Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Nonlinear repolarization dynamics in optical fibers: transient polarization attraction

In this work, we present a theoretical and experimental study of the response of a lossless polarizer to a signal beam with a time-varying state of polarization (SOP). By lossless polarizer, we mean a nonlinear conservative medium (e.g., an optical fiber) that is counterpumped by an intense and fully polarized pump beam. Such a medium transforms input uniform or random distributions of the SOP of an intense signal beam into output distributions that are tightly localized around a well-defined SOP. We introduce and characterize an important parameter of a lossless polarizer--its response time. Whenever the fluctuations of the SOP of the input signal beam are slower than its response time, a lossless polarizer provides an efficient repolarization of the beam at its output. Otherwise, if input polarization fluctuations are faster than the response time, the polarizer is not able to repolarize light.
Ability of neuron-specific enolase to predict survival to hospital discharge after successful cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

BACKGROUND Accurate prediction of survival to hospital discharge in patients who achieve return of spontaneous circulation after cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) has significant ethical and socioeconomic implications. We investigated the prognostic performance of serum neuron-specific enolase (NSE), a biochemical marker of ischemic brain injury, after successful CPR. METHODS In-hospital or out-of-hospital patients with nontraumatic normothermic cardiac arrest who achieved return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) following at least 5 minutes of CPR were eligible. Neuron-specific enolase levels were assessed immediately, 6 hours, 12 hours and 2 days after ROSC. Subjects were followed to death or hospital discharge. RESULTS Seventeen patients (7 men, 10 women) were enrolled during a 1-year period. Median (range) NSE levels in survivors and non-survivors respectively were as follows: immediately after ROSC: 14.0 microg/L (9.1-51.4 microg/L) versus 25.9 microg/L (10.2-57.5 microg/L); 6 hours after ROSC: 15.2 microg/L (9.7-30.8 microg/L) versus 25.6 microg/L (12.7-38.2 microg/L); 12 hours after ROSC: 14.0 microg/L (8.6-32.4 microg/L) versus 28.5 microg/L (11.0-50.7 microg/L); and 48 hours after ROSC: 13.1 microg/L (7.8-29.5 microg/L) versus 52.0 microg/L (29.1-254.0 microg/L). Non-survivors had significantly higher NSE levels 48 hours after ROSC than surivors (p = 0.04) and showed a trend toward higher values during the entire time course following ROSC. An NSE concentration of >30 microg/L 48 hours after ROSC predicted death with a high specificity (100%: 95% confidence interval [CI] 85%-100%), and a level of 29 microg/L or less at 48 hours predicted survival with a high specificity (100%: 95% CI 83%-100%). CONCLUSIONS Serum NSE levels may have clinical utility for the prediction of survival to hospital discharge in patients after ROSC following CPR over 5 minutes in duration. This study is small, and our results are limited by wide confidence intervals. Further research on ability of NSE to facilitate prediction and clinical decision-making after cardiac arrest is warranted.
On the Performance of RF-FSO Links With and Without Hybrid ARQ

This paper studies the performance of hybrid radio-frequency (RF) and free-space optical (FSO) links assuming perfect channel state information (CSI) at the receiver. Considering the cases with and without hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ), we derive closed-form expressions for the message decoding probabilities as well as the throughput and the outage probability of the RF-FSO setups. We also evaluate the effect of adaptive power allocation and different channel conditions on the throughput and the outage probability. The results show the efficiency of the RF-FSO links in different conditions.
Behavioral and neural correlates of delay of gratification 40 years later

Sackler Institute for Developmental Psychobiology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY 10065; Department of Psychology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305; Department of Psychology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720; Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109; Department of Psychology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195; Lucas Imaging Center, Department of Radiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305; Department of Psychology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853; and Department of Psychology, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027
Polio survivors perceptions of a multi-disciplinary rehabilitation programme

