Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Dynamic and nonlinear properties of quantum dot lasers for photonic integrated circuits on silicon

Silicon photonics have been introduced to overcome low efficiency and high energy consumption of telecom links using twisted pairs or coaxial cables. This technology provides novel functionality and high performance for applications in high speed communication systems, short reach optical interconnects, and the deployment of optical links from chipto-chip, board-to-board or rack-to-rack (datacom). Silicon is known as a very efficient semiconductor material for waveguiding light in particular owing to the strong index contrast with silica. However, the indirect bandgap of silicon makes light emission from silicon inefficient, and other techniques such as wafer- or flipchip bonding must be investigated if light emission is to be realized. The drawbacks of such heterogeneous integration concentrate on the high cost and the limited scalability. Lasers heterogeneously integrated on silicon are also more sensitive to optical reflections originating from the transition between passive/active interfaces. The best way to overcome these drawbacks is to move on to direct epitaxial growth of IIIV materials on silicon for photonics integration. In this context, quantum dot lasers using semiconductor atoms as a gain medium are ideal because they enable smaller devices, amplification with large thermal stability and high tolerance to epitaxial defects. Ultra-low noise optical transmitters are required not only for the coherent systems but also for future chipscale atomic clocks and radar related applications because of the sensitivity to the frequency noise and intensity noise can strongly affect the bit error rates. To this end, the first part of the thesis reports an intrinsic spectral linewidth as low as 80 kHz and a relative intensity noise less than - 150 dB/Hz in InAs/InP quantum dot lasers. In particular, it is shown that a small vertical coupling is more suitable for low intensity noise operation due to the suppression of the carrier noise in the excited state. The second part of the thesis investigates the dynamic and nonlinear properties of epitaxial quantum dot lasers on silicon. As mentioned above, lasers heterogeneously integrated on silicon are more sensitive to parasitic reflections. When combined with external optical feedback, the laser stability can be dramatically affected. As no on-chip optical isolators integrated with lasers and having sufficient isolation ratio exist, the development of feedback insensitive transmitters remains a major objective. This thesis presents an error-free transmission of an epitaxial quantum dot laser on silicon externally modulated at 10 Gb/s and subjected to 100% optical feedback. Such remarkable feedback insensitivity directly results from the near-zero linewidth enhancement factor, the large damping factor, the strong contrast between the ground state and excited states and a shorter carrier lifetime. These results pave the way for future high-performance photonics integrated circuits on silicon operating without optical isolators.
Establishment and application of autoverification procedure for clinical chemistry test results

Objective To develop autoverification rules to assistant the verification of biochemical results, based on laboratory information management system. Methods Designed six kinds of autoverification logic rules according to the guidelines of Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) AUTO-10A and Accreditation Criteria for the Quality and Competence of Medical Laboratories(ISO15189: 2012), based on in-control of the Internal Quality Control. Those rules inculds: logic disorder rules, critical value rules, warning value rules, delta check rules, relevant contradictions rules, abnormal mode rules, etc. Those rules was setted up in laboratory information management system of Dian Diagnostics. From October 2016 to April 2017, The status of autoverification was checked according to the items and bar code, and compared with clinical diagnostic and manual review. Results The passing rate of autoverification is over 65% when counted according to tests and is 45% when counted according to sample code, the coincidence rate is 92% with clinical diagnosis.In passing results of autoverification, the coincidence rate is 97.48% to 100% when campared with manual verification, and in not-passing results, the coincidence rate is 82.98% to 85.21%. Conclusion (1)Autoverification can verify half of routine biochemical test results by setting intelligent logics and rules. (2)Autoverification rules must be verified by a certain amount of test results before they can be formally applied. (3)Autoverification could improve the speed and efficiency of post-test steps. (Chin J Lab Med, 2018, 41: 547-553) Key words: Laboratories, hospital; Clinical chemistry tests; Automation, laboratory; Clinical laboratory information systems
Phenotypic diversity and genetic variation within a collection of onion (Allium cepa L.) germplasm from Peninsular India.

