Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Optical properties of the scales of Morpho rhetenor butterflies: theoretical and experimental investigation of the back-scattering of light in the visible spectrum

A study of the optical properties of the largely periodic microstructure occurring on the wings of the iridescent tropical butterfly Morpho rhetenor and responsible for its structural colouration is reported. An extensive measurement of the back-scattering of visible light from butterfly scales was performed for various angles of incidence. Efficient low-pass filter behaviour was observed for all angles of incidence and polarizations, with near-complete transmission at wavelengths above the threshold of 550 nm. The angular spread of the back-scattered light was found to be organized in lobes with total extinction of the specular reflection for all conditions of incidence. Retro-reflector behaviour was also observed for angles of incidence of 30° and above. Additionally, the role of periodic geometrical features found in the microstructure for the generation of its spectral response was analysed theoretically. Using finite-difference timedomain and near-field to far-field transformation techniques, the back-scattering of visible light by models was computed numerically and the relevance of geometrical features for the production of structural colour and diffraction was demonstrated.
A Process Model of Dynamic Capability Development: Evidence from the Chinese Manufacturing Sector

ABSTRACT Based on longitudinal case studies of manufacturing strategy and implementation at two Chinese manufacturing firms, this paper investigates how these firms develop, manage, and deploy dynamic capabilities to renew their resource bases in order to respond to the operational challenges associated with radical technological development. Our analysis suggests that dynamic capability development is not simply about renewing one specific type of capability, but rather, it is a meta-capability to learn how to repeatedly renew the firm's overall capability set as a fully integrated package. We further highlight the importance of looking beyond the property of the firm to understand the network level of capability development, including the capabilities of the firm's partners. This is particularly salient in the context of smart manufacturing where a high level of connectivity among a broader network of partners is required to reap the benefits generated by new technological advances. Our findings provide an important contribution to our knowledge of dynamic capability development in emerging economies in the era of digitalized manufacturing.
Ca(2+)‐activated K+ channels modulate muscarinic secretion in cat chromaffin cells.

1. This study was aimed at testing the hypothesis that Ca(2+)‐dependent K+ channels regulate the release of catecholamines mediated by muscarinic stimulation of cat adrenal chromaffin cells. Two parameters were measured: the secretory response to brief pulses of methacholine (100 microM for 10 s) in intact cat adrenal glands perfused at a high rate with oxygenated Krebs solution; and the changes in cytosolic Ca2+ concentrations, [Ca2+]i, produced by puff applications of methacholine pulses (also 100 microM for 10 s) in isolated single cat adrenal chromaffin cells loaded with Fura‐2. 2. A pulse of methacholine released 805 +/‐ 164 ng of catecholamines (mean of thirty‐two pulses). d‐Tubocurarine (DTC) increased the secretory response in a concentration‐dependent manner. The maximum increase (around 1000 ng catecholamines over control values) was reached at 100 microM‐DTC and the EC50 was around 10 microM. 3. The secretory responses to methacholine alone, or to the combination of methacholine plus DTC, were strongly dependent on the extracellular Ca2+ concentration, [Ca2+]o. Thus Ca2+o removal from the perfusing solution for 5‐10 min abolished catecholamine release. 4. At 0.1 microM, isradipine (an L‐type Ca2+ channel blocker) inhibited by 71% the secretory response to DTC plus methacholine. At 1 microM, Bay K 8644 (an L‐type Ca2+ channel activator) increased 2‐fold the secretory response to DTC plus methacholine (2746 ng of catecholamines). 5. Apamin (1 microM) increased 3.5‐fold the secretory response to methacholine pulses (from 500 to 1800 ng of catecholamines). 6. Methacholine pulses enhanced [Ca2+]i from the resting level of 100 nM to a peak of 1000 nM which quickly declined to basal level. DTC (100 microM) enhanced by 20% the [Ca2+]i peak and substantially prolonged its duration. 7. Apamin (1 microM) increased by 60% the [Ca2+]i peak evoked by methacholine, and delayed the initiation of decline of the [Ca2+]i peak. 8. These results are compatible with the idea that muscarinic stimulation depolarizes the cat adrenal chromaffin cell through an unidentified mechanism. Depolarization is probably counteracted by activation of Ca2+i‐dependent K+ channels. Therefore, inhibition of these channels enhances depolarization and firing of action potentials which activate voltage‐dependent L‐type Ca2+ channels to increase further the Ca2+i signal and the secretory response. Thus Ca2+i‐dependent K+ channels, probably of the small‐conductance type (SK), seem to be involved in the modulation of muscarinic‐evoked catecholamine release responses in cat adrenal chromaffin cells.
Large Time-Varying Parameter VARs: A Non-Parametric Approach

