Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
160–310 GHz frequency doubler in 65-nm CMOS with 3-dBm peak output power for rotational spectroscopy

A 160-310 GHz frequency doubler for rotational spectroscopy with a driver amplifier is demonstrated in a 65-nm bulk CMOS process. At 0-dBm input power, the measured output power (Pout) varies from 3 to -8 dBm. The wide operating range is attributed to wide bandwidth driver and matching structure based on broadband open and short leading to >40dB difference between fundamental and second harmonic power at the output. The doubler-amplifier combination has the comparable output power and a larger operating frequency range than 200-300 GHz COTS GaAs modules.
What We Gain by Combining Variationist and Concept‐Oriented Approaches: The Case of Acquiring Spanish Future‐Time Expression

This study aimed to advance research on first and second language future-time expression in Spanish and to demonstrate the strengths of combining functionalist, concept-oriented approaches (e.g., Andersen, 1984; Bardovi-Harlig, 2000; Shirai, 1995; von Stutterheim & Klein, 1987) with variationist approaches. The study targeted 140 participants (120 English-speaking learners of Spanish of varying proficiency and 20 native speakers of Spanish) who completed an oral task responding to eight prompts (e.g., describe tus planes para este fin de semana “describe your plans for this weekend”). Results from cross-tabulations and multinomial regressions indicated gradual inclusion of new linguistic and social variables as learner proficiency increased and demonstrated the value of considering both group and individual behavior. Findings were discussed in relation to stages of acquisition of future-time expression.
Gauging Social Integration among Canadian Muslims: A Sense of Belonging in an Age of Anxiety

Abstract: While the subject of “Muslim integration” has received extensive scholarly attention, especially in the Western European context, there has been little study of the subject in Canada. Canada has a long history of welcoming immigrants who make up 20 percent of the population. Yet, Canada has not fully escaped the debates and anxieties related to the accommodation of Muslim immigrants and the integration of those populations. In particular, these anxieties have been displayed around the proposal to use religious law in family based disputes in Ontario in 2005, controversies around the wearing of the niqab in the oath of citizenship, the admission of Syrian refugees in 2015, and concerns over homegrown violent extremism after the 11th of September 2001. Employing semi-structured elite-level interviews (n20), the Ethnic Diversity Study (EDS) and Environics’ Survey of Muslims in Canada, the article examines social integration among Canada’s diverse Muslim communities. Using the barometer of a sense of national belonging, it examines the life experiences of Canadian Muslims and their ideas and sentiments related to belonging. It concludes that despite concerns in the community over discrimination and divisive areas of public policy (e.g., security), Canadian Muslims are well integrated socially. Résumé: Bien que la question de « l’intégration des musulmans » ait reçu un intérêt académique important, particulièrement dans le contexte de l’Europe occidentale, il y a eu peu d’études sur cette question au Canada. Le Canada a une longue histoire dans l’accueil des immigrants qui représentent 20 pour cent de la population. Pourtant, le Canada n’a pas totalement échappé aux débats et aux inquiétudes liés à l’accueil des immigrants musulmans et l’intégration de ces populations. En particulier, ces inquiétudes ont été exposées dans la proposition d’utiliser la loi religieuse dans les conflits familiaux en Ontario en 2005, les controverses autour du port du Niqab pendant le serment de citoyenneté, l’admission des réfugiés syriens en 2015, et les préoccupations sur la croissance interne de l’extrémisme violent après le 11 Septembre 2001. Sur la base d’entrevues d’élite semi-structurées (N20), l’étude sur la diversité ethnique (EDS) ainsi que les sondages d’ENVIRONICS auprès des musulmans au Canada, l’article examine l’intégration sociale entre les diverses communautés musulmanes du Canada. En utilisant le baromètre d’un sentiment d’appartenance nationale, il examine les expériences de vie des musulmans canadiens, ainsi que leurs idées et sentiments par rapport à l’appartenance. Il conclut que, malgré les préoccupations de la communauté sur la discrimination et les zones de discorde de la politique publique (sécurité par exemple), les musulmans canadiens sont bien intégrés socialement.
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health the Imperforate Anus Psychosocial Questionnaire (iapsq): Its Construction and Psychometric Properties Background

