Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Contribuição para o estudo de não-linearidades em fibras opticas monomodo

O objetivo deste trabalho e a implementacao de um metodo numerico eficiente que viabilize o estudo de efeitos nao-lineares em fibras opticas mono-modo, no software PCSimfo. O metodo de Split-Step Fourier, escolhido para este proposito, e bastante utilizado para a solucao da Equacao Nao-Linear Generalizada de Schrodinger e esta bem descrito na literatura. Entretanto ele recebe algumas criticas quanto a sua justificacao fisica e quanto a escolha de um parâmetro, o passo longitudinal, do qual depende a precisao de seus resultados. Nos elaboramos criterios de validacao que implicam a existencia de passos minimo e maximo, a partir dos quais podem ser inferidos os limites de validade fisica do metodo e um valor-guia de passo, util para usuarios com pouca experiencia em simulacoes de nao-linearidades em fibras. O algoritmo implementado foi extensivamente confrontado com resultados da literatura, com os quais sempre mostrou uma excelente concordância. Como uma aplicacao de nossa implementacao numerica, nos apresentamos resultados de simulacoes do PC-Simfo que sugerem que o fenomeno de Mistura de Quatro Ondas pode ser utilizado para multiplexar opticamente dois canais. Esta multiplexacao requer que a potencia do bit 0 seja deslocada para um valor nao-nulo. A co-propagacao de canais com codificacao OOK modificada por fibras Altamente Nao-Lineares gera, atraves da Mistura de Quatro Ondas, sinais com codificacao ASK-4- que duplicam a taxa de transmissao dos canais originais. A utilizacao de esquemas de codificacao que, como o prosposto, melhorem a eficiencia espectral esta em acordo com esforcos recentemente relatados na literatura. Abstract
“Somatic-type” Malignancies Arising From Testicular Germ Cell Tumors: A Clinicopathologic Study of 124 Cases With Emphasis on Glandular Tumors Supporting Frequent Yolk Sac Tumor Origin

Somatic-type malignancies (SMs) in patients with testicular germ cell tumors (GCT) are rare and mostly attributed to “transformation” of teratoma, although yolk sac tumor (YST) origin has also been proposed. We studied 124 cases of “SM” of testicular GCT origin from 106 patients to evaluate their morphology, immunohistochemical features (especially the utility of SALL4), and relationship to YST. Primitive neuroectodermal and nephroblastomatous tumors were excluded because of prior studies. Patients ranged in age from 15 to 68 years (mean, 33 y). The tumors ranged from 0.7 to 30 cm (mean, 7.6 cm) and involved the retroperitoneum (64%), abdomen/pelvis (10%), lung (10%), mediastinum (6%), supraclavicular region/neck (4%), testis (4%), and thigh (1%). Most initial diagnoses were sarcomas (n=68) or carcinomas (n=51). On review and immunohistochemical analysis, 7 of 45 adenocarcinomas were reclassified as glandular YSTs (GYST) on the basis of glypican-3 (GPC3) and/or &agr;-fetoprotein positivity and scant/absent reactivity for EMA and CK7. These occasionally (29%) had subnuclear and sometimes supranuclear vacuoles (endometrioid-like), whereas adenocarcinomas were more frequently mucinous (17%) or enteric-type (11%) than endometrioid-like (9%). Both expressed CDX2 frequently (83% and 63%, respectively). MUC protein 2, 4, 5, and 6 expression was more common in adenocarcinomas (7% to 36%) than in GYSTs (0% to 20%) but was infrequent. Both were often positive for SALL4, BerEP4, and MOC31; all were negative for TTF-1. On follow-up (GYST: range, 23 to 169 mo; mean, 81mo; adenocarcinoma: range, 1 to 170 mo; mean, 55 mo), 50% and 33% of patients with GYST and adenocarcinoma, respectively, died of disease. We reclassified 26 of 76 sarcomatoid tumors as sarcomatoid YSTs (SYST) on the basis of positive reactivity for both AE1/3 and GPC3. These tumors often had spindled and epithelioid cells in a fibromyxoid stroma. SYSTs were often (60%) SALL4 positive, whereas sarcomas were all negative. On follow-up (SYST: range, 1 to 259 mo; mean, 62 mo; sarcoma: range, 1 to 327 mo; mean, 70 mo), 50% and 29% of patients with SYST and sarcoma, respectively, died of disease, with most mortality occurring in those with high-grade tumors. We conclude that, on the basis of a panel of immunoreactivities, a significant number of “SMs” in testicular GCT patients are more accurately classified as either GYSTs or SYSTs. Ambiguous glandular tumors should be evaluated for GPC3, &agr;-fetoprotein, CK7, and EMA reactivity and sarcomatoid ones for GPC3, AE1/3, and SALL4 reactivity.
Health Policy Development in Flemish Small-Sized Municipalities