In this paper we introduce a nonparametric estimation method for a large Vector Autoregression (VAR) with time-varying parameters. The estimators and their asymptotic distributions are available in closed form. This makes the method computationally efficient and capable of handling information sets as large as those typically handled by factor models and Factor Augmented VARs (FAVAR). When applied to the problem of forecasting key macroeconomic variables, the method outperforms constant parameter benchmarks and large (parametric) Bayesian VARs with time-varying parameters. The tool can also be used for structural analysis. As an example, we study the time-varying effects of oil price innovations on sectoral U.S. industrial output. We find that the changing interaction between unexpected oil price increases and business cycle fluctuations is shaped by the durable materials sector, rather by the automotive sector on which a large part of the literature has typically focused.
Monetary Policy, the Financial Cycle and Ultra-Low Interest Rates

Do the prevailing unusually and persistently low real interest rates reflect a decline in the natural rate of interest as commonly thought? We argue that this is only part of the story. The critical role of financial factors in influencing medium-term economic fluctuations must also be taken into account. Doing so for the United States yields estimates of the natural rate that are higher and, at least since 2000, decline by less. As a result, policy rates have been persistently and systematically below this measure. Moreover, we find that monetary policy, through the financial cycle, has a long-lasting impact on output and, by implication, on real interest rates. Therefore, a narrative that attributes the decline in real rates primarily to an exogenous fall in the natural rate is incomplete. The influence of monetary and financial factors should not be ignored. Exploiting these results, an illustrative counterfactual experiment suggests that a monetary policy rule that takes financial developments systematically into account during both good and bad times could help dampen the financial cycle, leading to higher output even in the long run.
Industry Cognitive Distance in Alliances and Firm Innovation Performance

This paper focuses on the role of industry cognitive distance in innovation alliances on firm innovation performance. Drawing from the literature on technological cognitive distance in alliances, we elaborate on the role of industry cognitive distance between partners and its impact on managerial attention to investigate the role of numbers of alliances of low (intra-industry) and high (inter-industry) industry cognitive distance on firm innovation performance. Intra-industry alliances offer lower opportunities for innovation compared to inter-industry alliances and are less demanding on firm management due to higher cognitive similarity between partners from the same industry. We propose that trade-offs between innovation opportunities and management efforts result in an inverted U and a U-shaped relationship between the number of intra- and inter-industry alliances and innovation performance, respectively. We find support for both hypotheses in the context of the UK bio-pharmaceutical sector.
Bayesian Estimation of Extreme Value Mixture Models: Simplifications and Enhancements

This paper focuses on various computational aspects in the Markov chain Monte Carlo simulation of the Bayesian posterior distributions for extreme value mixture models. Using a comprehensive simulation study and empirical application to historical insurance losses, we consider several enhancements and examine their beneﬁts in comparison to the commonly used standard method. Our analysis shows that parallel tempering can substantially improve the convergence and mixing behaviour of the Markov chains. In contrast, a reparameterisation of the generalized pareto distribution to overcome the threshold dependence of the scale parameter does not seem to be necessary in a real world setting with limited samples size. The analysis further supports the use of a simpliﬁed sampling algorithm with maximum likelihood approximation of the tail fraction compared to a full Bayesian approach.
Simultaneous pumping and density-selective particle focusing using AC-driven electro-osmotic micropumps