The origin of the present study was to develop the liaison work between the disciplines of child and adolescent psychiatry and paediatric surgery and nursing, so as to improve the quality of treatment and care of a group of children with imperforate anus (IA) and their families. Imperforate anus is a congenital disease involving a deformity of the anorectum. The early surgery and invasive follow-up treatment associated with IA may affect the child psychosocially, including the child-parent relationship. By developing and testing a questionnaire for children born with anorectal anomalies, a tool for measuring psychosocial functioning can be realized. Methods: First, a literature review on "Imperforate Anus" was performed. Second, an exploratory interview study was conducted with patients/adolescents with IA and their parents. The findings from these interviews were the foundation for construction of the questionnaire. The Imperforate Anus Psychosocial Questionnaire (IAPSQ) was tested and revised three times before its completion. It contains 45 items on Likert scales. A total of 87 children completed the IAPSQ: 25 children with IA and two comparison groups. Face and content validity were considered. The Rasch approach, an item response theory model, was used to evaluate the psychometric properties of the IAPSQ, where item difficulty and person ability are concurrently approximated. Results: The findings of the Rasch analysis revealed that the psychological dimension was reasonable, and that person reliability (0.83) was moderate and item reliability (0.95) was sufficient. The social dimension showed satisfactory item reliability (0.87). The person reliability (0.52) of the social dimension was weak. Content validity seemed to be established and construct validity was recognized on the psychological dimension. Conclusion: The IAPSQ provides a reasonably valid and reliable measure of psychosocial functioning for clinical use among children with IA, although some revisions are suggested for the next version of the IAPSQ. By using the Rasch model, we discovered that specific items should be discarded and other items should be reformulated to make the questionnaire more "on target". The social dimension has to be expanded with further items to reasonably capture a social dimension. which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
MicroRNA-483-3p Inhibits Extracellular Matrix Production by Targeting Smad4 in Human Trabecular Meshwork Cells.

PURPOSE This study investigated the effects of microRNA-483-3p (miR-483-3p) on extracellular matrix (ECM) production, and clarified the regulatory mechanism of microRNA-483-3p in human trabecular meshwork cells (HTMCs) under oxidative stress. METHODS The expression levels of ECM (fibronectin, laminin, collagen I) in HTMCs under oxidative stress were measured by Western blot. Changes of miR-483-3p expression in HTMCs were evaluated by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). After using lentivirus stably expressing pri-miR-483, the effects of miR-483-3p on the ECM were assessed by qPCR and Western blot. Smad4, the potential target of miR-483-3p according to mRNA target-predicting algorithms, was confirmed by luciferase assay and Western blot. Furthermore, the effects of Smad4 knockdown on ECM expression were investigated by qPCR and Western blot. RESULTS The mRNA and protein levels of ECM (fibronectin, laminin, collagen I) were upregulated in HTMCs induced by oxidative stress. The expression level of miR-483-3p decreased in HTMCs under oxidative stress, and the ectopic expression of miR-483-3p decreased the levels of ECM. In addition, miR-483-3p targeted Smad4 through two binding sites, resulting in a decrease of Smad4 expression. Furthermore, knockdown of Smad4 reduced the levels of ECM in HTMCs. CONCLUSIONS MicroRNA-483-3p has an inhibitory effect on ECM production in HTMCs through downregulating Smad4, which indicates that miR-483-3p may serve as a potential therapeutic target in glaucoma.
Exploring developmental, functional, and evolutionary aspects of amphioxus sensory cells

