevailing surface field strength is 16 MG, but values between 10 and ∼ 75 MG do occur. We derive an eﬀective photospheric temperature of HE 1045−0908 of T eﬀ = 10 000 ± 1000 K. The tomographic code makes use of an extensive database of pre-computed Zeeman spectra (Paper I).
Dissecting the molecular assembly of the Toxoplasma gondii MyoA motility complex

Apicomplexan parasites such as Toxoplasma gondii rely on a unique form of locomotion known as gliding motility. Generating the mechanical forces to support motility are divergent class XIV myosins (MyoA) coordinated by accessory proteins known as light chains. Although the importance of the MyoA–light chain complex is well-established, the detailed mechanisms governing its assembly and regulation are relatively unknown. To establish a molecular blueprint of this dynamic complex, we first mapped the adjacent binding sites of light chains MLC1 and ELC1 on the MyoA neck (residues 775–818) using a combination of hydrogen–deuterium exchange mass spectrometry and isothermal titration calorimetry. We then determined the 1.85 Å resolution crystal structure of MLC1 in complex with its cognate MyoA peptide. Structural analysis revealed a bilobed architecture with MLC1 clamping tightly around the helical MyoA peptide, consistent with the stable 10 nm Kd measured by isothermal titration calorimetry. We next showed that coordination of calcium by an EF-hand in ELC1 and prebinding of MLC1 to the MyoA neck enhanced the affinity of ELC1 for the MyoA neck 7- and 8-fold, respectively. When combined, these factors enhanced ELC1 binding 49-fold (to a Kd of 12 nm). Using the full-length MyoA motor (residues 1–831), we then showed that, in addition to coordinating the neck region, ELC1 appears to engage the MyoA converter subdomain, which couples the motor domain to the neck. These data support an assembly model where staged binding events cooperate to yield high-affinity complexes that are able to maximize force transduction.
A comparative study on the clinical and polysomnographic pattern of obstructive sleep apnea among obese and non-obese subjects

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to compare the pattern of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) among obese and nonobese subjects regarding clinical and polysomnographic data obtained for a polysomnographic study. METHODS: A cross-sectional retrospective descriptive study was conducted by analyzing polysomnographic data in 112 consecutive patients underwent a sleep study at our sleep laboratory from January 2009 to July 2010. Out of them, 81 were diagnosed to have OSA (apnea-hypopnoea Index ≥5). These patients were classified in two groups with body mass index (BMI) < 27.5 kg/m2 as nonobese and BMI≥27.5 kg/m2 as obese. Clinical as well as polysomnographic data were evaluated and compared between the two groups. Patients were also evaluated for other risk factors such as smoking, alcoholism, and use of sedatives. Data were subjected to statistical analysis (χ2-test, P value <0.05 considered to be significant). The Fisher Exact test was applied wherever the expected frequency for a variable was ≤5. RESULTS: Of 81 patients with OSA, 36 (44.4%) were nonobese with a mean BMI of 26.62 ± 2.29 kg/m2 and 45 (55.6%) were obese with a mean BMI of 35.14 ± 3.74 kg/m2. Mean AHI per hour was significantly more in the obese than in the nonobese group (50.09 ± 29.49 vs. 24.36 ± 12.17, P<0.001). The use of one or more sedatives was more in nonobese as compared to obese (58.3% vs. 24.4%, P=0.002). The obese group had significantly higher desaturation and arousal index (P<</i>0.001). The minimal oxygen saturation was lower in the obese than the nonobese group (68.5 ± 13.00 vs. 80.3 ± 7.40, P<</i>0.001) and was well below 90% in both groups. Overall, the OSA in nonobese patients was mild-to-moderate as compared to that of the obese and no significant differences were observed between them as regard to age, gender, mean neck circumference, excessive daytime sleepiness, adenoid or tonsillar enlargement, smoking, and remaining polysomnographic parameters. CONCLUSION: Obstructive sleep apnea can occur in nonobese persons though with less severity as compared to obese leading to a concept that OSA is not restricted to obese persons only and there is a high demand of its awareness regarding evaluation, diagnosis, and management in such individuals.
Modelling and Simulating Unsteady Six Degrees-of-Freedom Submarine Rising Maneuvers

