Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Photonic crystal waveguides in artificial opals

3D photonic crystals based on Si inverted-opals are numerically explored as hosts for effective air-channel waveguides, which can serve as parts of photonic circuits. Two basic shapes of straight waveguides are considered: cylindrical and a chain of spheres. Modelling shows that transmission is heavily dependent on the lattice position of the waveguide and its direction. Our experiments of defect inscription by 2-photon polymerization for the production of straight and bent waveguides in opal templates are reported.
Assessment of chemokine receptor expression by human Th1 and Th2 cells in vitro and in vivo

The preferential association of some chemokine receptors with human Th1 or Th2 cells has recently been reported. In this study, the expression of CCR3, CCR5, CXCR3, and CXCR4 were analyzed by flow cytometry in three distinct in vitro models of Th1/Th2 polarization, activated naive and memory T cells, and T‐cell clones, in which the intracellular synthesis of interferon‐γ (IFN‐γ) and interleukin‐4 (IL‐4) and the surface expression of CD30 and LAG‐3 were also assessed. Moreover, by using immunohistochemistry the in vivo expression of CCR3, CCR5, CXCR3, and CXCR4 was examined in the gut of patients suffering from Crohn's disease, a Th1‐dominated disorder, and in the skin of patients suffering from systemic sclerosis, a Th2‐dominated disorder. CCR5 and LAG‐3 exhibited the same pathway of Th1 association, whereas CXCR3 did not discriminate between Th1‐ and Th2‐dominated responses. On the other hand, CCR3 was found only occasionally in a small proportion of allergen‐specific memory T cells with Th2/Th0 profile of cytokine production in vitro. However, it was neither seen in Th2‐polarized activated naive T cells nor in established Th2 clones and could be detected in vivo only on non‐T cells. Finally, whereas CXCR4 expression was not limited to Th2 cells in vivo, it was markedly up‐regulated by IL‐4 and down‐regulated by IFN‐γ in vitro. Thus, the results of this study confirm the existence of flexible programs of chemokine receptor expression during the development of Th1 and Th2 cells. However, caution is advised in interpreting these receptors as surrogate markers of a given type of effector response. J. Leukoc. Biol. 65: 691–699; 1999.
Whole Mitochondrial Genome Sequencing and Re-Examination of a Cytoplasmic Male Sterility-Associated Gene in Boro-Taichung-Type Cytoplasmic Male Sterile Rice

Nuclear genome substitutions between subspecies can lead to cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) through incompatibility between nuclear and mitochondrial genomes. Boro-Taichung (BT)-type CMS rice was obtained by substituting the nuclear genome of Oryza sativa subsp. indica cultivar Chinsurah Boro II with that of Oryza sativa subsp. japonica cultivar Taichung 65. In BT-type CMS rice, the mitochondrial gene orf79 is associated with male sterility. A complete sequence of the Boro-type mitochondrial genome responsible for BT-type CMS has not been determined to date. Here, we used pyrosequencing to construct the Boro-type mitochondrial genome. The contiguous sequences were assembled into five circular DNA molecules, four of which could be connected into a single circle. The two resulting subgenomic circles were unable to form a reliable master circle, as recombination between them was scarcely detected. We also found an unequal abundance of DNA molecules for the two loci of atp6. These results indicate the presence of multi-partite DNA molecules in the Boro-type mitochondrial genome. Expression patterns were investigated for Boro-type mitochondria-specific orfs, which were not found in the mitochondria from the standard japonica cultivar Nipponbare. Restorer of fertility 1 (RF1)-dependent RNA processing has been observed in orf79-containing RNA but was not detected in other Boro-type mitochondria-specific orfs, supporting the conclusion that orf79 is a unique CMS-associated gene in Boro-type mitochondria.
The Political Economy of Reforms: Empirical Evidence from Post-Communist Transition in the 1990s

Using a novel data set from post-communist countries in the 1990s, this paper examines linkages between political constraints, economic reforms and growth. A dynamic panel analysis suggests public support for reform is negatively associated with income inequality and unemployment. Both the ex post and ex ante political constraints of public support affect progress in economic reform, which in turn influences economic growth. The findings highlight that while economic reforms are needed to foster growth, they must be designed so that they do not undermine political support for reform.
Age at natural menopause and all-cause mortality: a 37-year follow-up of 19,731 Norwegian women.