Amphioxus has neither elaborated brains nor definitive sensory organs, so that the two may have evolved in a mutually affecting manner and given rise to the forms seen in extant vertebrates. Clarifying the developmental and functional aspects of the amphioxus sensory system is thus pivotal for inferring the early evolution of vertebrates. Morphological studies have identified and classified amphioxus sensory cells; however, it is completely unknown whether the morphological classification makes sense in functional and evolutionary terms. Molecular markers, such as gene expression, are therefore indispensable for investigating the developmental and functional aspects of amphioxus sensory cells. This article reviews recent molecular studies on amphioxus sensory cells. Increasing evidence shows that the non-neural ectoderm of amphioxus can be subdivided into molecularly distinct subdomains by the combinatorial code of developmental cues involving the RA-dependent Hox code, suggesting that amphioxus epithelial sensory cells developed along positional information. This study focuses particularly on research involving the molecular phylogeny and expression of the seven-transmembrane, G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) genes and discusses the usefulness of this information for characterizing the sensory cells of amphioxus.
Hepatitis C Virus NS5B Sequence-Based Genotyping Analysis of Patients From the Sharkia Governorate, Egypt

Background Chronic hepatitis C virus infection and its sequela are major health problems facing the Egyptian community. The high prevalence and spread rates of the disease require serious actions to stop or decrease these rates. Determination of HCV genotypes and subgenotypes adds significant knowledge about the epidemiology of the disease, and provides an added value in the decision making process of what strategy to follow and what therapy response to expect. The molecular epidemiology and genetic variability of HCV variants circulating in Egypt still need further analysis. Objectives The study was held to evaluate the genotype and subgenotype of the hepatitis c virus circulating in Sharkia as one of the large governorates of Egypt, which was not included in any study for genotyping of the virus before. Patients and Methods The HCV molecular epidemiology in Sharkia governorate was studied using direct sequencing and further phylogenetic analysis of a partial NS5B region of the HCV genome from 63 patients. HCV genotype and subtype were successfully determined in 62 out of 63 patients. Results The highest prevalent genotype was genotype 4a, which was found in 57 patients (92%) followed by 2 isolates (3%) with genotype 4o, 2 strains (3%) with genotype 1g and one isolate (2%) with genotype 4n. Conclusions This molecular epidemiology study revealed high prevalence of HCV genotype 4, subtype 4a among Egyptian patients residing in Sharkia governorate, Egypt.
Mutation of the Highly Conserved Ser-40 of the HIV-1 p6 Gag Protein to Phe Causes the Formation of a Hydrophobic Patch, Enhances Membrane Association, and Polyubiquitination of Gag

The HIV-1 p6 Gag protein contains two late assembly (l-) domains that recruit proteins of the endosomal sorting complex required for transport (ESCRT) pathway to mediate membrane fission between the nascent virion and the cell membrane. It was recently demonstrated that mutation of the highly conserved Ser-40 to Phe (S40F) disturbs CA-SP1 processing, virus morphogenesis, and infectivity. It also causes the formation of filopodia-like structures, while virus release remains unaffected. Here, we show that the mutation S40F, but not the conservative mutation to Asp (S40D) or Asn (S40N), augments membrane association, K48-linked polyubiquitination, entry into the 26S proteasome, and, consequently, enhances MHC-I antigen presentation of Gag derived epitopes. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) structure analyses revealed that the newly introduced Phe-40, together with Tyr-36, causes the formation of a hydrophobic patch at the C-terminal α-helix of p6, providing a molecular rationale for the enhanced membrane association of Gag observed in vitro and in HIV-1 expressing cells. The extended exposure of the S40F mutant to unidentified membrane-resident ubiquitin E3-ligases might trigger the polyubiquitination of Gag. The cumulative data support a previous model of a so far undefined property of p6, which, in addition to MA, acts as membrane targeting domain of Gag.
NO-REFERENCE METRICS FOR VIDEO STREAMING APPLICATIONS

In this paper 1 we present no-reference metrics to evaluate the following two major distortions in streaming of compressed video over packet-switched networks: i) block-edge impairment and ii) the effect of packet loss. The first metric proposed measures block-edge impairments in reconstructed video frames and is based on the idea that these impairments are best observed in regions with low spatial activity. The second metric proposed in this paper evaluates distortion in reconstructed video frames due to packet loss by exploiting the structure of the artifact. Both metrics have low computational complexity and can be used for real-time monitoring of streaming video in a multimedia transmission scenario. Further these measures could be used as feedback to help a streaming server perform dynamic rate adaptation or dynamic selection of scalable video streams in case of increasing network congestion.
Verification via digitized models of real-time hybrid systems