Abstract : DRDC Atlantic is collaborating with ANSYS Canada and the University of New Brunswick to develop an unsteady, six degrees-of-freedom, Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) submarine maneuvering simulation capability. Initially, this is being used to evaluate emergency rising maneuvers. During these maneuvers, high negative angles of attack can occur which result in a roll instability not previously predicted by quasi-steady modelling. The objective of the RANS simulation is to reproduce the instability and investigate mitigation strategies. Models for weight and buoyancy when blowing, high incidence propulsion, and appendage and propulsion activation are presented and tested. A high incidence, quasi-steady, coefficient based hydrodynamic model used in previous stability analyses is also presented. These models are used for evaluating stability, testing the system models, and investigating different maneuvering scenarios in preparation for carrying out the computationally intensive RANS simulations. These preliminary investigations suggest the initial roll angle prior to blowing ballast, coupled with the roll instability and low pitch angles, plays an important role in the emergence roll angle.
Effect of Combined Fenofibrate and Nicotinamide on Oxidative Stress and Inflammatory Cytokines Involved in Cisplatin-Induced Nephrotoxicity in Rats

Cisplatin (Cis) is an anticancer drug, which is accompanied with major side effects including nephrotoxicity. The current study was performed to assess the possible prophylactic effects of fenofibrate (FEN), Nicotinamide (NAM) and their combination on oxidative stress and inflammatory cytokines associated with cisplatin-induced renal damage. Rats were randomly divided into seven groups (8 each) as follows; control group; FEN group (100 mg/kg/day p.o.); NAM group (200 mg/kg/day p.o.); FEN and NAM were administered for eight days. Cis group (7 mg/kg i.p. as a single dose on day five); FEN + Cis group; NAM + Cis group and FEN + NAM + Cis group. Urine, blood and kidneys were taken out for biochemical and histopathological analysis and scoring. Oxidative stress induced by Cis was evidenced by significant elevation in renal Malondialdehyde (MDA) level acompanied by significant decrease in Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) and Glutathione Peroxidase (GPx) in kidney tissues. Moreover, Cis produced significant increase in kidney Tumor Necrosis Factor-I± (TNF-I±) and Interleukin-6 (IL-6), the proinflammatory cytokines and significant decrease in Interleukin-10 (IL-10), the anti-inflammatory cytokine. However, administration of either FEN or NAM attenuated cisplatin-induced increased oxidative stress and inflammation in the kidney of rats, associated with improvement of the impaired renal function and histopathological changes, but their combination was found to be more effective in protection against cisplatin-induced renal damage than each drug alone. In conclusion, FEN and NAM combination protected the kidney tissue against cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity through their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities.
The Emergence of Anthroponotic Cutaneous Leishmaniasis Following the Earthquake in Southern Villages of Bam District, Southeastern Iran, 2010

Background: The objective of this study was to assess the epidemiological characteristics of a new emerging focus of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) in southern villages of Bam District, southeastern Iran, 2010. Methods: A house-to- house census survey of 5544 individuals were interviewed and physically examined for the presence of active lesions or scars. Diagnosis was confirmed by direct smears, cultures and identification by PCR. The data were entered into a computer and SPSS ver. 15. Results: Overall, 1.2% of the inhabitants were infected, 0.5% active and 0.7% scars and females were more significantly infected (1.7%) than males (0.8%), (P= 0.003). All age groups were equally affected. Most of the lesions were on the face and majority had single lesion. Most of the cases appeared from 2006 to 2008 during the CL epidemic in the city of Bam. PCR indicated L. tropica as the causative agent. Conclusion: The presence of non-immune individuals along with suitable ecological conditions could induce a new emerging focus of ACL in villages.
Physiological loading of tendons induces scleraxis expression in epitenon fibroblasts

