Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Multiwavelength Transmission Microcavity in SOI Planar Ridge Waveguides

A novel waveguide-based 1-D photonic crystal (PhC) microcavity that simultaneously transmits light within the 1310- and 1550-nm wavelength telecommunications bands has been realized. A novel semianalytical model based on wave-vector diagrams was developed to enable rapid optimization of the 1-D PhC with complex periodicity to be etched into an SOI ridge waveguide. Measurements of the multiwavelength transmission characteristics of the resulting complex PhC microcavity revealed transmission peaks at 1321 and 1562 nm with nearly equal transmittivity that is close to the design specification.
Cognitive-Behaviour Therapy and Medication in the Treatment of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: A Controlled Study

Objective: To evaluate the effect of combining cognitive-behaviour therapy (CBT) and medication in the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Method: Twenty-nine subjects diagnosed with OCD according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-III-R) criteria were recruited through the Anxiety Clinic of Louis-H Lafontaine Hospital. They were evaluated at baseline and after treatment on the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) by a psychiatrist who was blind to treatment modality. Subjects rated their degree of resistance to their rituals and the strength of their obsessional beliefs. Subjects then received 1 of 4 treatments: medication and CBT simultaneously (n = 9), CBT only (n = 6), medication while on a wait-list for CBT (n = 6), or no treatment while on a wait-list for CBT (n = 5). Results: Multivariate analysis revealed that Y-BOCS scores and clinical ratings significantly improved posttreatment in all groups except the nontreatment wait-list control group. Subjects in the 2 active treatment groups receiving CBT showed reduced strength in their obsessional beliefs. The subsequent administration of CBT to those groups on the wait-list also decreased the strength of their primary obsessional beliefs and beliefs about the consequences of not performing the rituals. Conclusions: Our results suggest that either CBT or medication alone is more effective than no treatment. The combination of CBT and medication seems to potentiate treatment efficacy, and we found it more clinically beneficial to introduce CBT after a period of medication rather than to start both therapies simultaneously.
Ribulokinase and Transcriptional Regulation of Arabinose Metabolism in Clostridium acetobutylicum

ABSTRACT The transcription factor AraR controls utilization of l-arabinose in Bacillus subtilis. In this study, we combined a comparative genomic reconstruction of AraR regulons in nine Clostridium species with detailed experimental characterization of AraR-mediated regulation in Clostridium acetobutylicum. Based on the reconstructed AraR regulons, a novel ribulokinase, AraK, present in all analyzed Clostridium species was identified, which was a nonorthologous replacement of previously characterized ribulokinases. The predicted function of the araK gene was confirmed by inactivation of the araK gene in C. acetobutylicum and biochemical assays using purified recombinant AraK. In addition to the genes involved in arabinose utilization and arabinoside degradation, extension of the AraR regulon to the pentose phosphate pathway genes in several Clostridium species was revealed. The predicted AraR-binding sites in the C. acetobutylicum genome and the negative effect of l-arabinose on DNA-regulator complex formation were verified by in vitro binding assays. The predicted AraR-controlled genes in C. acetobutylicum were experimentally validated by testing gene expression patterns in both wild-type and araR-inactivated mutant strains during growth in the absence or presence of l-arabinose.
Sequential Targeting of CD52 and TNF Allows Early Minimization Therapy in Kidney Transplantation: From a Biomarker to Targeting in a Proof-Of-Concept Trial

