Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Spectroscopic study of the image formation in near‐field microscopy, near an evanescent–homogeneous switching

Near‐field optical microscopes provide highly resolved images of various samples. However, images are difficult to interpret owing to their sensitivity to illumination conditions. Moreover, by contrast with classical microscopy, the near‐field signal combines the contributions of evanescent and propagative modes. In this study, we present results of a spectroscopic study in near‐field. Our purpose is to explain how a switching of one diffracted mode from homogeneous to evanescent can modify image formation. The main point is to establish a relation between the evanescence of one diffracted mode and the fringes that are often observed in near‐field experimental images. Moreover, on a metallic sample, the possible occurrence of plasmon resonance contributes to image distortion in a mainly different way. We use a Fourier series Rayleigh 3D method to explain image formation.
Microbiologie des plantes en coussin des milieux alpins : influence des facteurs biotiques et abiotiques dans l'assemblage des communautés microbiennes

Les microorganismes occupent une place centrale dans la diversite du vivant et les processus ecosystemiques, notamment dans le sol ou ils sont en interaction avec les plantes. Cette these vise a caracteriser l'influence respective des plantes et du contexte abiotique dans la distribution spatiale des microorganismes. Le travail s'appuie sur un modele simplifie de la biologie des sols, les plantes en coussins des falaises de haute montagne. Nous avons suivi une seule espece aux morphotypes varies, Silene acaulis, une espece ingenieure de l'ecosysteme dont la croissance mene a la creation d'un sol de novo. L'echantillonnage comprend le prelevement de sol de plante et de sol exterieur comme temoin, pour des coussins distribues le long de gradients altitudinaux et geologiques. Des methodes moleculaires ont ete utilisees pour decrire la diversite microbienne et le genotypage des coussins.Les coussins structurent la beta diversite bacterienne et fongique a l'echelle regionale en agissant comme un tampon a echelle locale sur les effets de la roche mere et de l'altitude en homogeneisant le pH et par un apport de nutriments. Cet effet ingenieur est d'autant plus fort que la contrainte abiotique augmente et varie selon le genotype des coussins. La beta diversite bacterienne differe de la beta diversite fongique. Alors que les communautes bacteriennes sont sensibles au pH du sol et convergent sous les coussins, les communautes fongiques sont correlees a la genetique des coussins, particulierement les clades aux modes de vie biotrophes/pathogenes. Ce travail montre que les plantes sont un filtre biotique majeur de la biogeographie microbienne.
Minimum Wage Setting and Standards of Fairness

We examine the setting of minimum wages, arguing that they can best be understood as a reflection of voters' notions of fairness. We arrive at this conclusion through an empirical investigation of the implications of three models, considered in the context of policy setting by sub-units in a federation: a competing interests group model; a constrained altruism model; and a fairness based model. In the latter model, voters are interested in banning what they view to be unfair transactions, with the notion of fairness based on comparisons to the "going" unskilled wage. We use data on minimum wages set in the ten Canadian provinces from 1969 to 2005 to carry out the investigation. A key implication of the models that is borne out in the data is that minimum wages should be set as a positive function of the location of the unskilled wage distribution. Together, the results indicate that minimum wages are set according to a "fairness" standard and that this may exacerbate movements in inequality.
Comparative Analysis of Reference Crop Evapotranspiration and Pan Evaporation of Taklimakan Desert Hinterland

Using the meteorological data of Taklimakan Desert Hinterland from 2005 to 2010, reference crop evapotranspiration (ET0) of extreme arid region of Taklimakan Desert Hinterland was calculated with FAO Penman-monteith calculation method, and the comparative analysis was conducted with pan evaporation (Ø20) in the meteorological station, the influencing factors that had an effect on ET0 and Ø20 meteorological factors were sequenced with the grey association degree analysis theory. The results were shown that ET0 maximum value appeared in July, and the minimum value appeared in January; Ø20 maximum value appeared in June, and the minimum value appeared in December; monthly potential reference crop evapotranspiration coefficients ranged between 0.30 and 0.46. Grey correlation analysis showed that the meteorological factors that were most closely relationship with ET0 was Umean, second was Tmax, while the meteorological factors that was most closely relationship with Ø20 was Tmax, second was Umean. The meteorological factors that affected ET0 and Ø20 were different in the Spring, summer, autumn and winter, and the biggest difference between them appeared in summer. ET0 presented highly significant linear relationship with Ø20 in spring, autumn and winter, while there was significant linear relationship in summer. The research results could provide theoretical support for the rational use of water resources and the sustainable development of Tarim desert highway shelterbelt.
The SAGE Handbook of Applied Social Research Methods

