Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
All-optical wavelength conversion of a polarization multiplexed signal

The implementation of the all-optical wavelength-conversion (AOWC) function will be a key-feature in nextgeneration networks, as it could enable dynamic signal routing, wavelength reuse and path protection and restoration. At the same time, the use of differential-quadrature phase-shift-keying (DQPSK) modulation technique in combination with polarization multiplexing (POLMUX) is considered as the most promising candidate for the realization of high-bit-rate transmission links with a capacity of 100 Gb/s per wavelength and beyond. To our knowledge, only a few experiments [1] of POLMUX conversion are reported in literature and more recent results benefit of coherent detection and post-detection digital processing [2].
The perceived effects of electronic cigarettes on health by adult users: A state of the science systematic literature review

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE There is a lack of research on perceived health effects of electronic cigarettes by adult users. Because more people are choosing electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) in addition to, or instead of traditional cigarettes, it is important for the nurse practitioner (NP) to understand why. METHODS A comprehensive literature search was conducted using four scholarly databases. The search strategy utilized remained consistent. Qualitative, quantitative, observational studies and meta-analyses were considered for review. Of the 52 articles preliminarily retrieved, 9 met inclusion criteria and were analyzed. CONCLUSIONS The majority of e-cigarette users perceive they are less harmful to health than traditional cigarettes. One reason for use is smoking cessation. Current guidelines recommend against promoting e-cigarette use. More research is needed on the long-term health effects of e-cigarettes as well as regulatory statements to guide future healthcare practice. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE As prevalence of e-cigarette use increases, it is important for NPs to understand the perceived effects on health by adults who use them and, specifically, how these perceptions motivate use. Armed with this information, the NP can communicate with patients about e-cigarettes, confidently recommend against their use, and begin discussions about reliable smoking cessation tools and resources that will help patients achieve their goals.
Spheno-orbital meningiomas: outcome after microsurgical treatment: a clinical review of 30 cases

Abstract Objective: Spheno-orbital meningiomas represent a delicate subtype of intracranial meningiomas involving the sphenoid wing, orbit and important neurovascular structures such as cavernous sinus, carotid artery or optic nerve. Insidious and aggressive dural, bone and orbital involvement contains several defiances to adequate resection, which provides high rates of recurrence. Methods: This retrospective case analysis consisted of 30 patients, who were surgically treated for spheno-orbital meningiomas performing a fronto-pterional approach by or under the supervision of the senior author (J. Meixensberger) between May 2001 and February 2006. There were 22 woman and eight men with a mean age of 54·4 years. The follow-up period ranged from 3 to 75 months (mean: 33·7 months). Results: The majority of patients presented with a clinical triad of visual impairment (74%), progressive proptosis (55%) and visual field defects (40%). Total microscopic tumor resection was achieved in ten patients (33%). Visual acuity improved in 65% of the patients, and 40% of these returned to normal vision. Pre-existing cranial nerve deficits remained unchanged in the majority of patients (88%) and improved in 12%. Temporary new cranial nerve deficits occurred in three patients. The rate of permanent non-visual morbidity was 10% (three of 30 patients). Eight patients (27%) received post-operative radiotherapy with an overall tumor growth control rate of 63%. The overall recurrence rate was 27% (eight of 30 patients). Conclusion: Sufficient tumor control can be achieved with minimal morbidity and satisfying functional results.
A simple rating method for CPV modules and systems

Right now, there is no agreed definition and measurement method for rating concentrator photovoltaic. This paper discusses present situation of the ratings of CPV modules and systems. First, it was analyzed which factors have influence to the performance to CPV modules and systems. Next, the linear interpolation method that is known as a robust estimator especially to multi-junction thin film modules is discussed. The test data was provided from Toyohashi University of Technology where a 550 X CPV module (20 cells connected in series and the total area is 5,445 cm2) was tested independently. The relative standard deviation was 0.89 %, whereas that of the linear interpolation method was 1.2 %. Different from the linear interpolation method, this stratified averaging method is unbiased.
An Evaluation of an Integrated e-Portfolio Model: The Case of Bahrain Teachers' College

An important practice implemented since 2008 at the only teachers' college in the Kingdom of Bahrain-the Bahrain Teachers' College (BTC)- is e-portfolio assessment. Despite serious efforts to ensure effective implementation of e-portfolio assessment at BTC since its launching, there continued to be over the years several challenges and obstacles, mainly in the form of faculty and students' confusion, that needed to be overcome. This paper, as a result, highlights some of these challenges, it also investigates, through the analysis of a multiplicity of data sources, the impact of an integrated e-portfolio model (IEM), which was originally introduced at BTC in 2012, to help ensure a more successful and effective e-portfolio experience. This investigation is taken even further in the form of an evaluation of IEM on the basis of the well-informed 4 E-Model of Collis & Moonen. The results of the IEM overall evaluation indicated some improvement mainly in the form of stronger awareness and a more accepting culture of e-portfolios, still, however, they also pointed to continuing flaws in e-portfolio implementation and to a need for more focused training of stakeholders.
Poison ivy (Rhus) dermatitis; an experimental study.