In this contribution we present a novel concept of density-selective particle focusing in microchannels, based on the tunable ratio of viscous drag, inertial and dielectrophoretic forces. The latter are induced by arrowhead-shaped, stepped electrode arrays in the channel, which, driven by AC voltages, enable so-called 3D-AC-electro-osmotic pumping (3D-ACEO). By adjusting the operation parameters of the pump, particle mixtures can be pumped and separated at the same time.
Redox Imbalance and Pulmonary Function in Bleomycin-Induced Fibrosis in C57BL/6, DBA/2, and BALB/c Mice

The development of bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis (BLEO-PF) has been associated with differences in genetic background and oxidative stress status. The authors’ aim was to investigate the crosstalk between the redox profile, lung histology, and respiratory function in BLEO-PF in C57BL/6, DBA/2, and BALB/c mice. BLEO-PF was induced with a single intratracheal dose of bleomycin (0.1 U/mouse). Twenty-one days after bleomycin administration, the mortality rate was over 50% in C57BL/6 and 20% in DBA/2 mice, and BLEO-PF was not observed in BALB/c. There was an increase in lung static elastance (p < .001), viscoelastic/inhomogeneous pressure (p < .05), total pressure drop after flow interruption (p < .01), and ΔE (p < .05) in C57BL/6 mice. The septa volume increased in C57BL/6 (p < .05) and DBA/2 (p < .001). The levels of IFN-γ were reduced in C57BL/6 mice (p < .01). OH-proline levels were increased in C57BL/6 and DBA/2 mice (p < .05). SOD activity and expression were reduced in C57BL/6 and DBA/2 mice (p < .001 and p < .001, respectively), whereas catalase was reduced in all strains 21 days following bleomycin administration compared with the saline groups (C57BL/6: p < .05; DBA/2: p < .01; BALB/c: p < .01). GPx activity and GPx1/2 expression decreased in C57BL/6 (p < .001). The authors conclude that BLEO-PF resistance may also be related to the activity and expression of SOD in BALB/c mice.
Effect of the Steindler Procedure on the Median Nerve Branches to the Medial Epicondylar Muscles

Usually the median nerve gives off six branches to the muscles arising from the medial epicondyle, which could be tightened during Steindler’s procedure. We studied these branches before and after Steindler’s procedure in 20 fresh cadavers and observed a considerable variation in the origin of the branches. The muscular branches arising from the median nerve did not seem to limit the mobilization of the medial epicondyle when performing Steindler’s transfer. The limitation of the flexion observed after Steindler’s procedure was mainly related to the tension of the transferred forearm flexor muscles. The variability of the origin of the branch to the flexor digitorum superficialis muscle could explain a lesion of this branch when Steindler’s procedure is carried out with Brunelli’s modification. The lateral transfer and the anterior transfer on to the humeral shaft did not influence the limitation of elbow flexion or result in tightness in any nerve branch to the transferred muscles.
Anisotropic scattering of elongated GaSb/GaAs quantum dots embedded near two-dimensional electron gas

Elongated GaSb/GaAs quantum dots (QDs) with a lateral aspect ratio of 2∼3 is synthesized by the molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) with carefully controlling the Sb4 beam flux and As4 background pressure. These self-assembled quantum dots having geometrical anisotropy are embedded in the vicinity of the two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG). Anisotropic hall mobilities of the 2DEG under the helium temperature transport measurements were confirmed. The mobility in the [110] direction is larger than that in the [1–10] direction. It is believed that this mobility difference is due to the anisotropic scattering potential of the GaSb/GaAs QDs owing to their large geometrical anisotropy. Under constant potential model of square barrier, we proved these anisotropic quantum dots show larger scattering cross-section in the [1–10] direction than in the [110] direction for transporting electrons.
The Window of Opportunity for Neuronal Rescue with Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1 after Hypoxia—Ischemia in Rats is Critically Modulated by Cerebral Temperature during Recovery

Insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) is induced in damaged brain tissue after hypoxia—ischemia, and exogenous administration of IGF-1 shortly after injury has been shown to be neuroprotective. However, it is unknown whether treatment with IGF-1 delayed by more than a few hours after injury may be protective. Hypothermia after brain injury has been reported to delay the development of ischemic neuronal death. The authors therefore hypothesize that a reduction in the environmental temperature during recovery from hypoxia—ischemia could prolong the window of opportunity for IGF-1 treatment. Unilateral brain damage was induced in adult rats using a modified Levine model of right carotid artery ligation followed by brief hypoxia (6% O2 for 10 minutes). The rats were maintained in either a warm (31°C) or cool (23°C) environment for the first 2 hours after hypoxia. All rats were subsequently transferred to the 23°C environment until the end of the experiment. A single dose of IGF-1 (50 μg) or its vehicle was given intracerebroventricularly at either 2 or 6 hours after hypoxia. Histologic outcome in the lateral cortex was quantified 5 days after hypoxia. Finally, cortical temperature was recorded from 1 hour before and 2 hours after hypoxia in separate groups of rats exposed to the “warm” and “cool” protocols. In rats exposed to the warm recovery environment, IGF-1 reduced cortical damage (P < 0.05) when given 2 hours but not 6 hours after insult. In contrast, with early recovery in the cool environment, a significant protective effect of IGF-1 in the lateral cortex (P < 0.05) was found with administration 6 hours after insult. In conclusion, a reduction in cerebral temperature during the early recovery phase after severe hypoxia—ischemia did not significantly reduce the severity of injury after 5 days' recovery; however, it markedly shifted and extended the window of opportunity for delayed treatment with IGF-1.
Intra-arterial treatment for acute ischemic stroke: a meta-analysis

Objective: To assess the potential benefit of treating patients with acute ischemic stroke using intra-arterial methods. Methods: A meta-analysis of published randomized controlled trials that compared standard therapy with intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (IVtPA) for thrombolysis to intra-arterial therapies in patients with acute stroke was performed. All studies reported were analyzed as one group and studies documenting patients with large vessel obstruction were analyzed as a second group. The standardized mean difference (SMD) and the odds ratio (OR) of the dichotomized outcomes of Modified Rankin Scale (mRS) of these trials was calculated. Results: Nine trials were identified with 2,711 patients treated. Meta-analysis of all studies, with and without large vessel obstruction documented, showed a significant benefit with intra-arterial therapy (SMD: 0.22 + 0.041; P=0.003). The dichotomized outcomes of mRS of these trials showed significant improvement (OR: 1.66 -2.43 in four of the five treatment arm groups examined). Meta-analysis of all publications with large vessel obstruction documented as an entry criteria showed a greater significant benefit with intra-arterial therapy (SMD: 0.35 + 0.05; P<0.001). The dichotomized outcomes of mRS of these trials showed significant improvement (OR: 1.36 -2.38 in all five treatment arm groups examined). Some heterogeneity was observed between studies. Conclusion: Treatment of patients with acute ischemic stroke was associated with improved outcomes as measured by mRS. Patient selection, standard treatment, and study treatment factors contributed to the statistical evaluation of inter study heterogeneity and may have contributed to different study outcomes.
Decisional capacity for informed consent in schizophrenia research.

BACKGROUND The adequacy of subjects' informed consent to research is the focus of an important public and professional debate. The potential impairment of decisional capacity in persons with schizophrenia is central to the discussions. This study ascertains the decisional capacity for informed consent in schizophrenic research subjects, to determine if reduced capacity relates to specific aspects of psychopathologic features and to test the hypothesis that reduced capacity can be remediated with an educational informed consent process. METHODS Decisional capacity was assessed for 30 research subjects with schizophrenia and 24 nonill (normal) comparison subjects. Measures of psychopathologic features and cognition were obtained for the subjects with schizophrenia. Subjects who performed poorly on the decisional capacity measure received an educational intervention designed to improve their ability to provide informed consent and were then retested. RESULTS The patient group did not perform as well as the controls on initial decisional capacity assessment. Poor performance was modestly related to the extent of symptoms but robustly related to cognitive impairments. Following the educational intervention, the performance of subjects with schizophrenia was equal to that of the nonill comparison group. CONCLUSIONS Many persons with schizophrenia may be challenged by the cognitive demands of an informed consent process for research participation. In many cases, their reduced capacity can be compensated by a more intensive educational intervention as part of the informed consent process.
Inhibition of Glycogen Synthase Kinase-3 Increases NKG2D Ligand MICA Expression and Sensitivity to NK Cell–Mediated Cytotoxicity in Multiple Myeloma Cells: Role of STAT3