Background. A health promotion institute developed an intervention to support small-sized municipalities (<15,000 citizens; n = 167) in their development of a local health policy. Objectives. To (1) find out which municipalities showed interest to participate and (2) assess the intervention effects after 1 year. Method. The intervention consisted of (1) completing an online tool that generated feedback on the quality level of the health policy (9 scores) and (2) receiving advice (four contacts) from the local-regional support service for health promotion. In total 121 small-sized municipalities agreed to participate (intervention municipalities), and the nonparticipating municipalities (n = 46) were used as a comparison group. Chi-square tests were conducted to compare baseline quality scores between intervention and comparison municipalities and to assess the change (baseline to follow-up) within the intervention group. Results. At baseline, intervention municipalities had significant higher health policy quality scores compared to the comparison municipalities. Municipalities interested in the intervention mostly had already high policy scores. A significant positive shift in the quality levels was found after 1 year in the intervention municipalities. Conclusion. The intervention succeeded in improving the quality levels of the local health policy, though municipalities scoring low and possibly benefiting most from the intervention need to be extra-motivated to participate.
On the Intention of Cicero's De Officiis

Recent scholarship has yielded a great deal of information on Cicero's De officiis; this essay, however, seeks to move beyond information about the work in favor of an interpretation of Cicero's intention in writing it. To this end, the essay analyzes the genre and intended audience of De officiis, the allegedly Stoic teaching contained in it, and the puzzle presented by its crucial third book. The understanding of Cicero's intention that emerges from these investigations is then briefly compared with Cicero's teaching in De finibus. Theessay ultimately claims that De officiis should be interpreted as advocating a sort of Stoicism for the unphilosophical even while urging the views of the Peripatetics on the more sophisticated.
Association of six-minute walk distance (6MWD) with resting pulmonary function in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

BACKGROUND The six-minute walk test (6MWT) is widely used for integrated assessment of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, little is known concerning which resting pulmonary function test measurements relate to six-minute walk distance (6MWD). METHODS We retrospectively analyzed consecutive data of spirometry, lung volume analysis, and measurements of diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (DLCO) and 6MWT from total of one-hundred and thirty patients with COPD. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to examine the relationships between 6MWD and variables. RESULTS By linear regression analysis, 6MWD was significantly associated with age, weight, BMI, FEV1.0, FEV1.0 (% predicted), IC, TLC, IC/TLC, FEF25-75, DLCO (% predicted), and DLCO/VA. Stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed that age (r2 = 0.173; p < 0.0001), IC (r2 = 0.18; p < 0.0001), and DLCONA (r2 = 0.238; p < 0.0001) significantly accounted for 6MWD. CONCLUSIONS The present results suggest that age, IC, and DLCONA were significantly associated with 6MWD in patients with COPD.
katG mutations in isoniazid-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates recovered from Finnish patients

katG and inhA genes from isoniazid-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains isolated in Finland were examined by PCR or sequencing. By PCR, katG was not detected in 3 of 54 strains. Sequencing of katG from 13 strains showed small point mutations or insertions; a previously described mutation causing a Ser-to-Thr change at position 315 was found in 4 strains, and there were nine new missense mutations of katG. A 209-bp segment of inhA from 17 strains was sequenced, but no mutations were observed. This result indicates that different mutations prevail in different geographical areas.
Association of HIV and Opportunistic Infections With Incident Stroke: A Nationwide Population-Based Cohort Study in Taiwan