INTRODUCTION WHY A HANDBOOK OF APPLIED SOCIAL RESEARCH? - Leonard Bickman & Debra J. Rog PART I. APPROACHES TO APPLIED RESEARCH 1. Applied Research Design - Leonard Bickman & Debra J. Rog 2. Design Sensitivity: Statistical Power for Applied Experimental Research - Mark W. Lipsey & Sean M. Hurley 3. Practical Sampling - Gary T. Henry 4. Planning Ethically Responsible Research - Joan E. Sieber PART II. APPLIED RESEARCH DESIGNS 5. Randomized Controlled Trials for Evaluation and Planning - Robert F. Boruch, David Weisburd, Herbert M.Turner III, Allison Karpyn & Julia Littell 6. Quasi-experimentation - Melvin A. Mark & Charles S. Reichardt 7. Designing a Qualitative Study - Joseph A. Maxwell 8. How to Do Better Case Studies (with Illustrations from 20 Exemplary Case Studies) - Robert K. Yin 9. Integrating Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches to Research - Abbas Tashakkori & Charles Teddlie 10. Organizational Diagnosis - Michael I. Harrison 11. Research Synthesis and Meta-analysis - Harris M. Cooper, Erika A. Patall & James J. Lindsay PART III. PRACTICAL DATA COLLECTION 12. Design and Evaluation of Survey Questions - Floyd J. Fowler Jr. & Carol Cosenza 13. Internet Survey Methods - Samuel J. Best & Chase H. Harrison 14. Concept Mapping for Applied Social Research - Mary Kane & William Trochim 15. Mail Surveys - Thomas W. Mangione & Janet H. Van Ness 16. Methods for Sampling and Interviewing in Telephone Surveys - Paul J. Lavrakas 17. Ethnography - David M. Fetterman 18. Group Depth Interviews: Focus Group Research - David W. Stewart, Prem N. Shamdasani & Dennis W. Rook Applied Research Design - Leonard Bickman, Debra Rog Designing a Qualitative Study - Joseph Maxwell Practical Sampling - Gary Henry Planning Ethically Responsible Research - Joan Sieber Randomized Controlled Experiements for Evaluation - Robert Boruch Quasi-Experimentation - Melvin Mark, Charles Reichardt Abridged Version of Case Study Research: Design and Method - Robert Yin Research Synthesis and Meta-Analysis - Harris Cooper, Erika Patall, James Lindsay Design and Evaluation of Survey Questions - Floyd Fowler, Carol Cosenza Organizational Diagnosis and Assessment - Michael Harrison Mail Surveys - Thomas Mangione Methods for Sampling and Interviewing in Telephone Surveys - Paul Lavrakas Ethnography - David Fetterman Focus Group Research: Exploration andDiscovery - David Stewart, Prem Shamdasani, Dennis Rook Concept Mapping - Mary Kane, William Trochim Internet Data Collection - Samuel Best Mixed Methods - Abbas Tashakkori, Charles Teddlie Comparative Analysis - Benoit Rihoux, Charles Ragin
The effect of a chest imaging lecture on emergency department doctors’ ability to interpret chest CT images: a randomized study