Background There is high medical need for safe long-term immunosuppression monotherapy in kidney transplantation. Selective targeting of post-transplant alloantigen-(re)activated effector-T cells by anti-TNF antibodies after global T cell depletion may allow safe drug minimization, however, it is unsolved what might be the best maintenance monotherapy. Methods In this open, prospective observational single-centre trial, 20 primary deceased donor kidney transplant recipients received 2x20 mg Alemtuzumab (d0/d1) followed by 5 mg/kg Infliximab (d2). For 14 days all patients received only tacrolimus, then they were allocated to either receive tacrolimus (TAC, n = 13) or sirolimus (SIR, n = 7) monotherapy, respectively. Protocol biopsies and extensive immune monitoring were performed and patients were followed-up for 60 months. Results TAC-monotherapy resulted in excellent graft survival (5yr 92%, 95%CI: 56.6–98.9) and function, normal histology, and no proteinuria. Immune monitoring revealed low intragraft inflammation (urinary IP-10) and hints for the development of operational tolerance signature in the TAC- but not SIR-group. Remarkably, the TAC-monotherapy was successful in all five presensitized (ELISPOT+) patients. However, recruitment into SIR-arm was stopped (after n = 7) because of high incidence of proteinuria and acute/chronic rejection in biopsies. No opportunistic infections occurred during follow-up. Conclusions In conclusion, our novel fast-track TAC-monotherapy protocol is likely to be safe and preliminary results indicated an excellent 5-year outcome, however, a full–scale study will be needed to confirm our findings. Trial Registration EudraCT Number: 2006-003110-18
Individual pattern representations are context independent, but their collectiverepresentation is context dependent

We studied context dependency of the representations underlying perceptual “goodness”. Three experiments used a same–different task with classical Garner 5-dot patterns presented with an interstimulus interval (ISI) of 500 ms. Same patterns were allowed to be rotated or reflected versions of each other. Pattern goodness was varied according to rotation and reflection equivalence, using GarneR&Rsquo;s equivalence set size (ESS) measure. The ESS of both first and second patterns affected reaction time and accuracy. A model based on assumptions that GarneR&Rsquo;s equivalence sets constitute the generic representation of these patterns and that items within these sets are accessed serially was fitted to the data. Excellent fits were obtained, which were robust against frequency-induced bias at the level of the individual pattern, but sensitive to such bias at the level of the equivalence set. It was concluded that individual pattern representations are context independent, whereas their collective representations are context dependent. Simplicity and likelihood principles, therefore, seem to apply to different levels of a representation hierarchy.
Patients' and healthcare workers' perceptions of a patient safety advisory.

OBJECTIVE To assess patients' and healthcare workers' (hcw) attitudes and experiences with a patient safety advisory, to investigate predictors for patients' safety-related behaviors and determinants for staff support for the advisory. DESIGN Cross-sectional surveys of patients (n= 1053) and hcw (n= 275). SETTING Three Swiss hospitals. PARTICIPANTS Patients who received the safety advisory and hcw caring for these patients. INTERVENTION Patient safety advisory disseminated to patients at the study hospitals. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Attitudes towards and experiences with the advisory. Hcw support for the intervention and patients' intentions to apply the recommendations were modelled using regression analyses. RESULTS Patients (95%) and hcw (78%) agreed that hospitals should educate patients how to prevent errors. Hcw and patients' evaluations of the safety advisory were positive and followed a similar pattern. Patients' intentions to engage in safety were significantly predicted by behavioral control, subjective norms, attitudes, safety behaviors during hospitalization and experiences with taking action. Hcw support for the campaign was predicted by rating of the advisory (Odds ratio (OR) 3.4, confidence interval (CI) 1.8-6.1, P< 0.001), the belief that it prevents errors (OR 1.7, CI 1.2-2.5, P= 0.007), perceived increased vigilance of patients (OR 1.9, CI 1.1-3.3, P= 0.034) and experience of unpleasant situations (OR 0.6, CI 0.4-1.0, P= 0.035). CONCLUSIONS The safety advisory was well accepted by patients and hcw. To be successful, the advisory should be accompanied by measures that target norms and barriers in patients, and support staff in dealing with difficult situations.
Contraceptive counselling and care: a personalized interactive approach

Abstract Aim: Various studies have shown deficiencies and gaps in contraceptive counselling and care (CCC) in Europe as well as globally. These deficiencies include the lack of personalized communication integrating the individual woman’s needs and her biopsychosocial profile into the interaction with the Health Care Professional (HCP). Objective: Based on the standards summarized in the literature and based on the concept of interactive shared decision, we developed a structured approach as a proposal for CCC. Result: Integrating principles of patient-centred communication and trustful relationship, we propose a stepwise process of interactive counselling and care allowing women to express their needs and priorities, then help the HCP by taking into the account the biopsychosocial profile of the woman to exclude methods together with the woman which do not correspond to her needs or which are contraindicated; then look for additional benefits of contraceptive methods for the individual woman to finally come to a shared transparent decision. Conclusion: This personalized interactive counseling approach may serve as an orientation for HCPs to find their individual way to tailor contraception to the individual woman.
Agricultural credit and technical efficiency in Ghana: is there a nexus?