Twenty three diverse germplasm lines collected from varying agro-ecological regions of Peninsular India during 2007-08 were characterized and evaluated along with three controls viz. Nasik Red, Light Red and White Marglobe, in an augmented block design during kharif 2009-10, at NBPGR Regional Station, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad. The accessions exhibited good variation for qualitative traits like early seedling vigour, leaf cross section, leaf arrangement, stem shape, bulb shape, bulb skin color, bulb size, bulb hearting and bulb flesh colour and quantitative traits like plant height, number of leaves per plant, leaf length, leaf girth, number of scales per bulb, total soluble solids (TSS) (°Brix), bulb weight and bulb yield per plant. Correlation study revealed that high significant positive correlation was recorded between number of scales per bulb and bulb weight (r=0.71) and significant negative correlation was observed between leaf length and leaf girth (r= -0.88), leaf length and bolting (-0.63) among others. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that the first four principal components explained 99.76% of the total variation among the 23 accessions and three controls. PCA I accounted for 97.04% of variation, had maximum influence on bulb weight followed by plant height. The PCA II traits were leaf length and plant height which accounted for 1.97 % of the variance. The PCA III and PCA IV have contributed for 0.39 and 0.39% of total variance. The cluster analysis revealed that dendrogram formed four distinct clusters and cluster III was found to be the largest including controls. The promising accessions for bulb weight were IC 571959, IC 564056, IC 571927, IC 571919 and IC 564059, which may be effectively tapped in sound breeding and conservation program.
Seasonality and Structure of the Arthropod Community in a Forested Valley in the Uluguru Mountains, Eastern Tanzania

ABSTRACT The structure of an arthropod community in the forest floor vegetation was studied in a low altitude (about 700 m a.s.l.) forest valley in the Uluguru Mountains near Morogoro, Tanzania, by monthly sweep net sampling during one year (December 1996–November 1997). The community structure of arthropods changed relatively little during the study period. Eight groups (Araneae, Hymenoptera, Heteroptera, Homoptera, Diptera, Coleoptera, Orthoptera and Lepidoptera) made up over 95% of all the arthropod individuals caught. There were seasonal peaks in the abundances. The highest numbers of arthropods per sample were found during the late rainy season and early dry season (May–August). Arthropod groups generally follow the rainfall pattern; in particular the abundance of Diptera, Hymenoptera and Hemiptera increases with rains.
Maintaining Fruit Firmness of 'McIntosh' and 'Cortland' Apples with Aminoethoxyvinylglycine and 1-Methylcyclopropene during Storage

SUMMARY. The goal of this project was to evaluate the effectiveness of aminoe- thoxyvinylglycine (AVG) for increasing effectiveness of 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) for maintaining fi rmness and preventing scald in 'McIntosh' and 'Cortland' apples (Malus ◊domestica). AVG and 1-MCP used together maintained 'McIntosh' apple fi rmness more than 1-MCP used alone after 120 or 200 days of controlled-atmosphere (CA) storage. AVG and 1-MCP can be used to maintain fi rmness of 'McIntosh' when internal ethylene concentration (IEC) at harvest is as high as 240 µL·L -1 , but CA storage life is limited to 4 months. AVG was not effective at increasing effi cacy of 1-MCP on 'Cortland' when IEC at harvest was not signifi cantly different between AVG-treated and untreated fruit and IEC was less than 2 µL·L -1 . AVG increased effi cacy of 1-MCP on 'Cortland' when IEC was 36 µL·L -1 in untreated fruit compared to undetectable in AVG treated fruit. 1-MCP prevented scald of 'Cortland' in 1 year and reduced it to 5% or less in another year when fruit were stored 120 days. 1-MCP reduced 'Cortland' scald to 34% or less after 200 days of storage.
Activated Notch4 Inhibits Angiogenesis: Role of β1-Integrin Activation