The paper presents an approach to the specification and verification of real-time hybrid systems using duration calculus (DC). By introducing a formula int to DC to express the intervals of time between two ticks of the system clock, it is shown that DC can be used to specify both the digital states and the analog states as well as to reason about time in distributed systems. The authors illustrate their approach by giving an intuitive model for the communication protocols in which the verification can be done by using the familiar natural induction rules.
Progressive Reduction of its Expression in Rods Reveals Two Pools of Arrestin-1 in the Outer Segment with Different Roles in Photoresponse Recovery

Light-induced rhodopsin signaling is turned off with sub-second kinetics by rhodopsin phosphorylation followed by arrestin-1 binding. To test the availability of the arrestin-1 pool in dark-adapted outer segment (OS) for rhodopsin shutoff, we measured photoresponse recovery rates of mice with arrestin-1 content in the OS of 2.5%, 5%, 60%, and 100% of wild type (WT) level by two-flash ERG with the first (desensitizing) flash at 160, 400, 1000, and 2500 photons/rod. The time of half recovery (thalf) in WT retinas increases with the intensity of the initial flash, becoming ∼2.5-fold longer upon activation of 2500 than after 160 rhodopsins/rod. Mice with 60% and even 5% of WT arrestin-1 level recovered at WT rates. In contrast, the mice with 2.5% of WT arrestin-1 had a dramatically slower recovery than the other three lines, with the thalf increasing ∼28 fold between 160 and 2500 rhodopsins/rod. Even after the dimmest flash, the rate of recovery of rods with 2.5% of normal arrestin-1 was two times slower than in other lines, indicating that arrestin-1 level in the OS between 100% and 5% of WT is sufficient for rapid recovery, whereas with lower arrestin-1 the rate of recovery dramatically decreases with increased light intensity. Thus, the OS has two distinct pools of arrestin-1: cytoplasmic and a separate pool comprising ∼2.5% that is not immediately available for rhodopsin quenching. The observed delay suggests that this pool is localized at the periphery, so that its diffusion across the OS rate-limits the recovery. The line with very low arrestin-1 expression is the first where rhodopsin inactivation was made rate-limiting by arrestin manipulation.
The Canadian Pacific Railway Transforms Operations by Using Models to Develop Its Operating Plans

North American railways have traditionally practiced tonnage-based dispatching, running trains only when they have enough freight. As a result, their customer service and their use of crews, fixed assets, locomotives, and railcars are poor. Canadian Pacific Railway is using new decision-support tools developed in-house and by MultiModal Applied Systems to create a scheduled railway. These tools use operations research approaches, such as an optimal block-sequencing algorithm, a heuristic algorithm for block design, (very fast) simulation, and time-space network algorithms for planning locomotive use and distributing empty cars. This implementation has saved $300 million Canadian (US$170 million) from mid-1999 through autumn 2000. We estimate it has saved at least an additional $210 million Canadian during 2001 and 2002 in fuel and labor costs alone. Labor productivity, locomotive productivity, fuel consumption, and railcar velocity have improved by 40, 35, 17, and 41 percent, respectively. Furthermore, Canadian Pacific Railway now provides its customers with reliable delivery times and has received many customer and shipping association awards for its improvement in service.
Alternate clonal dominance in richter transformation presenting as extranodal diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and synchronous classic Hodgkin lymphoma.

OBJECTIVES Richter transformation (RT) represents the rare occurrence of a secondary aggressive lymphoma in the setting of chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL). METHODS Here we describe the peculiar case of a patient with trisomy 12+ and atypical (CD5+, CD23-) CLL/SLL who developed a two-step RT with complex morphologic and molecular features. RESULTS Molecular analysis of a CLL/SLL population detected two different immunoglobulin rearrangement patterns corresponding to a main peak and a minor peak. Transformation took place both as gastric diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and as a synchronous bone marrow classic Hodgkin lymphoma with the same immunoglobulin rearrangement pattern corresponding to the minor peak detected in CLL/SLL at diagnosis. During chemotherapy, progression occurred as axillary nodal involvement by a CD5+ high-grade lymphoma with an immunoglobulin rearrangement pattern corresponding to the main CLL peak. CONCLUSIONS In this case, the elaborate clinical and molecular picture may be correlated to an alternate dominance of two distinct clonal populations probably influenced by therapeutic and environmental factors.
Negotiating linguistic and cultural identities in interpreter-mediated communication for public health services