Purpose - – The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of agricultural credit on technical efficiency of Ghanaian maize farmers using a unique dataset drawn from the database of Sub-Saharan Africa’s intensification of food crops agriculture (Afrint II) in 2008 period. Design/methodology/approach - – In this study, a two-stage estimation procedure is employed to determine impact of agricultural credit on technical efficiency of Ghanaian maize farmers. The first stage utilized probit model while the second stage utilized stochastic frontier approach to estimate impact of credit on technical efficiency of Ghanaian maize farmers. Findings - – The study found that farmers are producing below the frontier with average technical efficiency of 47 percent. Policy variables such as credit access; education, extension access and farm size played a stronger role in technical efficiency. Agricultural credit in particular increased technical efficiency by 3.8 percent. Research limitations/implications - – The results should not be extended to the impact of agricultural credit on economic efficiency since the allocative efficiency component is not considered in this study. Also, caution should be taken in the interpretation of these results because the data could not permit the incorporation of all variables that might affect technical efficiency. Originality/value - – The originality of the paper and its contribution to existing literature largely lies from the use of a unique dataset to find evidence of the impact of credit on efficiency in Ghana.
Effects of commonly used chronic medications on the outcomes of ipilimumab therapy in patients with metastatic melanoma

Ipilimumab can induce long-term survival in 20% of patients with metastatic melanoma. Concurrent chronic medications may impact the patient’s immune system, possess antimelanoma properties, and potentially affect clinical outcomes. This retrospective study sought to describe the efficacy and toxicity effects of 12 classes of chronic medications in metastatic melanoma patients treated with ipilimumab. A total of 159 adults who received ipilimumab for metastatic melanoma at Mayo Clinic (Rochester, Minnesota, USA) from 1 March 2011 through 31 December 2014 were included. Classes of chronic medications included statins, metformin, &bgr;-blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin-receptor blockers, calcium channel blockers, aspirin, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, H1 and H2 receptor antagonists, proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), antidepressants, and vitamin D supplements. Of the 12 medication classes, only PPIs were found to have an increased odds of experiencing a partial response or a complete response to ipilimumab [odds ratio: 3.73; confidence interval (CI): 1.26–11.04; P=0.02] on the basis of a case–control analysis. Although not significant, PPI use also trended toward improved overall survival and progression-free survival (hazard ratio: 0.44; CI: 0.17–1.15; P=0.09; and hazard ratio: 0.6; CI: 0.34–1.06; P=0.08, respectively) on the basis of Kaplan–Meier and Cox proportional hazard modeling. No medication class was associated with an increased risk of grades 3–5 immune-related adverse events with ipilimumab on the basis of case–control analysis. In summary, patients on PPIs may be more likely to experience a partial response/complete response following ipilimumab therapy. Because of the small sample size and the retrospective nature of this work, these findings are only descriptive and further study should be carried out. Other classes of chronic medications did not produce statistically significant effects for any of the measured outcomes.
A model of the control of cellular regeneration in the intestinal crypt after perturbation based solely on local stem cell regulation

Abstract. The control mechanisms involved in regeneration of murine intestinal crypts after perturbations are presently not well understood. The existence of some feedback signals from the cells on the villus to the cells in the crypt has been suggested. However, some recent experimental data point to the fact that regeneration in the crypt starts very early after perturbation, at a time when the villus cell population has hardly changed. In particular, this early cell proliferative activity is seen specifically at the bottom of the crypt, i.e. in the presumed stem cell zone and furthest from the villus.
Tourists’ emotional wellness and hotel room colour