Objective To assess the chest computed tomography (CT) imaging interpreting skills of emergency department (ED) doctors and to study the effect of a CT chest imaging interpretation lecture on these skills. Participants and methods Sixty doctors in two EDs were randomized, using computerized randomization, to either attend a chest CT interpretation lecture or not to attend this lecture. Within 2 weeks of the lecture, the participants completed a questionnaire on demographic variables, anatomical knowledge, and diagnostic interpretation of 10 chest CT studies. Outcome measures included anatomical knowledge score, diagnosis score, and the combined overall score, all expressed as a percentage of correctly answered questions (0–100). Results Data on 58 doctors were analyzed, of which 27 were randomized to attend the lecture. The CT interpretation lecture did not have an effect on anatomy knowledge scores (72.9 vs. 70.2%), diagnosis scores (71.2 vs. 69.2%), or overall scores (71.4 vs. 69.5%). Twenty-nine percent of doctors stated that they had a systematic approach to chest CT interpretation. Overall self-perceived competency for interpreting CT imaging (brain, chest, abdomen) was low (between 3.2 and 5.2 on a 10-point Visual Analogue Scale). Conclusion A single chest CT interpretation lecture did not improve chest CT interpretation by ED doctors. Less than one-third of doctors had a systematic approach to chest CT interpretation. A standardized systematic approach may improve interpretation skills.
Three-Dimensional Radiobiologic Dosimetry: Application of Radiobiologic Modeling to Patient-Specific 3-Dimensional Imaging–Based Internal Dosimetry

Phantom-based and patient-specific imaging-based dosimetry methodologies have traditionally yielded mean organ-absorbed doses or spatial dose distributions over tumors and normal organs. In this work, radiobiologic modeling is introduced to convert the spatial distribution of absorbed dose into biologically effective dose and equivalent uniform dose parameters. The methodology is illustrated using data from a thyroid cancer patient treated with radioiodine. Methods: Three registered SPECT/CT scans were used to generate 3-dimensional images of radionuclide kinetics (clearance rate) and cumulated activity. The cumulated activity image and corresponding CT scan were provided as input into an EGSnrc-based Monte Carlo calculation: The cumulated activity image was used to define the distribution of decays, and an attenuation image derived from CT was used to define the corresponding spatial tissue density and composition distribution. The rate images were used to convert the spatial absorbed dose distribution to a biologically effective dose distribution, which was then used to estimate a single equivalent uniform dose for segmented volumes of interest. Equivalent uniform dose was also calculated from the absorbed dose distribution directly. Results: We validate the method using simple models; compare the dose-volume histogram with a previously analyzed clinical case; and give the mean absorbed dose, mean biologically effective dose, and equivalent uniform dose for an illustrative case of a pediatric thyroid cancer patient with diffuse lung metastases. The mean absorbed dose, mean biologically effective dose, and equivalent uniform dose for the tumor were 57.7, 58.5, and 25.0 Gy, respectively. Corresponding values for normal lung tissue were 9.5, 9.8, and 8.3 Gy, respectively. Conclusion: The analysis demonstrates the impact of radiobiologic modeling on response prediction. The 57% reduction in the equivalent dose value for the tumor reflects a high level of dose nonuniformity in the tumor and a corresponding reduced likelihood of achieving a tumor response. Such analyses are expected to be useful in treatment planning for radionuclide therapy.
Flowerlike patterns generated by a laser beam transmitted through a rubidium cell with single feedback mirror.

A spatial instability is observed when a laser beam at 795 nm is transmitted through a rubidium cell with single plane feedback mirror. The emitted beams have patterns looking like flowers. The dependence of the number of petals in the pattern with the distance between the cell and the mirror is studied and interpreted using an expansion of the instability in Laguerre-Gauss modes. This experiment shows the influence of the saturation of the nonlinearity in the pattern selection.
NKCC1 Upregulation Disrupts Chloride Homeostasis in the Hypothalamus and Increases Neuronal Activity–Sympathetic Drive in Hypertension