Background: HIV-associated vasculopathy and opportunistic infections (OIs) might cause vascular atherosclerosis and aneurysmal arteriopathy, which could increase the risk of incident stroke. However, few longitudinal studies have investigated the link between HIV and incident stroke. This cohort study evaluated the association of HIV and OIs with incident stroke. Methods: We identified adults with HIV infection in 2000–2012, using the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database. A control cohort without HIV infection, matched for age and sex, was selected for comparison. Stroke incidence until December 31, 2012 was then ascertained for all patients. A time-dependent Cox regression model was used to determine the association between OIs and incident stroke among patients with HIV. Results: Among a total of 106,875 patients (21,375 patients with HIV and 85,500 matched controls), stroke occurred in 927 patients (0.87%) during a mean follow-up period of 5.44 years, including 672 (0.63%) ischemic strokes and 255 (0.24%) hemorrhagic strokes. After adjusting for other covariates, HIV infection was an independent risk factor for incident all-cause stroke [adjusted hazard ratio (AHR) 1.83; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.58 to 2.13]. When the type of stroke was considered, HIV infection increased the risks of ischemic (AHR 1.33; 95% CI: 1.09 to 1.63) and hemorrhagic stroke (AHR 2.01; 95% CI: 1.51 to 2.69). The risk of incident stroke was significantly higher in patients with HIV with cryptococcal meningitis (AHR 4.40; 95% CI: 1.38 to 14.02), cytomegalovirus disease (AHR 2.79; 95% CI: 1.37 to 5.67), and Penicillium marneffei infection (AHR 2.90; 95% CI: 1.16 to 7.28). Conclusions: Patients with HIV had an increased risk of stroke, particularly those with cryptococcal meningitis, cytomegalovirus, or P. marneffei infection.
The Business Case for Nursing in Long-Term Care

Lower nurse staffing in hospitals has been associated with adverse patient outcomes; results in nursing homes (NHs) are less clear. We examined the association between nurses' direct care time and outcomes in long-stay NH residents and potential cost savings from decreased adverse outcomes versus additional wages for adequate nurse staffing. Data were from the National Pressure Ulcer Long-Term Care Study of 1,376 at-risk residents from 82 NHs. Primary data came from medical records. Hospital, pressure ulcer (PrU) treatment, and urinary tract infection (UTI) costs were from national statistics or cost-identification studies. Time horizon was 1 year. More registered nurse (RN) direct care time/resident/day was associated with fewer PrUs, hospitalizations, and UTIs. Annual net societal benefit was $3,191/resident/year in high-risk NH units with 30-40 min of RN time/resident/day versus units with <10 min. Thus, after controlling for important variables, more RN time/day was strongly associated with better outcomes and lower societal cost.
Development of depressed mood predicts onset of psychotic disorder in individuals who report hallucinatory experiences.

OBJECTIVES Current psychological theories state that the clinical outcome of hallucinatory experiences is dependent on the degree of associated distress, anxiety, and depression. This study examined the hypothesis that the risk for onset of psychotic disorder in individuals with self-reported hallucinatory experiences would be higher in those who subsequently developed depressed mood than in those who did not. DESIGN A prospective cohort study of a general population sample. METHODS A sample of 4,670 individuals with no lifetime evidence of any psychotic disorder were interviewed with the Composite International Diagnostic Interview Schedule (CIDI) at baseline and 1 and 3 years later. At Year 3, individuals with CIDI evidence of psychotic symptoms were interviewed by clinicians to identify potential onset of psychotic disorder. Psychotic disorder was specified at three levels; two involving severity of positive symptoms of psychosis, and one using additional clinical judgment of need for care. RESULTS Given the presence of hallucinatory experiences at baseline, the increase in risk of having the psychosis outcome at Year 3 was higher in the group with depressed mood at Year 1 than in the group without depressed mood at Year 1 (any level of psychotic symptoms: risk difference 17.0%, 95% CI - 1.7, 35.7; severe level of psychotic symptoms: risk difference 21.7%, 95% CI 3.2, 40.2; needs-based diagnosis of psychotic disorder: risk difference 16.8%, 95% CI 0.4, 33.3). CONCLUSION The results are in line with current psychological models of psychosis that emphasize the role of secondary appraisals of psychotic experiences in the onset of clinical disorder.
Effect of nitric oxide and NO synthase inhibition on nonquantal acetylcholine release in the rat diaphragm