Abstract Purpose: Post-polio syndrome refers to a late complication of the poliovirus infection. Management of post-polio syndrome is complex due to the extensive symptomology. European and United Kingdom guidelines have advised the use of rehabilitation programmes to manage post-polio syndrome. There is a paucity of research in relation to the effectiveness of rehabilitation interventions. The objective of this study is to explore polio survivor’s perceptions of an in-patient multi-disciplinary rehabilitation programme. Methods: Semi-structured interviews of community dwelling polio survivors who attended in-patient rehabilitation programme in the United Kingdom. Thematic analysis was used to describe and interpret interview data. Results: Participants’ experiences were influenced by past experiences of polio and their self-concept. Participants generally had a positive experience and valued being with other polio survivors. Positive strategies, such as pacing and reflection changed their mind-sets into their lives after the programme, though they still faced challenges in daily living. Some participants supported others with post-polio syndrome after completing the programme. Conclusions: Our research identified that participants experienced long term positive benefits from attending a rehabilitation programme. Strategies that users found helpful that explored the effectiveness of interventions to manage polio are not cited within a Cochrane review. If we are to recognise the lived experience and service user empowerment within a model of co- production it is essential that patient preferences are evaluated and used as evidence to justify service provision. Further research is required with polio survivors to explore how best rehabilitation programmes can adopt the principles of co-production. Implications for Rehabilitation The patients’ expertise and lived experience must be at the centre of a rehabilitation programme. Strategies such as pacing and reflection are perceived as important strategies to enable self-management of polio and post-polio syndrome despite the limited evidence base to support these interventions. Polio rehabilitation programmes should not be time limited and commissioners and therapists need to ensure that follow up support is provided. When measuring outcomes patient preferences and views must be evaluated.
RTRMC: A Riemannian trust-region method for low-rank matrix completion

We consider large matrices of low rank. We address the problem of recovering such matrices when most of the entries are unknown. Matrix completion finds applications in recommender systems. In this setting, the rows of the matrix may correspond to items and the columns may correspond to users. The known entries are the ratings given by users to some items. The aim is to predict the unobserved ratings. This problem is commonly stated in a constrained optimization framework. We follow an approach that exploits the geometry of the low-rank constraint to recast the problem as an unconstrained optimization problem on the Grassmann manifold. We then apply first- and second-order Riemannian trust-region methods to solve it. The cost of each iteration is linear in the number of known entries. Our methods, RTRMC 1 and 2, outperform state-of-the-art algorithms on a wide range of problem instances.
Variables associated with change in blood pressure control status after 1-year follow up in primary care: a retrospective analysis: the TAPAS study

Purpose This 1-year, retrospective, observational study assessed factors associated with changes in hypertension control status and differences in blood pressure (BP) management among general practitioners in Spain. Methods In 2009, 307 investigators from 260 primary care centres in Spain recruited the first four consecutive patients with hypertension that fit into one of four predefined cohorts: (1) uncontrolled BP at baseline and at a 1-year follow-up visit; (2) uncontrolled BP at baseline and good BP control at the 1-year follow-up visit; (3) good BP control at baseline and loss of BP control at the 1-year follow-up visit; and (4) good BP control at baseline and at the 1-year follow-up visit. Results A total of 1385 patients were included. Patients with poor BP and patients that lost BP control exhibited more cardiovascular risk factors. Although antihypertensive treatment was increased more markedly in these patients, this was not sufficient to attain/remain BP goals. Predictors for attaining BP control were no smoking, absence of diabetes, reduction in cholesterol, low baseline cholesterol, and no weight gain. Predictors for failing to maintain BP goals were weight gain, high baseline LDL cholesterol, and no reduction in fasting glucose. NSAID prescriptions increased markedly in patients that lost BP control compared to those that maintained BP control. Conclusion Antihypertensive therapy should be intensified and healthy lifestyle changes should be emphasized, particularly weight control to improve BP control. Drugs that may increase BP levels, such as NSAIDs, should also be avoided.
Effects of breathing pattern and inspired air conditions on breath condensate volume, pH, nitrite, and protein concentrations