In response to the growing wellness trend, the tourism and hospitality industry has offered various wellness services and facilities. Despite the significance of emotion in wellness, research on emotional wellness is surprisingly scant. The present empirical study examined the underlying dimensions of emotional wellness and the influence of guest room colour on emotional wellness via hypotheses testing. Results indicated that calmness is the most dominant dimension of emotional wellness. Results also suggest that a cool colour-themed guest room, particularly green, is preferable. Theoretical and managerial implications are discussed, and future research suggestions are provided.
A Fasciclin-Like Arabinogalactan Protein, GhFLA1, Is Involved in Fiber Initiation and Elongation of Cotton1[C][W][OA]

Cotton fiber initiation and elongation may be affected by an arabinogalactan protein that alters the integrity of the primary cell wall matrix. Arabinogalactan proteins (AGPs) are involved in many aspects of plant development. In this study, biochemical and genetic approaches demonstrated that AGPs are abundant in developing fibers and may be involved in fiber initiation and elongation. To further investigate the role of AGPs during fiber development, a fasciclin-like arabinogalactan protein gene (GhFLA1) was identified in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum). Overexpression of GhFLA1 in cotton promoted fiber elongation, leading to an increase in fiber length. In contrast, suppression of GhFLA1 expression in cotton slowed down fiber initiation and elongation. As a result, the mature fibers of the transgenic plants were significantly shorter than those of the wild type. In addition, expression levels of GhFLAs and the genes related to primary cell wall biosynthesis were remarkably enhanced in the GhFLA1 overexpression transgenic fibers, whereas the transcripts of these genes were dramatically reduced in the fibers of GhFLA1 RNA interference plants. An immunostaining assay indicated that both AGP composition and primary cell wall composition were changed in the transgenic fibers. The levels of glucose, arabinose, and galactose were also altered in the primary cell wall of the transgenic fibers compared with those of the wild type. Together, our results suggested that GhFLA1 may function in fiber initiation and elongation by affecting AGP composition and the integrity of the primary cell wall matrix.
Lateral carrier confinement in miniature lasers using quantum dots

Although quantum-dot (QD) lasers are yet to reach their promise of ultralow threshold and high characteristic temperature because of QD size nonuniformity, we have found that they can be used to effectively limit the lateral diffusion of carriers in the active region, enabling the scaling of lasers to small lateral dimensions. Although oxide apertures continue to enable improved performance in vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSEL's) by reducing optical losses and current spreading, lateral carrier losses remain uncontrolled. We investigate QD active material in which lateral diffusion is intentionally reduced. Cathodoluminescence (CL) results demonstrate reduced lateral diffusion in the material with which we expect 50% reduction in the threshold current for 1-/spl mu/m-wide edge-emitters or 5-/spl mu/m-diameter VCSEL's. We have made QD stripe lasers with submicrometer widths that lase from the ground state and have quantified the lateral carrier reduction in the QD laser active region. We show empirically that the degree of lateral carrier confinement is dependent on the quantum state from which lasing occurs and demonstrate 63% reduction in lateral carrier leakage for the ground-state lasers. Finally, the scaling of threshold current in QD VCSEL's is compared with that of quantum-well (QW) VCSEL's by numerical modeling for future design considerations.
Open-Circuit Fault Diagnosis and Fault-Tolerant Control for a Grid-Connected NPC Inverter

This paper presents an open-circuit fault detection method for a grid-connected neutral-point clamped (NPC) inverter system. Further, a fault-tolerant control method under an open-circuit fault in clamping diodes is proposed. Under the grid-connected condition, it is impossible to identify the location of a faulty switch by the conventional methods which usually use the distortion of outputs because the distortion of the outputs is the same in some fault cases. The proposed fault detection method identifies the location of the faulty switch and the faulty clamping diode of the NPC inverter without any additional hardware or complex calculations. In the case of the clamping diode faults, the NPC inverter can transfer full rated power with sinusoidal currents by the proposed fault-tolerant control. The feasibility of the proposed fault detection and the fault-tolerant control methods for the grid-connected NPC inverter are verified by simulation and experimental results.
Do the first, second and third trimester maternal serum hepcidin concentrations clarify obstetric complications?