In a cohort of 19,731 Norwegian postmenopausal women, the authors analyzed relations between the age at natural menopause and all-cause mortality. A total of 18,533 women died during the 37 years of follow-up from 1961 to 1997. An inverse relation was found between the age at menopause and the all-cause mortality rate (p = 0.003). The strength of the association was moderate, however, with 1.6% (95% confidence interval: 0.6, 2.7) reduced mortality per 3 years' increase in age at menopause. The impact appeared to be stronger in women with an attained age of less than 70 years (3.7% reduction in risk) than in women aged 80 years or more (1.0%). The inverse relation could not be explained by extreme mortality rates in women with very early (<40 years) or late (>55 years) menopause or by possible confounding variables like birth cohort, place of residence, occupational category (own or husband's occupation), body mass index, age at menarche, and first and last delivery or parity. The smoking prevalence was low in the underlying population, and the use of hormone replacement therapy was very rare. The authors conclude that age at natural menopause is inversely related to all-cause mortality.
Treatment of Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy: From Molecular Bases to Practical Considerations

Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) is an autoimmune disease of the peripheral nervous system, in which both cellular and humoral immune responses are involved. The disease is clinically heterogeneous with some patients displaying pure motor form and others also showing a variable degree of sensory dysfunction; disease evolution may also differ from patient to patient, since monophasic, progressive, and relapsing forms are reported. Underlying such clinical variability there is probably a broad spectrum of molecular dysfunctions that are and will be the target of therapeutic strategies. In this review we first explore the biological bases of current treatments and subsequently we focus on the practical management that must also take into account pharmacoeconomic issues.
Geography and the Market for CEOs

I examine the role of geography in the market for CEOs and find that firms hire locally five times more often than expected if geography were irrelevant to the matching process. This local matching bias is widespread and exists even among the largest U.S. firms. Tests reveal that both labor supply and demand influence local matching. Compensation and unforced turnover are lower for local than for non-local CEOs, and unlike non-local CEOs, the compensation of locals depends on local labor market factors. These findings suggest the presence of market segmentation and contrast with much of the prior literature which explicitly or implicitly assumes a single national market.
The Relationship of Hard X-Ray and Optical Line Emission in Low-Redshift Active Galactic Nuclei

In this paper we assess the relationship of the population of active galactic nuclei (AGNs) selected by hard X-rays to the traditional population of AGNs with strong optical emission lines. First, we study the emission-line properties of a new hard-X-ray-selected sample of 47 local AGNs (classified optically as Type 1 and 2 AGNs). We find that the hard X-ray (3-20 keV) and [O III] λ5007 optical emission-line luminosities are well-correlated over a range of about 4 orders of magnitude in luminosity (mean luminosity ratio 2.15 dex with a standard deviation of σ = 0.51 dex). Second, we study the hard X-ray properties of a sample of 55 local AGNs selected from the literature on the basis of the flux in the [O III] line. The correlation between the hard X-ray (2-10 keV) and [O III] luminosity for the Type 1 AGNs is consistent with what is seen in the hard-X-ray-selected sample. However, the Type 2 AGNs have a much larger range in the luminosity ratio, and many are very weak in hard X-rays (as expected for heavily absorbed AGNs). We then compare the hard X-ray (3-20 keV) and [O III] luminosity functions of AGNs in the local universe. These have similar faint-end slopes, with a luminosity ratio of 1.60 dex (0.55 dex smaller than the mean value for individual hard-X-ray-selected AGNs). We conclude that at low redshift, selection by narrow optical emission lines will recover most AGNs selected by hard X-rays (with the exception of BL Lac objects). However, selection by hard X-rays misses a significant fraction of the local AGN population with strong emission lines.
From Trickle Down to Leapfrog