Engagement of NKG2D and DNAX accessory molecule-1 (DNAM-1) receptors on lymphocytes plays an important role for anticancer response and represents an interesting therapeutic target for pharmacological modulation. In this study, we investigated the effect of inhibitors targeting the glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK3) on the expression of NKG2D and DNAM-1 ligands in multiple myeloma (MM) cells. GSK3 is a pleiotropic serine–threonine kinase point of convergence of numerous cell-signaling pathways, able to regulate the proliferation and survival of cancer cells, including MM. We found that inhibition of GSK3 upregulates both MICA protein surface and mRNA expression in MM cells, with little or no effects on the basal expression of the MICB and DNAM-1 ligand poliovirus receptor/CD155. Moreover, exposure to GSK3 inhibitors renders myeloma cells more efficient to activate NK cell degranulation and to enhance the ability of myeloma cells to trigger NK cell–mediated cytotoxicity. We could exclude that increased expression of β-catenin or activation of the heat shock factor-1 (transcription factors inhibited by active GSK3) is involved in the upregulation of MICA expression, by using RNA interference or viral transduction of constitutive active forms. On the contrary, inhibition of GSK3 correlated with a downregulation of STAT3 activation, a negative regulator of MICA transcription. Both Tyr705 phosphorylation and binding of STAT3 on MICA promoter are reduced by GSK3 inhibitors; in addition, overexpression of a constitutively active form of STAT3 significantly inhibits MICA upregulation. Thus, we provide evidence that regulation of the NKG2D-ligand MICA expression may represent an additional immune-mediated mechanism supporting the antimyeloma activity of GSK3 inhibitors.
Early versus delayed repair of infantile strabismus in macaque monkeys: II. Effects on motion visually evoked responses.

PURPOSE Infantile strabismus in humans and the monkey is associated with maldevelopment of visual motion responsiveness, one manifestation of which is directionally asymmetric motion visual evoked potentials (motion VEPs). Early repair of strabismus in infant monkeys has been shown to restore normal development of motion responsiveness for pursuit and optokinetic eye movements (optokinetic nystagmus [OKN]). The purpose of this study was to determine how early versus delayed repair of strabismus influences the development or maldevelopment of motion VEPs. METHODS Optical strabismus was created in infant macaques by fitting them with prism goggles on day 1 of life. The Early Repair group wore the goggles for a period of 3 weeks (the equivalent of 3 months before surgical repair in humans), whereas the Delayed Repair group wore the goggles for a period of 3 to 6 months (the equivalent of 12-24 months before surgical repair in humans). Several months after the removal of the goggles, motion VEPs to horizontally oscillating grating stimuli were recorded during monocular viewing. An asymmetry index (AI) was measured for each animal by extracting an asymmetric (F1) and symmetric (F2) frequency component from the motion VEP. The AIs of the infant monkeys with Early versus Delayed Repair were also compared with that of a group of adult monkeys, who had unrepaired, natural strabismus. RESULTS When tested with a 1-cyc/deg, 6-Hz stimulus, both control and Early Repair monkeys exhibited symmetric motion VEPs (AI < 0.25). Mean AI was 0.15 +/- 0.09 in control and 0.16 +/- 0.13 in Early Repair monkeys. In contrast, both Delayed Repair and naturally strabismic monkeys had asymmetric motion VEP responses: AI = 0.57 +/- 0.22 in the Delayed Repair and 0.49 +/- 0.17 in the naturally strabismic monkeys (P < 0.01). Delayed Repair and naturally strabismic monkeys also had motion VEP asymmetries of equivalent magnitude when tested using stimuli at higher (3 cyc/deg/11 Hz) spatial-temporal frequencies. The concordance between motion VEP symmetry and normal fusional vergence was significant (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS Early repair of optical strabismus in primates restores normal development of visual motion pathways in the cerebral cortex, measured as symmetric motion VEPs. Delayed repair causes permanent motion VEP maldevelopment. These results provide additional evidence that early strabismus repair is beneficial for brain development in infant primates.