ABSTRACT Notch4 is a member of the Notch family of transmembrane receptors that is expressed primarily on endothelial cells. Activation of Notch in various cell systems has been shown to regulate cell fate decisions. The sprouting of endothelial cells from microvessels, or angiogenesis, involves the modulation of the endothelial cell phenotype. Based on the function of other Notch family members and the expression pattern of Notch4, we postulated that Notch4 activation would modulate angiogenesis. Using an in vitro endothelial-sprouting assay, we show that expression of constitutively active Notch4 in human dermal microvascular endothelial cells (HMEC-1) inhibits endothelial sprouting. We also show that activated Notch4 inhibits vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-induced angiogenesis in the chick chorioallantoic membrane in vivo. Activated Notch4 does not inhibit HMEC-1 proliferation or migration through fibrinogen. However, migration through collagen is inhibited. Our data show that Notch4 cells exhibit increased β1-integrin-mediated adhesion to collagen. HMEC-1 expressing activated Notch4 do not have increased surface expression of β1-integrins. Rather, we demonstrate that Notch4-expressing cells display β1-integrin in an active, high-affinity conformation. Furthermore, using function-activating β1-integrin antibodies, we demonstrate that activation of β1-integrins is sufficient to inhibit VEGF-induced endothelial sprouting in vitro and angiogenesis in vivo. Our findings suggest that constitutive Notch4 activation in endothelial cells inhibits angiogenesis in part by promoting β1-integrin-mediated adhesion to the underlying matrix.
Zooplankton and ichthyoplankton communities in a temperate estuary: spatial and temporal patterns

Zooplankton and ichthyoplankton assemblages were studied from January 2003 to June 2004 in a temperate shallow estuary (Mondego estuary, Portugal). Monthly sampling was performed at five stations at high and low tides, with subsurface tows with 335 and 500 μm mesh Bongo nets. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed a significant effect (P < 0.05) of the mesh size of the net on the abundance of main zooplankton groups. On average, the abundance of the 500 μm taxocenosis was 67 and 102 times lower than the 335 μm taxocenosis at high and low tides respectively, especially in the south arm. More than 80 species were identified in the zooplankton samples. The upper reaches of northern arm are dominated by freshwater crustacean mesozooplankton like Acanthocyclops robustus and Diaptomus spp. and the cladocerans Daphnia, Ceriodaphnia and Bosmina, often being codominant. In the southern arm, the resident estuarine copepod Acartia tonsa was dominant, eventually being the most abundant taxon. Marine reaches of estuary are usually dominated by the marine calanoid copepods Acartia clausi and Temora longicornis and the siphonophores Muggiaea atlantica. Concerning the ichthyoplankton, this was dominated by the larvae of estuarine resident species, mainly Pomatoschistus sp. , and eggs of Engraulis encrasicolus. The abundance of Pomatoschistus sp. larvae was positively correlated with water temperature. Statistical analysis (canonical correspondence analysis) used to determine the spatiotemporal structure of the zooplankton assemblages and its correlation with environmental variables showed that salinity and temperature were the main factors influencing the distribution of zooplankton. The results obtained also showed that abundance was strongly influenced by the hydrological circulation pattern and direct or indirect human impacts that occur in each arm of the estuary.
A NEW GENUS AND SPECIES OF GNATHIID ISOPOD (ISOPODA, GNATHIIDAE) FROM THE RYUKYUS, SOUTHWESTERN JAPAN

Abstract A new genus and species of gnathiid isopod, Tenerognathia visus, is described on the basis of three male specimens sampled from coral rubble infauna in the Ryukyus, Japan. The dorsal view of the gnathiid, having small mandibles, large eyes, and a slender body, is more similar to larvae than adult males of other gnathiid species. The pylopod of Tenerognathia resembles that of Caecognathia, Elaphognathia, and Gnathia in the number of articles, but is distinctly more elongated. Morphologies of the mandibles, cephalon, and thorax are compared with these three genera.
Toad Tadpole Responses to Predator Risk: Ontogenetic Change between Constitutive and Inducible Defenses