"The poisonous weed, being in shape but little different from our English ivie; but being touched causeth reddness, itchings, and lastly blysters, the which howsoever, after a while they pass away of themselves without further harme; yet because for the time they are somewhat painefull, and in aspect dangerous, it hath gotten itselfe an ill name, although questionless of noe very ill nature. " The recorded history of poison ivy dermatitis begins with these words of Captain John Smith in 1609. * McNair's wonderful little book ``Rhus Dermatitis" is the most complete treatment of the subject; in it knowledge is summarized up to 1923.1The modern master is Bedford Shelmire; his original studies are impressive examples of biological research at the clinical level.2-7Exclusive of biochemical accomplishments, the remaining literature is excessively preoccupied with prophylaxis and therapy; the yield therefrom is not in proportion to the
River Rehabilitation for Conservation of Fish Biodiversity in Monsoonal Asia

Freshwater biodiversity is under threat worldwide, but the intensity of threat in the Oriental biogeographic region of tropical Asia is exceptional. Asia is the most densely populated region on Earth. Many rivers in that region are grossly polluted, and significant portions of their drainage basins and floodplains have been deforested or otherwise degraded. Flow regulation has been practiced for centuries, and thousands of dams have been constructed, with the result that most of the rivers are now dammed, often at several points along their course. Irrigation, hydropower, and flood security are among the perceived benefits. Recent water engineering projects in Asia have been exceptionally aggressive; they include the world's largest and tallest dams in China and a water transfer scheme intended to link India's major rivers. Some of these projects, i.e., those on the Mekong, have international ramifications that have yet to be fully played out. Overexploitation has exacerbated the effects of habitat alterations on riverine biodiversity, particularly that of fishes. Some fishery stocks have collapsed, and many fish and other vertebrate species are threatened with extinction. The pressure from growing impoverished human populations, increasingly concentrated in cities, has forced governments to focus on economic development rather than environmental protection and conservation. Although legislation has been introduced to control water pollution, which is a danger to human health. it is not explicitly intended to protect biodiversity. Where legislation has been enforced, it can be effective against point-source polluters, but it has not significantly reduced the huge quantities of organic pollution from agricultural and domestic sources that contaminate rivers such as the Ganges and Yangtze. River scientists in Asia appear to have had little influence on policy makers or the implementation of water development projects. Human demands from agriculture and industry dominate water allocation policies, and in-stream flow needs for ecosystems have yet to be widely addressed. Restoration of Asian rivers to their original state is impractical given the constraints prevailing in the region, but some degree of rehabilitation will be possible if relevant legislation and scientific information are promptly applied. Opportunities do exist: enforcement of environmental legislation in China has been strengthened, leading to the suspension of major dam projects. The 2003 introduction of an annual fishing moratorium along the Yangtze River, as well as breeding and restocking programs for endangered fishes in the Yangtze and Mekong, offer the chance to leverage other initiatives that enhance river health and preserve biodiversity, particularly that of fish species. Preliminary data indicate that degraded rivers still retain some biodiversity that can be the focus of rehabilitation efforts. To strengthen these efforts, it is important to identify which ecological features enhance biodiversity and which ones make rivers more vulnerable to human impacts.
Analysis of periparturient risk factors affecting sow longevity in breeding herds

The association of periparturient risk factors with sow longevity and the validity of sow removal decisions made during the periparturient period were analyzed. Data pertaining to 2066 sows from a commercial breeding herd from the US Midwest were used in this study. The likelihood of removal from the herd within 35 d post-farrowing decreased with a younger parity, the absence of lameness or other health problems, a higher lactation feed intake (LFI) and a greater number of live-born piglets (P < 0.05 for all). A greater number of piglets born alive, the absence of lameness and a younger parity lowered (P < 0.05 for all) the likelihood of removal of sows from the herd before the next parity. The number of piglets born alive was higher (P < 0.05) among sows without any health problems during the previous periparturient period. A greater (P < 0.05) number of sows that were retained without any health problems during the periparturient period farrowed. More sows (P < 0.05) retained with health problems during.
Designing an adaptive computer‐aided ambulance dispatch system with Zanshin: an experience report