Background: The effects of breathing pattern and inspired air conditions on the volume and content of exhaled breath condensate (EBC) were investigated. Methods: Total exhaled water (TEW), EBC volume, pH, nitrite and protein concentrations were measured in three groups of 10 healthy subjects breathing into a condenser at different target minute ventilations (Vm), tidal volumes (Vt), and inspired air conditions. Results: The volumes of both TEW and EBC increased significantly with Vm. For Vm 7.5, 15 and 22.5 l/min, mean (SD) EBC was 627 (258) μl, 1019 (313) μl, and 1358 (364) μl, respectively (p<0.001) and TEW was 1879 (378) μl, 2986 (496) μl, and 4679 (700) μl, respectively (p<0.001). TEW was significantly higher than EBC, reflecting a condenser efficiency of 40% at a target Vm of 7.5 l/min which reduced to 29% at Vm 22.5 l/min. Lower Vt gave less TEW than higher Vt (26.6 v 30.7 μl/l, mean difference 4.1 (95% CI 2.6 to 5.6), p<0.001) and a smaller EBC volume (4.3 v 7.6 μl/l, mean difference 3.4 (95% CI 2.3 to 4.5), p<0.001). Cooler and drier inspired air yielded less water vapour and less breath condensate than standard conditions (p<0.05). Changes in the breathing pattern had no effect on EBC protein and nitrite concentrations and pH. Conclusion: These results show that condensate volume can be increased by using high Vt and increased Vm without compromising the dilution of the sample.
A Comparison of Thermal Plasma Energy Versus Argon Beam Coagulator-Induced Intestinal Injury After Vaporization in a Porcine Model

Objectives Complete cytoreduction of ovarian cancer often requires excision or ablation of bowel serosa implants. Both argon beam coagulator (ABC) and thermal plasma energy (TPE) (PlasmaJet; PlasmaSurgical, Roswell, Ga) have been used to ablate bowel serosa implants. Our objective was to identify comparable power settings as well as determine the rate of bowel perforation, depth of thermal injury, and extent of inflammatory response with ABC versus TPE in a porcine model. Materials and Methods Nine pigs underwent vaporization of small bowel and colon serosa according to assigned treatment group (TPE vs ABC) and settings (ABC: 30, 50, and 70 W; TPE: Cut 10U, 20U, and 30U and Coagulation 10U, 20U, and 30U). Animals underwent necropsy with blinded histomorphologic evaluation on days 0, 3, and 10 postprocedure to assess for presence of bowel perforation, depth of thermal injury, and extent of inflammatory response. Results At necropsy, bowel perforation was not identified in any animals. Depth of treatment with ABC in the porcine colon was variable and unrelated to power settings whereas TPE was associated with a consistent treatment depth of 1.0 mm regardless of location or power. Treatment with ABC resulted in greater tissue coagulation and desiccation as well as increased rates of mucosal necrosis, especially at higher settings (>50 W). Treatment with TPE primarily resulted in tissue ablation and minimal mucosal necrosis at low settings (Coag 10U–20U). The inflammatory response associated with TPE treatments was interpreted as biologically benign, and less than that observed with the ABC regardless of treatment settings. Conclusions Both ABC and TPE effectively ablate bowel serosa in a porcine model. The TPE seems to result in a more predictable tissue effect with less inflammatory response, especially when used at low power settings such as Coag 10U or 20U. These characteristics are appealing for ablation of bowel serosa implants during ovarian cancer surgery and warrant further investigation.
Measuring choice to participate in optional science learning experiences during early adolescence

Cumulatively, participation in optional science learning experiences in school, after school, at home, and in the community may have a large impact on student interest in and knowledge of science. Therefore, interventions can have large long-term effects if they change student choice preferences for such optional science learning experiences. To be able to track K-12 students’ intentions to participate in optional science learning experiences, we developed a new measure of science choice preferences in early adolescence. The present study with 284 5th and 894 6th graders from diverse school contexts (i.e., from the Bay Area and the Pittsburgh area) illustrates the value of applying Item Response Theory analyses to develop a measurement instrument. These analyses established the overall reliability of the instrument and each item in the scale, as well as the generalizability of the scale and individual items across subgroups by gender, by ethnicity, and by achievement levels in science. Further, preferences to participate in science were shown to be separate from preferences to participate in mathematics, engineering, or medicine. Finally, the science choice preferences measure is validated through replicated positive correlations with levels of science interest, self-efficacy, and learning achievement. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Res Sci Teach 52: 686–709, 2015.
Stem and Progenitor Cell Subsets Are Affected by JAK2 Signaling and Can Be Monitored by Flow Cytometry