Abstract Objective: To evaluate whether first, second, and third-trimester maternal serum hepcidin levels are different in pregnancies with and without adverse pregnancy outcomes (APO). Methods: A 165 nullipar pregnant women were included in this prospective cohort study. Serum hepcidin, ferritin, IL-6, C-reactive protein (CRP) and Hb values were measured at 11–14, 24–28, and 30–34 weeks of gestation. The relation between these parameters and APO and neonatal outcomes were investigated. Preterm delivery, intrauterine growth restriction, pre-eclampsia, gestational hypertension and placental abruption were determined as adverse pregnancy outcomes. Results: The risk of APO was three times higher in women with high IL-6 levels in the second trimester. High hepcidin levels in the second trimester were associated with a 1.6 times increased risk of APO. Newborns of women with high IL-6 levels in the third trimester had a 1.6-fold increased risk of neonatal complications. High ferritin levels in the third trimester were associated with minimally increased risk of neonatal complications. Conclusions: Mean serum hepcidin levels were similar in all pregnant women, however, elevated second trimester serum hepcidin and IL-6 levels were associated with a higher risk of APO and high third trimester hepcidin, ferritin and IL-6 levels were associated with higher risk of neonatal complications.
Geldanamycin Anisimycins Activate Rho and Stimulate Rho- and ROCK-Dependent Actin Stress Fiber Formation

Heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) is a member of the heat shock family of molecular chaperones that regulate protein conformation and activity. Hsp90 regulates multiple cell signaling pathways by controlling the abundance and activity of several important protein kinases and cell cycle–related proteins. In this report, we show that inhibition of Hsp90 by geldanamycin or its derivative, 17-allylamino-17-desmethoxygeldamycin, leads to activation of the Rho GTPase and a dramatic increase in actin stress fiber formation in human tumor cell lines. Inactivation of Rho prevents geldanamycin-induced actin reorganization. Hsp90 inactivation does not alter the appearance of filopodia or lamellipodia and tubulin architecture is not visibly perturbed. Our observations suggest that Hsp90 has an important and specific role in regulating Rho activity and Rho-dependent actin cytoskeleton remodeling. (Mol Cancer Res 2007;5(9):933–42)
Effectiveness of Solution-Focused Brief Therapy for an Adolescent Girl with Moderate Depression

Globally, the solution-focused brief therapy is practiced in persons with depression. In India, fewer studies have documented about the treatment outcome of solution-focused therapy among persons with depression. The current study was carried out with a 19-year-old girl, studying SSLC (10th Standard) was diagnosed with moderate depression. She had difficulty in attention, concentration, memory, irritability and sad mood, poor academic performance, guilt feelings, lethargic, anhedonia, decreased sleep, and decreased appetite. The case worker has chosen provided 6 sessions of solution focused therapy for depression. There was considerable improvement in her symptoms and in scholastic performance. The current study supports the effectiveness of solution-focused therapy in persons with depression.
SPECIES‐SPECIFIC GENITALIC COPULATORY COURTSHIP IN SEPSID FLIES (DIPTERA, SEPSIDAE, MICROSEPSIS) AND THEORIES OF GENITALIC EVOLUTION

Males of Microsepsis eberhardi and M. armillata use their genitalic surstyli to rhythmically squeeze the female's abdomen with stereotyped movements during copulation. Squeezing movements did not begin until intromission had occurred and, contrary to predictions of the conflict‐of‐interest hypothesis for genitalic evolution, did not overcome morphological or behavioral female resistance. Contrary to predictions of the lock‐and‐key hypothesis, female morphology was uniform in the two species and could not mechanically exclude the genitalia of either species of male. The complex pattern of squeezing movements differed between the two species as predicted by the sexual selection hypothesis for genitalic evolution. Also, evolutionarily derived muscles and pseudoarticulations in the male's genitalic surstyli facilitated one type of movement, whose patterns were especially distinct. The data support the hypothesis that the male surstyli evolved to function as courtship devices.