After anticholinesterase treatment, the postsynaptic muscle membrane is depolarized by about 5 mV due to nonquantal release of acetylcholine (ACh) from the motor nerve terminal. This can be demonstrated by the hyperpolarization produced by the addition of curare (H‐effect). The magnitude of the H‐effect was decreased significantly to 3 mV when the nitric oxide (NO) donors, sodium nitroprusside (SNP) and S‐nitroso‐N‐acetylpenicillamine (SNAP) were applied to the muscle, or when NO production was elevated by adding l‐arginine, but not d‐arginine, as a substrate. The H‐effect was increased to 8–9 mV by inhibition of NO synthase by l‐nitroarginine methylester (l‐NAME), or by guanylyl cyclase inhibition by methylene blue and 1H‐[1,2,4]oxidiazolo[4,3‐a]quinoxalin‐1‐one (ODQ). ODQ increased the H‐effect to 7.3 ± 0.2 mV and diminished the SNP‐induced decrease of the H‐effect when applied together with SNP. The effects of NO donors and l‐arginine were eliminated by adding reduced haemoglobin, an extracellular NO scavenger. The present results, together with earlier evidence for the presence of NO synthase in muscle fibres, indicate that nonquantal release of ACh is modulated by NO production in the postsynaptic cell.
Bone regeneration in orthodontically produced alveolar bone dehiscences.

Orthodontic appliances, designed to tip the maxillary second and third incisors in facial direction, were inserted in 3 dogs. During a 5 month period, the incisors on the left side of the jaw were tipped to a facially displaced position. During a further 5 month period these teeth were moved back to their original position while the two incisors on the right side of the jaw were moved to a position corresponding to that previously reached by the incisors of the left side. The orthodontic appliances were then used to retain the teeth In these positions for 5 months. Teeth in three non-treated dogs served as controls. During the study, the animals were subjected to meticulous plaque control. The animals were sacrificed 15 months after the start of the study. The jaws were removed and buccolingually oriented histological sections of the experimental and control teeth were produced. The study has shown (1) that dehiscences can be produced in the alveolar bone by tipping teeth in facial direction and that bone will reform in such defects when the teeth are moved back to their original position and (2) that such tooth movements are not necessarily accompanied by loss of connective tissue attachment.
No Evidence for Chromosomal Instability in Radiation Workers with In Vivo Exposure to Plutonium

Abstract Whitehouse, C. A. and Tawn, E. J. No Evidence for Chromosomal Instability in Radiation Workers with In Vivo Exposure to Plutonium. Radiat. Res. 156, 467–475 (2001). The availability of cultured lymphocyte preparations from radiation workers with internal deposits of plutonium provided the opportunity to examine whether irradiation of bone marrow cells had induced a transmissible genomic instability manifesting as an increase in de novo chromosome aberrations in descendant cells in the peripheral blood. The men were originally classified as having more than 20% of the maximum permissible body burdens of plutonium, and recent red bone marrow dose calculations provided individual cumulative estimates at the time of sampling ranging up to 1.8 Sv. The initial sampling occurred approximately 10 years after the main major intake, and samples were subsequently taken during three further periods over the following 20 years. Control samples were available from three of the four sampling times. Chromosome analysis of solid Giemsa-stained material revealed no significant differences either in comparisons between the total group of plutonium workers and controls for comparable periods or when the comparisons were restricted to a group of plutonium workers with initial red bone marrow plutonium doses greater than 0.25 Sv. However, the frequencies of cells containing chromatid exchanges, chromatid breaks, and chromosome and chromatid gaps decreased significantly over the study period for both the plutonium workers as a whole and the controls, and a similar fluctuating pattern was seen when sequential samples from groups of the same individuals were examined. Cells with dicentrics, centric rings and excess acentric fragments remained at similar frequencies throughout the study period. There was therefore no evidence from the study of blood lymphocytes for the induction of persistent transmissible genomic instability in the bone marrow of radiation workers with internal deposits of plutonium. The work has, however, confirmed the need for appropriate controls when conducting studies of cytogenetic end points of instability.
The effects of phosphoramidon on the regional haemodynamic responses to human proendothelin [1–38] in conscious rats