Abstract Rhinella spinulosa is a toad common in rivers, streams, and steppe wetlands where they face a variety of insect predators. Rhinella spinulosa tadpoles are known to be unpalatable to dragonfly naiads at some developmental stages. In this paper, we studied susceptibility of R. spinulosa tadpoles to predation by two species of predators, water bugs (Belostoma bifoveolatum, Belostomidae) with piercing-sucking mouth parts and dragonfly larvae (Rhionaeschna variegata, Aeshnidae) with chewing mouth parts. We conducted feeding trials to test the effectiveness of tadpole chemical defenses against water bugs. We also performed behavioral and choice experiments to study whether tadpole behavior influences their vulnerability to predators, and whether R. variegata has the capacity of discern between palatable (stages 38–45) and unpalatable tadpoles (stages 24–26). Rhinella spinulosa tadpoles, when fully palatable, responded by reducing their activity levels in the presence of dragonfly larvae but did not alter their behavior at unpalatable-early stages. Chemical defenses were not effective against the sucking predator (B. bifoveolatum) and no changes in tadpole activity were observed. Selectivity experiments revealed the ability of dragonfly larvae to distinguish between unpalatable and palatable tadpoles. Inducible (behavior) and constitutive (toxins) defenses observed in R. spinulosa tadpoles and the transition between them could result in an important survival mechanism in response to variable predator risk in the habitats in which they co-occur.
Assembly of alcohol oxidase in the cytosol of a peroxisome‐deficient mutant of Hansenula polymorpha—properties of the protein and architecture of the crystals

We have studied the expression of alcohol oxidase (AO) in a peroxisome‐deficient mutant strain of Hansenula polymorpha. High levels of octameric, active AO (up to 3·0 U/mg protein) were detected in cells grown at low dilution rates in a glucose‐limited chemostat in the presence of choline as the sole nitrogen source. Monomeric or other intermediate forms of AO were not detected in the mutant strain. This indicated that assembly of the protein into active octameric molecules in the cytosol was as efficient as in wild‐type cells where this process is confined to the peroxisomal matrix. At relatively low rates of expression (less than 1 U/mg protein) AO was localized throughout the cytosol and, surprisingly, was also present inside the nucleus. However, at enhanced levels large crystalloids were formed. Generally one crystalloid was observed per cell, whereas smaller ones were occasionally found in developing buds. Also large crystalloids have been observed inside the nucleus. These crystalloids were not surrounded by a membrane. Based on the morphology of the molecules that constituted these crystalloids and the results of (immuno)cytochemical experiments we conclude that the crystalloids are composed of octameric AO molecules, arranged in a regular lattice, identical to the 3‐dimensional architecture previously described for the crystalline matrix of peroxisomes in methanol‐grown wild type cells of H. polymorpha. Attempts to purify the crystalloids by conventional fractionation methods failed, due to their apparent fragility; however, (immuno)cytochemical experiments revealed that catalase and dihydroxyacetone synthase were also associated with these structures.
Synthesis and characterization of DOX-conjugated dendrimer-modified magnetic iron oxide conjugates for magnetic resonance imaging, targeting, and drug delivery

A tumor targeted and pH-responsive drug release system that is based on folic acid (FA) conjugated to poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-modified dendrimers (PAMAM) with doxorubicin (DOX) and superparamagnetic iron oxide (Fe3O4) (FA-PEG-PAMAM-DOX@IONPs) has been constructed and characterized. IONPs were stabilized by FA-PEG-G3.5 PAMAM dendrimers. The anticancer drug DOX was conjugated to the dendrimer segments of amino-stabilized IONPs using hydrazine as the linker via hydrazone bonds, which are acid cleavable and can be used as an ideal pH-responsive drug release system. The PEG moiety attached to the PAMAM@IONPs provides the conjugates with excellent solubility and stability in an aqueous medium, which may increase the circulation time. The attached FA could target the conjugates to the folate receptor (FR). These novel DOX-loaded conjugates have the potential to enhance the effect of MRI contrast and cancer therapy in the course of delivering drugs to the target sites.
AFRICAN FRESHWATER ALGAE: A BIBLIOGRAPHIC UP-DATE