Although extremely rare, hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are divisible into subsets that differ with respect to differentiation potential and cell surface marker expression. For example, we recently found that CD86− CD150+ CD48− HSCs have limited potential for lymphocyte production. This could be an important new tool for studying hematological abnormalities. Here, we analyzed HSC subsets with a series of stem cell markers in JAK2V617F transgenic (Tg) mice, where the mutation is sufficient to cause myeloproliferative neoplasia with lymphocyte deficiency. Total numbers of HSC were elevated 3 to 20 fold in bone marrow of JAK2V617F mice. Careful analysis suggested the accumulation involved multiple HSC subsets, but particularly those characterized as CD150HI CD86− CD18L°CD41+ and excluding Hoechst dye. Real-Time PCR analysis of their HSC revealed that the erythropoiesis associated gene transcripts Gata1, Klf1 and Epor were particularly high. Flow cytometry analyses based on two differentiation schemes for multipotent progenitors (MPP) also suggested alteration by JAK2 signals. The low CD86 on HSC and multipotent progenitors paralleled the large reductions we found in lymphoid progenitors, but the few that were produced functioned normally when sorted and placed in culture. Either of two HSC subsets conferred disease when transplanted. Thus, flow cytometry can be used to observe the influence of abnormal JAK2 signaling on stem and progenitor subsets. Markers that similarly distinguish categories of human HSCs might be very valuable for monitoring such conditions. They could also serve as indicators of HSC fitness and suitability for transplantation.
Comparative Study of Bioavailability and Clinical Efficacy of Carbamazepine in Epileptic Patients

OBJECTIVE: To compare the bioavailability of three generic brands of carbamazepine tablets with that of a proprietary brand in adult patients with epilepsy. DESIGN: A double-blind, randomized, three-phase crossover study. SETTING: A psychiatric facility. PARTICIPANTS: Eighteen patients with epilepsy who had taken carbamazepine at least 5 months before entering the study. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Ten blood specimens from each patient were collected at steady-state. Plasma concentration of carbamazepine was analyzed for pharmacokinetic parameters such as maximum plasma concentration (Cmax), mean time to reach maximum concentration (tmax), and mean AUC. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences in these parameters among four brands of carbamazepine. However, when comparing the 90% CI of AUC of three generic brands with that of the proprietary brand, the AUC of two generic brands lay within a range of 80% to 120%. The effects of gender and each brand of carbamazepine on these pharmacokinetic parameters were also analyzed. Breakthrough seizures occurred even though the plasma concentration of carbamazepine was therapeutic. CONCLUSIONS: The bioavailability of two generic brands of carbamazepine tablets (Carmapine and Carzepine) and the proprietary brand (Tegretol) were equivalent in this sample of adult patients with epilepsy.
Feasibility of hyperthermia as a purging modality in autologous bone marrow transplantation

Hyperthermic purging procedures may be improved by methods that selectively inhibits the proliferative activity of normal hematopoietic progenitors and stem cells since active proliferation of these subsets is accompanied by an increased heat sensitivity. For this reason, bone marrow cells from CBA/H mice were incubated with Goralatide (tetrapeptide Acetyl-N-Ser-Asp-Lys-Pro), a well known inhibitor of normal hematopoietic progenitor cells to enter the S-phase of the cell cycle. Subsequently, the cell suspensions were heat-treated at 43 E C up to 90 minutes. After an exposure of 8 hours to 10 M Goralatide, the number of CFU-GM cells in S-phase decreased from -9 ±30% to ±10%, resulting in an almost tenfold increase in survival after 90 minutes at 43 E C. No effect on the primitive subsets could be detected because of their quiescent cell cycle state in normal bone marrow. In order to investigate the potential vulnerability of these subsets for Goralatide, bone marrow cells from 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) pretreated mice were used. The 5-FU induced increase in proliferative activity of the CFU-S-12 (colony-forming unit in the spleen at day 12) and the stem cell with marrow repopulating ability (MRA) could be abolished by an incubation period with 10 M -9 Goralatide for 16 and 24 hours, respectively. Hence, this decrease in proliferative activity confers a decrease in hyperthermic sensitivity for the primitive hematopoietic subsets. The cytotoxic effect of the incubation on the absolute number of the hematopoietic progenitors and stem cells was <10%. A Goralatide (10 , 10 and 10 -8 -9 -10 M) treatment up to 24 hours had no effect on the growth kinetics and cell cycle distribution and consequently on the hyperthermic sensitivity of L1210 cells. Based on these results, it can be concluded that Goralatide will have a positive effect on the survival of hematopoietic progenitors and stem cells after hyperthermia and may lead
Joint channel allocation and user association for heterogeneous wireless cellular networks