We have been witnessing growing interest in systems that can adapt their behavior to deal with deviations between their performance and their requirements at run‐time. Such adaptive systems usually need to support some form of a feedback loop that monitors the system's output for problems and carries out adaptation actions when necessary. Being an important feature, adaptivity needs to be considered in early stages of development. Therefore, adopting a requirements engineering perspective, we have proposed an approach and a framework (both called Zanshin) for the engineering of adaptive systems based on a feedback loop architecture. As part of our framework's evaluation, we have applied the Zanshin approach to the design of an adaptive computer‐aided ambulance dispatch system, whose requirements were based on a well‐known case study from the literature. In this paper, we report on the application of Zanshin for the design of an adaptive computer‐aided ambulance dispatch system, presenting elements of the design, as well as the results from simulations of run‐time scenarios. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
FEMALE‐BIASED SEX RATIOS IN A FACULTATIVELY SOCIAL BEE AND THEIR IMPLICATIONS FOR SOCIAL EVOLUTION

Montane populations of the Australian allodapine bee, Exoneura bicolor, are characterized by high levels of cooperative nesting and strongly female‐biased sex ratios. A conspecific population from heathland shows much lower levels of cooperative nesting and lower levels of female bias. In both habitats, sex‐ratio bias is greatest in the smallest brood sizes and becomes successively less biased in larger broods. Parity is approached in the largest heathland colonies, but not for any brood‐size category in montane areas. Adult intracolony relatedness is moderately high for colonies in both reused and newly founded nests in the montane habitat, but probably low or zero for newly founded nests in heathland. Colony efficiency, measured as the number of brood per adult, increases with colony size in both habitats, suggesting that cooperation between females increases mean female fitness. It is argued that patterns of sex allocation are consistent with nonlinear fitness‐return models, in which the mean reproductive value of daughters increases with the number of daughters produced in a brood. Such increases probably arise from a number of social interactions, including cooperative brood defense, increased task efficiency, and lower per capita costs in nest construction. The term “local fitness enhancement” is introduced here to describe these effects collectively. The female‐biased ratios should lower selective thresholds for sib‐directed altruism, at least in the earlier stages of colony development. It is argued that local fitness enhancement facilitates eusociality in allodapine bees and could also play a role in other haplodiploid taxa, provided cooperative nesting largely involves sisters, colony efficiency increases with colony size, and optimal colony sizes are only achieved after two or more generations after founding.
Promoter variants and transcriptional regulation of the intestinal fatty acid binding protein gene (FABP2)

The human intestinal fatty acid binding protein (FABP2) is a cytosolic 15 kDa protein and is involved in resorption of long-chain fatty acids. Phenotyping of FABP2 knock-out mice and association analysis of promoter haplotypes revealed FABP2 as a susceptibility gene for insulin resistance and related traits. Relevant FABP2 promoter polymorphisms -80Del>T, -136AGTAG>Del, -168AAG>T, -260G>A, -471G>A, and -778G>T result in two haplotypes A and B. Haplotype B possesses 2-3 fold lower transcriptional activity than A in Caco-2 cells. The aim of this work was to investigate the general and haplotype-specific transcriptional regulation of the human FABP2 promoter. For this purpose, reporter gene assays in human colonic carcinoma Caco-2, cervix carcinoma Hela and hepatoma Huh7 cells, site-directed mutagenesis, electrophoretic mobility shift assays and supershift-assays were used. Data show that FABP2 is strongly activated by the transcriptional factor HNF-1a and HNF-4a via identified functional recognition elements within FABP2 promoter region -185/-165 and -336/-324, respectively. This seems to be of importance in the control of FABP2 expression by differentiation and nutrients, e.g. dietary lipids. Furthermore it was demonstrated that polymorphism -80Del>T, together with -136AGTAG>Del and -168AAG>T, essentially determines different activities of FABP2 promoter haplotypes. GATA factors bind less efficiently to the –80B allele compared to A. This results in two-fold lower activation of haplotype B by these factors. GATA factors play a major role in development and differentiation and therefore very likely mediate a differential activation of FABP2 promoter haplotypes also in-vivo. Taken together, the work provides insights into the molecular basis of the general and variant specific transcriptional regulation of the diabetes type 2 associated human FABP2 gene.
Periodic properties of the histaminergic system of the mouse brain

Brain histamine is involved in the regulation of the sleep–wake cycle and alertness. Despite the widespread use of the mouse as an experimental model, the periodic properties of major markers of the mouse histaminergic system have not been comprehensively characterized. We analysed the daily levels of histamine and its first metabolite, 1‐methylhistamine, in different brain structures of C57BL/6J and CBA/J mouse strains, and the mRNA level and activity of histidine decarboxylase and histamine‐N‐methyltransferase in C57BL/6J mice. In the C57BL/6J strain, histamine release, assessed by in vivo microdialysis, underwent prominent periodic changes. The main period was 24 h peaking during the activity period. Additional 8 h periods were also observed. The release was highly positively correlated with active wakefulness, as shown by electroencephalography. In both mouse strains, tissue histamine levels remained steady for 24 h in all structures except for the hypothalamus of CBA/J mice, where 24‐h periodicity was observed. Brain tissue 1‐methylhistamine levels in both strains reached their maxima in the periods of activity. The mRNA level of histidine decarboxylase in the tuberomamillary nucleus and the activities of histidine decarboxylase and histamine‐N‐methyltransferase in the striatum and cortex did not show a 24‐h rhythm, whereas in the hypothalamus the activities of both enzymes had a 12‐h periodicity. These results show that the activities of histamine‐metabolizing enzymes are not under simple direct circadian regulation. The complex and non‐uniform temporal patterns of the histaminergic system of the mouse brain suggest that histamine is strongly involved in the maintenance of active wakefulness.
High-Grade Canine T-cell Lymphoma/Leukemia with Plasmacytoid Morphology: A Clinical Pathological Study of Nine Cases