Hypertension is a major risk factor for coronary artery disease, stroke, and kidney failure. However, the etiology of hypertension in most patients is poorly understood. Increased sympathetic drive emanating from the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) plays a major role in the development of hypertension. Na+-K+-2Cl− cotransporter-1 (NKCC1) in the brain is critically involved in maintaining chloride homeostasis and in neuronal responses mediated by GABAA receptors. Here we present novel evidence that the GABA reversal potential (EGABA) of PVN presympathetic neurons undergoes a depolarizing shift that diminishes GABA inhibition in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). Inhibition of NKCC1, but not KCC2, normalizes EGABA and restores GABA inhibition of PVN neurons in SHRs. The mRNA and protein levels of NKCC1, but not KCC2, in the PVN are significantly increased in SHRs, and the NKCC1 proteins on the plasma membrane are highly glycosylated. Inhibiting NKCC1 N-glycosylation restores EGABA and GABAergic inhibition of PVN presympathetic neurons in SHRs. Furthermore, NKCC1 inhibition significantly reduces the sympathetic vasomotor tone and augments the sympathoinhibitory responses to GABAA receptor activation in the PVN in SHRs. These findings suggest that increased NKCC1 activity and glycosylation disrupt chloride homeostasis and impair synaptic inhibition in the PVN to augment the sympathetic drive in hypertension. This information greatly improves our understanding of the pathogenesis of hypertension and helps to design better treatment strategies for neurogenic hypertension.
Clinical SERS: are we there yet?

Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy or SERS has witnessed many successes over the past 3 decades, owing particularly to its simplicity of use as well as its highly‐multiplexing capability. This article provides an overview of SERS and its applicability in the field of bio‐medicine. We will preview recent developments in SERS substrate designs, and the various sensing technologies that are based on the SERS phenomenon. An overview of the clinical applications of SERS is also included. Finally, we provide an opinion on the future trends of this unique spectroscopic technique. (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Longitudinal follow up of coiled intracranial aneurysms : the impact of contrast enhanced MRA in comparison to 3 DTOF MRA at 3 T

Background: The role of 3DTOF MRA in the follow up (FU) of coiled cerebral aneurysms is well established. Though CEMRA (Contrast Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Angiography) has demonstrated to be superior to 3DTOF MRA in showing aneurysms residual patency, its role is still debated. The aim of this study was to verify if there is an added value of CEMRA in the long term follow up of coiled treated aneurysms. Methods: Sixty-four cerebral aneurysms treated with GDC coils regularly followed up with 3DTOF and CEMRA at 3T every year for at least four years were included in the study. Both MR exams were evaluated and scored according to Montreal scale. Residual patency rates and modifications during follow up as depicted by the two techniques on the three item score of the Montreal scale (TO = total occlusion, NR = neck remnant and AR = aneurysm remnant) were registered along with management decisions. Intertechnique agreement was evaluated with respect to patency scoring in earlier and later stages of FU. Moreover the predictive value of earlier scores for both acquisitions with respect to management decision was assessed. Results: At 1 year FU, TO to NR to AR score ratios were 31/23/10 and 22/31/11 for 3DTOF and CEMRA respectively, whereas at 4 years FU they evolved to 28/22/14 and 19/28/17 respectively. Fifteen patencies (all AR) out of 64 aneurysms were judged suitable of retreatment evaluation during FU and 8 retreatments were effectively performed after overall benefit/risk ratio considerations. All 15 reopenings were equally depicted by both techniques except one that was depicted earlier on CEMRA. Among the 9 TO at TOF MRA and NR at CEMRA at 1 year, 3 cases enlarged to NR at TOF at 4 years, most remained stable. Among the 22 cases judged NR at 1 years with both techniques, 3 cases showed enlargement at both techniques, while in other 3 cases AR was evident only at 3DCEMRA and they were not retreated. Conclusions: CEMRA superiority in depiction of intracranial aneurysms recanalization is confirmed by our data. Nevertheless a clear impact in patient management is apparently not evident. Evidence of occlusion at 3DTOF FU may not need the addition of a CEMRA study. * Correspondence: anzalone.nicoletta@hsr.it Neuroradiology Department, Biostatistic Department, S Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy © 2016 Anzalone et al. Open Access This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated. Anzalone et al. Neurovascular Imaging (2015) 1:11 DOI 10.1186/s40809-015-0008-8
La formación como proceso de transferencia al puesto de trabajo de los conocimientos aprendidos : un modelo explicativo aplicado al sector de la restauración