1 Cardiovascular responses to human proendothelin [1–38], in the absence and presence of phosphoramidon, were studied in conscious Long Evans rats, chronically instrumented for the continuous recording of heart rate, systemic arterial blood pressure and renal, mesenteric and hindquarters blood flows. 2 A dose of 0.1 nmol kg−1 human proendothelin [1–38] caused a slight pressor effect (maximum 5 ± 2mmHg), but a clear bradycardia (maximum −29 ± 7 beats min−1). Renal haemodynamics were unchanged but there was mesenteric vasoconstriction and a vasodilatation followed by a vasoconstriction in the hindquarters. 3 A dose of 1.0 nmol kg−1 human proendothelin [1–38] caused a gradual hypertension (maximum 42 ± 4 mmHg at 10 min) and a profound bradycardia (–149 ± 10 beats min−1 at 30 min). There were gradual but marked, renal and hindquarters vasoconstrictions, whereas there was a substantial mesenteric vasoconstriction that was relatively rapid in onset. 4 In 2 animals, administration of human proendothelin [1–38] at a dose of 10 nmol kg−1 caused an initial hypotension followed by a rapidly‐developing pressor effect; there were renal and mesenteric vasoconstrictions and vasodilatation followed by vasoconstriction in the hindquarters. These changes were very similar to those seen following injection of endothelin‐1 (0.1 nmol kg−1). 5 Phosphoramidon (2 μmol kg−1) had no cardiovascular effects itself and it did not affect significantly the pressor or mesenteric vasoconstrictor effects of human proendothelin [1–38], but it reduced the bradycardia and renal and hindquarters vasoconstrictor responses. A higher dose of phosphoramidon (10 μmol kg−1) caused significant attenuation of all the responses to human proendothelin [1–38], but a substantial mesenteric vasoconstrictor response still occurred under these conditions. 6 The results are consistent with the involvement of phosphoramidon‐sensitive enzyme systems in the conversion of human proendothelin [1–38] to endothelin‐1 in vivo. In addition, considering the different patterns of responses to human proendothelin [1–38] in the effector tissues studied (heart, and renal, mesenteric and hindquarters vascular beds), and the differential degrees of inhibition of them by phosphoramidon, it is likely that the effects of human proendothelin [1–38] were due to its local (rather than systemic) conversion to endothelin‐1 by processes with differing degrees of susceptibility to phosphoramidon.
Dual branding: how corporate names add value

The deference towards brands that motivated yesterday’s consumers to purchase is no longer so evident in today’s shopping environment. As consumers become more sophisticated in their assessment of brands and more demanding in their requirements, brand management will need to develop more substantive market models to regain the initiative. Outlines an empirical model of brand loyalty that provides diagnostic data to support the management of brand loyal behaviour and customer equity in grocery markets.
The Ginkgo biloba extract EGb 761® and its main constituent flavonoids and ginkgolides increase extracellular dopamine levels in the rat prefrontal cortex

Background and purpose: Experimental and clinical data suggest that extracts of Ginkgo biloba improve cognitive function. However, the neurochemical correlates of these effects are not yet fully clarified. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of acute and repeated oral administration of the standardized extract EGb 761® on extracellular levels of dopamine, noradrenaline and serotonin (5‐HT), and the dopamine metabolites 3,4‐dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) and homovanillic acid (HVA) in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and striatum of conscious rats.
Technological Frames, Organizational Capabilities, and IT Use: An Empirical Investigation of Electronic Procurement

The process by which organizations incorporate technological innovations into existing routines and use them on a regular basis persists as a central concern in the literature. Although we now have a fairly robust understanding of the drivers of innovation adoption, the use of innovations is less understood. In this paper, we draw on two streams of literature, managerial and organizational sensemaking, and organizational capabilities that have hitherto been used independently, to investigate organizational use of information technology (IT)-based innovations. Building on and extending prior work, we posit that organizational capabilities serve as complements to managers' technological frames related to an innovation. We focus on the use of an important technological innovation---business-to-business (B2B) electronic markets for procurement. We examine interactions between three technological frames---benefits frame, threat frame, and adjustment frame, and two organizational capabilities---technological opportunism and technological sophistication, and their relationship with the use of B2B electronic markets in firms. We test our research model using survey data collected from 292 firms. Results largely support the proposed conceptualization and shed new light on the key factors associated with firms' use of B2B electronic markets. Theoretical and practical implications of the findings are discussed.