The aim of this study is to determine the clinical, morphological, and immunophenotypical presentation of 9 cases of a particular type of canine T-cell lymphoma/leukemia. The morphological presentation was a diffuse infiltration of small, medium-sized, or large blast cells with eccentric nuclei, hyperbasophilic cytoplasm, and a juxtanuclear, pale cytoplasmic area, giving a plasmacytoid appearance and suggesting a B-cell morphology. Surprisingly, all 9 cases were of T-cell phenotype (CD3+). Among the 7 immunophenotyped cases, 4 were CD4–/CD8+, 2 CD8+/CD4+, and 1 CD4+/CD8–. The median Ki-67 index was 65.7%, which placed this lymphoma in the high-grade group. This type of lymphoma/leukemia was found in dogs between 1 and 11 years of age, with a median age of 5.8. The male-female ratio was 0.8 for a reference population of 1.04. The most significant clinical findings were lymphadenopathy either generalized or localized in all cases, a mediastinal mass in 4 cases, bone marrow involvement in 7 cases, hypercalcemia in 4 cases, along with an aggressive clinical course and a poor response to chemotherapy in all cases, with a median disease-free survival time of 3 months.
Polydopamine-modified surfaces in biosensor applications

Electrode surface modification is a widely used strategy for electroanalytical devices. In addition, biosensing applications require highly biocompatible and properly functionalized surfaces to anchor the biorecognition material. Conventional immobilization methods are usually aggressive, long-time requiring and could be complicated or even not applicable to all surfaces. Thus, easy, efficient and versatile immobilization methods are required in biosensor developments. Polydopamine (PDA), a mussel-inspired coating, has recently attracted considerable attention from researchers. In 2007, Lee et al. reported the first publication using dopamine (DA), with a similar molecular structure to L-DOPA, to obtain an adhesive PDA film. The very reactive residual quinone groups in PDA allow further derivatizations with nitrogen and thiol residues through Schiff base formation or Michael-type addition. This high reactivity and the possibility of covering almost unlimited number of materials offer a great opportunity for further modifications. In the particular case of biosensor development, PDA provides a suitable microenvironment for immobilizing a high density of biomolecules onto the transducer surface, and it turns out to be an easy, convenient and non-aggressive method to prepare biosensors. We will introduce this bioinspired material and its application in sensing and biosensing applications, in this chapter. Firstly, we will present different synthesis approaches, the main proposed polymerization mechanisms, and an overview of their numerous advantages and applications reported in the literature. Finally, recent advances in sensing application including: biosensors, immunosensors, DNAsensors and aptasensors are discussed.
Eudragit-coated pectin microspheres of 5-fluorouracil for colon targeting

An objective of the present investigation was to prepare and evaluate Eudragit-coated pectin microspheres for colon targeting of 5-fluorouracil (FU). Pectin microspheres were prepared by emulsion dehydration method using different ratios of FU and pectin (1:3 to 1:6), stirring speeds (500–2000 rpm) and emulsifier concentrations (0.75%–1.5% wt/vol). The yield of preparation and the encapsulation efficiencies were high for all pectin microspheres. Microspheres prepared by using drug:polymer ratio 1:4, stirring speed 1000 rpm, and 1.25% wt/vol concentration of emulsifying agent were selected as an optimized formulation. Eudragit-coating of pectin microspheres was performed by oil-in-oil solvent evaporation method using coat: core ratio (5:1). Pectin microspheres and Eudragit-coated pectin microspheres were evaluated for surface morphology, particle size and size distribution, swellability, percentage drug entrapment, and in vitro drug release in simulated gastrointestinal fluids (SGF). The in vitro drug release study of optimized formulation was also performed in simulated colonic fluid in the presence of 2% rat cecal content. Organ distribution study in albino rats was performed to establish the targeting potential of optimized formulation in the colon. The release profile of FU from Eudragit-coated pectin microspheres was pH dependent. In acidic medium, the release rate was much slower; however, the drug was released quickly at pH 7.4. It is concluded from the present investigation that Eudragit-coated pectin microspheres are promising controlled release carriers for colon-targeted delivery of FU.