This paper explores ways in which identities are negotiated (linguistically, culturally, institutionally, ethnically) in interpreter-mediated communication for public services with particular emphasis on medical interpreting. Given that cultural/ethnic identity is made manifest in language, cross-cultural interpretermediated communication is consequently also – perhaps essentially – about negotiating identities (albeit fluid rather than static ones), and thus negotiating perceived and in-built perceptions of Self and Other. Not only must the interpreter in a cross-cultural encounter negotiate a position and a role for him/ herself (professional as well as personal) with both interlocutors, but s/he must enable that position-taking and role-negotiation between two interlocutors who may be – conceptually and textually – worlds apart. Based on the premise that each actor brings to the encounter their own socially and historically constructed identities, the paper illustrates some of the ways in which identities and the process of identity-construction/negotiation are manifested verbally.
Poissonian approximation for the tagged particle in asymmetric simple exclusion

We consider the position of a tagged particle in the one-dimensional asymmetric nearest-neighbor simple exclusion process. Each particle attempts to jump to the site to its right at rate p and to the site to its left at rate q. The jump is realized if the destination site is empty. We assume p > q. The initial distribution is the product measure with density λ, conditioned to have a particle at the origin. We call X, the position at time t of this particle. Using a result recently proved by the authors for a semi-infinite zero-range process, it is shown that for all t ≧ 0, Xt = Nt − Bt + B 0 , where {N t} is a Poisson process of parameter (p – q)(1– λ) and {Bt } is a stationary process satisfying E exp (θ | B, |) < ∞ for some θ > 0. As a corollary we obtain that, properly centered and rescaled, the process {Xt } converges to Brownian motion. A previous result says that in the scale t 1/2, the position Xt is given by the initial number of empty sites in the interval (0, λt) divided by λ. We use this to compute the asymptotic covariance at time t of two tagged particles initially at sites 0 and rt. The results also hold for the net flux between two queues in a system of infinitely many queues in series.
Expression, Localization, and Pharmacological Role of Kv7 Potassium Channels in Skeletal Muscle Proliferation, Differentiation, and Survival after Myotoxic Insults

Changes in the expression of potassium channels regulate skeletal muscle development. The purpose of this study was to investigate the expression profile and pharmacological role of Kv7 voltage-gated potassium channels in skeletal muscle differentiation, proliferation, and survival after myotoxic insults. Transcripts for all Kv7 genes (Kv7.1–Kv7.5) were detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and/or real-time PCR in murine C2C12 myoblasts; Kv7.1, Kv7.3, and Kv7.4 transcripts were up-regulated after myotube formation. Western blot experiments confirmed Kv7.2, Kv7.3, and Kv7.4 subunit expression, and the up-regulation of Kv7.3 and Kv7.4 subunits during in vitro differentiation. In adult skeletal muscles from mice and humans, Kv7.2 and Kv7.3 immunoreactivity was mainly localized at the level of intracellular striations positioned between ankyrinG-positive triads, whereas that of Kv7.4 subunits was largely restricted to the sarcolemmal membrane. In C2C12 cells, retigabine (10 μM), a specific activator of neuronally expressed Kv7.2 to Kv7.5 subunits, reduced proliferation, accelerated myogenin expression, and inhibited the myotoxic effect of mevastatin (IC50 ≈ 7 μM); all these effects of retigabine were prevented by the Kv7 channel blocker 10,10-bis(4-pyridinylmethyl)-9(10H)-anthracenone (XE-991) (10 μM). These data collectively highlight neural Kv7 channels as significant pharmacological targets to regulate skeletal muscle proliferation, differentiation, and myotoxic effects of drugs.