We study the engineering of heterogeneous cellular networks composed of a macrocell and some picocells by investigating the interplay of different network processes and parameters such as channel allocation, user association and reuse pattern (to control inter-cell interference between picocells). We formulate a joint association, channel allocation, and inter-cell interference management problem that relies on very few assumptions. This problem turns out to be an Integer Non-Linear program that is NP-hard. However, its structure is such that we can solve it exactly for relatively large size systems. We use optimal solutions as benchmarks to understand how different simple association schemes perform. Our results show the critical impact of the association rules on system performance and shows the interplay of the different processes and parameters. We believe that these insights will help design online association schemes in the future.
Discovery of Trypanocidal Compounds by Whole Cell HTS of Trypanosoma brucei

Chemotherapy against human African trypanosomiasis relies on four drugs that cause frequent and occasionally severe side‐effects. Because human African trypanosomiasis is a disease of poor people in Africa, the traditional market‐driven pathways to drug development are not available. One potentially rapid and cost‐effective approach to identifying and developing new trypanocidal drugs would be high throughput‐screening of existing drugs already approved for other uses, as well as clinical candidates in late development. We have developed an ATP‐bioluminescence assay that could be used to rapidly and efficiently screen compound libraries against trypanosomes in a high throughput‐screening format to validate this notion. We screened a collection of 2160 FDA‐approved drugs, bioactive compounds and natural products to identify hits that were cytotoxic to cultured Trypanosoma brucei at a concentration of 1 μm or less. This meant that any hit identified would be effective at a concentration readily achievable by standard drug dosing in humans. From the screen, 35 hits from seven different drug categories were identified. These included the two approved trypanocidal drugs, suramin and pentamidine, several other drugs suspected but never validated as trypanocidal, and 17 novel trypanocidal drugs.
Epidemiology of Epstein-Barr virus infection in pre-adolescent children: application of a new salivary method in Edinburgh, Scotland.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To describe the epidemiology of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) among primary school children by testing saliva with a new EBV capsid antigen "G" antibody capture radioimmunoassay (GACRIA). DESIGN: A population based sample of 7 year old schoolchildren were followed up at age 11. SETTING: 30 randomly chosen primary schools in Edinburgh, Scotland. PARTICIPANTS: 552 schoolchildren. MEASUREMENTS: Data on risk factors for infection were collected by questionnaire at ages 7 and 11. Saliva samples collected at age 11 were examined by GACRIA for evidence of previous infection with EBV. For 102 subjects, a second salivary specimen collected approximately one month after the first sample was available for testing as a measure of the repeatability of the method. MAIN RESULTS: Unequivocal results were found in 91% of samples and the repeatability of the test was good (kappa = 0.71). Fifty six per cent of children had antibodies to EBV. In a logistic regression analysis, independent risk factors for infection were sharing a room (odds ratio 1.78, 1.14, 2.79), head of household's social class IV/V compared with I (odds ratio 2.87, 1.08, 7.34), and schools serving predominantly rented housing estates (odds ratio 2.3, 1.09, 4.84). CONCLUSION: This study is the first application of EBV viral capsid GACRIA to salivary samples. The method was successfully used to describe the epidemiology of EBV. In this study, characteristics of the home seemed to be more important than those of the school in determining the likelihood of infection with EBV.