The diversification of rural and agricultural production could bring some hope to the Indian countryside, but only the most integrated social groups and areas will benefit from it, making the others wait for an elusive trickle down. Perhaps a more fruitful process could be the growth of organic farming and the payment by the government for the ecosystem services that farmers do produce - often without being aware of it. Through a historic leapfrogging this could perhaps bring to the fore the disadvantaged areas and groups.
Measuring Chinaâ€™s Economic Performance

China is the worldâ€™s fastest growing economy and is also the second largest. However, the official estimates of the Chinese National Bureau of Statistics exaggerate GDP growth and need adjustment to conform to international norms as set out in the 1993 System of National Accounts (SNA). This paper presents and discusses the necessary adjustments. The two major contributions are new volume indices for the industrial sector and for "non-material" services. Finally, in order to measure the level of Chinese GDP in internationally comparable terms, the authors use a measure of purchasing power parity (PPP) instead of the exchange rate.
Improved coronary vascular function evoked by high-intensity treadmill training is maintained in arteries exposed to ischemia and reperfusion.

We hypothesized that myocardial contractile function and coronary arterial function are greater after ischemia and reperfusion in high-intensity treadmill-trained vs. sedentary rats. Rats performed 10 x 4-min bouts of treadmill running consisting of 2 min at 13 m/min + 2 min at 45-60 m/min (Etr) or were sedentary (Sed) for 12 wk. Animals then were instrumented to measure left ventricular (LV) contractility in response to three 15-min coronary occlusion (O) and 5-min reperfusion (R) cycles (Isc) or a sham operation (Sham). After the Isc and Sham protocols, hearts were excised and coronary arterial ( approximately 105 microm ID) function was evaluated by using isometric techniques. LV developed pressure, the first derivative of LV pressure at a developed pressure of 40 mmHg, and systolic blood pressure were not different between Etr (n = 14) and Sed (n = 7) rats before or after the Sham protocol. Furthermore, hemodynamic variables were similar in Etr (n = 14) and Sed (n = 13) animals before the Isc protocol and were depressed to the same degree by the three O-R cycles. Therefore, Etr did not alter myocardial contractile function in rats that were (i.e., Isc) or were not (i.e., Sham) exposed to ischemia and reperfusion. Acetylcholine-evoked relaxation (10-8 to 3 x 10-5 M) was greater (P < 0.05) in coronary arteries from Sham-Etr vs. Sham-Sed animals (5 of 8 doses tested) and Isc-Etr vs. Isc-Sed rats (3 of 8 doses tested). Maximal relaxation produced by sodium nitroprusside (10-4 M) was similar among groups. Vasocontractile responses produced by KCl (10-100 mM) and endothelin-1 (10-11-10-4 M) were greater (P < 0.05) in the presence vs. the absence of nitric oxide synthase inhibition (10-6 M NG-monomethyl-l-arginine) in vessels from Sham-Etr but not Sham-Sed rats and from Isc-Etr but not Isc-Sed rats. These findings suggest that Etr-evoked improvements in coronary function are maintained in small arteries even when exposed to ischemia and reperfusion.
The Carry-Over Effect of Competition in Task-Sharing: Evidence from the Joint Simon Task

The Simon effect, that is the advantage of the spatial correspondence between stimulus and response locations when stimulus location is a task-irrelevant dimension, occurs even when the task is performed together by two participants, each performing a go/no-go task. Previous studies showed that this joint Simon effect, considered by some authors as a measure of self-other integration, does not emerge when during task performance co-actors are required to compete. The present study investigated whether and for how long competition experienced during joint performance of one task can affect performance in a following joint Simon task. In two experiments, we required pairs of participants to perform together a joint Simon task, before and after jointly performing together an unrelated non-spatial task (the Eriksen flanker task). In Experiment 1, participants always performed the joint Simon task under neutral instructions, before and after performing the joint flanker task in which they were explicitly required either to cooperate with (i.e., cooperative condition) or to compete against a co-actor (i.e., competitive condition). In Experiment 2, they were required to compete during the joint flanker task and to cooperate during the subsequent joint Simon task. Competition experienced in one task affected the way the subsequent joint task was performed, as revealed by the lack of the joint Simon effect, even though, during the Simon task participants were not required to compete (Experiment 1). However, prior competition no longer affected subsequent performance if a new goal that created positive interdependence between the two agents was introduced (Experiment 2). These results suggest that the emergence of the joint Simon effect is significantly influenced by how the goals of the co-acting individuals are related, with the effect of competition extending beyond the specific competitive setting and affecting subsequent interactions.
Asia's Decoupling: Fact, Forecast or Fiction?