A total of 388 references on African freshwater algae spanning forty-seven years, 1956-2003, are listed in this report. The bibliographic record complements those of Brook et al. (1957) from 1800 to 1955 and Kadiri (1992) from 1956 to 1991. Sub-regionally, North Africa had the highest record of 33.2%, followed by East/Central Africa 29.2%, then South Africa 18.7%, West Africa 13.7% and lastly Madagascar with 5.2% record.
School Principals' Self-Perceptions of Their Roles and Responsibilities in Six Countries

The purpose of this study is to examine if school principals’ roles and responsibilities in China, Ghana, Hungary, Turkey, Poland and the United States are significantly different from one another. This study adopts a survey design which provides a quantitative or qualitative description of trends, attitudes, or opinions of a population by studying a sample of that population. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected from school principals in these six countries by using a researcher designed survey questionnaire. The quantitative data derived from principals’ responses were analyzed by country and by total average according to the subsets of character, professional knowledge, professional skill, administrative style, administrative duties, personnel management, and student affairs management. The principals’ roles and responsibilities of the six countries were compared by using Multivariate Analysis of Variance. Answers to the three openended questions provide qualitative data for analysis. Emerging themes and patterns were observed among the principals’ responses. Results of data analysis show that principals of the six countries confront many similar problems in their daily school functions. The unique political infrastructures of their locations determine how they address these problems to meet the individual demands of their own societies. Understanding of common challenges and emerging roles of principals in changing social and political settings provide educational leaders of these countries the opportunities to share their unique experiences and success stories.
Cellular Nanomedicine Cell selective response to gold nanoparticles

Gold nanoparticles (GNPs) are considered a potential probe to detect cancer. The present article investigates whether GNPs, even in the absence of any specific functionalization, induce any cellspecific response. We report GNP-induced death response in human carcinoma lung cell line A549. In contrast, the two other cell lines tested, BHK21 (baby hamster kidney) and HepG2 (human hepatocellular liver carcinoma), remained unaffected by GNP treatment. The specificity of the induction of the death response in A549 cells implies that GNPs do not universally target all cell types. Flow-cytometric studies indicated that the response was dose dependent and had a threshold effect (in A549). Gradual increase in GNP concentration induces a proportional cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase. The programmed nature of the death response is implied, because such cleavage follows activation of caspases. Notably, at higher GNP concentration there was an asymmetric accumulation of GNPs in the periphery outside the cell nucleus of the A549 cells. This was confirmed by confocal microscopy, a green scattering (possibly, surface-enhanced Raman effect) appearing on selective z-slices of the image.
A Clinical Study of Kerosene Poisoning Among Children in a Rural Medical College Hospital

Background: Acute poisoning in children adversely impacts on global child health and the patterns and morbidity of poisoning vary across different geographic regions due to variable cultural, social, economic, and geographic factors. Kerosene Poisoning is an important and preventable cause of morbidity and mortality in the developing world. Kerosene is a hydrocarbon product of petroleum distillate, made up of paraffin and naphthalenes. Subjects & Methods: The complications of kerosene poisoning include hypoxia, pneumonitis, bacterial pneumonia, pneumatocele, pleural effusion, pneumothorax, subcutaneous emphysema and empyema. The usual gastrointestinal symptoms of kerosene poisoning are abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhoea. Its Central Nervous System manifestations include drowsiness and convulsions. Results: Out of 22 children with kerosene poisoning 18 (81.81%) were male and 4 (18.18%) were female. There was only one case (4.54%) of kerosene poisoning with less than one year, between 1-5 years there were 19 (86.36%) cases and above 6 years there were 2 (9.09%) cases of kerosene poisoning. There were 11(50%) cases were seen during summer followed by 6 (27.27%) cases seen in monsoon and there were 5 (22.72%) cases in winter season. Toddler age, children from rural area, summer season was found major risk factors in our study for kerosene ingestion and is mostly due to improper storage of kerosene. Respiratory complaints like cough and dyspnoea are the two most common symptoms in kerosene poisoning. Conclusion: There is a need to create public awareness regarding kerosene oil storage and accessibility at home from the younger children.