Scleraxis is a basic helix–loop–helix transcription factor that plays a central role in promoting fibroblast proliferation and matrix synthesis during the embryonic development of tendons. Mice with a targeted inactivation of scleraxis (Scx−/−) fail to properly form limb tendons, but the role that scleraxis has in regulating the growth and adaptation of tendons of adult organisms is unknown. To determine if scleraxis expression changes in response to a physiological growth stimulus to tendons, we subjected adult mice that express green fluorescent protein (GFP) under the control of the scleraxis promoter (ScxGFP) to a 6‐week‐treadmill training program designed to induce adaptive growth in Achilles tendons. Age matched sedentary ScxGFP mice were used as controls. Scleraxis expression was sparsely observed in the epitenon region of sedentary mice, but in response to treadmill training, scleraxis was robustly expressed in fibroblasts that appeared to be emerging from the epitenon and migrating into the superficial regions of tendon fascicles. Treadmill training also led to an increase in scleraxis, tenomodulin, and type I collagen gene expression as measured by qPCR. These results suggest that in addition to regulating the embryonic formation of limb tendons, scleraxis also appears to play an important role in the adaptation of adult tendons to physiological loading. © 2011 Orthopaedic Research Society. © 2011 Orthopaedic Research Society Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 30:606–612, 2012
Total Ionizing Dose Radiation Effects in Al<sub>2</sub>O<formula formulatype="inline"> <tex Notation="TeX">$_{3}$</tex></formula>-Gated Ultra-Thin Body In<formula formulatype="inline"><tex Notation="TeX">$_{0.7}$</tex></formula>Ga<formula formulatype="inline"><tex Notation="TeX">$_{0.3}$</tex></form

We have investigated total ionizing dose (TID) radiation effects in Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>-gated ultra-thin body In<sub>0.7</sub>Ga<sub>0.3</sub> As MOSFETs. A non-monotonic dependence of the threshold voltage (<i>V</i><sub>th</sub>) on the X-ray radiation dose was observed and analyzed; the accompanying degradation in subthreshold swing (SS) likely is caused by non-uniform trapped charge in the near-interfacial Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> rather than interface-trap generation. The off-current and gate breakdown voltage were independent of dose up to 6 Mrad(SiO<sub>2</sub>). Compared to the InP-free device, the device with an InP barrier is more vulnerable to TID effects in terms of <i>V</i><sub>th</sub> shift, SS, and mobility degradation.
Monte Carlo Simulation for the ECAT EXACT HR+ system using GATE

GATE (Geant4 Application for Tomographic Emission) is a Monte Carlo simulation platform for nuclear medicine imaging, based on the Geant4 toolkit package. In order to improve data analysis and image quantification, a new simulator for the ECAT EXACT HR+ scanner was originally developed with GATE. In this study, we validate GATE simulations for positron emission topography (PET) imaging systems: a good agreement is obtained between simulated and actual experimental results. Additional GATE applications are also presented in the paper: an implementation of the voxelized Hoffman phantom and an example of a MRI/PET coupling system for improving image resolution.
Drifts and Volatilities: Monetary Policies and Outcomes in the Post WWII U.S.

For a VAR with drifting coefficients and stochastic volatilities, the authors present posterior densities for several objects that are of interest for designing and evaluating monetary policy. These include measures of inflation persistence, the natural rate of unemployment, a core rate of inflation, and "activism coefficients" for monetary policy rules. Their posteriors imply substantial variation of all of these objects for post WWII U.S. data. After adjusting for changes in volatility, persistence of inflation increases during the 1970s then falls in the 1980s and 1990s. Innovation variances change systematically, being substantially larger in the late 1970s than during other times. Measures of uncertainty about core inflation and the degree of persistence covary positively. The authors use their posterior distributions to evaluate the power of several tests that have been used to test the null of time-invariance of autoregressive coefficients of VARs against the alternative of time-varying coefficients. Except for one test, they find that those tests have low power against the form of time variation captured by our model. That one test also rejects time invariance in the data.