Standard measures of real economic co-movement between Asia-Pacific economies and those elsewhere had been observed to follow a downward trend, leading some commentators to suggest that the region was decoupling. However, this process reversed in response to the International Financial Crisis, and co-movement increased to historically high levels for some economies. We examine co-movement patterns and show that these are very sensitive to changes in macroeconomic volatility over time. Controlling for this, however, co-movement is closely linked to underlying trade and financial integration. If international links continue to strengthen in future, co-movement will strengthen in tandem. Decoupling is more a fiction than a fact or a forecast.
Transcriptome Analysis of Barbarea vulgaris Infested with Diamondback Moth (Plutella xylostella) Larvae

Background The diamondback moth (DBM, Plutella xylostella) is a crucifer-specific pest that causes significant crop losses worldwide. Barbarea vulgaris (Brassicaceae) can resist DBM and other herbivorous insects by producing feeding-deterrent triterpenoid saponins. Plant breeders have long aimed to transfer this insect resistance to other crops. However, a lack of knowledge on the biosynthetic pathways and regulatory networks of these insecticidal saponins has hindered their practical application. A pyrosequencing-based transcriptome analysis of B. vulgaris during DBM larval feeding was performed to identify genes and gene networks responsible for saponin biosynthesis and its regulation at the genome level. Principal Findings Approximately 1.22, 1.19, 1.16, 1.23, 1.16, 1.20, and 2.39 giga base pairs of clean nucleotides were generated from B. vulgaris transcriptomes sampled 1, 4, 8, 12, 24, and 48 h after onset of P. xylostella feeding and from non-inoculated controls, respectively. De novo assembly using all data of the seven transcriptomes generated 39,531 unigenes. A total of 37,780 (95.57%) unigenes were annotated, 14,399 of which were assigned to one or more gene ontology terms and 19,620 of which were assigned to 126 known pathways. Expression profiles revealed 2,016–4,685 up-regulated and 557–5188 down-regulated transcripts. Secondary metabolic pathways, such as those of terpenoids, glucosinolates, and phenylpropanoids, and its related regulators were elevated. Candidate genes for the triterpene saponin pathway were found in the transcriptome. Orthological analysis of the transcriptome with four other crucifer transcriptomes identified 592 B. vulgaris-specific gene families with a P-value cutoff of 1e−5. Conclusion This study presents the first comprehensive transcriptome analysis of B. vulgaris subjected to a series of DBM feedings. The biosynthetic and regulatory pathways of triterpenoid saponins and other DBM deterrent metabolites in this plant were classified. The results of this study will provide useful data for future investigations on pest-resistance phytochemistry and plant breeding.
Design optimization and comparison of magneto-rheological actuators

In this paper, an optimization method for designing MR clutches is studied. The proposed method optimizes the geometrical dimensions of an MR clutch, hence its mass, for given output torque and electrical input power. The main idea behind this optimization is that the input power and output torque are two parameters that are normally known to the designer prior to the design of an MR clutch and considering these parameters in the optimization as fixed values has a practical significance. Having presented the optimization method, we compare the characteristics of three different MR clutch configurations in order to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method. A comparison between the drum, single-disk and multi-disk configurations of MR clutches is performed. Using the proposed method one can select a suitable configuration as well as the geometrical dimensions for an MR clutch that best suits the requirements of each individual design.
Expectations of Risk and Return Among Household Investors: Are Their Sharpe Ratios Countercyclical?