El presente trabajo de investigacion propone un modelo explicativo de los elementos que influyen en la transferencia de la formacion al puesto de trabajo basado en las aportaciones de la literatura de formacion y de gestion del conocimiento. Asi, de la revision de los trabajos sobre transferencia de formacion se han identificado los factores clave que inciden en ella. Posteriormente se ha analizado la relacion entre la formacion y la transferencia de conocimiento, profundizando en el estudio de esta etapa central del proceso de gestion del conocimiento a fin de distinguir los factores clave que determinan su exito. Finalmente, sobre la base de esta revision de la literatura, se presenta un modelo explicativo de la transferencia de los conocimientos aprendidos en la formacion al puesto de trabajo, que incluye aspectos relacionados con las caracteristicas del formado, del diseno de la formacion, del entorno de trabajo, del formador y del tipo de conocimiento que se pretenda transferir. La validacion del modelo propuesto se ha llevado a cabo dentro del sector de la restauracion moderna, a traves del analisis de la informacion recogida en 114 cuestionarios realizados a gerentes y encargados de establecimientos de restauracion moderna de Canarias que hubieran participado en programas formativos. Los datos recogidos han sido analizados con tecnicas estadisticas univariantes, bivariantes y multivariantes. En tal sentido, el analisis de las relaciones entre las variables del modelo propuesto se ha realizado mediante el uso de modelos de ecuaciones estructurales. Los resultados finales indican la existencia de multiples factores que inciden sobre el resultado de la formacion. De este modo, la mejora de los conocimientos y habilidades del formado esta influida por su propio nivel de motivacion y su capacidad de absorcion; por rasgos del diseno de la formacion que hacen referencia a la relevancia de los contenidos y a la orientacion practica que se le haya dado; por elementos contextuales como son la existencia real de oportunidades de aplicacion de lo aprendido, la disponibilidad de los medios necesarios para hacerlo y la existencia en la empresa de una cultura de aprendizaje; por los niveles de motivacion del formador y su capacidad para articular el conocimiento a transferir; y, por ultimo, por el caracter novedoso y complejo del conocimiento. Por otra parte, con respecto a los elementos que influyen sobre la transferencia de formacion, se puede afirmar que el propio resultado de la formacion, en terminos de mejora de los conocimientos y habilidades, la relevancia de los contenidos a transferir, la oportunidad de aplicacion y apoyo por parte de los superiores a la transferencia, asi como la existencia de una cultura de aprendizaje son elementos que influyen significativamente sobre la transferencia de formacion.
Differential evolution and threshold accepting hybrid algorithm for unconstrained optimisation

This paper develops a hybrid global optimisation metaheuristic methodology for solving unconstrained optimisation problems. The hybrid, to be called DETA, comprises two global optimisation algorithms viz. differential evolution (DE) and threshold accepting (TA) in tandem. While working with DE on benchmark problems, we noticed that it slows down before convergence is achieved. After analysing the possible reason for this shortcoming, we propose DETA to address it. DETA works in two phases: Phase 1 implements the original DE with relaxed convergence criterion. Then, a switch over is made from Phase 1 to Phase 2, where TA is used to quickly guide the search to global optimum. Performance of DETA is compared with that of DE on 26 unconstrained benchmark problems. The results obtained indicate that DETA hybrid is much superior to DE in terms of speed for the same level of accuracy.
A Comparison of Different Control Laws in Trajectory Control for a Revolute-Jointed Manipulator

This study presents a comparison of different control laws for the trajectory control of a revolute-jointed manipulator. For this purpose, adaptive, robust and sliding mode control algorithms are applied to the model system so as to reduce tracking error at each joint. It is assumed that robot parameters are not known exactly and the system includes some uncertainties and disturbances. Computer simulation study of the revolute-jointed manipulators illustrates the effectiveness of different control algorithms in compensating disturbances and uncertainties for tracking different trajectories and, consequently, appropriate control parameters which reduce the tracking error have been determined.