Data obtained from special questions on the Michigan Survey of Consumer Attitudes are used to analyze stock market beliefs and portfolio choices of household investors. We find that expected risk and return are strongly influenced by economic prospects. When investors believe macroeconomic conditions are more expansionary, they tend to expect both higher returns and lower volatility. This implies that household Sharpe ratios are procyclical, which is inconsistent with the view that stock market returns should compensate investors for exposure to macroeconomic risks. The finding of procyclical expected returns holds up when we instead condition on conventional business cycle proxies such as the dividend yield and the consumption-wealth ratio. We further find that perceived risk in equity returns (though not the expected returns themselves) is strongly influenced by household investor characteristics, consistent with documented behavioral biases. The relevance of investor expectations is supported by the finding that the proportion of equity holdings in respondent portfolios tends to be higher for those who report higher expected returns and lower uncertainty.
Liver function tests in workers with occupational exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs): comparison with yusho and yu-cheng.

The results of liver function tests in a population manufacturing capacitors and transformers are presented. Two clinical field examinations were performed, one in 1976 when PCBs were still used in the manufacturing of the electrical equipment and one at the end of 1979, 2.5 years after discontinuation of PCBs use. A low prevalence of abnormal liver function tests was found and mean values for all tests were within normal laboratory ranges. At the initial examination, weak, but statistically significant correlations were found between log LDH and plasma levels of log HPCB (higher chlorinated congeners of polychlorinated biphenyls) and log TPCB (total polychlorinated biphenyls) among the female workers, while log gamma-GTP correlated significantly only with log HPCB among the male workers. A significant increase to abnormal levels of gamma-GTP was noted at the follow-up examination in both male and female workers, and preliminary results indicate significant correlations between gamma-GTP and serum levels of PCBs among the male workers. These findings are in accordance with previously reported data on populations occupationally exposed to PCBs, but differ from hepatic biochemistry findings in accidental poisonings due to ingestion of cooking oil contaminated with PCBs and related compounds, i.e., polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and polychlorinated quaterphenyls (PCQs). Hence, the importance of considering the related compounds as etiologic factors in PCB poisoning is emphasized.
CARRY-OVER EFFECTS OF WATER AND NUTRIENT SUPPLY ON WATER USE OF PINUS TAEDA

A study of the effects of nutrients and water supply (2 × 2 factorial experiment) was conducted in a 12-yr-old stand of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) during a period in which soil moisture was not augmented by irrigation because of frequent rain events. Information on the responses of sapwood-to-leaf area ratio and early-to-late wood ratio, to four years of treatments led to the hypothesis that the combination of increased nutrient and water supply (IF treatment) will increase tree transpiration rate per unit leaf area (EC,1) above EC,1 in the control (C), as well as increasing EC,1 above that when either the supply of water (I) or of nutrients (F) is increased. We further hypothesized that canopy transpiration (EC) will rank IF > F > I = C, based on the ranking of leaf area index (L) and assuming that the ranking of EC,1 is as first hypothesized. We rejected our first hypothesis, because F had lower EC,1 than the other treatments, rather than IF having higher values. We could not reject the second hypothesis; the ranking of average daily EC was 1.8 mm for IF, 1.2 mm for F, and 0.7 mm for both C and I (se < 0.1 mm for all treatments). Thus, it was the lower EC,1 of the F treatment, relative to IF, that resulted in ranking of EC similar to that hypothesized. Lower EC,1 in F trees was found to relate to lower canopy stomatal conductance, even though soil moisture conditions during the time of the study were similar in all treatments. Only trees in the F treatment absorbed a substantial amount of water (25%) below 1 m in the soil. These results indicate a “carry-over” effect of irrigation when combined with fertilization that increases EC in irrigated trees, relative to unirrigated trees, even under conditions when soil moisture is high and similar in all treatments.
Physics and Performance of Phase Change Memories

Phase change memories (PCM) are considered promising candidates for the replacement of non-volatile Flash technology at the nanoscale. The paper reviews the physics of PCM operation, the scaling potentials of these devices, some options recently proposed for the cell structure, the main challenges for the PCM to become fully competitive with standard Flash technology.